Along with assistance from his dedicated trainer Ray Kelly, Adro is seeking to help his fellow Australians and just about anyone around the world struggling with obesity find hope and inspiration that they can make weight loss happen for themselves just as it did for them.
To that end, Ray and Adro were generous enough to donate THREE FREE DVDs to give away to the readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. The contest ended on Thursday and now I'm ready to announce the winners.
But before I do, let me share with you some of the eclectic responses I received from people to the question, "Why do you need to exercise more?"
"I weigh 115 kg I have three kids two of whom are also overwieght, my 8 year old is 39kg and my 2 year old is 16.5kg I need help to motivate me so I can help them."
"I need to exercise more to be able to play with my child, walk to the shop without getting puffed, do my dream of crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and to have a better and healthy life."
"I am 27, I have 3 children under 5 and am categorized by the medical profession as morbidly obese. Depressing? YES! But I don't feel unhealthy because it is a reality I have lived for so long. The task seems so mammoth and I feel like I need to be locked up on a health retreat, for a year, for anything to work. What I am doing is not working. I need to learn new strategies now. Help me!"
"Hi! I am the biggest fan of 'The Biggest Loser' and I watch the show every night. I have 4 kids and have 50 kgs to lose. Because I have no babysitters, getting in a great workout in my living room while watching my kids would suit me just fine!"
"I have made the decision to no longer be where I am now. Having been overweight most of my adult life, my son who is 26 has never known me as anything except as an overweight woman. I want to change that."
"There is a middle aged lady named Jane, She is as funny as hell, but in pain. She needs lots of help to remove extra weight and then groove, so she can enjoy life all over again!"
"I need to exercise more because I am 20kg overweight and have a full-time desk job which involves sitting in front of a computer screen 99% of each workday. My wife is also in the same situation."
"I need to exercise more because ...
- the only exercise I'm getting these days is drying myself off with the bath towel!!
- need to feel better emotionally,physically& spiritually and know exercising will do all those things for me.
- just want to be healthier and feel better about myself & keep promise to be good to myself"
"Life is short and when you are overweight or obese (as is true in my case), life becomes even shorter. I need to make exercise a part of my life to increase my life expectancy and help me live a longer happy life."
"I need to exercise more because I have had 17 operations on my left knee, 16 operations on my right knee, and have had both kneecaps removed. I am about 40 kilos overweight, and I seriously need all the help I can get. This extra weight is probably causing some of the problems I've had."
"I need to exercise more because I don't exercise at all right now. I've lost almost 50 pounds by livin' la vida low carb but my weight loss has stalled, primarily, I believe, because I don't exercise. I know I need to start exercising and maybe this DVD will help."
"I need to exercise more to maintain my muscle mass and increase my endurance. Exercise increases the Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor. That helps the brain cells to communicate better and we all need that! We cannot avoid growing older, but we can control HOW we age. I want to be healthy and fit!"
WOW, what an interesting set of responses! THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to enter my giveaway contest for Adro Sarnelli's "The Basics" DVD. Now, without further delay, here are the three winners:
Kiren from Washington Richard from Otago, New Zealand Nicki from South Australia
CONGRATULATIONS to Kiren, Richard, and Nicki! You will be receiving your DVD sometime this month when it is released. And Aussie fans be sure to check out Season Two of "The Biggest Loser Australia" starting up this week! WOO HOO!
You may recall David Hilyander from last year's show. Well, he's back with two new projects for the second Aussie version of "The Biggest Loser."
The first one is a new forum that is dedicated to providing information about "The Biggest Loser Australia: Series II." There are areas for discussing the trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels (yep, she's back again one more time!), the host AJ Rochester, and, of course, the contestants. Also, there will be regular episode recaps to stay on top of what's happening on the show. Get engaged in this forum if you are a fan of the show!
The second one is a fascinating new podcast show called "Chew The Fat." Even before the new season has begun, you can get a feel for the jovial interaction among the co-hosts of this podcast about anything and everything related to "The Biggest Loser Australia." They promise lots of interviews with contestants from the debut season and lots of engaging and opinionated commentary on the latest episodes. Again, this show will be your source for the latest information about the show.
Special thanks to David Hilyander for sharing this forum and podcast show for fans of "The Biggest Loser Australia." Who's gonna follow in the footsteps of Adro this season? Tune in very soon to find out!
Two years after losing 180 pounds, my loose skin still haunts me
Speaking of Adro Sarnelli who won "The Biggest Loser Australia" last year, did you see this article about him and the struggle he has had dealing with all the excess, loose skin on his body following his 130-pound weight loss?
I previously blogged about his decision to have an abdominoplasty done, better known as a "tummy tuck." But now he wants to get rid of the rest of his hanging skin at an eye-popping cost of $20,000 plus recovery time off from work.
Here's why Adro decided to do this:
"It was just really disappointing to think that I lost [all that weight] and that I still had the same body that I had when I was fat," he said. "I'm actually left with a whole lot of extra skin which, in my own mind, it sort of leaves me unfinished. I have man boobs and that's something I really hate and would love to get rid of. I also have a really saggy apron area around my tummy."
So with the help of a plastic surgeon and many hours of body sculpting which includes not just a tummy tuck but also a buttock lift, a thigh lift, as well as skin removal from his chest, back, and arms, Adro will soon have a body that will LOOK like that fabulous weight loss success that he was in 2006. Everyone else has seen how good he looks, so now it's time for him to see it for himself.
The payoff was when he got to look at himself in the mirror for the first time after having "heaps" of his loose skin removed for good.
"I actually got to stand up and have a shower so I looked in the mirror and I was actually able to look down," Adro proudly exclaimed.
Now he says he feels "unreal" on the inside and out.
