Category: biggest loser 17

When the black team fell below the yellow line, the house chose to send Blaine home at his request in The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 6.

Unlike before when they were one of only two teams left standing, now Dane’s all alone and the only one who doesn’t have a partner.

Alison tells them that only two teams will get access to the gym this week. They will have to climb the hill and grab one of 130 keys. If their key opens the lock, they will be granted access. If not, they’re stuck doing it outdoors for the week. I’m all for this little excursion outside, but I’m not a big fan of splitting it where some people have gym access and some don’t. Everyone takes off at a jog, except Ron, whose knees are bothering him. Tara is first up the hill, but ultimately it doesn’t really matter since this is a challenge of dumb luck rather than speed. Shanon’s just out for a leisurely stroll, not overly concerned whether she gets the prize or not. Ron’s struggling, but he just keeps going, whether he’s the last one up or not. The others all want to help him out, but he insists he’s alright on his own for the most part. Like Tara, Sione’s a bit of a machine, lapping people, but to no avail. After 7 trips and no luck, Tara throws up, then continues running. Shanon’s sixth key is lucky, so Shanon & Helen will have access to the gym. With over an hour having elapsed, the teams keep going and hoping for that last key. Michael ends up getting the second key, making Mike & Ron the other team with gym access.

Tara fears that she won’t be able to compensate for Laura this week.

Jillian is thankful that the other team was dumb and sent Blaine home instead of Dane, against Bob’s wishes. Dane’s shocked, too. Bob tells his team they kept a really big threat in the house and shouldn’t ask for his input if they’re not going to bother taking it. The good news is that both of the groups in the gym this week are on Bob’s team.

Jillian hates the out of doors. It’s icky. She has an alternative idea. They’ll construct a home gym in the living room.

Following their workout, Helen & Shanon decide to turn part of the gym into a lounge.

Bob’s outdoor team is working out on/with lawn furniture. You don’t need a gym. Just grab a chair. Kristin says she’s got aches and pains in places that haven’t hurt her since week one.

Jillian’s doing an aerobics class in the living room, going back to 1980s VHS tapes that used to work during the latter part of last century. She’s worried that Tara’s not herself today and pushes her, causing Tara to toss the weights down, pout, and try to escape. Jillian won’t let her quit. Tara knows that, if she falls below the yellow line with Laura, she’s definitely the one going home, but Jillian wants her to know that she shouldn’t sabotage her workouts, the one thing that will keep her there.

When he gets into the members only gym, Bob is amused by what they’ve done but wants them to get away from their vacation and step it up.

The next thing on Bob’s agenda is a commercial, the TRX Suspension trainer, a portable suspension training that will allow them to turn the trees into their gym.

Thanks to some sprinklers, some of the contestants are able to turn the yard into a mud pit.

A line of rowing machines confronts them at the challenge. They must row fast enough to get their light to turn green. If their light turns yellow, it’s a warning they need to speed up. If their light turns red, they’re out, along with their teammate. Tara continues to doubt her partner. While the doubt is valid, it can’t be helping either of them any that she’s so open about it. Dane and Laura are the first two to go yellow. Both of them eventually recover, as Ron goes yellow. Ron is eliminated, along with Mike, and knows he’s the anchor on his son. Aubrey goes yellow next, followed by Shanon. Aubrey is eliminated, along with Mandi. Shanon’s bouncing up and down from yellow to green. Cathy is next to go yellow, followed by Kristin, who quickly recovers. Cathy also recovers. Shanon, however, has finally gone red, along with Helen. While attempting to strategize on the best plan to get her mom back into this, Kristin very quickly goes from green to red, so she’s eliminated along with Cathy. Laura drops down to yellow briefly, as does Filipe. They’ve hit the 15 minute mark. Both Laura and Filipe are bouncing up and down to yellow. Filipe is eliminated, along with Sione. Dane’s the only one who’s been looking pretty comfortable lately, and he’s left up against Laura and Tara. Dane drops back down to yellow but recovers. Laura finally drops down to red, and Dane wins immunity after 24 minutes. Laura breaks down crying after it’s all done, knowing she let Tara down.

Ron knows he’s not being pushed hard relatively speaking. Bob says he’s probably at about 30% of where the average person in the house typically is. He’ll never give up, though, and will continue to fight through the pain so his son can stay there.

Bob takes his team (minus Ron, who’s staying in the pool, which should hopefully be a good workout that’s good to his knees) to the beach. It’s not just a day at the beach. It’s last chance workout time.

Over on Jillian’s side, Tara continues to be unable to focus on her workout.

It’s time for the weigh-in.

