The Biggest Loser 13, Episode 15: Ranch of Fools

Previously on The Biggest Loser, it was a one-hour episode! Yep, for the second time this season, the show was a reasonable length of time rather than the ungodly long two hours it usually is. Oh, and it was makeover week. Conda lost a challenge, resulting in her getting a one pound penalty, which with any luck will finally knock her off the ranch. They then did their makeovers, which resulted in Chris getting a new hair style, Conda gaining an ugly hair style, Mark looking like Lex Luthor, and Kim looking like Kim. After advertising it all week, the losers went to the White House to meet Michelle Obama, who said one sentence before the episode ended – because it wouldn't be The Biggest Loser if NBC didn't promise something and then fail (or delay) to deliver. On with the show.

This week's excuse that I'm making up is, "I can't lose weight while doing a commercial." Given the nature of the show, that should be a real excuse.

We open outside of Washington, sometime in February. Kim is excited because she's seen her family and is about to meet the First Lady. Mark is wondering who has been in this room before. Buddy says this is amazing and he just wants to be paying attention. He will be replaying this moment for the rest of his life.

Michelle Obama enters with a smile, which tells me she has yet to see this season. Conda calls her presence powerful and decides to take notes, because she wants that same presence, but instead of inspiring awe, she wants them cowering in fear. Well okay, I made that part up, but if Conda had said that, would it really surprise you? The First Lady welcomes them to the White House and tells us she's a fan of the show. She says the people on The Biggest Loser are such an inspiration. From the e-mails I've received, that's no longer true.

Bob introduces Mrs. Obama to Chris. She hugs Chris and congratulates her on how far she's come. Chris can't believe it, saying she should be congratulating Michelle Obama, not the other way around. I must admit, it’s pretty cool. Mrs. Obama moves on to Conda, saying it's so good to meet her. Conda says you don't even imagine stuff like this. The First Lady meets Jeremy next and gives him a hug. He says he didn’t think she would be so down to Earth and expects to be tackled by Secret Service.

Mrs. Obama meets Mark next and can't believe how much weight he's lost. She asks if Cathy is Mark's hot wife and he says she is. Mark says this is a sign she's watched the show, because she knows about his hot wife. Michelle Obama says she watches the show while working out and even increases her incline on the treadmill because of them.

She moves on to Buddy and his son. She hugs Buddy and says she wouldn't believe he had lost 134 pounds. Buddy says it's wild that he could be inspiring other people.

Mrs. Obama reaches Kim and can't believe she's lost all this weight. Kim's son says it's proof that Kim has the fight that her kids see in her. Kim begins to cry, and says she's just amazed. The journey is surreal. The First Lady tells Kim she deserves this and she can keep going. Kim is an inspiration for so many, yay for her. Kim says she hasn't heard someone tell her the sky is the limit in such a long time. This is an affirmation, the way Kim feels about herself, now others see it too.

Michelle goes to the front of the room and congratulates all of them for making it this far. She says they look fabulous and begins talking about an initiative she started dealing with childhood obesity. Chris says her kids struggle with their weight and she's taking the steps to improve her life so they'll improve theirs. She loves that Mrs. Obama has taken on this campaign to fight childhood obesity.

Mrs. Obama says this campaign is to inspire people across the country. Mark says the First Lady's initiative is something that the country needs. He loves that it's coming from the top down. Bob says the First Lady's initiative is something they all need and suggests a workout. Mrs. Obama is thrilled to do it, and you know this is because she's never done it before.

We cut to everyone now in their workout clothes, including Mrs. Obama. She and Buddy do a fist bump. Buddy says he threw his fist out just to see if she'd do it and she did. Buddy decides to call Mrs. Obama his "firstie." Buddy is kind of a dork, but it's endearing. The First Lady says she isn't sure if she is ready. She is willing to make a complete fool of herself though if it'll get kids to exercise.

Bob says they'll start off with some nice simple jumping jacks. Bob is still in awe of getting to train the First Lady. He's never gotten the chance to torture the spouse of a world leader before, now he can! Bob says the fact that the First Lady is into physical fitness and is now on The Biggest Loser is just so cool.

Workout montage. Kim is excited, she says the First Lady is so cool. She is like a friend. Bob is focusing a lot of attention on the First Lady. He tells us she is what "no excuses," is about. Who is as busy as the First Lady? Well her husband probably. Bob says if she can find time to work out, anyone can. Bob has them doing push-ups. Mrs. Obama says that her campaign is to get families working out together.

More workout montage. Dolvett is leading them now. Conda says that the First Lady told her a healthy lifestyle starts in the home. Conda has a two-year-old daughter, she has the chance to change her life and raise her daughter the correct way. Dolvett says that for the contestants, working alongside Mrs. Obama is a moving and emotional experience. Bob is again leading the workout, having them run in place. Now they're balancing on one leg and everyone is sweating. The First Lady calls Bob cruel and asks if she can get a towel. Dolvett takes over again, having them run in place for a while before finally stopping.

