The Biggest Loser, Episode 8: Worth the Weight!

There’s no letup for Gary. He’s still working out, and Bob continues to push him to his limits. He is in a great deal of pain and misses his family. He really wants to go home. Bob confronts him, and Gary tells him that he’s ready to go. Bob points out where Gary was and how far he’s come. I don’t think he’s buying it, though. Bob reminds him that they are at the “final mile.” The reward is right around the corner.

Bob gets Gary back on the treadmill and speeds it right up for him. Gary is running at a full clip, up to level 12 for the first time. This is as fast as the machine goes. Good job Bob. This success gets Gary back on track. Then it’s Maurice turn. It’s time for Maurice to “run to the gate,” which is almost two miles. Everyone else has done this except for Mo.

And they’re off. Bob runs along with him, up the hill and past the pastures. Mo pushes it harder than he ever has before. He says that several times during the workout, he felt as though he were dying. Push it baby, push it. He makes it to the halfway point and mentally turns a corner. Bob says that there is an athlete that lives in us all, and today, he saw the athlete in Mo. They sprint to the finish, and Mo has done it. He tells us that he felt pure satisfaction and calls Bob the best trainer in America. “Watch out for Mo. Mo is on his way,” Bob says.

Allow me a minute here to say a few words about Bob Harper. Bob has worked with a number of celebrities, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, and Guy Ritchie. He believes in fitness for the “mind and body,” and understands that attitude is a big part of the battle. I love Bob’s approach to fitness, but more than that, I admire his genuine concern for his clients. He gets results but gives back so much in the process. I love Bob, and would love to be able to train with him.

Back to the action. Ryan, Kelly, and Lisa are in the gym doing a bit of strategizing. Ryan understands that the three former Red Team members must stick together. They do a “pinkie swear,” which Ryan says is as good as swearing on his mother’s grave. Just make sure you don’t swear on one of your children’s lives, eh Ryan. Kelly tells us that she is sure Mo is going to be one of the two who will face elimination, but because he is inconsistent and doesn’t pose a threat in the challenges, he might be safe. It all depends on who is under the yellow line.

They all have a little camera time. Maurice tells us that he is still hanging in there and Gary figures that he will probably fall below the yellow line. Ryan sends himself a message for the future, urging himself not to forget the lessons learned so far. Ryan and Lisa talk about how close in weight loss she and Gary are. This will be a crucial weigh-in.

Under cover of night, the gang struts into the gym for the weigh-in. This is going to be a close one. Chunky Caroline welcomes them to the weigh-in and reminds them that all they have to do is stay above the yellow line. Since Ryan won immunity, he is safe but still needs to be weighed. He sprints to the scale and discovers that he has lost another three pounds. His total percentage of weight loss is 24.2 percent.

Then it’s Maurice’s turn. No matter what his percentage, when he arrived he weighed 436 pounds and is now down to 381. The five pounds he lost this week brings his total to 55 pounds. Now for Kelly. She has lost two pounds dropping her to 20.7 percent, and putting her in second place. Lisa steps up. She’s a wreck and is hoping to beat Gary. But, before we find out, there is yet another dramatically positioned commercial break.

We return with a replay of Lisa walking to the scale. Her current weight is 189. She’s lost two more pounds. Gary sighs. Her percentage is 19.9 percent, bumping Mo below the yellow line. Gary is last. He doesn’t feel as though he has lost much and has no idea what is going to happen. But he pulls it off, losing six pounds to become the “biggest loser” of the week. Wow. His total percentage is 22 percent, and this pushes Lisa below the yellow line. Gary is safe and Lisa is now at risk.

Lisa plays it to the hilt. She tells us that she has to believe that the former Red Team will keep her around and Maurice will be sent home. Caroline sends them off to deliberate, and then it is morning. Lisa and Kelly have a conversation. Lisa is squirming. Kelly is starting to really shape up, and is wearing a belly shirt and low cut jeans. Kelly gets on Lisa, telling her not to justify her feelings. Lisa still feels confident that Kelly and Ryan will not vote for her.

Meanwhile, Maurice is giving it his best pitch. He knows that Ryan is “top dog,” but doesn’t seem to be able to convince him to sway his vote. Ryan indicates that he will stick to his alliance with the girls. Maurice calls himself a “dead man walking.”