Bio
Louis Hand was a contestant on the first season of the e.tv reality competition The Biggest Loser South Africa, from 7 January to 14 April, 2008.
He was voted out of the show in Week 6 and went on to get a second chance in the show after winning the Biggest Loser Extra competition. He retured to the main show in Week 10 and was voted out a second and final time in Week 11.
Show Statistics
Age
44
Weight at the start of the show
165.3kg
The Biggest Loser Team
Blue
Weight at the end of the show
115.5kg
Total weight lost
-49.8kg
Total body percentage lost
30.13%
BEFORE
AFTER
Biggest Loser ProfileLouis is often mistaken for an Afrikaans farmer because of his big rugged outdoors look. Stereotypes aside, it sometimes is a problem. “People often start talking Afrikaans to me and then I have to stop them,” he says. “I do not understand a word. Then it is as if they do not believe me. I grew up in Manchester, England, so go figure.” His first name is Jan. That did not help either. Now he uses his second name, Louis. However, he has been living in South Africa for many years; in Fourways, Johannesburg to be precise. He is married and has three children, one from a previous marriage. His favourite meal is curry and he dislikes tomatoes. “It would be better to say that tomatoes dislike me.” If he loses weight, and he is going to, he hopes to have more energy and more specifically, he hopes to be able to play with his children.“I am a healthy fat man, but let me be honest; I do not run for the bus anymore. I want to have a better life and also a longer life,” he says. “One of the many problems my weight has brought on, is that I can never find a strong chair to hold my weight. It does get embarrassing.”Although curry is his passion, he also has a soft spot for chicken, bread and late night ice-cream. An idiosyncratic habit is that he does not eat during the day. Only at night after 5pm, as he does not like to eat in front of other people, except his family.One of his most awkward moments was when he did not wear a belt to a wedding and after a few glasses of bubbly, his pants fell off. Louis is confident about his chances on the show and is looking forward to his time in The Biggest Loser team, as he is used to mixing with sizeable groups of people. He used to be a tour guide and take large tours through the rough and desolate parts of the rest of Africa. “After I got Malaria the third time and nearly died, I was told by doctors to stop.” He is certain that he will not be voted off. “I have come to win,” he says. His game plan for the show is to level the playing fields. “The men are outnumbered, if you know what I mean. Sorry about that, but some of the women just might have to go first.”