Recap: Episode 8

[Trying4Thin]

Recap: Episode 8

Ok so I am a little behind here in the recaps. Personal reasons are to blame but they have been fixed and I can move on.

I have to say that I am very upset that Trent decided to go home in week 7. I think he could have won this season if he had not put himself up on the chopping block. His integrity reminded me of Pete from a previous season. Somebody who could have gone all the way and deserved to. He didn't stoop to "playing the game" and he was there to turn his life around for his wife and newborn son; not to undermine or tear down other contestants. No names mentioned...MARK! But in offering himself up; he saved another one of my favorites...Dan. Dan felt he was an outcast on his own team after he was lied to in previous weeks about his mother being safe. He had also shown great success with the scale and that made him a threat. In a strategic move; he called a team meeting and "forgave" his teammates; specifically Mark and Jay for lying to him. I don't think he will ever get over that deception. Mark did say that Dan showed more maturity than he and Jay did when they lied to him. I think part of Mark did regret the lie; but the bigger part just wanted to "keep his enemies closer." Jay on the other hand is nothing more than a follower. A lemming if you will. He fears his older brother and his temper so he just plays along; and never takes a stand. That has got to be tough living in his brother's shadow all the time. Mark may be a tough competitor; but I strongly question his ethics. What's even worse is that he is sucking Roger into his plan for BL domination. Poor Roger won't even know what hit him when the axe finally falls. Jay and Roger are Mark's pawns in a game of contestant chess. He tells them what to do and when he no longer has use for them; he will discard them. Dan will not bow to Mark's "dictatorship" and so he moves forward each week with a huge X on his back. All may have been forgiven for now; but Mark still feels threatened by Dan and will cut him the next chance he gets. Don't let the feelings of forgiveness fool you. Things are not as they seem.

After Trent leaves the table; Allison tells the contestants that the game is about to change. They all get to go back to the one place where this all started. The contestants are going home for a week. After only 7 weeks on the ranch? Some people are just not ready for this. The pizza and donuts are about to hit the fan....

Some are happy to go home and others are nervous about leaving the confines of the campus. Kelly is worried about Paul because they are ex's and they will be going their separate ways. Dan and Maggie are eager to see their former housemates that had been voted off in the previous weeks. Family men (Jay, Mark, and Roger) are eager to go home to see their wives and children. Brittney wants to see family and friends; and Bernie is wanting to see his girlfriend and dog.

Each contestant had a housefull of people waiting for their arrival. Roger's backyard looked like a football pep-rally.

Dan and his mother Jackie went to where she worked with children. She was working out with them and sometimes before BL Dan had worked there too. All the kids ran over to hug Dan and they had a good game of Dodgeball. The rest of Dan's family was shocked at the dramatic weight loss he had achieved.

Maggie was also met with a houseful of people and her best friend Jenn. Jenn had a personal trainer at this time and wanted to share a workout with Maggie. I am sure that Maggie was relieved to have a workout with somebody other than Jillian the drill sergeant.

Bernie, his girlfriend and two other friends head off to their favorite bakery. Everything is going well until they pull out Bernie's former downfall dessert. A Boston Creme Pie Cupcake. They even named it after him. Good old Bernie takes the cupcake and it looked like he was going to inhale it through his nose. I was hoping he wasn't going to glue it to his face like the chocolate candy temptation. But Bernie has turned over a new leaf and passed on dessert. I am proud of him.

Brittney, after meeting her housefull of guests goes off to a bar. While everyone orders drinks she orders a water on the rocks. Just as dinner is being brought to the table; her phone rings and Jillian is on the other end. She tells her she is eating fish and it is the truth. Before leaving the campus; both Brittney and Bernie stock their luggage with food items that will help them succeed.

Roger heads to the gym and can't get the spirit of Bob off his shoulder while he works out. Later when at a restaurant; french fries come to the table. He picks one up and it looks like he is going to eat it. His wife tells him not to. I don't think he ever intended on eating it; but it was fun to watch. Roger has changed as well.

Kelly said that she went out to eat a lot while at home and didn't exercise as much. She was worried about the weigh in; but she did feel she made intelligent food choices. Her family and boyfriend were pleased with her current weight loss.

Mark and Jay both had a huge reception waiting for them when they came home. This also included donuts. I have no comment for that. Both Mark and Jay had no issues with avoiding the huge spread of food. However; Mark's youngest son kept trying to steal donuts. I think the new age of healthy eating has hit Mark's household. His children didn't look too happy and the donuts made their way into the garbage.

Jay and his family went to dinner and ordered healthy food. They were so consumed with their own choices; they forgot about the children. When the food came; the child meals looked like full size adult ones. Jay's eyes were also opened to his children's eating habits. I think there will be changes all around for both of the brother's families.
Mark and Jay hit the gym hard. Jay has something to prove to himself, Bob, and the rest of the team for only having lost 4 pounds the previous week. He carries the loss heaviest on his shoulders. Mark morphs into his usual control freak self and gets on Jay about working out. Both brothers have other obligations and can't always work out together. I think Mark genuinely cares for Jay; but if Jay fails, then the team fails and that will further jeopardize his time on the BL ranch. Right now pure selfishness is driving Mark.

And then there was Paul.....
Paul and his family go to a restaurant where it's announced that his family is getting all you can eat wings. In front of him is a huge plateful of wings and now everyone else can get theirs. I am waiting on the punchline here; but there is none. Paul starts to chow down on those wings; followed by a gargantune sized soda. Surely not diet. He then eyeballs a dessert that is loaded with whipped cream and lord knows what else. He whips out his BL calorie book and says that this is going to be a high calorie day. After all the proud words his family had uttered...that he had wanted to live...and this is how it ended. Jillian would have had a heart attack if she had done a home visit. Maybe she should have....

