[NumberSix]

Bill's win was no surprise at all. Isabeau also looked exactly as I thought she would -- thinner, but not actually thin yet. Her news of becoming a trainer took me aback, but she's far from the first BL contestant to switch to that career track after the show.

I was very surprised to see Hollie and Julie do as well as they did. Seriously, though, especially Hollie. Likewise with Jim going all the way to underweight to cement his own second-tier victory and foment the First Twin Galactic Empire. I really expected Neil to return and win, but Jim...wow.

I do have to wonder why Amber and Lezlye bothered to show up with such results. I assume perks were involved. Or that they just lived in the neighborhood and weren't busy that night.

Allison's screaming bugged me, too, but I understood her position. The studio audience was even more annoying than she was and kept drowning her out. And I had a nice giggle-fit at the end when she nearly swallowed confetti.

And I do remember the pre-season Where Are They Now? episode. The returning contestants had all regained an averge of 25-30 pounds including Season 2's Matt, Suzy, and Pete, and Season 3's Eric, Marty, Wylie, and at-home winner Poppy. IIRC, Season 1's Andrea was the only one to hold steady. The exact same thing happened to me in the time since the end of my diet, so I won't knock them for it.

[bonnie13]

Jedi Cool, on 19 Dec 2007, 08:24 PM, said:

They did a follow-up on previous contestants...Most of the contestants (even winners) have gained some weight back. The explanation being that they can't work out 5-6 hours per day at home.

When I was in the hospital, I finally caught this show. My complaint is that the changes they made were not permenent ones for some, but for the show, then they go back to their old habits. To show off is one thing, but to really bring about a change takes longer. I am being too realistic and dislike reality shows

[King_Elessar]

(Mainly for Six's benefit, as he seems to be the only one interested in this thread.)

Is anybody else here not surprised that in last Tuesday's episode, Bob surrounded himself with most of the men on the show?

[NumberSix]

I usually skip these special editions, but my wife's been following the current "couples" edition. I kinda peek in here and there, like when Bette Sue and her daughter groveled for support that one week but got voted out anyway, probably just for being named "Bette Sue". The machinations that went on that week about it being everyone vs. the Yellow Team made my head hurt trying to keep the conditions straight.

Unfortunately, the first thirty minutes of this week's episode were preempted by panicky local weathermen telling us we're all gonna die. (That's a pretty common problem with Indiana TV.) But yeah, she told me about Bob's Army. Sounded hilarious.

[Jedi Cool]

I felt it was a bit unfair for Bob to take all of the strongest players and leave Jillian with the Yellow Team and the Rest. The former Purple Team has been holding on for the same reason Maurice through Julie held on as long as they did: they are not a threat to anyone. But now that individuals can be voted off, they only needed one Purple person so Jenn got the boot.

And the strong players are getting annoying. Baby-Faced Jay is okay, but I guess gruff Mark gets on people's nerves. The Mother-Son team was innovative at first, but they're starting to annoy me, too. They seem to find everything amusing, which I guess is a defense mechanism when considering everything they're going through. I really miss Bette Sue and her daughter.

So, I'm guessing the former grey team is the most low-key of the bunch. They seem like a couple of affable guys.

[King_Elessar]

I'm surprised that Paul managed to lose 5 pounds the way he pigged out at home. Glad to see Jay redeem himself. 'course he had his brother constantly nagging him at home. Paul just never seemed to be committed to losing weight. Not sorry he's gone.

[NumberSix]

And it totally ruins his fiendish master plan of getting back together with his ex. And he would've gotten away with it, too, if it hadn't been for those meddling middle-aged men on Black Team.

Paul seemed nice enough at first, but the way he kept trying to hang onto her was growing creepier to me.

[NumberSix]

Upping this just to note that Season 4½ finally brings us our very first female Biggest Loser.

Congrats to Ali, and here's hoping she does something with that odd, pudgy nose of hers.

[Jedi Cool]

Hype all week told us that Mark or Roger would be chosen within the first five minutes...it was actually 12 minutes into the show before we found out who America picked. Unless they meant that one would be chosen within five minutes of reminding us who was there and why...

I'm glad Roger was chosen. He was the more likable of the remaining men, but they really pushed the idea of a female Biggest Loser and I knew Ali had a more likely chance than Kelly. I was still glad to see Kelly make it to the finale.

Bernie defied all odds to become the winner among the eliminated player having beaten Mark by 1 pound. That's been a trend the entire season. Watching the eliminated players, one forgets their reasons for coming on the show. Curtis - 150 lbs lighter - now qualifies for health insurance. Kelly has a shot at having a baby (does anyone know her age?). Paul didn't come back for the finale because of an illness (right after he was eliminated, the show revealed that he was hospitalized for pneumonia).

I saw Bill - the fourth season winner - in the audience, as well.

Overall, a nice show, but waaaaay too padded, as most episodes have been this season.

[3 & 6 years to go...]

Once we heard that Ali only had to lose 105 lbs to win, it was over. She lost 99 lbs on the ranch, and only had to lose 6+ more in 6 weeks? OVER! Kelli lost an additional 16 lbs, even with back problems. Good for her.

[King_Elessar]

I had been rooting for Mark in the beginning, and throughout most of the season. He was such a powerhouse, he seemed a shoo-in to win. Unfortunately, for him anyway, his personality did him in. He came off as cocky at first, but just when he was getting likeable, then he turns on the waterworks. It's no surprise America voted against him. Even his wife, when he called her on the phone, said, "Are you crying again?!" One other thing, it really ticks me off that Roger lost to someone who got voted off, and was invited back! That is just not fair to anybody. Mark and Ali had their chance, they were voted off! Granted, Mark sacrificed himself for the team, which is the most noble thing he's done (even if it was yet another of his tear-jerking moments). But once someone's voted off, that's it. They should stay off, otherwise it makes the whole idea of the elimination round rather pointless. I hope they change that rule next season.

[Jedi Cool]

I had the same feeling about Ali as soon as I heard few pounds she had to have lost.

I was annoyed by Mark in the beginning, too, KE. His bravado turned to emotion really quickly and, if they'd shown that tired-old clip of him telling Jay to vote him off last night, I would've screamed.

[King_Elessar]

The last couple of weeks, since they brought him back, he wasn't even fat anymore! He didn't need to be there. After that, it was like going anorexic for the money. The same with Ali. This show has really lost its integrity with the whole 'let's bring back the people who got voted off, so we can stretch this season out a few more episodes' thing.

[NumberSix]

*punt*

Just seeing if anyone's tuning in for the new season/edition, Biggest Loser: Families, which just premiered tonight. It's more of the same, though I guess it's official that Kim Lyons is no longer with the show. I also noticed the cameramen are doing their best to film skillfully around Allison Sweeney's pregnancy.

Favorite bit: Bob in the paper hat and donut-shop uniform. Dashing!

Least favorite bit: Doc Ironjaw showing contestants CG dramatizations of their gruesome innards. It looked as though their hearts were smothered with rich, creamery butter.

