If you are not Ron Swanson, please don't eat these things. Notice how Denny's grilled cheese with cheese sticks sandwich makes it onto my blog AGAIN. How's this thing not being banned!?!
Personal Note: First of all, I want to apologize to my loyal readers who have become my friends for not being around more since I started my new job as a personal trainer. Starting your own business is hard, y'all! The hours are wackadoodle and I am pulling energy out of thin air that I didn't know was possible. I miss being able to have more days off in a row, or a day off at all, and I really miss the connection I get with people I've never even met by reading their blogs and tweets.
I have been told that it won't always be like this. Fingers crossed!
I also think it is terribly unfair of NBC to adjust The Biggest Loser time slot to accommodate their new baby, The Voice. It feels like a summer show, right? There's only a few more episodes left of The Biggest Loser- can't we wait? Now because of my work schedule I am going to miss the MAKEOVER EPISODE, which this year is only one hour long. What? ONE HOUR?!? AND TIM GUNN IS BACK!
Tim Gunn smash.
It's like when NBC canceled Conan for Jay Leno. Or dropped Perfect Couples for The Paul Reiser Show. Cluck cluck cluck.
If anyone of power is reading this, please bring back this show. PLEASE.
Sigh. So, back to the Ranch. This one hour episode of The Biggest Loser starts with Austin needing to cut the cord, Irene stressing about losing 2 pounds and being THE biggest loser, and Ali introducing a new thing called "Favorites Week." Does anyone remember there being a Favorites Week in the past?
Favorites Week includes the following:
1.) Visits from favorite past contestants: Ali, Sam, and Tara show up looking amazing and inspiring.
2.) Favorite Challenges: Tara drags a race car again and beats all the contestants. Fair? No (I think someone from this season should have gotten the prize), but she does get her face on a box of Wheaties and $5,000 for her charity.
Tara beating Rulon by a nose leads to yet another upset in a season full of upsets: Rulon decides to leave the show. No questions asked. Seriously, nobody asks any questions and he leaves before he even weighs in.
My theory? There are a lot of them out there, but I think he was pissed he got beaten by a woman and didn't want to lose any more. He is an Olympic Athlete, after all. He seemed really slated to win the entire show and everyone seemed really surprised. Bob says it's a Biggest Loser first, but this season we had Dan, Don, and Kaylee all throw weigh ins to leave. What are we not seeing behind the scenes? That's juicy TV, folks. We've got questions we need answers to!!!!
Oh, and Cara thinks it's fine because Rulon "is just tired of competing". News Flash: The Biggest Loser is a competition game show. A GAME SHOW.
They still have a weigh in, and Kaylee, after gaining weight AGAIN, is sent home and goes on a date with her new boyfriend, white team's Vance. You know, the guy we met that one time. With his mom? No? Hmmm.
Want to know what's in Mark's Melon? Here is your chance! Better not be any Brandon in this one, Mark.
I also wanted to add my two cents about Top Chef Masters. This past week they aired an episode featuring Biggest Loser contestants (Rulon was there, and Courtney). The chefs were in charge of following the shows strict calorie guidelines while adjusting the Loser's fave dishes into low calorie treats.
That part of the show I loved. What I didn't like is that the judges and chefs talked to and about the contestants like they were mentally retarded or that being overweight is something you can catch. It was really disturbing. Maybe in their world it's not something they understand. Curtis Stone has been hanging around a while and he is much more game, but that horrible judge with the glasses had a palpable disdain for the contestants and the challenge. Not everyone is as nice as The Biggest Loser team, I guess. I was looking forward to that episode and was disappointed and offended. That is all.
No Winter Olympics, no Hop tie ins, no Subway sandwich commercials on The Biggest Loser this week. We are taking a trip down under. . .to New Zealand! Land of the Hobbits and Flight of the Conchords.
I always love Loser on the Go, and this week's episode proved not to be a disappointment. After a quick recap of Courtney and Brett saying bye-bye and Cara realizing her ass may be on the line, Ali surprises the remaining 9 players with the news of a 2 week trip to this most exotic of locales. Austin's ears perk up: You have to know he is a Tolkien fan. Has to be!
"I've heard of it!" says Kaylee, as the teams check in at the airport. A very polished and well spoken flight attendant offers a quick pop quiz for the teams to see if one person can upgrade to premium economy seating. The winner must guess the correct height of the Sky Tower, the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere. Austin guesses closest to the actual retail price (the Sky Tower is 1,076 feet tall) and gets to relax in comfort while everyone else flies in coach. For a hot second I thought he might have offered the seat to his dad. . .but heck. I probably wouldn't have either.
The players arrive in Auckland, and Ali promises them they are "in for an adventure of a lifetime". They head to the Sky Tower, where Cara greets them at the base of the structure, welcoming them to "Awkland". The players must then run up 1,027 stairs to the top of the Sky Tower where Bob is waiting for them. He offers the players two ways to leave the tower: The hard way or the easy way. The hard way is turning around and walking back down all the stairs that they just climbed up. The easy way? Bob directs them to look out the window where a terrified Jillian hangs suspended midair. The Sky Tower has a guided bungee jump that lands you safely on the ground. The trick is you have to climb onto a ledge and jump off.
