Richard Hatch is no stranger to winning. As a participant in the first season of CBS' "Survivor," in 2000, Hatch outwitted, outlasted and outplayed his opponents to emerge victorious and $1 million richer.

Following that win, his competitive spirit would be displayed in a host of competition reality shows, with appearances on "Dog Eat Dog," "Battle of the Network Reality Stars," "Celebrity Apprentice" and a return to the show that made him a household name for 2004's "Survivor: All Stars."

It's no secret the reality star has had his share of tribulations since nakedly storming the country on "Survivor." His widely publicized arrest for tax evasion in 2006 saw him convicted of the crime, and he served 51 months in a federal prison.

While Hatch claimed his conviction was flawed, he did his time and, 10 years later, a very different Richard Hatch, now 54, has his heart set on losing with his latest foray into reality television as a contestant on NBC's "The Biggest Loser."

As someone who has dealt with weight issues his entire life, being approached to do the show was a no-brainer.

"I got a phone call and they carefully and gingerly asked, 'Not to offend you, but we were wondering...' I just said, 'Yes, I'd be happy to,' Hatch told Headlines & Global News exclusively.

"It was that simple," he adds. "This guy called and was dancing around what he actually wanted to ask, and I was like, 'Look, you're from 'The Biggest Loser,' are you asking me if I'm fat?' 'Yes, I am obese, and I'm happy to do the show.' We just went from there."

"Prior, we didn't know each other from Adam," revealed Hatch.

"We didn't know who the other person with us was going to be, we were told nothing. Where everyone else has some sort of relationship, we were complete unknowns to each other, and it's interesting fun," he added with a laugh.

With this season's theme of Temptation, participants will be thrown all manner of things ranging from money to food and electronic items in an effort to test their commitment.

For Hatch, who admitted to having "been through the ringer and then some" in recent years, he's looking forward to viewers seeing just how committed to being fit and happy he is when "The Biggest Loser: Temptation" debuts on NBC Jan. 4 at 9 p.m. ET.

For more with Hatch, continue reading HNGN's exclusive interview below.

How did it feel seeing that 314 number you weighed in at?
I've spent my life having weight issues, so I've gone up and down. On "Survivor," I lost an enormous amount of weight very quickly and it came right back. That was clearly not a healthy weight loss. I've lost weight through exercise before, and I think what I needed before undergoing this process was clarity. After many attempts of pulling it all together, I need a mix of what is a reasonable, consistent exercise routine for someone my size, age, etc., regardless of what's happening to my knee, head or whatever. What do I have to do, and what's reasonable eating? I love good food, but I love a lot of it. I love quantity. I had no sense of what was reasonable, and I've refined and integrated both of those points and, daresay, I think I've got it.

You've said a big motivator for doing the show is your husband Emiliano. How does it feel to be able to say husband now after the lift of the gay marriage ban?
It's a good, good feeling. I have to say I'm in that frustrated mode where I'm observing people beginning to kind of understand equality, but as with everything I've watched over history, nobody who was blatantly bigoted or racist takes accountability for it now. It probably won't ever happen, but with that said, it feels great. We been married for 12 years. He's 14 years younger than me and he is fit. He's in the military and goes to the gym every day, which I also do now. But I didn't and was unfit. So it's a nice feeling to be in sync with your partner.

It must be a nice feeling to have your marriage legally recognized.
Yes and no. I guess, from it probably being beaten into me, I can't care what other people think because they're not ever going to understand or treat me rationally or fairly. It's not what we humans do with one another. I know that's a cynical perspective, but I believe it's reality and I have lived it. My happiness is not based on what others think of me.

How did you approach doing the show with your family and husband?
I made the decision, and told him that's what I was doing. That's how I tend to do everything. There really wasn't anything I needed to think about. I know reality television and what the process is like, although, believe it or not, I hadn't seen "The Biggest Loser." But I did understand what it was about and was happy to participate.

Before I even got the call, I was on high blood pressure medication, high cholesterol medication and pre-diabetes medication, so that sucked. I didn't know how quickly "The Biggest Loser" doctors would be able to wean me off that medication and didn't even know if it was possible. That was fun to learn.

Are you off them now?
That's a part of my journey you will need to watch.

Did you look at this show as a competition? People will expect it as you are known mainly for competition shows.
I don't know if I expected it to be mind games. In fact, I think, I didn't. I think I expected it would be a very different experience from my previous ones, not that I minded. I'm good at it and enjoy the competitive environment. But I also wanted to focus on getting healthy and maintaining it. I don't think I expected this [to be] the same cutthroat environment as "Celebrity Apprentice" or "Survivor" — and it wasn't.

