Survivor star Zach reveals ‘heartbreaking’ 13kg weight loss

Ousted Survivor star Zach lost a huge amount of weight during his 28 days in the game — and said it was “heartbreaking” to discover.

Nick Bond

@bondnickbond

2 min read

March 12, 2020 - 9:53AM

Beefy Survivor star Zach Kozyrski has opened up about the extreme body transformation he underwent during his 38 days in the game.

Zach, a former TV Gladiator turned personal trainer, told news.com.au today that he’d shed a whopping 13kgs during his time on All-Stars.

“And probably most of it muscle, because I wasn’t carrying that much extra weight when I walked in. I’m still working on getting it back. The recovery for something like this is just so long,” he said.

A beefier Zach.

After 38 days on All-Stars.

“When you’re just watching your muscles deflate, and everyone’s saying ‘Gee, you’re looking skinny…’ All those hours of hard work, all the money you’ve spent on food and supplements, to watch it all waste away– it’s heartbreaking!”

Zach also opened up about tribemate Lee Carseldine’s shock exit from the game in Monday night’s episode, after receiving news from home that his mother had suffered a fatal stroke.

The tragic news rattled everyone left in the game — but for Zach, it was personal.

“It hit everyone very hard. For me in particular, I’d just lost one of my best friends only three days before I went on the island from stroke. I spent two weeks just trying to unpack that. To have Lee’s mum die from stroke, it just brought all that back again,” he revealed.

Zach surveys his weight loss after his elimination.

ZACH GETS THE BOOT

Former Gladiator and personal trainer Zach Kozyrski became the first player eliminated from Survivor this week after a multi-episode ‘Exile Island’ challenged saw half-a-dozen players banished from the tribe.

Those who had been sent to exile had to fight their way back into the tribe, with room for all but one. Cocky jock Zach, who had been happy to go to exile to display his challenge strength, was in for a shock when alliance member Jacqui blindsided him.

“I’m voting for Zach. He’s been an absolute arsehole,” Jacqui whispered at camp before they’d headed to tribal council.

“Put that in your pipe and smoke it buddy, because the 52-year-old chook just beat ya — and she’s going to beat you again.”

The pair had previously butted heads in challenges. Zach had been a controversial contestant during his original season of Survivor due to his comments about his female tribemates and women in general — but had displayed a different side this season, revealing that back home, he rehabilitates injured birds.

At tribal council, everyone voted — but could only vote for Shonee, Zach or AK.

Zach was confident he wouldn’t be going home … he was wrong.