The Biggest Loser Asia Season 1:Interview With TonyThe Biggest Loser Asia Season 1:Interview With Tony

April 19th,2010

Left:Tony before the show Right:looking dashing at the finale

Suthat Charnvises or better known as Tony was the force that held the blue team together through joy and laughter in Season 1 of The Biggest Loser Asia. In this interview,Tony more than candidly shares his views and opinions on his life and the show soon after the finals.

Q: Tony,your given name is Suthat Charnvises. Is there a story behind the nickname “Tony”?
A: My Thai nickname is actually “Ton” but when I was living in England (from 11 yrs old to 24 yrs old) my friends started to add a “Y”. They probably found Thai pronunciation too difficult.

Q: Tell us about the members of your family?
A:I am the eldest son of three. And all of us are working in restaurant business,and of course my dad is a big guy. My brother used to be big but he went on a diet and now he is lean. So I wanted to follow suite and join The Biggest Loser Asia. We are very close and all of them supported my decision to go on the show.

Q: Tell us about your business and what is your role in it?
A:I run my own business,the big boss;I started the catering business 9 years ago and then took over the existing family restaurant business. So my normal day schedule is very tight and hectic,to be on the show is actually easier in terms of daily routine. Just more tiring physically.

The company owns outlets of restaurant,catering site and provides off premises catering,and employs more than 100 people. So leaving the company for 3 months to go on the show is a big thing. But my brother did well look after it while I was away.

Q: Being a successful chef,what are your signature dishes?
A:Well,our signature dish is actually my grandmother recipe which is Chicken Pandan. This recipe is the original recipe of Chicken Pandan that we see around the world. I am more of the management chef rather than Executive Chef. I hire executive chefs. But when I started the catering company 9 years ago I was cooking most of the food.

Tony with his beautiful girlfriend

Q:You looked absolutely dapper on the finale night. Can you tell us about your exercise regime and how much you’ve lost?
A:I started with 136 kg. Now I am 91 kg. 45 kg lost is beyond my expectation and I am so pleased with the result. I didn’t lose much after leaving the show up till now (left the show at 99kg) but I didn’t worry,I just kept going just as long as I am losing. However,I noticed that when you are below 100kg mark you are losing more measurements than the weight itself. I have abandoned some trousers that I bought the day after I left the show;it is too big now.

My exercise is very simple and very light compared to the show but still above average for most people in the real world. I would go for an hour run (around 9 to 10 km) followed by rowing for another 15 to 20 mins and a warm down with the spin bike for 10 mins so in all my exercise session last only one hour and a half. But I do that six days a week.

My diet is simple too,I have cut down all carbs intake to around 5% of what I used too. That meant only two slices of bread a day (morning). No sugar,rice,pastry,pasta,noodle,Danish,puff,pies and sweets…and all bread/ flour type. You can say that it is a low carbs diet.

Q: How has losing weight improved your health?
A:I am feeling much more fit and that’s the main thing. However,I felt more loving and caring towards myself and really want to take of it more than ever.

I don’t feel lazy to walk here and there like I used too as well as I feel more energized to engage in any activities.

Physically,I am in good shape but it is much more mentally which I am feeling absolutely 110% healthy.

Q: Are you more active in your social life now compared to before?
A:Well socially I have always been active,being in the catering and event business. But yes I am planing so many holidays and want to travel more and more. Sky diving is on the list too!!

losing his first whopping 10kgs at the villa

Q: What was your workout regime at the villa and was it any different when you went home to prepare for the finale?
A:In the villa,the workout consists of morning and evening session and both are the same. It started off with pre-gym exercise 9k walk/run then straight to gym for cardio exercises and light weights. Total per day is 12 hours…intense hey.

At home I would spend 1 ½ hours in the gym daily and mostly cardio. This is a good way to lose weight and not to built muscle mass. But after the finale I added more weights and resistant training.

Basically,outside the villa things are easier and slower but the commitment is still the same,keep losing the weight.

