Erik Chopin became a household name when he triumphed as the winner in The Biggest Loser season three. Starting out at 407 pounds, he endured eleven weeks of painstaking exercise and diet to end at 283 pounds, cutting down 124 pounds. But his endurance and perseverance to opt for a healthier lifestyle went beyond the boundaries of the camera as he returned on the finale with an even slimmer physique. With an additional weight loss of 90 pounds, he earned $250,000 for being the most successful loser, ending up at a fit 193 pounds.

After shedding half of his weight on The Biggest Loser, Chopin became more determined to help obese people to take on a healthier lifestyle. He even graced the cover of Diabetes Magazine, where he shared his positive transformation and his life altering decision that saved his him from Type II diabetes.

Chopin is living proof that it is possible to shed excess pounds without going under the knife. Apart from managing his deli shop in Long Island, New York, he is also preoccupied with upcoming diabetes-education campaigns and a tour across the country to promote the fitness reality show that changed his life for the better.

-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist



_{(Photos Courtesy of NBC)}