I couldn't be happier for Adro because I know EXACTLY how he feels. I'm right there in the same predicament, too. It's been over two years now since I lost the majority of my 190 pounds and my loose skin problem hasn't gotten any better as everyone claimed it would if you would "just give it some time." In fact, it looks like the problem has gotten even worse! MUCH WORSE!
Many of my new readers who have discovered my blog in the past few weeks have e-mailed me asking about whether I have loose skin and want to know what I am doing to handle it. In fact, here's one of those e-mails:
Dear Jimmy,
I thought I would send you an email regarding weight loss and the dreaded loose skin afterwards. After skin removal surgery, people seem to be very happy with the results. Have you had this surgery? Is loose skin really inevitable when you are very overweight? How do you limit loose skin? Does losing too fast encourage loose skin?
I'd love to know if you have ever written a blog about it. It's very discouraging losing all that weight only to be left with a whole lot of skin and where you have to stay covered up.
Well, as a matter of fact I HAVE blogged about this subject before--SEVERAL times actually. Here are a just a handful of those posts for you to check out:
So many of you have e-mailed me with your support and well wishes that I can do something about my hanging, loose skin after reading about me blog about it and in the final chapter of my book. You have encouraged me to not get discouraged or ever give up on my dream of getting the skin removal surgery done and I haven't. I KNOW it's gonna happen one of these days.
Let me just say one thing that absolutely needs to be heard loud and clear to anyone who is overweight or obese and is worried about having loose skin afterwards. Don't let this issue stop you from making the best decision of your life to lose weight and get healthy. Sure, the loose skin can be an eyesore, but it's a whole heckuva lot better than the enormous pain of being fat. There's just no comparison!
I really don't know why this issue gets people so worked up about losing weight, but it does. Some of the most popular Google searches people who are desiring weight loss put into the search engine is "loose skin after weight loss" or "how do you firm up excess skin." I'm fascinated that people worry about such things when they should be focused on getting their physical health in order first.
At the same time, if I get one more person sending me this link to check out, then I think I'll have to run in front of an 18-wheeler on the interstate! Just for the record, I don't believe much of what this guy has to say, so don't bother telling me about it okay. With all due respect, I certainly acknowledge that there is a possibility that what I think is loose skin may be excess fat that I need to lose, but I don't care at this point. I just want the skin GONE!
I'm still eating low-carb since this has become my permanent way of life and my body fat percentage has continued to drop down from over half when I used to weigh 410 pounds. I've even made reducing my body fat one of my goals for 2007. Nevertheless, now that I'm 220 pounds, I want to LOOK like I am 220 pounds. The fact is I don't like what I see every single time I look in that mirror.
Wanna see what I'm talking about for yourself? I'll warn you, it's pretty disgusting to look at and you would probably think I was showing you a picture of a fat man's body. But, no, this is me.
Shirtless on the beach looking like THIS? Not a chance!
Can you see what I'm facing here? It's incredibly frustrating because as much as I want to truly celebrate my enormous weight loss success, I can't jump for joy when I still look and feel like I'm obese! I often joke with my wife Christine playfully jiggling my former 62-inch waist that has now shrunk down to a 38-inch waist in front of her like some circus freak show. But I don't feel sexy for her and I so much in my heart want to.
It's not just my stomach, though. Look at what's "hanging" from my inner thighs. EWWWW!
There's so much skin in my thighs that they get rubbed raw
When I asked my doctor to take a look at this loose skin issue in my stomach and inner thighs, he told me quite bluntly (which I appreciated!) that the elasticity is too far gone at this point to firm up and tighten from my very large weight loss. He wrote a letter to my insurance company, but they refused to pay for it. The only remedy at this point is to live with it or get the surgery done at my own expense.
Those are my ONLY choices at this point. For now, I'll just have to learn to live with it and move on with my life (which I have). But if ever there was a dream that you wished would come true for you, that's how I feel about getting this surgery. I'm hopeful it will happen to give me that "closure" Adro was talking about.
As for those questions my reader had about the loose skin issue, here's what I think about each one of them:
Have you had this surgery?
No, but I desperately want to.
Is loose skin really inevitable when you are very overweight?
I don't think it's necessarily inevitable just because you are overweight or obese. But if you are like me and the other yo-yo dieters who have gone up and down expanding and contracting the skin so many times, I do think there is a point of no return where it is impossible to expect the skin to be firm short of surgery.
How do you limit loose skin?
Don't get fat to begin with! LOL! I know, that's probably too late for most people, but it's true. That'll DEFINITELY keep it from happening, though.
Does losing too fast encourage loose skin?
Some people have the thought that losing slower will somehow keep the skin from getting loose. But Kimmer from the Kimkins diet, who had a tummy tuck and bosom lift following her 200-pound low-carb weight loss, said in her interview with me that stretch marks are emergency skin and no matter how fast or slow you lose, the "skin isn't going anywhere" and that "losing slowly is no advantage."
She added, "It's exactly like having a skin tight skirt, adding a 2" panel of fabric and expecting the extra fabric to disappear the next time you wash the skirt. Just ain't happening!" I agree with Kimmer because the skin has nowhere else to go but droop down. :(
So now it's January 2007, three years after I began the most lifechanging experience of my entire life. It's like writing an entire book from start to finish, but then not having it published. You have done all that work and maybe even shared it with those around you. But you won't feel right until it is finished and ready for the public to see.
That's how I feel about my loose skin. I've poured many days, weeks, and months into becoming who am I am today these past few years. I'm very proud of what I have been able to do and appreciate all the compliments and adoration that has been given to me. But it's time to send this book to be published and that means getting the excess skin removed.
It won't be today, probably not tomorrow either. But it will happen.
"Biggest Loser" Australia Adro Sarnelli releases exercise DVD
Less than a month away from the exciting debut of Season Two of "The Biggest Loser Australia," the biggest winner from the first season is ready to launch his very first exercise video with a special BONUS interview by his trainer.
