The Biggest Loser, Episode 2: Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie

We start off with a review of last week’s show, including the embarrassing first weigh-in. The trainers trained and the diets began. Matt was the week’s biggest loser and, when Ryan lost 19 pounds, the Blue team was sent to the elimination table where Dana was sent home. It’s week two and we are on the road again. I feel better tonight, by the way, since I went out and did a two-mile run before I watched the show! Hard to believe that a reality show is inspiring me to get a little exercise!

The show starts where we left off last week. We see Dana’s refrigerator light extinguished. I didn’t notice this last week; a reader pointed the symbolism of this act! Maurice says it’s time to step up the game, and Andrea encourages them all to forge ahead. Team Red’s Ryan jokes about why it took so long for Team Blue to get through the elimination. But Gary is not happy with Ryan’s reaction and storms off to bed. All this food deprivation and extreme exercise is definitely taking a toll.

A new day dawns, and Lizzeth is already up and running. She wants to be a role model for her family. Her sister had gastric bypass surgery and Lizzeth is hoping to be able to educate her. Trainer Bob is sorry to see Dana go, but is still proud of his team. Gary says the game for him is getting healthy and they begin their morning routine.

Meanwhile, Team Red is back at it as well. Lisa tells us that everything hurts, even her lips! Jillian comes out strong and gets them right back into the drill. She tells them that the reason they won was that they worked out ten times harder. David tells us that, although he lost ten pounds last week, he is not giving up. Jillian loves him but thinks he is a slacker. We watch as each team goes through grueling combinations of circuit training combined with floor work that looks extremely difficult. These two trainers are no joke, that’s for sure.

After a commercial break, the teams return to the dining room where, once again, the table is laden with all sorts of delightful but forbidden foods. There’s barbecue this week and poor Maurice is torn. However, they determine that there are some foods that they can eat with some alterations. This is what it is really all about, people. You take the skin off the chicken and skip the heavy dressing on the salad. Eat smaller portions and eliminate those fatty add-ons that, while they taste great, really add nothing but pounds.

It’s time for the second challenge. This week, Caroline welcomes them to a commercial kitchen at Universal Amphitheater, which is all set up for baking. The challenge will be to spend two hours baking, and then sell the baked goods for charity. Whichever team makes the most money, wins the challenge and an afternoon at a spa. The kicker here is that, because the teams are uneven, one person from the Blue team will have to “sit out” the weigh-in. The winning team determines who that person will be. So, if the Red Team wins, they can chose the person who they think has lost the most weight, which, of course, will affect the score. On the other hand, if the Blue Team wins, they can pick the person who they think has lost the least. Neat solution.

The baking process is challenging. Certainly, nibbling at the dough or eating even a tiny bit of frosting can be deadly in terms of losing weight. But they are mindful of the temptations, and it doesn’t appear that anyone has succumbed. Once they finish baking, it’s time to sell their tempting goodies to visitors to the park. Each team has its own strategy but it’s all about personality, really. The brownies look great and sales seem brisk.

Caroline appears, calls time, and announces that, of course, there is a twist. The first team that took a bite, a taste or lick loses 50% of the proceeds. We see some flashbacks to the baking scenes and wonder – did anyone sneak even a tiny taste? With a “pregnant” pause, she tells them that the team that violated the rules is… No One! They are all overjoyed at this news and ready to hear the sales totals. The Red Team sold $245 worth of goodies. They cheer, thinking that this seems to be a decent amount. But Team Blue blows them away, with sales totaling $360.

So, once again, Team Red prevails and a Humvee limousine takes them off to the spa while Team Blue is working harder than ever. Kelly Mac bemoans the fact that she is on the treadmill, with a heart rate of 185, while Team Red is getting body wraps to help pull out all the toxins. They are working it, though, knowing that they must win tonight’s weigh-in.

Team Blue is trying to estimate how much weight they lost. Matt says he has put the same amount of energy and effort into his workouts this week, and hopes to see similar results (he lost 22 pounds last week). It’s really hard to tell, though, and no one really looks markedly slimmer this time around.

