‘Biggest Loser’ was the least likely winner

GRAND winner Bryan Castillo lost 154 pounds, or 52.56 percent, of his starting weight of 293 lb.

“HE wasn’t a strong contender. He seemed too soft and was always crying,” said fitness coach Jim Saret of “Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Doubles” grand winner Bryan Castillo, whom he also described as the “dark horse.”

Castillo, 22, lost 154 pounds or 52.56 percent of his weight of 293 lb prior to joining the reality show. He brought home a cash prize of P1 million, a business franchise package, a home appliance showcase, P100,000 worth of sports goods and accessories, plus a lifetime gym membership.

Opportunities

“I guess it was his destiny to win. Opportunities presented themselves to him, and it helped that his sister was there almost until the end,” Saret said.

Fourteen pairs were introduced at the start of the show. Castillo was part of Team Magkapatid, with sister Ikya. She was eliminated during Week 13.

KAYEN Lazaro, 1st runner-up, shed 145 pounds off her starting weight of 287 lb.

Castillo said he considered the rope challenge the hardest during his stay of over three months in the “Biggest Loser” camp in General Trias, Cavite. “Ikya and I learned a lot during that challenge. We argued so much … but still finished it. I thank her for her support. My victory is her victory, too,” he told the Inquirer shortly after the “Bigating Pagtatapos” held at Dolphy Theater inside the ABS-CBN Compound in Quezon City.

Kayen Lazaro, 36, was proclaimed first runner-up and won a cash prize of P500,000. She shed 145 lb off her starting weight of 287 lb.

Francis Asis, 22, who weighed in at 305 lb and lost 149 lb, was proclaimed second runner-up. He bagged P300,000 in cash.

FRANCIS Asis weighed in at 305 pounds. He lost 149 lb and won 2nd runner-up.

Osie Nobreja, Asis’ partner in Bagong BigaTeam, won the 3rd runner-up title after shedding 133 lb from 280 lb. The oldest contestant at 45, Nobreja proved that age wasn’t an obstacle to performing well in the contest. She took away a cash prize of P200,000.

Twice rewarded

For being the only pair to make it to the finals, Nobreja and Asis each received an additional cash prize twice the value of their individual monetary rewards.

Program host Iza Calzado, who admitted that she was emotional during the finale, said she didn’t expect Castillo to win, either. She recounted, “I remember him as the guy who always made the sign of the cross at weigh-ins, and cried often. When he got into the Final 4, that’s when I saw the possibility. Of all the contestants, he had the most hunger for it. I could tell by looking into his eyes that he wanted it more than anybody else did.”

After leaving the “Biggest Loser Doubles” camp, the four contestants continued their weight-loss journey under Saret’s supervision, with his wife Toni, also a professional fitness trainer.

OSIE Nobreja, 3rd runner-up: From 280 pounds down to 133 lb

Saret said he dealt with each contestant differently. “They had different reasons for being in the show. With Bryan, it was easy; I just kept reminding him of his family,” the coach said. “The contestants, at certain points, became too conscious of being on television, becoming popular. Bryan was different. He was never really after that.”

Castillo said he was determined to maintain his new body. “I’ve overcome my bad eating habits. I plan to carry on with my exercise routines. I want to inspire other people,” he said, adding that he never expected to lose over 100 lb. “My goal was just to become lighter, be able to take up running and other sports.”

He would like to be more involved in  promoting fitness, Castillo said. “I hope to find many opportunities to meet with people who are overweight. I would tell them that nothing is impossible, and present myself as proof.”

Robi Domingo and Matteo Guidicelli were the show’s challenge masters. Tutti Caringal and Abra opened the hourlong show.

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