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Biggest Loser Family Edition: When A Man Loves a Woman – Let Him!
Rankings by Donna Emery
As of December 11, 2008
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This week on the Biggest Loser, the contestants visited their former selves – and even carried their old weight around the track, for their final challenge.
We’re at the end of the road, and next week we will finally see who will be the next Biggest Loser. After 12 weeks of competition, we have two confirmed finalists and a husband and wife who are now vying for the audience vote.
With Michelle pitted against Vicky, it’s as much a battle of “Good vs. Evil” as was the contest between Trace Adkins and Piers Morgan for the title of Celebrity Apprentice.
But because Donald Trump isn’t deciding this one, here’s hoping that Michelle will prevail and continue the trend she’s been establishing for the past few weeks: being number one. Vicky – and even Heba – can talk all they want about having worked harder than anyone else, but their single-minded pursuit of a Blue victory seems to have blinded them to Michelle’s accomplishments. She’s survived the same rigorous training that they did – and she’s done it without any alliance except to her mother. She’s overcome the same emotional roadblocks that they have and has emerged as a deserving contender for the ultimate prize.
It’s easy to be a Michelle fan, though there were some weeks of her journey that she aggravated me with her lament about her mother’s decampment after her parents’ divorce. There was even a week when she wanted to leave the contest, but she worked through that and made up her mind to stay. She and Renee repaired their relationship and she did the hard work – both physical and emotional – that has kept her on top of the stats. So I truly hope she wins.
In past recaps and commentaries, I’ve been tough on Vicky. It’s been hard to see her remain in the game, while nicer contestants have fallen by the wayside. The way she has been depicted on the show is hard to ignore, and she has admitted she will do whatever it takes to win. And she may still have enough tricks up her sleeve to win the prize. I can hope she won’t, but I can’t deny her right to vie for that prize. She has worked hard, exercised and lost almost 80 pounds. She and Michelle started at about the same weight, and it has been a very close race between them. So, she may win. But like Bob, I am concerned that for her – like Season One’s Ryan – it’s only been about the game. And a momentary victory might win her some cash, but if she doesn’t take Bob’s healthy lessons to heart, that cash will be a hollow victory if the pounds come back.
As for Heba and Ed, I haven’t been fond of Heba for the entire contest, but her disposition has improved in leaps and bounds since Ed returned to the Ranch. She’s mellowed into someone that’s likeable, and now she and Ed are vying for the audience vote to see which of them will return to compete for the overall prize. Ed threw the weigh in and all bet begged America to vote for his wife to return.
I think Ed should get his wish.
Ed hasn’t been there for the entire race, like the three remaining ladies. Ed also has had some difficult weeks – even when he’s tried his best to lose. I’m proud of Ed for winning this week’s challenge, and he has therefore gotten at least one prize to call his own. Now, as he did before, he wants to step aside and give his wife a chance at the prize.
As Bob so eloquently said, “this is a man who loves his wife so much that he wants to give her whatever she wants.” He loves her – and he wants her to be the mother of his children. That’s a beautiful thing.
It’s also a good thing for the competition.
Yes, I want Michelle to win. Michelle all the way! But…
The woman who has the most weight to lose – and, therefore, the best chance of defeating Vicky – is Heba. It’s true that Ed weighs more, but Ed’s results have been inconsistent and even his best efforts have resulted in last place. So even if his plea is ignored and he is the one competing for the prize, he may not have the ammunition to defeat Vicky.
But Heba does.
Neither Vicky nor Michelle has much more weight to lose. Either of them could lose another forty or even fifty pounds if they work hard before the finale. But Heba could lose sixty to eighty more pounds, if she works hard. And that might be enough to win the game. As much as I want Michelle to win, I also want Vicky to be defeated.
So, I’ve phoned in my vote for Heba, and I am using all my email votes for her, too.
And next week, may the best woman win.
So here is how they stand, at the end of their weeks on the Ranch:
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Michelle
Current Ranking: 1 Previous Ranking: 1
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.
