The Biggest Loser, Episode 7: Am I Blue?

Last week, Team Red kicked butt in the challenge, won the weigh-in, and served as the deciding factor in Team Blue’s elimination, sending the whiney Kelly Mac packing. It was downright ugly. Before the show gets underway, we have a glimpse at how Dave’s been progressing since his elimination. He’s done all right for a “slacker” (his words, not mine!).

Kelly Mac has also continued to workout at home. We see her running, measuring her food, and jumping rope. She says she is “all lit up inside, and having the best time ever.” Would it be unkind of me to say that I am glad she’s gone? At any rate, both Dave and Kelly look great, and have definitely put what they learned at the ranch to work.

Now, only six contestants remain. What they don’t know is that, this week, the game is going to change. After the catchy opening tune, the show opens at the point of last week’s elimination. Ryan says that it was weird to have to break the tie. He says Team Red is stronger than ever, and that the three of them want to be together. Kelly and Lisa try to talk to Andrea, but she has nothing to say. She questions their integrity, and tells us that now she realizes this is a game about survival and the only one who can help her through is herself.

Trainers Bob and Jillian come jogging up to the house. Jillian greets her team members, who are waiting for her in the kitchen. They tell her all about the elimination. Lisa says that, last night, the Red team was “the king and queen” of the game. Jillian knows that Bob is going to freak out.

And freak out he does. All he can say is, “Wow.” He tells us that Kelly Mac has learned the most of all his team. Bob is at a loss for words and tells them that he hates that he didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to her. His advise is that there has to be a “big ass weight loss.” Bob isn’t going to put up with any crap because he doesn’t want to tell anyone else goodbye. He takes Andrea out for a run and tells her that she hasn’t seen anything yet. He is planning on working Gary and Mo hard as well.

Night falls and it is time for dinner. The table is set and there is a huge selection of food. You name it, there is a temptation for everyone – fried chicken, chocolate cake, candies – it’s all there. Andrea is particularly tempted by the cake. She says that, at this point, if she had to choose between a good-looking guy and that cake, she would chose the cake. My kind of woman!

Maurice admires the Chicken Marsala, but is doing mental calorie counting and selects an unadorned chicken breast instead. Kelly calls it “cruel and crueler,” while Lisa is writing down calorie and fat counts. This really is a test of what it will be like for them in the “real world.”

Ryan points out that the temptations aren’t really tempting anymore, and realizes that now he will be able to pass by the donuts at work and continue his weight-loss program. “Someday I may really have a six-pack,” he tells us. “And it won’t be in my refrigerator!”

After the “temptation dinner,” they are called into the gym. They line up, and Caroline greets them. She reminds them that, despite the fact that they have been playing as teams, encouraging one another, they knew from the start that there would only be one “biggest loser.” Then she drops the bomb that they certainly must have known was coming. “From this moment on, there are no more teams,” she announces. Kelly drops her head. We go to commercial.

To level the playing field, the rules will change, and from now on, their weight loss will be calculated based on the percentage of weight that they have lost since they arrived. Now, after each weigh-in, the two people who have lost the lowest percentage, will be nominated for elimination. The rest of the group will vote for the person who will go home.

There is a graph on the wall, and each person will be listed with his or her weight and percentage. There is a yellow line dividing the chart, and Caroline tells the group that the two people who have the lowest percentage of weight loss will find their names below the yellow line. Those two will be up for elimination.

Caroline shows them their present ranking. Ryan is in first place with a loss of 20.6 percent, Kelly 18.6, Gary 18.1, Andrea 17.2, Lisa 16.9, and Maurice 10.8 percent. Lisa and Maurice are “under the yellow line,” which means if they do not really show some big numbers this week, and face elimination. Caroline reminds them that just a few pounds can make a huge difference and the numbers can shift. Caroline dismisses them and they go off to bicker.

Lisa’s very upset over a crack that Ryan made while Caroline was reading the numbers. When he found out he was not in danger of elimination, he jokingly said, “At least I don’t have to worry about being voted off.” Of course, she turns on the water works but Ryan assures her that they will still work together as a team. Whaaa whaaaa. He manages to calm her down, but you have to wonder how long he’ll be able to put up with her.

Despite the fact that they are essentially on their own, the teams remain intact, and continue to work with their respective trainers and encourage one another. Ryan says he doesn’t want to mess up a good thing.

The first individual challenge is going to take place at night. They march into the gym, where six stationary bikes await. Andrea is happy because she is into “spinning.” The challenge will be to put in as many miles as possible. They have until midnight, which is four hours. Four hours on a bike! But the prize is worth it. The winner will be awarded a shopping spree for a whole new wardrobe. Better yet, whoever racks up the most mileage gets immunity.

They get on the bikes and begin to peddle. This is going to be a killer. Caroline leaves them with a chirpy, “See you at midnight.” They each seem to have a strategy. Lisa intends to keep a steady pace, while Gary is going to do intervals. Andrea is pushing it hard and steady, while Maurice is playing is cool, slow, and steady. He may have something there. Gary, Andrea, and Lisa are pretty close. They are working this one hard, knowing that a lot is at stake. Since she is under the yellow line, Lisa wants it badly, and is really working hard. Their legs are going to feel like rubber when this is all over!

At midnight, Caroline returns, and it’s time to find out the winner. Maurice has done 36.8 miles. Pretty good for someone who had never been on a stationary bike before. Kelly did 54.4 miles, Ryan 62.6, and Andrea 68 miles. And, while Lisa gave it her all and peddled 69.7 miles, Gary beat her (and everyone else) with 79. All right Gary! Of course, he is overjoyed. What a great smile. Caroline tells him that two stylists will join him for his shopping trip, and the group disperses for the night.

