WEEK 9

All about the food this week!  Nutrition is an integral part of the weight loss equation and it’s never been as prominently featured on the show as the exercise segments.  We fans are a curious bunch,  judging by the live Twitter Q&A with BL nutritionist Cheryl Forberg, RD.  Tell us, Biggest Loser:  What do the contestants eat, how much and when?

• High:  TIE!  Blue Team wins the Pop Challenge, gets pampered at the Four Seasons while Black Team cleans the kitchen and the gym.   Yick.  Then Top Chef, Biggest Loser-style!  Curtis Stone judges the contestants as they prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert with only six ingredients.  5 lbs advantage at the weigh in for winning Black Team.
• Low:  Old vs. young as Sherry and Drea end up below the yellow line.
• Who goes home:  Sherry

WEEK 10

Alison makes a surprise announcement immediately after Sherry’s elimination.  The contestants are going home for the entire week!   An emotional tug-of-war:  joy at reuniting with family, concern about getting off track without the trainers.   Each contestant receives a stationary bike, cupcakes and a DVD.  This week’s challenge is to ride 26.2 miles to win $10,000.   Basic enough…cycle fast, win the race, cash the check!  Except that each player can eat a cupcake to add a 5 minute penalty to another contestant’s time.   Sam finishes first, but also has the most cupcakes against him.  He bumps down to near last place.  Stephanie, Drea, Sunshine and Daris all have cupcake penalties too.  Koli ends up with the prize!

• High:  Despite the stress of being at home and out of the routine, everyone loses weight!  Sam peels off an impressive 14 lbs.
• Low:  Blue Team’s still a little cocky.  The bravado is working against them.
• Who goes home:  Lance gets the boot!  And you know what – or should I say, who – that means….

WEEK 11

Goodbye teams, hello individuals!  And a howdy to all the previously eliminated contestants (except Migdalia whose husband is serving overseas)!  They return to compete against each other for a chance to rejoin the game.   Everyone weighs in but the remaining players at the ranch will choose the one who returns.   The remaining players choose Victoria.   Alison announces a step Challenge and another surprise twist – the first player to hit 1,000 steps will also return to the ranch.   You can guess how this turns out!  Clues:  Red, wife, Texas.

• High:  Victoria!  Finally, the girl gets a chance to spend some time on campus with immunity for her first week.
• Low:  TIE!  Melissa’s back.   And she gets immunity too!  Curses.  The lovebirds, Sam and Stephanie, end up below the yellow line.  Cupid’s pissed.
• Who goes home:  Stephanie, who is the victim of some surprisingly tart game play from Koli.  That’s not going to go over well with Sam when he finds out!

WEEK 12

An interesting immunity challenge – first player to lose 2% of their body weight for the week gets a pass at the weekly weigh-in.  Once the player thinks he or she has lost the 2%, that player can push a special siren button.   Melissa spends quite a bit of time telling us that she’s focused on game play.  Funny, I must have missed that.   She thinks she’ll push the button first, but it’s Victoria who hits it…prematurely.  She loses 3 lbs, but it’s not the 6 lbs she needed for the 2%.   Sam is next to buzz and he easily surpasses 2%, losing 10 lbs.  He’s relieved that he won’t end up below the yellow line again this week.   Sunshine scores a week at the Biggest Loser ranch during a pool challenge.  Melissa ends up the loser, with a 1 lbs disadvantage after the rest of the players refuse to help her finish.  Karma, baby.  Karma!

• High:  The players take a silent jab at Melissa, ensuring she finishes last in the vacation challenge.
• Low:  After falling below the yellow line with Drea, Melissa actually argues that she’s the easiest person in the house to beat, so it’s in the rest of the players best interest to keep her on campus.
• Who Goes Home:  Melissa – by a unanimous vote.  Nothing too subtle about that roundhouse.  Oh yeah, baby!

WEEK 13

The money episode!  Or as I like to call it (based on the challenges), “The Price is Right” episode.  Suze Orman returns with Season 8 winner Danny Cahill to discuss the financial burdens of being overweight.  She explains that she picked Danny to win last year, based on his FICO score and how he deals with money.  This year’s pick:  Sunshine.  Side note:  She actually picked Koli first…until she found out he was lax about counting his calories.  A big no-no for Suze!  The Pop Challenge requires each player to hold a tray of quarters on a tray.  Person with the most money for the longest time wins.  Each quarter = $10.00  Michael cleans up with 100 quarters – $1,000 for 45 minutes.   The big challenge involves 140 keys at the top of a soon-to-be-muddy hill.  Two keys will start two brand new cars at the bottom of the hill!  Drea scoops up one, O’Neal the other.

• High:  O’Neal gives the car to Sunshine!  Love that man.
• Low:  Suze’s predictions based on the players FICO score.  By her rationale, none of the contestants would even be on the ranch, because they would be THAT diligent about maintaining a healthy weight.
• Who goes home:  Drea.  She gets to drive herself to spin class in style!

WEEK 14

Food temptation:  86 the kitchen!  Alison tells the group that the kitchen is closed for the day.   The players have to select all their meals from a room filled with a wide array of healthy and unhealthy eats.  The person who eats the most calories will cast the sole vote at elimination.   Most do not eat, reasoning that one day of game play isn’t worth it.  O’Neal eats three bunless burgers, Victoria eats one chicken wing, Ashley splurges on what she thinks is a high calorie taquito (turns out to be less than 150 calories) and Koli goes all out, stuffing himself with over 4000 calories.  Koli easily scoops up the win.  The weekly challenge involves building a structure with 175 building blocks.   Contestants can arrange them in any way – the goal is to reach a banner above each player.  A 1 lbs. advantage at the weigh in is at stake.  Daris masters the blocks and grabs his flag.  O’Neal takes a tumble and ends up not finishing, earning a 1 lbs. disadvantage by default.

