The finale of season 12 of The Biggest Loser is upon us! I can smell the scale, feel the confetti in my hair, and see Ali in a bandage dress of some kind! I also want to shout out that Jen of @TheBLBlog is going to be actually there as we are actually watching from the comfort of home. So tune into her twitter feed and read her site because she will have the inside scoop.
Me? I'll just be pretending I know it all as usual.
So, the marathon.
Okay, first the contestants went home and they were welcomed as usual by friends and family. They showed montages of them working out and Bob and Dolvett coming to visit everyone. John has his wife in slave labor while he trains. You know, all the good stuff.
Then it is time for the marathon! The four remaining contestants (John, Becky, Antone, and Vinny) are joined by everyone else that has been eliminated so far. Even Bonnie make a guest appearance but is not running the marathon. That's okay, because Crazy Johnny and his straw hat are nutty enough for the both of them.
The marathon feels like a marathon as we watched it stretch on. The winner will get a place in the finale and everyone else will just have sore knees and bragging rights that they ran a marathon on national television.
Ramon and his never ending stream of positivity wins the race, securing him a spot in the finale. Then at a tension filled weigh in, his competition is revealed: John and Antone. I'm sorry to say, Becky and Vinny, you are not the Biggest Losers but you will be in the running for the at home prize.
There is some MAJOR AWESOME trash talk (finally!) between John and Antone about who will win and Ramon is hoping he'll be able to sneak in there and steal it. My money is on Antone.
YOU BETTER WIN ANTONE!!!!! YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!?
Want to know what the delightful Courtney has to say? Here is her review from DietsinReview.Com!
I believe this is the book Anna got that quote from.
It's a new week on The Biggest Loser: New theme song, new challenges, new drama! Usually the contestants wait a few episodes in to start talking about GAME PLAY, but not season 12. Let's get it on.
Ali introduces the first temptation challenge of the season: DONUTS! A room full of sweet donuts that need to be eaten so control can be gained! Who will stoop to the challenge?
Ali explains that the groups will not only be divided by age but also by time slots this week. There is an early morning slot, a mid-day slot, and a late night slot. Whoever eats the MOST donuts will get to choose what time the teams workout. This is important because the teams only get two hours a day to get their burn on.
Of course we have the saintly contestants who decline to participate because they want to workout only. But there a couple of GAME PLAYERS in the bunch: old team Mike eats 11 donuts and feels like he has clinched the win for his team, but middle aged John ate 37 donuts, over 1,295 of winning calories. "What did I just do?" he moans. The black team decides to take the early morning time slot, they give the old timers the mid-day time slot because they "respect them" (burn!) and the youngsters get the late night time slot.
Bob wakes the black team up with a manic megaphone, getting them into the gym by 5 am. John is newly crowned "Donut", and everyone feels the wrath of their win. HIGHLIGHT: Antone breaks down again, this time slamming his fists into his spin bike and into the ground. Is he going to cry every episode? Is this what releasing the demon means?
Did you all know Antone was in the NFL? I'm not sure if the show covered that.
The black team also starts fighting with each other because John, that little trouble maker, says that Sunny is a dumb as "poo" (her quotes, not mine) and he is making alliances with members of the red team. Has this guy never watched an episode of this show? You don't play all your cards in the second episode! Where will we go from here? Where is Melissa Morgan when you need her?
Antone says in the NFL this is called an "airing out session". Thanks, Antone.
Then it's the old timers time in the gym. This is code for everyone works out while Anna has to coax Boston Johnny to work out. Poor Becky. I bet she is wishing she was just one year younger so she could be on the black team.
After a late night Yoplait yogurt plug ("It tricks it out!"), Dolvett brings the whipper snappers into the gym and gets amped! So amped, we find out that Jessica's boyfriend MADE her gain 135 pounds during their 6 year relationship. They blurred out the photos with his face, but apparently it is her twitter avatar if you missed it on the tv. I'm sure she is over this guy. I would never want to date a guy that force fed me- that is not cool. Good thing she can now choose what she wants to eat. . .
Am I being overly sarcastic? Or have I watched a lot of episodes of The Biggest Loser?
Dr. H drops in with his silky mullet to inform the contestants that disease is right around the bend if they don't take responsibility for their health. I think it's sad that we get serious about our health only when it seems too far to fix. If you start NOW when you have no issues or small issues, it's a lot easier to turn it all around. Not when you are face to face with Dr. H and a JC Penney collection tie from 1987. That's not the right time.
The physical challenge for the week involves a floating maze and life jackets-awesome-which the black team whoops up on for the second week in a row. They earn a 2 pound advantage at the weigh in, the red team earns a 1 pound advantage, and the blue team gets that sound from The Price is Right when you lose- wwwwwaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.
The Last Chance Workout montage this week was seriously the BEST MONTAGE I have seen. I was riveted the whole time. I also heard the worst sentence: "5 am last chance workout!" Dolvett's workout was especially sexy for some reason. If you have it taped, go back and watch it and tell me if I am making this up. Especially during the tug and pull section.
Weigh in! How can people fare when they get two hours to workout a day?
Vinny: From 405 lbs to 400 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Jessica: From 239 lbs to 232 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Courtney: From 257 lbs to 250 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Patrick: From 367 lbs to 361 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Ramon: From 338 lbs to 329 lbs- 9 lb lost TOTAL: 35 lbs, 2.18% BW
Joe: From 326 lbs to 324 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Jennifer: From 311 lbs to 305 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Sunny: From 261 lbs to 255 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Antone: From 415 lbs to 405 lbs- 10 lbs lost
John: From 408 lbs to 393 lbs- 15 lbs lost TOTAL: 41 lbs, 2.38% BW
Becky: From 228 lbs to 223 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Mike: From 297 lbs to 290 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Bonnie: From 250 lbs to 247 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Johnny: From 311 lbs to 313 lbs- 2 lbs GAINED TOTAL: 13 lbs, 1.2% BW
Say it ain't so, Boston Johnny! The numbers are usually lower week 2, but a weight gain is something special. Anna totally calls him out, saying "If you don't want to change anything you shouldn't be here."
Her words must have stuck with him, because after he is eliminated, he goes home and loses 59 pounds. But not the straw hat. The straw hat is staying.
Next week: NFL WEEK! WHAT?!? I wish there was someone on the show this season that had been in the NFL so this episode would really resonate with them. Like if we went to the Olympic training camp and there was a former Olympic athlete on the show. It just makes sense.
Want to know what Courtney from season 11 has to say? Here is her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!
After a nice long break, The Biggest Loser roars back to life complete with US Marine helicopters and hummers to drag the 12th season competitors to the brink of Death Valley (literally) and back.
We know the 411, so lets jump into my first impressions of the 15 contestants:
Courtney: 24, "Single Girl"
Joe: 46, "Big Daddy"
Becky: 50, "Daddy's Dieing"
Jessica: 26, "Nervous Nelly" OR "Dazed and Confused"
Jennifer: 39, "Bob Lover"
Ramon: 27, "2 Legit tattoo artist, dude"
Patrick: 25, "Cry Baby"
Antone: 44, "The Footballer"
Vinny: 27, "Overalls"
John: 40, "Helicopter Lover"
Mike: 61, "The Cheerleader"
Bonnie: 63, "The Weeper"
Debbie: 60, "Gimmie a Break"
Johnny: 65, "The Don"
Sunny: 41, "Didn't know she was on the show until the weigh in. Seriously."
Ali jumps out of a hummer with sunny blond pig tails to explain the rules for this season. The contestants will be split into three teams based on their age: The Under 30's, The Middle, and The Over 50's.
The trainers for the teams are introduced as well. We have good ole Bob, Anna K, and DQ- Dolvett Quince- who may be my new favorite now that Jillian Michaels is no longer on the show. I did keep waiting for Jillian to ride up on a kick ass Ducati and have a secret fourth team, but it didn't happen. That was the number one thing talked about during the live tweet fest was that everyone REALLY MISSED JILLIAN.
