ET talks to "Survivor: Tocantins" runner-up Stephen Fishbach, who reveals his shocking weight loss, his thoughts on "Coach" Ben Wade and his biggest regret.

ET: How does it feel to know all these people have been watching your adventures?
Stephen: It's such a different experience to watch it and to live it. When I left, I felt more changed by the 'survival' part -- it's a little weird to see it on television and just all of that stuff has been removed; it's just a game of pure strategy -- but of course that for me was what I was better at, so I'm happy it doesn't show more of me struggling in the wild. It's cool, it's like seeing a photo album of an adventure you and your friends went on.

ET: What did you take from the game?
Stephen: I just realized how resilient I am. Going out there I did not expect -surviving the elements and not eating for a month -- I didn't know I could do that.

ET: I would probably drop dead in about three hours.
Stephen: That's the thing, everybody says that. If I could do it, believe me anyone could do it. I knew if I wasn't out early, I could make it. I said to myself if I'm out here for 14 days I'm a success. To be part of the final two, I was obviously thrilled.

ET: How much did you lose on the "survivor diet"?
Stephen: I lost 33lbs out there. Seeing it week after week, I don't think it's even as clear. I was a different person coming home than I was when I went out.

ET: What about the emotional toll of the game?
Stephen: It's an extremely personally challenging game in terms of the decisions you have to make. Voting out Tyson seems like a great strategic move, but at the same time we were personally betraying a friend. You're constantly being confronted with these emotional decisions.

ET: Speaking of Tyson, do you have any regrets?
Stephen: I set out to seem like the goofy side-kick and not portray that I was being strategic and I think I might have overplayed that. When it came down to it, everyone thought I was the goofy sidekick and they didn't want to give me a million dollars. Its hard to say I have regrets because I made it to the end, I just saw my best friend win a million dollars.

ET: What are your thoughts on Coach?
Stephen: He's the first person to admit that he has this arrogant braggadocio, he definitely owns up to that, but he also has a totally other side, too. Coach is a really solid guy and that's not something that really came across on television. He's a really supportive, kind human being. What you don't see is him being a coach; cheering you on from the sidelines, he's constantly finding the good in people. Even now when I see him, he's telling me how cool my glasses look or how ripped I look. He's always trying to build people up. When he said 'be the wizard Steven,' it sounds like a cartoonish statement, but he correctly perceived that I was going into an experience I was scared of and he was trying to give me that emotional support to get through it.

ET: What was the biggest surprise?
Stephen: I think the biggest surprise is the bond that you make with people. You watch the show and you think, I'm not going to become friends with people, but then you're out there living with them and you really do become really close.

ET: So in the end, it's not really just a game.
Stephen: You're right. It's a life experience; these are bonds you create for life. But you can't go out there thinking I'm going to make friends, because then you're going to lose.

ET: Are you a hometown celebrity now?
Stephen: (laughs) Occasionally someone will recognize me. It's always geeky guys. I've got my fans and I love 'em.

ET: What was the hardest challenge?
Stephen: The check-in to camp was insane. It was 120-degrees, the sand was burning, we were dying. It was just such an intense, immersive experience. That was really hard. I think at that point everyone was like, wow, this is real.

ET: Anyone you thought should have gotten further than they did?
Stephen: I actually thought Spencer was a really strong player. I guess I would have expected him to make it further. Taking him out when we did, it was a strategic move and it was because he was such a strong player. If you're a big threat, you go early or go late.

Check back here later for our chat with million-dollar winner J.T. Thomas Jr.!