• High:  Game play is futile!  Seriously think the players are too afraid of Jillian and Bob’s wrath to even bother eating the excess calories.
• Low:  TIE!  Poor O’Neal.  Not only does he injure himself during the challenge, but he finds out later than his older brother has passed away from cancer.  And Koli…he’s becoming a little less convival and a lot more opportunistic.   The new attitude doesn’t do him any favors.  His comments at elimination seemed unnecessarily harsh.
• Who goes home:  Victoria.  Another short stint at the ranch comes to an end.  But we get to see mom Cherita – both are looking great!

WEEK 15

Don’t mess with Texas!  The players head to Texas, where they recruit both people and cattle.   Yes, that’s right…cattle!  They visit radio stations to announce a community Biggest Loser 5K – inspiring hundreds of people to come out and get fit.   The physical changes in each player become more obvious each week; this week, the emotional changes are visible too.  As they run, the players share their weight struggles and what they’ve learned on the ranch.   Each participant finishes the race, and as a bonus, we get to see a few progress updates.   The immunity challenge involves corralling calves into pens labeled with the players’ names.  Whoever herds the most calves into his or her pen wins immunity.  Koli and Sam team up to direct the most calves to Koli’s pen.  Michael, Daris and Ashley form their own partnership in an effort to keep themselves on the ranch.   Sunshine and O’Neal spend most of the week at home, attending O’Neal’s brother’s funeral.   The stress is ultimately too much – both find themselves below the yellow line.

• High:  So good to see Season 8’s Abby Rike!  She and Jillian hit the road, visiting a local high school to discuss health and fitness.
• Low:  O’Neal throwing himself under the bus for Sunshine.  At this point, he needs it more.
• Who goes home:  O’Neal.  Again, tell me why Kleenex isn’t a show sponsor?  Bawling again at elimination.

WEEK 16

Makeover time – the unofficial third prize for the Biggest Loser contestants!  Alison doles out $1000 to each player for an L.A. shopping spree, followed by a hair appointment with celebrity stylist Jonathan Antin.   After completing the makeovers and watching videos of themselves only five months before, the six pose before the mirrors and receive surprise visits from family.   Ashanti delivers one more surprise – a private concert for the entire group.  This week’s challenge involves staying on a Jacob’s Ladder suspended above water.  First person to fall off gets a one pound penalty at the weigh in; last one hanging gets a one pound advantage.  Ashley is the first to splash earning the penalty.  After a hard fought 3-way battle between Koli, Sam and Daris, Koli emerges victorious!  Michael and Sam fall below the yellow line and there’s a tie vote at elimination!

• High:  Ashley loses 10 lbs and sets the women’s record for the most weight lost on campus…in spite of her last place Challenge disadvantage!
• Low:  Daris is battling his demons.  Bob has to give him a pep talk about not giving up, whether in the Challenge, the Last Chance Workout…or at home.
• Who goes home:  Sam, since he had the lowest percentage weight lost.

WEEK 17

Time to determine the Final Four.  Michael knows that once again, sheer luck pulled him through the last week’s elimination.  Koli and Sunshine worry about not being able to get the third vote for Michael, viewing him as a bigger threat than Sam.  No sense fretting about faulty strategy this week though.  Alison announces it’s the last week on campus and elimination will be automatic based on weight loss percentage.   Season 7 winner Helen Phillips and Season 3 winner Erik Chopin visit to share advice on keeping the weight off permanently.  They’ve each had very different results.  Helen’s kept off her entire 140 lbs, while Erik regained most of the weight before losing another 70 lbs.   The week’s Challenge is a fan-favorite repeat – the players run over 16 hills with weighted vests that represent the weight they’ve lost over the season.   At each hill, the contestants drop the same amount of weight they lost that particular week.  The winner chooses the prize:  $10,000 OR a 1 lbs advantage at the weigh-in.  Daris finishes first and trades the cash for the weight advantage.   The Last Chance Workout is brutal.   The contestants take the beatdown, fighting for one of the Final Four slots.

• High:  Triple TIE!  Daris gets his groove back after a shaky week, picking up not only the Challenge prize, but a bonus prize for highest % lost – an at-home visit from chef Curtis Stone.  Amazing to see Helen embracing her new life with strength and determination – we don’t see enough of her on the Biggest Loser circuit and I hope that changes.  Michael sets the record for the most weight lost on campus – 204 lbs!
• Low:  Michael has a complete meltdown at the gym, a la The Incredible Hulk.  Good television, but made me wonder how he’ll do at home.
• Who goes home:  Sunshine

WEEK 18

Ashley, Daris, Koli and Michael head home for 30 days.   They each repeat the public weigh-in, revealing their transformations.  Family and friends are overjoyed by their success!   The at-home struggles emerge quickly though.  Alison contacts each player to announce that when they return to the ranch for their final weigh-in, they’ll also have to run a marathon.   Curtis Stone visits Daris at home to prepare a special feast for Daris, Mama Cheryl and the rest of the family.  Everyone has a great time, but Daris is starting to get nervous again.  The result:  he loses grip on his eating and ends up over training, earning a knee injury in the process.  Jillian checks in on him and Ashley too to lend some last minute trainer support.  Ashley struggles with her social life, concerned she can’t focus on weight loss at home.  She and Michael are dreading the 26.2 miles, so they decide to run it together.  Michael worries the scale’s ticking up.  Bob has a breakthrough moment with Mike’s sister when he visits Michael and mother Maria.  But when Bob tries to visit Koli at home, he discovers that Koli is in Las Vegas training in mixed-martial arts.  Bob is pretty mad, stating that Koli will have to deal with his real home life at some point…or he won’t be able to maintain his weight loss.  The contestants return to the ranch and go all out for the marathon, inspired along the way by past contestants.  Ashley and Michael secure their spots at the finale, losing 18 and 23 lbs respectively at home.  Koli loses 13 lbs and Daris gains 2 lbs.  Koli and Daris plead their case to America for the third spot.