Ali introduces the first challenge. Of course, it is a mile run to choose the trainer. And of course they are all attached to a pole with a camera on the end. Happily, no one has to be helicoptered out, and the teams are as follows:
Bob with The Middle
DQ with The Under 30's
Anna K with The Over 50's
We have a first chance workout in the shiny and amazing new Biggest Loser gym on the ranch, where the mettle of all the contestants is tested until they are left in sniveling piles of tearful goo. After a quick Brita plug, it is time for the Last Chance Workout (!) and then on to a 50 minute weigh in ceremony.
Are we sure we can't get this show down to one hour, NBC?
WEIGH IN! Age before beauty, Johnny.
Johnny-65: From 328 lbs to 311 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Bonnie-63: From 254 lbs to 250 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Mike-61: From 309 lbs to 297 lbs- 12 lbs lost
Debbie-60: From 239 lbs to 233 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Becky-50: From 238 lbs to 228 lbs- 10 lbs lost Total: 49 lbs, 3.58% BW
Joe-46: From 348 lbs to 326 lbs- 22 lbs lost
Antone-44: From 447 lbs to 415 lbs- 32 lbs lost
Sunny-41: From 277 lbs to 261 lbs- 16 lbs lost
John-40: From 445 lbs to 408 lbs- 37 lbs lost
Jennifer-39: From 330 lbs to 311 lbs- 19 lbs lost Total: 126 lbs, 6.82% BW
Vinny-27: From 426 lbs to 405 lbs- 21 lbs lost
Ramon-27: From 355 lbs to 338 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Jessica-26: From 254 lbs to 239 lbs- 15 lbs lost
Patrick-25: From 387 lbs to 367 lbs- 20 lbs lost
Courtney-24: From 270 lbs to 254 lbs- 16 lbs lost Total: 89 lbs, 5.26% BW
Bob's team leaves everyone in the dust, obviously, and the Seniors must sort out who is going home first. The Seniors have a Real Housewives moment when Debbie tells Bonnie she finds her tears annoying which doesn't earn her any points in the popularity department. Not surprisingly, Debbie Downer is eliminated. Now she can take all the breaks she wants!
When we check back with Debbie, she has gone from 239 to 215, is break dancing with her grand kids, and hopes to be 160 by the finale.
This season looks like there is plenty of drama on the teams- GAME PLAY!- and lots of blood, sweat, and tears. I am looking forward to seeing how Anna K fits into the whole show and if she'll be able to help her team see the numbers they need to see so they aren't picked off one by one. Dolvett can stay. You can stay, Dolvett!
Want to know what Courtney from season 11 has to say? Here's her recap, brought to you by DietsinReview.com!
This episode of The Biggest Loser must have been created just for Earth Day because it was made of all recycled materials. New Zealand? Check. Jumping off of tall structures? Check. Brett? Check. Kaylee speeches about believing in herself? Check. Hannah living in fear. . .again? Check.
I love The Biggest Loser, but this episode was really boring. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but what happened to working out and overcoming fear via mind bullets? How come we have to overcome our fears by being in a harness? And why does the show think we want to hear more about Kaylee when she should have been sent home weeks ago?
My questions may never be answered. Sigh.
The contestants are now playing as singles, which means that make over week is right around the corner- that's good! I did love that Olivia won the challenge and immunity, and I loved the breathtaking scenery of New Zealand. That place is awesome looking! What I would like is a little more balance between the trainers story and the contestants story. Last time I checked the show isn't called "Top Trainer". Someone tell Cara and Brett!
Plus, what about the Rulon drama? I hear the contestants saying they don't want him to win- but why and what is going on behind the scenes!? That sounds like a more exciting story arc than whether or not Cara can be just as good a trainer as Bob and Jillian.
I know, I know. I am rambling. Recycle my own quote: "My questions may never be answered. Sigh."
After a tag team, four trainer Last Chance Workout, it is time for the weigh in.
Olivia: From 172 lbs to 168 lbs- 4 lbs lost, 2.33% BW (immunity)
Rulon: From 311 lbs to 301 lbs- 10 lbs lost, 3.22% BW
Kaylee: From 168 lbs to 163 lbs- 5 lbs lost, 2.98% BW
Irene: From 161 lbs to 157 lbs- 4 lbs lost, 2.48% BW
Austin: From 255 lbs to 250 lbs- 5 lbs lost, 1.96% BW
Jay: From 270 lbs to 265 lbs- 5 lbs lost, 1.85% BW
YELLOW LINE
Hannah: From 164 lbs to 161 lbs- 3 lbs lost, 1.83% BW
Ken: From 247 lbs to 243 lbs- 4 lbs lost, 1.62% BW
Hannah's worrying came true, putting her below the yellow line with Ken, but her strong bonds with the remaining players keeps her in the game. Be thankful Hannah! Chin up, stiff upper lip, all that jazz.
Ken heads home, revealing more weight loss at 238 pounds. He takes his two younger children on a paragliding adventure. Apparently the contestants can't get enough xtreme sporting. Looking forward to The Biggest Loser: Snowboarding and Balloon Race Adventure Inside a Live Volcano next season.
Next episode: ONE HOUR LOSER! See where some fave past contestants are now, and see one contestant walk off the show. My guess? Cara. Okay. Kaylee.
Want to know what Mark has to say? Here's his take, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!
I avoided the tweets, the Facebook posts, the INTERNET so that I would not have the end of this week's Biggest Loser spoiled for me. I would never, EVER have imagined that it ended like it did. EVER!!!
Sigh. What a disappointment.
Don't know how it ended or want to recreate it for yourself? Read on, friends.
We know that the H is O for Courtney, whose last remaining teammate, Jen, was sent home last week after a failed attempt at not using their trainer Brett. Everyone is concerned for her well being and for Brett's- if they lose this week, there will be no more Red Team. Courtney digs her feet in, asks for the help from her "girls", and tries to break through the plateau that has been plaguing her for weeks.
With the story line in place, Ali meets the Losers for a challenge. Each team must carry a flag, walk down a path, and try to figure out without any rulers or GPS what a mile is. When they reach what they feel is a mile, they will mark it with their team colored flag. The winners will receive a Hollywood night out on the town and the losers will have to clean the entire ranch from head to toe. Sounds like a good reason to win!
Everyone chooses different methods: Counting their paces, estimating how long it feels when they normally walk a mile, dividing their steps multiplying the sun rays by the shadows in the blades of grass by the angle of their knees. . .and then Ali calls time after 15 minutes. Who was the closest? The Black team of Rulon, Hannah, and Ken have won a night out in Hollywood!
What does that mean?
The lucky threesome gets new clothes, a limo ride, and their very own montage in front of the Mann's Chinese Theatre. Hannah feels like a woman, and even gets her own Jude Law look-a-like to hit on her at local eatery Geisha House. Question: Was he a real dude or a plant? Hannah deserves the real deal. Not someone who asks, "So, how much weight have you lost?"
The best part was seeing them glow from the inside out because of the strides they had made as a team and as individuals. No amount of new clothing could hide that.
The rest of the teams scrubbed the kitchen, which looked really dirty. I mean, gross.
The Blue Team gets roped into a Wholly Guacamole plug, and then it is already time for the Last Chance Workout. WHAT? That was quick.
Fireman drills, scorpion flips, sweat, sweat, and more sweat. Who will be safe? Who will go home? Is it already obvious? I thought so. . .but I have been known to be wrong.
WEIGH IN. Lay it on me.
Olivia: From 176 lbs to 174 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Moses: From 293 lbs to 286 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Irene: From 170 lbs to 164 lbs- 6 lbs lost TOTAL: 15 lbs, 2.35% BW
Hannah: From 172 lbs to 168 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Jay: From 276 lbs to 270 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Rulon: From 325 lbs to 318 lbs- 7 lbs lost TOTAL: 17 lbs, 2.20% BW
Ken: From 257 lbs to 253 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Kaylee: From 169 lbs to 168 lbs- 1 lb lost
Austin: From 265 lbs to 263 lbs- 2 lbs lost TOTAL: 7 lbs, 1.01% BW
All Courtney needs to lose is over 2 pounds. I thought, "This is great! Courtney will be safe, Green will be up for elimination, and Kaylee will obviously be sent home."
