Just in time for the New Year, Season 13 of “The Biggest Loser” debuted on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, offering a few surprises for audiences and the 20 new contestants. Aptly named “The Biggest Loser: No Excuses,” couples came to the ranch expecting to work with the family members who accompanied them. Trainers Bob Harper and, returning for his second season, Dolvett Quince, planned to get contestants to break a sweat and break through their mental blocks.
After Alison gave a preview of the new season, the new group of contestants walked in front of the gate of the ranch. Teams included husbands and wives, parents and children, siblings, and even two strangers who happened to be athletes. The primary excuse was no time because of kids and grandkids, work and no motivation. One contestant even lost a child five years ago.
Alison presented their first challenge, letting them know that one team is going home only a day after entering the ranch. They had to run a 40-yard dash, and the first four teams to make it across the finish line automatically made it onto the ranch. The six other teams moved on to phase two. The Blue Team, the Orange Team, the Brown Team and the Yellow Team crossed the finish line.
The second phase of the challenge included a 40-yard dash and a puzzle challenge. The four teams to complete the puzzle joined the first four teams. They could only pick up one puzzle piece at a time. The Gray Team, the Red Team, the Purple Team and the Green Team beat the Pink Team by inches.
The final two teams, Pink and Aqua, did the third phase of the challenge. They had to stand on barrels and lean on each other for balance. Trust was more important than balance. The Aqua Team, brother and sister Adrian and Daphne, lost the challenge, and the pink team got the final spot. I expected a twist. If they lose 50 pounds in a month, they’d earn a chance to get a spot on the ranch.
Bob and Dolvett greeted their new victim with dramatic entrances. Dolvett came to the ranch hanging from a plane, while Bob rode in on a black motorcycle dressed in all black. One contestant compared Dolvett’s entrance to dropping in on a rescue mission. In a sense, he will rescue them from an unhealthy life.
The gym had new equipment, all provided by Planet Fitness. They worked out at the gym for two hours. After the workout, they got to choose their trainer. As expected, there was groaning, dry heaving, vomiting and passing out. The Brown Team described Bob as an evil man. Alison informed them that they would not work as partners in an effort to learn how to depend on themselves. The teams had to decide who would go where. They revealed
The show had some compelling stories, as usual. Emily, 29, was a former Olympic weightlifter who lost control of her life. She became accustomed to people telling her when to eat and when to work out, but she never learned how to believe in herself and take control of her weight without others telling her what to do.
Dr. Huizenga talked to the two the two sickest contestants, brothers Buddy and Ben. The medical team conducted a full-body scan on them. Both already had plaque buildup in main arteries, so weight loss is imperative. The fact that the two sickest contestants were brothers outlines how environment coupled with genetics play key roles in overall health.
At the last chance workout, Bob’s team was killing it while Dolvett had to motivate his team. Dolvett had the oldest team overall. He learned that Kim was a professional wrestler; she broke her neck at her last match. He wanted to know how someone who was so fit stopped caring about herself. After a pep talk, Dolvett’s team finally got their butts in motion.
This season’s contestants were a lot smaller than past contestants, only one weighed more than 400 pounds. Because many came to the ranch a little smaller, the first weigh in yielded low numbers. Instead of the usual 20-pound weight losses, the contestants lost weight in the teens, and some even had one-digit weight loss. Bob’s Black team lost a total of 103 pounds with a 3.64 weight-loss percentage.
Dolvett’s Red team needed 94 pounds to beat Bob’s team. Dolvett had fire in his eyes, having lost a weigh to Bob every week in his first season on “The Biggest Loser.” At first, it seemed like it wasn’t going to happen. His team yielded low numbers as well. Buddy, the last person to weigh in, pulled his team out with a 22-pound weight loss. Dolvett finally had his victory over Bob.
Bob’s team had to have the first elimination of the season. Ben, who’s been homesick from the beginning, sacrificed himself and told everyone to send him home. He saved Megan, who had the lowest percentage of weight loss. At home, he weighed 346 pounds, losing more than 50 pounds.
I expect a few of the women to get into the 100’s within the next four weeks because they have such low entry weights, according to “Biggest Loser” standards. I can’t wait to see how Emily and Kim, the former athletes, transform. I hope to see a transformation akin to Ally, Hanna and Olivia. To learn more about the new contestants, visit “The Biggest Loser” official website on nbc.com.
Bob’s Team (Black)
Gail (57) 322 lbs. (Yellow) 313 lbs. 9 lbs.
Chism (19) 361 lbs. (Gray) 349 lbs. 12 lbs.
Megan (21) 259 lbs. (Purple) 252 lbs. 7 lbs.
Christine (42) 240 lbs. (Red) 232 lbs. 8 lbs.
Jeremy (22) 389 lbs. (Green) 376 lbs. 13 lbs.
Joe (38) 357 lbs. (Blue) 342 lbs. 15 lbs.
Ben (34) 396 lbs. (Brown) 381 lbs. 15 lbs.
Emily (29) 264 lbs. (Pink) 254 lbs. 10 lbs.
Cassandra (25) 239 lbs. (Orange) 225 lbs. 14 lbs.
Total lbs. /percentage of weight loss 103 lbs./3.64 percent
Dolvett’s Team (Red)
Roy (63) 306 lbs. (Red) 292 lbs. 14 lbs.
Conda (24) 294 lbs. (Green) 285 lbs. 9 lbs.
Mike (41) 358 lbs. (Blue) 345 lbs. 13 lbs.
Kim S. (48) 219 lbs. (Purple) 210 lbs. 9 lbs.
Lauren (26) 246 lbs. (Yellow) 237 lbs. 9 lbs.
Mark (43) 291 lbs. (Gray) 282 lbs. 9 lbs.
Nancy (63) 217 lbs. (Orange) 212 lbs. 5 lbs.
Kim N. (38) 252 lbs. (Pink) 239 lbs. 13 lbs.
Buddy (42) 403 lbs. (Brown) 381 lbs. 22 lbs.
Total lbs. /percentage of weight loss 103 lbs./3.98 percent
Sent home after first challenge:
Adrian (32) 370 lbs.
Daphne (37) 271 lbs.