Best unintentional humor: one fadeout to commercial break kicked off with a Wal*Mart ad showcasing their grocery section amid clips of Doritos, Pepsi, and other college-dorm junk foods. It was like an abrupt segue to Bizarro Biggest Loser.

[King_Elessar]

That father/daughter team from Cleveland have won my Ohio boy heart. I was sniffing and snivelling when she won the immunity so her dad would have a better chance of staying on.

[Jedi Cool]

Have this season's players never seen the show?

I ask this because they get sent to the Grand Canyon and spend the week barely exercising. Do they not know that contestants are expected to exercise while away from the ranch by their trainers? And the girls not doing their "homework" last week! Have they not seen Jillian ticked off in previous seasons?

I really like the brown and orange teams this time around. Too bad we lost Ed tonight. I'm also liking this strategy of one team below the yellow line and someone has to go from it. It eliminates all that hemming and hawing around the table for the last five minutes of everyone assuring the eliminated player that it's not personal and is with great respect.

[King_Elessar]

I bawled like a baby when the father from Cleveland went home. I hope his daughter has learned her lesson after this week's episode.

I also like the brown team this year.

[Jedi Cool]

They are a good team. I also like Heba and her former team member-husband Ed.

I missed the first half of this episode after my husband dropped a last-minute expectation on me which disrupted my plans for the entire evening. Apparently, they divided up into individual players and did some challenge involving walking. I don't know what the temptation was. I guess the dividing up involved some of the teams ending up on opposite sides. I think Phil and his wife, as well as Amy and her mom, Shellay, were split up this way.

The part I was allowed to see involved a lot of Michelle's personal angst so I didn't really get to see much of an episode. After that, they went to the weigh-in where they all lost modest amounts of weight, but team black (Jillian's) went to elimination and Shellay (formerly of the purple team) was voted off with the requisite amount of tears.

[Jedi Cool]

After showering quickly, brushing and flossing and getting on the couch all snugly and warm to watch the show last night, the phone rings at 8 PM and my husband hands it to me. Half an hour later, the calls ends.

Anyway....someday I will get to watch a complete episode of this show again.

It was awesome to see Stacey go head-to-head with Ed at the challenge. She was completely amazing.

Having missed parts of shows over the last few weeks, I don't know what the issue with Phil is. I've been under the impression that it is largely the result of Brady and Vicky's manipulations. I really want Vicky off that show. She killed it for me for when she laughed when Phil fell during the stepping challenge. But I settled for Brady because it makes blue team's job that much harder.

And boy was all of the signs pointing to a shake-up for the blue team. That little innocuous scene at Subway between Amy and Shellay set the stage for the whole episode. Amy was told by her mom to do for herself now and not be manipulated by the others.

I realized at some point when Vicky wouldn't shut up about Five Blue Strong that they only needed one person to vote with the other team to force a stand-off. Brady/Vicky & Ed/Heba have been alliance buddies from day one which would put Amy in a precarious position should she ever fall below the yellow line. When Amy started talking about doing for herself when Alison announced the immediate elimination, but NumberSix and I knew exactly what would happen.

Sure enough, the two remaining black team members voted for Brady and the blue team members fell in line until it got to Amy to cast the deciding vote which she cast against Brady and not Michelle. The tie forced the person with the lowest-percentage of weight loss, Brady, off the ranch.

Call it karma, call it the sweetness of Michelle and Renee celebrating their one year of renewed mother-daughter relationship or vindication for poor Jillian who has been stuck with the underdogs for a few seasons now.

[King Justinian]

This show is stupid. Why is it still on the air? Oh yeah...because it's stupid. I forgot.

[Jedi Cool]

Last week, Amy missed the opportunity to take out Vicky who had been vindictive for most of the episode after the elimination of her husband. There were 7 people left and these folks are still voting along team lines. Stop! Amy was so naive not to realize that Ed & Heba have had an alliance with Vicky and the former teammate Brady for ages. Even Bob recognizes how crafty Vicky is.

And it cost Amy last night as Michelle & Renee tried to save her (as I suspected they would), but Vicky cast the deciding vote against her, having promised both her and Heba that she wouldn't vote them off, but now forced to choose between them.

There are now 5 contestants left: Michelle and Renee the mother/daughter Black Team. Ed & Heba (husband & wife) and Vicky on the Blue Team.

[Jedi Cool]

America voted to keep Ed in the final three, along with Vicky and Michelle.

Of the eliminated players, then, all returned looking fit and fine. It turns out that Heba (Ed's wife) lost the most and won the consolation $100, 000 prize.

And I was thrilled to see that Michelle lost the most percentage of weight loss, making her the second female Biggest Loser. The alliance between Vicky/Brady and Heba/Ed that caused so much friction in the house came to naught.

[NumberSix]

Tell them about the part where Bob held up Ryan from season 1 as a bad example. I missed it, but it was my favorite part of your recap to me.

[Jedi Cool]

Oh, yeah. In the previous week's episode, Bob was talking to Vicky about her plans for raising her children differently (one of her reasons for coming on the show in the first place as her 4-year old daughter is 62 lbs) when she goes home. Vicky was telling him how her kids don't eat vegetables and she has no plan on how to get them to start eating them now.

Since Vicky has been a master at manipulating people and playing the game since the beginning, Bob was growing concerned as to whether or not this is really just about the money for her. He expressed his frustration to the camera that she may not take anything home from this experience. He also talked about Ryan - the first season's winner- who also played the game well. We may remember how Kellie Mac got booted off after he promised not to vote against her. Bob went over how Ryan stood up there on stage with confetti dropping, audience applauding and the $250, 000 prize his. Then he stops and adds, "That man is just as heavy now as he was when he first came on the show". He learned nothing.

lol

[Jedi Cool]

"The Biggest Loser" season 6 started off with families again in the form of couples:

Bob's Team:

Carla & Joelle (The Gray Team) - two friends who pronounced that they were gonna get "gorgeous to the G-square". Starting weights 379 and 309
Cathy & Kristen (The Purple Team) - Mom and Daughter. Starting weights 293, 360.
Sione & Filipe (The Blue Team) - male cousins. Starting weights 372, 364.
Helen & Shannon (The Pink Team) - Mom and daughter. Starting weights 257, 253
Nicole and Damien (The Red Team) - Engaged Couple. Starting weights 269, 381
Ron & Mike (The Brown Team) - Dad and Son. Starting weights 430, 388.

Jillian's Team:

Jerry & Estella (The White Team) - A married couple each 63 years old. Starting weights 369, 242.
Tara & Laura (The Green Team) - former models. Starting weights 285, 294
Daniel & David (The Orange Team) - friends. Starting weights 454, 393
Dane & Blaine (The Black Team) - male cousins. Starting weights 412, 365
Aubrey & Mandy (The Yellow Team)- sisters. Starting weights 249, 263

The episode began with the contestants arriving at the ranch (after Alison Sweeney shows up at a group meeting and pretends to be hedging on whether or not they will get to go....:rolleyes:) When they arrive at the ranch, they are told to go ahead and start a workout on their own. While Bob and Jillian watch them flag and flail in a moot effort to understand how to lift weights via closed-circuit television, the television audience is treated to the humor of Jillian hollering at a contestant on the television, "Get off those bars" as an extremely overweight contestant can't lift herself up. They ultimately go into the gym themselves and ask the contestants to come over for their team assignments. At that moment, 63-year Jerry, with about 10 minutes of minimal exercise, drops to the floor.