Adro Sarnelli, who won the inaugural season of the hit television reality show "The Biggest Loser Australia" in 2006 after shedding over 130 pounds using low-carb as his nutritional approach, has teamed up with his personal trainer Ray Kelly to produce the most unique exercise DVD you'll ever see called "The Basics."
It's a sad commentary on modern society that most of the current world's population doesn't have a clue about even the most elementary components of physical fitness. We could blame the lack of emphasis in school or a general apathy by the public for why we are so ignorant. Either way, it's important now more than ever to lay the groundwork for what people need to be doing to get into shape.
Adro and Ray didn't want to do just any old exercise DVD, though. You know what I'm talking about. After you play the DVD a few times, it gets kinda boring because you know EXACTLY what the workout is going to be. Yaaaaawwwwwwnn!
But never fear, there's something new here to spice things up! What if you could get a different exercise routine every single time you push play? With "The Basics" DVD, that's what you'll get with expert commentary and advice from Mr. "Biggest Loser Australia" himself Adro Sarnelli!
This is the first release in the new "Losing It" Series and will motivate you to get your heart rate up and your blood pumping just like the contestants do on "The Biggest Loser." These are indeed high-intensity workouts that you can do in the comfort of your own home without the use of any fancy gadgets or weights of any kind. Pop it in your DVD player, clear some room in front of the TV and you're ready to go!
Be sure to bring your enthusiastic desire to be fit and a willingness to make it happen. You will quite literally have an unlimited library of workouts to choose from with this one-of-a-kind DVD that you can use as your personal training session with Adro. This will become a collector's item for fans of "The Biggest Loser," don't get your copy TODAY!
You won't want to miss the BONUS 30-minute interview with Adro conducted by Ray Kelly about what life has been like in the year since his coronation as "The Biggest Loser." Adro deals with a myriad of subjects during the interview, so fans of the show won't want to miss this intimate look into the life of this extraordinary man.
In fact, you can catch a sneak peek of the interview right now:
Because so many of my readers at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog have been so faithful to support Adro since he won "The Biggest Loser Australia" last year, he now wants to give a few of you the opportunity to receive his brand new DVD absolutely FREE.
That's right, if you want to have the chance to win one of three copies of "The Basics" DVD autographed by both Adro Sarnelli and Ray Kelly, then simply send me an e-mail with the following information:
1. Your name 2. Your mailing address (NO P.O. BOXES PLEASE!) 3. In 50 words or less, tell why you need to exercise more
This contest is open to anyone in the United States, Australia or fans around the world, so let me hear from you! The deadline for entering is no later than 11:59PM EST on January 31, 2007. The three winners will be selected at random from all e-mails received.
Only one entry per household please. GOOD LUCK!
Of course, you can also purchase your copy of "The Basics" DVD by clicking here. Special thanks to Adro Sarnelli and Ray Kelly for making this phenomenal workout DVD and for the free giveaways for my readers.
Are you a "Biggest Loser" fan? Then let me hear from you, mate!
Bob Harper & Jillian Michaels Reunite For 'The Biggest Loser Australia' 2
Bob and Jillian together again on "Biggest Loser Australia"
Okay, Australia, are you ready for another exciting season of your very own version of "The Biggest Loser?" It's baaaaaaaack and ready to air again on Network Ten coming in January 2007.
After all of the contestants from "The Biggest Loser Australia" Season One did such an excellent job in last year's debut that crowned Adro Sarnelli the first champion, taping for the sophomore season is almost finished and ready for another thrilling few months ahead.
There will be 12 contestants in the same original format for the show that there was last year (unlike the U.S. version in Season Three which had 50 contestants from every American state) featuring AJ Rochester again as the host of the hit weight loss reality show.
But in a surprise casting move, the producers for the Australian version were able to coax Jillian Michaels to come back to the "land down under" for another season joining Bob Harper again, although Michaels was replaced by Kim Lyons on the American version this past season.
Fans of "The Biggest Loser Australia" shouldn't get too used to seeing Bob and Jillian together for much longer, though. They are currently in the midst of training a brand new Australian version of themselves for future seasons. This will be the final season for Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels in Australia and possibly the last time you'll ever see Jillian on any version of "The Biggest Loser" again.
With more than 6,000 Australians applying to be on the show in the Fall of 2006, they had to whittle it down to the dozen who will appear on Australian television screens in just a matter of weeks. The show will be aired six nights a week with weigh-ins moving to Sunday nights for Season Two.
For a sneak peek video of the upcoming season, watch this:
If you are as big a fan of the show as I am, then be sure to access all of my links about "The Biggest Loser" by clicking here.
Erik Chopin is the fourth straight low-carber to win "The Biggest Loser"
Ever since deli shop owner Erik Chopin from Islip, New York won Season 3 of the hit NBC reality television show "The Biggest Loser" last week, I haven't been able to stop thinking about something rather fascinating about his amazing 214-pound weight loss that he now wants to use to help people who are obese to find hope. This is something I haven't heard ANYONE discussing about the people who are winning this show.
Let's take a quick look at the three previous "Biggest Loser" winners:
STARTING WEIGHT: 330 pounds WEIGHT LOSS: 100 pounds HOW HE DID IT: Eats high-protein, low-carb foods
Are you seeing a very clear pattern among the winners of "The Biggest Loser?" It's astonishing to me that amidst all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the gargantuan triple-digit weight losses each of these men has experienced that there hasn't been a more inquisitive look into HOW they lost their weight.
Sure, they talk about calories on the show and making sure you burn more with exercise than you take in. But behind-the-scenes there's more to it--a LOT more to it!
We saw just a couple of months ago how one of the finalists from Season 2 of the show--Kelly Minner--was able to help one of her students who was struggling with his weight which had soared above 300 pounds. You may recall that Minner recommended the 16-year old student go on a high-fiber, low-carb diet along with regular exercise and he went on to lose over 100 pounds in just nine months. She learned that from being on "The Biggest Loser."