Courtney: From 232 lbs to 231 lbs- 1 lb lost
Wee woo.
Courtney tells everyone to be strong, and Brett says his goodbyes. Everyone seems so surprised, spluttering how this isn't supposed to be the way that it happens. But every week someone has to leave, and unfortunately, it is Courtney. I really thought she was going to take the whole damn thing! Brett has no one left to train and hopefully will get to come back next season, unlike Kim Lyons. Remember her? No?
"I was hot! And incredibly unpopular."
Courtney returns home to her welcoming party at the DQ (not appropriate), and reveals she has lost even more weight since returning home. She speaks to the DQ regional manager about getting healthier menu items (like frozen yogurt? Like 1989?).
I hope she wins the at home prize because her quote is my favorite and the one I believe the most in: "You do NOT have to be on The Biggest Loser to lose weight!" Truth.
Next week: New Zealand! The Biggest Loser gets all Lord of the Rings.
Want to know what Mark has to say? Here's his two cents, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!
This week's episode of The Biggest Loser was both inspiring and frustrating. I loved that the all Blue team was separated into four teams. What I didn't like was that some of the Losers are SO attached to their trainers they aren't looking at the big picture: The opportunity to change up their routine and not reach a plateau.
It is simple, really. If you have been performing the same workout routine- same reps, same weights, same amount of cardio- you WILL stop losing weight. The Overload Principle states that in order to overcome muscle plateaus you have to overload the muscle with something new so that it has to work to change. Keep it fresh and incorporate something new into your routine and you will notice the changes!
Whether the Losers want to change it up or not, they are placed into the following teams:
Brett: Justin, Courtney, and Jen
Cara: Austin, Ken, and Kaylee
Bob: Moses, Olivia, and Irene
Jillian: Rulon, Hannah, and WHA?
Oh no! We are one person short- so TWIST- Rulon and Hannah get to choose one former player to come back to fight for their team.
At least everyone gets another t-shirt and hoodie, right?
The new teams leave the gym and have adventures all over California. Bob takes his Blue Team to a spin class that he used to teach at Crunch (how fun!) and is crowned the "Cardio King" by Moses. Rulon and Hannah head to Jillian's Malibu Manor (to die for) for a beach workout and some Mind Bullets. Brett takes his Red Team to hike and meditate in the cheap showiness of nature where they discover the greatest gift of fitness: Becoming what YOU WANT TO BE! This message is the most important part of my job as a personal trainer and blogger- inspiring others to know that absolutely, unequivocally you can become what you want to be. Cara takes her team to go boxing. SURPRISED? It was cool to see Austin actually in the ring with another boxer. I was wondering if Cara does anything else. . .
At the first four team challenge, Rulon and Hannah reveal they have brought back Jay, who was sent home by Arthur's game play five weeks ago. He has lost 111 pounds since the show began, and unfortunately, his weight won't count towards the groups total and he will have immunity for the week.
The challenge involves the teams holding up the weight that they have all lost thus far for as long as they can. The winning team will earn video chats with their families. The new Red team of Justin, Courtney, and Jen win the challenge, but give their prize to the Blue Team because they really needed the boost from home.
Olivia gets a confidence wake up call from her husband, and Moses tells his wife he is ready to leave and she and her daughter convince him to hold out and come home when he finishes the whole thing.
It must run in the family, because Kaylee reveals that she also is ready to go home to Cara at the Last Chance Workout. Kaylee is as serene as Mother Theresa, benevolently extolling that she has learned all that she can possibly learn and she is ready to spread her wings. So what does that mean for her Green teammates?
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WANTING TO WIN THE MONEY? This is a game show, right?
At the weigh in we are told that the Biggest Loser on the losing team will have immunity as well as daddy Jay. How do the teams stack up?
Moses: From 303 lbs to 300 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Irene: From 178 lbs to 173 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Olivia: From 185 lbs to 180 lbs- 5 lbs lost TOTAL: 13 lbs, 1.95 % BW
I guess those calls to home really worked!
Jay: From 289 lbs to 282 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Hannah: From 176 lbs to 172 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Rulon: From 335 lbs to 330 lbs- 5 lbs lost (WHAT?) TOTAL: 9 lbs, 1.76% BW
When Kaylee weighs in, she informs Ali that she is ready to leave and that she has asked her team to do something really hard. Throw the weigh in maybe?
Kaylee: From 174 lbs to 174 lbs- 0 lbs lost
Austin: From 275 lbs to 272 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Ken: From 270 lbs to 263 lbs- 7 lbs lost TOTAL: 10 lbs, 1.39% BW
Kaylee is shocked and upset that Ken and Austin didn't go along with her plan, which is SO SELFISH. Ken barely gets to say he is pleased with his weight loss, and Ali curtly informs Kaylee she can leave if she would like, but it will not effect the fact that another player will be eliminated this evening. The Red team is on the bottom of the leader board.
Jen: From 191 lbs to 187 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Courtney: From 237 lbs to 234 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Justin: From 249 lbs to 247 lbs- 2 lbs lost TOTAL: 9 lbs, 1.33% BW
Jen is safe from elimination, which means Courtney and Justin are up for the vote. It is a truly hard decision, as both of these players are well liked and motivating, but Justin decides he wants Courtney to stay since she just hit her 201 pound weight loss milestone and wants her to keep on her journey. With a happy heart, Justin is sent home.
At home, he is running a gym (with boxing, of course) and calling people out. It's name? JUSTIN'S CALL OUT. His calling out is to help out, and he is inspiring others with his message. GET IT.
Next week: A secret team number 12 and Rulon gets BUSTED for eating in his bedroom. A Biggest Loser first!!!
Want to know what Mark has to say? Check it out, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!
I have a confession. Last week when I was live tweeting during The Biggest Loser I was so tired that I fell asleep before the last 5 minutes. The crucial who is going home moment! As I started to take notes for the blog, I realized I had NO IDEA how this week's episode ended. So, if you didn't watch the episode either, I won't ruin it for you. Until the end, that is.
This week's episode begins like many episodes this season: A grainy, sepia-toned film showing the latest cast off (Sarah), and then Ali announcing that the other team needs to join them in the elimination room. The weekly twist: There is no Black team and there is no Red team. There is only the BLUE team. Their one common enemy: The scale.
The team must lose a combined 64 pounds together. If they meet their goal, no one will be eliminated and if they don't they will send one of their members packing. At least they get new t-shirts! Silver linings.
Dr. H stops by with good news for some of the Losers: Courtney is average now, Marci is now at her ideal goal weight, Moses pushed back his death date by 19 years, and Rulon has won the gold medal in healthy life for his family.
Ali pops over for a pop challenge with Curtis Stone and Lorena Garcia (cross promotion at its finest) for a cooking challenge. The former two teams must compete together and against each other to cook a tasty low-cal meal in thirty minutes. The winners were Moses and Olivia, who presented baked cod with asparagus and dill. Lots of dill. Curtis reminds us to "eat with our eyes" by choosing colorful fresh veggies when we cook.
Then it is time for the first all team, all trainer workout. "No games. Just hard work," promises Bob. Everybody switches around and tries all the different things the trainers have to offer, and the trainers get to try out their special skills on fresh meat.
"In the Cross-Hairs with Bob! This week's guest: Rulon"
"Chatting with Cara! Chatting it up with Hannah"
"Mind Bullets! starring Jillian and Austin"
"Tag Team with Brett featuring Marci and Courtney. Sponsored by Ziplock."
After a desert challenge where the teams pull a rope and answer trivia questions for an hour and a half for the chance to win 5 pounds for their team (they won with 6 seconds to spare), it is time for the team weigh in. Will they be able to pull it off?