One ambulance ride later, the now-sober contestants realize what the future has in store for them if they don't shape up. Wife Estella is shaken, but remains behind. It is announced that Bob and Jillian will each pick the first couple and that couple will then pick another to join their team and so forth. Us poor gym students had to laugh at Daniel from the Orange Team who astutely points out the irony that one team will be the last picked and how humiliating it would be to be "Fat Kids in a Fat Gym Class".

At 379 lbs, Carla is the biggest woman on the show. Daniel, at 454, is the biggest person ever to compete (and he's only 19). All in all, this is the heaviest year yet.

Jillian, in an effort to further her image as a softie, immediately picks steadfast Estella. The ultimate team assignments are listed above. Bob has more teams because the Purple Team ended up picked last and were allowed to chose their trainer as a consolation prize.

It turns out Jerry was suffering from low blood pressure and returns to compete. Already, we begin to see drama when Laura, one of the models, needs a great deal of encouragement from team member Tara and Joelle talks alot about losing weight but doesn't lift many limbs doing so (to the chagrin of the teammate who wants to be here - Carla). The first challenge is to run across a bridge over 250, 000 lbs of sand to your teams' flag and back. The top five teams compete again, then the top two, with immunity as the prize. It's a close match between the Black Team and the Yellow Team with Black barely beating out Yellow.

They take time with Dr. Lockjaw (that's NumberSix and I's name for the show's physician who seems to have had waaaay too much plastic surgery) who tells them how bad off they are. This is time-killing material. We can see how bad off they are.

At the weigh-in, there is a surprise. The Black Team, of course, has immunity. Of the remaining ten teams, only one will be above the yellow line. The nine teams below it will have to send one team member home that night - first week on the show. If, after 30 days at home, the player that stayed is still competing on the show without subsequently having been eliminated, the teammate that is sent home can return.

For the longest time, Jerry and Estella shock everyone with a significant weight loss and stay above the yellow line. The final tallies are:

Carla 11 lbs Joelle 13 lbs
Daniel 30 lbs David 16 lbs
NIcole 18 lbs Damien 17 lbs
Jerry 25 lbs Estella 9 lbs
Filipe 17 lbs Sione 23 lbs
Mandi 12 lbs Aubrey 13 lbs
Kirsten 19 lbs Cathy 12 lbs
Helen 12 lbs Shannon 13 lbs
Laura 13 lbs Tara 21 lbs
Mike 22 lbs Ron 32 lbs

The Black Team (Blaine and Dane) lost 14 and 20 lbs, respectively, but had immunity. The Brown Team of Mike and Ron ended up above the yellow line and kept their team intact. The final teams had to decide who to let go. Ultimately, they let go:

Carla - Gray Team
David - orange team
Nicole -red team
Estella-white team
Sione - blue team
Aubrey- yellow team
Cathy - Purple team
Shannon-Pink Team
Laura- Green Team

Remaining contestants:
Blaine & Dane
Joelle
Daniel
Damien
Jerry
Filipe
Mandi
Kristen
Helen
Tara
Ron & Mike

Tonight's episode promises a "freak-out" by Bob.

[Jedi Cool]

In last night's episode, the eliminated players return home to prove that weight can be lost at home. Knowing that their teammates are trying to keep them there, some join gyms while others try to cut out unhealthy foods. Daniels' teammate, David, goes out to eat and orders water. Then fries. Then two hot dogs.

The contestants at the ranch meet together outside and gather at a line. They are joined by Alison Sweeney who shows them a stretch limo. She gives them a lecture about commitment and offers them part of the $250, 000. For $5, 000, anyone who wants to can get in the limo and leave the ranch (and the game, too, making the decision also for their partner). Then she offers $10, 000. Some, particularly Joelle, look tempted. Apparently, in Michigan, you can "get a house for $5, 000". I wonder if that's $5, 000 for a down payment and an adjustable interest rate or the total house is $5, 000? Either way, it's not a good deal.

Finally, Alison offers $25, 000 - a tenth of the big prize. At this point, Joelle looks really tempted. Helen, Shannon's mom (Is is Shannon or Shanon...they keep alternating spelling?) might regret not taking it to bail her Arrested Daughter out. Alison starts counting down and Joelle's foot hits the line just as Alison reaches one. Oh, well.

All this proves to the other contestants is that Joelle's heart isn't in the game. This concerns Bob who has a heart-to-heart with her about why she's here. She confesses she has many unmet goals and has made poor decisions in the past. It ends with a warm hug, but Bob still doesn't know where she is.

Jillian ponders week 2 which traditionally shows small weight losses. She reiterates that, though she is "The best", she can never get her contestants through week 2. Bob doesn't care about the dreaded week 2 and claims that diet, exercise and rest will work. In the meantime, he is getting irritated at Joelle who is not giving her 100%. He also gives a pitch for Extra sugar free gum.

During training, Jillian is timing her team when Joelle falls off some stepping blocks. Filipe looks at the camera and tells us that everyone notices that Joelle doesn't seem to want to work very hard and "when she falls below the yellow line, we're gonna go...yeah, I think Joelle can go home". As if to rub salt in this statement, we see At-Home cameras focusing on the very hard work being done by the eliminated players, especially Joelle's teammate Carla.

The Challenge is to kayak a quarter of a mile to a mountain, hike up it and reach the flags. The winner gets immunity, four get calls home and the last player gets a 1 lb penalty at the weigh-in. Blaine & Mike each compete for their teams. Blaine & Tara go neck and neck, but Tara spurts ahead and wins. Joelle arrives just ahead of the last two players, Jerry and Daniel. Daniel struggles as the last one to arrive, but Tara, Blaine and Mandi go back to help him. Tara gives her call home to Filipe.

At the Last Chance Workout, Jillian decides to "beat the crap" out of them to get week 2's numbers up. She says Jerry has the right heart but doesn't have the stamina of a younger man. Meanwhile, Bob is getting frustrated with Joelle who seems to be stopping alot. He says he spends more time with her than any other contestant. She admits to the camera that she can't seem to work herself to the point of throwing up and panting like everyone else. She's gonna "fake til I make it".

Bob finally loses it when he sees her constantly stopping after 20 seconds on the treadmill when he's timing them at 30. After insisting she is doing it right, she stops at 25 seconds. Bob throws a major fit that both shocks and amuses Jillian and her team. He yells at Joelle for talking all the time and not really doing anything. She tries to defend herself, but he tells her he only hears words coming out.

At the Weigh-In:

Jillian jokes abot Bob who said he was possessed by her spirit this week. The contestants weigh in in the order of their finishing the challenge.

