The Biggest Loser 3, Episode 6: Healthy Choice

The next segment is terrific, and the kind of thing we see too little of on this series. Dr. Robert Huizenga has an important role on this show. He is the series doctor who measures and monitors the contestants. He has a series of very encouraging interim reports to divulge, and both teams are assembled to hear the news.

The first one to get good news is Kai, who dropped her cholesterol 113 points, and her blood pressure improved from 140/90 to 122/64. Also, Pam has had a 60-point drop in her cholesterol over the last six weeks. And, after Dr. Huizenga tells them that an insulin rating of over 13 is pre-diabetic, Bobby learns his insulin number changed from 30 to 1.8! As a result, he’s off his blood pressure and cholesterol medications!

In fact, NO ONE has high blood pressure at this time, though other risks are still present for heart disease. Family history is of course a big one, as is age. Those two are not possible to control, of course, but they must continue to eat better, exercise more, and take baby aspirin daily (actually, 81 mg doses of ASA).

Erik is kept behind to discuss his smoking. Erik says not only has he quit smoking, but also he wants his wife to quit so there are no cigarettes in the house. Erik takes the opportunity to ask about drinking alcohol on weekends, and Dr. Huizenga warns that it can be a trigger that can lead to smoking situations. He advises, “If you want to avoid a slip-up, stay away from the slippery slope.”

Dr. Huizenga adds, “It’s just a matter of a few months that some of the heart attack risks and some of the other negative effects of cigarette smoking start to go away.” Over clips of Erik and his cute young kids, we learn Erik had diabetes when he arrived at the ranch but his fasting sugar level has dropped from diabetic 144 to normal-level 93. “Nothing short of miraculous,” concludes Dr. Huizenga.

Wow, all good stuff! But now, we must get back into the game. It’s Last-Chance Workout time, when everyone gets extra serious. Kim is working Wylie hard in the pool. Ken is sure that if they lose, the guys are in trouble.

Marty of the Blue Team hopes that if his team loses again, he’s their biggest loser (and therefore immune from the vote). That seems like a rather negative thought to me.

It’s evening, and time for the weigh-ins. Both sides are nervous about how it may play out. Ken knows he needs to do well or he’s in BIG trouble. A still-concerned Marty feels he could be going home if they lose. Why, I’m not sure, as his percentages are high but not highest.

The Blue Team names Ken as the one whose weight loss will not count in the total. That seems like the right decision to me, as he’s the biggest of them by far. His name is flagged with an asterisk in the table below, indicating his numbers are excluded from all totals. Here’s how the weigh-in went.

So, the Blue Team wins the weigh-in! I have no idea why the numbers were so spectacular this week, but every single one of them ought to be proud. It didn’t seem possible that the Blue Team could win when we learned they needed to lose ten pounds apiece. Erik feels vindicated that he lost weight without a trainer for three days.

As the highest percentage loser on the losing Blue Team, Caroline Rhea announces, Kai is exempt from elimination.

As it seems to have worked out this season, again it didn’t matter which player sat out the weigh-in. Even if lowest loser Wylie has been chosen, the Blue Team still would have won.

As they file out, the Blue Team is confident again. I hate to remind them that traditionally the teams don’t last a heck of a lot longer, and the dreaded “Yellow Line” says a lot about who is safe and who is going home.

Back at the house, trainer Bob is so amazed to hear how well his squad did that he’s giddy. Over on the other side of the house, trainer Kim advises them to “Think wisely, think about what you really want to do.” In a cameo Heather tells us the girls are still united and a guy is definitely going home.

The Red Team files into the Elimination Room. Immune Kai also has her free pass, which of course she opts not to use at this time. It is interesting to note that Caroline called on Kai to announce her intention to use or not use that pass BEFORE the vote, not after. Kai votes first and votes against Ken, because he’s “a big threat in this game.”

Ken’s up next and votes for the person with the lowest number, Heather. Up next, Heather returns the favor, also saying it is because Ken is such a threat.