Jen: From 196 lbs to 191 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Hannah: From 180 lbs to 176 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Olivia: From 188 lbs to 185 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Justin: From 254 lbs to 249 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Rulon: From 342 lbs to 335 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Ken: From 277 lbs to 270 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Austin: From 283 lbs to 275 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Courtney: From 241 lbs to 237 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Irene: From 180 lbs to 178 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Moses: From 309 lbs to 303 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Marci: From 162 lbs to 162 lbs- 0 lbs lost
Kaylee: From 174 lbs to 176 lbs- 2 lbs gained TOTAL LOSS: 49 pounds
Even with the 5 pound advantage, the team doesn't reach their goal, leaving Marci and Kaylee in the bottom. Obviously, Marci falls on the sword, and is eliminated. When we see her now, she is glowing and happy, running her gym the way it needs to be run. She is in maintenance mode and loving it.
Next Episode: Ali schools someone and a old team member returns. DRAMA. Got to love it.
Want to know what Mark has to say? Check it, courtesy of DietsinReview.com.
I have to apologize to you, dear readers! As you know, my new job as a personal trainer is amazing and awesome, but as far as the time to blog the way I usta, it is a major feat of time management. I mean, seriously. If there was an 8th day of the week to just blog and clean my apartment, I would feel so on top of things.
So first off, I want to announce the winner of my very first giveaway! Congrats to my new reader KRISTY (@casualdish on the Twitter) who also is a fellow blogger. She will be receiving the MultiGrain Cheerios prize pack- go cereal!!!
Second, I wanted to let you know how I felt about The Biggest Loser 7 day jump start that you can get with a box of specially marked MultiGrain Cheerios ( www.multigraincheerios.com/biggest loser). The website is clean and easy to manuever, with different tabs for menu, exercises, even videos featuring former Biggest Loser Ali Vincent demonstrating basic strength and cardio moves and inspiring motivation. For the person who is just starting out on their weight loss journey, this is a great introductory tool. The menus also have recipies that are quick and easy with basic, easy to find ingredients. And you don't have to eat Cheerios for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
The only thing I am not crazy about is the site only has a BMI calculator, which based on your height or physical activity is not an accurate assessment of obesity. According to it, I am obese, as is Michael Jordan. Don't let the calculator make you feel bad!!! I say skip the assessment online for one at home based on circumference measurements with a tape measure and a good old fashioned scale.
Overall, the program seems very solid. And if it helps you reach your goals and start that first step in a lifetime of healthy steps, then DO IT. Don't start tomorrow. Start today!
Walk Hard, Arthur.
OKAY!!!
On to this week's episode of The Biggest Loser. I didn't get to Twitter with my #BL11 tweeps, so for the first time in a long time I watched the episode on my own. What a tear jerker! I am not made out of stone, and this episode really touched me.
After a quick recap where the announcer mentions that Jesse "sacrifices himself for Arthur" which is not how I remember that episode going down at all, Ali announces that the Losers are heading home for two whole weeks. "This is sick!" says Austin, who will be celebrating his 21st birthday while he is there. When the teams return, they will be running a 5k, Ali warns, so don't go too far off the reservation.
"Turn down the covers, here I come!" says Justin, and the teams are all whisked away home. There are many tears and the usual homemade signs and streamers, with a great song playing in the background that states "I can't go back to how it was". I actually teared up when Courtney came out to see her family and friends because she looked so different. You got me NBC! Okay? I surrender. Most interesting to me was how attractive Justin and Rulon's wives were. How did that happen? They must have amazing personalities.
So the Losers are home in their respective towns and they have to deal with a chocolate covered slice of the real world. The one story I couldn't believe even for a moment was Courtney having to go back to work. What? Courtney states, "I have to go back to work. And I have to go back to work at my family's ice cream shop." How about going to work at your mom's gym? I can't believe that Courtney must struggle to survive by slinging fries and Oreo Blizzard's to make ends meet so she can pay her way through college. Also I can't imagine the family shop demanding her time like, "Courtney, I know you are on the most successful show on NBC but we are going to need you to cover the register."
The other Losers hit the gym, have heartfelt talks with their family members (most notably Jesse and Arthur), and struggle with at home temptations. Austin hangs out at the bowling alley for his 21st birthday with his naughty girlfriend who keeps enticing him with huge pieces of chocolate cheesecake and greasy pizza. Olivia comes home to NYC to her now much thinner husband and runs around the Central Park reservoir which is right outside my apartment- come visit Olivia! And Hannah steps foot on the volleyball court for the first time in years and starts to gain her confidence back. So moving it was unreal. My heart strings are totally stretched out.
A quick 5k montage to show who is training and who is not, and then it is tearful goodbyes as everyone heads back to the ranch.
Ali announces that the 5k challenge will be just like the very first 5k challenge, only this time the players will be competing as singles. And the first seven to complete the race get to choose their trainers. AGAIN. This is a time that some major monkey wrenches will be thrown in the game.
While the teams are racing, the players notice that Sarah is moving slowly and she says, "I don't want to make this choice." After everyone has completed except Sarah and Arthur, Sarah's former Unknown teammates tell her she needs to fight for her own spot and not let anyone take that decision from her. She suddenly kicks it into high gear, beating Arthur. So who does everyone decide to choose?
In order of their win:
1.) Justin- The Unknowns
2.) Rulon- The Unknowns
3.) Kaylee- The Unknowns
4.) Jen- The BJ's (a slight against Arthur, no doubt)
5.) Austin- The Unknowns
6.) Marci- The BJ's
7.) Olivia- The BJ's
8.) Hannah- The BJ's
9.) Moses- The Unknowns
10.) Irene- The BJ's
11.) Courtney- The BJ's
12.) Ken- The Unknowns
13.) Sarah- The BJ's (which was unexpected- she could have gone back to her former team)
14.) Arthur- THE UNKNOWNS
TWIST! Arthur gets played in the worst way. Off the team he has been been on since day one, he is know thrust onto The Unknowns at the weigh in. No time for the team to get to know him. Will he be able to win immunity and stay in the game? Black team weighs in first.
Jen: From 211 lbs to 197 lbs- 14 lbs lost
Irene: From 195 lbs to 185 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Hannah: From 193 lbs to 182 lbs- 11 lbs lost
Olivia: From 202 lbs to 190 lbs- 12 lbs lost
Courtney: From 256 lbs to 246 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Marci: From 181 lbs to 167 lbs- 14 lbs lost
Sarah: From 204 lbs to 194 lbs- 10 lbs lost TOTAL: 81 lbs, 5.62% BW
The Black team absolutley killed it in the weigh in. But the weight loss is bittersweet, as the women realize that their high numbers may be sending Arthur home. Marci is tearful and repentant- maybe she realizes the game play she orchestrated last week sent him here? But Arthur is a big boy and played a few games himself. How will he fare on his new team?
Ali points out that the Red team, in order to win, must lose 120 pounds, an average of 17 pounds a person. Gulp.
Rulon: From 367 lbs to 350 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Austin: From 299 lbs to 289 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Ken: From 291 lbs to 286 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Moses: From 322 lbs to 317 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Kaylee: From 180 lbs to 179 lbs- 1 lb lost
Justin: From 270 lbs to 262 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Arthur: From 406 lbs to 390 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Arthur needed to have lost 20 pounds to be immune from elimination, and he fell 4 pounds short. He is still proud of the number, and says he can go home proud. Bob and Jillian plead for Arthur to fight to stay, and beg the Red team to consider keeping Arthur here because of all the contestants he really needs to stay. Their please fall on deaf ears, and the Red team boots him. Personally, I would have gone for Kaylee because she already is so small. Her journey is almost finished, where Arthur still has over 140 pounds left to lose to hit his goal.
At home, Arthur is still in it to win it, have lost 158 pounds total. He is training regularly, being a super dad and cook, and plans to win the at home prize.
Next week everyone realizes change comes from within- it is MIND BULLET week on the Loser. Tune in!
Want to know what Mark has to say? Here is his take courtesy of Dietsinreview.com.
If you are reading this to uncover the identities of The Unknown trainers, stop reading. The Biggest Loser has strung us along for ANOTHER WEEK! Yes, we know who they are, but we'll pretend that it is still a big secret. In the meantime, we have to settle for back of the head shots and interviews that make the trainers seem like informants for the FBI. I am surprised that haven't done voice modification on them!
Still reading? Good.
