Biggest Loser Family Edition: What’s Your Motivation?
Rankings by Donna Emery
As of September 25, 2008
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This week on the Biggest Loser, we got to know the remaining contestants a little bit better, and some of them are beginning to show their true colors.
And I don’t mean the ones on their team T-shirts.
As always, I enjoy this show for its entertainment value. I am also inspired by the weight loss successes and life changes that the contestants make. It can’t be easy for people of that size to stroll around in revealing gymwear, or to bare their souls in front of a TV audience. But all of them have taken this chance in order to gain a priceless opportunity: the possibility of changing their life into a success story.
Yes, there’s a money prize. Nobody has lost sight of that. But it’s a shame that some of the contestants seem more intent on strategies that will win them the prize; rather than truly embracing the opportunity for lifelong health. What good will money do them if they can’t retain their slimmer shapes? Playing this game like any other competition may win them the prize, or even keep them at the Ranch for a longer stay, but it misses the point of the true “prize”: a healthier lifestyle.
The temptation this week was an interesting study in strategy. Four of the teams couldn’t resist wagering on the outcome of the weigh-in. The other three teams might have wanted the money, but didn’t want to risk the possibility of being in the Bottom Two. I could see it from both sides, but I probably would have stuck with the non-voters. It wasn’t worth the risk, and, in the end I don’t think any of those who bid would have achieved their projected goals.
The challenge this week was remarkable to me only in its revelation of Brady and Vicky’s strategy. After Brady limped up the hill in Round One of “Sprint & Slide”, she commented that they hadn’t wanted to win, because she knew they had a “target” on their backs. Get over yourself, Vicky. Nobody takes Week One’s weights as a sure bet on who might be likely to win. Strategy always has a place in this game, and Vicky and Brady seem to know it cold. Their first-week lead might have given some of the other teams pause, if they’d been in the Bottom Two, but a strategy to keep themselves on top of the line would have been a better use of their time.
In the early weeks of this show, it’s sometimes hard to pick the future winner. I don’t have any idea now who it might be. Some of the personalities seem more vocal (like Vicky, Heba and Phil) and some of the backstories are truly touching (like the Red Team’s autistic son). It will be fun to see their personalities emerge further, as the weeks go by and we see who remains in the game. I think it will be even more fun when the teams are dissolved and the individuals start competing.
For now, here’s how they stand in the running for the prize:
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Brady
Current Ranking: 1 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 36-year old pharmacist from Hourna, Louisiana. Brady is proud of his Native-American heritage and wants to be a good example for their two children. He says he is the counselor, but considers his team to be very competitive.
Brady’s easier to root for than wife Vicky, but so far he’s burning up the numbers in the early weigh-ins. It would be nice to see how much he could really do in the competitions. He began at 341 and now weighs 306. This is a loss of 10.3%
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Phillip
Current Ranking: 2 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 41-year old real estate agent from Greer, South Carolina.
To me, Phillip looks a lot like TV’s “Dr. Phil”, and he seems just as likeable. He began to gain weight while serving in the Air Force. He’s been married to his high school sweetheart for almost 20 years.
I like Phil and wish him well. It was touching to hear him talk to little Rhett on the phone. He began at 331 and now weighs 300. This is a loss of 9.37%
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Vicky
Current Ranking: 3 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 37-year old anesthestist from Hourna, Louisiana.
She’s been good at juggling career and home up until now, but realizes she hasn’t taken enough time for herself. She’s setting out to prove that working moms are a force to be reckoned with!
Vicky sees herself as a competitive person, and it shows. She’s been vocal about
the team’s strategy, and that can’t be winning her any fans. She began at 246 and
is now 223. This is a loss of 9.34%.
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Amy
Current Ranking: 4 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 40-year old real estate agent from Greer, South Carolina.
This bubbly lady is a dynamo at the office, but raising her autistic son took a toll on her emotions and led to a weight gain. Now, she wants to get healthy and be a better role model.
Amy is as likeable as husband Phil, and is a joy to watch. I hope she does well, and loved her conversation with little Rhett, too. She began at 229, and is now 209. This is a loss of 8.73%.
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Amy
Current Ranking: 5 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 26-year old purchaser from Auburn Hills, Michigan. She’s sweet and bubbly and she and her mom work well together. She’s currently studying cosmetology and has battled her weight since middle school.
