It’s hard to express in a blog the amount of hard work and determination it takes to want to lose such an insurmountable amount of weight as I did. I lost 214 lbs. more weight than most people weigh.  But then again, I was 407 lbs.  I didnt get there over night. I didnt lose it over night, but in just 8 short but pain staking months I did it.  Keeping it off was just as hard, and I did keep a majority of it off until 2008.  I started working as a salesperson and traveling in my car for 10 hrs a day, its hard to find a restroom in the territory I was in, let alone a sensible meal.  Fast food was cheap and accessible and it also made me feel better for the moment at least.  I saw it happening but we will get to that at another time.

The Biggest Loser

Being on TV, bearing it all, might leave some squeamish, but I was so desperate to finally do something about my weight, the thought of letting it all hang out sort of speak didn’d discourage me.  I was scheduled for Lap Band surgery, postponned it twice, waiting for the Biggest Loser call.

I met friends and had the support I never could have imagined.  I began to belive in myself that anything was possible, even though I was the heaviest contestant to date.

The time away was sometimes unbearable, but I was reassured by my wife that the children and family business would still be there when I got back.  It’s hard to imagine at the time that I would ever finish my time at the Ranch.

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Hi, I’m Erik Chopin. I’m more than a guy who was just on a reality TV show. I changed my life. I won the third season of NBC’s The Biggest Loser in 2006. I was 407 lbs and I lost 214 pounds in 8 months. I recently became public with my life long battle of weight by appearing on Oprah in January 2009, admitting that I gained half the amount I lost on the show back in 2008.

Please leave your thoughts and questions in a comment below.