Are the Season 8 contestants heavy because they refuse to make themselves a priority in their own lives? Early on in this episode, the trainers point out that every player deserves to be on campus, that they all need to be there…but every player has to fight to stay. The players are certainly giving it their all in the gym, but many seem incapable of standing up for themselves when it comes to team decisions and eliminations. Only one player seems actively “in it to win it” on the game play level – Tracey.
And judging by the Tweets during the live show, she’s shaping up to the be the most reviled player in Biggest Loser history. I always thought it would take a lot of effort to surpass Vicky Vilcan (Season 6) in that regard, but Tracey is pulling it off! Had an interesting Twitter conversation with DonnaInHouston Tuesday about the Tracey vs. Vicky as villian. Tracey has pretty much put it all out on the table, for both the players and to camera for viewers. Her intentions are clear. Donna thought Vicky’s game play was very obvious too, although I don’t remember Vicky tipping off the other players so early on in the season. Thoughts?
WEEK 4
The week begins with a chat between the Orange and Purple Teams about the previous week. Shay tells Tracey that she didn’t appreciate her going back on her word and she felt betrayed by Tracey’s actions. While she wants to love Tracey, Shay isn’t getting respect or even honesty, making it impossible to trust the Purple Team. Tracey insists that she was being “straight up” and that she chose Shay at the weigh-in because she thought Shay had worked so hard in the gym. The four of them know the truth. It’s hard to see Mo sitting there, defending Tracey again. Jillian’s words at the last weigh in have fallen on deaf ears.
Bob and Jillian meet up with the contestants the next morning and discover that Sean and Antoine have sacrificed themselves in order to keep Shay on campus. While it’s clear they appreciate the generosity of the Red Team, they remind the group that everyone needs to be on campus. No more favors for each other. Each individual has to fight to stay.
The gym workouts begin. Jillian is especially focused on getting Julio to confront his issues. He insists he’s happy. Jillian is equally insistent that 407 lbs are screaming “not happy!” Abby’s workouts are in the pool again this week due to her stress fractures. Tracey meets with Dr. H, who tells her that her muscles are still stressed. Her CPK enzymes are unusually high and if they climb any higher, she risks organ damage. The prescription: no exercise for the entire week. Tracey is very upset by this news, anticipating the difficulty of losing pounds by relying strictly on her diet. I’m not sure I get why she’s fretting, since she was able to do it the previous week with a pretty impressive 11 lbs loss. Mo will have to pick up the slack in the gym to keep Purple Team in play.
POP QUIZ
As the players meet Alison in the kitchen, they are suprised to see the cabinets, pantry and fridge locked down tight. Alison tells them that they won’t have access to the kitchen for the entire week. Tracey instantly becomes Trazey, with panic flooding her face. Instead, the players must order all of their food from take-out menus. Reminding them that they’ll have to make food choices in the real world, Alison announces a pop quiz. The players have to select the lowest calorie entree from three dinner plates. Winner gets a fully stocked kitchen for an entire year!!! Each plate features various portion sizes of chicken, plus varying assortments of vegetables, grains, desserts and beverages. The teams are divided between Plate A and C, with most opting for Plate A. Pink, Brown and Orange correctly choose Plate A and in order to win the prize, then have to guess the plate’s calorie count. The plate is 445 calories and Pink comes the closest without going over, guessing 385. Pink is elated, doing a sit down version of their happy weigh in dance. Consolation prizes for everyone though – copies of the recently released Biggest Loser Simple Swaps
TRAINER TIP
Jillian suggests a guilt-free mashed potatoes recipe, swapping out potassium-rich, vitamin C filled cauliflower for the potatoes. She’s keeping with the simple swap theme, but we’ve heard this tip before. How about roasting the cauliflower (or potatoes) with a spritz of olive oil, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and minced garlic? Yummy!
OFF CAMPUS
The players really struggle while ordering their takeout meals. They make painstaking selections only to discover their food isn’t quite the way they ordered. Are they eating more calories than they thought? But the process does get them talking about at-home food strategies that will help them stay on track.
Bob and Jillian decide to take the players out for dinner so that they coach them on ordering the healthiest restaurant options. The fare? Mexican! The restaurant has plenty of high calorie options, fried and loaded with cheese. And did anyone bring The Biggest Loser Calorie Counter
FOOD TIP
Bob says that you can eat out with a little planning. Look at the menu online before you go. Pick grilled, steamed, baked, broiled or poached. Sauces on the side, if at all and don’t be afraid to send it back!
