‘Master Chef’ Host Graham Elliot Runs First 10K Race After Massive Weight Loss

MasterChef host Graham Elliot lost an astonishing 155 pounds, but apparently, just shedding the weight is not enough. Elliot celebrated his weight loss by running his first 10K race in Chicago on Monday. He finished the course with a remarkable time of 1 hour and 16 minutes, Examiner reports.

Just last year, Elliot Graham weighed 405 pounds and could barely stroll around the block without having shortness of breath. In July 2013, Graham underwent gastric sleeve surgery and went from 405 pounds to 250 pounds. He said that he did the surgery not for vanity purposes, but because he had health issues. The chef has been trying to lose weight for several years through diet and exercise, but his efforts failed.

Elliot was also surprised about his transformation, as he thought that shedding 155 pounds would take around 2 to 3 years. He credits the big weight loss to his daily workouts and six small meals daily.

“I definitely have smaller bites than before, and I was nervous about getting too full. I’m finding that I eat and get hungrier sooner than I expected. I don’t know if it’s just because real estate is smaller in my stomach, but I’ll eat two scallops and feel full, then an hour and a half later, I need to eat a small salad.”

After the surgical procedure, Elliot was concerned about his ability to judge in MasterChef. ” There would be 15 lobster dishes to taste. I’m happy to say there were no incidents.”

After the 10K race, Elliot posted a picture of himself with his training partner David Coligado and his wife, who both ran the race with him. He also thanked his MasterChef co-hosts and judges Joe Bastianich and Gordon Ramsay for supporting and encouraging him through his journey to a healthier body.

Elliot told People he is excited about the next challenge in his journey. “I’m very excited but also nervous, but I’m telling you even if it takes 12 hours and I have to crawl on my knees and hands to get over the finish line, I will make it happen,” he said.

Elliot is now focused on preparing for the Chicago Marathon, which will be held in October. He is planning to run with Ramsay and Bastianich, who are both marathon runners. Graham is running to support Smile Train, a charitable organization that provides free cleft repair surgery.

Graham Elliot’s drastic weight loss is especially impressive for someone whose work revolves around food.

[Images via People]