April 8th,2010 
Garry's Amazing Transformation !
Garry Holden,the emotional 41 year-old,who weighed 120kgs,was willing to give blood,sweat and tears,to win the battle of the bulge in The Biggest Loser Asia,and did just that. Garry’s inspiring spirit in the show is carried forward as he begins a new chapter in his life!
Q: How much have you lost to date and are you anywhere near your goal?
A: I have lost over 40kgs and am now at my goal weight of 80kgs.
Q: Were you disappointed that there were no weigh-ins in the finals for the eliminated contestants?
A: Having watched every season Finale of the US version of the show I was expecting all of the eliminated contestants to be weighed in so I was a bit disappointed when we weren’t. I had worked really hard to reach my goal weight of 80kgs and it would have been amazing to have seen that on the scale with my starting weight and my total weight loss percentage since starting the show.
Q:Do you feel you deserved to be in the final four?
A:Yes in all honesty,I worked really hard to reach my goal and it would have been fantastic to have reached the final four. I had always dreamed about punching my way through the frame of the ‘old me’! I have come so far and achieved so much and whilst of course it would have been great to be in the final I feel like a winner anyway and that feeling and achievement will stay with me always.
Q:Tell us about your new fitness program…
A: I have set up a program called The Unique Weight Loss Experience in Phuket www.theuniqueweightlossexperience.com or www.tuwle.com. This is a one-on-one program giving 100% focus and commitment to those who want to turn their lives around. I don’t claim to be an expert but I will be right by their side helping them to learn the importance of healthy eating and exercise. I will help them to learn about portion control and will train right alongside them giving my undivided attention and support. I’m just an ordinary guy but I am living proof that this can be done and if I can help just one person on the way to a healthy life then it will all be worthwhile.
the ex-Mr. Jelly Belly
Q: What did you do after leaving your career as Mr. Jelly Belly?
A:Mr Jelly Belly was a big part of my life for over 15 years and was put to bed 4 years ago. I have always loved music and entertaining people so it seemed only fitting to put this to use and until recently I was a DJ in Phuket doing weddings,private parties and corporate functions. Although I enjoyed my work it was not a healthy lifestyle for me and I was living to the excess and not in a good way. If I wanted to be around on this earth for longer I needed to make a lifestyle change and stop taking my health and my life for granted and for that reason I no longer DJ.
Q: How did you learn about the audition and what made you take that last-minute step?
A: I have always been an avid fan of The Biggest Loser,even having the audacity to criticize the contestants whilst munching away on junk food from the comfort of my sofa. I never considered myself to be in ‘their league’ and yet here I was. I was 41 years old and weighed over 120kgs,if I didn’t do something about this now I would be lucky to reach 50. And the thought that my coffin would be too heavy to lift was just too much to bear. This wasn’t fair to me and it certainly wasn’t fair to my wife,she never signed up for this. The announcement on Hallmark that The Biggest Loser was coming to Asia couldn’t have come at a more critical time. I checked out the application criteria,chose to apply and took the first steps to changing my life around.
Q: What was the audition in Malaysia like?
A: The audition was very nerve racking as this was the chance for me to have an opportunity to turn my life around and I didn’t want to blow it.
Q: How has losing weight changed your social life?
A: Losing weight hasn’t changed my social life as such but my sex life is now fantastic thank you for asking! I do still enjoy myself,everything in moderation and I surround myself with positive people.
Q: How has losing weight changed your life health wise?
A: My health is so much better since losing the weight. I used to suffer from sleep apnea but that has stopped,as has my snoring which my wife is really happy about! I have so much energy now and I wake up feeling fantastic!
Garry with proud parents and wife
Q: Are your family and friends back in the UK aware of your participation in The Biggest Loser Asia and your transformation?
A: My mum made sure everyone knew because she was so proud! Many of my friends have since said they were worried I’d be dead soon because of my weight and unhealthy lifestyle. They are really happy that I am going to be around for a lot longer – well most of them are!
Q: How has your family reacted to your weight loss especially your wife?
