And as much as I love doing it for my own personal health, I’m also very motivated to raise money and awareness for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. The camaraderie of the athletes inspires and encourages me to try even harder. I really enjoy being active and pushing myself. I’m working on training for the 2015 Nautica Malibu Triathlon in September - a course that features a half-mile ocean swim, an 18-mile, out-and-back bike course, and a four-mile run. It still feels challenging, of course, but I have new motivation. Ryan at 345 pounds,left, and Ryan today, at 295 pounds. It is a wonderful independent film that deals with body issues. I’ve also been able to continue with my dream to be an actor and have been in some commercials and even had a great part in a film called Disfigured. I’ve been lucky to have a good career in the entertainment industry working in post-production for various studios.
My wife and I had twin girls in 2006 and then we were blessed with a little boy in 2009. Weight aside, life has been great since 2005. I think about it every day - for better or for worse. In hindsight, I know that wasn’t the case, but it sure felt like it! It’s an experience that stays with you for the rest of your life. One thing I didn’t expect when the show ended was that for the next year or so, every time I’d go out to eat, or was in the grocery store, I’d feel like people were watching everything I ate, or watching what I put in my shopping cart. Working a desk job can be tough on your waistline unless you’re extremely disciplined.
For me, in the 10 years since the show, I’ve been up and down the scale.
I don’t think it’s impossible to do it (I’ve heard some contestants have kept the weight off), but it’s really, really hard. Once the show was over, I was never able to maintain my ideal weight for more than a few days. But I did lose all that weight in five months, and most doctors will tell you that quick weight loss is not the best way to do it. And in the long run, the show helped me to learn a lot about myself - both what motivates me and what triggers me to slip back into old, bad habits. I lost just over 120 pounds on The Biggest Loser.