Dane: 325 pounds (-4, 1.22%, immune)

Kristin: 289 pounds (-12)
Cathy: 263 pounds (-1)
Purple Total: 552 pounds (-13, 2.30%)

Filipe: 291 pounds (-7)
Sione: 296 pounds (-9)
Blue Total: 587 pounds (-16, 2.65%)

Laura: 241 pounds (-8)
Tara: 222 pounds (-7)
Green Total: 463 pounds (-15, 3.14%)

Hopefully now Tara will stop complaining about Laura to the point where she can barely finish a workout.

Mandi: 210 pounds (-5)
Aubrey: 216 pounds (-7)
Yellow Total: 426 pounds (-12, 2.74%)

Helen: 205 pounds (-6)
Shanon: 238 pounds (-3)
Pink Total: 443 pounds (-9, 1.99%)

Mike: 307 pounds (-10)
Ron: 354 pounds (-7)
Brown Total: 661 pounds (-17, 2.51%)

Immunity has played a role again. Dane is saved from being below the yellow line because he’s immune, so Helen & Shanon fall below. Shanon feels she would do better at home, so Helen requests that Shanon go home instead. Done. And here I was hoping to see whether Jillian’s team would do in the same position Bob’s team was in last week. Shanon says she’s just trying to give her mom what she wants and is not sure whether she really wants to go.

Votes
Laura & Tara: Shanon
Filipe & Sione: Shanon
Mike & Ron: Shanon
Kristin & Cathy: Shanon

Per her request, Shanon has been sent home, which may or may not have been what she actually wanted. Shanon is down from her starting weight of 283 pounds to 198 pounds today. Her mom being at the ranch means she’ll have more time with her since she’ll be healthier. Shanon’s now training to be in the roller derby.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7 Episode 8, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

After being given a bunch of chances, Joelle’s team finally got their chance to get rid of her and Carla in The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 5.

Mike & Ron, having fallen below the yellow line two weeks in a row, are trying to figure out what’s been going wrong. They’re well aware they lucked out last week being up against who they were up against.

At the pop challenge, whatever that is, they’ll all stand on one foot. Reward is a visit from a loved one for 24 hours. Ron is out at 9 seconds. Mike follows at 20, eliminating the brown team quickly. Kristin is out at 35 seconds. Dane drops at 2:23. Tara’s out and in the pool shortly thereafter. Cathy is out next and eliminates the purple team. Shanon falls and takes Helen down with her to eliminate the pink team. Laura’s down, eliminating green. Sione is next to fall. After Mandi pitifully begs him, Filipe (who gave David a lecture about how bad he missed his wife a couple weeks back) drops on purpose so she can see her husband. As you’ll recall from a few weeks ago, Mandi’s the one who deserves to see her family the most, apparently. Blaine gets suckered into it, too, and Aubrey drops. Mandi wins the challenge and gets 24 hours with her husband.

Bob figures the brown team’s problem is their diet. He knows they’re not eating enough because they’re putting in the work in the gym.

Jillian’s concerned about Mandi winning the challenge. She says that Mandi is the last person she’d like to have won it because it may not go perfectly and could negatively impact her performance.

Bob loves doing yoga with his team and feels it’s a great way to get a workout.

Jillian doesn’t consider Laura particularly motivated, with a lack of intensity behind her actions despite saying all the right things.

At the challenge, each team member will hold either end of a bar above their heads for as long as they can. Reward is immunity. At the 1 hour mark, Alison makes them choose one arm. Filipe and Sione seem to be distracted and are the first ones out. Mike & Ron are out after 1 hour 45 minutes. Blaine & Dane are next, leaving the women left standing. At 2 hours, they’re instructed to keep both hands on the bar. Shanon & Helen are the next team eliminated. The teams pass the 3 hour mark, and Mandi & Aubrey are eliminated. That leaves pink up against green, like the jumping challenge. They pass the 4 hour mark, bringing them to midnight and 38 degrees. Tara wants to cut a deal: they won’t vote against them if they fall below the yellow line. Purple team’s not interested or concerned. Laura’s arms finally give out, and Kristin & Cathy win immunity after 4 hours and 40 minutes.

When they get back, Mandi’s husband Rusty is waiting for her in her room. She says she wishes she could see her boys, and the knock at the door answers that. They’re there as well.

With Mandi’s family visiting, it’s got Aubrey thinking about her own family, and she breaks down crying in the middle of the last chance workout. Mandi hasn’t even bothered to show up, though, until long after everybody else. She wants to stay with her family for another hour rather than working out. Jillian lets her go but is not happy about it.

It’s time for the weigh-in. Only 1 team will go below the yellow line.