Tara loses 1 lb. She muses about the dreaded week 2, but Blaine and Dane give each other knowing looks. Gameplay?
Blaine - 16 lbs.
Dane - 14
Aubrey 6
Helen - 8 ("I"m gonna bring Shannon back!" Yeah, you think so!)
Mike - 7
Ron -12
Damien - 9 (At this point, the camera cuts to Aubrey every time she moves down the list)
Kristen - 10
Filipe - 9
Joelle- 2. Joelle admits that she knows everyone is thinking "I told you so", but she's big enough to take it. Aubrey smiles.
Jerry - 1. This was heartbreaking. Even Alison tears up. Aubrey is nice enough not to smile.
Daniel - 3.

This puts Jerry and Daniel below the yellow line. Ron argues that Jerry was thin before and will be again. He believes Daniel will go home, lose 80 lbs and then gain 110 back.

At the elimination, Jerry gets the first 5 votes. It is revealed he has lost 84 lbs since being on the show, so far.

[Jedi Cool]

Do they keep the weight off? This article from yesterday about 3rd season winner Eric.

http://www.associate...gains_back.html

In the meantime, last night's episode began with the remaining players lamenting the loss of Jerry and vocalizing concerns about the abililty of Joelle to keep up. The at-home players discuss what they are doing to lose weight...with the exception of Daniel's teammate David (last week, we saw him eating hot dogs and french fries) who goes to a buffet and fills up on fried chicken.

At the temptation, the contestants are each given five minutes alone with a table of tempting food and snacks. They may eat as much or as little as they want. However, the at-home teammates are being given the same choice. The team that eats the most calories will be able to spend time at home with their trainer. No one will know whether their partner ate anything until after the temptation is over. Joelle looks excited, admitting that she's already on a "thin line" here and, when alone, stacks a pizza, donut and cupcake on her plate.

When the temptation is over, the results are:

Yellow Team: Mandi (desperate to go home and see her kids) eats pizza totaling 380 calories. Aubrey ate nothing.
Blue Team: Filipe ate nothing, but is disturbed to find that Sione ate 2 slices of pizza and a taco because he needs a workout with Bob. 960 calories. This puts the Blue Team in the lead.
Purple Team: Neither Kristin nor Cathy ate anything.
Red Team: Damien and Nicole each avoided tempation.
Pink Team: Helen and Shannon avoided temptation.
Green Team: Tara and Laura ate nothing.
Finally, the gray (silver) team of Joelle and Carla reveal their results. Despite packing her plate, it turns out that Joelle ate nothing. Carla, however, wanting the reunion and the chance to workout with Bob ate three slices of pizza, 5 nuggets, 2 cupcakes and a taco. Joelle reveals that "Carla ate and Carla ate well". For a total of 2700+ calories, this team wins the temptation.

Filipe is disgusted to see Joelle smiling at this opportunity when Mandi is obviously in distress. He tells Joelle that Mandi deserved to go home since she has kids. Joelle insists she's not celebrating, but Filipe tells the camera that "Joelle is 41, but emotionally, she's about 12".

Bob is shocked to find out that he is going to Detroit with Joelle to workout with Carla, leaving the rest of the team on their own. He tells the camera that "Joelle is a mess" and the episode flashbacks to his blow-up of last week. In Detroit, Carla is thrilled to see Bob and Joelle. At a table, she is candid about Joelle's ability to "push buttons" on people. Bob relates Joelle's problems at the Ranch. He counsels Carla on what to snack on in the middle of the day - pitching Yoplait yogurt.

At the Ranch, Mandi feels light-headed on the treadmill. Jillian feels that this is related to the emotional baggage of leaving her kids behind.

In Detroit, Carla and Bob work out with Joelle lifting weights. Carla is angry about Joelle's unimpressive weight loss and finally has to flat out confront her about it. Bob notes that Joelle tunes Carla out after awhile because Carla just won't drop the subject. Before long, he is watching them shout at each other for several minutes before finally intervening.

He calls the Ranch to see how his team is doing. They are all sitting or lying down with their feet up. He promises them that the Last Chance Workout will be brutal. He, Joelle and Carla eat a big salad and Carla starts in on Joelle again. Joelle is tired of hearing it. Carla argues that she should have been the one to stay and yells when she thinks Joelle isn't listening. Bob decides that this is enough and tells them they will get through the weigh-in.

Dr. H meets with Blaine and Ron. Blaine has been taking 6 medications and he's only 28. Dr. H points out that this would cost him $733, 000 over his lifetime. They decide to ditch the meds.

Ron has been taking 10 pills plus insulin. He is now down to 1 pill and one small dose of insulin.

At the challenge, the contestants are given the jumping beams that have appeared in previous seasons, most notably in season 2 when Matt set a record of 45 minutes. The contestant who stays on the longest without breaking his or her bar will win immunity. Joelle immediate breaks hers before completing a single jump. She tells the camera that "I can hear Carla in my ear". Ron completes 1 jump, Dan 2 and Helen 3. The game is on when the next player, Damien, makes 57 jumps before breaking the bar. He is followed by Filipe, Mandi, Dane and Kristen who makes to 2 hours 19 minutes and over 1000 jumps before breaking her beam. Tara is the winner once again.

Highlights of the Last Chance Workout include Ron setting the pace for his team on exercise bikes. Joelle stops hers. Jillian admits she loves hurting people during these workouts because it is cathartic. Jillian has Blaine drag her across the gym which he does obligingly - dragging her out the gym door and into the dark.

At the weigh-in, the weight loss totals are:

Tara - 8 lbs
Helen - 6 lbs
Mandi - 8 lbs
Joelle - 6 lbs
Filipe - 14 lbs
Mike - 11 lbs, Ron 9 lbs
Blaine - 12 lbs, Dane 18 lbs
Damien - 4 lbs (which puts his percentage of weight loss at the bottom)
Daniel - 15 lbs
Kiristen - 7 lbs. (Prior to her weigh-in, Filipe predicts that, if it comes down to Joelle and Damien, Joelle will go home).

Kristen's weight loss saves her, leaving Joelle and Damien at the bottom. Joelle assumes she's going home and so does Bob. Tara flat out asks Joelle if she wants to stay on the Ranch. Joelle hesitates, fumbles for words and ultimately doesn't answer. (Any viewers of the show for more than one season know that, when everybody assumes one person is going home, it's usually not them) The teams meet and discuss the fact that Jillian's team would like Bob's team's opinion regarding who to save. Bob's team candidly admits they would prefer to save Damien. At this point, all I'm thinking is...Jillian's team is not going to cooperate.

Sure enough, Filipe, Ron, Kristen and Helen all vote for Joelle. But when we reach Jillian's team, the Black Team votes for Damien. That's all I needed to know. I knew then that Jillian's team would all vote for Damien and force a tie which would result in the person with the lowest percentage of weight loss off the Ranch. That is exactly what happened. With the lowest percentage, Damien is gone.

