The week of face offs, both in and out of the weigh in room.   We expect the battles between the individual contestants and their teams, even the battles between players and trainers to some extent.  But this week, Jillian’s tried-and-true technique of forcing players to confront their inner demons may have had adverse effects at the weigh in.

BLACK SENDS DINA HOME

Rudy is sad to learn Dina’s fate, but the rest of the Blue Team knows it was the obvious choice.   As Liz notes it wasn’t difficult.  Black knew the outcome when they left the weigh in.  Danny had immunity and strong ties have developed among Amanda, Abby and Daniel.   The real test:  if Danny wins immunity this week.  Then Liz hopes to see tears!

POP CHALLENGE

New day and a sudden realization – we’re halfway through this competition!  Alison meets the group and reminds them that Rudy is only 13 lbs from losing 100 lbs.  Will he beat the record set by Dane last season in week 8?

She also announces face off week is officially underway.   “Bring it,” says Shay remembering how Season 7’s Kristin had a picture of Filipe on her treadmill.    The winner of the Pop Challenge will choose the face-to-face matchups.   Two discs are strung overhead on opposite sides of a limbo-type pole.  Players have to touch one disc, then duck under the pole to touch the other disc.  First team to touch 500 times wins.  The rules – only one player competes at a time for each team and the players can only take one turn.

The tall players are at a clear disadvantage.  Allen and Rudy would be better off jumping the middle pole instead of weaving underneath.   Abby, in her first official pop challenge, does the first leg for Black while Tracey starts for Blue.  Abby has to swap out after only 20 touches, aggravating her injuries.  Shay goes in and gets over 100, leaving Tracey in her wake.  But as soon as Allen swaps in for Tracey, Blue starts cranking.  Black team’s best chances are Amanda and Daniel, who narrow Blue’s lead to under 5.   Ultimately, Rebecca wins it for Blue when she passes the 490 mark and never looks back.

Power!  And Rebecca is LOVING it.  The Blue Team realizes that they only need to win 3 of 5 matchups at the weigh in.  They choose carefully:

• Rebecca v. Amanda
• Tracey v. Abby
• Allen v. Danny
• Rudy v. Shay
• Liz v. Daniel

Blue plays it strategically.  Only surprising pairing:  former partners Rebecca and Amanda.  They are famous for their Pink Shirt happy dance.  How could it go so wrong?  Apparently, both are competitive…and both are jealous.   Black team takes it in stride, especially Shay who knows she’s at a disadvantage against “lumberjack” Rudy.  But she’s got courage and heart, “and that can get your further than your head and the numbers.”

It’s on, baby!  DING!

TRAINER TIP

Jillian says that swimming is a great addition to any cardio routine.  Mix up laps with intervals of treading water or pushups on the side edge of the pool.

WORKOUTS BEGIN

Bob’s taking Jillian’s advice on swimming.  He’s got the entire Blue Team in the pool, splishing and splashing.  As Rudy says, it’s sink or swim, literally.

Meanwhile, Black’s also getting wet, only they’re dripping with Jillian-induced sweat in the gym.   Amanda has a complete meltdown on the treadmill as Jillian tries to break her out of her comfort zone.  Rather than manage her stress in a safe controlled evironment, Amanda begins whining and ends up in tears, unwilling or unable to complete her routine.  An exasperated Jillian questions why these contestants are so difficult.

CHALLENGE

It’s baseball!  Black and Blue march into the field wearing baseball jerseys.  Danny is ecstatic to be wearing number 73, as it evokes championships he’s won as a former athlete.  The group is startled to confront life-size blowup pictures of themselves 7 weeks earlier.  Talk about morphing into different people!

The Jumbotron begins to flicker as Alison announces a surprise message from a mystery guest.  Both teams are happy to see NY Yankees star Derek Jeter (pains me to type that as a Red Sox fan.  And Kevin Youklis would have done it live.  Just sayin!).  He cheers them on by name and actually chides the Black Team for not winning a challenge.  Nothing like being called out by a baseball star on national television, says Abby.  The important takeaway from Jeter – you have to work as a team in order to win.

The rules:  In order to eliminate the opposing team’s players, each team collects and throws balls at the pictures of the players they want to “bench” for the game.  It takes 316 balls (Jeter’s batting average) to eliminate a player.  The team who eliminates the other team first wins.  The prize:  Curtis Stone whipping up lunch.  Awww!  PLUS, a 2 lbs advantage at the weigh in.   Nice.

Abby has to sit out due to injuries and Blue selects Tracey to even up the teams.   The strategy is clear:  take out the strongest player first!  Black gangs up on Allen, while Blue opts to strike randomly.  We discover Danny’s got tremendous aim, a human pitching machine.   And Blue begins trash talking!   Shay blocks it all out with a determined strut.    It comes down to Liz against Danny and Shay.  After more than 90 minutes, Danny sinks the 316th ball in Liz’s column to get Black Team’s first win!