Kristin: 303 pounds (+2)
Cathy: 264 pounds (-4)
Purple Total: 567 pounds (-2, 0.35%, immune)

Helen: 211 pounds (-5)
Shanon: 241 pounds (-5)
Pink Total: 452 pounds (-10, 2.16%)

Laura: 249 pounds (-3)
Tara: 229 pounds (-11)
Green Total: 478 pounds (-14, 2.85%)

Filipe: 298 pounds (-10)
Sione: 305 pounds (-11)
Blue Total: 603 pounds (-21, 3.37%)

Blaine: 299 pounds (-4)
Dane: 329 pounds (-5)
Black Total: 528 pounds (-9, 1.41%)

Mandi: 215 pounds (-6)
Aubrey: 223 pounds (-1)
Yellow Total: 238 pounds (-7, 1.57%)

Mike: 317 pounds (-13)
Ron: 361 pounds (-5)
Brown Total: 678 pounds (-18, 2.59%)

Thanks to immunity, Kristin & Cathy have been spared despite a bad week. Mandi had a good week despite the distractions, but Aubrey was not so lucky. However, they managed to squeak by. Blaine & Dane have fallen below the yellow line after having put up huge numbers week after week, and now the others must choose between the two of them. Blaine asks them to send him home. This quickly turns into an argument about gameplay versus not gameplay, going back to Damien versus Joelle.

Votes
Helen & Shanon: Dane
Mike & Ron: Blaine
Laura & Tara: Blaine
Filipe & Sione: Blaine
Kristin & Cathy: Blaine

Bob’s team has honored Blaine’s request to send him home instead of Dane. Blaine hopes to do an Ironman before heading back to the finale. He is down to 279 pounds from his starting weight of 365.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7 Episode 7, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

As the teammates returned to the ranch, Dan and Dave were sent home in The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 4.

Because it was too difficult to get it done last week, it’s time for the at home contestants to weigh in now. The winner of the weigh-in will get immunity for their team for the week. Other than that, it doesn’t seem to matter whether they lost anything while at home.

Shanon: 255 pounds (-15, 5.56%, crying, I’m still waiting for NBC to make up their minds whether there is one n or two in her name)

Laura: 265 pounds (-7, 2.57%, crying)

Cathy: 273 pounds (-8, 2.85%, happy)

Aubrey: 234 pounds (-2, 0.85%, full of excuses Jillian doesn’t want to hear)

Carla: 348 pounds (-20, 5.43%, happy)

Sione: 324 pounds (-25, 7.16%, less excited than the excessively loud Filipe)

The blue team wins immunity.

Sione seems like he hasn’t left. He’s come back stronger and faster than he was when he left and is putting the others to shame.

Aubrey says she was in the gym at least 4-5 hours a day but didn’t do good on food. Jillian tells her that her most important lesson is to ask for help.

Carla and Joelle are failing to work like a team still, but at least Carla’s less loud about it.

They’re tied to their partners and must unwrap enough rope to make it across the finish line, which they will do by jumping up and over a pipe. The winning team will be able to choose $5,000 or a 2 pound advantage. Joelle wants the cash, but everybody else probably is going for the weight. Ron and Mike have a strategy of going as fast as they can without injuring themselves, which may be a taller task than they may have anticipated. All the other teams seem to be doing a decent job. Yellow and green are the first to make a break for it. Green’s not even close and has to return. The other teams make a dash for it and are on yellow’s heels, but Mandi and Aubrey win the challenge with just enough slack. This was a fairly silly challenge. No doubt somebody else did a lot better.

Joelle’s back to her old ways, and having Carla back hasn’t helped her any. Carla, however, is really trying to get it done.

Shanon screams and cries throughout the workout but just keeps going anyway. Bob has Sione hop on her back so that she can carry him across the gym.

At the weigh-in, the yellow team opts for the 2 pound advantage.

Filipe: 308 pounds (-3)
Sione: 316 pounds (-8)
Blue Total: 624 pounds, (-11, 1.73%, immune)

Mandi: 221 pounds (-6)
Aubrey: 224 pounds (-10)
Yellow Total: 445 pounds (-16, -2, 3.90%)

Carla: 339 pounds (-9)
Joelle: 278 pounds (no change)
Silver Total: 617 pounds (-9, 1.44%)

The house hates Joelle. Again/still.

Blaine: 303 pounds (-9)
Dane: 334 pounds (-11)
Black Total: 637 pounds (-20, 3.04%)

Laura: 252 pounds (-13)
Tara: 240 pounds (-12)
Green Total: 492 pounds (-25, 4.84%)

Mike: 330 pounds (-9)
Ron: 366 pounds (-4)
Brown Total: 696 pounds (-13, 1.83%)

Helen: 216 pounds (-9)
Shanon: 246 pounds (-9)
Pink Total: 462 pounds (-18, 3.75%)

Kristin: 301 pounds (-11)
Cathy: 268 pounds (-5)
Purple Total: 569 pounds (-16, 2.74%)

Because Filipe & Sione have immunity, Mike & Ron have fallen below the yellow line alongside Carla & Joelle. That puts two Bob teams below the yellow line, but with Carla & Joelle as the lowest losers this week, it gives Bob’s team the control they need to boot Joelle this time. Joelle again hesitates when asked the simple yes or no question of whether she wants to be there. Apparently, Carla thinks she’ll do herself some favors by shouting.

