SubscribePosted on Thursday, 5th November 2009 by Bob Herdsman
INTRODUCTION
Bob Herdsman, the Winner of Network Ten’s reality TV show BIGGEST LOSER is 57 years of age and has been married to wife Janet for the past 39 years.
They live on a property near Bunbury in Western Australia and have 3 married children and 7 grandchildren. Bob (a former Police Officer) and his wife ran a successful Roadhouse / Restaurant called “The Centre of The Universe” until it was recently bypassed on a major highway diversion.
VITAL STATISTICS
Bob is 168 cms tall
On entering the Biggest Loser Bob had a waist measurement of 150cms and weighed in at a morbidly obese
167.8 kg
At the BIGGEST LOSER 2009 SEASON 4 FINALE’ which aired on Network Ten across Australia on 27th April, 2009
Bob weighed in at
80.2 kg
Having lost an incredible
87.6kg
representing a loss of more than
52% of his starting body weight.
Bob was the oldest contestant in The BIGGEST LOSER history as well as one of the heaviest contestants. After collapsing during the first workout on Fitzroy Island in tropical Far North Queeensland, Bob decided that he would never give in again. He demonstrated his determination by going on to win the weekly weigh-ins an unprecedented 5 times before being ‘eliminated’ and taken back to remote Fitzroy Island to train with “The Commando” and fellow contestant Nathan MILES.
Bob lived and trained during the Biggest Loser with the adage
“Do or Do Not.
There is no Try”
BACKGROUND
Series 4 of the BIGGEST LOSER featured the contestants in ‘couples’. Bob entered the Show with his daughter in law Tiffany (27), the wife of Ben,his youngest son. Bob had known Tiffany all her life as her parents, Nick and Donna KNAAP were family friends. Bob and Jan attended their wedding with their then three year old son, Ben. Bob, who worked as a Policeman in the town of Esperance where Tiffany was born was even at the hospital when she was born. “I was on police patrol and saw all the lights on in their home late at night so called in and found they were on the way to the hospital so gave them a ‘police escort’ then stayed in the waiting room with her dad until she was born” said Bob. Although Police duties saw Bob moving around Western Australia with his family, contact was maintained with Tiffany joining in family holidays. During leave from the army, Ben called in to visit the Knaap family in their new home near Albany and ‘noticed Tiffany for the first time’. Both families were thrilled when romance blosommed and marriage bells rang.
As Army service saw Ben serving overseas, Tiffany who had always been slim, took comfort in eating and before long had developed a weight problem. Now also the mother of a three year old Isabelle, Tiffany struggled with trying to diet and the associated low self image. Bob who was already obese and had struggled with his weight for many years understood the deep feelings that troubled Tiffany and together they tried to work on conquering their weight. Bob says; “It was Tiffany’s suggestion that we apply to go on the “Biggest Loser”. Neither of us had watched the show but Tiffany had heard about it from a friend. I was very reluctant but agreed as I wanted to help Tiff.”
Bob went on to win the BIGGEST LOSER and the prize money of $200,000 and in the process broke all the records with an incredible 52.2% loss of body weight. Tiffany, whose starting weight was 113.6kg, came a close second out of the twenty contestants that entered, losing an amazing 54.1kg representing a percentage of body weight lost of 47.6%. “I am so proud of Tiffany”, said Bob. “She is truly amazing. Tiffany was the only other contestant to break the records set in previous Biggest Loser Series, showing the way for all women who struggle as she did”.
During numerous TV, radio, newspaper and magazine interviews following his BIGGEST LOSER win, Bob has stated that he feels a ‘great responsibility’ to all those who watched the show and drew inspiration from his efforts to overcome his obesity. “All of life is a journey” said Bob. “It’s not what we get but what we become. We all have demons to face whether they be obesity or something else and if I can be of some service to others in helping them on their journey, then that is what I want to do”.
9 Responses to “Home”
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November 5th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Let me be the very first person to comment on your new site. Congratulations on winning TBL04. I absolutely love the ’shrinking’ pic on your site.. very very clever indeed and it just blows me away at the staggering amount of weight you’ve lost. Very impressive.
Well done – both for your incredible effort and healthy life change and on your new site.
Hyacinth
November 6th, 2009 at 5:44 am
I have arrived. Well done Bob.
You have done your family and Australia proud
November 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Hey Bob, Great to see that you have finally set up a website for yourself and for others who may need help.
Well done on your achievment.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Well done Bob, your commitment and determination will inspire many. Congratulations.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Congrats Bob..
I felt like I knew you from watching you sweat and grunt but never give up over all those weeks you appeared on my screen 6 days a week.
Even now I am still in awe of what you, Tiff & my other fave Nathan achieved.
At age 57, you are only a few years older than me yet you broke every cliche about it being hard for older people to lose weight.
You did it!!!
Add to that now I have had the pleasure of getting to know your lovely wife Jan via her posts in some of the forums we both frequent.
November 11th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Hi Bob
What you probably thought was a bit of a lark has turned to gold – you deserve every accolade!
I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing your transformation along with your ability to share both your insights and life experiences with the other contestants. You were a unique contestant on the show and I doubt that anyone from future shows will be able to follow in your footsteps.
Congratulations – may this be just the beginning.
(waves to Little)
November 12th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Yahoo – finally mad eit here. Liking your new harem Bob?
Good on you for having a picture of Jan on the page.
Good luck you guys and congrats!
November 12th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Hiya Bob
Great site ya have here.
Jan nice to put a face to the infamous Little that I have gotten to know over at BL threads.
Sexy wishes you well with all your future endeavours and hope ya get loads more members visiting
take care
Sexy xxx
November 13th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Bob you’re such an inspiration for us ‘young 29ers’ and proof that it can be done. Thankyou so much for your incredible inspiration.