• High:  Daris wins the marathon, finishing in 4 hours 2 minutes.  He shatters Tara Costa’s previous record of 4 hours 55 minutes.
• Low:  Koli’s moved from confident to cocky – and it doesn’t suit him.
• Who gets the 3rd finale spot:  ????  Guessing America chooses Daris over Koli.
• What to expect at the finale:  Progress weigh-ins from Season 8 Shay Sorrells and Season 3 Winner Erik Chopin.  At-home prize guess – Stephanie or Sunshine.  $250K winner – Team Daris all the way!

Good luck to Ashley, Daris, Michael and Koli, and the entire cast of Season 9!  The Biggest Loser finale airs May 25, 8:00 pm EST.

Anyone who struggles with weight loss knows how hard it is to manage food and fitness at home.  The contestants take a practice run this week as they work full-time off campus.  Since this is someone’s last week on the ranch…no time like the present!   Especially with Blue’s resolve to crush Black during this week’s weigh in.

CHALLENGE

Alison announces that the players will be working the entire week as volunteers for Feeding America.   The commute and actual job hours will leave little time for workouts or meal prep.  That’s the reason they’ll be doing this week’s Challenge at the start of the week.

Each team will have to pull a 33,000 lbs semi tractor trailer down a runway strip, collecting puzzle pieces along the way.   At the end of the strip, they’ll assemble the pieces to reveal this week’s prize – free groceries for a year!  Hey, I’m one of the world’s biggest “B.J. and the Bear” fans.  But I always wanted to drive the truck with Bear along for the ride, not pull the darn thing.  Poor O’Neal.  He’s barely recovered from the stress of not knowing if Sunshine made it through elimination.   Now he’s got to pull an 18 wheeler too?!

Blue decides to have O’Neal run alongside the truck, collecting the pieces while Sherry does the same for Black.   The sheer size and strength of the Blue Team gets their truck off the starting line quickly.  Black can’t even move theirs!  Blue pulls the truck almost three lengths ahead of Black before Blue’s cab leaves the line.  O’Neal momentarily loses steam, causing Black to question whether they put him in the right spot; Sunshine coaxes him to regain focus.  Blue’s semi reaches the finish, although Sherry really scrambles making the most of Black’s opportunity.   Blue is first to assemble the pieces, thrilled to collect the free year groceries prize!

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Black and Blue inform the trainers of their work schedule.  Jillian and Bob aren’t thrilled with the time constraints but devise their workout plans.  After some early gym time, the players head over to the Feeding America food bank.   Responsibilities include driving the forklift, making thank you calls to donors, checking inventory and stocking the distribution trucks.  They meet Steve, one of the Food Bank employees.  He’s got a family history of obesity and lost his dad at a young age.  He’s worried that he’s going down that same path.   Blue and Black share their stories with Steve, reminding all of us where they were only 2 and 1/2 months ago.   Although they enjoy the work, the players have a few glitches.  Sam forgets to bring his lunch…good thing Subway’s right around the corner!  Barely a chance to fit in a Last Chance Workout before lights out at the gym.

TRAINER TIP

Jillian explains that mixing strength training with cardio is key to weight loss.  The more muscle mass, the more calories you’ll burn each day.

WEIGH IN

Of all the weeks not to have immunity!  But that’s exactly what the contestants face when they get on the scale.   Only one person is safe on the losing team…the one with the highest percentage of weight loss.  Will Blue make good on its threat to squash Black?

• O’Neal – 5 lbs
• Sunshine – 7 lbs
• Michael – 9 lbs (his hair this week!  Need a Richard Simmons picture with his white headband, so I can do a “Separated at Birth”)
• Koli – 10 lbs
• Daris – 9 lbs
  
• Lance – 10 lbs
  

Blue’s off to a good start, with four players at or hovering around 10 lbs.  Lance finally got out of the 300s!   Total loss is 50 lbs, 2.71 %.  Did Black peel off the 39 lbs needed to win the weigh in?

• Andrea – 7 lbs
• Ashley – 8 lbs
• Cheryl – 5 lbs
• Sherry – 5 lbs
• Stephanie – 3 lbs
• Sam – 4 lbs

Ashley has a great number, following Lance’s lead into the 200s!  But it’s not enough to keep Black safe.  Sherry has immunity with the highest percentage of weight loss.  Sam’s at the other end of the spectrum.

ELIMINATION

The Black team takes a different approach in deciding which player to vote off.  It’s obvious that keeping Sam will help the team since he has a lot more to lose…and equally obvious that Stephanie won’t be voting for him.   (Awwww! Young love!)  The question becomes:  who is closest to their goal weight?   Since Sherry’s immune, Cheryl has the least amount to lose.  Sam chooses Mama Cheryl.  She votes for Stephanie, Sherry picks Sam saying he can do it at home.  Tears from Ashley as the remaining votes are cast for Cheryl.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Dealing with injuries, Cheryl didn’t have a great last week at the ranch.  But once home, she cleans out her closet, retains her warrior spirit by leading a fitness group and now weighs 164 lbs!  Next on the to-do list:  tackle a 5K and hit her finale goal weight of 135 lbs.

NEXT WEEK

Jillian doesn’t like to lose.  In fact, she really, REALLY hates it.  Look for some serious butt-kicking in the gym!

Michael’s personality is starting to grate on me.  I started feeling ambivalent about him during the last two episodes, but this one put me over the edge.   Is it the humor?  I used to love his fun expressions, especially the “I can see my abs” after the first weigh in.  The in-your-face jumping around after each win?  Not so much.  Looking out for yourself is much, much different then trying to SCREW the rest of the players.  Isn’t there a happy medium somewhere?

CLIFFHANGER:  LAST WEEK’S ELIMINATION

When we last left our Dynamic Duo, Cheryl and Darrell were balancing the faux Olympic torches on their heads.  Cheryl pulled a Tara.  Supreme confidence and focus.  After more than 10 minutes, Darrell’s torch tumbled, sending him home immediately.

