by David McAlpine

Last night on The Biggest Loser, it was the return of 15 new contestants the ranch that we all know and love as the place where lives are transformed and people literally become half of what they used to be.

But before the training could begin, we had to meet the people who would be training them. Since last season, there's been quite the shakeup with Jillian leaving, so we're all left wondering who the trainers will be.

First off, Alison divides the group into teams based on age: under 30 (the Young Team, including former RealityWanted blogger Jennifer), between 30 and 50 (the Middle Team) and over 50 (the Old Team). This season is a "battle of the ages," and with three teams come three trainers, two of which are new.

We already know Bob and his screaming, no-nonsense ways (yet still managing to maintain his coiffe), and we were introduced to women's tennis pro Anna Kournikova at last season's finale. The third trainer is Dolvett Quince, personal trainer extraordinaire who has several celebrity and professional athlete names on his resume. Very impressive--and very buff. *I* would be scared to meet this man.

Of course, getting their trainers won't be easy. The teams have to race to pick their trainers, each of whom are standing a mile away. It quickly becomes a match between the Young Team and the Middle Team, because Bonnie on the Old Team has a bum knee and, in the spirit of teamwork, everyone decides to walk with her.

The Young Team is off to a great start, but Vinny starts to lose wind and struggles to keep up with the pace his teammates are setting. They begin to slow down, giving the Middle Team a chance to sneak in and pull ahead. At that point, there's no competition, and the Middle Team wins the mile race, taking Bob as their trainer and becoming the Black Team.

The Young Team finishes shortly thereafter and picks Dolvett, becoming the Red Team. The Old Team is last and get everyone's support to finish their leg of the race, and they finally become the Blue Team, under Anna's guidance.

After the challenge, Alison has one more twist: everyone, eliminated or not, will be returning to the ranch during the last week for the famous end-of-the-season competition, the Biggest Loser marathon. Not only will they all be running it, but the winner of the marathon becomes an automatic finalist for the $250,000.

With much more at stake, the contestants enter the gym with their new trainers, ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.

On Anna's team, Debbie is the one giving her the issues, always asking questions and trying to get out of working out. You were the one who got yourself on this show in the first place, you should know what you're getting yourself into!

Dolvett has issues with Patrick, who he says wears confidence issues like a coat (I also think he used the term blanket at one point, too). Patrick and him were not gelling, and Dolvett accuses the Red Team member of not concentrating on the treadmill. Dolvett gets so frustrated, he kicks Patrick out of the gym, and Patrick cries out of embarrassment and shame.

On the Black Team, it's Antoine, the former NFL player, who catches Bob's eye. After 10 minutes, Antoine is on the floor, broken down because he didn't think he was in this bad of shape. Bob starts getting to him right away to instill the confidence he needs to keep going.

More bad news then hit the Blue Team--Becky's dad passed away in the middle of the night from congestive heart failure, so she had to travel home to spend time with her family. Though she wasn't eliminated, the news hit the Blue Team hard, and they were all concerned for Becky's well-being.

Cut to the last-chance workout, where everyone is one their game because no one wants to be the first one sent home. There's a lot at stake on this weigh-in, and you can tell by everyone's faces that they don't want to be the ones to cause their team to lose.

The weigh-in results are as follows:

BLUE TEAM
Johnny: -17 (-5.18%)
Becky: -10 (-4.20%)
Mike: -12 (-3.88%)
Debbie: -6 (-2.51%)
Bonnie: -4 (-1.57%)

BLACK TEAM
John: -37 (-8.31%)
Antoine: -32 (-7.16%)
Joe: -22 (-6.32%)
Sunny: -16 (-5.78%)
Jennifer: -19 (-5.76%)

RED TEAM
Courtney: -16 (-5.93%)
Jessica: -15 (-5.91%)
Patrick: -20 (-5.17%)
Vinny: -21 (-4.93%)
Ramon: -17 (-4.79%)

It really wasn't a contest, the Blue Team lost by far, and the five of them were forced to send someone home. In the deliberation room, Bonnie felt vulnerable because she only lost 4 pounds and she had a bum knee, and she started to cry. Debbie got pissed off and called her out on it, saying that she was only trying to get the sympathy vote. No good, Debbie.

It all came down to Mike's vote, after Johnny and Debbie voted Bonnie and Bonnie and Becky voted Debbie. Mike pointed out that Debbie said she had family a gym membership and the drive to do it at home, so he voted for Debbie, sending her packing.

Now at home, Debbie is down almost 20 pounds and the week she spent on the ranch has given her a new lease on life.

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

(Photo courtesy of NBC)

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