Votes
Shanon & Helen: Carla & Joelle
Mandi & Aubrey: Joelle (and Carla, too)
Filipe & Sione: Carla & Joelle
Laura & Tara: Carla & Joelle

Joelle has finally come to the end of her rope. She and Carla still haven’t spoken since leaving the ranch. Such a pitiful team. At the request of the producers, however, they agree to meet. Carla has more screaming to do, but Joelle doesn’t want to listen. Nothing’s changed. Team silver’s dead, and they’re moving forward as individuals. Joelle has lost a total of 57 pounds from her starting weight of 309; Carla has lost 87 pounds from her starting weight of 379.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7 Episode 6, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

Unlike the previous week, the vote turned out to be a pretty easy one in The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 3. Despite the fact that she didn’t seem to want to be there, or perhaps because of it, Jillian’s team united to make sure that Joelle stayed at the ranch for another week, with Damien being sent home instead.

Bob’s team is not happy that the other group led them to believe they were voting out Joelle. They think that this creates a rift between themselves and Joelle. As if Joelle was getting along with her team to begin with.

Aubrey’s worried about being home because she’s got a bunch of kids running around. Laura appears to be partying. Sione has realized that there is time… you just have to make it. Dave’s smoking and still at his buffet. The partners will return in 6 days.

Joelle’s team hates her more worse than they did last week, especially Kristin. Bob believes that she’s getting over the hump.

It’s Super Bowl week. Before they kick things off, Blaine will be going home because his wife’s having a baby, number four. He will return for the weigh-in, which will count, but he will miss the event and the challenge over the weekend. Chef Curtis Stone is there to meet the others with a test of their knowledge of their favorite Super Bowl snacks. He will show the top three players how to cook healthy versions of these foods. The winner will also get a 2 pound pass for their teammate to use when they come back on campus, and they will also receive a visit from Curtis.

Chicken wings with a side of ranch dressing are 991 calories. With 800 calories, Dan is closest and proceeds to the next round. A bread bowl with chili and sour cream is 1165 calories, with Kristin coming closest. 7 layer dip contains 1755 calories, so Helen is the final person to join the top three. Curtis cooks the chicken wings with cubes of the breast, a little mustard and honey, and rosemary stuck right through the chicken. Once they’re done, Alison has a test for them. There are 230 calories in Curtis’ version. Dan comes within 10 calories and wins the 2 pound pass for his teammate.

Curtis will be paying David a visit, and if anyone could use that visit, it’s Dave, who never cooked before and prefers fast food instead. He takes him to the supermarket and the produce section, the place with all the vegetables and stuff. Then he takes him back home and shows him it’s easy to cook a good tasting healthy meal with the proper spices.

Bob makes an effort to unite his not overly unified team with a workout designed for group effort.

When Blaine goes home to see his wife, he’s reminded of why he’s on the show. Now he’s got a fifth reason to be healthy, a new baby boy.

The contestants get in their jerseys for the challenge, where Kurt Warner is waiting for them. The challenge is for immunity, which not only makes them safe but also automatically guarantees that their partner will be returning. They’ll dash back and forth, grab a football, and put it in someone else’s bin. 5 footballs means elimination. Jillian’s team are ganging up on Filipe, while Tara’s being teamed up on by the other team. Filipe is the first one eliminated. Tara is the next one gone. Dane follows as they target the strongest people first. Kristin is the next one out, followed by Mandi. Dan is the next one out. Mike’s out next, leaving Helen against Joelle with 4 balls each. It’s reasonably close, but Helen wins immunity, meaning Shannon will be returning as well.

Jillian doesn’t believe Dan is pushing himself and getting out of his comfort zone. He realizes he’s got a bunch of stupid excuses. He never thought it was possible to not be fat because he’s never been anything different.

Joelle says she’s finally been trying this week, Bob agrees, and even her team seems to be behind her for a change.

It’s time for the weigh-in, but first the partners are back and ready to get back into the game.

Helen: 225 pounds (-6, 2.59%, immune)

Mike: 339 pounds (-9, 2.58%)
Ron: 370 pounds (-7, 1.85%)
Brown Total: -16 pounds, 2.21%

Blaine: 312 pounds (-11, 3.40%)
Dane: 345 pounds (-15, 4.16%)
Black Total: -26 pounds, 3.81%

Filipe: 311 pounds (-13, 4.01%)

Tara: 252 pounds (-12, 4.55%)

Kristin: 312 pounds (-12, 3.70%)

Mandi: 227 pounds (-10, 4.22%)

Dan: 394 pounds (-12, 2.96%)

Joelle: 278 pounds (-10, 3.47%)

Thanks to her immunity, Helen managed to stay above the yellow line. That leaves Mike & Ron up against Dan & David. This will be another emotional vote. David has a message that, either way, it can be done, whether they’re at home or still at the ranch.