HOW THE ELMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Broke my heart to see Drea so sad about her dad’s departure.  But when you meet Darrell’s wife, it’s clear that he has the support team at home to continue dropping the weight.

TEMPTATION CHALLENGE

Cookies!  And lots of ‘em, in addition to other calorie-laden treats!  It’s the time we deliciously anticipate all season:  Blue vs. Black.  Before announcing the actual challenge, Alison explains the prize – the winner will choose the teams AND the person who gets immunity this week.    Alison asks who will participate.  Some players don’t want the power because they know it will cause drama in the house.  Others, put off by the sheer volume and smell of the cookies, don’t see the wisdom in potentially eating thousands of calories.  Drea and Michael are the only two who decide to play.  The game is a big old Concentration board.  They’ll pick two boxes at a time, hoping to match the items behind the cards.  No match = picking player has to eat a cookie.  Match = opponent eats whatever’s inside the box.   They’re looking for the Golden Tickets.

Drea’s on an early roll, racking up matches while Michael stacks up the calories.  But as luck would have it, Michael ends up matching the Golden Tickets after eating over 2000 calories!!!  Michael takes the power very seriously, saying it’s the first time he’s put his own well-being ahead of others.  What that really means?  He wants to stay in the game as long as possible.  And boy does he stack the deck!  The smaller women (Cheryl, Stephanie, Drea, Ashley, Sherry) and Sam end up with Jillian on the Black Team; the larger men (Lance, Koli, Daris, Michael) join Miggy and Sunshine with Bob’s Blue Team.  Michael selects O’Neal for immunity and because there’s an uneven number of players, he’ll train alone this week.  After the weigh in, he’ll join the losing team the next week.

The Black Team players are really pissed.  They don’t like the perception that they are the weaker team.  They know Michael is playing the game.  He asked them who they wanted to train with, then did the opposite in most cases.   Stephanie feels betrayed, as seen in this confrontation that didn’t make it to air.  No one’s more angry than Jillian.  She calls Michael’s actions completely unfair and unprecedented, then apologizes, saying it resurrects her inner “fat kid” pain.    But remember:  no one does underdog like Jillian.

TRAINER TIP

Time to get out that Brita!  Bob reminds us that clean water is instrumental in weight loss.  Filter with the Brita pitcher to improve water quality, then put the water in a washable, reusable container to reduce waste.

TEAM CHALLENGE

The teams have to hoist their team banners up the side of a Burbank building.  The prize – letters from home!  With the exception of Sunshine and O’Neal, the players haven’t heard from home in almost two months.  The Black Team gives it their all, working handily as teammates but they are easily outmatched by the pulling strength of the Blue Team.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Bob warns the Blue Team not to take anything for granted.  Yes, they have sheer size on their sides.  However, Bob knows that without complete mental and physical focus, anything can happen at the weigh in.   Meanwhile, Jillian is on edge.  She’s got to get the most out of her team to prevent disaster on the scale.   And a funny thing happens as her team starts working out.  They are completely in sync.  They seem to be channeling their anger at Michael into impressing Jillian with their determination.   It works.  Although she’s beating them up, she’s dishing out the praise after every workout segment.

WEIGH IN

O’Neal has immunity, so he’s the first to weigh in, followed by the Blue and Black Teams.

• O’Neal – 9 lbs
• Michael – 15 lbs
• Sunshine – 7 lbs
• Miggy – 4 lbs
• Koli – 10 lbs
• Lance – 5 lbs
• Daris – 7 lbs

Blue loses 2.7% and 48 lbs.  Black needs more than 39 lbs.   Is it possible for them to pull the upset?

• Andrea – 5 lbs
• Cheryl – 4 lbs
• Sherry – 6 lbs
• Sam – 8 lbs (the power of the black nail polish!)
• Stephanie – 8 lbs
• Ashley – 10 lbs

CELEBRATION!!!  Wow.  Congratulations to the Black Team.  Michael laments “It should have been us.”  Good realization for him, since he’s got the highest percentage of weight loss on the Blue Team, ensuring his own immunity.    When Blue Team gathers to discuss their elimination decision, the obvious choice is Lance or Miggy, simply based on the numbers.  Lance can’t vote for himself and most of the others question whether Miggy’s stress level will hurt or help the team in the long run.  Survey says, “HURT!”  Miggy gets the boot.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Miggy looks refreshed and happy!   The power of meditation.  And an at home visit from your new Biggest Loser family.

NEXT WEEK

The Black Team may have won the weigh in….but they didn’t make any friends on the Blue Team.  Goliath’s out to get them with a vengeance!

Since I’ve been out for a few weeks dealing with a medical issue (no worries, everyone’s on the mend), I’m not quite caught up with my Biggest Loser recaps!  Gail, Paula and Season 2’s Pete Thomas aptly fill the void.

Quick thoughts:

• Delighted to see individual competition.  It’s the whole reason each person is there…for him or herself.
• If you want a trainer, stick with Bob and Jillian.  The Olympians aren’t mean enough!
• Biathlon challenge was my favorite so far this season.  Reminded me of paintball, dodgeball, all the fun games.  Plus, some insight on how the players think strategically.
• What a bizarre elimination cliffhanger!
• Completely bewildered by Melissa.  Was she intimidated by the game?  Or is it a team approach to win both the at-home prize and grand prize?

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

She’s done quite well at home.  Not at all surprised to see her boxing!  But I think Jillian’s initial assessment at the ranch was correct.  Something doesn’t add up here.

NEXT WEEK

Who folded under the faux Olympic torch:  Cheryl or Darrell?   Teams reform…into Blue vs. Black!

Gotta hand it to that crack Biggest Loser editing team.  I was convinced that Michael would be the one carted off by ambulance in the middle of the night.   But no!  Dun da DAH!   What I really loved about this episode though?  Blue Team and Yellow Team showed the rest of the players what class looks like.  Gracious beyond belief!  A welcome break from the Red vs. Green drama.

