Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Here’s How The Man Who Won ‘The Biggest Loser’ 10 Years Ago Has Completely Changed His Life
User submission
112.7K
1.1M

Here’s How The Man Who Won ‘The Biggest Loser’ 10 Years Ago Has Completely Changed His Life

ADVERTISEMENT

Back in 2008, Sam Rouen won the third series of ‘The Biggest Loser,’ a reality TV show that pits overweight contestants against each other to see who can lose the highest percentage of body weight for a cash prize.

Aged just 19 at the time, Sam weighed a hefty 154kg when he started on the weight-loss show, and by the end had lost an amazing 71kg. Now 29 and a fireman, it is clear that he has kept up his good habits since his appearance on the show after releasing a post with before and after photos reflecting on the 10 year period of his incredible transformation. “Wasn’t sure if I was going to do this post?” He said. “However, ten years, hey. What a time. So much has happened, good, bad, everything between. Highest highs and lowest lows. All I know is I’ve got some amazing people in my corner, and I’m unconditionally appreciative of that.”

Sharing a before-and-after photo from a chubby teenager on the show to ripped and toned firefighter, he is completely unrecognizable from his former self. He has found love and appeared as a model in a firefighters calendar, and is dedicated to his healthy lifestyle and exercise program. “I’m addicted to working out now, and I definitely love running and working out with my brother. I play a bit of sport to stay in shape and also work out in the gym,” he told Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

ADVERTISEMENT

However despite the positive changes in his appearance he still has some leftover anxiety formed long ago during his overweight days. “I’m still extremely self-conscious,” he says. “I still don’t like taking my shirt off, even at the beach.”

Sam’s story is pretty inspirational and shows what can be done with some hard work, dedication to healthy living and sticking with your weight loss program. Having achieved his aim of becoming a fireman and coming out looking fantastic in the process, Sam believes that “you can be at your lowest point and, with a bit of hard work and persistence, you can turn it around and fulfill your dreams.”

More info: Facebook

RELATED:

    This is Sam Rouen, pictured before as a teenager on reality TV show ‘The Biggest Loser’

    He was always heavy in his younger days before deciding to go on the show

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Sam Rouen

    He was the winner of the third series back in 2008

    Image credits: Network 10

    Going from a hefty 154kg

    Image credits: Network 10

    To 83kg, losing an astonishing 71kg in 12 weeks on the show

    Image credits: Network 10

    He has kept up his healthy lifestyle in the 10 years since

    Image credits: Sam Rouen

    ”I’m addicted to working out now, I definitely love running and working out with my brother”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Sam Rouen

    ADVERTISEMENT

    He has fulfilled his dream of becoming a firefighter

    Image credits: Sam Rouen

    And has appeared as a model in a firefighters calendar

    Image credits: Sam Rouen

    Image credits: Australian Firefighters Calendar

    He has found love and is engaged to his girlfriend Daniella

    Image credits: Australian Firefighters Calendar

    Despite his impressive physique he still gets self conscious

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Australian Firefighters Calendar

    ”I still don’t like taking my shirt off, even at the beach”

    Image credits: Australian Firefighters Calendar

    Image credits: Australian Firefighters Calendar

    Sam’s story is pretty inspirational and shows what can be done with some hard work and dedication to healthy living

    Image credits: Sam Rouen

    ”You can be at your lowest point and, with a bit of hard work and persistence, you can turn it around and fulfill your dreams”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Sam Rouen

    1.1Mviews

    Share on Facebook
    James Caunt

    James Caunt

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

    Read less »
    James Caunt

    James Caunt

    Author, Community member

    James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Julia NotMyLastname
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While of course this is amazing, how has nobody pointed out yet that it says he "still doesn't like taking his shirt off, even at the beach." And then proceeds to show 6 pictures of him with his shirt off,not including the three beforehand. I just think it's kind of funny. (I'm gonna get a million downvotes, aren't I?)

    Zelda Jones
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I guess he made the exception as the shirtless pics were from a Fireman's calendar; the proceeds of which I presume were either going to a charity or else to a fund for a firemen's cause.

    Load More Replies...
    Nancy E
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Congrats to you, for a goal, discipline , a healthy lifestyle , & , your engagement !

    AmeliaBaxter
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I resigned my office-job and now I am getting paid £64 hourly. How? I work over internet! My old work was making me miserable, so I was forced to try something different, two years after...I can say my life is changed-completely for the better! Check it out what i do... http://cutt.us/Gf3Ed

    Load More Replies...
    Jenni Jones
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can really see how people project their own insecurities in comment sections....

    Full Name
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And by the way everybody deals with everybody all day long. We're pretty much a product of them.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Julia NotMyLastname
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While of course this is amazing, how has nobody pointed out yet that it says he "still doesn't like taking his shirt off, even at the beach." And then proceeds to show 6 pictures of him with his shirt off,not including the three beforehand. I just think it's kind of funny. (I'm gonna get a million downvotes, aren't I?)

    Zelda Jones
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I guess he made the exception as the shirtless pics were from a Fireman's calendar; the proceeds of which I presume were either going to a charity or else to a fund for a firemen's cause.

    Load More Replies...
    Nancy E
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Congrats to you, for a goal, discipline , a healthy lifestyle , & , your engagement !

    AmeliaBaxter
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I resigned my office-job and now I am getting paid £64 hourly. How? I work over internet! My old work was making me miserable, so I was forced to try something different, two years after...I can say my life is changed-completely for the better! Check it out what i do... http://cutt.us/Gf3Ed

    Load More Replies...
    Jenni Jones
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can really see how people project their own insecurities in comment sections....

    Full Name
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And by the way everybody deals with everybody all day long. We're pretty much a product of them.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda