Biggest Loser S13E12 - ♫Vacation - Had To Get Away♪

This week the contestants are going to put the excuse "I can't lose weight on vacation" to the test. As a test, the contestants are going to Hawaii. Cue the Go-Go's ♫Vacation♪ and before long the contestants are relaxing in the water. Dolvett puts a stop to that quickly and tells them if they are not moving, they are not losing. To get the contestants moving more and inspire them, Bob and Dolvett introduce them to Bethany Hamilton. She's a professional surfer who's had her arm bitten off by a shark. Despite that, she's never given up, and continues to surf. She challenges the other contestants to surf with her. A few of the contestants are somewhat reluctant, but they all get out in the water. Chris, Kim and Kimmy have some surprising success.

Afterwards, Kim is feeling isolated and alone so heads to the gym while Kimmy, Megan and Chris are eating while Conda is talking about Kim.

Alison surprises the contestants with a Hawaiian themed pop challenge. Winner of the challenge gets a one pound weight advantage. Chris is hopeful, realizing she's the queen of useless trivia.

Q1 - How many miles does it take to complete an Iron Man competiton?
A-26.2 / B-58.8 / C-112.2 / D-140.6
Answer: D - Answered correctly by Chris, Kim and Buddy.

Q2 - Which of these vacation drinks has the most calories?
A-Mai Tai / B-Pina Colada / C-Blue Hawaaiian / D-Lava Flow
Answer: D - Answered correctly by Buddy, Kim, Conda and Chris

Q3 - Which dish has the highest amount of fat per serving?
A-6 oz. Kalua Pork / B-12 Choc. Macadamia Nuts / C-4 oz. Lu'au Potatoes / D-4 oz. Huli Chicken
Answer: B - Answered correctly by everyone but Buddy

Q4 - How many calories does a person burn surfing 1 hour?
A-100-140 calories / B-160-200 calories / C-250-290 calories / D-over 320 calories
Answer: C - Answered correctly by Jeremy, Megan and Mark
Results are Kim & Chris at 3, Buddy, Conda, Jeremy, Megan and Mark at 2 and Kimmy with 1.
Final question is a tie-breaker for Chris and Kim

Tie-Breaker - If you indulge yourself on 24 chocolate covered macadamia nuts, how many calories will you have consumed? Closest to the right answer gets the one pound advantage.
Kim guesses 518 / Chris answers 1280
Answer: 1320 - Chris wins the one pound advantage.

Later, Dolvett offers smoothies to a few of the contestants, but offers up a challenge for them. Sitting on the sand, they are to raise their feet off the sand and keep them off. The first person to drop their feet, will make smoothies for everyone using a bike powered blender. Out of Kim, Buddy, Kimmy, Jeremy & Mark, Jeremy is the first to drop his feet. Jeremy wonders where he can find this product, and Kim agrees she could drink one of these every day. Dolvett informs them the Yoplait Chocolate Banana smoothie mixes can be found in any groceries freezer. They are good and good for you. Pick some up today! (Okay Yoplait, when do I get paid)?

Dolvett is worried about Kim and pulls her aside because he's seen a change in her. She confirms his believe she is feeling isolated and alone. She also admits the other girls are willing to take things easy because they are on vacation. Though she initially agreed with them, she admits to Dolvett she's ready to break out of that thinking. Unlike the other girls, she's going to fight to stay on Biggest Loser. If she does not fall below the yellow line, she'll be safe.

For the next challenge, Alison has the contestants gathered on a large hill. Further down the hill are various posts with lei's of different colors. The object of the challenge will be to collect one specific color of lei's, run back up the hill, then place the lei's on other contestants "tiki's". Once a contestant has 10 lei's on their tiki, they are out of the challenge. There will be one black 'death lei' which will automatically eliminate someone. The last person standing will win immunity for the week. Buddy is the only one who is going to be unable to play because of his injury.

