I’ve watched a few episodes of The Biggest Loser, but I haven’t been a loyal or dedicated watcher. I struggle with weight loss issues myself so some of the things have gotten my interest, but this one really has.

One of the contestants from Season 2 is a former foster child, and that life is partly what lead to his weight gain.

Pete Thomas started the show at 401 pounds, but that was not his heaviest weight. He “maxed out” at 416. He lost 185 pounds on the show. That is a miraculous loss, especially if you have ever tried losing a few pounds.

Pete’s biological mother had mental health issues, and would often leave him unattended when he was quite young, telling him to go the neighbors to get food. What a way to start a life. He and his sisters would go knocking on doors asking for food. I can only begin to imagine what else they did for food.

During this time, someone must have noticed because he and his sister wound up in foster care. Pete had lived in twelve different cities by the time he was a teenager.

This man has taken adversity and turned it into something amazing. He is now using his time in foster care, as well as his amazing weight loss and is now doing motivational speaking. He speaks about diet, exercise and nutrition of course, but also about strength and overcoming adversity. A message we can all use from time to time.

He recently spoke at the Trumbull County Children Services annual ‘‘Rising Up and Moving On’’ luncheon where children services’ clients and families receive awards for overcoming adversity and working to make their lives better. One of the recipients still has her children in foster care, but has been clean and sober for seven months and is working hard to get her kids back.

Congratulations to Peter for an amazing weight loss and for overcoming adversity and creating a great life for himself.

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