While I am sure the producers of the show have strategically instructed the contestants and trainers on the show to avoid using the phrase "low-carb" for whatever reason, the fact of the matter is that's what they are doing. Even "Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper, who has complimented my low-carb blog for helping educate people, has warned repeatedly about the dangers of sugar addiction. Livin' la vida low-carb runs up and down through this show.
And yet you never hear a thing about it! What's up with that?
There's no reason in the world why the contestants or producers at "The Biggest Loser" should EVER feel ashamed of the low-carb lifestyle. It is the most electrifying weight loss plan that I have ever encountered in my life and I will forever be indebted to it for changing the course of my health for the better. Ryan, Matt, Adro, and now Erik can all provide similar testimonies of what low-carb living has done for them.
When will this great "Biggest Loser" weight loss secret be given the recognition that it deserves? Can you imagine the tidal wave of weight loss that people could be experiencing RIGHT NOW if a very clear message of livin' la vida low-carb were allowed to be promoted in very clear language that everyone can understand on a show like "The Biggest Loser?" The positive impact that would have on the obesity problem in America is mind-blowing to even think about.
Let's let the whole world know about the miracle of livin' la vida low-carb!
The worldwide popularity of the hit NBC television show "The Biggest Loser" has indeed catapulted the show and its contestants into reality show superstardom! Just ask the winner of the Australian version of the show, Adro Sarnelli.
After being declared "The Biggest Loser" in Australia for the exciting debut season this year in that country, he went on a whirlwind media tour that had him running all across Australia nonstop for months! When I was finally about to interview him at my blog in late September, Adro was just wrapping up his appearances and on his way to having surgery to remove the excess, loose, excess skin he had on his body after shedding over 130 pounds to "bring closure" to his weight loss experience.
I asked Adro about that surgery and here's what he said:
"YES, I HAVE HEAPS OF EXCESS SKIN LEFT AFTER THE WEIGHT LOSS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW FAST I LOST WEIGHT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE IT NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE I HAD IT ALL BEFORE I LOST WEIGHT AND WORSE NOW. I AM ACTUALLY GOING IN FOR SURGERY ON OCTOBER 3, 2006 TO HAVE MY FIRST OPERATION WHICH IS THE BODY LIFT. THEN I WILL GET MY ARMS, MAN BOOBS, AND THIGHS DONE ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006. MOST OF ALL, THESE SURGERIES ARE FOR ME TO HAVE CLOSURE ON THE WHOLE IDEA OF NOT BEING A FAT GUY ANYMORE."
I am so envious of Adro for having this done because I too want to have my jiggly skin taken care of as well. While some people claim that there is no such thing as loose skin, but rather bodaciously contend that it is excess fat that still needs to be lost, I am becoming more and more convinced that's a lie because my hanging skin problem is getting worse as I continue to lose weight. When I hit my goal of 199 in a few months, I will be doing a thorough post about this subject.
In fact, Adro believes this is such an important topic along with the whole weight loss, obesity, and getting fit theme that he is working on a new self-produced documentary film and he desperately wants to show it on television to help his fellow Australians overcome their objections to attempting weight loss. This is a passionate dream in this young man's heart right now and I think you and I can do something quite simple to help him out.
To that end, there is a brand new video featuring Adro Sarnelli on YouTube that I would like for you to go watch RIGHT NOW! Stop whatever you are doing (unless you are at work, of course!) and take a gander at this video. This is an important step in the process of helping Adro, so please do your part and watch the video.
It's less than 10 minutes long and features Adro with the cardboard cutout of himself before he started losing weight standing behind him as he talks about his recent surgery to take up the loose skin in his abdomen and chest, the upcoming surgery on his arms to take up the loose skin there (what's strange is my loose skin looks EXACTLY like his!), and a sneak peek at the documentary that is coming soon. In fact, watch the video all the way to the end to find out how you can see a special preview of the documentary.
Adro and his partner Ray Kelly are working hard to get as many views and comments about this video as they possibly can so they can have more leverage with television executives about showing the documentary when it is ready to be aired. This documentary could have the potential to help so many people, so won't you take just a few minutes of your time to check it out and leave a comment for Adro? THANK YOU!
CLICK HERE to show your support by watching the video at YouTube. I know Adro appreciates your help and sincerely wants to help others struggling with obesity to overcome it just as he did. THANK YOU again for your assistance and let's show this fellow low-carber that we do have strength in numbers to help make a difference in the country of Australia and beyond!
Watching the contestants when they hit the ranch looking for hope regarding their weight problem, seeing the trainers teach them to move their butts to take better care of their bodies, observing the new good habits they form regarding their diet, and cheering them all on to weight loss success along the way. What an amazing show you can't help but LOVE, especially if you are a weight loss success!
Earlier this year, the wildly popular success of "The Biggest Loser" in the United States spawned a spin-off show in the land down under--Australia! With that country dealing with a huge obesity problem just like the U.S., it made sense to have a show like this help inspire a country to be fit with citizens who live there. That's exactly what it did.
"The Biggest Loser" Australia used the same format that the American version did with a few twists and turns here and there. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels were there as the on-air trainers for the Red and Blue teams respectively. They did run into a bit of controversy from health groups who blamed the show for not teaching good nutrition and "humiliating" the obese. Puh-leeze people! Lives are being changed forever and that's the best you've got?!
That inaugural season of "The Biggest Loser" Australia catapulted one man to instant celebrity status in his own country and he has been trying to catch his breath ever since--Adro Sarnelli! A man of few words, but driven to help as many people as he can get fit and trim while improving their health, Adro is just now slowing down from the whirlwind that hit him when he was declared "The Biggest Loser" Australia winner back in April.
