The Biggest Loser, Episode 1: He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother

Morning arrives, and it's a beautiful day. Or at least it is until the trainers arrive! As the contestants sleep, the Red Team's trainer, Jillian Michaels, arrives and gets them up and moving. Her approach is to work them like a drill instructor. Bob Harper, from Nashville will train the Blue Team. He has a different approach, feeling that burnout is not an option. While he wants to get results, he doesn't believe in pushing people beyond their limits.

Obviously, Jillian has a completely different philosophy. She tells us that that working out with her for the first time can be rough, and people often throw up. She has them doing aerobics and then pushups. Bob, on the other hand, sits the Blue Team down in an attempt to learn about each of them. Aaron likes this approach. As Jillian continues to force the Red Team into unfathomable positions, Bob seems to understand his group's insecurities. Meanwhile, the Red Team is running around the yard. Lisa can't take it anymore, and says she thinks she is going to be sick. Jillian tells her that this is as bad as it's going to get. "The worst is over," she says. I feel like crying. No kidding.

Bob has a totally different approach. He has them doing circuit training, and this workout seems a whole lot less painful. He thinks that Dana will be challenging because she is young and her attention span is short. She's kind of dingy! Gary is the oldest person in the house, and says he was very close to vomiting.

Team Red is outside, and silly Matt makes a comment about having a cigarette. Jillian is horrified, and immediately rips the pack out of his pocket, throws the cigarettes to the ground, and crushes them. No fooling, she means business. She tells him if she finds out he's been smoking, the rest of them will run a mile. He realizes that if he smokes, he will be voted off. Ryan rats out Dave who is also a smoker and Sgt. Jillian he's quitting too. "At the end of the day," she tells him, "it's about getting healthy."

Team Blue has its first vomit victim as Aaron goes outside, thankfully, to be sick. Although I am sure the others were glad that it was not them who puked on national television, they all rally around Aaron, and Bob is pleased that his group is behind him. I like the Team Blue.

Finally, it's time for dinner. Jillian explains the "Eat Less Diet." The goal is to burn more calories than you take in, and eat a high protein, high fiber, and low carbohydrate diet. They will be fed lots of vegetables, and this is supposed to fill them up. It's all about portion control but Lizzeth thinks it sucks. Jillian understands the hardest thing to overcome is portion control. She encourages them not to lie about it if they cheat.

Bob, on the other hand, believes in the "Eat More Diet." I like Bob's approach! His goal is to deal with hunger before it happens. They will eat four to six planned meals per day, and it's about high volume, low calories, and low carbohydrates. As they have their first meal, he tells them that he will be eating the same way. Andrea recognizes that she doesn't eat right, skipping breakfast, having lunch and then picking at dinner. Bob's plan includes small, planned meals and, as an example, he produces a huge green salad that looks like it also includes some grilled chicken. Maurice is not thrilled by the salad. Bob tells them that the hardest part of the diet is getting over the cravings. Maurice calls it the "eat not quite enough diet."

It's the day of the first challenge, and they are all really sore! Lizzeth legs hurt and her abs are in pain. Maurice says he's going to stick it out, no matter what. They all mosey on down to breakfast, and are amazed to find the table loaded with all their favorite foods - bacon, pancakes, French toast - you name it, it is there. Maurice loads up the bacon, while the rest of them looked on in shock. But when it came to the sausage, they drew the line. Remember, the total weight of the team determines which team will have to eliminate someone. So, sure, you don't want anyone piling on the food. But is it fair to place all this temptation in their path? I guess that's all part of the strategy.

After breakfast, they set off for the first challenge, which takes place on a car racetrack. Each team must pull a car to the finish line. One person will steer the vehicle, and, at each flag, they must switch drivers. The twist is that the car doors don't open. Ouch. The reward is five pounds of lard. Caroline explains that the team that wins gets to add the five pounds of lard to the other team's weight. It could be crucial when the final weight loss figures are tallied.

Ready, set, go. They begin pulling the cars, and it's okay until they have to switch drivers. This doesn't go too smoothly, but they make it to the next flag and help each other in and out of the cars. The Red Team seems to be suffering a little more, and, in the end, the Blue Team wins it. Maurice tells us that the loss has definitely affected the morale of the Red Team, and Matt is afraid that, when Jillian finds out that they lost, they are going to be severely punished.