What are your main temptations
love healthy food, but I can eat acres of it. My temptation is quantity — like there's unlimited food available, so now what? You will see how I get a handle on that, and I feel that I do. That was the biggest thing for me. I'm not into sweets, soda or caffeine, so I don't have those particular challenges. Mine was all about quantity.

What can you say about your partner, Erin Willett? Was she supportive?
I think people will enjoy Erin and I getting to know one another. Prior, we didn't know each other from Adam, and we didn't know whom the other person with us was going to be on the show. We were told nothing. We just showed up to do the show and that's how we enter "The Biggest Loser," where everyone else has some sort of relationship. We were complete unknowns to each other and it's interesting and fun.

She must have been living on an island to not know who you were. So were there any preconceived notions on her part?
I hadn't seen "The Voice" and, perhaps, yes, once we met, she might have known who I was, but she didn't know who her partner on this process was going to be. That could have been worse —the shock of all shocks that she's partnered with that fat, naked guy. "Holy crap! Now what am I going to do?" I can only imagine! [Laughs]

Was there a moment when you thought about taking it all off for the show?
That's something you'll have to watch and see. But I don't think it would shock anybody.

Did you expect any special treatment at the ranch?
I'm old, 54 now, so I'm not quite that naïve. I knew damn well that was challenging and, in a good way, it was.

As someone who's used to challenges and roughing it, how does this compare to "Survivor"?
Both of the bigger reality shows I've done, "Survivor" and "Celebrity Apprentice," the competition is focused on kind of killing the other competitors, which I was good at. What was interesting about "The Biggest Loser" is, I'm competing with myself. The whole process is about focusing on my goal and, in that focus, I can still include the people I'm participating with. It was a really different experience and one I, frankly, enjoyed. It wasn't about eliminating everybody. People leave "The Biggest Loser" in a way that's different from plotting and planning because you need to be the last one there. That's not what this is about. Everyone is here to get healthy and it's really up to each individual to stay and do that.

No regrets whatsoever! It's a really great process, and anyone given the opportunity to participate would greatly benefit.

You released a book, "101 Survival Secrets," in 2000. Did this experience provide a possible new chapter for an update?
I'm actually writing a book at the moment, although this one is a lot more serious. That book was my attempt at dipping my toes into some serious conversation. I'm writing a book called "Reality Matters." It's about truth and the reality tag kind of helps. It's little more serious and does deal with some of the issues that I hope will help people live happier lives.

Did you watch Kelly Wigglesworth on the last season of "Survivor"?
Indeed I did. I've actually never missed an episode. This was one of the best seasons ever, a really good mix. It played itself out in a way that I've been waiting for for a long, long time — where people were actually playing [because], for far too long, people weren't. To me, it seemed they were unaware what the game was about, but this season, people played hard and it showed. It was a very interesting season to watch.

There were mitigating circumstances surrounding you participating on another "Survivor," but would you consider it?
I would because I love the game of "Survivor" and understand it in ways that people who haven't played it wouldn't understand. The flexibility required to play well is something I think I would be good at. I'd definitely consider doing it again.

As someone who knows Donald Trump, what is your take on his presidential campaign?
It's fascinating to me from a personal perspective. I know the man and have spent a lot of time with him, not just on "Celebrity Apprentice." I knew him before that and worked in his building. We spent time together, and he invited me to sit on the dais at his roast at the Friars Club, which I did. I understand who he is. I'm impressed with a choice he's making, but I don't really respect it. This idea of expediency over offensiveness. I believe he's doing what he thinks is expedient and what he needs to do to get where he would be helpful. I think he feels he would be helpful as a president, but the way in which he's going about it is challenging for me to watch.

So he won't be getting your vote?
No, not from me. It's entertaining, but, unfortunately, reality matters, and the idea of someone that's irresponsible, I guess is how I would describe him, and that disconnected from what I think is important about who we are as people isn't someone suited for the presidency.

What else are you doing these days?
Well, I did the corporate training thing for 16 years, that was my thing. Besides the book I'm writing, I'm starting a health-related business here in Rhode Island that I can't really talk about just yet. And, who knows? I do hope to maintain a relationship with "The Biggest Loser." I think I could contribute in seasons to come with contestants in ways that are pretty unique. I'm not sure that anyone else has the experience of being on a reality show before and with production and everything. So I think I could really be an asset. We'll to see how it works out.

It's no secret you have been through a lot over the years, so how is Richard Hatch these days?
I'm doing really well. I'm happy. I'm a really lucky guy. I've been through the ringer and then some. I married an amazing man and we could not be happier. So, I'm lucky as far as that goes. Things are good!