Votes
Helen: Dan & Dave
Mandi: Mike & Ron
Kristin: Dan & Dave
Blaine & Dane: Mike & Ron
Tara: Mike & Ron
Joelle: Dan & Dave
Filipe: Dan & Dave

Despite the talk that went into how they were upset with Dave, the voting comes down along team lines, with Bob’s team in control this time. Dan & Dave have been eliminated a lot earlier than I would have anticipated. Dan is a lot more used to exercise and can run the track for 20 minutes, and he’s off his diabetes medicine. Dave is trying to get more comfortable exercising and has quit smoking. David has lost 46 pounds, while Dan has lost 101 pounds.

That’ll do it for now. They apparently don’t have enough time to weigh in another 6 whole people until next week.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7 Episode 5, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

Last week on The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 2, it came down to a choice between the two people who most desperately needed to be there. Choosing in favor of Dan, the heaviest contestant ever, the contestants voted out 63 year old Jerry and his wife Estella.

Sione’s eating some pizza now that he’s at home. David continues his poor showing from last week with some fried chicken at a buffet. The other at home contestants seem to get what they’re supposed to be doing, though.

The temptation is 5 minutes alone in the room, where they can eat as much or at little food as they want. Their partners have also had this opportunity, and their results will be revealed later. Alison does clue them in that not all of the others resisted temptation. The highest number of calories wins the temptation. Reward is to train with the trainers at home. Going home’s a bad thing on the path to weight loss, although depriving others of a trainer may be advantageous.

Mandi: 380 calories (1 slice of pizza)
Aubrey: 0 calories
Yellow Total: 380 calories

Filipe: 0 calories
Sione: 960 calories (2 pieces of pizza, 1 taco)
Blue Total: 960 calories

Kristin: 0 calories
Cathy: 0 calories
Purple Total: 0 calories

Damien: 0 calories
Nicole: 0 calories
Red Total: 0 calories

Helen: 0 calories
Shannon: 0 calories
Pink Total: 0 calories

Tara: 0 calories
Laura: 0 calories
Green Total: 0 calories

Joelle: 0 calories
Carla: 2710 calories (3 slices of pizza, two cupcakes, five chicken nuggets, 1 taco… holy hell)
Silver Total: 2710 calories

Silver team easily wins the temptation due to Carla’s ridiculous binge. Joelle will be going home and will be taking her trainer Bob with her. This should be interesting after Bob went psycho on her last week. He hopes to warn Carla that Joelle’s close to the bottom lately. Mandi gets upset because she can’t deal with Joelle celebrating. Apparently, Mandi deserves to go home because she has kids.

When they get to Detroit, Carla says she’s been staying positive. Then Bob drops the news on Carla, who takes it about as well as we would expect from her.

Mandi’s working out on the treadmill, and all of a sudden she hits a wall and starts crying. Jillian thinks it’s mostly an emotional wall rather than a physical one.

Back in Detroit, Carla and Joelle are working out with Bob, and Carla wants to use the time to convince Joelle she needs to work harder. Eventually, Carla’s harping on the issue just pisses off Joelle. So then Carla gets angry as well. They’re wasting their 2700 calorie workout arguing… and arguing… and arguing. Carla seems to be of the opinion that increased volume make her point more valid. Then at dinner we go back to this same shrieking again. Joelle is mostly just getting tired of hearing Carla’s voice.

They go to meet the doctor again. Blaine was on 8 medications when he started. He’s managed to get rid of all of them already, which will save him $733,000 over the course of his life. Ron’s down from 10 pills to just 1 and a fraction of his insulin.

The challenge is to jump over the beam as it swings toward them. The last winner of this challenge lasted over 40 minutes. Immunity is up for grabs. Joelle is out on the very first jump. Ron makes it to the second. Dan makes it to the third. Helen makes it one further. This is an endurance competition? Damien’s out after 57 jumps. Filipe makes just over 100 jumps. Mandi is out after 141 jumps. With three people left, it gets faster at 200 jumps. Dane’s eliminated just shy of 2 hours. It’s down to Kristin and Tara, who have hit 1000 jumps. Shortly after the 1000 mark, Tara wins at 2 hours 19 minutes. Tara wins immunity again. Her secret was remaining hydrated by throwing up in her mouth.