In the morning, Gary is still feeling pretty pleased with himself (and walking fairly well too, I might add). He gets a little bit carried away with his enthusiasm, much to the chagrin of the others who are certainly jealous and sore! He leaves the house and is surprised to find his two kids outside the door. They are the “stylists!” The kids rush up to greet him, and he is overwhelmed with emotion. They hug and cry, and it is a truly lovely moment. The kids are impressed that they can get their arms around their dad.

A Hummer limousine arrives, and takes Gary and his kids shopping. He is having a ball and excited about fitting into size 34 pants and a small shirt. He buys some great shirts, and a huge selection of jeans. But the biggest surprise awaits him back at the ranch. Gary’s wife is standing on the steps, and when she sees him, she cries out, “Oh my God.” She is completely blown away by how great he looks. They hug and cry too. I am beginning to tear up myself.

Mrs. Gary (we never learn her name) is even more thrilled when she finds out that his asthma is gone. She tells us that she worried about him for years, and she is so happy for him. Before she leaves, they kiss and hug some more. This was the best reward of all.

Okay, it’s time to get back to the action. Everyone is concerned about the weigh-in, knowing that anyone, except Gary, can be sent home. They have all worked really hard to get to this point in the game, and it is going to be very hard to see anyone go home.

The group gathers for the first individual weigh-in. Caroline reminds them how important it is to stay above the yellow line. Since Gary has immunity, he can’t be eliminated, but he weighs in anyway. He has only lost three pounds, bringing his percentage to 19.4. Now for Kelly. She’s down three pounds as well, bringing her to 19.8 percent. She’s in first place. Maurice is next, and has also lost three pounds. This increases his percentage to 11.5. Ryan smiles as he steps to the scale. He has lost nine pounds, and his new percentage is 23.3. This should be enough to keep him in first place.

Andrea is very nervous as she takes the scale. She’s down two pounds, bringing her to 18.1 percent. She’s in fourth place. Caroline reminds them of their standing. Mo is already below the yellow line. It all depends on Lisa. She steps up to the scale. She has lost five pounds, and of course, she cries. Her percentage… 19.1 percent. This puts her in fourth place, bumping Andrea below the yellow line, along with Maurice. Even though there are no more teams, two members of Team Blue lose again. I don’t want to see either one of them go home.

Mo tells us that he didn’t sleep well, and knows that this could be it for him. Ryan talks to him and tries to be encouraging, but Mo says he has a “weird vibe.” Lisa acknowledges that Andrea has worked her butt off, and Kelly knows that Andrea is a powerful competitor and could pose a real threat. She wants to win, but hates having to do this. Andrea tries to pull the “women’s alliance” card! Sound familiar?

Bob runs up to the house, not wanting to miss being able to say goodbye. He and Mo hug, but when he tries to say goodbye to Andrea, he goes to pieces. He cries, she cries, I cry. This is heartbreaking. Bob says he is not going to worry about her because she is “so strong.” Then they hug and cry some more!

Meanwhile, Lisa and Andrea “talk turkey.” It seems that the girls are leaning towards her, but Andrea’s not going to be fooled. She tells Lisa that she is not ready to go yet. She wants to finish what she started and thinks of this as unfinished business. We see some clips of her working out and running with her best buddy, Bob. Maurice also wants to stay, but really, he hasn’t put as much into this as she has. By rights, he should go. He does tell us that he will continue on the outside.

The contestants convene in the refrigerator room. Caroline asks Andrea how hard it will be for her to leave without finishing. Andrea reiterates her desire to see this through. Maurice also wants to stay. Then, Caroline tosses in her now standard, “It’s time to cut the fat.” She annoys me no end, and I certainly hope that she will not return to host Biggest Loser 2 (more on that later).

Gary tells them that this is not personal, and selects Andrea, saying that in the end he is afraid she would overtake him. Ryan’s vote is based on how hard the person has worked and how much passion they have shown. He says that this is impossible, since they both worked hard. He votes for Andrea as well. Lisa says she has been tossing and turning, and talking with everyone, but sees Andrea as a pillar of strength. She votes Andrea as well, saying that she figures she may not have a chance to get rid of her again. Caroline looks really sad as she tells her she has to leave. We don’t get to see how Kelly votes.

Andrea stands up to leave and then turns around. She tells the group that the dress she is wearing is one that she could not fit into when she arrived. Now, this size 8 dress fits her beautifully. She tells them to take a good look! She tells us that she intends to keep working and get down to a 34-26-38, saying, “I intend to keep the junk in the trunk!” Since leaving the show, she’s lost more weight and is now down to 164 pounds. And, she asked for a raise… and got it. I am going to miss Andrea. She had style, class, and a lot of heart.

Next week, the final four will be chosen. In a rather neat trick, they will “meet their old bodies,” cardboard cutouts of how they looked before, and be forced to run carrying the weight that they lost. Then, they will say goodbye to their old selves! I love his show!

As I mentioned, there is going to be a second edition of this show. Auditions have already been held in several cities and more are scheduled. For more information, go to the Biggest Loser website. This time, they are encouraging family members to apply. You have until December 16th to send in your application and video. Go for it!

I also learned that a live finale is set to air on January 11. Hopefully, all the contestants will return, and we can see how well they’ve done. I know I’ll be watching.

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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