Hell, no. I wouldn't ever do it. Never. I hate heights. I don't like glass elevators, cliffs, high diving boards, cliff jumps. I would never jump out of a plane or bungee jump. EVER.
All of the contestants (minus Moses, Rulon and Jay, who are still past the weight requirements) energetically volunteer to jump except for Ken, who feels very much the same way I do about heights. Somehow Bob convinces him to try it even though Bob is also extremely afraid of heights ("The only thing Bob fears more than aging is heights, Jillian shares), and we get to see Bob freaking out as he prepares for jump and his actual descent. Hilarious.
Everyone is excited that they broke past their fears, expressing how the jump felt like a metaphor for jumping into their new lives as healthy people. Moses' journey is slightly different: His father had been sent to Auckland by his grandparents to get a proper education, which led his Tongan family to end up in America. It is an emotional trip and he wishes he could share it with his father. Bob breaks the rules, giving Moses his cell phone so he can call his father, who sounds an awful lot like the Cookie Monster.
Then it is time for the workout, Kiwi style. The Losers get to sail on a racing boat, controlling the wenches to race against another boat. It looks like hard work! I also can't help but notice all the penny whistle music in the back ground. Just because we are on a boat doesn't mean that we have to play Titanic music the entire time, NBC. I mean, really. The Losers win the race, and reflect on their journey outside the ranch and into the future with the rest of their lives ahead of them.
Knowing that weigh ins on traveling episodes are historically catastrophic, Bob, Jillian, and Cara get together to work the teams out. But something is going on with the green team this week, mostly with Ken. Cara takes him to the side to talk and he totally calls her out on not being as qualified as Bob and Jillian. OUCHIE. I know in the twittersphere many don't believe that Cara has the goods, but she has kept her team safe and she is still here and Brett is not. After a pretty terse exchange, Cara promises she'll be up in Ken's grill as much as possible. "This is my chance to prove I'm just as good as Bob and Jillian," she says.
Enough of the drama! Ali meets the Losers out in the sweeping New Zealand countryside for a 5k "New Zealand style". The teams must run together and finish together to win. This is not an ordinary 5k: This 5k is over rolling hills, across beaches, and up steep sand dunes that look nearly impossible to climb. The Blue team of Moses, Olivia, and Irene win the race, but the girls step back and give their half of the prize to Kaylee so that the father/daughter team can ride in a helicopter and drink wine in the land where their family came from.
The Last Chance Workout began with old school calisthenics lead by Jillian, rounded out by a tough Yoga Bob workout, finished for Ken with Cara yelling in his face while they jogged awkwardly in place. I wondered if Ken regretted his decision to bring up that yelling thing to Cara.
Then it is time for the weigh in, New Zealand style. "All eyes are on me!" Cara falsely thinks.
Kaylee: From 168 lbs to 172 lbs- 4 lbs gained
Austin: From 263 lbs to 255 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Ken: From 253 lbs to 247 lbs- 6 lbs lost Total: 10 lbs lost, 1.46% BW
Jay: From 270 lbs to 272 lbs- 2 lbs gained
Rulon: From 318 lbs to 311 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Hannah: From 168 lbs to 164 lbs- 4 lbs lost Total: 9 lbs lost, 1.19% BW
Olivia: From 174 lbs to 172 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Irene: From 164 lbs to 161 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Moses: From 286 lbs to 286 lbs- 0 lbs lost Total: 5 lbs lost, .80% BW
"We did it! I DID IT!" says Cara, taking responsibility for her team's win.
The Blue team realizes someone is going home, and with Irene being safe from elimination, the decision lies between Olivia and Moses. The choice is hard between two crowd faves, but after Olivia pleads to stay so she can be healthy to have children, Moses asks to be sent home.
Moses has lost a total of 167 pounds when we see him next, and he travels back to New Zealand with his father to visit his roots and he gets to bungee jump off the Auckland Bridge. What's wrong with these crazy people?
Next episode: Time to compete as singles and Brett returns on a parachute all the way from America!
Want to know what Mark has to say? Here's his two cents, 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.
A touchy feely episode of The Biggest Loser this week, folks. No major drama and no chocolate fountains. What we do see is a little more about certain characters we haven't focused on this season and the ability of both teams to step up and stop relying on one person to carry it for everyone. Nothing too exciting, but we do see Brett and Cara attempting some Mind Bullet action for the first time.
The show starts with Arthur trying to explain to a very confused Jesse about his plan to trade Jay and Jen to The Unknowns. "My goal is to stay here as long as we can," and Arthur is confident that he can win back his team's love and adoration.
The next morning, Ali greets both teams with a Pop Challenge: Untangle each team member wrapped up in ropes for the chance to win the week in the gym. Losers have to work out outside. Justin feels immediately confident as he is both a cowboy AND an Eagle Scout, and quickly works out the kinks to claim victory. They grab the antique key that releases the old timey pirate padlock and get to work.
"Jillian is going to kill us," moans Marci. And the Black team certainly does seem mopey and down as Bob and Jillian check to see how they are doing. "I feel bad news emanating from your area," Jillian says. The Black team explains the gym-less situation, and Bob and Jillian promise a tough week of grueling outdoor workouts so that they can triumph over the mighty Unknowns. Besides, challenges don't win the show: Weight loss wins the show. And the Black team has won the last two weigh ins.