The first person targeted is Kim as she does her best to try and knock Chris out. Then Kimmy finds the death lei and instead of putting it on someone who has no lei's, puts it on Kim. Kimmy reminds people everyone signed up to play this 'game'. Chris is the next to be taken out. Jeremy, Conda and Mark all team up to take Megan out next. Conda refuses to call it an alliance, she prefers to think of it as a 'friendship. Next, Kimmy is targeted, but Jeremy makes a plan with Kimmy to not put a lei on her's if she doesn't put one on his. She agrees and they put a few on Mark, but Conda takes Kimmy out. With just three people left, Conda and Jeremy conspire to take out Mark, but they are going to make him work for it. Instead of taking him out right away, they make him run up and down the hill. Finally Conda tells Mark to put a lei on Jeremy's to put him out, because Mark only has one left to go. Instead of giving it to Jeremy as instructed he gives it to Conda because Jeremy is trying to let her win. Finally they realize he needs to be taken out and finish the job. Jeremy then lets his sister finally take him out.

For the next weigh in, the contestants are at Pearl Harbor. With the mememorial of the USS Arizona behind them, and the USS Missouri in front of them, they are called up to weigh in. Conda is reminded, if she gains weight her immunity will be void.

Kim 176 171 -5 2.84 "I like myself more and more every week."
Jeremy 273 266 -7 2.56 "That's what I needed. I gave my sister immunity, I just earned immunity."
Chris 177 174 -3 2.26 "With my one pound advantage, I hope it's enough."
Buddy 281 -275 -6 2.14 "Two weeks in a row I've been severely restricted. And I'm still staying above the yellow line."
Mark 204 200 -4 1.96 "Couldn't quite get it." (Getting under 200)
Conda 221 217 -4 1.81 "You can lose weight on vacation."

YELLOW LINE
Megan 198 195 -3 1.52 "3 Pounds is not what I wanted."
Kimmy 219 217 -2 1.23 "I'm happy with 2 pounds"

For the elimination, the contestants are gathered on the USS Missouri. Kimmy tells everyone she wants to go home and asks to be voted out next. Emily reminds everyone that last week everyone voted out Emily because it was a good strategy move, so voting out Kimmy would not be a good strategy move. She tells the rest of the players, if they are truly playing for strategy, they would vote Megan out. Kimmy tells Alison she's sure here friends will vote her out instead of Megan.
Mark - Kimmy
Jeremy - Kimmy
Buddy - Kimmy

This week, three votes is enough to send Kimmy home. Chris cries and says she'll miss Kimmy. Kimmy thinks maybe she'll just miss doing the dishes alone. Having started the Biggest Loser journey at 219 pounds, Kimmy is now at 154. She hopes to one day open and run her own therapeutic horsemanship facility.

Biggest Loser S13E11 - The White Elephant In The Room

With only 9 contestants left, Alison announces they are no longer teams. The Biggest Loser has now reached the singles stage. Everyone is going to be working for their own, and the yellow line at weigh in is back. Kim earlier stuck up for Cassandra when she was voted out, so now feels like a target. Having been teamed up with Kim at the beginning of the game, the two are going to continue to work together but realize they have to stay above the yellow line, or one of them is going home.

For the first challenge, the contestants are brought to an ice rink. As an individual game, they will need to start believing in themselves, and that will start with standing on their own two feet, as Alison points out. They are all tied to a ring in the center with buzzers for each contestant on the outside of a larger circle. The contest will continue in rounds, each one ending when another contestant has hit the button. There are nine prizes to win, the winners get to pick last, and the losers must choose first. But when a person picks a prize, they are given the opportunity to keep it, or trade for someone's prize already won. Because of a stress fracture on his tibia, Buddy will be unable to play and immediately earns 9th place. The game begins and no one seems to be doing very well, Kim even falls and hits her head on the ice, but gets right back up. Finally Conda realizes in order for her or her brother to win, they will have to work together. She works with him so he can hit his buzzer, winning the the first place of the first round. When the second round begins, Kim is shocked to learn Mark, along with everyone else, seem to help Megan win the second place. Mark claims he's helping Megan to get a bit of a break. The third round begins and Mark has taken advantage of the short break. With Chris' help, he easily wins the third place prize. During the fourth round, it's a battle between Kim and Conda, but Conda is able to earn the fourth place prize. The fifth place begins with Kim, Kimmy, Emily and Chris. Kim starts off strong, but stumbles giving Chris the wedge she needs to pull the others to her buzzer. Chris wins the round in under a minute. With Emily and Kim the last pre-singles team left on the ice, they easily pull Kimmy to Kim's buzzer to end the sixth round. The seventh round is only between Kimmy and Emily now and Kimmy feels she'll lose for sure. But she digs in and gives it her all, winning the seventh place. This makes Emily automatically earn the eighth prize, she feels embarrassed.