AFTER ELIMINATION

Miggy suddenly realizes she’s all alone.  Her daughter’s gone.  She cries herself to sleep, only to awaken in a few hours with severe stomach pains.  A producer calls 911 and the ambulance arrives to take Miggy to the hospital.

THE RETURN OF BLUE AND YELLOW

Alison gathers the players and reminds them they’ve been free from the challenges of the outside world for 30 days.  Reality check!  The outside challenges have returned – in the form of the Blue and Yellow Teams who have been training at home for another shot on campus.  Since they never got past the first challenge, Blue and Yellow finally get to participate in a Biggest Loser rite-of-passage:  a Last Chance Workout with the trainers before their weigh in.

Welcome to the show, people!   Jillian smirks with satisfaction as O’Neal pushes the weights across the gym.   Cherita, surprised by intensity, partakes in another Biggest Loser tradition – puking.    The triple crown is at stake – winning team returns to the ranch, gets immunity AND the only vote at elimination.

PRELIMINARY WEIGH IN:  BLUE VS. YELLOW

Proving it can be done at home, the dueling parent-child teams shock the rest of the players.

• Cherita – 24 lbs
• Victoria – 39 lbs (only 6 pounds less than average on-campus player does in 30 days!)
• Sunshine -  25 lbs
• O’Neal – 51 lbs
  

Yellow Team is back!  Given all the sniping between Red and Green this season, it’s refreshing to hear O’Neal and Sunshine praise Cherita and Victoria’s accomplishments.   These two teams were worthy opponents.  Sad that we didn’t get more time to get to know the Blue Team.

IN THE GYM

Yellow Team has the only vote this week and beyond the first day, they’ve never seen the rest of the players in action.  Most of other players know they have to prove themselves.   However, Melissa can’t stop whining.  Bob knows she’s lost confidence in herself, but insists that she push outside of her comfort zone.  He admits that she gained his respect with the previous week’s 11 lbs loss.

Jillian reminds Daris that he can’t afford another week so close to the yellow line.  Focus, Daris.  FOCUS!  But only after Jillian breaks you down and makes you cry.

Bob crams four weeks of nutritional counseling for the Yellow Team in one Jennie O product placement.  Every single calorie counts, both going in and out.

CHALLENGE

Another football challenge!  The show loves them as much as the water challenges.  Each team has a dummy situated between two blocking pads.  One person from each team has to hit the dummy 1000 times, and it’s harder than it looks.  The pads swivel after each hit.   Winning team gets immunity, the losing team gets a 2 lbs penalty.

Red is so concerned with beating Gray, they are completely shocked when Michael ties up with them.  Michael pushes past Melissa and Lance, setting his sights on the Gray Team.  He goes head to head with Sam and manages to eke out a win!  Love that little Rocky moment as he realizes he’s got immunity.   Pink Team can’t keep up with the rest of the players, coming in last and locking in the 2 lbs penalty.

After the challenge, the group learns that Miggy’s back!  Michael’s been missing his mom, so he’s overjoyed to see Miggy.  The stomach pain was appendicitis.  She also had a cyst and another mass removed during surgery.   She is allowed to walk, no other exercise.   And that’s what she does, vowing to walk all the way to Puerto Rico if necessary.   When Dr. H visits Miggy, he can’t believe she walked 13 miles the day after surgery.   Now that Migdalia’s really gone, Miggy realizes that she wants to stay.  Desperately.   The doctor also has some news that might affect that desire though – they pumped loads of sodium into her system during surgery.   What will that mean for her weigh in?

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Stress at the gym!  The players are even telling the trainers to shut up.  Oooh.  No one likes a trash talker at the gym if it’s not Bob or Jillian.  Miggy’s wondering if this week will be her last.  John’s doing cardio sprints in the gym, working his butt off.  Jillian works on Ashley, trying to get her to up her intensity.  Ashley’s resistant, but Jillian continues to press, telling Ashley that what she’s been thinking/doing hasn’t worked.  Get on that treadmill!  Ashley admits a lot of regret over watching her dad die of cancer.  Tears start flowing.  Jillian’s work is done here, so she rounds up Drea, Stephanie and Sunshine to join Ashley on the treadmills.  Sunshine is not sure about a five minute jog at 5.5 mph but Stephanie and Andrea count it down with her…HELL YEAH!   Nice energy and attitude coming from these four girls.  Loving them more each week.

Decision time for Yellow.  O’Neal reminds Sunshine that they have to get serious.  If they have to crush the opposition to stay, that’s what they’ll do.   While they’re deciding, producers ask the rest of the contestants to finish the sentence “This weigh in is…”  Unpredictable, scary, the usual!

WEIGH IN

Alison announces that there will be no vote if one of the single team players falls below the yellow line, so say what you want to say before stepping on the scale.  Miggy walked 18 miles 2 days after surgery.  Will it be enough to keep her there, in a week when Yellow and White both have immunity?

• Sunshine – 5 lbs
  
• O’Neal – 5 lbs
  
• Michael – 13 lbs
  
• Ashley – 9 lbs
  
• Sherry – 6 lbs
  
• Melissa – 5 lbs
  
• Lance – 4 lbs
  
• Cheryl – 3 lbs
• Daris – 12 lbs
  
• Stephanie – 5 lbs
  
• Koli – 6 lbs
  
• Sam – 10 lbs
  
• Andrea – 5 lbs
  
• Darrell – 8 lbs
  
• Miggy – 5 lbs
  
• John – 6 lbs
  

We don’t get any insight on who Yellow thinks is a threat, because John doesn’t get the 7 lbs he needs to stay.  6 lbs for John and that sends him home immediately.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

After a disappointing first week at home, John hit his groove!  He discovers he loves doing martial arts.  The results?  You be the judge.

NEXT WEEK

Going for the Gold!  The players head to the U.S Olympics training center in Colorado.  They’ll weigh in as individuals and two players will be eliminated.  Let the games begin!