We are told that Damien has lost 74 lbs so far and Nicole 76 lbs. They pose for their engagement photos and promise to be so "sexy it hurts" at their wedding.

Next week's promos promise the return of the teammates and an elimination (featuring Dan and Mike) that's "impossible to choose".

This post has been edited by Jedi Cool: 29 January 2009 - 07:58 AM

[3 & 6 years to go...]

Joelle and Carla are extremely annoying, and were really pissing me off. Shut the hell up, and workout.

Joelle's face, though, was priceless when Damien received his first vote.

[Jedi Cool]

She always has priceless faces. She is an open book; you know exactly what she's thinking. But I almost felt sorry for her when Carla wouldn't let it go.

[Jedi Cool]

Pregnant Amy is not dieting!

http://www.parentdis...im-not-dieting/

Also, the current TV Guide has a reunion piece on previous contestants, showing what they weigh now.

Dr. Jeff from season 2 gained back 22 pounds but still runs marathons.
Ali from season 5 (hey, not fair, that was too recent) has gained back only 3 pounds.
Marty and Amy (see above article) got married and she's pregnant. He gained back 31 lbs, she 46 (but I think she has a good reason).
Dan from season 5 (again too recent) gained back 6.
Bill and Jim the twins from season 4. Bill gained back 28, Jim 47.
Ryan from season 1 - the winner gained back 92 lbs, is back to 300 lbs in weight and is hurt about how Bob ragged on him to Vicky in last season.
Pete from season 2 gained back 24 lbs.
Neil from season 4 gained back 31 lbs.
Matt and Suzy from season 2 (married with 2 kids): Matt gained back 57 lbs, Suzy 35 lbs.

Comparatively speaking though, many of them are still nowhere near where they'd been when they first came on the show, weight-wise.

[Cashmere]

I never watch this show, but I have enjoyed reading through your recaps, JC. I don't have to devote all that time watching, but I can still follow what's happening. Thanks!

[Jedi Cool]

Thanks, Cashmere!

Last night's episode eshewed the endless recaps of last week's episode by using a caption tellng us that Jillian's team had promised to vote for Joelle and didn't.

Bob's team is throwing a fit, especially since their opinion was asked and that they are stuck with Joelle. Blaine tries to apologize but Filipe knows that this was all gameplay and is too miffed.

In the meantime, the at-home players struggle with distractions. Aubrey has crying children, Laura is dancing at nightclubs, Sione is working his tail off at the gym though. David, Dan's teammate, (last seen eating at fried chicken buffets) lights up a cigarette.

Bob is surprised to see Joelle when he meets up with his team the next morning. She welcomes the opportunity to prove herself, knowing that everyone on her team wanted her off. Kristin and Helen talk to Bob about their frustrations with Joelle. He is trying hard to keep the team intact and focused, but they are upset. He wants them to encourage Joelle but not to ignore themselves, he tries to get Kristin to let it go. In the workout room, Joelle actually finishes a treadmill exercise. The scene flashbacks to the big blow-up of two weeks ago.

The caption: 5 Days until partner returns.

The group meets at a set of NFL goals with a picnic table. In honor of the Superbowl, they will be learning about traditional snacks. Blaine, however, won't be joining them here. His wife is about to give birth and he has been given leave to go be with here. He will be back for the weigh-in and his weight will count.

They are joined by Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone (whom I've never heard of, but appears to be Australian). They will be shown various traditional Superbowl snacks and will try to guess the calorie count. The three winners will compete in another round and the winner will get to have Curtis go to their partner's house, cook a meal for them and gain a 2 lb pass at their weigh-in.

The game is similar to the "Price is Right" where they try to pick the closest calories without going over. First up is a plate of chicken wings with celery and ranch dressing. Dan wins with 800 calories for a 991 snack (Ron chose 999). A bread bowl with chili in it is next, Kristin wins this, coming closest to the 1165 calorie count. Helen chooses 1500 for a 7-Layer Dip which turns out to be 1755.

Curtis shows the three of them an alternative to the chicken wings by using Rosemary leaves as skewers and adding chicken to them, similar to kabobs. He dips them in a mustard and honey glaze. The final test is to guess how many calories are in a single serving (5 pieces of chicken). Dan wins by guessing 220 for a 230 calorie count.

Commercial break brings us a tip from Curtis that pounding chicken between plastic wrap can lock in flavor.

In Raleigh, David is surprised when Curtis shows up at his door. David admits he's having a hard time learning to cook by himself and has been to his favorite restaurant three times since returning home. Curtis takes him to Wal*Mart and shows him how some of the ingredients in the vegetable aisle are foods he's eaten before (such as cilantro in salsa). They cook a huge chicken patty with some spices over a bed of greens.

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch, Bob has his team jump up on top of the platform boxes. Blaine arrives for the birth of his son, Breckin.

The challenge takes place on a football field. With the encouragement of NFL Quarterback Curt Warner (?), they will be playing for immunity. They will have to run to the 20 yard line, then back, then to the 40 yard line, grab a football and put it in the bin of another player. Once a player has 5 footballs in his or her bins, they are eliminated from the Challenge. In order, Filipe, Tara, Dane, Kristin, Mandi, Dan, Mike, and Joelle, incredibly next to last, goes out. Helen emerges the winner and calls home to tell Shanon.

Bob introduces Fiber One cereal to his team. Blaine returns to the Ranch.

The Last Chance Workout finally shows us Jillian who has been absent for the episode. She tells the camera that Dan talks a lot but doesn't follow through. We really haven't seen that of Dan, but I guess we've been too focused on Joelle.

She tells him to run on the treadmill for five minutes, but he can only make one. He admits that he is afraid of so many things, since he's never been thin, but she gives him such an encouraging motivation that the MUSIC SOARS! He runs the five minutes.

At the Weigh-In, Joelle and Bob agree that she's working harder. The partners are brought in. They will be weighed the next day. But tonight, the Ranch players will weigh in. The Black and Brown teams will weigh in as teams, while the others will be individuals.

Final losses are:

Helen - 6 lbs
Ron - 7 lbs, Mike - 9 lbs (each blames himself for letting the other down)
Blaine - 11 lbs, Dane - 15 lbs
Filipe - 13 lbs
Tara - 12 lbs
Kristin - 12 lbs
Mandi - 10 lbs
Dan - 12 lbs
Joelle - 11 lbs

But percentage of weight loss counts here and this puts Mike and Dan below the yellow line.

Daniel tells the group that he will accept their decision, but David gets stunned looks when he says he really doesn't want to be on the ranch (even though he assures them he's lost weight!) and it wouldn't hurt him to be home (but he's lost weight!).

Insert Ad for Biggest Loser and Panini Maker.

The Pink, Purple, Silver, Blue vote for Dan and David, eliminating them despite Tara on the green team voting for Ron and Mike just because she was ticked off at David for his attitude and wanted to force him to stay. Davi admits he feels trapped on the ranch, but Ron points out that all the players are trapped here, missing their wives and kids.

