Karen Layton appeared on the finale stage 5st 8lb lighter than when she entered The Biggest Loser house. Sporting a new slim figure, a stylish cropped hair-do and buckets of newfound confidence, it’s no wonder husband Mark was smiling from the side of the stage.
When Karen saw The Biggest Loser advert on daytime TV, she printed the form and told Mark she was going to apply for them both. “I was more concerned about Mark’s health, even though I know I needed to be there too,” she reveals.
Karen has two beautiful twin children to live for and she knew something had to change, especially as the twins’ lives were being affected too. Karen and Mark found it difficult to run in the park with them and kids at school made comments to Alex and Owen about their overweight parents.
Family sacrifices
In order to lose weight for themselves and their children, it meant leaving them without a mum or a dad. Karen felt that leaving them without parents was the hardest thing, but luckily they could rely on her mum. “It was awful and we all missed each other, but the twins could’ve lost one of us for good if we didn’t do it.”
And despite the sacrifice the couple made, Karen says, “I never got to a point in the show where I felt like I wanted to go home. I was fixated on it.”
But she does recall thinking they would fall below the fatal yellow line in the first week after that gruelling bike marathon on the first day. “We were older and there was no way we were going to keep up with the younger ones. I just thought, ‘what have we done’?”
But the couple proved themselves wrong, because they both lasted the full seven weeks in The Biggest Loser house and achieved staggering weight loss results.
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Husband & wife
Karen before
Karen
Karen after
Healthier parents
Better together
Karen and Mark lived their entire weight loss journey by each other’s side. They entered the house together and left together, and they were even both on Richard’s blue team – the only couple not to be separated.
But Karen had prepared herself to be on opposite sides, and was more concerned about bagging Richard. “I thought Richard was going to pick Mark, but I really wanted Richard as my trainer.”
Karen found Rich easy to talk to and enjoyed his style of training because it was different every session. “He might have a loud voice and he doesn’t take any slackers, but that man is so compassionate and has a heart of gold.”
Back at home
The couple’s togetherness continued even when they returned home. Karen cooks healthy meals for the family from their menu plan and they both hit the gym together.
Karen also relied on the online support of The Biggest Loser Club. Even this former technophobe could master the easy-to-use website. She says, “It’s priceless. I loved knowing my exact calorie count and once I hit my limit that would be me for the day. The weight loss percentage is brilliant as well, because I never had a clue before what my percentage was.”
The twins’ life has also changed as a result of their parents’ weight loss. Karen says, “We run circles around them at the park, rather than just sitting on the bench watching them play.” She adds, “Owen can’t catch Mark with a football now – it’s so funny to watch!”
Finale night
Biggest Loser finalist Karen won second place, shedding 5st 8lb, which is 27.37% of her starting weight. Although she had a gut feeling Wil would win, she did all she could to catch up with him and also keep third-place Zandela off her tail.
Karen says, “I’ve never been so scared in my life. I kept telling myself it was just another weigh-in, but I couldn’t ignore the audience. When I burst through my picture I could see the amazed faces of the other contestants and the audience and it felt glorious.”
Karen loves her new self and adores her handsome, healthy husband Mark. And as for the twins, they are no longer teased for having overweight parents. Now that their famous mum and dad are on TV they’re the most popular children in the playground!