BIGGEST LOSER FAMILIES – Let the Games Begin!

By Carrie Falquist - www.carriefalquist.com 

Week two on The Biggest Loser is notorious for ho-hum results and lots of emotion as the reality of what they are doing actually hits the contestants.  This is when the “honeymoon” period ends, the repetitive days, and homesickness sets in.

This second week is always a downer when it comes to weight loss as well.  The trainers do their best to avoid the dreaded plateau, but no one expects anything phenomenal.  Of course, Biggest Loser style, the first temptation challenge went along directly with the weigh ins.  Each team had a colored paddle to use in bidding on the amount of weight they thought they could lose this week.  Since five seasons of Biggest Loser contestants averaged 2% on week two, most teams did not participate.  The Yellow team ended up bidding they would lose at least 2.4%, and if they didn't make that goal, they would automatically fall below the yellow line.

Then, of course, comes the reward challenge.  Oh yes, out come the giant water slides in a rainbow of colors.  The challenge?  Team members had to slide down, then run back up that hill against the clock.  The reward?  A phone call home.  One by one, the teams were eliminated, leaving the Orange and Purple teams in the running.  The Orange team won by a nose, and were given their reward, plus the chance to give another team a call home. 

Because the Red team was missing their children so much, the Orange team gave them the call.  A tearful conversation with their sons followed, and left the Red team ready to work hard and stay on campus a little longer.

Rocco Dispirito made another appearance on The Biggest Loser, taking half the teams shopping and teaching them a simple, healthy recipe.  These recipes were judged by the other contestants, who would decide which recipe deserved a year's worth of groceries.   Amy on the Purple team won the groceries with her Tiny Turkey Meatball Soup.

Par for the course, weigh ins were not mind blowing this week.  It's funny to me that when I watch The Biggest Loser and see someone lose 3 or 4 pounds, my first thought is “Oh, that sucks.”  In real life, when I see a 3 or 4 pound weight loss on my own scale, I can't stop happy dancing around my living room.  This is where “reality” and “reality tv” show their differences.

Tom and LT managed to end up under the yellow line, with a cumulative weight loss of zero.  Then came Coleen and Jerry, who needed more than 13 pounds lost to stay above the line.  Coleen lost 6 pounds, Jerry lost 5, and they wound up under the line. 

The debate on who should go home got a little heated, and Brady showed his temper to the other teams, causing them to cast sideways glances at him.   For some reason, the teams voted off the Grey team, probably due to the amount of weight they had to lose and the threat factor.    The remaining contestants were to pack their bags and head out on a road trip to the Grand Canyon.

Tom and LT have shown some amazing progress, with LT down 81 pounds, and Tom down 65.  I'm excited to see how they look at the finale! 

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