Because they met Allison’s challenge of losing over 150 pounds, nobody was sent home in The Biggest Loser 8 Episode 2.
Allison’s waiting for them the next day before they head into the gym. She talks about choices. This is “Would you rather?” week. Would they rather have their trainers or an advantage at the weigh-in? They will be there training whoever wants to be trained, but they will not train whoever would rather have an advantage. Only one team will be granted the 2 pound advantage. If nobody’s interested, the stakes will go up. 2 pounds really isn’t worth it, but to Mo’s surprise, Tracey takes the offer for the purple team.
When they get inside, it’s time to face the firing squad. Bob and Jillian are upset, so their work with her for the week will be limited to a lecture about not making such hasty decisions.
Dr. H has ordered an MRI for Abby because of her problem with shin splints. She will be allowed to go in the pool, but that’s it. He is unable to predict how long this will last.
When Allison started talking about choices earlier, my mind immediately went to temptation. Would they rather control their diet or control the game? At the weigh-in, only one person from each team will represent them. The winner of the temptation will be able to choose. What’s under the trays? It’s… a cupcake. Okay, what’s the real temptation? That cupcake contains 100 calories. All they have to do to win is eat more cupcakes than anybody else.
Liz doesn’t want that kind of control this early. Sean wants to take these cupcakes and rub them all over his body, which is probably more than I needed to know. Around the 6 minute mark, Antoine takes the first bite. Tracey’s still thinking about Bob and Jillian from earlier, but that doesn’t last.
Two people ended up eating. Antoine ate 2 cupcakes. Tracey ate 4 to win the challenge. For 400 calories, a pretty good prize.
Bob is just hoping that nobody did anything stupid. He asks who in the world would have done this. That would be Tracey. Again. Jillian’s ready to inflict bodily harm. As big a deal as they make of this, 400 calories really isn’t much, especially for the power received or as compared with prior temptations that we’ve seen run into the thousands. Perhaps the bigger issue here, though, is that she already jumped on the last offer very quickly.
Control is up for grabs again. The winner will get immunity. Each team will have to get 500 pounds to the top of the ramp. They can choose to lift the closer 5 pound buckets 2 at a time, or they can opt for the 25 pounders. Tracey and Abby will be sitting out, so their partners (and Julio) will need to get to 250 pounds.
10 pounds: Purple, Green, Pink, Blue
25 pounds: Brown, Black, Red, Orange
The disadvantage to the 25 pound weights is that they’re a lot further than the set of 5s, but it also means a lot more climbing up that ramp. Green and pink are leading the pack at the halfway point, an indication that the closer choice was the better one. After 15 minutes, green’s got a pretty sizeable lead as pink slows behind him. This is Allen’s challenge to lose. Pink has some chance, but everybody else has no prayer. Allen retains his lead the whole way to win immunity for himself and Abby. Pink finishes second. Everybody else keeps going and finishes the challenge, all ganging up on the final player’s spot to help Mo finish.
This week, it’s Dina’s turn to get screamed at. She quits while running. Jillian hates quitters. After much drama, Dina returns to the treadmill.
Daniel asks Tracey for some mercy. He would rather get on the scale than Shay. Amanda is afraid of pulling another low number. Tracey would like some cooperation out of them: don’t vote for her if she falls below the yellow line. They are unwilling to commit. Don’t be surprised if she is unwilling to work with you then.
At the weigh-in, Jillian’s still lecturing. This time, she wants to convince Mo that he can’t support his partner’s decisions.
Allen: 292 pounds (-4, 1.35%)
Abby: 216 pounds (-5, 2.26%)
Green Total: 508 pounds (-9, 1.74%, immune)
Julio: 368 pounds (-7, 1.87%)
Liz: 243 pounds (-4, 1.62%)
Danny: 390 pounds (-4, 1.01%)
Brown Total: 633 pounds (-8, 1.25%)
Liz’s weight will count for the brown team, which is surprisingly the decision that benefits them most.
Rudy: 388 pounds (-12, 3.00%)
Dina: 234 pounds (-3, 1.27%)
Blue Total: 622 pounds (-15, 2.36%)
Rudy’s weight will count, which will guarantee the blue team’s safety.
Amanda: 235 pounds (-5, 2.08%)
Rebecca: 248 pounds (-7, 2.75%)
Pink Total: 483 pounds (-12, 2.42%)
Against their wishes, Tracey chooses Amanda to weigh-in, which they whine about. Next time somebody wants to make a deal, make the deal, or don’t and get over it. Don’t refuse, demand your side only, and pout.
Antoine: 330 pounds (-11, 3.22%)
Sean: 405 pounds (-6, 1.46%)
Red Total: 735 pounds (-17, 2.26%)
Sean’s numbers will count for the red team.
Daniel: 287 pounds (-6, 2.05%)
Shay: 437 pounds (-6, 1.35%)
Orange Total: 724 pounds (-12, 1.63%)
Going against Daniel’s expectations, Shay’s numbers will count. Tracey’s just making enemies left and right here. She’s gonna have trouble surviving much longer at this pace. With that, Rebecca continues her earlier tantrum.
Tracey: 217 pounds (-11, -2, 5.70%)
Mo: 326 pounds (-1, 0.31%)
Purple Total: 543 pounds (-12, 2.16%)
For all the bashing Tracey took this week, she made a genius choice. If somebody else took control of this game (and somebody else would have eventually) and picked Mo, they’d be below the yellow line. Beyond that, for all the talk about how 2 pounds wouldn’t matter, since only 1 person’s weight counted, it ended up making a big difference, as both of those who fell below the yellow line could have been saved by it. The bad news for Tracey is that her life there is bound to be short-lived because she’s got some serious fence mending to do. She receives no applause for knocking it out the park this week without a trainer. Nobody’s even willing to fake it.
The red and orange teams have fallen below the yellow line, and one of them will be eliminated. Since she’s still the heaviest woman ever, Shay is likely to get the sympathy votes. It’s too early for voting out a threat just yet. Granted, Sean’s over 400 pounds himself and as such both needs to be there and is a big threat, although I think he’s more likely to stick to it.
Votes
Julio: Antoine & Sean
Abby & Allen: Antoine & Sean
Amanda & Rebecca: Antoine & Sean
Tracey & Mo: Antoine & Sean
Sean has lost 120 pounds from his starting weight of 444 pounds. He and his wife are expecting another child any day now, which they plan to name Jillian.
Antoine has dropped 105 pounds from his starting weight of 367 pounds. Since leaving, he’s hooked up with Alexandra, who was kicked off the ranch week 1.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 8 Episode 4, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.