Biggest Loser 15 - Getting Into The Olympic Spirit

 

 

 



This week the contestants get to do something most of us dream of - train with Olympians. 

After last week's weigh-in, the remaining players got packed and onto a plane to Park City, Utah, to work out at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.  The first thing they noticed when boarding their flight was that they could walk down the aisle without bumping into other people already seated.  The other big victory...not only finding that seat belt extenders weren't necessary, but that there was actually room to breathe after buckling into the regular belt!

Once in Utah, Dolvett introduced everyone to Apolo Ohno, who jumped right into training and motivating the contestants.  He noticed that Rachel's mental switch was turned back on and advised her to never let it shut off again.  He also told David that his old inner athlete was coming back.  Apolo gave excellent advice for all of us - never just go through the motions in life, tap into your mental capacity and fight for yourself.  I know that's something I need to be reminded of every now and then...I'm sure we all do.

Of course everyone was worried about the weigh-in due to the travel schedule and major changes in routine...especially Bob.  Rachel proved that she was thinking ahead by preparing food from the ranch and packing it for the trip, so she wouldn't have to worry about falling into old eating patterns.  Bobby had a binge night at the beginning of the week, so he worked hard to overcome that the rest of the week - but Bob was still nervous and had a long talk with him. Bob also gave everyone a breakfast lesson to get them back on track.  Those mini frittatas look awesome, and I like how Chelsea plans to make them at home and use them as an on-the-go option before work.

The first challenge of the week is brought to us courtesy of the Women's Curling Team. They give encouragement to the contestants by telling them how hard worked at their second chance to make the Olympic team, and then Ali assigns the challenge.  Each player needs to push 100 pound curling stones into a target and land them in the red bulls-eye.  There are two heats of four, and two from each heat make it into the finals by scoring 3 points.  The person in the final round scoring 3 points first wins $5000.  Bobby and Rachel win Heat 1, David and Chelsea win Heat 2.  Rachel wins the final, and she can feel the pressure of being the number one threat/target in the group.  Now, however, she feels she can handle the pressure.

Bob puts everyone through a grueling obstacle course, which includes players riding piggyback with each other.  Marie can't jump high enough to get on Bobby's back, so she has him get on HER back and she carries him all the way.  Now that's a strong woman - she's in it to win it!

We also get an update on Tumi, who went home last week.  She's lost 139 pounds so far and is enjoying herself trying on wedding dresses, which she didn't do before at her old weight.  It's wonderful to see her reunite with her sister again as well.

Dolvett has a talk with Rachel about her dad, since they had a strained relationship after she quit competitive swimming and her parents divorced.  She was happy to report that after she told him about Biggest Loser, he's been writing her and showing plenty of support. They're on their way to mending their relationship, since they are bonding over athletic endeavors again.

The second challenge involved the bobsled track.  The contestants met the women's team of Jasmine and Lolo (yes - Lolo Jones from track and field!)  and got another lesson in second chances.  Then they all had to race UP the bobsled track, over a mile long, to win a one pound advantage at the weigh-in.  The altitude got to some of them but they all finished.  It came down to Rachel and Jay, with Rachel winning the pound advantage.

At the last chance workout, Jillian worked with Jen on her box jumps.  Jen's fear took over again, but this time Jill was able to talk her through it and get her to perform them.  I can totally relate to the fear, so kudos to Jen for overcoming it!

The weigh-in was held outdoors at night, at the Nordic Ski Jump site.  Five players lost weight, pleasing the trainers who were worried about the scale this week.  Jen lost nothing, but still stayed above the yellow line because Jay gained one pound and Bobby gained two.  Everyone voted to send Jay home, and he was a class act all the way.  I can't wait to see how he looks at the finale, which is coming up in a few weeks.

Next week is - wait for it - MAKEOVER WEEK!  I know we all look forward to this every season, and this time it will be fun to see David once he finally shaves that beard.  Tune in next week with me to see the transformations!

Biggest Loser 15 - Yellow Line Is Back, A Former Contestant Returns

It seems like forever since we last checked in on our Season 15 contestants, even though it's only been three weeks. 

So Biggest Loser provided us with a recap of the season so far in the first few minutes of tonight's show.  But that's OK - since they also gave us a 2 hour episode tonight. Seems like old times!

There are other reasons that tonight feels like a blast from the past as well.  A Season 8 favorite comes by to talk to the current contestants, and someone who was eliminated gets to return to the game.  Oh yeah...and the yellow line is back!

After the recap, we jump right into Alison bringing the eliminated players to the scale, vying for a spot back on the ranch.  She also informs them about the yellow line, which means they'll need to vote on who goes home.  The person with the highest percentage of weight loss gets to rejoin the competition.  Hap and Matt, who had just been eliminated, have already weighed in.  It looks like Matt won't be going anywhere, until Bobby gets on the scale and posts over 27 percent weight loss and knocks him back out.  Bobby is back, and Bob is thrilled since he had just lost two players...one of his favorites is back, someone who Bob thought wasn't quite ready to go home anyway.  They talk about Bobby's adventures since he was last on the ranch, then get back to work.

Bob also puts David through a tough circuit workout over and over again, and David responds by beating his time each round and showing great improvement. Bob asks him about his current wife, since so far most of the story had been about the first wife who passed away.  David talks about what a gift Melissa has been in his life for the past 9 years, and how strong she is coming into a grieving family, helping them move on while also allowing them to remember the wife and mom who is no longer here.  Bob arranges a video chat so David can tell Melissa how much he's learned on the ranch and how much he loves and appreciates her.  He vows to love her even better, since now he has really learned how to love himself so he can spread more love to his family.

