Hafiz would be a familiar face if you’ve been watching The Biggest Loser Asia reality TV show. As one of two contestants chosen from Singapore, he has not let the country or himself down. With amazing results and sheer determination, this once ‘big friendly quiet giant’ has stepped out and changed his life. As part of the post-elimination ‘at home’ training given to contestants by Fitness First, Hafiz was assigned Fitness First Singapore’s personal trainer Francis Huang to help him for the period between elimination and the finale. We let Francis tell you his story….
Name: Hafiz (Mohammed Hafiz Amat), 25
Personal Trainer: Francis Huang - Fitness First Platinum, OUB Centre After: lost 37kg in 14 weeks. Healthier lifestyle, fitter.
“For the first time in my life, I dared to walk into a store and buy normal sized clothes!” - Hafiz, after losing 71kg.
“Hafiz returned to Singapore on the 1st week of Dec 2009, after having been eliminated on the 8th week of The Biggest Loser Asia reality TV show. Hafiz weighed 168kg when he entered The Biggest Loser Asia ‘campus’ in Malaysia, he lost 34kg on the show but gained 2 kg back home as he was inactive for a few days after returning. 2 days before our first weekly weigh-in on Saturdays, we started doing more interval cardio and circuit exercises. This was pretty intense training but he managed to lose 2 kg in 2 days.
One way to get results quicker is by changing exercise routines because when the body is challenged, it responds by burning more calories especially when you work muscles that have not been worked before. Therefore, in the 2nd week of training, we continued to do more interval and high intensity circuits to rev up the metabolic rate. Due to the variety in training routines, Hafiz’s body responded by losing an amazing 7kg that week!
While cardiovascular health and losing body fat is crucial, strength and flexibility are also equally important core components of a fit body. Hafiz was lacking in strength. We had to start building much needed muscle mass. For subsequent weeks, we focused on general strength building, learning how to execute proper weight lifting techniques, correcting muscle imbalances, circuits and interval training. With new found muscle mass and an increased metabolic rate (which naturally follows with increased muscle mass), Hafiz continued to lose an average of 2-3kg weekly despite working on the graveyard shift part time as a paramedic. This was one of the real life situations he had to tackle: juggling regular exercise with work. We often had to change our training sequences to allow his body to rest and recover after work and exercise.
Making a change in our lifestyle and getting out of our comfort zone is critical in achieving fitness goals. I am proud to say that Hafiz worked out an average of 6 hrs a day integrating work, social life and exercises effectively.
Hafiz’s body threatened to plateau a few times over the next 2 months of training. It is natural for the body to plateau as part of the body’s natural response when it gets used to an exercise routine. Therefore we came out with several strategies to tackle these problems and managed to get past this obstacle.
By the time of the finale, Hafiz had lost a total of 71kg (34kg on the tv show and 37kg from the time he was eliminated to the show’s Finale) dropping his weight from an obese168kg to a healthier 97kg. Although the show was officially over, his journey in life had just begun. Hafiz aims to reach 85kg in the near future and now maintains a healthy and active lifestyle.
He still wears his friendly and contagious smile on him wherever he goes but his new found confidence shows. For members at OUB Centre, Hafiz would be a familiar sight and I believe many members who’ve seen him are in awe, it was sheer determination and hard work that has gotten him to where he is today.
Although weight is a measurement of success, one must never forget that a good training program should be holistic and integrate all core fitness components including strength, endurance, cardio, flexibility, agility and mental alertness/resilience.
With Hafiz, we have witnessed how a person’s life can do a roundabout change within a short 5 month period with the necessary support and expertise.” – by Francis Huang, Personal Trainer at Fitness First Platinum, OUB Centre
Inspired by The Biggest Loser Asia TV show, Fitness First has launched its “Lose Big Programme” catering to participants with a BMI of 25 and over. Designed by The Biggest Loser Asia blue team trainer Dave Nuku who also heads Fitness First’s Fitness team in Asia, Fitness First’s “Lose Big Programme” offers group support and personal trainer expertise in a short 13 week format that will have participants being able to take control of their new found fitness lifestyle by the end of the programme.
Our first “Lose Big Programme” commenced in April 2010, with the group having their first session at Fitness First Platinum, One Raffles Quay. If you’d like to enquire about our programme, simply drop an email to us at losebig@fitnessfirst.com.sg or check out www.timetolosebig.com for details.
Inspired by The Biggest Loser Asia TV show, Fitness First has launched its “Lose Big Programme” catering to participants with a BMI of 25 and over. Designed by The Biggest Loser Asia blue team trainer Dave Nuku who also heads Fitness First’s Fitness team in Asia, Fitness First’s “Lose Big Programme” offers group support and personal trainer expertise in a short 13 week format that will have participants being able to take control of their new found fitness lifestyle by the end of the programme. 