AFTER THE ELIMINATION

Michael is the first to return to the house after the players send Maria home.  The rest of the players roll in and waste little time in reminding Michael how lucky he is to be there, since he wasted a good portion of the previous week.

POP CHALLENGE

The next day, Alison meets the group and announces the next Pop Challenge.  Immunity is up for grabs, along with three decisions that will affect the entire game.  The players have to run the Presidential Mile, grab a key card from the 100 on the board, and run back to Alison to try the key in the machine.  If it’s a green check, the team gets one point.  If it’s a red x, they have to try again.  First team to get three checks wins.

Stephanie’s working hard to win the challenge, lapping players in her quest to to get the three checks.  But the first player to get a green check is Melissa.  Orange and Pink Teams are nipping at the Red Team’s heels.   The momentum sticks and Red Team is the first to get the three green checks.   In addition to immunity, Melissa and Lance have three envelopes with penalties to distribute to the players of their choice.   They must decide:  game play or try and curry favor?

They opt for game play for two of the three decisions.   John receives the “no gym for a week” envelope.   Works in his favor as his knee injury keeps him in the pool for most of the time.   Red Team gives “no vote at elimination” to Michael, since the players were pretty harsh with him after the previous week’s elimination.   The 2 lbs penalty at the weigh in goes to Green Team.   Miggy and Migdalia are pissed.

CONFRONTATION WITH RED TEAM

Heads are about to explode!  The trainers are not happy when they learn about the results of the day’s Pop Challenge.  Bob notes how crazy it’s been in the house.   Jillian knows Miggy’s at the breaking point.   Time to confront Red Team, and again the trainers opt for the “tag team” approach.

Bob takes Melissa and Lance aside.  He doesn’t make any headway with them.  Melissa is upset that Bob called her a liar on national television.   Lance says he lost a lot of respect for Bob during the last weigh ins.  They insist Melissa is telling the truth.   Bob hesitates, then decides to let Jillian call the Red Team’s bluff.

Jillian asks Lance to come clean about the game play.   Lance refuses and says he’s not going to work with Jillian.  “Okay,” she says.  “Such is life.”    She trots over to tell Bob what happened – in front of everyone.   The teams split off, one of each pair goes to box with Jillian.  First up, Melissa.  She looks Jillian straight in the face and repeats that she’s not involved in game play.   Ridiculous!  Jillian’s only been doing this for 18 years and 8 seasons on the show.   No fooling the one who knows the science.   Jilllian looks straight at the camera and says, “She’s lying!”

Later, Melissa asks Lance to continue to work with Jillian.  He agrees.  She smiles, noting that she gets what she wants.  I hope it’s a good kick in the rear.

CHALLENGE

Hardhats on deck!  Each team has to hoist themselves one hundred feet in the air to the top of a crane.  And the prize is good – phone calls home for the winning team and the three other teams the winners choose.   Koli and Sam are channeling some kind of super human strength.  We hear a few catty remarks about steroids.   Jealous, Red Team?  It’s a photo finish, but the boys hold off Melissa and Lance for the win.  Koli and Sam’s hearts match their size.  They share the phone calls from home with Melissa and Lance (second place), Migdalia and Miggy (family birthday) and John (because he’s without family on campus).

TRAINER TIP

Jillian has a lo-cal treat to curb your sweet tooth.  Microwave an apple in a small bowl of water for 3 minutes.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!

REWARD PHONE CALLS HOME

Gray Team is delighted to talk with family!  It’s the first time that Sam’s Dad has ever said how proud he is of his son.  Koli’s mom tells him she loves him and his aunt promises that she’ll never make fun of either guy for eating organic.

John’s wife tells him that their son is talking!  She puts baby Nicholas on to say hi to Dad.

Lance and Melissa are both excited and sad to speak with their kids.  They really miss them!

Both members of the Green feel like they want to go home.  Miggy speaks to her fiance who’s lost 20 lbs!  Migdalia’s daughter says, “Where are you Mommy?”  Her husband tells her to hang in there.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

It’s plug time!  Fill the Brita and head over to Subway.   Bob coaches the players on how to fill up with lean protein and healthy carbs.   Good thing they replenished their energy reserves.    Last Chance Workout moves out of the gym into the great outdoors!

Bob has hill duty.  The teams hike up the mountain, alternating walking with running intervals.   That hill is steep!  It’s John’s first official Last Chance Workout and he’s glad to be with the group.   Daris is running like a machine!  Just when the players reach the top and think they’re done for the day, Jillian’s waiting for them.  With kettlebells.  Wheelbarrows.  And rocks!   Jillian’s gleeful as she pounds the calories out of the players.  She taunts Koli and Sam as they try to push themselves up the hill in the wheelbarrow.   “It can’t be done,” she says.   The Gray Team proves her wrong.

WEIGH IN

Ali reviews the Red Team’s escapades for the week:  John couldn’t go to the gym, Michael can’t vote at elmination and the Green Team has a 2 lbs disadvantage.  Melissa and Lance stand by their decisions as Green Team fumes over the game play strategy.   With immunity, Red Team kicks off the weigh in.  Jillian is absolutely sure that “peer pressure” will cure Melissa’s amazing struggle to lose weight on campus.   And what have we learned thus far?  Don’t.  Doubt.  Miss Jill!

• Melissa – 11 lbs
• Lance – 6 lbs
• Michael – 15  lbs
• Andrea – 5 lbs
• Darrell – 10
• Cheryl – 6 lbs
• Daris – 6 lbs
• Ashley – 7 lbs
• Sherry – 4 lbs
• John – 10 lbs
• Sam – 14 lbs
• Koli – 12 lbs
• Stephanie – 6 lbs
• Migdalia – 5 lbs
• Miggy – 1 lbs
  

The high points:  Michael, Sam, Koli and John lose double digits; Cheryl and Daris hit milestones, dropping below 200 and 300 respectively.

The low point:  Melissa’s smirking response to Green’s less than impressive weight loss.   She actually says out loud, “Ali, just so we’re clear, 2 lbs wouldn’t have made a difference here.”