Tara: 264 pounds (-8, 2.94%, immune)

Helen: 231 pounds (-6, 2.53%)

Mandi: 237 pounds (-8, 3.27%)

Joelle: 288 pounds (-6, 2.04%)

Filipe: 324 pounds (-14, 4.14%)

Mike: 348 pounds (-11, 3.06%)
Ron: 377 pounds (-9, 2.33%)
Brown Total: -20 pounds, 2.68%

Blaine: 323 pounds (-12, 3.58%)
Dane: 360 pounds (-18, 4.76%)
Black Total: -30 pounds, 4.21%

Damien: 351 pounds (-4, 1.13%)

Dan: 406 pounds (-15, 3.56%)

Kristin: 324 pounds (-7, 2.11%)

That puts Joelle and Damien below the yellow line. Jillian’s team has the control to take out the bigger threat and leave someone in who’s not functioning well within her team and who’s not sure she wants to be there. However, the mood in the house has been heavily against Joelle for weeks.

Votes
Filipe: Joelle
Mike & Ron: Joelle
Kristin: Joelle
Helen: Joelle
Blaine & Dane: Damien
Tara: Damien
Mandi: Damien
Dan: Damien

With the votes tied, Damien (along with his partner Nicole) has been eliminated since he had the lowest percentage of weight loss. Joelle lives for another week, whether she likes it or not. Nicole is down 76 pounds, while Damien has lost 74 pounds.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7 Episode 4, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

The Biggest Loser 7 (Couples 2) just started last week, but NBC’s already annoucing the renewal of the show for season 8. No additional details are currently available.

This year’s big (presumably lame) twist lopped the cast in half, as the 9 teams below the yellow line each sent one person home in The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 1. Shannon, Sione, Laura, Aubrey, Nicole, David, Carla, Cathy, and Estella all went home, being left with merely the hope that their teammates can last 30 days to bring them back.

The people who went home are all talking about how this is a lesson that anyone can do this at home. Granted, these people have all probably tried (sorta) and failed in the past at this. As far as gameplay goes, the wise thing here would be to just not bother so they can go back and drop a bunch of weight on arrival to remain in the game. David doesn’t seem to have learned anything from his stay at the ranch, ordering hot dogs and french fries when he gets back home. At least his portions look reasonable, though.

Allison greets them with a temptation. She offers them a piece of the grand prize to step across the line. Whoever agrees to this gets $5,000. If one person steps across the line, they are speaking for their partner as well. No takers on the first offer. She ups it to $10,000. And then a final offer of $25,000. As much as they play up Joelle wanting to take the money, it’s obvious nobody is going to grab the cash.

Bob and Jillian hate week two, but Bob claims he’s over it and thinks he can produce results.

Joelle’s struggling in the gym especially. She doesn’t enjoy being there and doesn’t hide it. If she doesn’t pick it up, she’ll have passed on the $25k for nothing. Meanwhile, it becomes more and more clear that she should have let Carla stay like she wanted. Should Joelle get eliminated, she might want to consider hiring a bodyguard to protect herself from Carla.

The challenge is to race sea kayaks and then climb a mountain on foot. Reward is immunity at the weigh-in and a phone call home. Second, third, and fourth place will also get the call. The last person to cross the finish line will be penalized with a one pound disadvantage. Dane and Ron will sit out for the teams with two people each (Blaine and Mike will sit out next week). Blaine takes the lead to start off with and retains it to shore. Helen’s doing surprisingly well and is keeping pretty close to him. Tara manages to pass her and is on Blaine’s heels. Mandi and Mike lead the middle of the pack. Kristin, Jerry, Dan, and Joelle follow them. On the way up the mountain, Blaine’s still in the lead, but Tara makes a move and passes him in the final stretch. He thinks he’s going to be able to catch up if he catches his breath a bit, but Tara ends up winning the challenge. A sore Blaine still gets the phone call home. Mandi comes in third, and the last phone call home goes to Helen. Mike is fifth. Damien is behind him. Kristin takes seventh, with Joelle in eighth and Filipe in ninth. The battle for last is between Dan and Jerry. Jerry crosses the finish line in tenth. Dan gets hit with the one pound penalty, but he still continues and manages to cross the finish line with the support of the others. Tara offers her phone call to Filipe.

Filipe tells his wife he’s down to using his inhaler every few days. Blaine uses his call home to talk to his wife, whose due date is right around the corner. Helen calls Shannon with her only phone call (like jail).

Jillian’s a little nutty in the last chance workout. She stacks about 600 pounds for Dane to leg press, then she has Blaine hop on top of the thing to make it more of a challenge. She’s impressed with Jerry’s heart but is concerned that he doesn’t have the stamina to keep up with the others. Dan manages to get up to 7 miles an hour on the treadmill, mostly because he wants Jillian to keep bumping up the speed so he can knock off the extra pound.

