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He's The Biggest Loser! Craig crowned king of slim after losing almost 80kg... and now he's found love too

Published: 17:05 EST, 13 April 2014 | Updated: 04:09 EST, 14 April 2014

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He was the heaviest male contestant at the beginning of this series of Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia, tipping the scales at an almighty 183.4kg.

But gentle giant Craig Booby shed a life changing 79.8kg, 43.5% of his body weight, to be crowned king on Sunday night's emotional grand finale.

The newly slimmed down star, 34, who was forecast an early death aged 59, turned his life around to pull a final weigh in figure of 103.6kg, securing himself a longer life in the process.

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He's the winner! Craig Booby is crowned Australia's Biggest Loser on Sunday night's episode of the show after he loses 79.8kg, 43.5% of his body weight

Changed man: Craig started the show as the heaviest male contestant, weighing 183.4kg

Craig Booby takes home the title of The Biggest Loser!

He beat fellow finalists Sharon, Toni and Katrina to take the prize money of $75,000.

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Overwhelmed by his achievement the softly spoken chap now considerably richer said he never imagined he'd make it to the finale when he first auditioned.

He said of his personal victory: 'It's a very surreal feeling.'

The final four: Craig, Katrina, Sharon and Toni made it through to the finale but Craig took the top prize and $75,000

Stars in their eyes! The 15 transformed contestants of The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia, they're joined by trainers Shannan, Commando, Michelle and presenter Hayley

'I just knew I had one chance to be able to make the most of this opportunity and win or lose I was going to give it 100% to be able to hold my head high and have no regrets,' said the Ararat local.

'Winning is an amazing reward for the hard work I have put in and I have also proved my doubters wrong,' said the newly confident man who fought off the shackles of a former waist measurement of 160cms.

After weeks of blood, sweat and tears Craig's dream has finally been realised, he said: 'The Biggest Loser has taught me if you want something badly enough and are willing to put in the work, push through the pain and get your priorities right, dreams really can become reality.'

Since the show ended the sales manager's new direction has also led him into the arms of a lover, he told TV Week: 'I've found someone.

'Her name is Narelle. A few times over the years we sort of nearly got together, but after I got out of the house I guess I had more confidence to express how I feel.'

Slim star: Cameron looked almost unrecognisable after losing more than 60kg

Speaking on Studio 10 on Monday the pleased as punch chap said: 'It’s amazing, when I first started and the producers asked me how much I thought I could lose, I thought 30kg would be good, 50kg would be amazing, but to have lost almost 80kg is incredible.'

His health took a turn for the worse when he gave up BMX riding at age 21, opting to drink beer on fishing and camping trips instead.

'It’s taken a while to realise that I’m not who I was. I was on blood pressure tablets… life is a lot easier,' he said.

Late nights spent in the gym helped him keep his weight loss goals on track and Craig had hoped to smash 80kg at the final weigh in: 'One of the camera guys said, ‘You just won $75,000. But in my head I just wanted to crack 80!

'It was never about the money.'

Say what? Slimmed down Rodger had lost 26.2kg, the grandfather was looking forward to seeing his children's kids grow up

One man who backed the star from the beginning is trainer Commando Steve, he said of his protégé: 'He was the very definition of hard work and from the moment he entered the Biggest Loser house, he gave it his all.

'I constantly encouraged him to strive for more and dig deeper to be the best possible version of himself and he delivered.'

It was the culmination of eleven weeks of highs and lows, friendships and conflicts as the original 14 town challengers, plus Kevin 'Big Kev' Moore gathered together for the glitzy finale.

Hot stuff! The show's youngest competitor Caitlin has turned her life around losing 36.9kg

Unbelievable: Kevin 'Big Kev' Moore has lost 33.4kg, he looks forward to traveling and getting married

Dressed in a show stopping hot pink, floor length gown presenter Hayley announced to the crowd: 'They've bettered themselves from the inside out and along the way they've lost a massive amount of weight more than 600kg. Pretty amazing right?'

One by one she introduced the new, body improved contestants to the Biggest Loser finale.

First up was Cameron who entered the house weighing 146.2kg, but had his journey cut short when he was ruled out of the competition because of health problems and has since faced two heart surgeries.

Despite his untimely exit he looked almost unrecognisable after he shed an unbelievable 60.2kg, losing 41.12% of his body weight to end the series at 86.2kg.

Not so plain! Jane got a glamorous new look for the grand finale, she's lost 41.4kg

Beauty in blue: Mother-of-two Shannon fought her demons on the show to drop 27.3kg

He was crowned the eliminated contestants Biggest Loser after losing the highest weight loss percentage and awarded $10,000 for his hard work.