The Pink team lives! Will Pink be the same good luck charm for Michelle that it
was for Ali, last year? I can only hope so. She’s traveled so far – physically and
emotionally and I know she’s made a permanent change in her life. I really hope
she wins it all. She has lost 80 pounds and that is 33.06%.
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Vicky
Current Ranking: 2 Previous Ranking: 2
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 has worked hard to be here, and no one can take that away from her. But
Bob is right to be concerned about her future. I have no doubt she’ll make the
most of her weeks at home before the finale, and it may be enough to win. But
her alliance won’t save her now; she’ll have to do this on her own. She’s lost 76
pounds and that is 30.89%
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Heba
Current Ranking: 3 Previous Ranking: 3
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.
She’s in much better shape to consider childbirth now, and good for her. She’s become a beautiful woman and I wish her the best. I hope she is the one who makes it to the finale, and that if Michelle can’t win, she will. So far she has lost 84 pounds, or 28.57%
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Ed
Current Ranking: 4 Previous Ranking: 4
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.
For once, I can’t be upset about his waterloading because his motives are so sweet and unselfish. Good for him for being Heba’s emotional support and for being there so she could continue to compete. I know he’ll spur her onward at home, and I wish them the best in their healthy new life. He lost 83 pounds on the show, or 24.78%
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Renee
12th Elimination
What a shame she went home! I would love to have seen her win! But she took her
elimination with class, and has every reason to hold her head high. She not only
looks great, but she got her relationship with Michelle back – and that’s a prize
better than gold. She looked wonderful in her transformation video. On the show,
she lost 72 pounds or 26.97%.
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Amy
11th Elimination
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.
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Colleen
10th Elimination
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
Her weight loss luck ran out this week, but she’s made amazing progress and it
looks like she’s continuing her losing ways, at home. She looks amazing and
although I wish she could have won it all, she is going to look great at the finale.
She has lost 49 pounds, or 22.48%.
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Brady
9th Elimination
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.
He’s been one of the leaders for awhile, and his support may have been part of Vicky’s momentum. Although I don’t expect her to crumble because her spouse left (like Phil did) here’s hoping she is less focused next week. While on the Ranch, he lost 77 pounds or 22.58%
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Phillip
7th Elimination: Update - Has lost 68 pounds, or 20.54%
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.
Mr. Nice Guy went home this week and although I still think the Black Team made a bad decision, I loved seeing his vows renewal with Amy. Maybe he did take his focus off the game but I think his weight loss next week would have been a big one. He looked amazing in his transformation video and I wish him and Amy well. He lost 62 pounds on the show, and that’s 18.73%.
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Amy
6th Elimination: Update - Has ost 47 pounds, or 20.52%
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.
I am so sad to see her go, but really glad to see how great she looks. The scenes
of her on horseback with Rhett were priceless. Go, Amy! Keep up the great work.
She lost 38 pounds or 16.58%
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Shellay
5th Elimination: Update - Has lost 39 pounds, or 18.06%
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 was sorry to see her go home, but WOW she looked amazing in her
transformation video! So glad she kept up her weight loss and it will be wonderful
to see her at the finale. She lost 27 pounds, which is 12.5%.
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Jerry
3rd Elmination: Update - Has lost 41 pounds, or 10.79%
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 will miss Jerry and seeing his relationship with Coleen, but for his sake it was
best for him to go home. If you saw the transformation video, you know Jerry’s
doing great now! On the show he lost 17 pounds, or 4.43 %
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Tom
2nd Elimination: Update - Has lost 48 pounds, or 15.29%
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
1st Elimination: Update - Has lost 57 pounds, or 15.97%
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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Can Michelle win? Or will Vicky pull out all her tricks to get what she’s been working for? Or will Heba – or Ed – surprise us all and come from behind to win the contest? One thing is for sure; the finale will be one revelation after another and I don’t even want to guess at who will win the “at home” prize. I’m looking forward to seeing all the former contestants and how great they will look.
I have made no secret of my own vote for Michelle. Who would you like to see win? Is there anyone out there – besides her family and friends -who thinks Vicky deserves to win? How about what Ed did? What do you think of that?
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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Malignant Mesothelioma
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