Adro's post-"Biggest Loser" experience trainer Ray Kelly (read my interview with him in case you missed it!) produced this amazing training video of how he helped this young man lose over 130 pounds dropping from 319 pounds down to 187.5! It truly is remarkable what Adro was able to accomplish so quickly!
Despite the demands on his newfound busy life, Adro agreed to an interview with me for my blog and I'm proud to share it with you now. Be encouraged and inspired in your own weight loss efforts by this incredible man named Adro!
1. First of all, Adro, CONGRATULATIONS on being named the very first "Biggest Loser" in Australia. How does having that title make you feel?
THANK YOU, JIMMY! TO BE QUIET HONEST HAVING THE TITLE IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT FOR ME TO DATE IN MY LIFE. IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO KNOW THAT I DID IT.
2. As someone who has gone through the process of overcoming a weight problem myself, I understand the many challenges that face those who desire to defeat obesity once and for all. What do you consider the single-biggest reason why you were so successful at weight loss?
THE SINGLE BIGGEST REASON I WAS SO SUCCECCFUL I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IS BECAUSE I HAD HEAPS OF SUPPORT, MAINLY AT THE BEGINNING WHEN YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO WANT TO GIVE UP.
3. Please share a story about any specific moments during your weight loss when you felt like losing weight just wasn't worth it anymore and you wanted to give up. What did you do to push yourself through those times?
THERE WAS ONE TIME WHERE I HAD WORKED OUT AND DIETED HARD FOR A WEEK DURING THE TAPING OF THE BIGGEST LOSER AND I ONLY LOST 600G (that's about 1.3 pounds). THAT WAS ALL I LOST FOR A WHOLE WEEK'S WORTH OF VERY HARD WORK? THEN I REASSESSED THE SITUATION AND LOOKED INTO DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR MY DIET AND OTHER LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND IT REALLY STARTED WORKING FOR ME. I THINK I JUST NEEDED TO REALLY TAKE CONTROL OF IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.
4. Weight loss is as much mental as it is physical. How did you prepare yourself mentally in the beginning or during the process of losing weight to get to where you are today?
WELL, MY SITUATION WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THEN SETTING OUT TO NORMALLY LOSE WEIGHT. BECAUSE OF BEING ON THE SHOW, I HAD TO PUSH AND I WAS IN THE POSITION WHERE I COULDN’T REALLY GIVE UP. SO I GUESS IN THAT SENSE I WAS A LITTLE MORE SPOILED THAN MOST PEOPLE WHO TRY TO LOSE WEIGHT. BUT I THINK THE BEST PREPARATION IS TO TRY AND LOOK FORWARD AND SEE WHERE AND HOW YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU'RE DONE AND REALIZE THAT YOU CAN'T GET THERE IF YOU DON'T GET UP TODAY.
5. Having the help of professional trainers certainly can't hurt people in their weight loss efforts. Why don't you brag a little bit on your experience with your trainers and tell us specifically how they helped you better understand why exercise is so important to weight maintenance?
I COULD GO ON FOREVER ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT BOB (Harper) AND JILLIAN (Michaels) HAD ON ME AND MY WEIGHT LOSS IN THE HOUSE AND THEN RAY (Kelly) OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE, BUT I THINK THE THREE OF THEM WERE ALL UNITED ON ONE THING AND THAT IS EDUCATION. TEACHING ME THAT BY DOING THIS I WILL ACHIEVE A CERTAIN RESULT AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE I KNOW THEY WERE ALL 3 GREAT TRAINERS BECAUSE WHILE WE WERE WORKING ON THE BODY THEY WERE HELPING ME SORT OUT MY HEAD AS WELL. I REALLY FEEL THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE THIS EFFORT STAND OUT FROM THE REST.
6. As someone who lost over 180 pounds following a low-carb lifestyle and keeping it off for two years, I know this way of eating works as a permanent method for losing weight. What has your low-carb experience been like and do you think you will continue to eat this way forever?
I WILL DEFINITELY EAT THIS WAY FOREVER! I TRY AND FIND LOW-CARB SUBSTITUES FOR WHAT I CAN AND I CERTAINLY DON'T EVER EAT ANY STARCHY CARBS AFTER MID-DAY. I NOW KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT HOW I GOT AS BIG AS I DID AND I REALIZE THAT THE CARBS HAD A MAJOR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY LIFE BEFORE MY WEIGHT LOSS.
7. Obviously after your enormous weight loss in a short period of time, you had some excess, loose, hanging skin to contend with all over your body. I can certainly relate and hope someday to have it taken care of myself. How about you? What are you doing to deal with this very real problem for those of us who lost a lot of weight?
YES, I HAVE HEAPS OF EXCESS SKIN LEFT AFTER THE WEIGHT LOSS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW FAST I LOST WEIGHT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE IT NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE I HAD IT ALL BEFORE I LOST WEIGHT AND WORSE NOW. I AM ACTUALLY GOING IN FOR SURGERY ON OCTOBER 3, 2006 TO HAVE MY FIRST OPERATION WHICH IS THE BODY LIFT. THEN I WILL GET MY ARMS, MAN BOOBS, AND THIGHS DONE ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006. MOST OF ALL, THESE SURGERIES ARE FOR ME TO HAVE CLOSURE ON THE WHOLE IDEA OF NOT BEING A FAT GUY ANYMORE.
ACTUALLY, I AM MAKING A DOCUMENTARY FILM ON THE EFFECTS OF WEIGHT AND WEIGHT LOSS WHICH I AM SELF PRODUCING AND HOPE THAT IT WILL CLEAR UP A LOT OF PEOPLE'S FEARS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE WEIGHT HAS BEEN LOST. IT WILL ALSO DEAL WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN STREAMING THROUGH MY HEAD SINCE LOSING THE WEIGHT.
