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Or mostly they didn’t.
Usually with weight loss shows, be it The Biggest Loser or Celebrity Fit Club or even America’s Next Top Model, the nagging question when the season ends is “Did they keep the weight off?” Well folks, NBC must be reading our minds because that’s what tonight’s show is all about. In addition to meeting Alison Sweeney, the new host of The Biggest Loser, we’ll catch up with a few of the contestants from the previous three seasons of the show and see how many of them managed to NOT gain all the weight back. Really, the question they should be asking is “Who gained the LEAST weight back?” It’d be more realistic that way.
This is as good a time as any to say farewell to Caroline Rhea, the show’s host for the first three seasons. I will miss her terribly, not for her hosting abilities (dubious) or fitness tips (nonexistent), but for her bizarre wardrobe choices. Our new host, Days of Our Lives’ Alison Sweeney, seems to be an okay dresser and, apart from the fact that she will say “amazing” about fifty times in the next hour, I can’t find much to make fun of. Give me time. I do find it appropriate that someone who has struggled with her weight and gotten healthy is now hosting the show. I remember reading a Days of Our Lives’ message board years ago where most of the members delighted in referring to Alison’s character, Sami, as “Spammy,” an oh-so-clever slam on the fact that she wore probably a size 10 instead of a size 2. Regardless, Ali looks great and seems to be the right level of perky. Because the pace of this show is so fast, it pretty much feels like Alison should be hollering “Next!” after every weigh-in.
Bob’s Blue Boys That SO doesn’t sound the way I meant it
The first person to face the scale is last season’s chubby high school teacher turned bicep king and all around hottie, Marty. He’s now pursuing a career as a personal trainer and is dating Amy, his teammate from last season. Marty joins Alison on stage and reveals his big surprise – he’ll be proposing to Amy on stage tonight. Ali assures us that Amy is backstage and can’t hear anything they’re saying. Marty then whips out the engagement ring. Ali suppresses the urge to swipe it and run. After 30 seconds of chit chat, it’s time for Marty to take a turn on the scale to see if he’s put any of the weight back on. When Marty started on Biggest Loser, he weighed 365 pounds. He now weighs 240 pounds, which means he’s kept off 125 pounds. For the record, Marty lost 146 pounds on the show, which means he gained back 21 pounds. Still, he looks happy and healthy…..and muscle-y.
Next up is last season’s winner, Erik. As you might remember, Erik lost more than any other contestant on the show. Ever. He lost 214 pounds, which is a whole litter of Olsen twins. Even without the scale, it’s clear Erik’s put some of the weight back on. Really though, that’s not a bad thing: I thought he looked too thin on last season’s finale. Erik tells us he’s a much more active and involved dad now. He also talks about how difficult it was to eat healthy and own a deli. It was so difficult that he finally sold the deli. Way to avoid temptation! Now it’s time for Erik to hit the scale. He started on the show weighing 407 pounds and he now weighs 231 pounds. That means that he kept 176 pounds off (and gained 38 pounds back).
The Part Where I Squeal Like a Little Girl
Finally, it’s the moment I’ve been waiting for. Here comes BOB! *jumps up and down like a moron* That annoying blonde thing….what’s her name?…..Kim is there too. She partially blocks my view of Bob. Alison asks the trainers for their best tips for people who want to live a healthy lifestyle. Kim thinks diet soda is the devil and lectures that we should all be drinking water instead. Bob goes all smurfy and praises yoga and meditation…..and probably hugging it out, too.
Much Loved Contestants….and NOT
Our next former contestant is someone Alison refers to as a person that everyone loved. Out walks Pam from last season. I’d only be more shocked if they had brought out Kai after that intro. Anyway, Pam says she feels amazing and talks about how different life was when she returned from the show. She says her husband had completely cleaned out the pantry because he wasn’t sure what she was allowed to eat. Pam says her husband has been a great supporter and is proud to say that they finished a triathlon together this summer. Running, cycling and swimming aside, did Pam keep the weight off? Pam’s starting weight was 247 pounds and she now weighs 187 pounds. That means she’s gained back only 8 pounds since the end of the season.
Here’s a contestant that everyone really did love: it’s Pete from season two! Pete tells us that the show saved his life. He’s now fully dedicated to fitness and to helping others live a healthy life. He’s now involved with two different organizations – one that focuses on teaching kids about proper diet and exercise and an exercise group for adults. When Pete comes out to talk to Ali, he looks even thinner and more fit than he did when we last saw him. Even though he’s probably never met Ali, he picks her up and swings her around. Her dress is long enough that we don’t get to know her too well, if you know what I mean. He never could have done that with Caroline. Pete explains that, when he left to do the show, his wife also dedicated herself to losing weight. While Pete was at the ranch, his wife lost 30 pound and from the look of things, she’s definitely kept it off. Even though it’s clear Pete has more than kept the weight off, he hops on the scale anyway. Pete started the show weighing 408 pounds and now weighs 241 pounds. He’s kept 160 pounds off. Now, he actually did gain 15 pounds back but, from the look of things, it’s all muscle. Pete’s sporting a pretty impressive set of abs there.
