Pinoy Biggest Loser Bryan vows never to look back

Viewers were stunned when they saw the final four of Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Doubles parading on stage for their last weigh-in last weekend.

When 22-year-old Bryan Castillo got into the Biggest Loser camp, all he wanted was to lose a hundred pounds so he could prove something to his family and parents. Months later, he lost a total of 154 lbs. from his initial weight.

After recording a stunning 52.56 weight loss percentage to 139 lbs. from 293 lbs., Bryan was named the newest Pinoy Biggest Loser. He recorded the highest weight loss percentage among his co-finalists Kayen Lazaro, Francis Asis and Osie Nebreja to win P1M, P100,000 worth of sporting goods and accessories, a business franchise package, home appliance showcase and lifetime gym membership. 

A former self-declared pasaway, Bryan was admittedly a big disappointment to his family. “Now I have given them more: Discipline and a sense of responsibility,” he shared. â€¨

Bryan was part of Team Magkapatid with his sister Ikya, who got eliminated during the show’s 10th weigh-in. As a pair, they recorded the highest numbers of wins in the program’s major challenges. “Everything that’s happening hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m very happy to get the title. My only wish is to make my family happy. This is what God gave me,” Bryan said. â€œNow, I’m standing here in front of you with no fears. I won’t look back. I’m looking forward to a better future and a better Bryan,” he added. 

Working mom Kayen was hailed as first runner-up with a weight loss percentage of 50.52 or 145 lbs. to weigh 142 from an initial weight of 287 lbs. She brought home P500,000. 

Bagong Bigateam’s Francis and Osie were declared the second and third runners-up, respectively, with weight loss percentages of 48.85 and 47.5. Because they made it to the finale as a pair, they got double the P300,000 and P200,000 cash prizes they were supposed to get. â€¨

Francis, the season’s youngest contestant, shed 149 lbs. to weigh 156 lbs. from 305 lbs., while 45-year-old Osie lost 133 lbs. to weigh 147 lbs. from 280 lbs. 

All runners-up were also awarded one-year gym membership and a home appliance showcase. 

Bryan shared some advice with people who want to start adopting a healthy lifestyle. â€œPeople ask me, ‘How did you do it?’ You should first ask yourself why you should. Talk to yourself. Find a reason and let it motivate you,” he shared. 

He added, “If you feel quitting, remember why you even started. It’s difficult to do something if you don’t learn to love it, if you don’t submit your whole self to it. People want to see immediate results, but it doesn’t work that way. If you plant a seed, you have to look after it. Because eventually you will see the fruits of what you’ve worked hard on.” 

As for Kayen, she said that it is not the fear of gaining back the weight she lost that intimidates her, but “the fact that more than 90 percent of obese people who lose a lot of weight gain it back,” as shared with them by the show’s resident nutritionist-chef Nadine Tengco.

“I know why I became obese. I know all the bad habits I did before. Knowing and accepting is one thing. If you don’t want to go back to where you were, you just have to do what you have to do,” Kayen revealed.

Her advice? Take baby steps.

“With food, if you eat two cups of rice, make it one cup. Don’t shock your system. Be active. Don’t be sedentary. Just walk around. For an obese person, walking goes a long way. You don’t have to go straight to the gym and do big exercises right away. As long as your body is challenged, you’re good,” she said.

Francis, meanwhile, sees maintaining his fit body as an easy feat.

“I can’t last a day without working out. There was this one day I told myself to relax and not do anything. I just lay in bed. I started doing sit-ups, then squats. Then I started working out already. My body misses it,” he shared.

Osie, fondly called Mommy Osie in the show, said people in her home province would come up to her and ask her to help them. She vowed to them that once her Biggest Loser journey was over, she would “pay it forward” and teach them everything she learned in the camp.

Grateful for how the reality show turned her life around, Mommy Osie said she dedicates to the Biggest Loser the jazz hit You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, which has the lyrics “I’ve had my share of life’s ups and downs... I guess, you could say that I’ve been lucky. Well, I guess you could say that it’s all because of you.”

“Its lyrics are just simple, but meaty. Every word is spot on. Biggest Loser really changed our lives,” she said.

So those who want to lose weight should not lose hope.  They can take inspiration from some of last season’s biggest losers.