Jillian works Tanya out, noticing how she always starts out strong in her workouts but waivers near the end.  Tanya tells Jill about her mom's abuse, and how her mom always pointed out what was "wrong" with her.  Jillian teaches her how to embrace her potential, and Tanya sees how she needs to "parent" herself instead of looking for approval from others. 

When we check in on Matt and Hap, we discover they've continued their friendship and support at home.  Hap travels a lot for work, so he shows us how he eats healthy on the road.  Hmm...I'm going to have to take a grill on the road with me as well.  It's such a great idea, and keeps you away from the greasy fast food when traveling.

Everyone meets Ali at the beach for the challenge.  They have to dig kettlebells out of the sand and carry them up the hill and hang them on a post. Each is worth one point, and the first to get to 10 wins a $25,000 home gym from Planet Fitness.  The person coming in last gets a one pound disadvantage at the weigh-in.  There is one golden kettlebell worth five points, which Marie finds, but it isn't enough to beat Jay for the top prize.  Tanya is last and receives the dreaded pound, but she vows to overcome it.

Season 8's Abby Rike comes to visit, and all of the contestants remember her story of losing her family in a car accident and struggling to find her way back.  She tells them not to compare their journey with anyone else's, and that it's necessary to deal with your own hurt to become whole again.  She has remarried and is approaching her 2nd wedding anniversary.  She also kept the weight off until suffering a back injury, and is working her way back to her previous fitness level with the help of the Biggest Loser Resort.  (I hope I can make a trip to one soon!)  She mentions how sweat and tears are healing waters...and David can definitely relate.

Dolvett takes the players to the race track, where they work out with driver Carl Edwards.  And what a surprise...they all have Subway for lunch!  The step workout looks brutal but they still all have fun doing it with Carl.  Back at the ranch, Rachel tries on her old size 8 jeans that her mom sent...and they fit!  As she celebrates her accomplishment, Marie meets with Jillian to let her know she's decided that she's in this competition to win it.  Jill promises to make her prove it - and delivers.

At the weigh-in, Tanya and Tumi fall below the yellow line.  Everyone votes to send Tumi home, since they consider her a bigger threat and feel she'll do well at home.

Next week the remaining contestants go to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Park City, Utah, where they'll train with Apolo Ohno and other athletes.  But will the scale be kind?  Tune in and find out!

Biggest Loser 12: There's No Team In "I", Or So We Thought

There's no "I" in team.

There's also no Team in "I", or at least that's what we think when Biggest Loser goes to singles and the yellow line looms in the minds of the players.

They certainly started out thinking that way. Once Alison made the announcement that each player would be on their own and there was going to be a week long penthatalon, everyone started strategizing. It is partially a game, after all. The first event had the contestants ranking each other according to who they most thought would win this season, and everyone had their own system for coming up with a list. They ranged from putting the "least threatening" players first to ranking them alphabetically. (Really, Sunny? Couldn't you put a little more effort into it?) The kicker was - the results of this event would not be revealed until the weigh-in.

As the contestants moved through each event, they received points according to where they finished and stood on a championship-style podium...except this podium had 7 steps. I bet there are a few athletes that wished they had that at the Olympics. What type of medal would you give for 7th place? Paper? Aluminum foil???

On the day of the final event, the players got to meet Apolo Ohno, the most decorated American athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics. He brought them lunch (Subway of course) and talked to them about how they inspire him and his weight problem as a kid. Looking at him now, it's still hard to fathom that his childhood nickname was Chunky. (And of course we're all looking at him now, because...well, just LOOK at him!) That just makes his victories in life that much sweeter and inspires everyone to overcome the labels that were placed on them at various times in their lives. You are more than a cruel or stupid nickname...don't let yourself be defined by it.

Apolo led the last event, a one mile run similar to what the contestants did on their very first day. (Thankfully they didn't all have to run together carrying a pole this time.) Apolo ran with them, accompanying each of them on the last leg to the finish line. Bonnie was the last to finish, and after Apolo ran out to join her so did everyone else. It was really nice to see players put aside "the game" to genuinely care about somebody else. Maybe all they needed was a glimpse into the heart of a champion to have it rub off on them. Apolo has always been incredibly gracious in both victory and defeat, and I'm happy to see this season's contestants get it and finally apply it to their own experience.

When it came time for the weigh-in, the results were revealed for the first event and the total of all five. You know Sunny was regretting her alphabetical plan when Antone won and received immunity. Boonie was last and received a one pound disadvantage. She wound up below the yellow line with Becky.

In true Olympic spirit, Bonnie sacrificed herself for Becky, her former teammate on Anna's Blue team. Not only did she want her friend to keep going, but she really wants to see a teacher take it all the way. (Both Becky and Sunny are math teachers.) Her unselfish act caused plenty of tears on the ranch and here at my house. These are the moments that really matter - not whether you beat someone at a challenge, but how you treat them. Winning is still something to strive for...as long as you treat people well along the way.

Next week the players and trainers have Thanksgiving dinner together at the ranch. Even though you know they will consume healthy versions of our holiday favorites, I'd love to see Apolo back to lead a Turkey Trot. Hey, I'm all for some Apolo every week!