Video: Biggest Loser Winner Gains 175 Pounds Back
When Erik Chopin shed more than 200 pounds to become the winner of 2006's Biggest Loser, he was eager to start his new life. Unfortunately, his new life included gaining nearly every pound back. (Watch clip above.)
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"After about a year and half, I started to put the weight on," says Chopin, who originally weighed 407 pounds before dropping to 193 pounds on the show's finale.
Less than two years later, the deli owner from West Islip, New York, had gained back 175 pounds.
"I got back to 368 pounds," he says. "In my head, it sounds almost the same [as my starting weight]."
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So when the husband and father of three -- who cites procrastination and overeating as some of the reasons for his weight gain -- was featured on a Biggest Loser "Where Are They Now?" special that aired in November, he decided to give himself a second chance.
His motivation? Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper's challenge to have Chopin weigh in "on that big scale" at the NBC show's May Season 9 finale.
"I had mixed feelings about that ... He got me on camera, and I wasn't going to punk out!" he recalls. "In the back of my mind, I said, 'This can't hurt.' It'll motivate me that much more to get myself back together, so I accepted his challenge."
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His first step to winning his weight loss battle was buying a scale.
"I hadn't seen my weight in a long time," he admits. "My scale was broken, and I wasn't that upset about it because I didn't want to find out what I weighed."
To showcase his weight loss journey, Chopin filmed a one-hour Discovery Health documentary called Confessions of a Reality Show Loser.
The documentary, which premiered last week, is airing again on Discovery Health. To tune in, check your local listings.
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13A GIRL DIED IN 1993, A MAN BURIED HER IN HER OWN home when she was still alive. The murderer chanted, "Toma sota balcu" as he buried her. Now that you have read the chant, you will meet this little girl. In the middle of the night she will stand at the side of your bed starring straight int your eyes. She will suffocate you like she was suffocated. This story is sadly true. If you post this 5 differnt times she will not bother you.
A GIRL DIED IN 1993, A MAN BURIED HER IN HER OWN home when she was still alive. The murderer chanted, "Toma sota balcu" as he buried her. Now that you have read the chant, you will meet this little girl. In the middle of the night she will stand at the side of your bed starring straight int your eyes. She will suffocate you like she was suffocated. This story is sadly true. If you post this 5 differnt times she will not bother you
A GIRL DIED IN 1993, A MAN BURIED HER IN HER OWN home when she was still alive. The murderer chanted, "Toma sota balcu" as he buried her. Now that you have read the chant, you will meet this little girl. In the middle of the night she will stand at the side of your bed starring straight int your eyes. She will suffocate you like she was suffocated. This story is sadly true. If you post this 5 differnt times she will not bother you
A GIRL DIED IN 1993, A MAN BURIED HER IN HER OWN home when she was still alive. The murderer chanted, "Toma sota balcu" as he buried her. Now that you have read the chant, you will meet this little girl. In the middle of the night she will stand at the side of your bed starring straight int your eyes. She will suffocate you like she was suffocated. This story is sadly true. If you post this 5 differnt times she will not bother you
You must be accountable for yourself to lose weight and keep it off. Anyone will lose weight by reading and following the right information; as such, being healthy is a lifestyle, not a diet! There are many good tips on how to achieve permanent weight loss; none of them includes gimmicks, diets, or diet pills. To assist with weight control; keep a daily food journal and every time the urge to snack is felt, first drink a large glass of clear water. It does not hurt to treat yourself with something special once in a while, what is necessary is that you moderate your food portions. Being overweight affects all aspects of life, but after reading a book, I lost 85 pounds! Words can not express how good I feel! This is a comment which I recently received about the book Lose Weight Using Four Easy Steps
LMAO at Ruth
Oh no Sarah. you better not go to bed...you only posted 4 times. LOL
A GIRL DIED IN 1993, A MAN BURIED HER IN HER OWN home when she was still alive. The murderer chanted, "Toma sota balcu" as he buried her. Now that you have read the chant, you will meet this little girl. In the middle of the night she will stand at the side of your bed starring straight int your eyes. She will suffocate you like she was suffocated. This story is sadly true. If you post this 5 differnt times she will not bother you
A GIRL DIED IN 1993, A MAN BURIED HER IN HER OWN home when she was still alive. The murderer chanted, "Toma sota balcu" as he buried her. Now that you have read the chant, you will meet this little girl. In the middle of the night she will stand at the side of your bed starring straight int your eyes. She will suffocate you like she was suffocated. This story is sadly true. If you post this 5 differnt times she will not bother you
Eric I think you are a great inspiration to many people. Sometimes people do slip up, but you are trying to change that & get back to being healthy. Do not worry if the weight doesn't come off fast. It took you a while to put the weight on & it will take time to take it all off & keep it off. I wish you & your family the best of luck in everything.
Eric I think you are a great inspiration to many people. Sometimes people do slip up, but you are trying to change that & get back to being healthy. Do not worry if the weight doesn't come off fast. It took you a while to put the weight on & it will take time to take it all off & keep it off. I wish you & your family the best of luck in everything.
Good luck Eric. I find it hard that you gained back all that weight after all that hard work, but I wish you all the luck in your new journey. Being someone who has also lost alot of weight it is very hard to keep it all off when you are a normal every day person. Let us all not forget that these famous stars have chefs, and gyms, and nannies and the list goes on. Eric just proves that normal Americans don't or shouldn't work out for 8 hours a day, that's just not normal. Best of luck Eric and I hope the pressure to lose the weight doesnt get to you. Focus on losing weight but focus on doing it for your family and your health and when you feel good that's all that matters, not what the world considers is your ideal weight.
Best of luck to you Eric! Thanks for keeping it real! Real people gain weight when they go back to their real lives. You should not feel bad. I hope you do get to a weight that will make YOU happy, not the producers of a show. You are a great husband and dad, and should be proud of all your accomplishments. :)