8. You are now committed to helping others who struggle with weight loss and declining health find a way to rise above their problems through your new health clubs called "The New Me." What made you want to start this new business venture in your life and where do you see it taking you in the foreseeable future?
I WANTED TO HELP MORE PEOPLE WHEN I REALIZED THAT I HAD THE ABILITY TO DO IT. MY WHOLE LIFE I WAS MADE TO FEEL AND THINK THAT I WAS FAT AND COULD NEVER BE ANYTHING ELSE. THAT WAS MY RACE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY AND NOW I HAVE SEEN THAT IT'S JUST NOT TRUE. SO I WANT TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE REALIZE THAT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LOSE WEIGHT. I WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO TO SEE THAT IS TRUE ABOUT THEMSELVES AS I CAN. THE NEW ME CENTERS WHEN THEY COME ALONG ARE GOING TO BE THE GREATEST CONCEPT IN LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT THAT HAS EVER HIT AUSTRALIA!
9. Obesity is a problem that does not seem to be going away anytime in the near future. If Adro was in charge of the world's health and had the power to effect change in health policies, especially in regards to obesity, what would you recommend?
WOW, THAT’S A MASSSIVE QUESTION! I THINK I WOULD FIRST START WITH MAKING CLASSES IN SCHOOL THAT ARE LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT AND NOT JUST PHYSICAL EDUCATION. WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTRALIA A VERY POOR EDUCATION SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO FITNESS. THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT IF THEY TAKE THE COCA-COLA OUT OF THE SCHOOLS THAT THE KIDS WILL BE BETTER OFF.
INSTEAD OF MAKING IT A CURRICULUM THAT IS STUDIED SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THE HOWS AND WHYS OF OBESITY, I THINK I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO START A BIGGEST LOSER-STYLED COMPETITION FOR ALL THE TOWNS THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND GET THE GOVERNMENT TO FUND THE PROGRAM. AS MUCH AS THEY WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO HIT BEFORE DECIDING TO FIX IT, I REALLY THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK AT SOLVING THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT STARTS. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN TRYING TO FIND A CURE AFTER THE FACT. OH, AND I WOULD BAN ALL CIGARETTES!!!
10. Your fellow countrymen and women in Australia as well as millions of Americans are so proud of what you and the other "Biggest Loser" contestants have done to forever alter your lives for the better. Do you think shows like "The Biggest Loser" are making any difference at all in people who need to lose weight or are they just making for feel-good television?
THAT’S A TRICKY QUESTION. I THINK THE SHOW IS DEFINITELY HAVING AN AMAZING IMPACT ON PEOPLE. I GET E-MAILS ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE TELLING ME HOW WELL THEY HAVE DONE WITH THEIR WEIGHT LOSS EFFORTS BECAUSE OF THE SHOW. BUT I ALSO THINK IT IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT TO MANY PEOPLE THEN IT IS AN INSPIRATION TO GET MOTIVATED TO LOSE WEIGHT. BUT IF WE CAN JUST CHIP AWAY AT THE OBESITY PROBLEM ONE PERSON AT A TIME, THEN IT WILL WORK.
11. While your weight loss is still relatively new and you are probably still getting used to the skinny Adro (trust me, it takes a while to adjust to NOT being fat!), can you share any words of wisdom with my readers who are desperate and searching for a way to slay the obesity monster in their life?
HERE IS SOMETHING I LIKE TO SAY, IF YOU COULD TASTE THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS FOR JUST ONE SECOND; THEN I GURANTEE YOU THAT YOU WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO GET IT FOR YOURSELF.
THANK YOU, Adro, and CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss success. Even more importantly, I am so proud to know that someone else who felt hopeless about their obesity is now out there challenging and encouraging others to get healthy, too! Be sure to keep up with what Adro Sarnelli is doing by visiting his web site at AdroHealth.com.
Top Australian personal trainer Ray Kelly with prodigy Adro Sarnelli
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of telling you about a brand new web site from Australian personal trainer Ray Kelly called Free-Online-Health.com. Anyone who can compile so much power-packed and useful information about getting healthy and fit in a FREE web site deserves a medal. Well, how about an interview instead, Ray? :)
After most recently helping Adro Sarnelli become Australia's first "Biggest Loser" winner, Ray is now promoting his personal training services at a brand new web site called RayKellyFitness.com. From the encounters I have had with him this year, I have found this man to be one of the most approachable people you will ever meet. Plus, it helps that he knows a thing or two about getting into shape which is what he will discuss in my interview with him.
1. G'day mate! So glad to have you join us here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog today. We're ready to have a crikey good time today with a certified trainer from Australia named Ray Kelly. Okay, enough of this American boy from the South trying to speak Australian! :D But if you want to know about health and fitness, then this is your man! Ray, give us a little bit of background into how you got interested in exercise, health and diet. Where did it all begin?
I’ve been involved in sport since I was quite young. I started martial arts when I was 4 years old and played many sports right through school. I was quite a small boy though (only weighed 103 pounds at 17 years old!) and always wanted to join a fitness center but was too intimidated. At 19, I had a scrum collapse on me playing Rugby and as part of my rehabilitation I had to join a gym. This is where my love of exercise began. From that point on all I wanted to do was become a trainer.
Since making that decision, I’ve graduated with a Degree in Exercise Science, trained thousands of people, managed Fitness Centers, and trained Olympic and World Champion athletes. It’s been a great journey so far and I feel pretty lucky to be working in an industry I’m passionate about!
2. When I set out to lose weight back in 2004 after I tipped the scales at 410 pounds, I knew I would need not only a solid nutritional plan, but also a solid fitness plan. What kind of exercise do you recommend for people who have never exercised a bit in their life and are looking to lose a lot of weight?