Curtis prepares a backyard BBQ for the Black Team – Mediterrean Burgers featuring lean Jennie-O turkey breast.  He combines thyme, garlic, cherry tomatoes, onion and red wine vinegar with the ground turkey and replaces the bun with a portabello mushroom cap.   Throw the burgers onto the grill or sandwich press for a delicious 244 calories.

COOKING TIP

Curtis favors stocks and broth to enhance flavor, but points out that most are high in sodium.  A quick homemade version of vegetable broth:  boil onion, celery and carrots for 30 minutes, scoop out the veggies and you’ve got stock.

WORKOUTS CONTINUE

And Jillian continues to make her contestants fold like card players.   She asks Abby:  what’s it like to lose everything you love?  A heart-stopping question.   It’s no secret that Jillian’s utilizes many therapeutic techniques with her contestants, techniques that she no doubt picked up from her mother, a licensed therapist.   Jillian’s very effective at forcing players to confront their issues in a safe zone.  It’s always tough to watch, but this is the only time in BL history when I wondered if she had gone over the line.  As Abby recounts how she lost her husband and children, she tells Jillian that being at the ranch is the hardest thing she’s ever done.  But she’s strong and getting stronger.  Jillian admits that she could not have handled it herself if she’d been in that situation.  She tells Abby that she’s made a choice to survive, to continue to love and it’s working.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

The new Biggest Loser Interactive Fitness game!  If it’s half as good as the commercial…loved seeing Bob break into that couple’s house.   Is that the same one Ali Vincent plugged in earlier episodes?

PRODUCT PLACEMENT

Amanda changes the Brita filter in the kitchen and has an epiphany!  She admits to Jillian that she hated being the fat girl and now she hates feeling like a failure.  She apologizes to Jillian, who responds by telling her not to be afraid!  It’s learning from your mistakes.  It’s how you grow.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Bob presides over an amazing feat – Allen jumping 3 feet into the air at 270 lbs and landing on a box.  And he made it look EASY!  Mind over matter.  If only Dina had watched that!

Shay and Jillian have a heart-to-heart.  Shay says the stupid ladder, as painful as it is, mirrors the pain of her life.  She chose food before.  Now she’s choosing something else.   Jillian asks, have you figured out how not to die?  She takes Shay off the treadmill and puts her on the floor with a bar on her chest.   She truly breaks her down, forcing the bar into Shay’s chest.   Jillian tells her to listen:  it wasn’t your fault.  You were a child.  You couldn’t save your mom.  Be angry.  But deal with it.

Jillian succeeds in her mission to break down the Black Team’s emotional barriers.  Is it enough to supercharge their weight loss for the week?

WEIGH-IN

Black decides to give entire 2 lbs to Amanda.   Did it pay off?

• Rebecca 9 Amanda 4 (6 with advantage) 
• Tracey 5 Abby 3
• Allen 8 Danny 12
• Liz 7 Daniel 5 (nice upset for Granny!)
• Rudy 14 Shay 9

Nope.  And Jillian is dismayed by Amanda and Daniel’s numbers.  She’s not getting though to them.  Or maybe it’s too much emotion.   Either way, Liz gets her wish.  Danny has immunity and the Black Team will be crying over a tough decision.   Great individual week for Danny – double digits!   Shay had a solid week too, but up against Rudy, not enough.    In fact, Rudy sets a new Biggest Loser record losing 101 lbs in 7 weeks!  Classy that Dane came back to witness it, even though he was doing a triathlon the next day – he looked fantastic!

ELIMINATION

Devastating!  Abby makes the case – for the team to send her home!  She knows who she is.  Her journey isn’t like the others.  This perturbed me, as I think Daniel should have fallen on the sword here.   But Abby has asked them all prior to this night – if I ask you to send me home, abide by my request.

They go to meet Alison.  Abby selects Amanda, because she thought she’d be the one player not to get a vote, she doesn’t want to vote for Daniel and she can’t vote for herself.  Shay is sobbing as she tells Abby she’s the mother she never had and reveals Abby’s name on the placard.  Amanda also picks Abby.  Danny has second thoughts, he votes his conscience (another reason he’s my guy this season) and chooses Daniel.  The final vote is Daniel’s and he does as Abby asked – he sends her home.  Alison says they’ll see her at the finale and Abby hugs Shay, saying she better win!

WRAP-UP

Personally crushed by this outcome.  But Abby is okay with it.  She has proven to herself that she’s where she wants to be.  It’s working.  She started on the ranch after the lowest point in her life.  Abby doesn’t know what the next chapter is, but she’s ready to fly again.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Abby reveals that she started dreaming since the ranch.  She’s discovered her mission:  to help others who are hurting change their lives.

NEXT WEEK

The Biggest Loser show travels to the nation’s capital!  Dining in the White House kitchen and maybe a Last Chance Workout on the National Mall?  Tracey wonders whether some of her choices will come back to bite her.  I hope so – with very big teeth!