by Gina Scarpa and David McAlpine

 

When Melissa Morgan earned a spot back in The Biggest Loser house this season after being eliminated, she knew that there was a target placed squarely on her back. The minute she fell below that yellow line, her fellow competitors were going to vote her out and they did exactly that on this week's episode. Today, Melissa caught back up with RealityWanted in an exclusive interview and talked about her second chance on the ranch, how she was portrayed on tv, and what keeps her motivated.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was your reaction when you found out that you had the opportunity to return to the ranch after being eliminated the first time?
A. Melissa: I've watched this show way too long not to believe that the eliminated players would have a chance to get back on campus. So from the moment I was eliminated I was working to get back. I was a little disappointed to know it was a vote to get back on... but all the numbers were running through my head and I just knew they had to bring two people back and I was praying the second person would be through a challenge.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How motivated were you to get back on the ranch, considering Lance had just left to go home?
A. Melissa: There was no question in my mind that I was going to give 100% to getting back on that campus. Lance and I discussed this at length once he was eliminated and he knew how badly I wanted back on so he agreed. We also knew that my time would be very limited because my weight loss numbers weren't high enough.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your fellow contestants made it pretty clear that you were a target. Did you take it personally?
A. Melissa: Why was I a target? Because I'm a threat? Were they afraid of my potential? I love that! The one thing about me is that I'm completely honest about my position in the house. It was fun to watch last night's episode because I had no idea I was such a target when I was in the house. Yes, I knew there were other alliances in the house, but a target? I really didn't see it that way at the time. The reality is that this is a game and every person has to do what is best for him or her. I don't take that personally.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you think that the early issues with Bob and Jillian (them calling you out and accusing you of gameplay and throwing weigh-ins) affected the way the other contestants viewed you?
A. Melissa: When all those early issues were going on in the house, Ashley, Drea, Stephanie, Cheryl, and Sherry all supported me. They all said they believed me when I said I wasn't lying. Did they change their opinions? I don't know. And of course I have no idea what Bob and Jillian said about be to them while I was gone - or once I returned, for that matter.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Is there anything that you could have said or done on this week's episode to stay on the ranch and convince the others not to vote for you?
A. Melissa: I don't think so. My only shot was to convince them that I wasn't a threat to them winning the $250,000. I knew that if I fell below the yellow line I was going home.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You seem very motivated at home to continue your weight loss journey. What keeps you going?
A. Melissa: Chris Conklin, my personal trainer. I have made significant progress to my personal goals and he is to credit for it. I certainly got a great start on the Biggest Loser, but Chris is the person that I can count on when I need motivation. My family is obviously a huge motivator. I have changed my life and will succeed!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you feel misunderstood by people, contestants or viewers, this season? What would you like people to know about you?
A. Melissa: When this season started, I thought my dad would have a heart attack with the way I was portrayed. The thing that I continued to tell him was that no one in my family and none of my friends or colleagues believed I was a liar. The important people in my life didn't question my ethics or integrity. That's what matters to me. What I find so interesting is that people that don't know me or anything about me, other than what is shown in a two hour episode, judge me and my actions. The problem is that until a person sets foot on the Biggest Loser Ranch, no one can say what he or she would do. And while I have been criticized for "playing the game," let's remember that this is, in fact, a game. Think about it, if a person plays the game he or she has the potential to be on the ranch the longest. Where are you getting the most information? On the ranch. To get to the final four, you have to lose weight. It's a means to and end. Playing the game doesn't take away from the lessons to be learned.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How do you and Lance balance working out with the rest of your life together?
A. Melissa: Right now we're in high gear for the finale so it's difficult to answer this question. We haven't really fallen into "the rest of our lives" yet. My daily workouts with Chris are so important to me that I refuse to give them up so we will make whatever adjustments are necessary to continue this healthy lifestyle.

 

The Biggest Loser airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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