The yoke is heavy on Arthur's shoulders to really pull it out this week, and the ladies of the Black team are on his case to eat well ("Momma says no cheese"), taking away his sausage and steak for water poached fish and salads.
On the Unknowns front, Jen, Justin, and Austin become the Subway "Eat Fresh" Community Players, acting out what may be the worst Subway plug EVER on the show. After a gym workout, the Unknowns casually lounge by a cabana next to the pool where Austin sets up a challenge for Jen and Justin- whoever jumps in the pool with all of their clothes on and swims across the pool and back first has to serve the other person a Subway breakfast sandwich in bed. Justin wins, and Jen serves him his sandwich in a plastic bag. Fancy!
At the weekly challenge, the teams are encouraged to get their "lives back on track" by pushing a 24 ton train 800 feet while answering health based trivia questions. I would have thought that the Black team had this, but the Red team was so much faster that even getting 5 out of 6 nutrition questions wrong they STILL beat the Black team. Their prize is the ability to pick one person from the Black team whose weight won't count at the weigh in.
At the Last Chance Workout, Brett gets Kaylee to open up about not feeling good about herself and Cara works on a pissy Rulon, who has been lashing out all week and finally admits that he has been checked out for the past six years and roars, "I'M NOT GOING TO GAIN MY WEIGHT BACK!" Outside the gym, Bob and Jillian coach their team through lawn chair furniture lifts, proving that having a gym membership is not a prerequisite for weight loss.
After Arthur pushes Jillian's truck all by himself to a montage of him pushing the truck the first episode, it is time for this week's weigh in. Who will be the winners? Red team goes first!
Jay: From 317 lbs to 308 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Jen: From 218 lbs to 211 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Moses: From 340 lbs to 333 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Kaylee: From 190 lbs to 187 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Justin: From 282 lbs to 277 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Rulon: From 382 lbs to 371 lbs- 11 lbs lost (over 100 lbs lost)
Austin: From 316 lbs to 306 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Ken: From 307 lbs to 296 lbs- 11 lbs lost TOTAL: 63 lbs, 2.68% BW
The Black team will have to lose 52 pounds with one person's weight not counting. The Red team chooses Irene. IRENE? Okay, if that's your strategy. I would have chosen Arthur or Courtney!
Irene: From 204 lbs to 198 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Deni: From 201 lbs to 196 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Sarah: From 212 lbs to 208 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Olivia: From 208 lbs to 206 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Hannah: From 201 lbs to 194 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Marci: From 187 lbs to 181 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Courtney: From 265 lbs to 258 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Jesse: From 246 lbs to 238 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Arthur: From 435 lbs to 415 lbs- 20 lbs lost TOTAL: 59 lbs, 3.02% BW
The Black team wins for the third time in a row! Had the Red team chose Arthur, they would have won. Wee woo.
At the elimination ceremony, the Red team chooses Jay to go home, even though I would have taken this opportunity to get rid of Justin or Rulon since they are a much larger threat. Where is the strategy this season? I don't always agree with Arthur, but at least he spices it up a bit.
At home, Jay has lost 111 pounds and taken 7 years off his Dr. H real number age. And he is planning on taking the at home prize.
NEXT WEEK: A double elimination! Juicy.
Want to know what Mark has to say? Here's his take, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!
New drinking game! Every time contestant Q on The Biggest Loser says the word burn, take a drink. This episode, you may have taken 30 shots. For reals.
SSSOOOOO. . . The Unknowns are spending their last precious days at the top secret Biggest Loser Resort (now in Malibu flavor!) when a crack starts to show in their family facade: Red team's Q is NOT being a team player. He doesn't want to grapple because he "didn't feel the burn". When trainer Cara is upset that he just walked away in the middle of her training session to join Trainer Brett's team, she and the rest of the team confront Q. "I'm focusing on my burn!" he snarls like a caged animal.
OKAY! Okay. Just calm down, Q.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the BJ's are getting ready for one of Bob's Famous Circuits and Hannah gets a back bending Mind Bullet from Jillian about Hannah living in a "state of fear". All the while, Don looks like he would rather be sitting on a mound of red hot fire ants than participate at the ranch.
Jay and Jen return from The Unknowns camp just in time for a weigh in where we lose some dead weight.
Courtney: From 292 lbs to 282 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Marci: From 211 lbs to 208 lbs- 3 lbs lost Total: 13 lbs; 2.58% BW
Jen: From 242 lbs to 236 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Jay: From 350 lbs to 341 lbs- 9 lbs lost Total: 15 lbs; 2.53% BW
Olivia: From 233 lbs to 228 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Hannah: From 220 lbs to 217 lbs- 3 lbs lost Total: 8 lbs; 1.77% BW
Arthur: From 459 lbs to 450 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Jesse: From 269 lbs to 266 lbs- 3 lbs lost Total: 12 lbs; 1.65% BW
YELLOW LINE
Irene: 224 lbs to 330 lbs- 6 lbs GAINED
Don: From 280 lbs to 286 lbs- 6 lbs GAINED Total: + 12 lbs
Irene caught a case of the Twins! No, you aren't seeing double. Irene and Don planned this escape so Don could get the hell off the ranch and Arthur and Jesse would be safe for another week. See you later, Don! What a drag.