Migdalia starts to cry and Miggy instantly admonishes her, telling her to stop.  Jillian points out the inherent sadness in this command.  The Green Team is constantly swallowing their emotions, refusing to show stress to anyone.

The pre-elimination conference rapidly goes downhill.  Migdalia flat out says she’ll make it easy for the group.  Someone has to go home.  Pick her.  Melissa, not content to let it play out without drama, cautions the group to remember that the majority of attitude has come from Miggy.

ELIMINATION

The group is clearly conflicted.   I can’t remember another elimination like this one.  The two up for elimination are ARGUING and talking trash before the voting is complete.   Last season, Rebecca and Rudy went at it but that was after she had been eliminated.    The players refuse to honor Green’s request to go lockstep for Migdalia, with Red, Gray and Brown voting for Miggy.   Ultimately, the majority of votes go to Migdalia.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Startling to hear Migdalia say she’s opened up and learned to deal with her emotions during the final interview at the ranch!  After a brief period of uncertainty at home, Migdalia gets back on track.

NEXT WEEK

They’re baaaaaaack!  After battling it out at home for 30 days, who will get to return to the ranch – the Blue or Yellow team?

Now imagine how my world was turned upside down this week as I was forced to watch the show on the DVR.  By myself.  On a Friday!  Avoiding Twitter for three days so I wouldn’t see any spoilers.  Never again.

What I learned during my solo viewing:  Emotions get in the way.  Where to start with Migdalia?  Whether it was dealing with the student/teacher pairings or responding to Jillian’s attempt to “knock the chip off her shoulder,” she’s clearly unwilling or unable to express her feelings.  It’s easier for her to squelch them with self-sabotaging behavior.  Feel sorry for her, but also extremely frustrated with her attitude.  Why did she come on the show if she doesn’t want to do ALL of the work – physical and emotional?

Fantastic round ups from Paula and Ali this week.  Quick thoughts:

• Jillian and Bob are in the “good cop/bad cop” groove.  I like the joint training approach.
• Worried that Jillian’s going to push one of these contestants so hard emotionally they will lash out at her physically.  Not a character or personality flaw in the contestants, just the reality of releasing that anger/energy on the nearest thing they can.  Jill’s right up in their faces and they are big in comparison.  Sheer physics.
• Michael’s lucky his mother cares more about him than he does, or he would have gone home.  Unattractive slacker attitude.  Good for Gray Team for calling him on the mat.
• Melissa.  You’re not fooling anyone, least of all Bob and Jillian.  And Lance either knows the score, or he doesn’t know his wife at all.

After the White Team loses the weigh in, Maria makes an impassioned plea for the group to send her home.  Most of them honor the request, except for John and Stephanie who vote for Michael.  What a joy to see Maria at home, changing the way she cooks for her family and getting into that swimming pool!

Random thoughts on Week 2:

• It’s a sobering experience when Dr. Huizenga gives the contestants the results of their medical testing.  Quite a wakeup call to see decades tacked onto your chronological age.
• Why is anyone with a fear of water applying to be on the show?  You’re going to be in the drink within the first three weeks.  Poor Maria.
• Red is the new Purple.  Tracey passes the crazy game play hat to Melissa.
• Highs and lows – Patti sets the weight loss record for women during week 1, ends up going home.
• Week 2 curse – now officially a myth?

Understandable for Patti to sacrifice her time on the ranch for Stephanie, but I was sad to see her go.  She’s doing well at home though, aided by her strong family support system.  Daily workouts with her daughter, dancing with her husband and family running sessions have helped her lose 43 lbs. Patti’s also made huge progress in her battle against diabetes.  Looking good Momma!

Why I cried:  the season 9 premiere gives us not one, not two but the three heaviest players in Biggest Loser history.  The 11 couples are also the sickest bunch to date.   At this rate, we’re bound to see a 600 lbs player on Season 10.

MEET THE TEAMS

Bob and Jillian phone each team at home to tell them they’ve made the cut for Season 9!  Team colors are selected for each pair, then the trainers throw the first curve.   The teams have to do the first weigh in before their family and friends, in public!  I am personally horrified.  It takes a lot of courage to strip down in front of EVERYONE you know.  I don’t even like getting on the scale in front of myself!

More info on Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black, Gray and White Teams.

Starting weights:

• Cheryl (Mother), 247 lbs
• Daris (Son), 346 lbs
• Patti (Mother), 243 lbs
  
• Stephanie (Daughter), 264 lbs
• John (Identical Twin), 484 lbs
  
• James (Identical Twin), 485 lbs
• Sherry (Mother), 218 lbs
  
• Ashley (Daughter), 374 lbs
• Darrell (Father), 419 lbs
• Andrea “Drea” (Daughter), 238 lbs
• Cherita (Mother), 277 lbs
  
• Victoria (Daughter), 358 lbs
• Miggy (Mother), 240 lbs
  
• Migdalia (Daughter), 265 lbs
• Melissa (Wife), 233 lbs
  
• Lance (Husband), 365 lbs
• Koli (Cousin), 403 lbs
  
• Sam (Cousin), 372 lbs
• O’Neal (Father), 389 lbs
• Sunshine (Daughter), 275 lbs
• Maria (Mother – White Team), 281 lbs
  
• Michael (Son – White Team), 526 lbs

Speculation that the one of the “Half-Ton” twins was the heaviest player – completely shattered by 40 lbs!  Mamma Mia Michael!  The son of Chicago’s Italian-American duo takes the top honor.

CHALLENGE

The players arrive at the ranch to meet Alison.  (”Smoking hot!” according to Lance.  Who said it in front of his wife!  Oh Lance.  But he’s right, Alison looked fantastic!)  Hugs all around, then Alison brings the contestants up to the gym.  All the equipment is gone!  We know it’s the first of many season surprises.   Alison reveals 22 stationary bikes and announces the first challenge – 26.2 miles on the bike.  Immunity’s at stake, with another twist…the bottom two teams must leave the ranch immediately.   Without even meeting the trainers?!