Q: What was your biggest motivating factor outside the villa?
A:My motivation came from within me mostly. I treated the whole experience as a job. It is just a thing you have to do and just do it. No questions asked. Families and friend will support me whether I lose the weight or not. I just want to overcome my weight problem and I think that’s really my biggest motivation.

Q: How did you come to know about the audition and what made you go for it?
A:I knew about the audition on Hallmark while I was browsing aimlessly. I went for it because It’s a challenge,it’s a dare. I have never won the battle of my self-indulgences especially with food. So the show was my stage. To me it’s like going in to war.

I have already successfully run a company,sort out my family’s businesses and financial matters. It was just perfect timing in my life.

I just went…

Q: Which audition did you attend? Tell us about that experience.
A:I went to audition in Malaysia. It was a long day and I didn’t want to go there in the first place because of the expenses and time. But the casting people sent me an email and called me personally asking me to come and I thought I might have a chance or at least they were looking at my application otherwise they will not make such an efforts to contact me among thousands of people.

I arrived at Fitness First (The Curve) around 11 AM and waited until 4 PM until I got to see the audition room. But it was all worth it and I made so many friends during the long wait,especially Hidaya who was behind me. Unfortunately,she didn’t get in. Hidaya is the founder of my fan page.

Q: Why do you think you were chosen for the audition? Is spoken English a prerequisite?
A:I think I was chosen based on many factors. One I am fat!! Second I think among the Thais who applied I had language advantage. Having been in England for such a long time I was quite familiar with the English slang,jokes,etc.. and not just being able to speak it. Thirdly,I think I had an interesting background as well,a chef,business owner and age…hahah…But the true reasons are on paper with the casting crew…I don’t really know…just glad they did pick me.

Q: You described that you didn’t love your overweight self before. Has that changed now?
A: I actually do not hate who I am but I felt that I had neglected my body too much and had never really look after the most expensive asset,‘life’. Yes,I am now loving my body,myself,my time,my own wishes and all that because I feel that they are worth it,and should be protected.

Tony's "little sister"Martha on the far left

Q:We know that Martha went seeking your help in training for the finals. How did that affect your regime?
A:What happened was..I knew that Martha was struggling to get into her exercise routine at home because of her friends and lifestyle. She is young. Her friends (lots of them) are still young. They always party and go out till late. I just offered her a new environment away from all parties and too much good times. I wanted her to have good times too but under control. She took the offer and she is with me now. Me and my girlfriend took her in and still look after her until today. I am very close to her mum and she is glad that she is with her “older brother”. With her around,I am always on my toes keeping thing in control not just for her but for me too..exercise,eating…so we help each other…That goes with Garry too. We love her here in Thailand.

Q: Who was the closest contestant to you and why?
A:Martha for one…she is my little sister. I am closed to her because I don’t have a sister and she fitted right in. Additionally,she needed a bigger brother as well. David,my roommate,we shared alot for 3 months,so it’s obvious why we were close.

Q: Do you think you could have ever done it without The Biggest Loser Asia?
A:No,not because they have a better exercise programs or even trainers. But Biggest Loser Asia gave me the closed environment that I needed. It gave me a barrier to shut off and push away all other things in real life that demanded most of my time and energy. And because of this I could concentrate and put all my energy and time into losing weight.

Q: Do you think the show was a fair representation of what went on in the villa?
A:Well,if we are talking about “The Show” then it did a great job. People were hooked to its drama,contradicting characters,conflicts and all aspects that make good TV. But if we are talking about representing each contestant,all of their actions,thoughts and things that really happened…well it just simply did not,but would the show be able to do that realistically? I don’t think it can. One,they can not simply air everything,it will take 24/7,right. Two,it will be boring because things did not just happen they happened gradually and I don’t think viewers will have the patience nor time to watch all that…

Remember…to you its mostly a “Show”. You watch it to be entertained,maybe some inspiration,but mostly just for entertainment.

Q: Are contestants compensated for loss of income while being at the villa?
A: —-I can not comment in detail but yes there are some kind of compensation.