Ali then announces that the ranch is going to get a whole lot cozier because The Unknowns are moving back in! Like an episode of The Facts of Life, the BJ's wonder how 19 people are going to get along under 1 roof with 4 cranky trainers and a hot headmistress.
Unlike the BJ's, the Unknown trainers are PUMPED to be on the ranch, and let us know by a big show of love and appreciation to the two trainers that have paved the way for the past 10 seasons. Then we have to watch the clip of Cara and Brett doing their thing AGAIN (like we don't know who they are by now).
The BJ's seems scared and judgey about the Unknowns and their "crazy" training methods. Arthur on Rulon: "That's a mountain of a man and he moves like a gazelle!" Then Rulon broke 2 treadmills. Everyone is pushing it to the limit, except Q, who really isn't working that hard. You can just tell by watching him move sluggishly across the floor.
Then it is time for The Unknowns to compete against each other in their first challenge. The BJ's get to watch and cheer because they are competing in their own challenge: They must lose more than 48 pounds collectively to win immunity for themselves. Otherwise, they are sending another player home. NBC needs to make room for next season!
The Unknowns challenge involves hauling stacks of weight plates relay style and placing the weight on the teams they would like out of the game. The last team standing receives immunity. Another clue to how the show is going to end tonight: Everyone targets the Red team right away. "What the hell is going on?" asks Q. Hasn't he watched the show before? He is on WATCH.
The winners are the Yellow team, who have become the self proclaimed God Fathers of The Unknowns. Seriously, was there some sort of vote we didn't see? Everyone is so willing to let them take charge and call all the shots. Of course, they feel sad that they won because they are "family", and on a cheer of "Family!" they head out into their weigh in. . .
But not before the BJ's have their LAST CHANCE WORKOUT. "You know the drill," says Bob. Arthur is sporting a hot new pirate goatee and silver earring to proclaim his victory as Stair Master, while Jillian makes Jen carry her around the gym. Even Jillian needs a hug from time to time. Might as well incorporate love and pain into 1 move.
How do the 2 teams fair on their games? BJ's first!
Irene: From 224 lbs to 216 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Jay: From 341 lbs to 331 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Jen: From 236 lbs to 232 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Olivia- From 228 lbs to 224 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Hannah: From 217 lbs to 210 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Courtney: From 282 lbs to 275 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Marci: From 208 lbs to 200 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Arthur: From 450 lbs to 444 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Jesse: From 266 lbs to 257 lbs- 9 lbs lost TOTAL: 63 lbs lost
The BJ's have earned their immunity this week! How did The Unknowns do?
Justin: From 308 lbs to 292 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Rulon: From 411 lbs to 394 lbs- 17 lbs lost TOTAL: 33 lbs (immunity)
Ken: From 335 lbs to 321 lbs- 13 lbs lost
Austen: From 342 lbs to 326 lbs- 16 lbs lost TOTAL: 30 lbs, 4.43% BW
Deni: From 221 lbs to 210 lbs- 11 lbs lost
Sarah: From 231 lbs to 222 lbs- 9 lbs lost TOTAL: 20 lbs, 4.42% BW
Moses: From 365 lbs to 351 lbs- 14 lbs lost
Kaylee: From 204 lbs to 195 lbs- 9 lbs lost TOTAL: 23 lbs, 4.04% BW
YELLOW LINE
Q: From 398 lbs to 385 lbs- 13 lbs lost
Larialmy: From 270 lbs to 259 lbs- 11 lbs lost TOTAL: 24 lbs, 3.59% BW
NEWS FLASH: My computer doesn't recognize Larialmy as a word.
As The Unknowns weigh in, the BJ's seem to have a little trainer envy. And it is true: The Unknowns numbers ARE HUGE compared to Bob and Jillian's players. What is the secret? Are Brett and Cara better trainers? Is it the meals at the Resort? Do The Unknowns just work harder? I feel we will soon see the difference head to head next episode!!!
After Justin makes Q promise not to screw up his chance on the ranch, Larialmy is sent home on her wishes. At home, she has lost 74 lbs, hangs out with her sister Chasisity (also popping up in spell checker), and plans on opening a wellness center.
Oh yeah, and Don. He's lost 87 lbs and shows us the most uncomfortable family dinner of all time starring his douchey son Paul and his community theatre loving daughter Courtney, who swears her dad is her hero. Right.
Jack is right. The Biggest Loser is an important part of the NBC line up. It makes them a lot of money and a lot of people watch it. SO WHY IS THIS SEASON SO OFF?
Okay. This is my wish list.
Reveal who The Unknown trainers are. DONE. We have met Cara and Brett, who seem very inspiring. I like their background stories and clearly their methods are working. Look at the numbers their people are producing! Why wait until the third episode?
Combine the clips of The Unknowns and the ranch contestants together. Why? Because the ranch contestants are all the gooey cuddly folk and the unknowns are the ones willing to show some personality.
Edit Courtney's monologues down. Maybe we only need to hear about her journey pre-Loser once an episode?
Edit the pictures of Rulon winning the Olympic Gold Medal. Maybe we only need to hear or see his Olympic story once an episode?