Time to pick the prizes and Buddy, being in ninth place, gets to pick first. Each of the prizes are hidden in boxes, so no one knows what they will get, till they open the prize. As luck would have it, he opens a box with a Biggest Loser hat in it. Unless there are some awful gifts, he's certain the hat will be his at the end of the prize selections. Emily's turn to pick and she wins a phone for a day. As much as she would love to keep it, she's certain it'll be stolen away by someone else. Kimmy's selection is an autographed photo of Alison Sweeney. Kimmy opts not to trade it in, it's coming home with her. For Kim's gift, she picks a box of chocolates. She would love to take the phone from Emily, but knows she's going to need it and selflessly keeps her chocolates hoping no one else will steal the phone away from Emily. Chris' prize is a one pound weight advantage. She's also certain her prize will be stolen away, but opts not to trade. Conda's prize is cold hard cash, a one dollar bill. She trades it for the one pound advantage. Next Mark opens a prize giving him two votes at elimination. Alison reminds him it's only available if he stays above the yellow line. Realizing the power it holds, he decides to keep the prize. Megan is surprised to find a live goldfish in her prize. As much as she loves her fish, she trades it for Conda's one pound weight advantage. Finally, the last prize is given to Jeremy. It turns out to be shopping with a celebrity, with the advantage of bringing someone along. Emily tempts him by saying someone is on the phone for him, but he decides to trade it for Conda's goldfish. He realizes she'll appreciate the prize much more than he will. Thus ends this white elephant themed game.

The next half hour of the 90 minute condensed episode consists of the contestants working out, where Dolvett gives special attention to Kim and Bob gives his attention to Emily. He works with her in weight lifting training where she's training him. He's trying to help her believe in herself once more. He's afraid she's going to allow herself to fail and fall below the yellow line.

Later, as Jeremy is eating and keeping an eye on his goldfish, Conda is preparing for her shopping trip. She has chosen Kim to accompany her and they two get to shop with Jessica Simpson. The girls are ecstatic. But Jeremy wins a prize of his own. While Conda is gone, Rachel visits the Biggest Loser ranch. She's illustrating the highlights of Progresso soup. Jeremy observes the last time they met, it was like a 'date' with Rachel and now she's making soup for his. He believes his relationship with Rachel is progressing.

In a touching moment with Dolvett, Kimmy relates how she turned to food. As a child, her mother was schizophrenic and realistically unable to provide adequately for her own children. Kimmy began feeling like the mother of the house at eight when her mother many times refused to let the kids eat, thinking it would purify their body. As she got older, Kimmy began to make sure there was enough food in her own house. It was a psychological move on her part, to feel secure. To give her more confidence in herself, Dolvett takes her wall climbing, to help her get over her fear of heights.

Weigh In
Mark 213 / 204 / -9 / 4.23% "YES, Come on. Love it!"
Chris 184 / 177 / -7 / 3.8% - "Wow, I haven't been in the 170's in years."
Megan 204 / 198 / -6 / 3.43% - "I'm in wonderland."
Kim 182 / 176 / -6 / 3.3% - "I'm really happy with that number."
Jeremy 282 / 273 / -9 / 3.19% - "Told you I didn't need it." (one pound)
Conda 228 / 221 / -7 / 3.07% - "I'm happy, seven pounds is great for me."
Buddy 289 / 281 / -8 / 2.77% - "That's awesome."
Kimmy 167 / 163 / -4 / 2.4% - "Wow, I wasn't expecting to do that well."
Emily 195 / 190 / -5 / 2.40% "It's weeks like this that blows the wind out of your sails."

