NBC.com - The Biggest Loser

NEIL'S PARTING THOUGHTS

How was your experience on the campus?
I think the experience for me on the campus has been absolutely unbelievable. I never on the first day imagined I would make it this far and or that this show would have changed my life the way that it has. It's been exactly everything I could have ever dreamt of or could have asked for. It's really been a blessing for me. I don't really know that when you are well over 400 pounds and you make excuses for yourself and are eating so unhealthy, you are really thinking about your life. But, for me, going through this experience, it's really been about not quitting or making excuses for myself and knowing I was finally able finish what I started. I was able to survive my time here on the campus with Bob and that in itself is an accomplishment. Knowing how much weight I have lost, I can say I am a changed man. I am a whole new person and have the rest of my life to look forward to now. I think for me, the beauty is to knowing I am going to be around for a very long time and will enjoy it. That's really what the whole experience is all about.

What tips did the trainers give you?
Bob basically told me to stay focused. To always keep that fire burning inside. The biggest tip I think Bob gave me was to remember what it was like to be over 400 pounds. Remember what it felt like with the everyday struggle of going up a flight of stairs or trying to fit in airplane seats, just things like that. He also taught me that just because you want to lose weight, it doesn't mean you can't indulge every now and then. Bob's got a great philosophy that he believes being eighty percent good, one hundred percent of the time. I think that really implies to a lot of people in their lives, where you want to be able to lose weight and want to be able to eat healthy. You want to do the right thing, but at the same time, you want to be human, too. So, as long as you stick to that mentality, do what you are supposed to do, but let yourself indulge a little in moderation, you are still able to keep weight off and live a healthy life and ultimately be able to enjoy the things everybody else enjoys.

What will you miss most about the campus?
What I am going to miss most about the campus is the experience of seeing Bob on a daily basis. You know, he beats me up four to six hours a day and I think I am really going to miss that. I think he has done so much to change my life, he's been so dedicated in helping me get where I need to be with my goals and the thought of waking up every morning without him harassing me to get to the gym every morning, that's what I am going to miss the most. Also, with that, you never realize how close you get to certain people in such a short amount of time and to know that 18 people have gone through the same struggle since the first day, that's what really helped me get over the hump and keep trying each and every day. I am really going to miss all of my time with them. The community bathrooms, I will not miss so much.

Will you be keeping in touch with anybody from the campus?
My intentions are to keep in touch with as many people from the show as I can. More than anything else, I think losing the weight has been great, changing my life has been great, but I hopefully made friendships that will last for the rest of my life. I think, even the people who left earlier, we had a close relationship, too. As long as I have a say in the matter, I will keep in touch with all 18 people for as long as I can.

Will you be watching the show from home?
I will absolutely be watching the show from home. To see my sexy self on primetime NBC every week is reason enough to watch. I am going to watch it also as a reminder of the journey I have taken and to never lose sight of what I was unable to do when I first arrived on the campus. I want to watch so I can reflect on my journey. I am definitely looking forward to staying each week and watching the show.