The teams converge for the weigh-in. Caroline reminds them that Team Red came from behind last week, and asks them who they have chosen to exclude from the weigh-in. They choose Lizzeth. She still must be weighed though, and, when she steps on the scale, we discover that her weight remains the same at 164 pounds. Good choice, Team Red.

The weigh-in progresses. Aaron is up next and has lost seven pounds. He’s shocked. It goes downhill from here. Ryan only loses three pounds and wonders what he did wrong. Andrea’s down three as well, and Aaron is flabbergasted. Dave has lost nothing, and both Kelly Mac and Lisa only lose a pound. Kelly feels defeated and humbled, and Lisa says she worked harder than ever and wonders what went wrong.

The discouraging results continue. Gary says it’s a “hit in the face” for him when he discovers that he has only dropped two pounds. Kelly is also down two pounds and thinks that, maybe, she should just learn to be happy as she is. Maurice didn’t lose any weight this week either. But it’s Matt who scores the shocker. He has actually gained three pounds. He is stunned and immediately breaks down, crying, as Lisa says she doesn’t understand. Team Red has lost the least amount and will face elimination. Aaron is actually this week’s “biggest loser” and accounts for nearly half of his team’s total score.

Kelly Mac says her heart broke in half as she watched Matt’s reaction. It really is heartbreaking. All that work and the totals just don’t show it. But, as a veteran of the weight-loss wars myself, I do know that, initially, you tend to lose a significant amount of weight, but this is usually water. Once that is gone, there is a tendency to level off.

Bob stops by and is relieved that Team Blue made it through. He tells them that what they lost this week are “real” pounds. Jillian tells Team Red that their bodies are in a state of shock and, that, if they stay the course, they will begin to see results again. Red Team meets to decide who should be eliminated. Kelly questions Dave’s motivations and work ethic. Matt thinks he should be the one to go home since he gained weight. Lizzeth feels that this opportunity is a blessing to her. Kelly wants to keep Lizzeth, and tries to convince Lisa to switch her vote to Dave. It’s so hard to decide, really. They all really want to be there. Lizzeth feels that she works harder and stronger than Dave, and says that he quits when the going gets tough.

Team Red is still deliberating. It’s getting ugly. Lizzeth goes off on David who is annoying her with his whistling. She’s mad because she has worked her butt off and thinks that he has a crappy attitude. He continues to whistle. Finally, it’s time for the elimination ceremony. Team Red convenes in the refrigerator room with their platters. Caroline asks Matt what gave him the strength to not eat the carrot cake. He says he is there to lose weight.

Caroline tells them that it’s “time to cut the fat.” Dave votes Lizzeth, saying she will probably lose the least amount of weight. Kelly feels that one person has not given the team his all, and votes Dave. Lizzeth says that to be part of a team one has to participate, and Dave has not. Ryan points out that it was a tough week but that two of the people can come back and make it work. “Sorry Dave… I’m voting for Lizzeth,” he jokes. Matt doesn’t think that Lizzeth can lose enough weight to sustain the team and votes for her. Caroline tells us that if there’s a tie, the Blue Team picks the one to be voted off. Lisa is in a fix here. She’s so vulnerable and indecisive, but ends up voting for Lizzeth. Awwww. Caroline tells her to pack her bags and say goodbye. Lizzeth’s refrigerator light goes off. Kelly says Ryan was cruel and is appalled by his making a joke.

Lizzeth tells us that the next time they see her, they will see a “hot girl.” She has since lost nine more pounds.

There will be no Biggest Loser next week due to election coverage. The show will return on November 9. I would like to take a moment here to encourage all of you to get out and vote next Tuesday. No matter which candidate you prefer, please let your voice be heard. Don’t let other people decide for you. It’s your future we’re talking about here. Thanks!

Donna Reynolds is an Assistant Editor for the RealityNewsOnline family of websites and a freelance writer based in Syracuse, NY. She is also the creator of “That’s Entertainment,” a weblog on syracuse.com. Whether you agree or disagree, Donna welcomes your comments, and you can email her at foxydonna@earthlink.net.

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