My DVR told me this week's episode was about the "ranch-based contestants" having to compete against The Unknowns in their top secret luxury location in Malibu. If these contestants are ranch-based, we may have figured out what their problems are. . .creamy, delicious ranch . . .*drool*
This week, the BJ's are still reeling from their loss of orange teammate Ana, especially her daughter Irene. To further rub it in, Ali shows up to tell the BJ's that The Unknowns "crushed" them in weight loss. But there is hope: Ali tells them that if the BJ's beat The Unknowns this week, they will win immunity for one week and $10,000 to share. That's about $1,400 a team!
On the flipside, Ali broadcasts to The Unknowns that the BJ's are losers and she lays out the same offer of $10,000. The Unknowns, feeling cocky, send the BJ's donuts to comfort them since they lost and also a DVD with some serious smack talk.
Looks like the game play this season is team based! I have to be honest with you: I miss the game play. I do! When the episode is all about feelings and standing on your own two feet, it gets a little boring. I was taking notes, and they read "Jillian mind bullets Jay the codependent", "Arthur doesn't want to deal with his feelings", and "Jen feels the burden of her father being fat."
BORING. Where is Melissa Morgan? Where is Trazy? WHERE IS FRADO AND BRENDON? My opinion? All the fun people are the ones that took The Unknowns. Look at Moses, bed boxing! Look at crazy Rulon and hillbilly Justin! These are characters. I mean, one of the guys is named Q! The BJ's may have heart, but I am b-o-r-e-d by all the heart string pulling. It has to be a balance of drama and warmth.
After a challenge where the BJ's lost again and failed to earn a three pound advantage, it is up to Monsieur Bob in his Parisian themed work out gear to teach the BJ's about The Law of Attraction. He dubs them the David's in the David and Goliath story, and with a lot of f-bombs, works them into a frenzy so they are ready to really compete against The Unknowns.
The Unknowns lost 82 lbs and 2.46% BW. The BJ's need to lose 78 lbs to win. "We got that!" crows Arthur. Do they?
Arthur: From 476 lbs to 463 lbs- 13 lbs lost
Jesse: From 286 lbs to 278 lbs- 8 lbs lost TOTAL: 21 lbs
Irene: From 242 lbs to 232 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Jen: From 258 lbs to 250 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Jay: From 374 lbs to 364 lbs- 10 lbs lost TOTAL: 18 lbs
Marci: From 224 lbs to 218 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Courtney: From 308 lbs to 298 lbs- 10 lbs lost TOTAL: 16 lbs
Dan: From 268 lbs to 263 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Don: From 288 lbs to 280 lbs- 8 lbs lost TOTAL: 13 lbs
Hannah: From 232 to 226 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Olivia: From 245 lbs to 239 lbs- 6 lbs lost TOTAL: 12 lbs lost
The BJ's lost 90 lbs and 2.81% BW! David has beaten Goliath and they are immune for another week! Plus they are $10,000 richer. Rich in wallet and rich in heart.
Next week, NBC promises we FINALLY get to meet the new trainers. We'll see. . .
Wow, another season of The Biggest Loser has concluded. Can you believe it? Well don't get too sad: The eleventh season of The Biggest Loser starts on January 4th. Otherwise we may go into withdrawal. Or the show needs to single handedly get everyone that is overweight in America on the show so they have to get crack-a-lackin' to get as many seasons as possible.
SO! The finale. Lots of excitement, lots of confetti, lots of questionable fashion and hair choices. At the end of the day, I want to focus on the best parts of the show: The winners!
Winner #1: Ada Wong! She beats Elizabeth in the at home vote and secures her spot in the final three.
Winner #2: At home Winner Mark takes home $100k!
courtesy of yahoo.com
Winner #3: The nine out of fourteen contestants that beat Elizabeth in weight loss. She looked good, but there were plenty of others that were more deserving of that final spot! (Also the 4 girls that beat Brendan!)
Mark: From 421 lbs to 208 lbs- 213 lbs lost- 50.59% BW
Rick: From 350 lbs to 185 lbs- 165 lbs lost- 47.14% BW
Adam: From 402 lbs to 220 lbs- 182 lbs lost- 45.27% BW
Jesse: From 369 lbs to 203 lbs- 166 lbs lost- 44.99% BW
Aaron: From 468 lbs to 296 lbs- 172 lbs lost- 36.75% BW
Lisa: From 288 lbs to 191 lbs- 97 lbs lost- 33.68% BW
Anna: From 330 lbs to 221 lbs- 109 lbs lost- 33.03% BW
Jessica: From 282 lbs to 190 lbs- 92 lbs lost- 32.62% BW
Brendan: From 362 lbs to 245 lbs- 117 lbs lost- 32.32% BW Elizabeth: From 244 lbs to 173 lbs- 71 lbs lost- 29.10% BW
Burgandy: From 231 lbs to 167 lbs- 64 lbs lost- 27.71% BW
Tina: From 263 lbs to 191 lbs- 72 lbs lost- 27.38% BW
Sophia: From 272 lbs to 207 lbs- 65 lbs lost- 23.90% BW
Allie: From 322 lbs to 248 lbs- 74 lbs lost- 22.98% BW
Winner #4: All three finalists- they looked great!
But it all comes down to numbers at the end.
Ada: From 258 lbs to 159 lbs- 99 lbs lost- 38.37% BW
Frado: From 367 lbs to 205 lbs- 162 lbs lost- 44.14% BW
Patrick: From 400 lbs to 219 lbs- 181 lbs lost- IT DOESN'T MATTER-- HE WON!!!
Here's some of Patrick's thoughts, courtesy of DietsinReview.com.
Want to know what Shay has to say? Here's her vlog from DietsinReview.com!
So here's to a new season with new trainers and more drama--hopefully the good kind!!! 2011-#BL11!!!
A slight spoiler. If you didn't watch this final episode of The Biggest Loser before the finale, let me make a long story short: Ada Wong needs your vote to get into the final three.
How did we get here? What happened to Ada the Terminada? Let's start at the very beginning (I've been told it's a very good place to start.).
Ali sends the Losers home with DVDs to watch and an extra bonus to Frado: Curtis Stone comes to his house to cook a healthy meal for his family. How this "meal" changes into something completely different is a subject for another paragraph.
Elizabeth heads to Lawrence, MA, Ada heads to Gilroy, CA, Frado heads to Staten Island, NY, and Patrick heads to Vicksburg, MS (via steamboat, obviously) to meet with family and friends and have many tearful montages. And this is the point where I got really weirded out by the episode.
When they showed Frado's home, I was surprised. He lives in a lovely, HUGE Staten Island home with an in-ground pool. Do you know how much a home like that runs? Those homes can be in the million dollar range! Then I saw his thin family, his Navajo themed television watching room, his position on many well deserving charities that had a banquet hosted by Frado and cooked by Curtis Stone (paying it forward, they say) with obligatory book signing of Curtis' cook book, and it got me thinking. And I talked about this episode at my job the next day and my co-workers agreed with me.
Whether I like Frado and his game isn't in question. I wasn't crazy about how he ran the game, however, I don't feel someone in his financial position should be given the same opportunities as say a Patrick who is unemployed and desperately needs the money or an Elizabeth that lives in a tiny apartment. Everyone who suffers from the disease of obesity or diabetes should be able to get the help they need, and for some, The Biggest Loser MAY be their only hope (although we have seen plenty of people getting healthy at home on their own). Frado is surrounded by many creature comforts and a family who supports him. He doesn't come from an obese family. From the looks of it, Frado was the anomaly in his family. Couldn't he have hired a nutritionist and a personal trainer and left the grand prize to Patrick or inner city school teacher Brendon? Why does Frado even need to be on the show? According to NBC's website, Frado is a futures commodities trader. Looking into what this job pays, I found this quote on about.com: "The excellent salesmen and very good traders tend to make in excess of $100,000 a year. A small percentage of them make well into six figures and sometimes seven figures."
