“Survivor 50” contestant Rizo Velovic is opening up about the intense physical toll that came with filming two consecutive seasons of the hit CBS reality competition — and the numbers are shocking.
In a new interview with E! News at the “Survivor 50” finale event on May 20, the 26-year-old revealed that he lost nearly 50 pounds while competing on seasons 49 and 50 back-to-back with only nine days between filming.
“I lost like 25 pounds on Season 49 and I gained maybe two of it back,” Rizo exclusively told E! News. “So, I went into 50 a shell of myself. And the fact that I’m even here in the end after losing 25 pounds I feel like is a pretty big feat.”
The “Survivor” star said the short turnaround between seasons left him with almost no time to physically recover before heading back to Fiji for the milestone 50th season.
Shockingly, Rizo only had nine days to carbo-load before returning to film again last fall.
Rizo Velovic Says He Spent His Break ‘Eating as Much Garbage as Possible’
While many fans imagine “Survivor” contestants using downtime to train or recover, Rizo admitted his priority became simply trying to put weight back on as fast as possible.
“It really was just eating as much garbage as possible,” he explained, “and spending time with my family.”
The comments are giving fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into how demanding back-to-back “Survivor” filming can be, especially for contestants advancing deep into the game.
Rizo was also one of only two contestants from “Survivor 49” invited back for season 50, alongside season 49 winner Savannah Louie.
Rizo ultimately made it all the way to the final four despite entering season 50 in what he described as a severely depleted condition.
His candid interview quickly sparked reactions online from longtime “Survivor” viewers, many of whom were stunned by how little recovery time contestants had between seasons.
The ‘Survivor 50’ Contestant Says Recovery Took Months
Although Rizo said he is now feeling healthy again, he admitted the recovery process after filming did not happen overnight.
“I feel good, I feel healthy,” he told E!. “Every person’s different. I got everything back to normality four or five months in from filming.”
The reality star also joked that at least one part of the “Survivor” experience may still be lingering.
“Granted I still can’t do puzzles,” he jokingly added, “but in terms of normal, everyday life, I feel like a million bucks.”
Weight loss has long been one of the most talked-about side effects of competing on “Survivor,” but Rizo’s experience stands out because of the franchise’s decision to film seasons 49 and 50 consecutively.
The physically grueling format already pushes contestants to their limits through food deprivation, harsh weather conditions, and intense challenges. Having less than two weeks to recover before jumping back into the game added another layer to the experience for returning players.
Now, Rizo’s comments are becoming one of the most talked-about behind-the-scenes revelations connected to “Survivor 50.”