A: My family are all really proud of me and my weight loss and have been really supportive throughout my journey and no one more so than my wife Jackie. She has been my rock and has always loved me and stood by me no matter what. Although I have to say she is really loving the new me!!
Q:How long has it been since you settled down in Thailand and do you miss the UK?
A: Jackie and I came to Thailand on our honeymoon 6 years ago,we fell in love with Phuket and less than a year later we were living here. The most I miss about the UK is friends and family but we are very lucky to have so many of them come and visit us in Phuket and we try to go back to the UK once a year if possible to visit everyone.
Q: Do you get recognised on the streets all the time now and how does it feel?
A: I do get recognised a bit which is hilarious but some people I know still walk straight pass me as they don’t recognise me as I’ve changed so much!
Q:What was your motivation after leaving the villa that kept you on the program? Did your routine change in any way?
A: Jackie was my main motivation since leaving the show and she really helped to keep me focused. If I was having a bad day Jackie would take time out to come to the gym with me and spur me on. I had always said that I would be at my goal weight of 80kgs at the finale and I was going to do everything to make sure that happened and it did!
Q:You were voted out pretty early in the show by the red team who said you played games. How true was it because the audience were not shown that.
A: It wasn’t true and I didn’t play games,I was only ever there to lose weight and get healthy. I don’t think the Reds voted for the better of the team and in my opinion I was voted out because I was a threat and they just didn’t see the bigger picture. As Rashmi said at the Finale she did regret voting me out so early. But hey you can’t change the past you can only change the future. I think it was a blessing in disguise as I needed to do this on my own and for once in my life I have finally finished something that I started.
Q:We’ve seen the emotional side of you. How do you handle the stresses of daily life and how does your wife cope with it?
A:I have never wanted something so much,so much more than I’ve ever wanted anything. Having that chance to change my life for the better was so amazing and I guess that’s why I was so emotional because I was so passionate about it. My wife is pretty laid back and doesn’t get too stressed about things so she has a very calming influence,its a case of ying and yang!
Garry with wife Jackie
Q: We enjoyed your dramatic proposal on the finals. How much has your wife lost and does she follow the same routine as you? What is her target weight loss?
A: I loved proposing to Jackie and I finally got to make her jaw drop! Jackie has so far lost 23kgs. She started her own weight loss journey when I first went on the show but she says that the majority of the weight loss has been since we’ve been training together. Also she has joined The Biggest Loser Club web site and that has helped her so much with her diet and portion control. She only has another 11kgs to reach her goal weight and she is very excited that her goal is in sight!
Q:What made you put on all that excessive weight in the first place?
A: If I knew the answer to that I’d never have got so fat in the first place!
Q: Do you still fight urges to go back to habits that made you gain weight?
A: Some days I think about being able to eat what I like or as much as I like but trust me,the way I feel right now is so much better than any of the foods I had that accompanied me on my journey to obesity. This feeling is enough to fight any urges! Also I respect how much exercise you need to do to burn it off!
Q: What was a normal day like for you as you prepared for the finals?
A:I would start my day with a 5k run at 6.30am. Then head to the gym for no more than a couple of hours work out. I exercised 6 days a week and had Sundays off to give my body a chance to rest and recover. I believe in giving everything to my workout to get the job done,up the intensity levels and you get more free time away from the gym.
Q:What is a normal day like for you now?
A: Pretty much the same but I can be a bit more relaxed about going to the gym. Amazingly if I don’t exercise most days I find myself missing it – never thought those words would ever come from me! My new weight loss program also helps to keep me exercising and controlling my foods so really people are helping me! It’s a win-win.
Q:What is your diet like these days?
A: I eat a healthy diet of 3 meals a day and a couple of healthy snacks. I also like to follow the 80:20 rule whereby if I’m good for 80% of the time then I can have some treats or rewards 20% of the time. I’m a big believer in having the things you most enjoy as long as it’s in moderation. After all we still want to have a life!
Q: Being countrymen of Thailand,how close have you become to Tony?