Should NBC allow contestants that have their own means to lose weight compete on this show? In my opinion, I say no. And would the other players have chosen differently if they were fully aware of his financial status? The common ground is that they are all heavy and haven't been able to do what they need to lose the weight. Frado seems to have all the necessary tools. The other contestants? No support at home, no self esteem, no job or money: Those seem like pretty big obstacles to weight loss.
Maybe it was sour grapes the rest of the episode, but I was not terribly interested in the marathon. I would love for the show to shake it up and try a new challenge, like a triathlon or mountain climbing or something that would be more fun to watch! I decided just to touch on my favorite highlights of the episode. That impassioned Frado speech took a lot out of me!!!
Ada's confrontation with her parents after they watched her DVD may have been one of my favorite moments on this show EVER. That s#&t was REAL.
Patrick cleaning the house with his kids. Super adorbz.
Jillian almost hitting Ada with her SUV when she came to visit.
Elizabeth getting SCHOOLED by Jillian for not working out and moving in with her boyfriend instead of focusing on herself.
Bob's cue card placement on his trainer tip--what was that cue card guy thinking?
Elizabeth's Jenny-O turkey bacon plug. AWFUL.
Ada's six minute potty break during the marathon.
Jillian's porno, I mean, commercial for GoDaddy.com.
Ada beating Tara Costa's marathon time- 4 hours and 38 minutes is amazing!
Ali's Falcon Crest blouse at the final weigh in. It was. . .very leopardy.
At the almost final weigh in, the results were a little surprising. After six weeks at home, how did the Losers fare?
Patrick: From 279 lbs to 244 lbs- 35 lbs lost- 12.54% BW
Frado: From 248 lbs to 221 lbs- 27 lbs lost- 10.89% BW YELLOW LINE
Elizabeth: From 192 lbs to 177 lbs- 15 lbs lost- 7.81% BW
Ada: From 179 lbs to 167 lbs- 12 lbs lost- 6.70% BW
Can you all believe it? It is already the Losers last week on The Biggest Loser campus! Why, it seems like only yesterday that Brendon, Frado, and Patrick were forming their first alliance. . .
This week we get to see how chummy the Blob has become. After last week's elimination, Frado thanks his posse for saving him instead of Lisa, and then the Blob meets in secret to give back pats, awesome sauce talk, and scoff at the other players who have no idea of their infinite might and power. Mwah ha ha ha ha!!!!
*cough*
OH! And there is a double elimination this week, complete with the obligatory yellow line red line montage from all the contestants.
But before Frado, Brendon, and Patrick win the entire game, there is plenty of time for a Subway sponsored pop challenge. This week the Losers will be competing for $10,000 (Ali points out that's enough cash to buy 1 Subway sandwich a week for 40 years) in a race that involves all the gym equipment the players have become so familiar with. After the race, sandwich party for everyone!
Heat 1: Street Striders- Brendon, Mark, Patrick, Ada, and Frado advance. Elizabeth (no surprise) is out.
Heat 2: 1/2 Mile Run- Ada, Brendon, Patrick, and Frado advance. Mark is out.
Heat 3: Row Machine- Brendon, Patrick, and Frado advance. Ada is out.
Heat 4: Jump Rope- Brendon and Patrick advance. Frado is out. And their rope skills are sad.
Heat 5: Jacobs Ladder- Brendon wins. Patrick is out.
So Brendon is rewarded the free sandwich and the $10,000, which he promises to donate $1,000 of to Warriors in Pink and the rest? Hair plugs? Tattoo removal? The possibilities are only limited to his mind.
After the revelry, it is time for the gym and our weekly focus on America's "favorite" underdog, Elizabeth. Bob is convinced that Elizabeth will be under the red line (if only her shirt was red!), but she promises us that she will not be underestimated. I cannot imagine her doing anything any differently than she does every single week.
Bob is also worried that Brendon isn't pulling his weight in the gym, either, and offers the viewers a new drinking game: "Everybody drink when I say Brendon!" I would have been WASTED.
The Losers take some time off from the gym to dream about what they would do if they won the grand prize. Brendon wants to take his inner city youth to the Biggest Loser Ranch at Fitness Ridge (that'll happen) or start a foundation, Mark wants to spend time traveling with his ailing father, Patrick wants to pay off debt from being unemployed, and Ada wants to start a foundation for kids who have jerks for parents. Everyone is planning on paying it forward. . .but I would probably spend some of that money for some fun stuff. Like shoes! And a place to put those shoes.
Speaking of forward, Bob and Jillian want to know how the contestants plan on living their lives moving forward off the ranch. Will they have the coping mechanisms to integrate real life and their ranch lives? They mention what I touched on last week-- the contestants Matt, Bill, and Erik gaining weight after the show. After each contestant shares their concerns, Bob gives a new name for losing weight: "Meeting the Wizard", ala The Wizard of Oz. They have taken their long journey on the yellow brick ranch, have pulled back the curtain, and now it's time for them to click their heels together 3 times and head home!
Quick side note: In my Biggest Loser version of The Wizard of Oz, Ada would be Dorothy, Brendon would be the Cowardly Lion, Frado would be the Tin Man, and Patrick would be the Scarecrow. Bob and Jillian? Glenda and the Wicked Witch. Mark could be Toto and Elizabeth could represent the Lollipop Guild.
After the put your weight on take your weight off challenge (Elizabeth finishes last, again), a mind bullet session with Jillian and Ada, and another focus on Elizabeth facing her fears (LORD), it is time for the weigh in.
Frado: From 263 lbs to 248 lbs- 15 lbs lost- 5.70% BW
Patrick: From 263 lbs to 279 lbs- 12 lbs lost- 4.12% BW
Ada: From 185 lbs to 179 lbs- 6 lbs lost + 1 lb advantage from challenge- 3.78% BW
YELLOW LINE
Mark: From 299 lbs to 292 lbs- 7 lbs lost- 2.34% BW
Elizabeth: From 196 lbs to 192 lbs- 4 lbs lost- 2.04% BW
RED LINE
Brendon: From 265 lbs to 260 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.89% BW
The Unsinkable Brendon has been sunk and the alliance is over! For now. . .
The house vote goes for Mark over Elizabeth, which is total bull, and Patrick stabs another player in the back. He must be way smoother in person than he appears on television.
So what does a single guy do when he gets thinner and more attractive? If you answered move in with your cousin, you would be right! Mark moves to Phoenix with his kissing cousin and goes on perhaps the most awkward hike of all time with last season's contestant, Sunshine.
Brendon heads back to teaching and wearing faux hawks.
Next week: Heading Home and preparing for the finale!
Want to know what Shay has to say? Here's her recap, courtesy of Diets in Review!
The Blob- Biggest Loser Mob. Consisting of Frado, Patrick, and Brendan with their gal Friday, Ada. They are gettin' down to business, see? Yeah! Gonna make things real difficult around these parts, see?
It all started when that dame Ali walked in. Told these Losers they were going to have to face a Temptation challenge, the first of the season. What was in store? Cupcakes. About 400 of 'em, all dolled up, looking real sweet like. If they participate they win a 1 pound advantage that grows a pound every week they don't use it. Sounds easy enough. Oh, and there is a double elimination this week too. The old yellow line/ red line business.
The players that stepped up were Rick, Adam, Elizabeth, and Jesse. The contest starts tight, but Adam and Rick prove their gag reflex is not as strong and quickly take the lead. The big winner is ADAM, who professed not to be a cupcake man. That's what they all say, Adam. Until you've got a sweet cupcake staring you in the eye.
Ali announces that Adam has ingested 1,350 calories, to which he coolly replies, "Not a problem. I'm gonna burn an extra 1,350 tonight. Simple."
Brandon fumes to big boss Frado, "Wow, he is so cocky, dude. He really is!" Ali notices him talking a big talk, which leads Frado to get a little Moe on him.
"If you win this you have a target on your back," Brandon says, rubbing his head.
Then Elizabeth gets all weak kneed and sobby, because she is scared of going home. HELLO! They are all scared! But if you have lady parts, there is a real fear here. The yellow line has not been a friend to the ladies.
You know what makes ladies feel better? A visit from Chef Curtis Stone! He teaches everyone to make 100 calorie cupcakes- find the recipe here!