[Trying4Thin]

After week's end; all the contestants are back at the ranch to meet with their trainers and teammates. Bob is fuming that Dan had 1 glass of wine. But what made it worse was that he found out it was 2. Or in Dan's words; "One glass filled twice."

Jillian didn't get so lucky. Before leaving; Jillian gave her team phones. She called them twice a day to check on them. Brittney had eaten a small piece of pizza, huge salad with Balsamic Vinigrette dressing, and a chocolate chip cookie. Bernie had a cupcake named after him and didn't indulge. Maggie said she ate so many fish and veggie dishes when going out that she figured she was going to turn into a piece of Tilapia. Kelly struggled; but thought she ate well. And then there was Paul. Jillian tried to keep it together when asking Paul why he didn't call or answer his phone. He went home and didn't want to talk to anyone. It was a move he would live to regret.

This week's ad featured Jillian showing Maggie and Bernie how to steam their own chicken and veggies with Ziplock Steam bags. It did look good.

The Challenge:

For those of you who remember back to the Matt and Suzy season of BL; this challenge will also look a little familiar. Picture a huge mechanical jump rope. Each contestant will stand on a mat and jump over the wooden "rope." When the other side comes down; they must duck under it. It can get confusing after a while. Many of the contestants figured this would be more of a mental challenge than a physical one. If you step off your mat or break the wood part of the machine; you are out. Only 5 people can compete. Kelly isn't confident on her jumping and Paul is also out. For the other team; Mark sits out due to his stress fracture. To the winner goes the following prize. Whoever is the last standing; their team gets to choose 2 people from the opposing team to weigh in 24 hours early. For being the previous week's Biggest Loser; Paul is awarded a lifetime membership to 24 Hour Fitness.

First out is Roger at 5:49
Bernie 15:29
Dan 36:24
Maggie 39:48
Jay 40:22
Brittney wins the challenge.

At one point; Roger tries to discuss a draw. It's obvious it is a trick to try and fool the other team. Brittney and Maggie don't bite. Tough luck Roger.

The Black team chooses Dan and Jay to weigh in since they are the biggest threats. But as Maggie pointed out; this could either help; or come back to haunt them.

In a private weigh in; Dan loses 11 pounds making his overall total -84 pounds. Roger weighs in and loses a whopping 16 pounds making his total -87 pounds. Bob is thrilled. When Allison asks if they are going to reveal their numbers Roger can only respond with; "No, hell no!"

During the last chance workout Bob is mad and determined to win the next weigh in. All four men are sweating it out on the treadmill like a bunch of army recruits. Failure is not an option this time.

Jillian is also pushing her team. She is still lamenting over Paul's not calling her or answering his phone. She can only describe his next scale encounter as; "tragic."

Only two members left on Bob's "Business Squad" to weigh in. Dan and Roger's weigh in results are revealed and the Black team is visably shaken.

Mark weighs in and drops another 13 pounds making his total -83 pounds. With a 100 pound goal; he is closing in on his target weight.

Jay heads to the scale looking like a deer caught in headlights. He is terrified. This week he loses an astonishing 16 pounds. His total loss is now -65 pounds. In his excitement; he (and everyone else) have forgotten one thing...Not only did he have a bigger loss this week than in week 1; but that for the first time since being on campus; he has beaten his brother. I think Jay was more excited about that than being the Biggest Loser of the week. Mark stands tall and looks proud of Jay.

The total for the Blue team is -56 pounds with a 5.67% weight loss. Black must lose 60 pounds to win the weigh in. Folks; it's about to get ugly....

Maggie loses 6 pounds which puts her under the 200 mark. She's now lost 41 pounds. Bernie loses 5 pounds for a total of -72 pounds. Brittney loses 3 pounds for a total of 36 pounds. Once again the pressure falls on Paul and Kelly to carry the team to victory. But everyone knows it's an impossible climb. Kelly loses 7 pounds for a total of -53 pounds. And then there is Paul....All I could think was how much is he going to gain this week? Amazingly enough he loses 5 pounds for a total of -67 pounds. Jillian is disapointed and doesn't bother hiding it. She wishes he had called and Paul wishes he had too. She really did care. Kelly is the biggest loser (percentage) for the Black team and wins immunity.

At the table; Paul shows up in a yellow shirt. Allison asks him about it. Paul tries to explain that he feels his team is thinking friendship over team. Kelly jumps in to say that they have both felt like outsiders since the others have the numbers over them. Paul feels he is still Yellow. Brittney replies that; "you don't see Bernie and I wearing blue shirts. We are the black team and (she) takes that as a slap in the face." Paul knows it is going to get ugly and says so. Kelly disagrees with Paul's shirt statement and says that she is black now. She wants these people on her side. Tensions are rising as feelings are obviously hurt.

Bernie votes for Paul citing reasons that he believes Paul could win this and he sees what a good competitor he is. I think he was just trying to be nice. Brittney votes off Paul with a smirk. Paul votes for Bernie because he doesn't think he will make it to the end. Kelly also votes off Bernie. But I honestly thought for a second that she would vote for Paul since he blew it big time at home. Maggie was the deciding vote and sent Paul packing. Paul reminds Kelly not to wear her yellow shirt because; "they will get pissed." Brittney just sits high in her chair wearing a nasty smirk. Kelly is in tears and Maggie looks crushed at her vote.

Paul realized that he and Kelly were better as friends than a couple and he is ok with it. I think he is finally ready to move on both physically and personally. Not long after returning home he is in the hospital with double pnemonia. He gained 6 pounds. Since recovering; he is back on the warpath and getting ready for the finale. I wish him luck. He's got a tough road ahead of him; but as other contestants that came before him have proved; it's not impossible. To date; Paul has lost 64 pounds and is off his blood pressure medicines