Tell us more about Q and his wife whose name I can't pronounce.
Show us the weigh in of The Unknowns.
If NBC isn't going to do more in show plugs, maybe have longer commercial breaks instead of more commercial breaks. I saw a lot of Expo white board and Biggest Loser Kinect game ads. More than I wanted.
I am becoming a little bored of the show. It is a game show at the end of the day and I wish it was a little more balanced. That's all.
Here are the parts of the show I found the most awesome this week:
Sarah from The Unknowns is 58% body fat. Trainer Brett said, "I didn't even know you could be 58% body fat." Reason why: She was in a major car accident and instead of reworking her muscles she let them atrophy. Now she doesn't have as much muscle to burn calories. Dr. H tells her she will have to work out 90 minutes a day for 6 days a week for the rest of her life. WHOA.
The Unknowns throw eggs at the Bj's during a team challenge.
Marci and Denise win lunch with Curtis Stone and Marci totally hits on him. Cougar Town!
Matt Damon is on a PSA for the Pound for Pound Challenge. IT IS AWESOME! I would put it on here but apparently it is no where to be found.
Rulon has been an Olympic Gold Medalist and a plane crash survivor. He may be invincible.
Dan admits he is a police captain. WHAT? Are there no health guidelines for police officers in my home state of Oklahoma?
Arthur has a mystery illness that is not mentioned. He is on antibiotics and is told to up is calories by Dr. H, but no one says anything until the final weigh in.
Moses of The Unknowns has already lost over 60 pounds.
This week's weigh in where the s%$t hits the fan!
What happens at the weigh in that is so exciting? Let me show you the results!
Jen: From 250 lbs to 242 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Jay: From 364 lbs to 350 lbs- 14 lbs lost TOTAL: 22 lbs lost, 3.58% BW
Irene: From 232 lbs to 224 lbs- 8 lbs lost, 3.35% BW
Marci: From 218 lbs to 211 lbs- 7 lbs lost (plus won 2 lb advantage from Curtis Stone challenge)
Courtney: From 298 lbs to 292 lbs- 6 lb lost TOTAL: 13 lbs lost, 2.91% BW
Olivia: From 239 lbs to 233 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Hannah: From 226 lbs to 220 lbs- 6 lbs lost TOTAL: 12 lbs lost, 2.58% BW
Arthur: From 463 lbs to 459 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Jesse: From 278 lbs to 269 lbs- 9 lbs lost TOTAL: 13 lbs, 1.75% BW
YELLOW LINE
Dan: From 263 lbs to 272 lbs- 9 lbs GAINED
Don: From 280 lbs to 289 lbs- 9 lbs GAINED TOTAL: + 18 lbs, + 3.31% BW
"How can it be the same?" the bemused Don asks in the worst acting job on the planet. I mean, this is community theatre level stuff. If Dan wants to go home and hang with his wife and kid, why doesn't he gain the weight and Don lose weight? Now Don has to stay on the ranch and incur the wrath of Bob and Jillian because he so obviously threw the weigh in. Why can't any one from any season every admit it?
Irene, who won the only vote through a really boring water carrying challenge, sends Dan home, where he loses 72 pounds on his own. He has a really cute daughter. THE END.
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. . .
Blue team Jesse is cheered on by daddy Jay and daughter Jen at the first challenge!
Aaaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddddd. . .we're back! Welcome to The Biggest Loser, season 11! The voice over promises the biggest cast ever with two new trainers who we will get to meet VERY SOON. Maybe after the commercial break. Maybe in the second hour. Maybe next week. Until then, we must be satisfied by their shadowy silhouettes.
This season's cast seems a lot more hopeful with just a twinge of tragedy. It is definitely not the drama from last season. MAYBE, just maybe, NBC read all of our tweets and posts and reformed the show! Could this be good old school Biggest Loser? Oh, let's hope so.
Let's meet the Losers.
Brown Team: Father and Son, Ken and Austin
Stating weight: Ken- 377 lbs, Austin- 396 lbs, Total: 773 lbs
Fact: 9 people in their family have had bariatric surgery.
Aqua Team: Mother and Daughter, Marci and Courtney
Starting weight: Marci- 238 lbs, Courtney- 323 lbs, Total: 561 lbs
Fact: Family owns a Dairy Queen and Mom runs a gym; Courtney lost 100 lbs before the show.
Orange Team: Mother and Daughter, Ana and Irene
Starting weight: Ana- 255 lbs, Irene- 255 lbs, Total: 510 lbs
Quote: "Like mother like daughter," Ali quips. Ouch.
Red Team: Husband and Wife, Q and Larialmy
Starting weight: Q- 437 lbs, Larialmy- 301 lbs, Total: 738 lbs
Fact: No facts because the show didn't focus on them at ALL. I don't even know how to pronounce the wife's name!
Pink Team: Mother and Daughter, Deni and Sarah
Starting weight: Deni- 256 lbs, Sarah- 261 lbs, Total: 517
Fact: Sarah has miscarried multiple times because she is overweight.
Blue Team: Father and Son, Jesse and Arthur
Starting weight: Jesse- 293 lbs, Arthur- 507 lbs, Total: 800 lbs
Fact: Arthur started at 646 lbs and is only 5'8" tall.