Then it's more talking about targets and people feeling threatened and the yellow line and the red line and blah blah blah. 22 minutes into the show, Bob and Jillian FINALLY show up and everyone who participated in the cupcake challenge are waiting for their ear boxing session. "You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes, I guess," says Bob. "You're trying to stay here. Who can fault you for that?" says Jillian.
This season really is crazy!
Time for the yellow line/red line workout, where Bob and Jillian ask repeatedly who is going to be below the red line this week. Jillian heals Elizabeth from her exercise induced asthma, and Bob puts Frado in his cross hairs, bringing him to the brink of INSANITY. Positive side note: Frado is off all of his medications! Score one for exercise! Mark injures his back on the rowing machine and Aaron gets his second wind after thinking about his son. Time for a broccoli plug and ten the weigh in.
All 40 minutes into the show! Whew.
At the weigh in, Adam decides not to use his cupcake advantage. Bob and Jillian talk about the game play that is going on (Hello, Blob!) and Bob keeps it koombahyah by reminding us that we are all winners if we lead healthy lives. YAY!
Frado: From 337 lbs to 317 lbs- 20 lbs lost- 5.93% BW
Ada: From 234 lbs to 22lbs- 10 lbs lost- 4.27% BW
Brendan: From 326 lbs to 315 lbs- 11 lbs lost- 3.37% BW
Rick: From 306 lbs to 297 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 2.94% BW
Adam: From 356 lbs to 346 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.81% BW
Aaron: From 431 lbs to 419 lbs- 12 lbs lost- 2.78% BW
Patrick: From 366 lbs to 356 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.73% BW
YELLOW LINE
Jessica: From 261 lbs to 254 lbs- 7 lbs lost- 2.68% BW
Lisa: From 267 lbs to 260 lbs- 7 lbs lost- 2.63% BW
Elizabeth: From 229 lbs to 223 lbs- 6 lbs lost- 2.62% BW
Jesse: From 329 lbs to 321 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 2.43% BW
Burgandy: From 218 lbs to 213 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 2.29% BW
Mark: From 369 lbs to 361 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 2.17% BW
RED LINE
Sophia: From 252 lbs to 250 lbs- 2 lbs lost- .79% BW
Sophia has fallen below the dreaded red line and is automatically eliminated. Another lady down! It was a bleak weigh in, full of complaining and oh wells and it is what it is. No one pointed out that Frado only lost 3 pounds last week when he had immunity. *Cough cough*
Ada made the mistake of telling JILLIAN of all people that she was upset she hadn't had a break through yet. At the next day's workout, Jillian cocks her fully loaded mind bullet gun and blows her away, forcing her to reveal how her parents make her feel about her brother dieing when she was three years old. Her story is super wee woo. Ada realizes that she is having to relearn to be happy. Mission accomplished.
Bob focuses on those below the yellow line, and decides the only thing he can do is throw a dinner party- holler! Bob takes them to the Hollywood Hills for a fab vegan lunch and conversation about their previous dining experiences that got them to this point. Most troubling was Lisa, who buys a $5 pizza for her family three times a week because it is cheap. But Bob points out that a bag of beans is cheap too, and that these parents have a responsibility to their children to teach them how to eat properly and healthfully. Score one for the food revolution!!!
Back at the ranch, Burgandy receives bad news from Dr. H: She has tendinitis in her foot and won't be able to participate in the elimination challenge, automatically putting her in the bottom two. Yikes. But maybe Frado will save her?
No. Frado saves Jessica because she was the closest to the yellow line (and they are buddies!) and Ali introduces the challenge. The players must unroll a football field's length of carpet weighing over 900 pounds. Then they must run back the length of the carpet to avoid the bottom two.
The guys push through easily, leaving the ladies in the dust. Elizabeth struggles and is last, but she did finish the race and is proud of herself. Her new spark in herself is enough to win favor in the hearts of the voters, causing Burgandy to be eliminated.
Two ladies gone. But not so fast-- Ali announces that the OTHER eliminated players from the first episode will be coming back to fill one position on the ranch. This may be the longest season ever.
Sophia has gone from 272 pounds to 225 lbs and Burgandy has gone from 231 pounds to 180 pounds. Each are paying it forward to their families and communities and are eagerly anticipating the at home prize of $100,000!
18 weeks ago, a group of strangers came together on an island (okay, a ranch) to meet with 2 opposing forces of light and dark (Bob and Jillian) to find the secret of the island (weight loss) and not let the Smoke Monster (weight gain) off of the island.
I can get anything to tie into Lost. I just can't let go!
I hope you like montages and flashbacks, because this episode was chocked full of them. The show may have run at under 45 minutes if the extra footage had been cut out.
MONTAGE ONE: The final four, striking poses in front of a screen that shows their individual journeys. Koli: Fat and alone. Ashley: Wants to get married. Daris: Fat kid walking. Mike: Life passing him by. Cut to Bob and Jillian riding the contestants both literally and figuratively. Curiously absent: Footage of Ashley falling off the treadmill.
Ali tells the Losers they will be leaving the ranch for thirty days, heading back home to try out "real" life, and then will return for a final weigh in BEFORE the FINAL weigh in.
Group hug.
MONTAGE TWO: The final four heads back to their homes in stretch limos. Koli: California. Ashley: Tennessee. Daris: Oklahoma. Mike: Chicago. It's time for homemade signs, fans, cheers, tears, and leis. Each contestant weighs in in public to show their families and friends how much weight they have lost since they have been on the ranch.
Daris: 151 pounds
Mike: 204 pounds
Ashley: 143 pounds
Koli: 172 pounds
Impressive numbers and even more impressive are the records that have been shattered. Mike is the first Loser to lose over 200 pounds on the ranch. Ashley has lost more weight than any other woman on the ranch. It is amazing that those two are the record holders, because in the beginning you would NEVER have thought they would have made it this far.
The cheering only lasts for so long before Ali pops up and tells the contestants they will be running in a marathon at the end of the thirty days. Time to start training!
The first week at home proves to be a challenge for all four contestants. They are assaulted by text messages, phone calls, social obligations, and the struggle to find the balance between the person they have become and the person that they were. Some solutions are easy, like substituting Jenni O turkey for regular beef in meatballs. Other solutions require moving from California to Las Vegas to train in your fortress of solitude. Right Koli? Ashley and Mike vow to run the marathon together and finish as a team, while Daris and Koli are lone wolves in their single guy wolf pack.
Daris takes a break from running long enough to meet Chef Curtis Stone at his local watering hole Budro's. It doesn't get more Oklahoma than Budro's. If we all remember, Curtis came to visit Danny in Oklahoma last season in Broken Arrow. He loves the 'Homa! I'm sure it reminds him of the outback. More like Outback Steakhouse. . .and it doesn't have as many dingos running about. He creates a healthy Daris section on the menu which includes a smoked trout dip. That is a far cry from chicken fried steak, my friends.
Koli has a mini meltdown at the bar with Sam and decides to pack up his knives and go. . .to Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS? Home of the all you can eat buffet? I would move to Montana or Wyoming. He is focused on the confetti cannons and can't see them over all the love and support and leis around his neck at home. He gots to go.
On the other side of the coin we see Daris drunk dialing his home video camera and eating his emotions with cereal and other 4 am treats. The 18 weeks away hasn't been long enough for Daris to reprogram his old "I don't have a girlfriend" mindset.
MONTAGE THREE: Bob and Jillian traveling via plane, train, and automobile to visit the final four. Jillian flies a chopper because Ardmore doesn't have an airport. Okay- this is true, but Ardmore really isn't THAT country. I swear. Bob is concerned about Koli regaining the weight after the finale. Jillian is concerned that Daris is internalizing. What they both agree on? They all need a good old fashioned ass kicking.
MONTAGE FOUR: Bob and Jillian working out each contestant in their respective gyms. The Losers remember what it feels like to get a beating.
MONTAGE FIVE: The contestants are gearing up to return to the ranch. They are feeling stressed out, sick, worried, nervous, etc. They are battling temptation left, right, and center. Will all their hard work show?