In the end, though, Dan and David go home. Daniel has stopped taking medication for diabtes and has lost 101 lbs so far. David admits his life is changing and he has quit smoking. He has lost 46 lbs.

[Jedi Cool]

Episode 6, Season 7.

Last night's episode began with a recap of what has happened so far, focusing on the At-Home players working out and letting us know why they're doing this. Aubrey feels guilty over her daughter's weight, former model Laura is upset because men don't look at her anymore, Sione is from the island country of Tonga and wants to show them that there' s nothing wrong with losing weight, Shanon is ready to take control of her life, Cathy is a recovering alcoholic and wants to overcome another addiction and Carla is freaking out over Joelle.

Bob reminds his returning team members that this will not be easy. Jillian isn't surprised the Orange Team is gone because Bob traditionally doesn't allow his team to vote their own members off and he also has more players. She cautions hers that she will need to work hard with them to catch up.

They weigh-in the returning players with the prize of Immunity for the winning team:

Shanon - 15 lbs (She is upset, but Bob and Jillian encourage her because losing 15 lbs at home is significant considering she is not working 6-8 hours per day at the Ranch)
Laura - 71 lbs (When she starts whining, Tara tells her to stop and get over it. Jillian tells the camera that she approves of this)
Cathy - 8 lbs
Aubrey - 2 lbs (She knows she doesn't hustle. Bob and Jillian just take this as proof Aubrey needs to be here)
Carla - 20 lbs (Bob: "She is in this game to win. Carla wants it bad!")
Sione - 25 lbs (He reiterates his program from last week: sacrificing television to workout)

Sione wins the blue team immunity.

On a commercial break, Jillian tells us that 42 lbs per year are gained by drinking a moche latte. She suggests a nonfat latte or no calorie/no carb coffee.

Jillian cautions Laura to throw, scream, yell, but don't cry. Filipe is astonished to see Sione running 6 mph on a treadmill. It's as if he never left.

Aubrey insists she's been working out 4-5 hours at the gym, but her 2 lb weight loss doesn't reflect that. She believes her biggest problem is food. She feels foolish asking for help.

In the meantime, the show flashes back to the Silver Team meltdown between Carla and Joelle. Bob tells the camera that Carla works hard, but he believes Joelle will have to be consistent if Carla isn't going to carry the team.

At the Challenge, each team is tied together with a rope around a huge horizontal pole. They will have to unwrap themselves enough from the pole to have enough rope to make it across the finish line. They will be competing for a choice of $5000 cash or a 2 lb advantage at the weigh-in. Joelle immediately reminds Carla that $2500 each could be theirs. Carla tells the camera that she considers the 2 lb advantage to be the bigger plus.

During the contest, ropes get raveled up as the teams work to try to get a rhythm going. Some have to go back and unwrap more before their length of rope is enough, but the Yellow Team prevails. They will have to tell Alison at the weigh-in what they've chosen as their prize.

In the kitchen, Jillian pitches Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios to Blaine and Dane.

At the Last Chance Workout, Laura discusses how she taught herself to love food over her body. An ad featuring Bob pitches having accountability partners.

The ad for the upcoming hour promisse that the weigh-in will turn the entire house against one contestant (and shows Aubrey wiping her eyes).

At Bob's Last Chance Workout, he explains that Joelle gets distracted easily. The camera shows her wandering around alot. He puts her on a stairmaster with Helen as a partner. Filipe once again predicts Joelle won't stay if she falls below the yellow line this week. Bob has Shanon carry Sione around on her back.

Kristin expresses her frustration at her low numbers each week. Carla is tired of having to carry Joelle in this game. Aubrey mentions that she and Mandi have made their decision about their prize and thinks it's the right one - they choose the 2 lb pass.

Filipe and Sione have immunity, so they weigh-in first. Filipe loses 3 lbs, Sione 8 lbs.

Mandi - 6 lbs, Aubrey - 10 lbs

Joelle tells the camera that she believes Carla will lose enough to save them and that Bob's team has enough players to keep them from being eliminated.

Carla - 9 lbs, Joelle - 0 lbs

At this point, Aubrey tells the camera that she is shocked Joelle lost nothing because she actually expected her to gain weight. Alison asks why Aubrey is tearing up and she explains that she's sorry for Carla who works so hard. Joelle admits Carla works harder but she believes that she herself has picked up her intensity. Even Bob looks incredulous here. Aubrey vents to the camera about such a lame excuse and Shanon is angry as she tells the camera how Joelle just babbled a bunch of nonsense. Bob tells those assembled that it all starts with Joelle - her desire to do what it takes to lose weight.

Blaine - 9 lbs, Dane - 11 lbs
Laura - 13 lbs, Tara - 12 lbs
Mike - 9 lbs, Ron - 4 lbs
Helen - 9 lbs, Shanon - 9 lbs
Kristin - 11 lbs, Cathy - 5 lbs

This puts the brown and silver (gray) team under the yellow line. Joelle is asked once more if she wants to stay and can't give an answer, setting Carla off. Everyone assures Carla they know she works hard. Ron reminds them how hard he and Mike work.

At the elimination, the pink, yellow, blue and green teams vote for the silver team (with the yellow team specifically writing Joelle in big letters on their card). Joelle gives a big speech about how she doesn't want to get things twisted and have people thinking she doesn't work hard. She's proud of the work she's done and lectures them aout judging her. Filipe relates that she's entitled to her opinion and so is he: he can't stand selfishness.

The caption reads that, after leaving the Ranch, Carla and Joelle did not speak for weeks. The producers get them together for lunch where Carla tries to express her disappointment that Joelle didn't work harder. It is clear that Joelle just doesn't get it. They agree that they are no longer friends and part. Joelle has lost 57 lbs, while Carla has lost 87 lbs.

The promos for next week promise a "last chance for an 18-year old son that has captured the heart of America".

This post has been edited by Jedi Cool: 05 February 2009 - 05:47 AM

[George]

Joelle was really pissing me off. I was pissed she didn't work as hard as her partner, but even more pissed that she never took responsibility for the mistakes she made. Even months after her elimination, she would not come clean and just say what she did wrong. I can't stand people that are unable to examine themselves for areas of improvement. I have infinitely more respect for a person that tries their best and fails than someone that gets by without critical self examination.

The best thing for Carla would be to never talk to her again. She doesn't need any of Joelle's loser mentality rubbing off on her.

[3 & 6 years to go...]

I feel sorry for Carla, but I am absolutely happy that they are gone. The most annoying people that I have ever seen on this show.

[Jedi Cool]

Of course, you know those Carla/Joelle meltdowns will be part of "Biggest Loser" Best Of clips forever. They showed them going back and forth about 3 times Tuesday night. I wish I could believe we won't have to see it again.

That Joelle could stand up and make these nonsensical speeches that reflect the exact opposite of what happened makes me wonder if there isn't some mental problem there. She also was too easily tempted by money.

