BIGGEST LOSER _ Shane sheds old way of life

BALLARAT'S Shane Giles believes the 53.6kg he shed in just five months may prolong his life for at least 20 to 30 years.
The 38-year-old missed out on the $50,000 consolation prize for eliminated contestants as his remarkable journey on television show, "The Biggest Loser", ended last night.
Despite losing an incredible 34.81 per cent of his original body weight, Shane was beaten by Queensland fireman Wal, or Vladimir Milberg. The overall $200,000 prize went to Adriano (Adro) Sarnelli from Sydney.
Shane, now 100.4kg, celebrated the show's finale with family, friends and supporters at the Java Lounge in Lydiard St last night.
"I'm glad and sad that it's over," he said.
Shane was selected from 6000 entrants to appear on the Australian version of the reality program.
"I really don't know what they were looking for. I suppose it was people who had a story or who had some sort of X factor," he said.
Shane's "story" or "X factor" was that his weight had skyrocketed after his brother had been killed in a car accident 10 years earlier. His mother was diagnosed with cancer shortly after that tragedy.
To cope, Shane turned to food.
"I was literally eating myself to death," he said.
"It was really bad. Even when I did eat well, I would eat enough for four people. I didn't exercise and no doubt I would have had a heart attack in 10 years."
He entered the program with his goals high, aiming to shed 50kg.
"I had no idea how much it would hurt," he admitted.
He said he vomited frequently during the initial stages of the competition as his body adjusted to the sudden onslaught of healthy food and exercise.
"It was extremely hard and I felt like not doing anything on some days," he said.
"We turned up to the challenges and thought `you have to be kidding'. But when you conquer those challenges it is so empowering because you feel that you can do anything."
Shane will not return to his job at the Department of Primary Industries.
Instead, he has emerged from "The Biggest Loser" with a new career path in mind.
Shane is studying for certificates three and four in personal training and will be working with local gymnasiums, WiseGuys and Body `n' Soul.
"I just figure it is too good an opportunity to be able to help people in a situation like I was in," he said.
"If me being a personal trainer gets people off the couch and into a gym, then great. If it gets them to walk the lake or walk their dog, then awesome."