Episode 4: Recap

[Trying4Thin]

Let me just start by saying that if I hadn't seen the show myself; I never would have believed it.

For those of you who may not remember; last week we were left with a cliff hanger. If the teams could vote off one team (right now) who would it be? Pretty shocking considering they had just sent the white team packing only seconds before. But I said it before and I will say it again....This is The Biggest Loser and life ain't fair. So the individual teams go their seperate ways to decide who to send packing. Here's the way the votes fell:

Yellow voted for Black
Blue voted for Black
Black voted for Yellow
Pink voted for Yellow
Purple voted for Yellow
Orange voted for Purple
Gray voted for Purple

Decision: (Paul and Kelly)

BUT: Yellow doesn't have to go home. Instead they are pitted against the remaining 6 teams in the challenge and the weigh in. At the weigh in; they must have a higher weight loss percentage than the combined total of the remaining teams. If they do; they can choose who goes home. If they don't; they are automatically sent packing. They are also able to pick their trainer who will work with them one on one and the remaining teams will get to work with the other trainer. Jillian is chosen to be the Yellow trainer.

Next; the yellow team is to receive their prize for being the Biggest Loser Team of The Week. So just like Dan and Jackie did the week before; they must hike to the top of the hill and choose between the same three envelopes. "Gameplay" "Luxury" and "Family." Paul knows exactly what he wants and Kelly takes some coaxing. They make a deal with each other. Pick "GamePlay" this time and "Family" next time. Their reward is that they can subtract two pounds from any weigh in of their choice. Now is as good a time as any! And with the kniving Black team of Mark and Jay in the house; this could be their chance to get rid of them.

Before the hike up the hill; Paul had put on a suit he hadn't worn in 10 years. It looked like an old Japanese Combat suit. It was a little tight across the shoulders but so what? It fit. Kelly is pissed over the position they are put into by the other remaining teams. Paul however is channeling his inner warrior. "Behold the tiger who stands before you.." I missed the rest of it because he was talking so fast. But it was a wonderful quote. I think the sleeping dragon has just been awakened...

Meanwhile; Bob and Jillian arrive and see the White team gone. (No huge shock) But are curious about the whereabouts of the Yellow team. The two trainers are speechless when they hear what the new rules for the week are. Jillian is flattered she is chosen but feels responsible if Yellow is sent home; and going against her former team members. So she goes to meet with Paul and Kelly in their room and tries to encourage them to keep good relations and alliances in the house. Smart move.

Back in the gym; Yellow will not tell the others what their prize was. It keeps them at a disadvantage. Ally (Pink) says that these new rules are turning Bob into a maniac. Jillian worked on Kelly for 2 hours straight and I am sure did the same with Paul. Everyone looked exhausted.

After lights out; the sleeping warrior leaves his partner and heads to the gym for an undisclosed amount of time. "Game on."

The next morning; Bob has Dan (Orange) make breakfast because he is sure his mom does all the cooking at home. Everyone had a good laugh at his expense because he couldn't find an extra bowl or spoon. Bob even pointed out the sink. One of the few times anyone cracked a smile this week. What were they eating?? Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal!! In the flavor of Banana Bread. (It isn't too bad folks I've tried it).

The Challenge:

As you remember it is 6 teams against 1....Each member of the team (or group) has to walk across a balance beam (over a pool) to grab a peg. Cross back over the balance beam and put the peg in the board. When the peg is properly in the board; it will light up. If a member lands in the water; they must start over. First team to complete all 24 trips across (12 pegs); wins. The prize? Letters from home. Starting are Mark and Paul. It is a pretty tight race but Paul has the edge. Little by little; Yellow gets further ahead as some of the other members struggle. Kelly is panicking because she doesn't want to go last and blow it; but Paul just won't quit; "because if it ain't broke; don't fix it." The eventual turning point was when Trent tried to make his way across the beam and eventually lost his balance. Jackie went pretty quickly across too; but in the end; Yellow smoked the others with a final score of 12-6. There were many sad faces across the pool because they so desperatly wanted those letters from home. Allison asked Paul if he was excited to receive his letters and he said; "No; his family could stay at home." In a move that I would like to believe was done out of friendship (but I'm not sure); the Yellow team asked that they not receive their letters but instead give the others theirs instead. Paul and Kelly made it perfectly clear that they wanted no distractions.

