Bandar Seri Begawan - The Top 10 contestants of the pioneer weight loss programme -B.Mobile B.Fit Challenge - have shown the most impressive and dramatic body, health and fitness transformations that anyone has ever seen, as a result of the competition, judges said yesterday.

What began as a race to see who can lose weight the quickest is now turning into a tough competition, with judges looking for the last man (or woman) standing, thus creating emotional tension not just amongst the contestant but also between judges, motivators and instructors of the B.Fit Challenge.

In an interview with the Borneo Bulletin yesterday, David Gio Sasis, one of the judges from Fitness Zone, admitted that the programme had emotionally affected him, especially during the recent elimination.

"Its hard to see the contestants leave," he said, adding that as a professional fitness instructor, he had never seen the strong will from these contestants whereby some of them had shed more than 10 kilogrammes in a mere eight weeks.

However, he said, we are looking for only one winner, and this is the hardest decision to make as a judge in the programme.

Adding to his statement was the judge from B.Mobile, Nurul Haniah binti Hj Jaafar, who said she wants to see the contestants show' their potential and "prove us right for keeping them in the competition".

Both judges shared the same hope that those who had left the programme would still maintain a healthy lifestyle as they start a new journey for a healthier tomorrow.

Dyg Umi Salmah binti Ariffin, a judge from the Health Promotion Centre, advised ex-contestants to prevent from relapsing, which usually occurs due to social or financial problems.

"Take your relapse positively, no matter how many attempts it takes you. Each new effort brings you closer to the one that might really work. The key is to stick with it until you achieve your weight and health goals."

The Bulletin also took the opportunity to interview two of the final 10 contestants recently - Farah Dibba and Md Majdudeen, who both lost a significant amount of weight in the past eight weeks.

Farah Dibba, who currently works with the Employees Trust Fund (TAP), was 78 kilogrammes when she started and had a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30. Now, Farah has a BMI of 25.7.

"Now the competition has started. I'm going to maintain my daily exercise regime and build up my stamina by doing more cardio workouts," she said shortly after she was listed as the 10 finalists.

Meanwhile, Md Majdudeen was initially speechless when his name was announced as the top 10 finalist. He joined the competition with a weight of 84.7 kilogrammes and now he has shed 11.3 kilogrammes within eight weeks.

"I always try to push myself. My aim now is to focus on losing weight by following all that have been taught by the fitness instructors. I know it's just a few days left, but I will do my best and hope for the best," he noted.

The B.Fit Challenge commenced on October 1 and will end on December 1 at the Berakas Indoor Stadium with a carnival whereby members of the public are welcome to attend.

Activities include the "circuit challenge", which is similar in design to the gruelling obstacle course that contestants from B.Fit went through during the nine-week programme.

There will also be a dance workout conducted by Fitness Zone before the 10 finalists start their final challenge - a five-kilometre run.

Activities for children will also be available.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin