The Biggest Loser 3, Episode 4: Cry, Cry, Cry

Welcome to the third episode of The Biggest Loser 3! This series focuses on teams of overweight contestants and their competitive struggles to lose weight and, in the process, regain control of their lives. Challenges and temptations bar their way to a $250,000 cash prize.

First off, I have to apologize for errors in my weight chart last week. Here’s a correct weight table, as of the end of last week (and the start of this one):

Also, my analysis was faulty – it’s the Red Team MEN who are in danger now that NELSON has been sent home! I offer my apologies to my readers for these nasty errors. But now let’s turn our attention from my own shortcomings and to the amazing accomplishments of our cast!

The episode begins the morning after the elimination. The Red Team is deeply depressed about Nelson being sent home. Pam says, “It sucked,” and adds, “We gave the power to them. You never want to give the power to your opponent. Never.” Well, what did they expect would happen? It worked out well for Pam, the lowest loser on this team and probably the one to be sent packing. But now the biggest weight on the team and therefore a potential for several big future weight losses, that’s gone. We’ll see how it plays out in the weeks to come, but this is Biggest Loser, not Big Brother. Vote the numbers and forget about alliances and the like.

Kim bounces in to meet her team (the Red Team) but can tell right away that things are not good. She doesn’t understand why Nelson is gone. 98% of TV land agrees with Kim, but let’s try and get past it.

Meeting his Blue Team and learning the results, Bob is happy Nelson is no longer part of the opposition. He has only the best thoughts for Nelson’s future, but he recognizes the potential Nelson had to eliminate Blue Team members.

Back on the Red side of the house, trainer Kim uses an approach that Bob used before – handle disappointment by engaging in a stiff workout. She suggests the team run down to the gate and run back. However, it’s not going to fly. Kai announces she wants to be left alone. Kim tells her she can run ten feet behind the rest, but she’s going to be with the team. Kim offers her a hug, which Kai walks away from. Kai wonders if Kim “doesn’t read people well.”

And outside, the depression continues. Kim asks if the non-running guys want to carry her (like Jillian last season), but no one even responds. I mean, even a “no!” gives you room to work with, but being completely ignored indicates serious issues. Heather says they were crying so much they only had five hours of sleep, “and the last thing we want to do is take a little run.” Has she forgotten the purpose of this little vacation? Did she not envision that for her to win, Nelson would probably be going home at some point?

But run they do – sort of. We see a lot of walking. At one point Kim says, “Run, Kai!” and the response is a defiant and terse, “No!” Kim rejoins, “You want to go home next week?” and Kai replies, “You send me home if you can, Kim, but I’m not running!” Kim doesn’t understand what is happening. She says, “My team lost so much focus on what the big picture was today. The last thing on earth anyone has time to do today is quit. They spent their whole lives quitting, and that’s why they are overweight. It’s time to step up and work it out.” My viewpoint, as big an issue is that, they’ve also lost respect for Kim. After a probably out-of-sequence video-byte where Kim yells out, “If you allow yourself to walk, you are quitting!” we see Ken sit down and just bawl. Kim won’t let him stop, though his posture indicates he’s a broken man.

Knowing her team has essentially quit, after the “run” ends, Kim sits them down and browbeats them some more. She tells them, “That was pathetic, pathetic! You don’t have time to feel sorry for yourselves.” Kai responds that after being “beat up emotionally” she had no desire to be beat up physically. It gets no better when Heather insists she is not a quitter. Kim recognizes she’s lost control of her team. Finally, she figures that an emotional approach is called for and conjures up some tears. However, the three ladies continue to sit off by themselves and the men are nowhere in sight. In a later-day confessional, Kai says, “I’m so tired of crying. I don’t want to cry anymore today. I want to go to bed.” And then she cries.