Australian Survivor: Blood V Water winner Mark Wales has revealed he lost a staggering 17kg while taking part in the Channel 10 series.
The former SAS commander, 42, who took home the $500,000 cash prize on Monday night, said the game took a ‘huge toll’ on his body and that all the finalists felt themselves ‘deteriorating’ six weeks in.
In addition to revealing his weight loss, Mark also told news.com.au he had to live off a diet of mainly rice and lentils during filming, which lasted for 47 brutal days.
Dramatic transformation: Australian Survivor: Blood V Water winner Mark Wales has revealed he lost a whopping 17kg while taking part in the series. Pictured at the start of the game (left) and at the end (right)
It was a similar story for his wife Samantha Gash, whom he met on the 2017 season of Australian Survivor.
After being eliminated on day 40, she revealed she had lost 6kg, or more than 12 per cent if her body weight, during her time in the outback.
‘I’m not celebrating this weight loss. It is part and parcel of the game of Survivor,’ she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her incredibly lean frame.
‘One that I willingly chose to do. The toll – physically (& mentally) is clearly evident with this,’ she added.
Change: The 42-year-old ex-SAS commander, who took home the $500,000 cash prize on Monday night, said the show took a ‘huge toll’ on his body and that all the finalists began to feel their physique ‘deteriorating’ six weeks in. Pictured at the end of the game
Before and after: It’s a similar story for his wife Samantha Gash, who he met on the 2017 season of the show. She revealed she had shed 6kg, or more than 12% if her body weight, during the game in a post shared to Instagram after her elimination on day 40
Family: During the interview, Mark revealed how he and Sam plan to spend their half a million dollar prize money. ‘Sam and I are both self-employed… this money will put us ahead by a good decade or so, and give us more freedom to spend time with (son) Harry,’ he said. Pictured on day 40 of the show
During his News.com.au interview, Mark also revealed how he and Sam plan to spend their $500,000 prize money.
‘Sam and I are both self-employed… This money will put us ahead by a good decade or so, and give us more freedom to spend time with [son] Harry,’ he said.
Mark headed into the finale with Josh Millgate, Chrissy Zaremba and Shayelle Lajoie.
It was a gruelling final immunity challenge that saw the remaining four go head to head.
Sole Survivor: Mark (pictured) was unanimously crowned the winner of Australian Survivor: Blood V Water on Monday’s episode, pocketing $500,000
They were required to stand on a wooden platform, stationed above a waterfall, and grab hold of lower rungs at regular intervals.
Chrissy was the first to be defeated, followed by Josh, Mark and Shayelle.
In the ultimate betrayal, Chrissy sent Josh to the jury and he was voted out.
Support system: Mark celebrated his win with his ‘soulmate’ and wife Sam
Former contestants reunited to vote for who should be crowned Sole Survivor.
Mark was unanimously crowned the winner, and his proud wife Sam was there to celebrate.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Mark detailed the physical and emotional strength that’s required to star on the show.
Remaining contestants: Mark headed into the finale with Josh Millgate, Chrissy Zaremba (left with her family) and Shayelle Lajoie (centre with her family)
Sent packing: In the ultimate betrayal, Chrissy sent Josh (pictured) to the jury where he was voted out after their final immunity challenge
‘Playing Survivor is hard, I’m meant to be conditioned for this type of work but I could feel it breaking me down,’ he wrote.
‘The physical is endurable, it’s the dilemmas, the attachments, the losses, the fear, the grief and the emotional toll of that makes it so, so hard – AND, therefore – such a great story, an unreal game and the best show in the world.
‘Whatever happened out there, I always reminded myself that the night is always darkest before the dawn – there’s always hope.’
Mark went on to praise his ‘soulmate’ Sam, and said he’s ‘lucky to have played Survivor twice’.
Survival of the fittest: They were required to stand on a wooden platform, stationed above a waterfall, and grab hold of lower rungs at regular intervals
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