The Elimination:
Kim - Kimmy
Megan - Emily
Chris - Emily
Jeremy - Emily
Conda - Kimmy
Mark - Emily & Emily

Emily is voted out, but is using her time off the ranch to improve in her next ambition, to be a signer. She reaches out to Olivia from Season 11 who meets with her to help her meet her goal. Since her Biggest Loser ranch, she's gone from a weight of 264 to 174. Additionally, she's hoping to win the home prize and use the money to move to New York City. But don't tell her friends and family, they don't know yet.

Biggest Loser S13E10 - I Could Lose One Pound Taking A Poop

The morning after Chism has been eliminated, Alison gathers both teams. She has come to inform them they are having their trainers switched. The Black Team will now have Dolvett, and the Red Team will have Bob. To top things off, whichever team wins the weigh-in, will be the only ones voting. The entire Black Team seem devastated. Emily says she she has little faith in herself and Cassandra is close to freaking out.

Bob is delighted to see the Red Team show up for a workout. He's ready to break them out of their comfort zone as soon as possible. The Red Team are ready to accept the challenge but the Black Team, except Conda, are despondent. Dolvett is shocked by their lack of enthusiasm. Chris is anxious over Dolvett's 'drill sergeant's approach. Noticing Emily's disposition, Dolvett wants to push her past her fears. He makes her run a 10 on the treadmill for 30 seconds, which is something she thought she couldn't do.

In a quiet moment, Bob is talking with Buddy about the daughter he lost. Buddy tells about the first ultrasound his wife and him received where they discovered something wrong with their unborn child. It was found she already has problems with her stomach and heart and missing a kidney. The way the Doctors talked to him, Buddy got the feeling they were suggesting to abort the baby as a humane gesture; Buddy opted not to do. After she was born, she remained in the hospital for six months and had 10 brain surgeries within that time. On the final day, Buddy knew something was wrong when he entered the hospital room and saw a room divider surrounding his daughter. He knew then his daughters fight was over. He held her for the last time and realized he had no way to pay for her funeral. Feeling like a failure, Buddy turned to eating as a means of escape.

In a change of strategy, Dolvett decides to take his team to a ballet class. In order to prove to them they need to break out of their comfort zone, Dolvett dresses up in ballet gear as well, including the ballet shoes. All the girls seem okay with his outfit. The girls are shocked to learn how difficult ballet can actually be. Dolvett admits he's feeling like one of the girls.

And now for something completely different, it's time to get down and dirty. For the challenge, each team is brought to a giant mud pit outside. Inside the mud pit are hidden weights ranging from 10 - 45 pounds. There are 40 weights in total. For each team, only one person can be in the mud pit at any time, so each team member has to move as quick as possible. Winners of the challenge receive a two pound advantage. Black team, consisting of all girls, realize how much they are going to need to win. Megan scores first from the Black Team but the Red Team soon passes them as Emily begins to struggle. Kim finds a few while she's out and pulls it up slightly for the next person to come get. This strategy secures an easy win for the Red Team, giving them the two pound advantage. Kimmy is so happy she runs and gives Alison a hug, despite Alison's protests.

Earlier in the day, Kim, Cassandra and Emily were worried about being targeted next. Their solution is to approach Conda and suggest an all girl alliance. Without haste, Conda tells Buddy on the Red Team. Buddy is surprised considering Conda still has a brother on the Red Team. Buddy then tells Mark and Jeremy and they conspire who they are going to target at the next weigh in. Conda has already confirmed the rest of the Black Team is stressing this week and will likely lose the weigh in.