[Jedi Cool]

Ron lectures Mike on how little weight they are losing. They've got to figure out what's wrong. Mike tells the camera that he is sorry Carla had to go and that she had a teammate that didn't want to be here. He and his father want to be an example for Mike's 16-year old brother, Max, who is just as heavy as they are.

Alison walks into the kitchen and invites the contestants out to the pool. There are colored blocks on the ground. She tells them that this is their first "pop challenge". They have to stand on their block with one leg up. The last one remaining with one leg up wins the opportunity to spend 24 hours at the Ranch with a loved one. Each player begins thinking about who they want to visit.

As they begin to stand on one leg, Ron is first off within 10 seconds. He is followed by Mike, Kristin, Dane, Tara (who falls in the pool), Cathy, Shanon (who falls into her mother causing Helen to fall off her block and give her daughter a dirty look), Laura and Sione. Filipe, Mandi, Blaine and Aubrey remains. Mandi begins to beg Filipe to let her see her husband. As a gesture of good-will, Filipe steps off to give her that opportunity. When she starts on Blaine, he asks Aubrey if she will step off, too, and she agrees. They both stop playing and Mandi wins.

Bob is not surprised to see his Brown team still on the Ranch. He tells his team something has to change. Sione cautions Ron and Mike that, while they want the Brown team at the Ranch, they will have to prove they can do better. So far, they have been saved by virtue of other people needing to go first. Bob believes that something about their diet is off. In order to burn more calories,
they have to take in more. He decides to focus on Mike because Ron's knee is injured. Mike will have to carry the weight loss for both of them.

Mandi reveals to Jillian that her husband is coming. Jillian is unhappy to hear this because she feels that the visit will be a distraction. Mandi is already feeling guilty about leaving her children behind and her husband is not thrilled with her being at the Ranch anyway. Jillian believes Mandi will lose some of her autonomy with an unconvinced spouse present.

During a commercial break, Jillian urges eating at least 85% of meals at home because people tend to eat more when they go out.

In the meantime, Bob leads his team in Yoda. Cathy is a natural and explains that being a recovering alcoholic helps because she has a newfound spirituality.

Laura is not living up to her potential. Jillian tells the camera that she requires a lot of work. As they workout, Laura has all of the platitudes but no intensity. Jillian finally has Tara come over and watch them box. If Laura drops her left hand, Tara is to hit her. Suddenly, Laura is able to keep up the boxing with no trouble.

Bob makes his team hike to Subway. Ron's knee is giving him trouble and they discuss that it is much harder for him to go down a hill than up. They get there and he tells them to get an apple and fill up their water bottles because the Subway they're going to is actually two miles further. When they get there, he points out nutritional information on the glass and how easy it is to order healthy food. He points out that Ron - who has bought a salad - seems to be afraid of carbs. They talk about how carbohydrates are needed. Sione jokes about burning off calories from this meal ahead of time by walking there. Bob reminds them they are walking back, too.

At the challenge, they are led out in the dark. Each player is to hold one end of a long pole. They must not lower the pole enough to touch horizontal bars between the players. If they do, a light will go off. The winning team will get immunity.

All teams reach the hour mark. Then, they are forced to use only one arm. Blaine and Dane are sure they will go home if they fall below the yellow line. Filipe and Sione each focus so much on Alison's speaking that they don't notice their pole lowering and are the first team eliminated. The brown team is next. As cold air permeates people's hands, the Black Team follows. At the two
hour mark, they are told that both hands can be used. The pink team goes out, followed by the yellow. Kristin doesn't want to lose to Tara again. At four hours, Tara tells the camera how hard it is to hold up one's arms for that long. She has to encourage Laura and starts trying to cut deals with the Purple team. She promises not to vote them off if they fall below the yellow line
if they allow the Green Team to win. Kristin tells the camera that there is too much game play now to convince her to take the word of a competitor.

At 4 hours and 40 minutes, the Purple team wins. Kristin is exhuberant, remembering how no one picked them as part of their team in the first episode.

Mandi's visit with her husband is tearful. She hasn't seen him for six weeks. They are interrupted by a knock at the door and she is overjoyed to see her two boys, too.

At a commercial break, Bob stands with Liz Vaccariello, an editor of "Prevention" magazine. They urge the use of a "Walking School Bus" to get kids to start walking to school again.

Mandi's family meets her team, enjoys a low-calorie breakfast, and workout in the gym. Her husband acknowledges that he's proud of her and agrees that this is tough work. She wants to prove that this visit will empower her instead of hindering her like Jillian believes.

Bob drives up in a cart behind his team which is taking a walk. When he finds out the Purple team won immunity, he lets them ride in it. At the Last Chance Workout, Kristin confesses that she wants to finally drop below 300 lbs. Bob is worried about Ron and Mike. He tells the camera that if they fall below the yellow line for the third week in a row, "I will have met the team I couldn't help".

He singles out the Blue Team and Mike to lift weights. After awhile, Mike begins to cry. Ron admits it's hard for him to see his son like this and not go comfort him. He recognizes that his son is growing up and needs to handle this on his own. Bob reminds Mike outside the gym that he needs to hold himself together to help his father.

Jillian's workout begins early and keeps going well into the evening. She admits she's killing them because they don't have enough votes to keep from getting voted off themselves. Aubrey finally starts breaking down because she's become homesick since Mandi's family arrived. Then Mandi starts crying because her husband and sons will be leaving soon and she wishes she had one
more minute with them. Jillian gets frustrated and tells her that this is why she didn't think it was a good idea to have the family there as Mandi has barely worked out today. She tells Mandi that she can go see her family if she wants and Mandi leaves. She says good-bye to her husband and boys.

At the weigh-in, one team will fall below the yellow line and the other players will have to vote one member of that team off.

The weight loss totals:

As the Purple Team has immunity, they weigh in first with Kristin excited about losing the 2 lbs she needs to drop below 300. However, everyone is shocked when Kristin gains 2 lbs instead and Cathy loses only 4 lbs (Since they have immunity, would this be gameplay?).

Helen - 5 lbs, Shanon - 5 lbs

Tara tells the camera that she keeps losing double-digits, so if she does it this time and Aubrey only loses three, Tara will know that she is one carrying this team.

Tara loses 11 lbs, while Aubrey loses 3

Filipe - 10 lbs, Sione - 11 lbs
Blaine - 4 lbs, Dane - 5 lbs

As Jillian relates the problems with the yellow team, she tells the camera, "If they fall below the yellow line, I will kill them".

Mandi - 6 lbs, Aubrey 1 lb.

Finally, Mike and Ron weigh in, with Mike losing 13 lbs and his Dad, 5 lbs.

Bob crowes, "See what happens when you listen to me, America?" This puts the Black Team below the yellow line.

As the teams meet, Blaine asks to be sent home instead of Dane. As they talk without the Black Team, Ron tells everyone he thinks Dane should go. Aubrey thinks they should honor Blaine's request. A fight erupts because Bob's team doesn't think it can trust Jillian's team to vote the way they say they will. Tara insists gameplay isn't involved in this decision, but Kristin finds
that hard to believe because Joelle stayed for three weeks because of gameplay and they lost Damien because of Jillian's team not sticking to an agreement.

