'American Idol' Alum Ruben Studdard Once Talked about Weight Struggles in 'The Biggest Loser'

Rodney Studdard opened up about his struggles with his weight - and gaining a new lease on life.

Fans will remember their first impression of Ruben Studdard on season 2 of "American Ido" - a big man with a big voice.

The voice and the talent are still massive, but since 2003, Ruben has lost a considerable amount of weight.

A LIFETIME STRUGGLE WITH WEIGHT GAIN

Ruben admits that he started gaining weight when he was just 10, which he attributes to being raised in the South, with its tradition of comfort food.

He was used to being a big man, and at 6'3 he was carrying close to 400 lb.

Today, Ruben is a happier and healthier man, and he reveals that he is now more energetic

WINNING AND LOSING - A WAY OF LIFE

Winning "American Idol" in 2003 and his subsequent Grammy nomination transformed Ruben's life but did not change his weight. being on tour constantly and recording did not seem to make a difference - which he attributes to his unwillingness to make healthy choices.

THE YO-YO YEARS

Then, in 2006 Ruben met Surata Zuri McCants and fell in love. The two were married, and Rodney dropped an impressive 100 lb, only to gain it all back with interest when the relationship fell apart in 2011.

"After I got divorced – or separated – in 2012 prior to that my wife and I, we worked out together, we ate well and all those things. But after that I started going out with my friends, my fraternity brothers, kicking it and having a good time eating chicken wings, drinking beer until 2 to 3 in the morning. Those were things I wasn’t doing as a married person," he explained.

"THE BIGGEST LOSER" AND A NEW WAY OF LIFE

Then in 2014 the producers of the weight loss contest "The Biggest Loser" reached out to Ruben, and invited him to be their first celebrity contestant.

When Ruben arrived at The Big Loser Ranch he was shocked to discover that he was the heaviest contestant, weighing in at 462 lbs.

“I’m 462 lbs. What in the hell have I been doing?” And you know what really pisses me off? [laughs] No one said [expletive] to me about it. They just went on like it was just cool, like, “Oh, it’s just Ruben,” he said.

"The Biggest Loser" was not a contest he won, however, he did lose 119 lb, and gained a new insight into how he could live a healthier life and continue - and maintain - his weight loss.

Today, Ruben is a happier and healthier man, and he reveals that he is now more energetic and feels that his performances on stage have improved.

RUBEN STUDDARD'S DIVORCE

When Ruben Studdard, the winner of the second season of "American Idol" met Zuri McCants, he thought he had found the love of his life.

Ruben met Zuri at a Wal-Mart CD signing and it was love at first sight. Two years later he married her, but not before she signed a prenuptial agreement.

Just three years after the marriage, things fell apart, and Zuri headed for the divorce courts and claimed that the singer had pressured her to sign the prenup agreement.

Luckily for Ruben, the judge upheld the prenup, and Zuri left the marriage with everything she came in with - nothing, including her engagement ring.