Biggest Loser Families - Where's Our Hero?
By Carrie Falquist - www.carriefalquist.com 

Let me first start by saying that the game playing on this season of Biggest Loser has grown tiresome.  Between Heba's scheming and pretending to be sincere, and Vicki's attempt to steer attention away from her position as the team's weakest link, the heart of the show is getting lost.

Last week left us hanging with a less than stellar weight loss from husband and wife duo, Vicki and Brady, who lost a measly 5 pounds together.

This week, enter Bob Harper.  Bob is no stranger to the weight games played on The Biggest Loser, and called both of them out right away.  Of course, both Vicki and Brady put on their best deer in the headlights looks, and swore up and down that they had "no idea" why they didn't lose weight, why Brady, a 300 pound man, only lost 3 pounds.  Um, can someone grab the boots, because the bull is getting deep in here!

Come challenge time, the contestants were asked to pick the correct answer between two food items.  The author of "Eat This, Not That" was on hand to explain why certain choices were better than the other.  While I'm sure his book had merit, the foods placed on the table weren't exactly what anyone on a weight loss journey would actually pick.  I mean, who goes to a restaurant and chooses between a loaded burrito and fried chicken nuggets?  Or worse yet, 18 light beers!  Well, the blue team won a 40 pound advantage for the next challenge with their knowledge of calories in each dish.

Much to Colleen's dismay, the challenge involved each team hanging on to a rope while suspended 50 feet in the air.  The 40 pounds were added to the black team, making it harder for them to hold on, and causing them to lose the challenge.  So, the blue team was able to choose one of the Black team member's weights not to count.

Back on the ranch, Heba, armed with her impeccable people skills, decides the most appropriate time to talk to Phil about comments he made the week prior, would be right in the middle of the Black team's meal.  So, she starts in on this tirade about how he must "hate" her to talk about her, and she's the bigger person and forgives him, and on, and on, and on.  Seriously, I fast forwarded after the first half of her rant, because she just sounded like a complete ass hat.

Phil's team did not take the bait, did not decide all of a sudden that they hated Phil because Heba made a scene.  Ooh, plot foiled.  Now, can we get back to weight loss and focusing on what this game is all about?

At the weigh in, the Black team's losses this week were less than stellar.  As in 2 or 3 pounds per person.  And since Michelle's weight did not count, the total weight loss counted for the team was 8 pounds.

So, the Blue team steps up, and puts Brady on the scale, who drops a whopping 13 pounds.  And the crowd roars, fans gasp, and "Oh My, for the first time in Biggest Loser history, one contestant beat the weight loss of an ENTIRE TEAM."  Wow, look what water loading before the prior week's weigh in can do for you, too.    No one was really buying it.  You could tell on Jillian's face that she knew some serious game play was happening.  And you could tell on Brady's face that he knew the 13 pounds weren't all honest.  Anyway, moving on.

Black team had to vote one member off, and because of the bond they have, plus Phil's inability to perform 100% without his wife, they sent Phil packing.  Upon arrival back home, Phil got a lovely ring for his 20th anniversary, and surprised his wife with a renewal of vows in the very same spot he proposed two decades before.   Awe.  Warm fuzzy moment.

Speaking of moments, I had one where my jaw dropped.  When Phil dropped his giant pants and revealed a much slimmer man, I was really impressed.  A weight loss of 102 pounds shows that Phil definitely pulls his inspiration from his family.  Go Phil!  I can't wait to see your transformation at the finale.

For the rest of the cast.... could someone step up and be THAT PERSON we are rooting for?  Unlike last season, there are no contestants left who really pull the audience in, and makes us want to root for them.  Someone?  Anyone... at this point in the game, someone should be emerging as the hero, the fan favorite.

Carrie Falquist is a former Biggest Loser hopeful turned personal trainer, who spends her time helping others learn how to get healthy at home.  Www.carriefalquist.com

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