They give each other a big hand. Mrs. Obama says that she feels like part of the team. She has one last challenge for them. Originally I recapped all of what she said until she mentioned the NBC website. It was at that point that I realize the First Lady is doing an in show commercial. I am amazed and to a certain degree, really impressed. Give NBC credit, they got the First Lady to do a commercial for a contest they're running.

Essentially, the contest is to pledge six weeks of healthy living on the NBC site under the name of one of the current contestants on the show. Somehow (it isn't clear) one of these people will win a gym for their hometown. With that, the First Lady leaves them. Because after advertising it all week, Michelle Obama was on screen for ten minutes. Nice to see some things never change.

Back at the hotel where they're staying, Chris calls home because she wants to see how Roy is doing. Roy says he feels lonely and misses her a lot. Chris asks if he needs her to come home and he says yeah. Chris says being separated from him has taken an emotional toll on her. She needs her comfort and her comfort has always been food.

We see Chris eating cheeseburgers and grilled cheese covered in mayo. Chris blames her eating on being mad, even though this is the season of no excuses and she can't blame someone making her angry. It's all her. Chris says that before she came to the ranch, she was very unhappy. Chris is afraid the old her can creep in and take over, which is something she'll have to fight.

The next day, we're still in Washington. We see Dolvett walking them through the capitol. Mark says with all the makeover stuff, they've missed a lot of time to spend working out. They can make up for it now.

Cut to Bob and his team in sponsor gym. Bob says makeovers suck for weight loss. He notices Chris, who is in her own head. Bob asks what's wrong and if Chris is here. Chris says she's here physically, but that's it. Bob then reminds us that he is awesome, by pointing out that Chris is pretty much quitting and he should focus on Conda. Chris cries some crap about not having a choice and she has stuff going on at home that she needs to deal with.

Bob doesn't accept that answer and when Chris wants to change the subject, he refuses. He says that Chris hasn't been doing the workout and for her to throw away this experience would be a waste. Bob asks when Roy supports Chris and she doesn't have an answer. She begins to cry and asks if they can just stop talking about this. Bob tells her that her choices are to stay here and respect the journey or just go home.

This is what the season of no excuses has been in desperate need of. Usually this would be the emotional breakthrough moment of the episode, where the contestant cries, blames someone else for their problem, and hug the trainer. Instead, Bob is telling her not to blame or focus on Roy, Chris needs to do what she can or she needs to quit. No excuses – if you don't care, then go home.

Bob says Chris needs to make a decision and stand by it. He tells Chris that Roy needs to handle his end himself. Bob says if it's on her, she'll end up overweight, unhappy, and miserable. Chris says 15 weeks ago (wow, only 15?) she walked onto campus a scared woman. To be a good wife to Roy, she needs to finish this. Chris tells Bob she won't fall below the Yellow Line; she's scared to do so.

Last Chance Workout. More montage than usual. Buddy says he can smell the final four. Kim can't fall below the Yellow Line or she'll go home. Mark is trying harder since in the last Weigh In, he didn't lose any weight. Dolvett says he's looking at four people who don't give up and have fallen in love with taking care of themselves. Stuff like this is why Dolvett is a trainer.

We cut back with Bob working one-on-one with Chris. Chris is refocused and if nothing else, she can take her new perspective home. Dolvett doesn't want to see anyone go home, but he'd love for his four to be the final four. A final four without Conda? Sign me up.

They finally make it back to the ranch. Kim says they've just gotten home and it sucks that someone has to leave. They all pour into the Weigh-In room. Bob is completely nervous because he's only got Chris and Conda left; these two girls need to be safe. Incidentally, it's only a few days and Conda is already removing the dye from her hair. I think she agrees with me on how it looks.

Alison welcomes them back and says when they were at home, they were looking for a chance to change their lives. According to her, they have done just that. It’s time for the Weigh In. Conda has a one pound disadvantage while Buddy has a one pound advantage. He's up first. Buddy says he hasn't been able to hit the gym as much as he usually would have and to stay safe, he needs at least a five or six. Buddy started at 269 and drops to 260, for a loss of nine. With a loss of nine plus another one, Buddy has lost 3.79%.

Kim is up next. She says she has to stay above the Yellow Line because her allies are gone and if she falls below, she'll go also. Kim drops from 164 to 162. She's sad but she's okay with that. Kim got to go to the White House and see her family, so she's happy. Kim is at 1.22%.