After the challenge; teams started talking alliances. Orange, Purple, and Blue want to throw the weigh in by gaining water weight. This will lower the overall group percentage and help Kelly and Paul.

Bob is shocked over the challenge loss. He also doesn't want to look like an idiot at the weigh in and so he would like to be kept in the loop. He wants to see big numbers. There shouldn't be any excuses this week. If only he knew what was coming.

The next few minutes are devoted to people opening up their letters from home.

The Weigh in:

Grey (Roger lost 12 pounds and Trent lost 13) percent of loss: 3.48%
Pink (Ally lost 8 pounds is now under 200; and BetteSue lost 7) percent loss: 3.34%
Black (Mark lost 14 pounds and Jay lost 10) percent of loss: 4.64%
Purple (Jen lost 7 pounds and Maggie lost 3) percent of loss: 2.19%
Blue (Bernie lost 7 pounds and Brittney lost 2) percent of loss: 2.00% *Bob was upset
Orange (Dan lost 1 pound and Jackie lost 2) percent of loss: 0.62% Bob was furious

It was pretty obvious that people had manipulated the scale again and Bob was angry. I'm sure he will kill them next week. Mark also sees the big picture and quietly promises revenge on the Orange team for helping to keep Yellow kick them out of the house.

So after the number crunching was done; the 6 teams had managed a total percentage of loss of 2.81% Paul and Kelly have to lose 12 pounds to stay at the ranch......

Kelly lost 8 pounds and Paul lost 9 pounds for a total percentage of 3.39%
Not sure where the two extra pounds figured in because I am not a math person. Paul grabbed Jillian and carried her like a sack of potatoes up to the scale and hugged and kissed her.

It was bittersweet though. Why? Because the Biggest Loser Team of the Week won IMMUNITY! So we are stuck with Mark and Jay for another week; and Paul and Kelly must choose somebody else to go home. Oh the irony...

Paul has pretty much decided to target the three teams that put them in the position of being kicked off in the first place. Unfortunately; Black is untouchable so that leaves Purple or Pink. How do you choose? Weight loss? Who deserves to stay? Times below the yellow line?

In a highly emotional elimination; only one vote is to be cast. Kelly begins to go into detail about their decision and Pink has pretty much guessed it was them. Let the yelling begin. Never has there been so much anger at an elimination since Dave F. was kicked off in Season 1 by his Red Team. BetteSue proudly exclaims that she; "Will come back skinnier than all you people!" I can't wait...

Weeks after leaving the ranch; Pink is still going strong. They may not have been the Biggest Losers; but they got their mother daughter relationship back as well as getting closer to their old bodies. You can't put a price on that. Ally has now lost a total of 61 pounds putting her at 173 and BetteSue has lost 49 pounds total. I can't wait to see them at the finale!

Think we're done? Not quite...
There's another twist...

Beginning next week they won't be eliminating teams anymore. Instead they will be eliminating individuals leaving one teammate alone to fend for themselves. Things could get ugly. Tune in next week!

~Carrie

[muppet]

Paul and Kelly's decision to give up the letters was sincere, I think. It should have been a win/win situation for them, because I really don't think they wanted the letters for exactly the reasons they stated. I do think it could do more harm than good if you let yourself get distracted and homesick. And it was also nice to give so many the opportunity rather than just the 2 of them. But it could backfire if too many think of it as a bribe, or sucking up, rather than a generous act.
I am so happy the show is throwing in twists that might make people think twice about scale manipulation. I understand why they do it, and I understand that this was a great opportunity to get rid of the black team, but I just can't respect it.
Am I the only one who thinks those 2 football guys are being ignored? I understand that people must really like them and they are good to have around, but if you really want to play the game, they are the team to be sent home, if you couldn't send home Black. 2 men with massive amounts of weight to lose.....
But we'll see what happens next week.
I was also pleased that there seemed to be less products being pushed this week.
I do really wish they would show more of the methods of how they lose this weight. I love to see them working hard -- it makes me want to work that hard too. A little less 'game', and 'drama' and more of the basics, please.