Q: Did you worry about your business when you were away and how did it survive your absence?
A:I did manage to arrange everything before hand and actually was worrying more about my future health. If I am not fit in the future then my business will not survive for sure. So I was looking at the long term. 3 months in my business is not that long and I was sure that for the past 10 years I have built a strong enough foundation for it to operate with or with out me.

Q: How has your family reacted towards the new you?
A: My family was ecstatic about the result. My mum actually said to stop dieting as she thought I was getting too small too quick for her. But of course she was overjoyed that I am in good physical shape and fitter. As for my dad,who had been in and out of the hospital many times in the past five years was relieved that I had taken a different path and could see that I have added more mileage to my life.

Q: Do people treat you differently now?
A: For the people I knew before the show,they all treat me the same but with more respect,not because I am thinner but they respect my motivation and achievement. They all praise my efforts. However,some are still not used to seeing me in this shape,so kind of weird for them at first.

For the people who don’t know me before the show,they just cannot see me that fat..they were all “what you used to be 136 kg…wow?”… that kind of thing.

Q: How are you dealing with your new-found popularity?
A: I don’t think popularity is the word. I don’t think being on this show will make us celebrities nor pop singers but people recognise our motivation and dedication. For that I love it as it showed that when are done,it actually inspires people. I think I prefer this kind popularity because it is real. It is not just something that had been made up like most pop stars. This is real people,real results.

Training with The Biggest Loser Asia trainer Dave Nuku

Q: What do you like about Dave Nuku as your trainer?
A:Dave Nuku is truly Asia. He knows the culture. He knows how to treat and communicate with us (asians). Dave handled us with care and motivated us through encouragement rather than fear or force. We all love him for that. People did not get left behind. That’s why the blue team was so tight even in the individual round.

Q: Since you are surrounded by food do you think you’ll be successful in maintaining your current weight?
A: Yes yes yes…..I am so in to it now and really love it. I never had this feeling before. Even-though I am surrounded by food as long as I keep close to the gym I will be fine.

Q: The blue team members were devastated with your hospitalisation while at the villa. Why do you think they missed you that much?
A:Well the blue team bonded as a very very tight unit. Everybody in the team play different parts so missing any part will be devastation.

Q:Was there animosity between the red and blue teams at the villa and did it change during the individual rounds?
A: It was not really animosity. It was merely a very competitive environment. It is a game and the blue team treated the game seriously as a team. And with that we were strong as a team and obviously we didn’t want to let that team strength go even in the individual round. I am sure if the red team was in our position they would have the same feelings. But in their case nationality became the anchor point.

Q: How is your relationship with the rest of the contestants today? Who do you keep in touch with most?
A: All contestants are very close. It is obvious. We spent 24/7 together for 3 months. I keep in touch with everybody. Especially the blue team. I think now we are like brothers and sisters. Martha is actually staying with me and my girlfriend now and probably will for sometime. She is now truly our little sister

'shushing'with Kristy Curtis

Q: How did you make up with Kristy after the “shushing” incident?
A: Well what went on that day was history as quickly as we walked out of the gym. She knew that I had that attitude because I was tired and was concentrating on pushing myself to the limit. And I knew that Kristy was not used to how we train,we were a quiet bunch and did not have that Gung-Ho-Yeah-Man macho talk like some of her red team members are used to.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to say?
A:I would like to say that my success is only a kick start of what I can become in the future. The real hard work starts now. For those people who are looking to have the kick start,join the show if not start slow and do not give up. Take it gram by gram…you will get there. Slow but sure.

Q: How would you describe the whole experience.
A:It was an awakening experience. It was something that I had never dreamt of doing but it just happened and I grabbed it and did not let go. As I said after I was eliminated,“It would be nice to win but I’ve already won”.

Q: Your words of motivation for fans and readers?
A: There is no other permanent way to lose weight apart from exercise. You can still enjoy eating but GO TO THE GYM,shed those weight one gram at a time…

You described that you didn’t love your overweight self before. Has that changed now?