Claire wins the female crown

When Claire started her Biggest Loser journey, she weighed 22st 5lb. This gave her the unenviable title of the show’s heaviest female contestant. But what a change the nation witnessed as she appeared on finale half the woman with twice the confidence.

Her grit, determination and hard work paid off as she recorded a weight loss of 6st 6lb — 28.75% of her starting body weight. This earned her second place on the runners up leader board and won her the title of this year’s biggest losing female — recording a greater percentage weight loss than finalists Karen and Zandela.

But Claire says, “It was never about winning prizes or beating anyone else. I am thrilled at what I have achieved and love having a stronger, fitter body — and I’m not stopping now.”

Still on a high from finale, Claire says, “I knew I couldn’t have done any more and was thrilled with how I looked — I hardly recognised myself in the mirror. I knew my friends and family would be proud whatever happened, so I just wanted to enjoy it.”

Feeling the first week

Claire applied to appear on the show with her sister-in-law and fellow yellow team member Sara. They were distraught when they were originally rejected, but the couple were thrown a last-minute lifeline and were told that they were to appear in the hit show in a bid to regain their health.

As the duo walked down the never-ending driveway on their entry into the house, they still couldn’t quite believe it. They both knew that this was their chance to put an end to their lifelong weight battles.

Before entering The Biggest Loser house Claire’s typical day began with four pieces of toast with butter and ended with sausage and chips and a night on the sofa. However a weekly salsa class and aerobics gave Claire some exercise.

It was only natural then that the extreme change in her diet and exercise regime on entering the house was a shock to her body, but that didn’t stop her determination. Claire says, “Everything ached to start with; even sitting down and standing up were challenging and accompanied by lots of groans!”

However, it was week two that Claire says was the toughest with an emotional heart-to-heart with trainer Angie about how they became overweight and feeling frustrated with her performance at the rope challenge.

Going it alone

The show’s heaviest lady left the competition in week four, one week after her partner Sara, having shed a total of 2st 5lb. But leaving the house didn’t stop Claire following her new lifestyle regime from home and she used finale as her next goal for motivation.

Claire works out on her cross trainer every morning and does an hour of aerobics and cardiovascular training each day as well. As for eating healthily she says, “Breakfast is granola, fruit and yoghurt, lunch is a prawn salad or omelette and dinner is usually something like vegetable soup or chicken stir-fry. Plus I have a couple of fruit snacks each day.”

As well as Sara’s support, Claire also had the guidance of The Biggest Loser Club. During their time on the show, all the contestants used The Club’s online diary to monitor their calories in, exercise and overall energy balance at the end of the day.

And Claire continues to rely on it to this day, and remains one of the most avid diary users. “The Club has been really useful both while in the house and at home. It helps stop me over or underestimating my calories — I find it difficult to keep track of what I'm eating without it.”

Claire updates her diary throughout the day to check she isn't eating too much, but also to make sure she has enough energy. “With the amount of training I was doing it was always really good to see the large negative energy balance at the end of each day.”

The results page is a favourite for Claire too: “It reminds me of what I’ve achieved.”

Results for real

And it isn’t just The Club or the finale scales that are showing the results. Claire is reaping the rewards of her hard work and dedication in everyday life and knows this lifestyle change lasts long after finale.

Claire says, “I love the changes I can feel and see in my body and want this to continue. This has always been about making changes for me rather than anyone else and that will continue after finale.” And it seems that Claire’s newfound lease of life has also made her rethink her career. “I've just qualified as an aerobics instructor, which provides another motivation to get in shape and stay there!”

Now experienced in the weight-loss world, this year’s biggest losing female has valuable words of wisdom to share with you: “Identify what works for you and try to enjoy the process rather than looking at it as something to be endured.”

Reflecting on her time on the show and achievements so far, Claire adds, “I've learnt I am capable of a lot more than I ever thought I was. I think this is the same for a lot of people and that setting yourself little challenges really helps you keep moving forward, but don't forget to take some time to celebrate your achievements as you go.”