CHALLENGE
Another water challenge! Do the producers realize how much the contestants dread the aquatic events? I guess they do, since they keep the water and height challenges in constant rotation. The players have to grab a handlebar on a platform. The platform will gradually shift until it ends up vertical above the water. Last contestant hanging on wins immunity. Alison, queen of understatement, calls it a tough challenge. These contestants are carrying hundreds of extra pounds. I’ve got 10 lbs to go and I know I could never do it, that’s for sure. First, I prefer to be in the water, not out of it, so I would immediately let go. Plus, I know one hand would start itching, I’d loosen my grip and then BLAM! My feet would succumb to the gravitational pull in about two second flat. So in my imaginary BL game, I’d make sure the other Alison, sassy workout girl from Foster Fitness, was on my team. Because she could definitely do it!!!
Daniel is focused on this challenge. He was eliminated in week 4 last time and winning immunity is the best way to ensure another week on campus. Abby and Tracey both sit out due to injury. The platform moves about 45 degrees and Liz is the first one to let go. She’s followed in rapid succession by Danny. Amanda’s next with Rudy close behind her. Pink is eliminated as Rebecca loses her grip. The platform continues to rotate, claiming Dina. Orange has two in the final four as Daniel and Shay hang on, joined by Allen and Julio. Shay’s next to fall into the water, amazing considering she is the heaviest player. Julio can’t hang on any longer, leaving Daniel and Allen. Battle of wills! I thought Allen would pull it out, but he drops – Daniel wins! He and Shay are on to week 5.
LAST CHANCE WORKOUT
It’s all business at the Last Chance Workout. Bob orders Julio to get on the treadmill while Jillian pounces on Rudy. Given that the team’s been eating takeout all week, Bob and Jillian proceed to “beat out some of the crappy food.” Jillian puts Rudy in his place when he complains, telling him that she doesn’t give a crap and he has to “either drop dead or make it happen.” Made me laugh, especially when Rudy decides to push through. He’s not fooling Jillian one bit! She knows he’s a machine, one of the “big ole boys,” like former college football players Roger Shultz and Trent Patterson from Season 5.
As Julio points out, it’s a mind game at this point. Everyone’s asking themselves if they’ve done enough. Liz is worrying that she might have gained weight. Tracey says she desperately wants to be in the gym. Coach Mo is working like a maniac in the gym and ends up straining his back. He immediately panics, thinking he’s done. Bob tells him to stop freaking out, that he’s making it worse. After relaxing outside for a while, Coach Mo returns to the gym.
WEIGH-IN
As the weigh-in begins, Alison says that results aren’t just about the weight lost but how much knowledge the players have gained. The players aren’t so sure. Danny thinks it’s a crap shot and Liz agrees, “One word…it sucks!”
Orange Team has immunity, so they step on the scale first. Jillian and Bob immediately suspect game play, as Daniel doesn’t lose a pound!
Results are:
- Daniel: 0 lbs, Shay: 5 lbs
- Allen: 7 lbs, Abby: 3 lbs
- Rudy: 11 lbs, Dina: 3 lbs
- Danny: 3 lbs, Liz: 8 lbs
- Tracey: 4 lbs, Coach Mo: 8 lbs
- Julio: 4 lbs
- Amanda: 5 lbs, Rebecca: 4 lbs
This week could have been a disaster and yet everyone except Daniel lost weight! Rudy peeled off double digits, Coach Mo and Liz both shed 8 lbs and we got a sincerely happy dance from the Pink Team. For all her crocodile tears, Tracey still managed 4 lbs. But the standard is percentage of weight loss – Brown Team and Julio are below the yellow line, heading for elimination.
Deliberations start and the trainers words take me back full circle. You have to fight to stay on the ranch. No one needs to throw a punch, but the contestants have to at least mount a strong defense. Liz, Danny and Julio have formed a sincere friendship. They like each other. Everyone likes them. It really is the worst-case scenario for these three. Liz, Danny and Julio refuse to throw anyone under the bus. I admire that. But it infuriates me that they won’t make the case for themselves and why they need to stay.
My aggravation only gets worse. The Purple Team is at odds because Coach Mo has cut a deal with Julio not to vote him off and Tracey has the same arrangement with Liz. Everything else being even, Coach Mo should win out on this one. As amyshy reminded us on the live Twitter stream, he’s teamed up with a partner who has made every single decision so far, including selling out Bob and Jillian for a lousy two lbs!
The teams head to the elimination room. Orange chooses Julio, Blue picks Liz and Danny, Green picks Julio and Purple casts the third vote for Julio, sending him home. So Tracey wins out again. Coach Mo better start putting his foot down – and I mean in a big old STOMP. He has a big opportunity next week to start playing the game for himself! Until then amyshy and I are coming clean. We’re holding a serious grudge. Tracey. Off. NOW!!!
HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW
Leaving the ranch, Julio said he was a whole different guy, no longer afraid. And boy, does he look fearless!
NEXT WEEK
It’s on baby! Blue vs. Black and a golden ticket winner gets to pick the trainer and the teams. Is this Mo’s opportunity to jump off the Tracey Crazy train?