The finale of the Biggest Loser last night delivered a surprise ending -- a surprise especially to me because I fell asleep in the commercial break before the final weigh in, which is why I am finishing this blog at 4:30am.
Flying in and snatching certain victory from game dominator Tara was Helen, who clinched the win by losing 54.47% (140 pounds) of her total body weight.
In fact, with a 52.72% weight loss, Tara ended up coming in third place after both Helen and Mike, who lost 53.35% of his total body weight.
If it's any consolation, Tara looked healthier (read: better) than Helen. But Helen obviously worked her butt off (literally) and deserves the congratulations.
The competition between the eliminated players was handily won by 64-year-old Jerry who posted a 47.97% weight loss of 177 pounds.
Now that I've gotten the big news out of the way, I'll run down the show as it happened. (I wrote this as it happened, which is why it is written in present tense.)
Mike is the first up. He is crazy skinny. I think he must be burning 200 calories a minute just by smiling.
Ron's next. Holy smokes! I cannot believe how good he looks. But which one did America choose to be the 3rd finalist?
It's Mike! That's gonna make the race to the title pretty interesting. Mike, Tara & Helen. I'd like to say that it's between Tara and Mike, but I could see Helen sneaking in for the win. (ETA: Did I call that or what?!)
New vote: Two people vying for final spot on the next season. America gets to vote which one should be on the show. It's between Erinn, who is a senior at Ohio State, and Amanda, a 19-year-old from New Jersey. They look very similar, both in size and physical appearance -- pretty blondes. They are going to work out with Bob and Jillian during the show. Amanda looks tough in the workouts. Reminds me of Tara II. Seems like Erinn needs the help the most. But what do I know? Because Amanda was voted in as the final contestant on the next season of The Biggest Loser.
Estella and Jerry: They both look great, but definitely older. Annie thinks Jerry is dressed pretty sharply.
Damien and Nicole: He did ok. She is smokin'! When she walks down the aisle in August, her wedding dress will be a size 8.
Pound for Pound challenge. Please leave a comment if you participated -- and how much you've lost! Across the country, nearly 3 million pounds lost! Plus, if you pledge to pounds to lose this summer, General Mills will donate up to 1 million more pounds of food. Last chance pledges will be accepted through the end of this month.
Finally -- time to start weighing in...
Estella: SW: 242. CW: 159 (-83 pounds). 34.3% weight loss
Jerry: SW: 369. CW: 192 (-177 pounds) 47.97% weight loss
Damien: SW: 381. CW: 245 (-136 pounds) 35.7% weight loss
Nicole: SW: 269. CW: 146 (-123 pounds) 45.72% weight loss
Sione: Totally hot! SW: 372. CW: 226 (-146 pounds) 39.25% weight loss
Filipe: Needs some fashion advice. SW: 364. CW: 229 (-135 pounds) 37.09%
The newly buff Filipe and Sione did the Tongan dance again. It was awesome!
Carla: SW: 379. CW: 251 (-128 pounds) 33.77%
Joelle: Really looks beautiful. SW: 309. CW: 229 (-80 pounds) 25.89%
Blaine: SW: 365. CW: 249. (-116 pounds) 31.78%
Dane: SW: 412. CW: 258 (-154 pounds) 37.38%
In the three weeks before the finale, Blaine and Dane completed a 1/2 marathon, a full marathon, and a 1/2 iron man competition!
Mandie: SW: 263. CW: 171 (-92 pounds) 34.98%
Aubrey: SW: 249. CW: 194 (-55 pounds) 22.09% -- 11 pounds for each of her 5 kids! In the scheme of this game, 55 pounds doesn't seem like much, but I wouldn't turn it down if it came my way.
Cathy: SW: 293. CW: 198 (-95 pounds) 32.42% weight loss
Kristin: As a blonde! Not sure I like that so much. It reminds me of that crazy Susan Powter woman. SW: 360. CW: 193 (-167 pounds). 46.39%. She missed overtaking Jerry by just 5 pounds!
David: SW: 393. CW: 350 (-43) 10.94%.
Daniel: I love this guy. When he came out, he said "I can lose 100 pounds and I'm still obese. Then I can lose another 100 and 50 more if I gotta. The point is don't ever give up." SW: 454. CW: 312 (-142 pounds) 31.28%.
Laura: SW: 285. CW: 199 (-86 pounds). 30.18%
Jerry just needs to beat Shannon and Ron to win the $100,000. He's got Shannon, no problem. Ron...I'm not sure. As Jerry said, it comes down to the two old guys.
Shannon: SW: 283. CW: 191 (-92 pounds) 32.51% A lot of us felt like Helen should have let Shannon stay on the ranch when the choice was between the two of them. But Shannon has lost almost 100 pounds on her own, so kudos to her.
Ron: SW: 430. CW: 238 (-192 pounds)
Jerry wins the $100,000! To celebrate, he hoisted Jillian up in his arms. At age 64, he's the oldest competitor ever on The Biggest Loser!
Now on to the three finalists:
As I said earlier, Mike looks super skinny. Helen, well, she looks a kind of wrinkly, but skinny. Think she could have chosen a more tasteful dress. Then Tara, again with the ugly dress, but she looks amazing. If I had to guess, I'd say Mike's gonna take the prize. (ETA: Guess I wasn't so sure earlier...)
Tara chose the order of weight loss, based on percentage of weight lost on the ranch:
Helen: SW: 257. CW: 117 (-140 pounds) 54.47% Freakin' amazing!
Mike: SW: 388. CW: 181 (-207 pounds) 53.35%. Not enough to beat Helen, but close. He needed to lose another 5 pounds.
Tara looks like she knows that Helen has won it. She needs to lose more than 160 pounds. Did she do it?
Nope.
Tara: SW: 294. CW: 139 (-155 pounds) 52.72%
I know that Tara (and all of the contestants) have "won" by earning their lives, back. But I'd be lying if I said I was ok with the outcome. Helen beating Tara in the final weigh in was kind of like the New York Giants beating the then-unbeaten New England Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl, except that I was happy with the Super Bowl outcome.