Light exercise! If you’re starting out you really can’t beat walking. Some people find it boring but you can overcome that by listening to music, taking a friend, or walking a different route each day.
For those of you with higher aspirations, I’ve actually just finished writing a ’15 Stage Walk-to-Run Program’. It starts with full weekly exercise programs for those that can only walk for 5 minutes, and goes all the way up to those able to run for 60 minutes. You start at your current fitness level and then move on to each successive stage until you reach the top. I’ll have it on my web site soon!
3. You played an active role in the inaugural season of the hit show "The Biggest Loser" when it came to Australia earlier this year, including mentoring the eventual winner Adro Sarnelli. What was that experience like for you?
It was a great experience because I was already a fan of the show, and I’m also ultra competitive! It was actually a lot like my time working with athletes. The contestants are prone to injury given their size, fitness level, and training load. To overcome this we planned every day of Adro’s life right up to the final weigh in, every training session (6+ hrs per day), and every meal and snack.
The show has its detractors because of the unrealistic training regimen the contestants get put through but on the positive side the show really does inspire millions of people to start exercising. It brings awareness to the problem and that has to be a good thing. Larger people are feeling much more comfortable exercising in public, and it’s also giving those that have never had a weight problem an insight into what it’s like.
4. Now you and Adro have joined forces to create "The New Me" weight loss center to help other Australians lose weight and shape up. How is that going so far and what kind of impact do you expect it to have on the obesity epidemic in your country?
The online program should be up and running in a few weeks but we’re still yet to find the right premises for the center. A lot of people followed Adro through his weight loss journey and they can really relate to him. This puts him in a strong position to educate people, and it’s a role he doesn’t take lightly. We’re both very passionate about this and we have big plans.
5. Before I committed myself to daily exercise, I never realized how truly beneficial it was not only to my physical health, but also mentally and psychologically as a release from the stresses of life. What are the biggest obstacles that you see people have towards exercising? What can be done to help people overcome those obstacles?
The biggest obstacle is their mind. Weight loss is all about perspective. If you think it's too hard, then it is. If you think it's not important, then it's not. If you think you can't do it then you can't. Your perspective is your reality.
Once you put things into the right perspective, these things become a priority and nothing will stand in your way. You know what I’m talking about Jimmy because you’re living proof. I've seen it happen many times and it's an amazing thing to see. Kind of like a fire gets lit inside of someone. Totally awesome! We all have it inside us. It's just that some of us haven't realized it yet!
Many people think that exercise has to always be hard. It doesn’t. In fact you’ll get much better results if you vary the intensity of your training sessions. Sure, you need to push yourself sometimes but you also need to balance the ledger with some lighter training as well.
Another misconception about exercising for weight loss is people think they should be doing loads of push up and sit ups. You’re actually better off spending your time walking. You’d certainly burn more calories and receive greater gains in fitness. When it comes to weight loss, make cardio your priority. You only need to add resistance or abdominal work in for training variety.
6. Some of my readers have written me and asked for suggestions on how to incorporate exercise into their healthy low-carb lifestyle, but they have an injury or are unable to move their legs or arms. What exercises do you suggest for people in these circumstances?
It certainly depends on the individuals circumstances but exercising in a swimming pool is quite good if you have an injury. It doesn’t have to be swimming, you can just do laps with a kick-board, or even just walk. The buoyancy provided by the water will take a lot of strain off the weight-bearing joints.
Also, if it’s their arms that are injured then they could always walk or cycle. If it’s their legs...well you just can’t beat boxing to increase your fitness!
7. How often should people exercise to experience the maximum benefit to their body? Is it possible to get too much exercise?
That depends on how active you are in your day-to-day life. If you have a fairly active occupation then you’re probably doing enough. Unfortunately most people aren’t active enough, so to get the maximum benefit they really should do something every day.
It is possible to exercise too much but that really comes down to a balance between training load (total amount of exercise you do each week), training intensity, recovery (or sleep), and energy. An easy way to overcome this is to:
- Start your exercise program slowly - Increase the load and intensity gradually - Get at least 8 hours sleep each night - Ensure you’re eating enough
8. I know when I was losing weight two years ago, I would sometimes push myself to keep walking on that treadmill long after the signs of physical exhaustionhad hit me. What are the signs that people should watch out for to let them know it is time to stop their workout?
It’s funny Jimmy, the answer to this question is so obvious but many people will continue to push through because they think that exercise is so uncomfortable that this must be normal!
Symptoms such as light-headedness, feeling dizzy, cold or clammy skin, nausea, weak legs, or muscle and joint pain are sure signs that you need to stop for the day. Exercise will feel uncomfortable for many people but you shouldn’t feel like you’re going to die. If you get a well-designed training program you shouldn’t ever have to worry about this.
9. Please address this subject of carb-loading before an exercise routine. Do you ascribe to this theory or do you believe there is a better way to fuel cardiovascular exercise?
This concept was brought about as a means to provide endurance athletes (Marathoners, Triathletes, etc) with sufficient energy stores to compete at a high intensity, for a long period. In my time working with elite athletes I only dealt with their training, because they had a team of nutritionists working on their food intake. I can’t remember coming across any low-carb endurance athletes but Adro trained for 6-8 hours per day on a low-carb, 1200-calorie per day diet.
The human body can store an unbelievable amount of energy and anyone wanting to get the best out of their body during exercise should make sure they are consuming enough food across the whole week, rather than trying to ‘top up’ just before training.
10. THANK YOU again for sharing a few moments with us here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, Ray! Do you have any words of encouragement to share with my readers before you go?
Life really is short, it’s not just a slogan on a T-shirt. You don’t get a dress rehearsal. This is it, life is happening around you and you’re not getting the most out of it if you’re not healthy. Health is everything (ask anyone who has lost it). Improve your health and see how different the world looks. Don’t be one of those people that believes they have to be skinny to be healthy. You can be overweight and healthy, so no matter what your size get out there and start exercising today. You won’t regret it!
