In 2006 a New York deli owner Erik Chopin, who is now back in media with his weight gain, inspired audiences by dropping more than half of his initial body weight. The Biggest Loser winner began the contest weighing an impressive 407 lbs but by the end of the season had dropped an astonishing 124 lbs, thus setting a new record for the compound; but he didn’t stop there. Upon leaving the program Chopin went home and lost an additional 90 lbs bringing his total weight loss to a shocking 214; inspiring audiences everywhere.
This of course made the revelation of Erik Chopin's back-sliding weight gain a bitter pill to take. The New York deli owner admitted in a recent interview with Oprah that he has been lying to his family and friends. Since the competition Chopin has re-gained approximately 122 lbs putting him at a solid 300. Yet as he began to gain weight he continued to use older photos on his Facebook and Myspace page so that nobody would realize. Chopin’s fear even led him to turn down an offer to appear on an Oprah Show alongside other Biggest Loser contestants.
Erik Chopin was then invited to the Oprah show again to discuss falling of the wagon; a topic which is also familiar to the shows host. Chopin says that he was inspired to “come out” after seeing Oprah’s weight gain confession last week in which she revealed that she had gained 40 lbs.
According to Chopin the reason that he gains weight is the depression that set in soon after the program ended. Chopin reached out to Oprah saying that he wanted to get his weight loss turned back around before it got “out of control”. "I inspired so many people; so many people reach out to me. I feel like I let them down," says Chopin. Since the interview Chopin has decided to embrace his weight gaining condition and is now committed to getting back to the gym.
By: Alberto Ramos Cordero
Sources:
Oprah.com, Examiner, Reality-TV-Online, Diets in Review
Posted January 19th, 2009 by Alberto