Jeremy is up next. He was at 260 and drops to 249 for a loss of freaking 11 pounds! Jeremy is at 4.23%. Next up is Conda. She says she has never fallen below the Yellow Line before. To be safe, she needs at least a nine. Conda drops from 210 to 205 for a loss of five, and with the one pound disadvantage, it's only four. She says she wanted to lose more, but she had an amazing week and hopes that is enough. Bob says that Conda has come a long way, she still has the mouth on her, but she's proven she's a strong woman. If by strong woman you mean bitch, I agree. If you think I'm being harsh, Bob gave an interview shortly after this episode filmed, where he called Conda a bully and derided this whole season. I'll get more into that next week, but for now Conda's loss is 1.9%.

Kim says she just keeps seeing her name dropping and dropping. Mark is up next. He doesn't want to lose no weight again but is nervous it could happen. Mark needs a loss of four. He tells us that for the first time in a long time, he is very nervous. Mark goes from 200 pounds to 196 for a loss of four. Mark is ecstatic because he finally made it into the hundreds. He says he's safe for another week, he's in the final five. Mark's loss is 2.9%, which pushes Kim bellow the Yellow Line.

Kim knows if she goes under with Conda, she's screwed. If she goes under with Chris, she might have a chance. Chris says having Bob helped her get refocused in the right direction, but she's still done a lot of damage. Alison notices right away that Chris doesn't look all right and asks her about it. Chris says she doesn't have a good feeling. She tells them about the call she gave to Roy and how it upset her so much that she began bingeing.

Chris goes from 170 to 172 for a gain of two pounds. Chris isn't proud and says that even though she wasn't trying to sabotage herself, she still hurt herself. Bob asks her how she felt after binge eating and Chris says lousy. Bob wants Chris to remember this and to turn this mistake into a victory. Chris deserves to be happy. Chris's gain puts her at 1.18% gained, in dead last.

The trainers leave and Bob tells Chris not to sell herself short. They hug and Chris promises not to let her new attitude die. We see them headed to the Elimination Room with all their votes. Chris says her fate rests in everyone else's hands, but she thinks the circumstances this week prove she deserves to be here. Buddy says the smart thing to do is to eliminate Kim since she has finally fallen below the Yellow Line. However, Kim wants to be here more then Chris. He doesn't know what he will do.

Frankly, the smart thing to do is send Kim home. The correct thing (given the theme of the season) is to send Chris home. I don't care though, send them both home at this point – unless one of them can eliminate Conda that is.

Time for Elimination. Conda votes first. She says it's been amazing getting to know both of them and she based her decision on the fact that this person has a lot going on. Conda voted for Chris.

Buddy goes next. He says he was doing the whole head-heart thing again and his head tells him Kim is the bigger threat. His heart though says Kim is like a sister, so he votes for Chris.

Kim begins to cry. She says she didn't know how this would turn out because she's been really alone in this game. Kim says some more things but she's crying so hard that I can't make it out. Buddy apparently does as he goes over to hug Kim. Kim says Buddy calling her a sister was awesome.

Chris is eliminated and begins to cry. She is all right though because she'll go home with treasured friendships she'll have for the rest of her life. Chris's family needs her and she needs them. Chris says she is tremendously proud of herself and grateful for every moment she had here.

In her At Home segment, we learn Chris is down to 156 pounds, which doesn't sound like much but Chris was already near a healthy weight. Chris says after returning home, she's had to learn how to incorporate more healthy activity into her life. Since being home, Chris and Roy have begun to work out more together. Roy is really happy she's home and is eager to continue this journey. Chris says that when she got back and reflected on how quickly she gained weight, she realized that she has not taught her family many healthy habits.

We see Chris and her family working. Chris has a lot of pride in how this is going. Two of her kids talk about how great their mom looks and how awesome working out more is. Chris says before she was on the ranch, she was so unhappy. Now she's back and feels great and those who know her say she's back to the Chris she once knew. Nothing can hold her back. Chris says her goal after the finale is for her and Roy to bike across the country.

Next week, it's finally time! All the contestants want to quit! This should be interesting and, in a way, I'm looking forward to it. Are you?

A number of new Biggest Loser (plus Jillian & Bob) DVDs came out at the end of last season! You can look below for links to several of them, or check them all out at RNO's Amazon.com Updated Biggest Loser store, with over 80 products!

You can follow Reality News Online on Twitter and on Facebook! On Twitter, you can get up to the minute notifications on article postings and other reality TV news by following us. So head on over to Reality News Online’s Twitter page! On Facebook, you can become a fan, join discussions, and more!

Click here for Reality News Online’s Newly Updated Biggest Loser Amazon store and click here to shop The Biggest Loser Fitness Store from NBC.

Ryan Mehaffey is an unpublished writer and college student. He can be reached through his e-mail srgeman@yahoo.com or through his blog srgerules.blogspot.com.

Be sure to sign up for our e-mail update so you can stay informed about new articles on the site! Also take a look at the rest of the site; and don't miss The Reality TV Hall of Shame. You can even buy reality show stuff at our Reality TV Store!

For more news about this show, be sure to check out SirLinksALot: The Biggest Loser!