As the heaviest man in this year’s Biggest Loser competition, Sharif knew he had to change his ways in order to get his life back on track. Having been unsuccessful in his application for Series 3, Sharif ensured he saw his journey in Series 4 to the bitter end. Not only did he make it to the Final Four, but he came in third place and lost a huge 72.5kg.
Queenslander Sharif Deen was overweight his whole life due to a number of reasons. He says, “It was a combination of things. I used to say to myself that I will eventually lose weight and get fit by the age of 30, which came and went.
“It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s and fully matured mentally that I realised what I was doing to myself. I lived in denial for so long and kidded myself that I was doing OK and I was looking alright. I tried diets and failed and when you combine this with living in denial, it’s a recipe for disaster.
“I weighed more than 200kg when I met my wife, Fleur, although I had already started to peg back the weight slowly. When we got engaged, I did the old fashioned thing and called Fleur’s mum and dad to ask for permission. Neither parent had any objection, but my father-in-law, Paul, said, ‘it would be great if you did something about your weight.’
“I knew where he was coming from. He wanted me to be healthy to have a happy life for his daughter. I really love Fleur and we both want to have children and I want to be a healthy, active parent who is a positive role model."
Newly married to Fleur, Sharif saw this opportunity as one that could really help him turn his life around at the start of his marriage. Fleur says, “I saw him the size that he was, but I also saw that he was an amazingly caring and funny person. His weight never stopped him from being the great person he was. I knew he would do what he had to do, but his weight was not that much of a problem for me.”
Click to enlarge photos
Sharif before
Sharif after
Big boy clothes
Two in one
A new man
The Biggest Loser journey begins
Sharif says, “When I discovered The Biggest Loser this year would feature couples, I thought about who I could go with on the show. A lot of people I work with could do with losing some weight, but the thought of laying themselves bare in front of the nation and being prepared to be away for months at a time would be a big ask.
"I used to work with Teresa and she is a friend to both me and Fleur. Teresa now lives in Perth and we are still in Brisbane, but one Sunday morning at 8.30am, which is 6.30am WA time, we called Teresa to sound out the idea. We were prepared with a whole list of reasons why she should take up the challenge, but we didn’t need it as she agreed straight away."
So, all was set and Sharif and his Biggest Loser partner Teresa joined the other nine couples at Fitzroy Island.
Sharif says, “At the first weigh-in when Ajay asked me if I loved myself, it was very confronting for me to admit that I didn’t. The biggest thing I have learnt is that I had given up trying and was afraid of failure, but in the words of the Commando, ‘There aren’t any failures in life; only people who give up!’
“The Commando really broke me. He chipped away until I reached rock bottom and now I know I had to do this before I could start building myself up. I told myself I was not going to give up any more. True success is all about actually having a go in the first place. If you don’t get it the first time, give it another go. Find out what you are good at. You don’t necessarily have to be a runner. I hate running and now I know that I don’t have to do it, but I am good at cycling and rowing."
Relying on The Biggest Loser Club
At Camp Biggest Loser, all of the contestants use The Biggest Loser Club website to track their food and exercise. Sharif says: "It was great to use The Biggest Loser Club and really get a handle on what and how much food you need. It helped me understand portion sizes and introduced me to nourishing food via the menu plans. In fact, one of my favourite activities were Shanan’s cook offs; they were a great opportunity to show people what you can really cook up. No oil or sugary dressings, no condiments or calorie packed sauces; just lots of flavour and goodness. One of my favourite dishes was chilli and garlic cooked with a spray of oil, then I added some prepared beans until crisp. Just before serving, I added half a lemon and served it with spinach, onions and chicken or fish. Yum!”
Although Sharif loved learning all about food and exercise and how it affects your body, there was a nagging voice in the back of his head that was worried about what would happen when he didn’t have the weekly weigh-in to keep him honest, keep the weight off and set new goals.
Sharif says, “It’s finally straight in my mind now that Finale was the first goal, but it is only going to be one of many. I aim to focus on the Commando’s favourite CrossFit style of training, which is designed to develop a fully functional body. It’s not just about lifting weights; it works the body in lots of ways in a full range of motion, from squats to high lifting.
“I also know that to give up bad habits, you have to gain all the knowledge and tools you need. I finally understand that it’s not just diet or exercise alone; it’s about balance. In Camp Biggest Loser, the dietitian Dr Clare Collins spent time with us and gave us a good introduction to food and nutrition. I loved using the online diary, which showed in black and white what I was eating and how it affected my weight and weight loss.
Sharif finishes by saying, “The biggest thing that makes a problem real is admitting to someone else that you have a problem. Talking to someone about your plans makes you more accountable. Once you have said you're going to do it, just do it. As my dear friend Bob says, ‘I would much rather see a sermon than hear a sermon’. In other words, you have to practice what you preach, rather than just preaching. Learn new sports and find the fun in life. I want to lift my original weight of 200kg, I plan to learn three new martial arts, I want to sky dive, go rock climbing and bungee jump. I plan to do everything I ever wanted to do and you can too!”