Biggest Loser: A win turns into a loss
Most. Disappointing. Elimination. Ever.
It was crazy week on The Biggest Loser last night as the field of eight contestants would be cut to six with two people sent home. The twist this week, new to the show, was the introduction of the "red line."
For those not familiar with the show, each week the contestants step on a communal scale and are then ranked by percentage of body weight lost (as opposed to just pure pounds). Depending upon the structure for the week, either a team or individuals fall below the yellow line. There then is a conference where one contestant is voted off the show.
This week, the red line meant instant elimination. The person with the lowest percentage of body weight lost would automatically go home.
The next two at the bottom of the list would be up for the traditional elimination vote.
And the focus was on Shay.
Shay came to the show as its heaviest contestant at 476 pounds. Her personal history included a mother whose description seemed more fitting for a character on an episode of Lawn and Order:SVU than to be an actual mother. The pain and emotion that comes from that trauma was something Shay worked hard to hide -- to the tune of 476 pounds.
And while The Biggest Loser ranch was helping her turn her life around, there just seemed so much more work to be done.
"As much as we haven't been saying it because it's not politically correct, Shay needs to stay here," trainer Jillian Michaels said to fellow trainer Bob Harper.
The question in part for Jillian became who can survive the best at home. Who is ready to sustain the changes at home?
There was doubt that Shay was ready. And from the footage from the week she spent back home, I wonder if she has the adequate support system to help her continue on her journey.
Shay was the first contestant to step on the scale -- and she lost 17 pounds.
That number set a record for The Biggest Loser. She became the fastest female contestant to lose 100 pounds, doing it in nine weeks.
But the record and the impressive weight loss wasn't enough. Motivated by the thought of the red line, everyone else, except Daniel and Amanda, pulled big numbers and bigger percentages.
Daniel, who was on the show last season, was below the red line and immediately went home.
Shay and Amanda were below the yellow line and up for elimination.
And it was Shay who was voted off the show.
Really?
The person who is the least threat in the "game-playing" and who needs the support of the show in order to survive, that's who you're sending home?
"I came on campus that first week thinking if I don't do this, I'm going to die," Shay said. "It was hard every step, but you see the results and you say screw it, let's go again. I can do it.
"I've been doing my whole life what other people have liked. Now, I'm doing what I like. I've keep my integrity. I keep my word and I walk out of here with all of that and a record. I'm seeing more of me when I look in the mirror because I have a future now.I have a life ahead of me."
I am hoping that Shay wins the battle of the cast-off contestants at the finale. But mostly, I'm hoping that she takes the confidence and that drive which she discovered on the show and lives in it all the time.
The product placement watch this week was Larabar. Actually, I am a fan of Larabars. The energy bar is made with whole fruits, nuts and spices -- unprocessed and with no additives. I only wish the company sold the mini version along with its full-sized bars.
---Amy Moritz
Follow Journey to the Finish Line on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amymoritz
