Long-term maintenance of a healthy weight is all about changing your attitude to food — and Kevin Sage is a great example of just how to do that.

Kevin, 36, won the last series of The Biggest Loser two years ago, after shedding an impressive 9st 7lbs in 17 weeks! The new series of the TV weight loss contest started last week.

He has kept the weight off since, and says: "I think for anybody it is really hard to lose weight, but from the outset within The Biggest Loser environment it was all we had to concentrate on.

“In some ways, that made it easy to lose the weight, but mentally you felt distanced from the world.”

Kevin says he felt very alone during the series and missed his family, but managed to overcome the mental strain to succeed and then keep the weight off.

He says the main reason for maintaining his healthier weight is the education and tools the show gave him.

“My mindset is completely right at the moment, when I see food that may be bad. Before, it was like an automatic pilot thing and I would eat anything. I did not have an understanding of what that food was going to do to me.”

Kevin advises other dieters to eat well, watch their salt intake, always eat breakfast, and concentrate on what they want.

“Don't despair — no matter how bad it seems at the moment, the road you are travelling on can become better.

“Try and think as positively as possible, and focus on what you really want to be.”

But he adds: “Every now and again you need to have a treat because if you do not, you are going to end up rebelling against yourself.”

The Biggest Loser is on ITV1, Mondays at 9pm. For the website accompanying the series, visit www.biggestloserclub.co.uk The Biggest Loser book is published by Hamlyn, priced £12.99.