'The Biggest Loser': A marathon approach to the finals
It's almost time for this season of The Biggset Loser to wrap up, and last night, we discovered who two of the top three will be.
The remaining four contestants went home and spent 30 days trying to get back to normal life and still maintain their new, healthy lifestyles, but they found it challenging. Also, soon after arriving at home, they learned they would have 26 days' notice to take part in a marathon. (Yes, a full marathon, and yes, that's 26.2 miles by definition. Is there more irksome of a question for a marathoner than, "How long of a marathon are you doing?" Well, maybe, "Did you win?" But I digress ...)
Tara retained total control over her workout schedule, but her personal life was in chaos. Helen tried to be Superwoman and wasn't enjoying a single moment at home. Mike was so wrapped up in getting his brother, Max, to work out that he wasn't focusing on himself, and he was using his brother as a target for his own pain. Ron was also worrying about his sons instead of himself and getting distracted. Thankfully, their trainers came to visit and talked some sense into them.
The final four reconvened for the marathon, and it was a wrenching experience. Mike injured his hip shortly before, so he had to walk it, which he wasn't happy about. Tara, Helen, Mike and Ron were visited by friends, family and former contestants along the route and got a lot of support that way. Tara finished in under five hours and Helen in under six. Mike was closer to nine, but the real heart-render was Ron. He had to stop and receive medical attention a few times, but Ron toughed it out and finished the whole 26.2 miles with tears from everyone.
At the weigh-in, the numbers weren't as amazing as they had been on the ranch, of course. Tara, Mike and Ron each lost 10 pounds and Helen lost 7. That put Tara and Helen through to the finals automatically and left father and son facing off for the last spot, based on viewer votes.
I'm hoping for the best for everyone, but I have to say that Helen's situation started to really bother me after a while, especially when counterpointed with Ron and Mike. Helen opted to send her daughter home several episodes ago, and her daughter hasn't had nearly the success that Helen did. In all the footage from their time at home, Helen didn't even speak of her daughter and the progress that she has (or hasn't?) made, and to me, it ended up making her look really, really selfish. Is that just me?
Who are you rooting for in the final?
Comments
I really don't care who wins this one. In past seasons, I felt like I was rooting for nearly everyone at the end. This time around, everyone seems selfish, weird or crazy in their own way. Nobody is very likable, unfortunately. I might even skip the finale.
Also, I was concerned about the whole idea of making them do a marathon. Even the trainers thought it was a terrible idea. Seems clear to me now that the show doesn't care as much as it should about contestants' health, deciding instead to go for the drama. Which made me feel kinda sick for watching it.
Posted by: a_nic | May 6, 2009 3:28 PM
Personally, I'm not rooting so much for as I am rooting against people.
Ron's clearly trying his best, but I didn't like the way he's played the game. Call me a conspiracy theorist but I think that he was moving to eliminate his Son's competition the whole time under the guise of wanting to keep those who needed it the most (ie: the lesser competition). Sadly, the other competitors weren't smart enough to see through this.
In a perfect world, he wouldn't be eliminated but instead his son would, leaving him to lose to Tara (who seems to me to deserve the title the most, although a compelling argument can be made for Helen).
Call me a bitter person who has dealt with weight issues in the past...
Posted by: Ted | May 6, 2009 3:38 PM
I think Tara deserves to win based on her overall consistency for the season. Other than the vote for who should stay in, this competition is very results based, and Tara defnitely has been the top performer this season. Both in challenges and in overall weight loss percentage.
Posted by: Chris in KS | May 6, 2009 4:20 PM
It is not "just you" with respect to your feelings about Helen; ever since she bullied her daughter into going home so that she could stay at the ranch (it was clear that her daughter wanted to stay even though she was being nice to her mother) I have had no respect for her. I hope you know I would NEVER do that to one of my daughters!
SKK: Hee hee, thanks, Mom!
Posted by: Ann Boss | May 6, 2009 7:15 PM
I've been pulling for Tara the whole season, so I hope she brings it home. To me she deserves it the most based on her performance on the scale and in the challenges, even if her personality some times gets under my skin. Running a sub 5 hour marathon with little or no specific training is impressive.
Posted by: etucker | May 7, 2009 10:56 AM
I also agree on your Helen comment. My mom and I watch this show together, and she was disgusted when Helen said she needed to be at the Ranch more than her daughter. Helen has been thin in the past, and her daughter had always been heavy. Her daughter is young and needed to get herself healthy, and we thought she needed to stay. My mom and I (and a few of our friends) are rooting against Helen in the finale based purely on her selfish decisions.
We also feel sorry for Ron, but don't think that he should have gone to the Ranch in the first place. Obviously his sons were the ones that need to be there more. It's great that Mike is there, and he looks amazing. But seeing Max just breaks my heart. Ron has had multiple (!?!) bypass surgeries and has still not gotten healthy. Obviously, we want him to get better, but it just seems unfair that he stole a spot from someone that may have needed it more.
Posted by: Jenn | May 7, 2009 6:12 PM
Helen is selfish and self centered; Ron is duplicitous and should have had both sons there; Mike or Tara should win. Have to hand it to Tara for her stamina and determination. Mike's a cute kid. In the end, who really cares. I just don't want Helen to win.
Posted by: Theresa | May 10, 2009 10:41 PM
There were a few times when Tara won immunity, that had she not won it, she would have been below the yellow line. Anyone who has taped it in the past, check it out. I would watch and remember her percentage before they would weigh the others and her immunity saved her from being in the bottom 2.
I agree with the others about Helen, how selfish! My mother would NEVER have thrown me under the bus like that!
Between Ron and Mike, I voted for Mike, I think he can take it all the way.
In regards to someone who thought Max should have been on the show... he's too young to be on the show. The youngest you can be is 18. Max is 16. Hopefully he will find inspiration from his Dad and Brother and find a trainer that he's comfortable with in his home town!
Can't wait for the finale!
Posted by: Nina | May 11, 2009 1:03 PM
Mike and Tara were in a healthy weight range in the finale...Helen was not...Helen was fake the whole time...That was a waste!
Posted by: kimberly | May 12, 2009 11:13 PM