Zenny Lyn's disappointment at not being selected as a contestant on the first series of The Biggest Loser Asia turned to excitement when she was offered a place as one of 14 'At Home' contestants. With the guidance of her personal trainer and The Biggest Loser Club Asia, Zenny lost more than 32kg and took home a collection of superb prizes. The best reward of all, though, is her fantastic new figure and vibrant attitude.
A family of foodies
All of Zenny Lyn’s family love to eat food of all kinds and Zenny is no exception. “Our love of food meant that my parents never really controlled my eating and so I ate and ate and ate lots of unhealthy, oily foods,” she said.
While the rest of her family enjoyed eating and stayed within a healthy weight range, Zenny’s weight began soaring from the age of seven.
Zenny was the only one in the family who had a weight problem and this made her feel like a stranger in her own home, she said. She felt self-conscious about her size and even her friends used her size to make her feel bad about herself. Zenny began to dress up and show a confident face to the world but inside, she was hurt by the nasty comments.
Last year when Zenny, a communications student and a part-time singer from Kuala Lumpur, heard that The Biggest Loser was coming to Asia she was excited about the opportunity to change her bad habits for good. The teasing and doubting words from family and friends about whether she could really lose weight only fuelled her determination to prove them wrong – she planned to show them all.
A major factor that drove her weight-loss was her chosen career. Zenny hopes to be a recording artist in the future but she often felt discriminated against because of her weight.
A fashion for thin
“Here in Malaysia, the media can’t accept big sized people," she said. "They just want to show stick thin shapes. In fact, I began to wonder about what was really important to people – was it talent or just looks?
“I wanted to prove that I could lose weight and that I was ready to be a hot, sexy babe. I knew that I had the fire I needed to succeed and, with The Biggest Loser coming to town, it was definitely time for some big changes.”
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The 'At Home' winner
Zenny after
Food as medicine
Zenny had to accept that she could no longer use food to celebrate when she was happy, nor could she use it as medicine when she felt sad. She would never find solutions to her problems by eating.
“I always ate a lot,” she said, “and my particular passion for fried chicken and desserts coupled with zero exercise meant that when I started my journey on The Biggest Loser, I weighed in at weight of 104.3kg which is pretty hefty for my 163cm height. I didn’t know how to make healthier food choices but that was about to change”.
As one of 14 At Home contestants, Zenny was given full access to her own Fitness First Personal Trainer and, just like the contestants on The Show, full access to The Biggest Loser Club Asia.
Zenny’s own trainer, Fidie, was an enthusiastic, tough and effective trainer who encouraged Zenny to take up jogging, cycling and using the step machine at the gym. Zenny learned valuable ways to burn calories and sculpt her figure, fast.
Committed Clubbie
The Biggest Loser Club Asia was an important factor in Zenny’s weight-loss success. “The diary was especially useful because I was able to count the calories in the foods I was actually eating and at the same time, really learn about what was in the particular foods that I ate," she said. "Everything I needed was right there to help me stay on track and I really used it a lot.
“I live a much healthier lifestyle now. Every day, I count the calories in my food before I eat it and I control my portion sizes too. Although I still eat fast food, I only eat it about once a week plus I choose healthier snacks, such as fruit, between meals.”
The rewards of success
Having lost 32.8kg and shrunk from 104.3kg to her Finale weight of 71.5kg, Zenny won the title of The Biggest Loser Asia At Home Winner and along with it, three major prizes – US$10,00 from the show, plus US$2,000 from Pay Pal, and a free, lifetime membership with Fitness First.
“Before my Biggest Loser experience, I went to a TV show that showcases young talent and it was awful," Zenny said. "I heard that some people called me the princess from Shrek. It made me feel bad and confused.
“Now everything has changed. I am more sure that ever that I will be a celebrity one day and I will prove to everyone they have been wrong about me – I want to be on top and I will be!
“I am planning to release a single but I am waiting for the perfect time for this. I am so happy that I have control of my life and my health now. Seriously, no words can describe how happy I feel right now.”