A: Tony is such a wonderful guy he’s become like a brother to me. He has such a great personality;he is a very genuine and caring person with a fantastic sense of humour. We are very close and we do stay in touch all the time. Jackie and I are looking forward to our next trip to Bangkok for some fun with Tony and his girlfriend!
Q: What was the most memorable thing for you at the villa?
A: Being picked as one of the final 16 contestants on the green at Afamosa by Kristy Curtis – what a wonderful feeling!
Q:Do you think you could have ever done it without The Biggest Loser Asia?
A: Of course I’d like to think that one day I could have done this by myself,but realistically…. no it would never have happened. I really needed to be taken out of my comfort zone to be able to do this and this is a part of The Unique Weight Loss Experience to bring people out of their comfort zone to get started on the right path.
Q:What is your biggest challenge for you in terms of maintaining your weight loss now that the hype is over and life is back to normal?
A: My life isn’t really back to normal as I now have a new healthy life which is far more exciting. 5 months ago,normal for me was being an obese man and I’m never going back to that. I was never in it for the hype for so it’s not a problem for me.
with The Biggest Loser Asia trainer Kristy Curtis
Q: What do you like about Kristy Curtis as your trainer?
A: EVERYTHING! Kristy is amazing. She was with us every step of the way through the highs and the lows. She believed in me and never once let me down. Kristy taught me so much and helped me to change my life,I will never forget that. Oh and she has a nice butt too!
Q:Who was the contestant that you were closest to at the villa and why?
A:I was probably the closest with Martha,she was like a daughter to me and we had no end of fun. Martha is such a character and the room would always light up when she was around. I think we just had a really good connection and there was never a dull moment with Martha about. When Martha left the house before the finale she struggled when she first went back to Hong Kong so she went to find Tony to help and she also came and stayed with me and Jackie in Phuket for a while to help her get back on track so we really are pretty close.
Q: Are there any incidences that were left out,that you wish were shown to the audience?
A: None that I can think of.
Q: If you had to do it all over again,what would you change?
A: Ideally I would have changed my team mates but kept Kristy as my trainer. I had a very strong bond with the blue team. I always felt insecure and a bit of an outsider on the red team and there was definitely more camaraderie on the blue team. I also felt the blue team really got into the spirit of what The Biggest Loser is all about,that was very important to me.
Q: Was there animosity between the red and blue teams at the villa and how did you deal with it?
A:There was no animosity but there was some friendly competitiveness which made it quite fun.
Q: How is your relationship with the rest of the contestants today? Who do you keep in touch with most?
A: I have a very strong relationship with a lot of the contestants and I stay in touch the most with Martha,Tony,Aaron,Marilyn,David and Rashmi and everyone else on Facebook as we all still support each other.
Q: Was there any incident at the villa that really affected you,that was not shown to the viewers?
A: I think the viewers saw pretty much everything that affected me!
Q: Is there anything else you would like to say?
A: You ask a lot of questions!
Q:How would you describe the whole experience?
A: Incredibly awesome! What a wonderful opportunity to be given a second chance at life and you just could not pay for that amount of training and education. I am truly grateful and count my blessings for the opportunity.
Q: Your words of motivation for fans and readers?
A: I’m just an ordinary guy and I am proof that if I can do this then anybody can. All it takes is someone to believe you,starting with yourself. Don’t delay your life any longer,you deserve this,start today because this is your life and your time to fly –www.tuwle.com
Garry at 98kgs working towards his current 80 kgs
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by WeightLossWShamala. WeightLossWShamala said:Interview with Garry!!! http://weightlosswithshamala.com/the-biggest-loser-asia/the-biggest-loser-asia-season-1-interview-with-garry-holden [...]
What is Mr. Jelly Belly?
That was his career name when he worked as a children's entertainer!
Thank you for the Interview Shamala . If there is anything else i can help you with just let me Know yea Keep up the Great work Cheers Garry
Thank you so much for the offer Garry and thanks also for the wonderful interview. Wish you all the success in your fitness business!