Green Team: Father and Daughter, Jay and Jennifer
Starting weight: Jay- 400 lbs, Jennifer- 278 lbs, Total: 678 lbs
Fact: Jennifer doesn't know what it is like to be thin.
Purple Team: Sisters, Olivia and Hannah
Starting weight: Olivia- 261 lbs, Hannah- 248 lbs, Total: 509 lbs
Fact: Olivia is an opera singer in New York City.
Grey Team: Father and Daughter, Moses and Kaylee
Starting weight: Moses- 440 lbs, Kaylee- 233 lbs, Total: 673 lbs
Fact: They are the token Tongans this season.
Black Team: Twin Brothers, Dan and Don
Starting weight: Dan- 287 lbs, Don- 309 lbs, Total: 596 lbs
Fact: This season's team from Oklahoma!
Yellow Team: "Friends" (sorry, I just think that's funny!), Justin and Rulon
Starting weight: Justin- 365 lbs, Rulon- 474 lbs, Total: 839 lbs
Fact: I don't know if you caught this, but Rulon is an Olympic medalist. They might have failed to mention this. 100 times.
After the meet and greet, Ali announces that the contestants will all be competing in their first challenge tonight! The challenge will determine who gets what trainer: Bob and Jillian or THE UNKNOWNS. If they choose THE UNKNOWNS, they will get four weeks of immunity. A hefty prize, that. The order they finish the challenge will determine what order they get to choose.
The challengers load up for a tag team 5k on manual treadmills. WHAT? No 26 mile stationary bike ride? Is this a softer gentler season? These folks need to be eased in, because most of them don't know what a 5k is or have ever been on a treadmill.
Everyone huffs, puffs, and grunts to choose their destinies! Who chose what?
1- Yellow Team- The Unknowns
2- Grey Team- The Unknowns
3- Aqua Team- Bob and Jillian
4- Green Team- Bob and Jillian
5- Brown Team- The Unknowns
6- Purple Team- Bob and Jillian
7- Pink Team- The Unknowns
8- Red Team- The Unknowns
9- Orange Team- Bob and Jillian
10- Blue Team- Bob and Jillian
11- Black Team- Bob and Jillian
The teams that chose the new trainers walk into the light to meet their makers. The other teams head to Bob and Jillian, who state that even they would have chosen the immunity.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Let's get to the day one workout! Let the yelling, puking, screaming, sweating, falling, fainting, and pouting begin! Jillian tries not to yell and lasts for about five minutes. Bob focuses on Arthur, puts him in the Cross Hairs, and gets him to open up about how he got to be over 600 pounds. Apparently he gained weight with the birth of each of his children. . .
Then we cut to the mysterious Unknowns in their top secret location that happens to be The Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu. The trainers look like they can drop an ass kicking just as well as B and J. And maybe someday we will get to see their faces. Someday.
At the second weigh in, Ali informs the BJ's (I know. I KNOW!) that The Unknowns dropped some serious poundage with the new trainers. How did the ranchers fare?
Green: Jennifer: From 278 lbs to 258 lbs- 20 lbs lost
Jay: From 400 lbs to 374 lbs- 26 lbs lost
Total loss: 46 lbs BW: 6.78%
Black: Dan: From 287 lbs to 268 lbs- 19 lbs lost
Don: From 309 lbs to 288 lbs- 21 lbs lost
Total loss: 40 lbs BW: 6.71%
Purple: Olivia: From 261 lbs to 245 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Hannah: From 248 lbs to 232 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Total loss: 32 lbs BW: 6.29%
Aqua: Marci: From 238 lbs to 224 lbs- 14 lbs lost
Courtney: From 323 lbs to 308 lbs- 15 lbs lost
Total loss: 29 lbs BW: 5.17%
Blue: Arthur: From 507 lbs to 476 lbs- 31 lbs lost
Jesse: From 293 lbs to 286 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Total loss: 38 lbs BW: 4.75%
YELLOW LINE
Orange: Ana: From 255 lbs to 246 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Irene: From 255 lbs to 242 lbs- 13 lbs lost
Total loss: 22 lbs BW: 4.31%
The first elimination sends home momma Ana (no surprises here) who learns to salsa, hang out like Sex and the City, and carry mail like a champ.
Next week: The Bj's vs. The Unknowns. Tune in!
Wanna know what Amanda has to say? Click here to listen to her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!
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!!!
Oh, Biggest Loser! So many twists and turns this week and NOW a live reveal of the eliminated players? I am more shiny than Bob's gold chains!
After a quick recap of the ten remaining players to reacquaint us with their names (it comes in handy later), it is time for Ali to lay it on us: The rules have changed. Again. There is no more Black versus Blue. Everyone is back to their original colors. . .but they are not competing as singles. They will be paired up. . .but it will be only one person's choice. And there is a DOUBLE ELIMINATION this week.
OMG.
Everyone talks about who they would like to be paired up with and the unanimous decision is not Lisa. She waffles more than a Waffle House. This week she is back to 60/40- 60% wants to be on the ranch, 40% wants to go home.