Joelle’s plan is to fake it until she makes it. That won’t fly with Bob. She keeps jumping off the treadmill every time at 20 seconds, which causes Bob to swear repeatedly. Jillian says she’s never seen him that mad before. After a lot of yelling that indicates Bob may quite possibly need a cruise or a massage, he has them start up again. This time Joelle makes it to 25 seconds instead of 30. He tells her to “shut the **** up” after this. Jillian’s team is happy to see Bob falling apart. After another uncomfortable to watch rant, we see Joelle hit the 30 second mark, but she doesn’t look overly happy about it.

It’s time for the weigh-in, which will be done in the order in which they completed the challenge.

Tara: 272 pounds (-1, 0.36%)

Good thing she’s immune.

Blaine: 335 pounds (-16, 4.56%)
Dane: 378 pounds (-14, 3.57%)
Total: 713 pounds (-30, 4.04%)

Mandi: 245 pounds (-6, 2.39%)

Helen: 237 pounds (-8, 3.27%)

Mike: 359 pounds (-7, 1.91%)
Ron: 386 pounds (-12, 3.01%)
Total: 745 pounds (-19, 2.49%)

Damien: 355 pounds (-9, 2.47%)

Kristin: 331 pounds (-10, 2.93%)

Filipe: 338 pounds (-9, 2.59%)

Joelle: 294 pounds (-2, 0.68%)

Jerry: 343 pounds (-1, 0.29%)

Dan: 421 pounds (-3, +1, 0.47%)

The challenge played a huge impact here. Had Tara not won immunity or had Dan not come in last, Dan would not be below the yellow line. Alongside him is the other person with the most desperate need to be there, Jerry. As for Joelle, she just barely limped through the week, and she knows it. Ron has a message for the others. Jerry can get back to his wedding weight, but Dan needs to be there because if he doesn’t, he’ll never lose the weight and keep it off. Despite a few hiccups, this was a pretty successful week two overall.

Kristin: Jerry
Filipe: Jerry
Damien: Jerry
Tara: Jerry
Ron: Jerry

Following an emotional vote, Jerry (and his wife Estella) has been eliminated so that the heaviest contestant ever can continue his journey. He wants all the seniors out there to get off the sofa and get going. He’s down from his starting weight of 369 pounds to 285 today. He’s no longer got diabetes or any of his other diseases from before. Estella is now down below 200 pounds from her starting weight of 242.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7 Episode 3, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

Last season was dominated by a focus on an intense hatred of the blue team, especially Vicky, though it was at least salvaged by the fact that lone remaining black team member Michelle was the winner. Regardless of how many people swore they’d never watch again, it was still a very successful season, and it’s back again for The Biggest Loser 7. Going back to the couples theme from season 5, The Biggest Loser Couples 2 cast consists of 11 teams of 2 all fighting for the $250,000 grand prize and a shot at the title of The Biggest Loser.

For their first workout, they’ll be alone. No Bob or Jillian. Most of these people have probably never even seen half of this equipment, let alone having any awareness about the proper and effective (or for that matter safe) way to use it. The trainers, however, are watching them behind the scenes with a monitor and hidden cameras.

Somehow during this less than strenuous workout, Jerry has managed to get himself to the point where he’s ready to collapse, prompting the medical team to come to the rescue. Granted, he is 63 and terribly out of shape. He seems to be doing okay as the ambulance hauls him off. This serves as a wake up call for the others in the house as to how dire their situation is and what their future may hold.

Jillian and Bob will each pick one team, who will pick the next team and so forth.

Jillian’s Team
Estella & Jerry (White)
Blaine & Dane (Black)
Laura & Tara (Green)
Daniel & David (Orange)
Mandi & Aubrey (Yellow)

Bob’s Team
Carla & Joelle (Silver)
Sione & Filipe (Blue)
Nicole & Damien (Red)
Helen & Shannon (Pink)
Mike & Ron (Brown)
Kristin & Cathy (Purple)

Since they weren’t chosen by anyone, Kristin & Cathy are allowed to pick their trainer.

With teams selected, it’s time for the first weigh-in.

Estella: 242 pounds
Jerry: 369 pounds (weighed at the hospital)
White Total: 611 pounds

Helen: 257 pounds
Shannon: 283 pounds
Pink Total: 540 pounds

Kristin: 360 pounds (heaviest woman ever by 62 pounds)
Cathy: 293 pounds
Purple Total: 653 pounds

Mandi: 263 pounds
Aubrey: 249 pounds
Yellow Total: 512 pounds

Nicole: 269 pounds
Damien: 381 pounds
Red Total: 650 pounds

Laura: 285 pounds
Tara: 294 pounds
Green Total: 579 pounds

Filipe: 364 pounds
Sione: 372 pounds
Blue Total: 736 pounds

Blaine: 365 pounds
Dane: 412 pounds
Black Total: 777 pounds

Mike: 388 pounds (youngest ever at 18)
Ron: 430 pounds
Brown Total: 818 pounds

Carla: 379 pounds (now the heaviest woman ever)
Joelle: 309 pounds
Silver Total: 688 pounds

Daniel: 454 pounds (heaviest contestant ever, at age 19)
David: 393 pounds
Orange Total: 847 pounds (heaviest team ever)

Some of the numbers we’re seeing are pretty typical for this show, but some are excessive even for The Biggest Loser. This should make for an interesting first workout. Laura starts early with the hyperventilation, then throws up on the treadmill.

