'Biggest loser' finds ways to be a big winner

By The Mason City Globe-Gazette

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Mason City Globe Gazette, Jan. 21, 2011

They're big losers, but their message is anything but that of a loser.

They're Matt Hoover and Suzy Preston - first- and third-place winners on NBC's “Biggest Loser,” a TV reality show that challenges obese contestants to lose weight in somewhat of a boot camp setting. .

It's an intriguing story, one well worth hearing.

Matt was a high school wrestling champion, an All-American attending the University of Iowa with a promising career in the sport when he suffered a career-ending injury. Things went downhill - most things, that is, except his waistline.

He developed dangerous eating and drinking habits; his marriage ended.

But something clicked when, weighing more than 300 pounds, he was eating chips and drinking beer while watching “The Biggest Loser.” He thought the contestants were big babies because of their struggles with their workouts.

But instead of more beer and chips, he went to his computer and applied to be on the show, was accepted and lost 157 pounds over nine months.

“Athletes have to find a new purpose and motivation to go back to the healthier lifestyle,” he said. “It's hard.”

But he did it. And now he and Suzy are sharing their story of being on the “Biggest Loser.” But instead of preaching weight loss, he emphasizes health and the fact that there's “more to being healthy than just losing weight.” .