MARBLEHEAD - As the new year dawns, people resolving to drop those excess pounds might just want to listen to a guy who lost half his weight in the last eight months.
"At the end of the day, the scale is a number," said Marblehead's Neil Tejwani, who dropped from 421 pounds to 210 as a contestant on "The Biggest Loser." "I think it's really more of a general way of life you have to adopt."
Tejwani concedes that his experience - complete with an ace trainer, a supportive team and a full-time job as a weight loser in a televised contest - is far from typical. Since he was ousted near the end of the show, though, Tejwani has been largely on his own - and he's still losing weight, thanks to a healthier lifestyle.
"It's not realistic to lose weight like that when you have a job and a life," he said yesterday. "But even 1 pound a week gets you closer.
"I'm more inspired by the single mother of two who still has to work a full-time job and find time to lose weight on top of that. The commitment - you've got to make it in the long term."
None of that is easy, said Tejwani, a 25-year-old chemical engineer who was told he probably wouldn't live to see 30.
"Committing to a challenge, especially when you have to lose weight, it's tough. It's strenuous. It's supposed to be hard," he said. "Unfortunately, there isn't a miracle pill."
Tejwani said people shouldn't necessarily tie themselves to a New Year's resolution. It's harder to exercise in the winter, and the holidays bring more chances to splurge. The new year itself may not be motivation enough.
"You make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle," he said. "You don't need a New Year's resolution. You can start anytime."
TIPS FROM A PRO
* Find your motivation. Neil Tejwani was driven by thoughts of settling down with his girlfriend, Stefanie Nigro, and by his career dreams. Neither would happen if, as a doctor said, he might not live to see age 30.
* Drink water. "I don't think people really can understand how much it can help with weight loss. Most people try to drink around 64 ounces. I try to drink at least 1 or 2 gallons a day, and it can help flush out most toxins, and toxins can retain water."
* "Be mindful of what you're eating, especially around the holidays. You really want to try to limit it to one or two days, because a week can spin into a couple weeks into months."
* Match diet with exercise. "I think the biggest thing is, you really have to make a commitment to stay as active as possible. In the wintertime, it's easier said than done."
* Aim for a healthy lifestyle, not less weight. "It really is a commitment in all aspects of your life. ... You should never base anything on a number on a scale, to dictate the rest of your life."
* Consider getting a trainer. It can be expensive but offers valuable support. "I hit a point where I'm not just going to the gym for me, but I don't want to let my trainer down, either."
* Expect setbacks, and move on. "I'll be the first one to confess that sometimes you have to take a step backward to take a step forward. It's tough."
* Gyms can help. "There's a lot of support on the North Shore, particularly from trainers. There's a lot of great gyms with a lot of great people."