Jerry returns to the house. He found out that his blood pressure dropped during the workout, but he’s doing okay.

The first challenge starts off on a bridge. In order to cross the bridge, they have to make it past 250,000 pounds of sand, touch a flag on the other side, and then return back to where they started. The contestants must wait for their partner before going past the halfway mark and before their race is complete. The first 5 teams to finish will go on to the second leg. The top 2 teams from that leg will advance to the finals. The winner of the final leg wins immunity.

First Leg
Mandi & Aubrey
Blaine & Dane
Filipe & Sione
Laura & Tara
Nicole & Damien

Second Leg
Blaine & Dane
Mandi & Aubrey

Tara did better than everyone else, but she wasn’t able to drag Laura through the race.

In the final leg, it’s a footrace between Dane and Aubrey, which leads to a very close finish as Aubrey sprints toward the line. Dane edges her out, though, and Blaine & Dane win immunity.

Now it’s time to meet the doctor with the bad news. Ron has so much fat that he’s now depositing it into his abdomen and liver. He wants this to be a lesson for his sons. Helen and Shannon are right around 50% fat. Helen’s biological age is 60. Due to his excess adbominal fat, Blaine’s got significantly diminished lung capacity and a liver nearly twice the size of what it should be.

During the last chance workout, Bob gets worried about Joelle because the only thing she’s really moving is her mouth. Over on Jillian’s end of the gym, Laura continues with her drama. Tara plans to do whatever it takes to hold up her team until Laura gets her head in the game.

When they get to the weigh-in, Allison tells them there will be no elimination tonight. But 9 people will be going home. Uh. Huh?

The team with the highest combined percentage of weight loss will be above the yellow line. In addition to them, Dane & Blaine are safe because they have immunity. For the other 9 teams, they’ll have to choose who has to go home. That brings me to my question. Why even bother asking this many contestants on the show if you’re just going to throw half of them away week one, unless they’re planning a twist like they did when they brought Jillian back after her season off?

Blaine: 351 pounds (-14)
Dane: 392 pounds (-20)
Total: -34 pounds, 4.38%

Carla: 368 pounds (-11)
Joelle: 296 pounds (-13)
Total: -24 pounds, 3.49%

Daniel: 424 pounds (-30)
David: 377 pounds (-16)
Total: -46 pounds, 5.43%

Nicole: 251 pounds (-18)
Damien: 364 pounds (-17)
Total: -35 pounds, 5.38%

Jerry: 344 pounds (-25)
Estella: 233 pounds (-9)
Total: -34 pounds, 5.59%

Filipe: 347 pounds (-17)
Sione: 349 pounds (-23)
Total: -40 pounds, 5.43%

Mandi: 251 pounds (-12)
Aubrey: 236 pounds (-13)
Total: -25 pounds, 4.88%

Kristin: 341 pounds (-19)
Cathy: 281 pounds (-12)
Total: -31 pounds, 4.75%

Helen: 245 pounds (-12)
Shannon: 270 pounds (-13)
Total: -25 pounds, 4.63%

Laura: 272 pounds (-13)
Tara: 273 pounds (-21)
Total: -34 pounds, 5.87%

Mike: 366 pounds (-22)
Ron: 398 pounds (-32, a new record)
Total: -54 pounds, 6.60%

That huge loss puts the brown team above the yellow line, so Mike & Ron are safe, along with Dane & Blaine. The other 9 teams will have to decide who’s going home tonight. I’m still waiting for a twist that doesn’t resemble something the Big Brother producers cooked up, and here it is (sorta). There is a way back. After 30 days, if their teammate has managed to stay in the game, they get to come back.

Shannon doesn’t want to be there without her mom. Mandi’s worried she may be too weak to do it on her own. Carla & Joelle both stubbornly don’t give any indication they’re remotely willing to go home. It’s pretty obvious what Jerry & Estella will do.

Votes
Pink: Shannon
Blue: Sione
Green: Laura
Yellow: Aubrey
Red: Nicole
Orange: David
Silver: Carla
Purple: Cathy
White: Estella

This twist has the potential to turn out interestingly, but it’s a rough break for 4 or 5 people who really weren’t given a shot.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.