Then it is time for the marathon. The day begins cold and rainy, only to open up to sunny skies by the time they hit mile three.
MONTAGE SIX, SEVEN, and EIGHT: The marathon interspersed with clips of the contestants being fat and unhappy. Along the way we pick up Matt Hoover, season two winner, Sione from season seven, Ali Vincent, season four winner, and Mike Morelli from season seven. Ali and Mike look great and about the same as I remember, but Matt and Sione have gained a bit. That's got to be tough to know that you will forever be living under the scrutinizing eyes of the public . . .see Erik Chopin. Daris smokes everyone, finishing the race in 4 hours and 2 minutes. Koli finishes in 6 hours and 8 minutes, and Mike and Ashley finish together as promised at 6 hours and 26 minutes. Everyone wins $10,000 towards a charity of their choice.
Then it is time for the final weigh in before the FINAL weigh in.
Mike: From 322 lbs to 299 lbs- 23 lbs lost
Koli: From 231 lbs to 218 lbs- 13 lbs lost
Ashley: From 231 lbs to 213 lbs- 18 lbs lost
Daris: From 195 lbs to 197 lbs- 2 lbs GAINED
WHAT?!?! Daris has sabotaged himself with his late night cereal booty calls and Bob and Jillian call bullshit. My worse case scenario has emerged: Koli and Daris are in the bottom two and now must plead with America to put them in the top three with Ashley and Mike.
Me? I am TEAM DARIS all the way. We will see all the triumphs and tears at the finale. . .and may the best Loser win.
The Biggest Loser producers must love spending money on travel. How many times have people left and comeback and left again this season? How many Brita water bottles can we put end to end to demonstrate the amount of miles logged?
Ali announces that the remaining contestants will be competing as SINGLES! No more teams. She also reveals that an eliminated player will be rejoining them on campus, and the previous players are shown standing on a platform with their stink faces on. Unfortunately for Melissa, this is a popularity contest: The Losers currently on the ranch will vote on who they want to return. "GOSH THAT'S CRAZY!!!" Melissa screams.
The eliminated contestants each weigh in and plead their case:
Darrell: From 413 lbs to 309 lbs- 104 lbs lost "Iron sharpens iron."
Sherry: From 218 lbs to 156 lbs- 62 lbs lost "You make me young!"
Miggy: From 218 lbs to 191 lbs- 49 lbs lost "I don't know how to ask."
Victoria: From 358 lbs to 285 lbs- 73 lbs lost "I've packed my bags three times."
Melissa: From 233 lbs to 182 lbs- 51 lbs lost "It ain't time for friends."
Lance: From 365 lbs to 274 lbs- 91 lbs lost "I don't know what my purpose is."
Cheryl: From 227 lbs to 176 lbs- 51 lbs lost "Anything but to clean the kitchen."
John: From 484 lbs to 399 lbs- 85 lbs lost "I need to help inspire more."
Patty: From 243 lbs to 197 lbs- 46 lbs lost "For the first time it's been about me."
Maria: From 281 lbs to 224 lbs- 57 lbs lost "I've worked really hard."
James: From 485 lbs to 413 lbs- 72 lbs lost "I fought for my brother. Now it's my turn."
Cherita: From 277 lbs to 230 lbs- 47 lbs lost "Allow my baby to stay."
"We're playing God," Andrea says. And on that note, the votes are cast: Ashley: John O'Neal: Victoria Daris: Darrell Stephanie: James Sam: John Koli: John Sunshine: Victoria Andrea: Victoria Mike: Victoria
Victoria is staying! And we're done, right? I felt a huge but coming. . .
BUT. There is a challenge for the rest of the eliminated players. Another chance. Melissa starts to drool, "IT'S MY DESTINY!" And Miggy says, "I got this." We know about the bitter rivalry between Melissa and Miggy from previous episodes. Apparently time has not healed this wound.
Ali tells the players what the rules of the challenge are: They must go up and down on a step 1,000 times. Whoever reaches 1,000 first, wins. The winner stays on the ranch. Simple as that. The contestants begin steppin'.
The clear front runners are Melissa, Miggy, and Sherry. The other contestants, like John and James, are struggling. But Melissa is a "monster" according to husband Lance, and she quickly takes the lead, yelling, "I WANT BACK!"
After 25:55 minutes, Melissa takes the prize. Ali announces that Melissa and Victoria have immunity for the week, and everyone says goodbye. . .again. The competitors head back to the gym to meet with Bob and Jillian and reintroduce Melissa and Victoria into the game. "They gave Victoria a gift," Bob says. Yeah. The gift of $250,000!
As Bob and Jillian predicted, going into the singles has started the competitors showing their true colors. And not just the colors of their shirts. There is some MAJOR GAME PLAY a brewin'. And it doesn't involve Melissa this week. Koli of all people plants the seed with Ashley and Andrea that Stephanie threw the weigh in the week that Sherry was voted off. He even says he doesn't have concrete proof of this. MY OPINION? Koli thinks that Sam is being blinded from his goal of winning by his blossoming relationship with Stephanie. Maybe he is jealous. Whatever the reason, it's totally shady.
At the Last Chance Workout, Victoria gets her first schooling by Jillian, O'Neal learns to walk up the stairs by Bob, and Stephanie has a melt down. She tells Jillian she is scared of going home not on her own terms. Jillian tells her she has to stop trying to control the game.
Cut to Ashley confronting Stephanie about throwing the weigh in. Stephanie looks so crushed and hurt. Then Andrea says she doesn't believe it, either. They have each others' backs and all is well, right? RIGHT?
The final weigh in feels as shaky as the scale the losers are standing on:
Victoria: From 285 lbs to 283 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Melissa: From 182 lbs to 178 lbs- 4 lbs lost
O'Neal: From 295 lbs to 291 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Ashley: From 276 lbs to 271 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Mike: From 389 lbs to 381 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Koli: From 287 lbs to 281 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Andrea: From 232 lbs to 227 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Daris: From 244 lbs to 237 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Sam: From 264 lbs to 262 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Sunshine: From 208 lbs to 202 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Stephanie: From 199 lbs to 198 lbs- 1 lb lost
In a terrible twist of fate, Sam and Stephanie have fallen below the yellow line. Like Romeo and Juliet if they were on a weight loss reality show. Everyone votes for Stephanie, and Ashley realizes, "I betrayed a good friend." Hopefully this won't come back and bite her in the butt later.
At the reveal, Stephanie looks beautiful, smiling, and confident. She has lost 96 lbs! I hope she is a serious contender for the at home prize of $100,000. She and Sam could go on a serious vacation with that dough!
Next episode looks like more Melissa drama. . .stay tuned.
I had always been interested in working out and being fit, but never could stick with it. I rode bikes and did martial arts and dance as a kid, but always opted for the more creative choices when I got older, instead of the active choices. NO organized sports for this kid!
I was the newspaper editor and drama queen in high school, and my love of the arts took me to college as a Musical Theatre Major, and that led me to living in New York City. All the while, I was the chubby one, the funny best friend and side kick. I wanted to lose weight, but never really knew what to do about it.
After September 11, I moved back to my home state of Oklahoma to help take care of my older sister who was suffering from kidney failure. The defeat I felt in moving home only added to my weight problems. My sister had me weigh myself at her doctor appointment one day, and I weighed over 200 pounds. I refused to believe it, and blamed the fact that I was wearing clothes for the extra 50 pounds.
Then everything changed: my sister passed away in September of 2002. I was lost and confused, and was medicating myself with food and drinks. One morning in November of 2002, I woke up and was tired of feeling bad. I needed to change. I started my fitness journey that morning by putting on an old pair of sneakers and I never looked back.
I have lost over 60 pounds on my own through diet and exercise. No fancy tricks, but lots of sweat and hard work. I am amazed when people can change their lives by doing the same thing. I'm an ACE certified personal trainer, personal trainer at Equinox Sports Club West LA, licensed Zumba instructor, and intenSati leader (with more to come!!!), and am happy for the chance to touch people with my enthusiasm for fitness everyday.
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