Author: Misti Sandefur

The “Biggest Loser” couples met with Alison for a pop quiz. After five multiple choice questions related to nutrition, the blue team won with a score of three to two. Since the blue team won the challenge, a limo transported them to the four seasons hotel for a luxury meal and spa treatment. As for the black them, they had to clean the kitchen, which they weren’t happy about.

Soon after the blue team returned from their reward, they proceeded to the gym for a workout with Bob; the black team was already there working out with Jillian. During the workout, Ashley began crying about her mom, so Jillian led her inside and told her she was going to talk to her mom and tell her how she feels. Once inside, Ashley told Sherry she felt like she’s had to take care of her since her dad (Sherry’s husband) passed away, but Sherry let her daughter know she wants her to focus on herself instead.

A Tasty Challenge

Back in the “Biggest Loser” kitchen, Mike’s mother sent word that his grandmother’s health was declining, so he packed his bags and headed home. Meanwhile, the remaining “Biggest Loser” couples met with Alison and Chef Curtis Stone. Alison told them they would have 30 minutes to prepare an appetizer, entrée and dessert, using only 12 ingredients, and the chef would choose the winning team. The biggest news of all: the winning team would get a 5-pound advantage at the weigh-in!

Each team took turns picking 12 ingredients, and then they made their way into the kitchen. Each contestant worked hard to ensure his or her dishes would be good enough to win Chef Stone’s vote.

30 minutes later Chef Stone sampled the food that the “Biggest Loser” couples cooked for him. He started, of course, with the appetizers and liked Andrea’s better, so the black team earned their first point. Chef Stone moved on to the entrées, and the blue team won that round. Finally, it was time for dessert. Though Chef Stone thought both desserts were yummy, he liked Stephanie’s better, giving the black team the win they hoped for.

Last Chance Workout and Weigh-in

Bob and Jillian led their teams to the gym for another Last Chance Workout. With the black team’s 5-pound advantage, Bob knew his team was at a disadvantage, so Bob put the black team through a tough workout and hoped it would be enough to keep them out of the elimination room.

Mike returned to the “Biggest Loser” ranch and reported that his grandmother was on a ventilator. Then Mike thanked his competitors for their support. Shortly after Mike’s return, the blue and black teams headed to the scales.

• Andrea lost 5 pounds.
• Sam lost 8 pounds.
• Ashley lost 7 pounds.
• Stephanie lost 2 pounds.

The black team lost a combined total of 30 pounds (2.5 percent).

• Lance lost 8 pounds.
• Daris lost 10 pounds.
• Koli lost 9 pounds.
• O’Neal lost 9 pounds.
• Sunshine lost 9 pounds.
• Mike lost 11 pounds.

The blue team lost a combined total of 56 pounds (3.11 percent) and won the weigh-in.

The black team felt Sherry could continue her weight loss journey at home, so Sherry bid farewell to her daughter and friends.

Update: Although Sherry’s teammates voted her off the “Biggest Loser” ranch, Sherry has continued to workout and eat right at home, and to-date she’s lost 80 pounds.

(By Misti Sandefur for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News (REF3076322B7)

The Biggest Loser Couples Prepare a Meal for Chef Curtis Stone

O’Neal waited for the blue team members to return from the elimination room. The “Biggest Loser” couples from the blue team came through the door one by one, but none of them was Sunshine. O’Neal became so nervous waiting to see his daughter walk through the door that he quit watching. Then when she finally appeared, a tearful and relieved O’Neal greeted her with a big hug.

Test of Strength

Alison informed the “Biggest Loser” couples that in order to learn how to stay fit while on a busy schedule, they’d each work full-time jobs this week. Given that they would be working, it would be up to them to find time for the gym.

Soon after Alison revealed that bit of news, it was on to their challenge. For the challenge, each of the team’s worked together to pull a semi truck, and one member from each team ran along side picking up puzzle pieces. The first team to collect all their puzzle pieces won a year’s worth of free groceries.

O’Neal picked up the pieces for the blue team, and Sherry picked up the pieces for the black team. The blue team took the lead early on, but O’Neal kept falling behind, which had his team worried that they would lose the challenge. With a lot of motivation from his teammates, O’Neal picked up the pace, and the blue team came out victorious.

After the challenge, the “Biggest Loser” couples told Bob and Jillian about their jobs. Shortly after they filled the trainers in, Bob and Jillian wasted no time in getting their teams to the gym for a workout session. Knowing the contestants would only get an hour or two in the gym after they started work, Bob and Jillian made this workout count. There was no doubt work and gym time would be rough on the contestants, but that was the show’s way of preparing the couples for life outside of the ranch.

Preparing for Home

The next day the “Biggest Loser” couples headed to work. The jobs consisted of desk jobs, lifting, driving forklifts and distributing food to the needy. Despite their job, each of the contestants agreed that the work was tiring, but regardless of how beat they were at the end of the day, they had to hit the gym before they could enjoy any R&R (rest and relaxation).

During the third day of work, Sam forgot his lunch and the vending machines didn’t have any healthy options. Luckily, though, there was a Subway nearby, so Sam walked there and ordered a veggie sub. Later, Jillian praised Sam for his wise decision.

After five days of working on the job and in the gym after work, and then participating in an intense Last Chance Workout, and exhausted bunch of “Biggest Loser” couples made their way to the scale with confidence.

Weighing In

The blue team weighed in first.

