One man's total transformation

Father of two and Samoa Tourism Authority’s Communications Officer, Su’a Hesed Ieremia, is the winner of TV1’s Samoa’s Biggest Loser contest.

Su’a, who hails from Salelologa Sava i ’ i , lost a whopping 25kgs during the programme, transforming his weight from 153.1kgs to 128.1kgs in the process.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer yesterday, Su’a said his motivation to join the competition was his father, the late Reverend Ieremia Le’autuli Sili Samuelu.

“My dad passed away two years ago,” he said. “The day before he passed away at the hospital, one of his dying wishes for me was to lose weight.

“He wanted me to reduce my body weight because I am not normally fat. And then I tried I’ve been trying for the past two years (to lose weight).”

Apart from his dad being one of his biggest motivations in joining the weight loss contest, he was also uncomfortable with the way he looked and felt.

So he made up his mind that he wanted to set an example. “I wanted to spend more time with my wife, my kids and my mom with dad gone and being the eldest of eight kids ...I had to set an example”

Su’a also has a heart condition called Cardiomyopathy. It basically is an enlarged heart and Su’a’s doctor told him to lose weight or else. “I was eating a lot of heavy food, not only they were fatty and heavy food but I ate at the wrong time,” he said.

“I gained a lot of weight after I joined the media like some ten years ago. Being a journalist, not only we are eating at the odd hours of the day but also the odd hours at night because you finish late.”

But that all changed.

During the competition, Su’a fed himself with a diet of weetbix or porridge, water or coconut, bananas and papayas for breakfast.

He would have yoghurt or almonds during snacktime, a health wrap or salad for lunch, fruits in the afternoon and grilled fish or chicken with steamed vegetables for dinner.

“I started with four boiled eggs,” he said. “I just eat the egg whites and not the yokes and as the weeks gradually went in the morning, I reduced it to three eggs to two eggs to one egg towards the final week.”

“I’ve been off carbohydrates for the past three months, no taro, no starchy food and anything that’s produced from flour including bread.”

He shares that in his list, nutrition comes first, and then recovery, rest, exercise, pray and sticking with family.

“And I feel transformed right now; this was like a transformational journey. This is the beginning of it, it’s not finished,” The first winner of Samoa’s biggest loser aims to continue to losing weight, he aims to “by Teuila festival next year will be standing in front (emceeing) of people weighing 100kgs or below hundred.

For his efforts, Su’a too home among other things the $3,000 cash prize, gym memberships and vouchers of which he gave it all to this family. “I gave it (winnings) to my mom, Misimasefili Ieremia, and all the other prizes I gave them all away because as I have said in the beginning the money and all the other prizes are bonuses but the major reward is my health. “I couldn’t have done this two months ago.

Money comes and go and so does material things but this was the most rewarding thing and I see the positive results with my wife and kids, the food we eat at home like its drifting towards my food, I do my own soup, I do my own food at home and now my wife is keen to exercise with me next year and get on a diet which is more healthy for the kids.”

His message to the other people struggling with their weights: “It’s not easy, who am I to tell them to do this and that but what I’m saying is that just think of the reward like the feeling and the health benefits of it and when you are ready do it, do it ... “I hope that what I’ve done as the first winner of the season one of this program can inspire people to do, it’s up to you individually to move your body and make changes in your lives and you see the ripple effects.

“And now I got lots of friends that want to join me in my exercises and my daily climb to Mt. Vaea.”

Su’a thanked his wife, kids, family and friends for the support, the C.E.O. and staff of the Samoa Tourism Authority.

Su’a is married to Ofusina Toamua Ieremia and they are blessed with two kids: Punipuao and Ieremia (named after Su’a dad).

The weight loss competition kick started last October 20 and was capped by a prize giving held last Tuesday, which was televised on Sunday.

The competition featured 13 competitors namely Marieta Ilalio, Marieta Ulugia, Omar Mauala, Su'a Hesed Ieremia, Gasu Siaki Elisara, Tole’afoa Talitaina, Sausi Logotaeao, Scott S. Wright, Roberta Lei Sam, Tasi Siaosi, Fa’ae Uele, Susi Tupu and Lotomua Pearl Ulugia.

The trainers for the competition were Le’aupepe Esera Pouliko and Sandy, of Fitness Firm, , Tupa’i Pouleta Tualaulelei, of JPs Fitness and Muliagatele Brian Lima of One Touch Ministry. The show was hosted by media personality, Sioeli Alofaifo.