December 17th,2010 
The finale came brewing up a storm and the dust is still settling. Raj came back with a vengeance to claim his throne as Asia’s Biggest Loser for Season 2 and collected a fat check for USD100,000!
The contestants had done an astounding job of losing massive amounts of weight. It was a mixture of pride,health and excitement that shone through their faces but inevitably the spotlight belonged to the three finalists Raj,Nai and Genghis. Genghis did look a little chubbier than expected but he more than made up for it with his brand new confidence and good looks. Raj had us fooled in the beginning with a loose fitting suit but soon we saw the real deal when it was time to change into weigh-in outfits. When Nai made his entrance,he came looking like the obvious winner with blazer in hand cutting a slim and sleek figure in a well-fitted vest. He certainly had the crowd roaring and struck a perfect model’s pose when asked to do so by Marion. But looks can be deceiving. It was only towards the end that we realised how fiercely close it got between Nai and Raj before a stupefied Raj realised that he had won by just 1 kilo.
Raj the person whom everyone wanted to see lose,took the title like a champion against all odds. The pride he felt shone through and it was clear from his words that the prize for him was the transformation and not the money per se. Compared to his old self,the Raj now looks so much happier,fitter and healthier as his eyes sparkled with youthfulness. I couldn’t have been more proud to see the underdog win and win like a winner he did. There is nothing that beats the feeling of having all your determination,sacrifice and hardwork pay-off!
Winner Raj - Start Weight:144kg, Final Weight:77kg, Lost:67kg (46.53%)
But I have to admit that once the results are out, the videos of how each contestant had prepared for the finals always becomes my favourite part. This is the part where we identify the most with the contestants as they are at home making the sacrifices,putting in the hours and facing challenges,similar to what you and I might experience. I believe that although they do have access to guidance and free training but it is on their own personal schedule without the advantage and benefit of Kristy and Dave screaming at them to get them going and push harder or the controlled environment of the mansion. Here,they are also surrounded by temptations that come along in day to day life with family,friends and dinner parties.
Nai took extra precaution in this aspect when he exiled himself,away from home,to a Muay Thai training camp and trained with some of the world’s best fighters. Genghis and Raj stuck closer to the Biggest Loser Fitness First training style. No matter which method they chose it was blood,sweat and tears till the end. It just goes to show that when there is enough motivation,we can do what it takes to lose the weight;which is what happened with the contestants and which is the thing that took Raj all the way to the finals and ultimately landed him the coveted spot as the winner of this season’s Biggest Loser Asia.
2ns Place Nai - Start Weight:137kgs , Final Weight:74kgs, Lost:63kgs (45.99%)
Simple math tells us that all contestants including the finalists are home preparing for the finals when the Season actually starts airing on tv. Therefore Raj would have seen how strongly some of the other contestants felt against him on the show and he would also have been fully aware of all the explicitly negative comments expressed by members of the audience on The Biggest Loser Asia facebook page. I am pretty sure that this alone would have fueled him to go that extra step everyday while he trained at home for those last 3 months. For those who followed Season 1,they would know that history repeated itself all-over again here. “King David”lived through the same scenario if not worse in Season 1 before clinching the title as the first ever winner of The Biggest Loser Asia. It is always easier to strive forward when everybody is cheering you on,but David and Raj rode out the tide of negativity and triumphed when it seemed as though the world was against them!
The other contestants were no less successful,each in their own way,and there was marked improvement in almost all of them. Leo’s push-up entry was the sexiest,Lori looked stunning,Scott,a Hollywood hottie,Patty was transformed,Fish looked as though she had been slim all her life,Saw was half his size,Jon looked like a teenager,Peachy and Desiree were babes,Rico was a whole new person and though Shakira,Yana,Manjit and Sheila (Lose Big at home contest finalist) have a little way to go,they all looked gorgeous.
3rd Place Genghis - Start Weight:162kgs,Final Weight:105kgs,Lost:57kgs (35.19%)
Apart from Raj who won the Biggest Loser Asia prize money of USD100,000,Desiree won USD10,000 as the winner of the Lose Big at home contest and Fish won hotel accommodations with Park Hotel for losing the biggest percentage among the eliminated contestants. Hopefully the coming season sees more and bigger sponsors so that there is a sizeable prize money for the winner of eliminated contestants. At least this way there will also be a final weigh-in for them that will definitely prove more exciting for viewers.
All said and done, a big congratulations goes out to the show on another successful season and to all the contestants who took part in the Biggest Loser challenge and changed their lives!
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Hi Shamala. Just wanted to pop in and say hi and also to tell you to keep up the good work with the posts next season! I really enjoyed reading your summaries of the episodes!
Thanks Lori! I'm thrilled to hear from you. Recently I've been tied down with work but intend to get back to blogging as soon as I can. Admired you lots in the show,hope you're doing great!