The Pink Team picks Dane because they think he can make it at home, but the Brown, Green, Blue and Purple teams decide to honor Blaine's request and vote him off. This is enough to send Blaine home.

He leaves and reveals he is practicing for an Iron Man competition that he hopes to complete before the finale. He has lost 86 lbs so far.

This post has been edited by Jedi Cool: 18 February 2009 - 05:40 PM

[Jedi Cool]

Dane is depressed because his cousin isn't there to support him anymore. He has to reconcile
himself to having no partner and begins hitting the gym early.

The contestants find Alison in front of the gym where she announces another "pop challenge". She has the keys to the gym. They will compete for one of them. In order to win, they will have to walk up the mountain to a board with 130 keys on it. Each contestant may take one key, go down the mountain, try the lock and, if successful, will earn the right to have the gym for the week. If not, they will have to keep going back up the mountain and trying again. Two teams will win. The others will be banned from the gym for the week.

Since Kristin is coming off of a 2 lb weight gain, she needs to win this challenge. Everyone runs off except Ron who is still struggling with his bad knee. Tara relates that she doesn't think Laura's intensity can be measured outside of the gym and begins to run fast. She is the first to take a key, but it doesn't work. Shanon decides not to overextend herself. She tells the camera that, if she gets it, she gets it, if she doesn't, she doesn't, and enjoys the leisurely walks up and down the mountain. After Tara expresses concern over Ron's ability to walk, Helen helps him. Mike is impressed with the love shown to his father. Ironically, Shanon gets the first key.

Aubrey causes a stir with Mandi when she pretends to get the next one as a joke. Mike helps his dad uphill by pushing up the extra few feet. When Mike returns to the gym, his key works after nine trips up and down the mountain.

Jillian goes to meet her team and sees that Blaine is gone. In last week's episode, Bob had specifically told his team that they should vote Dane off instead. Jillian is shocked as Bob's teams rarely go against his wishes when it comes to eliminations. In the meantime, Bob puts on a good face when told they voted Blaine off instead. He reminds them that Dane is the bigger threat and tells them not to ask his advice if they don't take it.

They also reveal that two of his teams have the gym for the week.

Jillian hates working out outside and tells her team to start moving the furniture around in the living room.

In the gym, Shanon and Helen work out together and wonder what the others are having to do. Helen comments that they may be eating or sitting around. Jillian's team is actually playing musical chairs. The Pink Team decides to turn Jillian's part of the gym into a lounge with lawn furniture, plants and cut fruit.

Bob, in the meantime, has his team grab outside benches and begin stepping onto and off of them, then pressing them up and down. Jillian has her team inside mimicing jumping rope and she tells the camera she has them doing '80s exercise video stuff.

Outside, Bob tells the camera that Kristin just keeps going no matter what and will be in the 200s at this weigh-in (with no indication as to whether or not he believes that Kristin's weight gain the week she had immunity had anything to do with gameplay). Inside, Tara is having trouble concentrating. Jillian finally has to get on her back and Tara tries to stop, crying for just a few seconds.

On the commercial break, Bob offers a trainer's tip: Since first-time runners often start off too quickly and experience trouble breathing, he suggests concentrating on breathing deep down in the belly and allowing periods of walking, too.

Tara and Jillian talk privately. Tara admits she misses Blaine and is worried about Laura. If the Green Team falls below the yellow line, Tara will be the one voted off by virtue of her huge weight losses each week. Jillian tries to encourage her not to worry about Laura.

While Bob thinks the lounge idea is hilarious, he begins working on the Pink and Brown Teams. Mike hopes he loses a lot of weight so that people won't think he goofed off the whole week he had the gym.

Outside, Bob shows the teams the TRX system which can be affixed to a door or tree and used to exercise without virtue of a gym.

While on a walk, Kristin has a desire to run through sprinklers. Before long, she is involved with a mud fight involving Filipe, Tara and Mike.

The regular episode challenge takes place at night again. There are rowing machines attached to green lights. Each contestant will have to row quickly enough to keep the light green. If they lose power, the light will turn yellow. If the light turns red, they and their teammate are out of the challenge. The winning team gets immunity. Tara immediately begins to fret about Laura's ability to keep up.

Ron is out first which takes Mike. Ron laments that Mike never gets to show off what he has during these challenges because he keeps being held back by his dad. Aubrey takes the yellow team out, then Shanon eliminates the Pink Team. Kristin gets the red light first taking out the Purple Team. Then Filipe gets the Blue Team taken out. Tara starts swapping trash talk with Dane before Laura gives out after 24 minutes and Dane wins the challenge. Laura begins to cry and has to be comforted by the other players.

Bob goes to Ron the next day and tells him that he is taking the whole team to the beach but needs Ron to stay at the Ranch and just swim in the pool which is about all he can do right now. He asks about Ron's knee which still doesn't seem any better.

Bob's Last Chance Workout is at the beach which includes the Pink Team and Mike. He has them running on sand, crab walking and running with large logs on their shoulders.

Jillian has her team members boxing, running, jump-roping and '80s aerobics. She has to talk to Tara again and remind her to leave Laura to Jillian. She then has them using their upper body strength to push themselves up out of the swimming pool.

At another commercial break, Jillian pitches eating more whole grains.

At the weigh-in, the team that loses the least percentage of weight-loss will lose one player to be chosen by the other contestants.

Dan - 4 lbs
Kirstin - 12 lbs, Cathy - 1 lb
Filipe - 7 lbs, Sione - 9 lbs
Laura - 8 lbs, Tara - 7 lbs
Mandi - 5 lbs, Aubrey - 7 lbs
Helen - 6 lbs, Shanon - 3 lbs
Mike - 10 lbs, Ron - 7 lbs

Despite having the gym for the entire week, the Pink Team has fallen below the yellow line. Shanon and Helen tell the others that they have already discussed what would happen if they were up for elimination. Since Shanon has gone home before and done well, they feel she can do it again. Shanon asks to be sent home. Tara asks if this is what Shanon really wants.

As the contestants discuss this privately, Dane believes that a parent would sacrifice their chance here for the sake of their child, as they know Ron would for Mike. Kristin doesn't believe weight can be lost at home. Filipe isn't sure Shanon's request is the best choice for her as she still has more weight to lose. Both of them lose weight, but Helen has been thin before. The contestants seem to believe that Shanon is trying to make her mother happy.

At the elimination, Shanon admits that she and Helen second-guessed themselves after Tara asked her if she really wanted to leave. She hopes that her teammates know her better than she knows herself. Unfortunately for her, the others decided to respect her wishes. Green, Blue, Brown and Purple Teams all vote Shanon off.

After returning home, Shanon reveals that she has lost 85 lbs so far and is trying out for a roller derby.

[The Red Aaron]

The roller derby? Whooptidoo

[The Human Torch]

Roller Derby is tough stuff, Aaron. Seriously. Trying out for it would be an good indicator of her commitment to get and stay healthy.