Then it is on to the workout, where Bob and Jillian are filled in about the game, yell at the players about last week's abysmal weigh in, and promise to give them a hurting like they have never experienced before. Bob wants to work with "Brendan, Ada, and. . .that one." Patrick. Eight weeks in. His name is Patrick. Jillian takes everyone else to the Spin Bikes for a motivational talk: "You're never going to win!" Jesse is feeling reinvigorated after his one pound weight gain, Ada is hating on the ladies and wants to be paired with a guy, and Elizabeth has the perfect solution to all of her problems: "I actually want Lisa to be on my team!"
Sigh. The Losers than head for a casual meal at a local restaurant (they wore their dress t-shirts) where they meet Ali to learn the rules of their latest temptation challenge. Whoever eats the most calories at dinner will get to chose the teams for this leg of the game. Brendan wants this more than anything, even more than his hot new bald head, and goes to work on a fatty appetizer, entree, and desert totaling 3,500 calories-- one pound of food! He wins the temptation and chooses the following pairs: Aaron and Jesse Mark and Frado Lisa and Elizabeth Brendan and Patrick Jessica and Ada
Ada is pissed-- she wanted to be paired with a guy and can't believe that Aaron, who hasn't sold his soul to the Blob, is getting his first choice and Ada isn't. In fact, Brendan has paired all the women up together and all the men are paired up. A nice simple package. Brendan's plan is working perfectly: To get all the weak ladies eliminated so the real competition can begin.
Not all of the ladies are taking this news laying down. Elizabeth and Lisa are ready to rock it, and Lisa suggests she cooks all of the food for them. Elizabeth will be her new pet project and she is more than happy to let Lisa take care of her. Jessica and Ada start out shakily, mostly because Ada is so hurt that the guys in her alliance betrayed her. "All this drama and craziness is not healthy!" Jessica says.
Bob comes into the gym to talk to the teams about the temptation challenge and ends up laying into Lisa who ate the dessert at the temptation challenge just to eat it, not to play the game. Then he lays into Brendan for not putting any girls and guys together, leading to this BS Brandon quote of the week: "I did the temptation for me for once in my life." Then in the cut away interview he reveals all he cares about is himself, Frado, and Patrick. Hmmmmm. Everyone is worried that it's going to be a female team leaving the game this week, so Jillian and Bob spend extra mind bullet time working on the girls.
Challenge! Ali announces the teams must stack a 5 foot high wall of sugar cubes one tiny cube at a time. This may be this most Sisyphean task the Losers have had to complete to date! Jessica and Ada beat all the others, winning a one week stay at the Biggest Loser Resort. I would want a trip that is not Loser related, but that is just me.
After a plug by Extra Sugar Free Gum's new spokesperson Patrick (teaching the ladies how to take in less calories), it is time for the Last Chance Workout featuring Bob's Boob Tunnel of Torture and then the WEIGH IN.
The weigh in is awfully rocky, and the recipients of most of the drama are Lisa with her 60/40 principle and Elizabeth and her inability to take care of herself. But enough of the drama. Who is going home this week?
Patrick: 330 lbs to 311 lbs- 19 lbs lost
Brendan: 298 lbs to 280 lbs- 18 lbs lost Total Loss: 37 lbs BW: 5.89%
Mark: 329 lbs to 317 lbs- 12 lbs lost
Frado: 294 lbs to 276 lbs- 18 lbs lost Total Loss: 30 lbs BW: 4.82%
Jessica: 240 lbs to 228 lbs- 12 lbs lost
Ada: 204 lbs to 198 lbs- 6 lbs lost Total Loss: 18 lbs BW: 4.05%
YELLOW LINE
Lisa: 242 lbs to 234 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Elizabeth: 213 lbs to 205 lbs- 8 lbs lost Total Loss: 16 lbs BW: 3.52%
Jesse: 296 lbs to 280 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Aaron: 384 lbs to 380 lbs- 4 lbs lost Total Loss: 20 lbs BW: 2.94%
At the live reveal we see a very svelte Aaron and Jesse, but we are not told how much weight they have lost since leaving the ranch. Looking forward to getting some more concrete information at the finale!
Next week promises to be a tear jerker with plenty of videos from home. Get your Kleenex and your pack of gum.
Want to know what Shay has to say? Click on the video below, courtesy of Diets in Review!
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The five eliminated people come back blah blah blah, have to weigh in, one will stay. The Biggest Loser is throwing more monkey wrenches at us. But it wasn't the game changes by the show's producers that caused the most dramer. OH NO. Upon rewatching, this week's Biggest Loser was like an episode of Murder, She Wrote. The victim: The unsuspecting Rick. He was eliminated in a super surprise elimination ceremony. . .or was it? Check out my clues throughout the post to see why I think this decision was no last minute choice.
Back to the five people that came back. Don't you remember Blond Dreadlocks Guy or Beyonce Back Up Singer or Cancer Survivor? Sure you do. They have been invited back to campus AGAIN to weigh in and only one will be chosen to stay. At least they are getting some frequent flyer miles.
Montina: From 287 lbs to 270 lbs- 17 lbs lost- 5.92% BW Shanna: From 242 lbs to 221 lbs- 21 lbs lost- 8.68% BW Corey: From 391 lbs to 354 lbs- 37 lbs lost- 8.68% BW Sandy: From 259 lbs to 234 lbs- 25 lbs lost- 9.65% BW Anna: From 330 lbs to 291 lbs- 39 lbs lost- 11.82% BW
CLUE: Ali points out that if the competition ended today, Rick would be in FIRST PLACE, leading Mark to say that "this guy could be a threat." So the house is already thinking about Rick.
