Biggest Loser: It's back (and so am I)

 

The 13th season of The Biggest Loser started on NBC tonight and for the first time in at least 2 (maybe more) seasons, I'm watching. I'm not sure what made me tune in tonight. It could be that I'm feeling -- and looking -- positively portly. It could be that there was nothing better on, in which case, what's the point of cable TV? It could be that mighty fine trainer with the unusual name, Dolvett.

I didn't watch it while doing deep knee bends or jumping rope (have you read my latest Fit City post?). But I also didn't watch it while eating ice cream or Nutella on toast.

Some of the thoughts I had while watching:

1. If Bob Harper ever leaves this show, the fat lady will have sung.
2. It's just plain mean and wrong to invite people to the ranch and then send them home before they ever get to set foot inside the gym. 
3. Is the world ready to handle a skinny Santa (who happens to be from Indiana!)? The next thing you know, Cookie Monster will be eating carrots.
4. I just might have to dust off Denzel and change his name to Dolvett. That guy is buff.
5. Other than Planet Fitness, the product placements were kept to a minimum. That was nice.
6. As someone who increasingly views herself as "older," I was glad Gail didn't fall on the age sword and bow out to someone just because they are younger.
7. I was really peeved with Ben for asking to be sent home. But maybe in that one week on the ranch, he experienced what my friend Annie refers to as that moment.

The jury is still out whether I'll become a die-hard fan again, but I definitely will tune in again next week.

And so it begins

Season 8 of The Biggest Loser started tonight, complete with drama and tragedy, heart-wrenching stories and gut-busting workouts. The average age of the contestants is 32 years old. Five of them weighed more than 400 pounds.

Thanks to the previews online and the commercials on TV, there were very few surprises. Daniel from last season returned, 150+ pounds lighter, but still with plenty of weight to lose. In true Daniel fashion, he showed just how much heart he has by choosing Shay as his partner because she is where he was, the biggest contestant in Biggest Loser history. Shay weighed 476 pounds at the first weigh in.

Competing with Daniel for crowd favorite will be Abby. Her story -- losing her husband, 5 year old daughter and 2 week old son in a car accident -- is absolutely tragic. Her motivation for losing weight is different than many of the others.

"Death doesn't scare me," she said. "It would be easier than living." But she believes she is here for a greater purpose and she wants to regain her health to fulfill that purpose.

Speaking of death, two of the contestants had to be taken to the hospital from the first challenge, a 1-mile walk on the beach. Coach Mo was kept overnight and returned to the ranch to compete. Tracey collapsed and was airlifted out by helicopter (possibly for dramatic effect?) and never returned for the rest of the episode.

At the ranch, Bob and Jillian did the training together and if you ask me, there was too much screaming and cursing and flying "F" words. The softer side of Bob eventually made an appearance, but it was almost not enough of a contrast to Jillian's nastiness.

Jillian was screaming at someone about being pathetic and not being strong (there are too many contestants to really keep track of right now). I thought the girl might take the weights and bash Jillian in the head with them -- and I'm not sure anyone would have blamed her.

Jillian did say something to Shay that stuck with me. Telling Shay that the story in her head was her own recording, Jillian told her "Make a different choice. No one else can do this for you."

Though I'm not a stranger to them, I thought there were also too many lingering camera angles on fat bellies and flesh rolls, mostly during the weigh ins.

I think there shouldn't be a weigh-in and elimination in the first week. But there was. Alexandra, a college student who lost 13 pounds, was voted off. I'm not too sad. And really, she shouldn't be either -- she's lost 60 pounds since leaving the ranch!

I'm not going to pick a favorite tonight, though I'm a little sweet on Coach Mo. You can visit the Biggest Loser website to check out all the contestants.

So, tell me your thoughts about tonight's season opener...