No product placement yet, another surprise and probably a Biggest Loser first.   The teams hop on the bikes and the feet start flying.  Green Team mother Miggy gets out in front and never lets up.   She is fiercely determined to stay on the ranch.  The Gray Team cousins are a close second.  Neither Koli or Sam can believe how quickly Miggy is cycling.  Everyone’s covered in sweat as Miggy and Migdalia are first to 13 miles.  They rocket all the way to the finish, guaranteeing themselves immunity.   Gray Team finishes second.

The other teams roll through the finish, one by one.   Blue Team mom Cherita suffers extreme stomach pain forcing Dr. H to take her off the bike.  This leaves daughter Victoria biking alone against the other two remaining teams, Yellow and Purple.  The mother/daughter team of Patti and Stephanie squeak out ahead, assuring the Purple Team will stay on the ranch another week.

Blue and Yellow are going home.  Cherita and Victoria knew it would be an uphill battle with mom’s injury, but O’Neal and daughter Sunshine are devasted!   Good thing the limos stuck around.  The two teams load up and prepare to go home, but surprise!  Ninja Jillian and Bob leap out of the bushes.   The teams go home for 30 days.  Yellow gets Bob, Blue gets Jillian – the team losing the highest percentage returns to the ranch.

TRAINER TIP

Bob and Jillian show how easy it is to exercise as a team.  They demonstrate various strength exercises, including plank/leg lifts and toe-to-toe situps with a weighted ball.

FIRST WORKOUT WITH TRAINERS – FI-YYAAAAAAA!

Bob and Jillian pull the fire alarm to get the players out of bed and to the gym.  What a rough wake up call, especially on the first day of certain pain.  As they meet the players and Michael nearly squashes Jillian, the trainers point out the obvious.  The players get bigger and bigger each season.   Bob and Jillian are training together again this season.  Pain, puke, snot and tears commence before the trainers even get ramped up!   Cheryl quickly becomes the gym standout, pounding the mat, screaming like a bad ass with each push.   Everyone’s impressed.  As Jillian says “Somebody wound up the mama and let her spin!”

Wow, first product placement comes 55 minutes in – double Brita and WalMart whammy.

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

As the first week on campus draws to a close, the contestants tell each other how they gained the weight.  While the specifics differ, the stories sound oddly similar.   Heartbreaking to discover that most of the kids in the parent/child teams have never been in love or even kissed.  Maybe we’ll get more love connections at the ranch this season!  Maria is stuck in the sandwich generation, caring for elderly relatives and raising her kids.  She has little time for herself, another common theme, especially with the mothers.  Koli and Sam saw themselves in Season 7’s Tongan cousins Filipe and Sione.  Koli cried during the makeover episode when he saw Sione’s wife meet him on stage.  He is desperate for love and acceptance.  Migdalia’s husband may be deployed to Iraq again; she’s all her kids have and she’s in terrible health.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Last Chance Workout?  Did someone say Last Chance Workout?! We got another 30 Day Challenge going on…details here.

Back on the ranch, Jillian smirks, “Welcome to the Biggest Loser gym -  family fun for all!”  The contestants get down to business.  Bob reminds them all to input all of their calories and exercise into their bodybugg every day.  Melissa says there’s a lot at stake in the Last Chance Workout.  Patti knows she’s put in the effort but worries that it won’t be enough.   Bob has the twins walking the pool to compensate for their limited mobility, especially James.  He and John are worried about the competition.  As Jillian reminds us,  every day is the Last Chance Workout at the ranch.  You don’t want to end up there, because it’s the last stop, end of the road.

FIRST WEIGH IN

Alison shows off the Biggest Loser scales and reviews the weigh in rules – team that loses the lowest percentage of weight falls below the yellow line.  The rest of the teams will choose which player goes home.

Green Team has immunity, thanks to Miggy’s cycling prowess.

• Miggy, 13 lbs
• Migdalia, 16 lbs
• Koli, 29 lbs
• Sam, 18 lbs
• Daris, 29 lbs
• Cheryl,  14 lbs
• Darrell, 30 lbs
• Drea, 14 lbs
• James, 23 lbs
• John, 23 lbs
• Melissa, 19 lbs
• Lance, 21 lbs
• Patti, 23 lbs (highest % of any female competitor 1st week on ranch)
• Stephanie, 16 lbs
• Ashley, 17 lbs
• Sherry, 21 lbs
• Maria, 13 lbs
• Michael, 34 lbs (most amount lost by any contestant 1st week on ranch)

Holy crap! Michael gets out of the 500s, yelling “are my abs showing?”  Purple Team has the highest percentage of weight loss at 8.09, carried over the top by Patti’s stunning individual loss of 9.4%.  Brown Team falls below the yellow line with a combined percentage of 4.75.  They look alike, weigh almost the same and each lost 23 lbs.  I can’t even tell them apart.  Now the rest of the teams have to send one of the twins home?!

ELIMINATION

Each of the twins argues that the other should remain at the ranch.  Ultimately for the rest of the teams, it comes down to which twin has the time and ability to do it at home.  They choose James.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

James vows to win the at home prize.   He says that John doesn’t understand what a gift this elimination was for both of them.   Then he says we’ll finally be able to tell the twins apart because he’ll be the more handsome, skinnier twin.   Boy did he make good on that promising, losing 100 lbs in 2 months!  Imagine what John will do at the ranch.

NEXT WEEK

A wild first week!  A total of 5 players sent home.  Public weigh ins before the players even got to the ranch.  Season 8’s Abby Rike blogs this week about the courage it takes to get real with yourself (apparently something that Season 3’s winner – or whiner – Erik Chopin hasn’t mastered yet).  The stakes remain high, while the yellow line stays low.

Coming up…the dreaded week 2 curse.  Which didn’t turn out so bad last season.  Just saying!