Ali then tells the newly elated Anna that she will be choosing the teams when the show goes to Blue vs. Black mode. "No pressure," says Frado. Anna will have to put six people on each team and give one person immunity.
During the selection interview process, Anna asks the important questions like "Who do you work well with?", "Do you like the color blue or the color black?" and "What is your t-shirt size, I need to order it in blue." Everyone tells her to take immunity and she would be a moron not to take it.
So, who is on what team?
BLUE: Jessica, Aaron, Lisa, Mark, Jesse, and Adam
BLACK: Rick (CLUE: "I asked to be with Bob!"), Ada, Frado, Elizabeth, and Anna
Immunity goes to Patrick, who now has become more important than that cow that Jack traded for magic beans. I thought Anna chose wisely: She wanted to be on Jillian's team and she put three girls and three boys on each team. Even Steven.
At the first Black team/Blue team workout, Jillian is surprised and flattered that Anna chose her over immunity, and Anna has won brownie points for the rest of the season. She has a rude awakening, however, when the workout actually starts and she struggles to keep up.
CLUE: There is plenty of buzz on campus about who is going to get Patrick and we hear the first mention BY BRENDAN of a weigh in being thrown that Patrick can be on the same team with the rest of his buddies. But Brendan did not mention Anna. The editors just want you to think that. . .
Then it is time for the FIRST Blue vs. Black challenge. The winners get letters from home and 40 weeks of prepared meals. The losers get nothing! The contestants must race to five different food stations around downtown LA, answer trivia questions about food items, and either perform a penalty for getting the question wrong or get directions directly to the next clue for getting the question correct.
CLUE: Rick is ahead of all his other teammates (except Ada) when they race for the finish-- ahead of Frado, Brendan, and Elizabeth.
CLUE: When Black wins, they get letters from home and many of the Black team members give their letters to Blue team members. Brendan, Frado, Ada, and Anna give their letters away. RICK reads his letters, though he did comment that he "thought it was special" that others gave their privilege away.
CLUE: At what used to be known as the "Last Chance Workout", Rick tells Jillian, "I think Bob's cooking something up with the Blue team!". This leads Jillian to put the Black team in her mind bullets, calling out Frado and Brendan in particular for thinking about throwing the weigh in. So this whole conversation wouldn't have happened if Rick hadn't brought it up.
CLUE: When Jillian talks to Frado and Brendan one on one, Frado says, "You can be number one and they'll vote your ass out." Guess who is number one as of now?
Anywho, they promise not to throw the weigh in. *fingers crossed*
Patrick: From 356 lbs to 346 lbs- 10 lbs lost- IMMUNE
Jessica: From 254 lbs to 248 lbs- 6 lbs lost- .31% Team BW Mark: From 361 lbs to 352 lbs- 9 lbs lost- .76% Team BW Lisa: From 260 lbs to 252 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 1.17% Team BW Adam: From 346 lbs to 335 lbs- 11 lbs lost- 1.73% Team BW Aaron: From 419 lbs to 407 lbs- 12 lbs lost- 2.35% Team BW Jesse: From 321 lbs to 305 lbs- 16 lbs lost- 3.16% Team BW: Total Team Loss- 62 lbs
Anna: From 291 lbs to286 lbs- 5 lbs lost- .30% Team BW
Elizabeth: From 223 lbs to 218 lbs- 5 lbs lost- .60% Team BW
Frado: From 317 lbs to 308 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 1.14% Team BW
Ada: From 224 lbs to 215 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 1.68% Team BW
Rick: From 297 lbs to 287 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.28% Team BW (CLUE: Says he wants to be the Biggest Loser of the week so he can be immune. . .is he aware of the team change?)
Brendan: From 315 lbs to 313 lbs- 2 lbs lost- 2.40% Team BW: Total Team Loss- 40 lbs
So . . .did Brendan throw the weigh in or not? It is a highly debated topic. Most of the live tweeters and bloggers thought that he did. But someone posing as Brandon has written this blog post exposing the dirty secrets of editing. You know how everyone always blames editing! In the blog he writes that no one suspected Sophia or Burgandy of throwing the weigh in when they got low numbers but this argument is flawed. They are women and the weigh in challenge was to lose the MOST weight for themselves as individuals. You know who did fake it? Frado when he had immunity (3 pounds and then 20 the next week?) or Melissa Morgan from season 9 who lost a pound or gained a pound every time she had immunity. At least she finally admitted it.
Game Play is an important part of the show and makes it fun to watch. I don't know Brandon, but I do know reality television. To quote my least fave quote, "it is what it is."
Blue team wins, Ada gets immunity from the elimination vote, and Rick gets played in the final vote by Elizabeth, Ada, Frado, and Brendan. I guess they weren't never going to give him up. Now Rick is out, Patrick is in, and next week's episode promises that the players are going to get played. Rick looks great at the reveal, having lost 120 pounds since the show started and paying it forward to his family. Maybe it is better to be at home? But then I wouldn't have anything to write about. :)
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!
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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