• O’Neal lost 5 pounds
• Sunshine lost 7 pounds
• Mike lost 9 pounds
• Koli lost 10 pounds
• Daris lost 9 pounds
• Lance lost 10 pounds and finally broke through the 300s

The blue team lost a combined total of 50 pounds (2.71 percent), which meant the black team needed to lose more than 38 pounds to win the weigh-in.

• Andrea lost 7 pounds
• Ashley lost 8 pounds
• Cheryl lost 5 pounds
• Sherry lost 5 pounds
• Stephanie lost 3 pounds
• Sam lost 4 pounds

Although the black team failed to win the weigh-in, they did lose a combined total of 32 pounds (2.27 percent).

Before going to the elimination room, the black team wondered if Sam would be able to continue to pull big numbers for the team, but it must not have concerned them too much, because the majority voted to send Cheryl home instead.

Update: Cheryl’s lost a total of 67 pounds and plans to run a 5k marathon this month.

(By Misti Sandefur for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News (REF3076322B7)

The Biggest Loser Couples Go to Work

The “Biggest Loser” couples continued with Cheryl and Darrell balancing the Olympic torch on their head. After six minutes, Darrell struggled with his pain, and nine minutes later, he dropped his torch and said goodbye. A later updated revealed that Darrell had lost a total of 120 pounds. Furthermore, he fits into the leather jacket he used to wear when he met his wife.

Dramatic Changes

The contestants joined Alison for a temptation challenge. Before Alison explained the rules to this week’s temptation challenge, she told the “Biggest Loser” couples, once again, they would compete as teams, and the winner of the temptation challenge earned the right to choose the two teams. It would be the black team (Jillian’s) verses the blue team (Bob’s).

Since it was a temptation challenge, contestants decided whether they wanted to participate. Alison instructed the couples who wanted to take part in the challenge to raise their hands. Andrea and Mike were the only two to raise their hand, so they had to use their memory to match cards. The first one to match the golden ticket won, and if they matched food items, their opponent had to eat the food item they matched. If they failed to make a match, they had to eat a chocolate chip cookie.

Andrea and Mike turned cards for a while without any matches, and then Andrea matched the first set of cards, which was a chocolate peanut butter treat that Mike had to consume. After that match, she seemed to be on a roll, and Mike began to feel sick after eating so much. Then Andrea turned over a card that revealed the golden ticket, but she failed to find the match.

After both Andrea and Mike consumed over 1000 calories, Mike, who put away the most calories, matched the golden tickets. He was then given some time to think about the team choices, as well as who to give immunity to or if he’d keep it for himself.

After a little time to think, Mike revealed his choices: He put Sam, Cheryl, Andrea, Stephanie, Sherry and Ashley on the black team, and Koli, Daris, Lance, Miggy and Sunshine made up the blue team. As for immunity, he gave it to O’Neal instead of keeping it for himself. Mike said this choice ensured that he had a spot on what he referred to ask the “strong” team, because whoever had immunity would join the team that lost the weigh-in.

Dealing With Change

Later, the “Biggest Loser” couples met up with Bob and Jillian. Both trainers were furious when they learned about the change that had taken place.

“Every time it goes black verses blue it’s always messed up,” Jillian commented.

Jillian felt the team choices were unfair and scolded Mike, but Mike was quick to defend himself when he asked Jillian, “What was I supposed to do?”

“Okay, you’re right,” Jillian replied.

Working Together for Letters

For their physical challenge, the teams worked together to raise their team banner. They made their way to the roof and together they continued to pull a rope tug of war style. As they pulled on the rope, they’re banner ascended. The first team to get their banner to the top won letters from home. Since O’Neal wasn’t part of a team yet, he chose a team to root for, and if that team won, he, too, would win his letter from home. Naturally, O’Neal chose his daughter’s team, the blue team. As it turned out, O’Neal made the right choice, because the blue team started out strong and kept their lead until the very end.

“I can already feel us bonding,” Mike said, after his team won the challenge.

Competitive Last Chance Workout and Weigh-in

In the gym, Bob and Jillian put the “Biggest Loser” couples through another excruciating Last Chance Workout. Mike couldn’t help but notice how well the black team worked together. He knew then they were going to be tough competitors at the weigh-in.

Since O’Neal had immunity, he weighed in first and lost 9 pounds (2.77 percent). The blue team was next.

• Mike lost 15 pounds.
• Sunshine lost 7 pounds.
• Lance lost 5 pounds.
• Miggy lost 4 pounds.
• Daris lost 7 pounds.
• Koli lost 10 pounds.

Together, the blue team lost 48 pounds (2.7 percent).

• Andrea lost 5 pounds.
• Cheryl lost 4 pounds.
• Sherry lost 6 pounds.
• Sam lost 8 pounds.
• Stephanie lost 8 pounds.
• Ashley lost 10 pounds.

The black team lost a combined total of 41 pounds (2.82 percent), giving them the win, and given that the blue team lost the weigh-in, O’Neal would join their team next week.

After the weigh-in, the blue team discussed their options. Not long ago they became a team, so they weren’t ready to vote anyone out just yet, but they had no choice. Miggy was still upset over her small loss, and she let her teammates know she felt her loss caused them to lose the weigh-in. Shortly after their discussion, the majority of the blue team voted to send Miggy home.

Update: Miggy learned meditation to help ease her stress. To-date she’s lost a total of 61 pounds.

(By Misti Sandefur for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News (REF3076322B7)

The Biggest Loser Couples Season 9: Divided Again