Next up on stage was Jane who joined the show at 121.7kg, a woman plagued by insecurities she had spent her years hiding from life.

After losing 41.4kg she had brought her weigh down to 80.3kg and said of her new lease of life: 'The change in me has been totally 360. Inside and out.'

Show stopper: Nat wowed the crowd in a black maxi dress, slimmed down after shedding 25.3kg

New life: Kerry had one foot in the grave when he came on the show, now he's 46kg lighter

To the people at home she said: 'Go hard and enjoy what you're doing because the buzz you get from it is just amazing.'

Aussie battler and cancer survivor Natalie was up next and with her blonde locks coiffed into curls, she sported a dramatic black maxi dress to reveal she'd lost 25.3kg, 21.51% of her body weight.

Rough, tough country man Rodger had joined the show to make serious life changes after his former weight of 125.6kg looked set to rob him of a future spent with his grand kids.

What a babe: The show's heaviest female competitor has cast of the shackles of her former self, she lost 41.7kg

Dapper! Matt has lost 22.9kg and inspired his fiancee to lose weight too

The proud man had shed an impressive 26.2kg and looked dapper in a suit as he showed off his newly svelte weight of 99.4kg.

Following Rodger was reformed drinker Kerry who had one foot in the grave when he arrived on the show.

He said of his former, unhealthy self: 'I could hardly walk after work, I would have to lift my leg into the car.'

Inside and out: Hayley told the crowds that the contestants have raised $145,000 for the town of Ararat

New start: The contestants hard work has paid off as they look toward a happier, healthier future

The 45-year-old husband of Toni had impressed the trainers with his commitment to weight loss from day one and had seen the benefits of his hard work as he lost 46kg, more than 30% of his body weight.

Mary Reid joined the town champions at a life crushing 181.5kg, the heaviest female contestant in Australian Biggest Loser history.

But after 11 weeks of pushing her body to the limit the changed lady had a new weight of 139.8kg, after she lost 41.7kg.

Slim jim: Cameron won $10,000 on the night for losing the most weight of the eliminated contestants

She said of her new lease of life: 'I can move. I don't think about things I can't do, I plan things I can do.'

While soon-to-be wed Matt agreed his life had taken a turn for the better after he'd lost 22.9kg with the help of the fitness show, he said: 'I feel amazing now and definitely see a brighter future now for myself and Jen.'

Cheeky chappy Cal had started his journey in a bid to improve his life for the sake of his family, looking transformed in a slick suit he'd cast off 33.2kg, 25.23% of his total weight.

Model mums: Natalie and Shannon say they are now positive role inspiration for their kids

The youngest of this year's competitors Caitlin, 17, came on the show wanting to change her life and left with newly renewed confidence, 36.9kg lighter than when she started.

He joined the series mid way through but Big Kev still managed to lose an impressive 33.4kg on his quest to become a fitter, healthier man.

He said of his bright future: 'I have a beautiful fiancee, but other than that I'm able to experience life, we're able to travel and do things.'

Meanwhile mother-of-two Shannon stepped on the stage looking gorgeously glam in a midnight blue gown.

Proud as punch: The trainers looked on as the contestants displayed weeks of hard work, blood, sweat and tears

Over joyed! It was a glitzy affair as the stars sparkled the night away

While she'd struggled to be separated from her children in the house, she had continued her journey outside, tackling her demons to drop 27.3kg, which gave her a new weight of 69.9kg.

After emotional flashbacks of the final four competitors meeting their families again in their newly, transformed bodies, it was time for the weight busting gang to hit the scales.

Pocket rocket Sharon had kept focused throughout the competition and lost 40.2kg, reducing her weight from 109.8kg to 69.6kg and achieved her goal of becoming a sexy mummy.

While Katrina who weighed in at 131.1kg at the start of the show left considerably lighter at 87.3kg, a drop of 43.8kg.

Final weigh in: All the eliminated stars weighed in as they competed to win $10,000

She celebrated her weight loss with friend and fellow competitor Toni who'd lost 47.7kg, bringing her weight to the finishing point of 76.5kg.

But it was Craig's night as he dazzled the crowd with his awesome achievement and weight loss of 79.8kg.

The 14 town champions had raised an impressive $145,000 for Ararat an incredible bonus and lasting legacy of their quest for a healthier future, meanwhile in a bid to fight obesity the residents of the Australian locale had collectively lost 40,000kg to turn their lives around.