MKR star Dan Mulheron unrecognisable after 85kg weight loss

Fans will be forgiven for doing a double take when My Kitchen Rules winners Dan and Steph Mulheron return to the show next month.

A lot has changed since the popular battlers from Hervey Bay appeared on the show in 2013.

The couple used their $250,000 prize money on several IVF cycles which helped them fulfil their baby dream. Daughter Emily Mae was born in 2016.

But since becoming a dad, Dan was inspired to drastically change his own life, losing a staggering 85kg after making the tough decision to have gastric sleeve surgery.

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“When you’re a big person, every minute of the day you’re thinking about your weight,” Dan told Woman’s Day.

But two years ago, the 38-year-old had went under the knife after spending years thinking about it.

“There’s a lot of negative stigma around weight-loss surgery, a lot of people who haven’t had weight problems see it as a cop out,” Dan said.

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Steph, 37, who has also undergone a weight-loss transformation of her own, said she was proud of her husband and his commitment to wanting to turn his life around.

“It’s was not an easy decision or journey,” she said in an Instagram post in March last year.

“But yes he wanted his health and life back to be around to see his daughter grow up and live his best life!”

Steph said her husband’s lifestyle had changed dramatically.

“Emmy and I are so proud of him, he has worked so hard to get these amazing results that just don’t happen,” she said while comparing an image from the morning of the surgery on March 27, 2018 to a more recent image.

“The decision to have gastric sleeve surgery is huge â€" you gotta wanna (sic) change and is definitely nothing to hide.”

Dan said following the operation he had a “new lease of life”.

“Before, Emmy was always, ‘Daddy, let’s jump on the trampoline!’ and I’d have no enthusiasm or energy for her. Now, she’s like, ‘Oh, I’ve had enough Daddy’. I run her ragged.”

Dan told The New Daily he and Steph didn’t go on MKR to become personalities, be in the limelight or be on TV.

“We went on the show strictly for the money,” he said, explaining that with one unsuccessful IVF attempt behind them, the couple wanted only to fund further IVF treatment.

“You get tired, you get cranky, but you block that out; we used to always remember why we were there. That was our strongest advantage,” said Dan, who, with Steph, runs the popular Hervey Bay cafe Eat at Dan & Steph’s.

After winning the reality show in 2013 â€" which was also most-watched TV event that year â€" Dan said their lives “really changed”.

The couple launched into their second attempt at IVF, travelled to Bali, the US and Mexico and signed the lease on their future restaurant.

About three months later Steph fell pregnant, which then inspired her to release an

e-book of healthy children’s food.

The couple’s next five-year goal is to one day move into hotels.

“Something small, like a bed and breakfast, that the two of us can do,” Dan said.

The humble couple who continue to attract packed houses to their popular cafe said the secret to their success was simple.

“We had a real impact on people because we were who we are and we still are exactly who we were on TV,” Dan said.