Last week I enjoyed a wonderful and inspiring conversation with Neil Tejwani from season four of “Biggest Loser.” I am very excited about sharing his story as I know it will encourage and motivate others.
Neil’s journey to the “Biggest Loser” began in his high school years when a freak injury propelled him to begin overeating. By the time he was 19 or 20 years old, he was up to about 400 pounds. A couple of years later, during a routine doctor appointment, he discovered that he had hit 460 pounds. His doctor informed him that he had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, was a borderline type two diabetic and would not live to see past the age of 30.
His doctor suggested gastric bypass surgery which is a very invasive type of surgery to undergo. In order for him to even be prepared for the surgery however, he was told that he would need to lose 10% of his body weight. It took Neil just a couple of months and he lost 40 pounds. He didn’t do anything drastic, he took a slow approach in making small changes that led to the weight loss.
Eventually he was ready to set a date for the surgery but then decided that he wanted to try and lose the weight himself. Much to his surprise, his doctor didn’t support him. He was told that he needed to have the surgery. That was the spark that triggered Neil to begin his weight loss journey.
During this journey Neil battled with the typical yo-yo dieting that so many people struggle with. It was his wife (his then fiancé) who encouraged him to audition for the “Biggest Loser.” He originally didn’t want to do it because he had no interest in participating in a reality show but went ahead anyway. Despite the thousands who auditioned, Neil ended up making it on the show.
Neil says that what kept him focused while on the “Biggest Loser” was the huge support system that he had. The strength of the show is to know that other people out there are in the same position and are dealing with the same struggles.
Later on in our conversation we talked about the importance of having a support system. I know that many people who are trying to make healthy lifestyle changes often try to go it alone. If I can encourage readers of one thing, it is that you need to find someone who can support you.
Having others around you is one of the important advantages to the Healthy Wage challenge that Neil and Pete Thomas (a season two contestant from the “Biggest Loser”) are part of. There is strength in numbers and I believe that anyone who desires to become fitter and healthier needs to get that support system around them.
Look for part two of my interview with Neil where he talks about the biggest thing he learned from participating in the “Biggest Loser,” what he is doing today to share his knowledge and experience, and what he wants all Families.com readers to know.
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