Sam Wood hits back at trolls who claim he ‘faked’ 10kg weight gain

Sam Wood has shut down claims he “faked” his weight gain to sell his exercise program, telling fans he gained 10kg after he “hit rock bottom”.

Fitness star Sam Woods has been forced to defend himself against trolls after he shared a weight gain photo some suggested was “fake”.

The former Bachelor star shared a before and after photo on Sunday night after losing 10kg, weight he says he gained when he “hit rock bottom” during last year’s lockdown.

While the 42-year-old had posted his progress snaps “proudly”, he was quickly hit by a barrage of nasty comments, many claiming the former reality star had altered the images to promote his fitness plan 28 by Sam Wood.

The dad-of-three – who is expecting his fourth child with wife Snezana – has since responded to the “haters” in an emotional video, revealing the snaps were the result of eight weeks of hard work, not a photoshop job.

Sam Wood has shit down claims he ‘faked’ his 10kg weight gain by altering a photo. Picture: Instagram/SamWood

“I was not physically or mentally in a very good place,” he said.

“I was feeling really lethargic and like I was in groundhog day, run down, defeated with all the Covid stuff going on, which I am sure many people can relate to.”

He went on to explain his “before” photo wasn’t taken with the intention of being shared and had been captured one morning as motivation to help him get back on track.

“I’d just washed my face, taken my shirt off in the bathroom and checked myself out in the mirror and I could see some cellulite, my posture was terrible and my belly was sticking out,” Sam said.

“I thought: ‘F**k me, I’ve really hit rock bottom.’

The former Bachelor said he ‘hit rock bottom’ last year amid the Covid chaos. Picture: Instagram/SamWood

The second image was taken nine weeks later in a changing room, with Sam explaining he took it because he was “bloody proud of how far I had come”.

“I felt much better within myself, more confident was obviously feeling better every single day from an energy, mood and sort of psychological perspective,” Sam said.

“They were the two photos I chose to put together for my before and after, taken nine weeks apart.

“I find it really interesting, and don’t get me wrong – 95 per cent of people were incredibly supportive – I also find it interesting some of the comments.”

Sam went on to share some of the “negative” comments he’d received, some claiming he’d used a “filter” or “Photoshop”, while another asked if the image was “a joke”.

“I understand what people are saying, I was side on and then I was front on, and I was letting my guts out,” he said.

“But I wasn’t sticking them out, they were hanging out naturally.

“Then my posture improved and my tummy muscles tightened. My belly fat definitely reduced as I lost 10 kgs in the nine weeks.”

In an emotional video he explained the image was ‘real’. Picture: Instagram/SamWood

He went on: “Everyone is so quick to judge, so quick to hate, so quick to be sceptical, so quick to be cynical. So quick to think you’re a dickhead without ever meeting you before, that it’s some marketing scam.

“People were saying it was fake, it’s not even me, the before photo was taken years ago...

“I wasn’t trying to trick anybody. I wasn’t trying to be misleading. I wasn’t trying to be fake.

“That was me – and then 9 weeks later, that was f**king me. Both photos are me and the only thing that changed was I worked my absolute arse off.”

His video was quickly applauded by many online, including fellow famous fitness star Tim Robards who thanked Sam for “keeping it real”.

The Melbourne-based dad said he was ‘proud’ of his hard work. Picture: Instagram/SamWood

Others said the dad was “spot on” and urged him to continue being himself.

“Anyone who said it was fake/for Marketing are obviously not on the program. We know how hard you worked Sam, it’s inspirational,” one follower wrote.

“This is really brave of you to share! To see a known face in the fitness industry admit to having the same rock bottom lows that we all do, is really heartwarming and real,” another said.

“We know, Sam. You have done so well, and your 28 family know that you are real and the photos are real.”

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