Wasn't that an awesome interview?!?! I love Ray Kelly and am so glad that people like him exist in this world. The work he did to help Adro Sarnelli win "The Biggest Loser" Australia was unbelievable and I wish him continued success with helping others lose weight and get fit in Australia. Speaking of Adro, I will be posting an interview I did with him tomorrow! You WON'T want to miss that!
"Biggest Loser" Australia's Adro Sarnelli and Kelly show off their muscles
In fact, if Ray Kelly's name sounds familiar, that's because he was the one who worked with Adro Sarnelli--aka the winner of "The Biggest Loser" Australia--earlier this year. You may remember that Kelly helped Adro realize that livin' la vida low-carb could help him shed the weight and the fat better for his body and the end result made it all worth it.
By the way, I'm still working on getting an interview with Adro and he assures me that will happen once life stops being so hectic for him. In fact, both he and Ray have already collaborated to start "The New Me" to help their fellow Aussie countrymen who struggle with their weight to find success like Adro did.
The 35-year old Kelly has been active his entire life with anything and everything that involves physical movement. He got into the fitness field 16 years ago and eventually started working with athletes to help them maximize their performance. He is also a frequent lecturer and has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
His passion is for people to begin taking their health and weight problems seriously. That's why he invested so much time into making Free-Online-Health.com the best it can be. Kelly is a friend to the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and I personally invite you to visit his outstanding web site TODAY! Be sure to check out his lively forum as well for interactive communication with Ray Kelly and others interested in health, diet and fitness.
9-5-06 UPDATE: Hey, I've got some exciting news to share with you. Ray Kelly has agreed to ANSWER YOUR EXERCISE QUESTIONS right here in this forum in an interview with "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog readers. That's right, he would like you to ask your toughest, most spell-binding questions about physical fitness that you can possibly think of.
Think you've got one for Ray? Then send it to me with the subject line "Ray Kelly Question" and I will send it to him for his answer to appear in an upcoming interview. E-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Don't delay, get your questions in today and you could see it answered right here very soon. Take advantage of this opportunity to ask a real fitness expert about exercise.
The 26-year old Adro lost an amazing 51.3 kilos overall, 37.58 percent of his starting weight in just four months, during the competition to edge out his fellow finalists. It was a shock to the mechanic who proclaimed on stage after being told he was the winner "this is unreal."
He credited his success to his neverending commitment to exercise four hours per day with his personal trainer Ray Kelly along with a high-protein, low-carb lifestyle (hey, how about that?!). Because he lost more weight as a percentage than anyone else, Adro pocketed a cool $200,000 as well as a home fitness gym to help him keep that amazing physique of his in tip-top shape.
In addition to winning "The Biggest Loser," Adro got another surprise after the show aired -- his wife Samantha announced she is expecting their second child! Describing her husband as "sex on a stick," Samantha said she is so proud of the man Adro has become and now she "can't keep my hands off him."
ENJOY IT, Adro! My wife says the same thing...right Christine? Right? LOL!
Just as I have noted previously about my own weight loss success, it's hard to see yourself as anything but the morbidly obese person you have been your entire life.
"I still don't see myself as a skinny guy but I am working on it," he admitted. "It takes a lot longer for my head to get around than my body to get around. The mind is a pretty powerful thing."
Oh, you're just getting started on it, too, Adro! The good thing is that it gets easier over time, but I wonder if people like us EVER completely feel like we are that thin person we always dream of becoming even while everyone around us seems to think so. Strange and ironic dichotomy, isn't it?
When asked his thoughts about "The Biggest Loser" trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, Adro was honest.
"I had my differences with them ... but I absolutely love them," he said. "Without them I would never have done this."
Yeah, I'm sure you hated them when you first started because it's hard as you know what to "move your butt" as fellow "Biggest Loser Australia" contestant David Hilyander would say. But eventually it gets easier and you start to CRAVE that exercise. FOUR HOURS A DAY, huh Adro! That makes me look like a lazy slob with my measly little one hour daily. Hee hee!
What's Adro going to use the money he won on? He says he wants to purchase a new home and even open a chain of weight-loss centers called "The New Me" (based on his personal motivating mantra) to help others in this obesity battle.
"We are going to open up health centres basically for overweight and obese people," he explained. "It will be a goal driven weight loss support centre."
WOW, what a way to take the message of healthy living to the people that need it. That's why I started my blog to help encourage and educate others to do something about THEIR weight like I did. Adro is taking his passion and desire to see others succeed at weight loss to another level and should be congratulated for caring enough about his fellow Australians to do that.
Be sure to visit AdroHealth.com to keep tabs on the progress that Adro is making in this new chapter in his life. You can e-mail Adro at adro@adrohealth.com to share your congratulatory message to him. Let him know "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" Jimmy Moore, a fellow "big loser," sent you and how proud you are of him for being a champion for all of us who are livin' la vida low-carb. :)
For the first go round of "The Biggest Loser" in Australia, it did incredibly well in the ratings -- an average of 1.2 million viewers per episode! Because of this, they are already preparing for a second installment of the series to be aired next year.
Applications are already being accepted for "The Biggest Loser Australia" 2 to be aired in early 2007. For all you Aussies who think you can handle the rigors of the show, just click here to learn how YOU can be considered for next season. GOOD LUCK!
I didn't personally get to see any of the episodes from "The Biggest Loser Australia," but I would still LOVE to. Anyone in Australia who happened to record the episodes either on VHS or DVD and would be willing to mail me a copy of the shows can contact me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
If you're having withdrawals from "The Biggest Loser Australia," then there's one more chance to catch some bonus footage this weekened when Network Ten airs a special called "The Secrets of The Biggest Loser" on Sunday night at 8:30pm.