Weigh In
Red Team
Mark 215-213 / -2 "Yea, I'm not pleased with that."
Buddy 294-289 / -5 "It's not so good."
Kimmy 169-167 / -2 "That's better than none."
Jeremy 289-282 / -7 "I've had worse weeks."
Kim 186-182 / -4
Total: 22 pounds - 1.91%

Before the black team weighs in, Emily admits to everyone "I don't think we're going to do it." Dolvett is shocked, thinking he made some great progress with Emily over the week.

Black Team
Cassandra 175-172 / -3 "That's not great at all."
Chris 185-184 / -1 "I was not thrilled about the change this week. The stress got to me."
Megan 205-204 / -1 "I could lose one pound taking a poop."
Emily 199-195 / -4 "It's not what I wanted."
Conda 231-228 / -3 "I felt like I'm back."
Total: 1.21%

Red Team has won the weigh in and will now vote someone off the black team. The only person safe is Emily who has won the Biggest Loser for the week. As typical, the Red Team is given an hour to decide who to vote for. They listen to everyone on the black team, but Jeremy is worried because of the threat of the 'all girl alliance'. Cassandra says she still needs to be on the ranch because she's not ready. Chris wants more time because she feels her journey didn't start till Roy left, when she had to learn to stand on her own two feet. Megan says she needs to stay or she's doomed to fail. Emily feels Cassandra deserves to be here and Kim actually backs her up and says she'd rather go up against a competitor instead of people sliding by. Conda doesn't buy it, she thinks Emily is just playing the game and would just as soon vote out Jeremy or Mark if it suited her.

Voting:
Mark - Cassandra
Kim - Chris
Kimmy - Cassandra - close to Conda
Jeremy - Chris
Buddy - Cassandra

Cassandra is hurt she is going home but Kim tries to encourage her by mentioning why the others voted her out. They consider her a threat, and she needs to remember that.

After Biggest Loser: Cassandra is in New York and looking for an apartment. She also has a job interview with Condé Nast Traveler, which she feels has gone well. After the finale, Cassandra will return to New Yor for a second interview with Condé Nast Traveler.

Biggest Loser - Coming Home

In the most recent episode of the prime-time drama series 'The Biggest Loser'; daytime soap star Alison Sweeney sent the teams home. In the wink of an eye, the show transformed from the Biggest Loser Prime-Time Drama Series, back to The Biggest Loser-Reality TV Show. So what happened?

For the first time this series, the contestants were separated and focus was moved back to what's been missing this season; inspiration. Instead of the drama filled aspect, we watched as the contestants competed against each other, found focus for their weight-loss goals and motivated each other. Gone was the bickering and arguing and camaraderie was at an all time high when it was revealed Chism was the one to go home. But will this continue to be so?

I find it highly unlikely, considering last weeks report of the contestants walking off the show in protest of a new twist which will allow previous contestants to come back and compete for the top prize of $250,000. It seems the series may once again degrade back to the Prime-Time Drama it has been this entire season. So what can be done?

I think it's high time the producers do whatever they can to save the show. If that's indeed what they want to do. One of the number one ways this can be done, according to others on Twitter, is bringing Jillian Michaels back. But after having left the series already, would she come back? Or does she consider the Biggest Loser the biggest loser?

It's always been my thought she'll one day come back. Primary reason involves an article of last year where she was quoted as saying, "I want to start a family. I'd like to take a year off of television ... I'm in the middle of the adoption process... putting all my energy into that for awhile... And then back to TV later in 2012". So is returning to the Biggest Loser beyond unreasonable to consider?

It might be interesting to note the tweets from both Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper of February 29th, 2012.
"@MyTrainerBob - I was working with @jillianmichaels today. Love!!"
"@JillianMichaels - Look what the cat dragged in! The team's back together again. Me and Bob Harper in the studio for an upcoming podcast."
What could the two be talking about? Perhaps they'll release information that they'll be working together again soon? Won't it be interesting to listen to her podcast with Bob Harper when it's available. So what do you think? Would you love to see Jillian Michaels return? What are your thoughts?

We (at least I) can only hope next season begins with Patrick Duffy in the shower, relieved to find out Biggest Loser 13 was only a dream, and Jillian Michaels is still on the show.