Last season was unique in that there were many people competing from home, after having been sent home during the first episode. Of those contestants, all of whom came back at the finale to weigh-in and compete for $50,000, Poppi lost the most weight: 117 pounds. She greets Alison and talks about how her weight loss has affected her stand-up comedy. Since so much of her act involved jokes about being a fat girl, Poppi has had to completely overhaul her act. Plus, Poppi says she lost so much weight that her mother didn’t even recognize her. So, did she keep the weight off? Poppi started the competition at 232 pounds and now weighs 126 pounds. That means she kept off 106 pounds and only gained back 11 pounds.
Going WAY Back
Now it’s time for some serious flashbacks. Here comes another fan favorite. This time it’s Kelly Mac from season one. As she comes out on stage, it’s clear she’s about 4 feet tall. In spite of the fact that she’s still struggling with losing weight, Kelly says she works out regularly. In the 3 years since she was on the show, Kelly says she has worked out a minimum of 4 days per week. She actually feels comfortable in the gym now. When Kelly started on The Biggest Loser, she weighed 223 pounds. She now weighs 160 pounds, which means she has lost 63 pounds and gained back about 8. Not bad. She also gets a big hug from Bob, which is, you know, worth gaining a bit of weight back.
Kelly isn’t the only Blue Team member from season one to be back tonight. Dre is also here. In the time since she left the ranch, Dre has traveled all over the country, teaching people about proper nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. Dre comes out on stage and she looks fantastic. Alison asks if it was harder to lose the weight or to keep it off. Dre says that losing the weight and dealing with Bob was harder than keeping the weight off. Is she crazy? Dealing with BOB was tough? Clearly, she’s light-headed from not eating enough. So has Dre managed to keep the weight off? Drea started the show weighing 215 pounds and now weighs 151 pounds. She’s kept off 64 pounds. Actually, since she lost 59 pounds on the show, Dre has actually lost another 5. She looks fantastic and Bob looks suitably proud.
Here comes last season’s finalist, Wylie. In the time since the show ended, Wylie has been traveling the country with an organization that promotes physical fitness for people with “intellectual disabilities.” Wylie’s term, not mine. Wylie says that the show gave him his life back. Alison asks how his co-workers reacted to the new Wylie. Apparently, Wylie is like a little fitness catalyst: all the people in his life have started getting healthy as well, after having seen the changes that Wylie has made. Time for the scale! (how many ways can I say that, really?) Wylie started out at 307 pounds. He now weighs 210 pounds, which means he’s kept off 97 pounds. For the record, Wylie lost a total of 129 pounds on the show, so he’s gained back 32 pounds. Still, he looks healthy and happy.
Cellulite as an Aphrodisiac
You might think this show is about weight loss, but apparently, it’s also about dating. Maybe not officially, but it seems like The Biggest Loser is running nearly neck and neck with The Bachelor for success stories at this point. The first couple of The Biggest Loser – their Ryan and Trista, if you will – is Matt and Suzi from season two. Since being on the show, Matt and Suzi have fallen in love, gotten married and had a baby, Rex. If you read People Magazine, you also know that Matt and Suzi have gained back quite a bit of their weight. Still, they’re committed to getting back into shape and living a healthy life. Together. Awwwww.
It’s finally time for the moment they’ve been promising us all night. Here comes Amy, who has no idea what’s about to happen to her. Amy says that, without the show, her life would be completely different. It was because of the show that she met Marty, her soul mate. Amy comes out on stage to talk to Alison and the camera shows Marty, tearing up and/or looking like he’s going to lose his protein shake. Amy says that she and Marty met when they were at rock bottom and have seen each other at their best and worst. It’s all very sweet and “You Light Up My Life.” Really. Ali sends Amy over to the scale to weigh in. When Amy started on the show, she weighed 260 pounds. She steps on the scale and waits for the number. Instead of showing her weight, the scale says “Amy I love you…” That would have been really creepy if we didn’t know what was coming, huh? Amy looks entirely confused and Marty steps forward. He then pulls out a letter that he has written to Amy and reads it aloud. Finally, Marty gets down on one knee and asks Amy to marry him – I think it was something like “Will you marry me, baby?” Of course, she says “yes.” They kiss and hug as the audience cheers and it actually is very sweet.
Now it’s time for a sneak preview of the new season of The Biggest Loser. This year, there will be 18 contestants. We meet a few of them now including: Jerry, a retired fireman; Hollie, a high school English teacher and cheerleading coach; “B,” a music teacher who self-medicates with food and; Leslie, a paralegal from New Orleans who started over-eating after Hurricane Katrina. The voice over promises us the biggest season, the biggest challenges and the biggest twist. Ever. What is that twist? (Seriously, how shocking a twist is it if they’re telling us before the season even begins?) Six contestants will think they’re being sent home but really, they’ll just wish they were being sent home. Instead, Mistress Jillian, evil personal trainer from the first two seasons of the show, is back to train the Outcast Team. From what little video we see, it looks like Jillian has gone all Kurtz and moved from just slightly masochistic to extremely disturbed. With three teams and three trainers, it’ll be like Barbie and Ken verses Marilyn Manson….in drag. I’ll be here for all of it. Join me next week for the season premiere!
Wait a minute! Did Amy keep the weight off? PM me if you know the answer
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