At 22, Everett man walks the walk on TV's 'Fat March'

Sam Amado was heavy.

So heavy he had to sit out roller coaster rides because the safety bars often couldn't lock down over his bulk.

So heavy he had two weight-related knee surgeries before he was legally old enough to drink.

As recently as three months ago, the 5-foot-9-inch, 22-year-old Everett native was a hefty 382 pounds. At one time, he had filled out to 417.

"I've always been big," said Amado, a massage therapist and 2003 graduate of Everett High School. "My portion sizes haven't always been the best."

Over the years, he tried fat burners, diet shakes, and strength training. Not finding success -- or at least anything that stuck -- he finally turned to that ever-broadening sanctuary for the dreamers and the desperate: reality TV.

Beginning Monday, Amado, along with 35-year-old Brookline resident Chantal Carrere, will be among a dozen contestants appearing on a six-episode ABC series, "Fat March."

The show, which was taped over the course of 10 weeks earlier this year, follows a e dozen obese participants as they walk 570 miles from Boston to Washington to lose weight, learn healthy eating habits, and compete for a large sum of money.

Because of confidentiality agreements with ABC, Amado couldn't talk about how much weight he lost or whether he received any prizes.

He did say, though, that he's slimmer and healthier -- and that his family is thrilled with his success.

"The show saved my life," Amado said in a phone interview. "If I didn't do it, I'm sure I'd still be gaining weight."

Amado acknowledged his trail of failed diets, but said his experience with "Fat March" really made an impact -- what he learned will remain with him. And so far, he's proven that by keeping up with regular, trainer-led workouts and daily 5-mile walks. He's also become like Jackie Warner -- star of the Bravo show "Work Out" -- with food, staying away from fried or fatty meals and sticking to roughly 1,500 calories a day.

But before? He consumed at least two or three times that, he estimated, and with fat-packed fare such as pizza, ribs, and Mexican food.

Even with all the carefree eating, though, he often worried about his health. Because of his heft, he was a bull's-eye for diabetes, which runs on both sides of his Cape Verdean and Portuguese family.

So when he heard about ABC searching for "Fat March" contestants on JAM'N 94.5 this spring, he shot a demo tape and headed to Faneuil Hall for a casting call.

"I was tired of being a big guy," he said. "I'm only 22, so I want to change my life before it's too late."

But his "Fat March" experience didn't come without the accustomed reality show devices: As well as walking, contestants competed in nutrition-centric challenges, and they could increase their share of a $1.2 million prize pool by voting off walkers they found contentious or too slow.

They also relinquished their freedom, sleeping in tents, eating when told, and cutting communication with family members.

"The biggest challenge was surrendering control," said the 5-foot 2-inch Carrere, who started out at 250 pounds. "Every day, you didn't know what was coming. All you knew was that you had to step up to the plate."

Amado agreed, likening the show to boot camp. But from it, he said, he learned that healthy living comes from just one thing: forcing yourself.

"Just eat right; portion control is huge," he said. "And you don't have to walk 575 miles. Just get out there and be active."

"Fat March" will be shown on ABC at 9 p.m. Mondays starting next week.