I like this Amy just as much as the other one. Her upbeat personality and the way she encourages her mom is an inspiration to the rest of the contestants. She began at 239 and now is 219. This is a loss of 8.36%.
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Michelle
Current Ranking: 6 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 26-year old aspiring aviation engineer from Dallas, Texas. She has a beautiful smile and a personality to match. She looks forward
to taking off enough weight to take charge of her life.
She had a tough time when her parents divorced and her mom left her behind, but
she’s working with Mom now and they’re trying to get healthy together. She
started at 242 and now weighs 223. That’s a loss of 7.85%
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Colleen
Current Ranking: 7 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 23-year old receptionist from Cleveland, Ohio. She’s
a cute but formidable opponent who has struggled with her weight since her
teens. She wants to be more active and have a healthier life.
I had to admire her determination, although I wouldn’t have bet quite so high.
Good for her for trying, even though it fell flat and almost got her sent home. She
started at 218 and now weighs 202. This is a loss of 7.85%
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Renee
Current Ranking: 8 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 46-year old event planner from Dallas, Texas. She’s just as lovely as daughter Michelle, although she worries about the effects of her weight on her new marriage. She wants to travel to Hawaii after she loses some weight.
She’s charming and lovely, and I wish her well. I hope she stays awhile, because she and Michelle have lots of catching up to do. She started at 267 and now weighs 248. This is a loss of 7.12%
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Shellay
Current Ranking: 9 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 51-year old stay-at-home mom from Royal Oaks,
Michigan. She hopes to enter the job market, and wants to prove that she can lose
the necessary weight.
I’m rooting for Shellay, because she and I are almost the same age, but I don’t
know how much longer she’ll be in the contest. She tries her best, but doesn’t
have the same energy as the younger contenders. She began at 216, and now
weighs 201. That’s a loss of 6.94%
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Jerry
Current Ranking: 10 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 51-year old police sergeant from Cleveland, Ohio. We already know he is the “sickest contestant”, so I have to give him kudos for however long he and Colleen make it through the game.
I like Jerry, but next week’s preview has me worried about his health. If it weren’t for Colleen’s competitive spirit, I think he may have been gone sooner. He started at 380 and now weighs 361. This is a loss of 5%.
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Ed
Current Ranking: 11 Previous Ranking: n/a
A chef from Raleigh, North Carolina. Cooking delicious
food all day doesn’t help in his quest to lose weight, but he and Heba would like
to have a family, so he’s hoping a weight loss will be the key to better health.
I like Ed, and applauded him when he tried to appeal to the others to be honest
with the Grey team about wanting to send them home. I wonder if he went to
them before he delivered his own vote against them. He’s got to lose more weight
if he wants to stay in the contest. He began at 325 and now weighs 309. That’s
impressive, but it’s only 4.76%.
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Heba
Current Ranking: 12 Previous Ranking: n/a
A sales representative from Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s easy to like Heba. Her bubbly personality and determination make her fun to watch. She really wants to have a child someday, and knows that better health would be helpful.
Heba is another one I’m rooting for, and I hope she gets to stay awhile. She’ll have a lot of weight to lose, if she wants to stay in the contest. She began at 294 and is now 280. This is a loss of 4.76%
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Tom
Current Ranking: 13 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 42-year old cab driver from Everett, Massachusetts. He sits in a cab all day, so it’s tough to keep the weight off. He wants to find more time and energy to spend with his family.
Tom did a great job while he was at the Ranch. He began at 314 lost 8.59% before he was eliminated.
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LT
Current Ranking: 14 Previous Ranking: n/a
A 23-year old cab driver from Everett, Massachusetts. He works with his dad in the taxi, and has copied some of dad’s bad food habits.
L.T. tried his best, but the curse of Week Two caused him to gain weight. He began at 357 and lost 4.2%
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Right now, the Brown and Red Teams seem to be the ones to beat, but the early leaders haven’t always lasted until the end of the game. In coming weeks, we’ll see some more strategy games - but we’ll also see some more inspiring strides to healthy lives.
Donna is a nurse and teacher, and a mother of 5. She lives in Pennsylvania and is admittedly addicted to many reality shows. You can reach her at mrsed4ever@yahoo.com.
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