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The Biggest Loser Season 7
RealityFreakWill:
'The Biggest Loser''s Kristin Steede Talks About Life After the Ranch
Kristin Steede was the largest woman in "The Biggest Loser" history to compete on the ranch for as long a time as she did. When she began, she weighed 360 pounds. Today, she is 140 pounds lighter -- and an inspiration to all.
On this week's episode, Kristin gained one pound and fell below the yellow line, and when the vote tied -- Filipe and Ron voted for Helen to go home; Mike and Laura voted for Kristin to go home -- the default went to her as the person with the lowest percentage of weight loss.
How did you manage to gain weight before the last weigh in?
Kristin Steede: It came to me the day after the ranch. There's a certain time of the month for a woman where her weight tends to fluctuate. And, you know, I didn't recognize what was happening at the time until after I had left.
I think it was just hormonally in combination with the stress and everything else because diet and exercise-wise, I couldn't have had a better week. I was running further and running faster than I had ever run in my entire life.
After your elimination, you said how you kind of felt that everything happened for a reason on the ranch. You didn't go say it, but did you think that Ron and Mike had been up to something?
Kristin Steede: I always knew that aligning myself with them would be risky. The one thing that I can say about Ron is he never hid the fact that he was there for the best intentions of Mike. And from a pure numbers standpoint, it was obvious that on a weight loss basis that I was Mike's biggest competition there.
I'm not the strongest. I'm not the fastest. But for the amount of weight that I could have lost or needed to lose to compete with him, I think I would really have given him a run for his money.
You talked a lot about how much you wanted to win because you didn't want to fail and you were just struggling with those feelings. Where are you with that now? Are you more comfortable where you are now?
Kristin Steede: I am absolutely amazing. You know, I came to the realization that win or lose, "The Biggest Loser" would not define who I was as a person. And I love the lesson that it taught me in life. I wanted it, I worked so hard for it and I didn't get it.
[The fact that I didn't win] is not going to stop me from achieving what I wanted to achieve because in reality, I went there with the intention of changing my life and I know I've done that. So I got more out of this than I ever expected I would.
Now that you're home, how much do you workout with your mother?
Kristin Steede: You know, I do not workout with my mother all that much. We try to get together whenever we can. But I have a philosophy: Do it for yourself by yourself. My mom and I had tried so many diets and exercise programs together in the past. And the moment my mom didn't feel like going, it was easy for me not to go and vice versa.
So now the way that I structure my exercise routine is I'll let her know where I'm going, what I'm doing and when I'm doing it, and if she wants to join me, I would love for her to do it.
But I don't wait for her. I don't depend on her. And actually, now when we workout together it's a treat and it's an enjoyable thing to do.
http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/04/73151/index.html
RealityFreakWill:
The Biggest Loser: Couples Episode Recap: "Week 17"
It was an emotional last week on The Biggest Loser ranch, filled with a lot of reflection and happy man-tears. After saying goodbye to Kristin, Mike is convinced that his dad has won the game for him. "My dad is playing chess and the others are playing checkers," he says.
The contestants walk into the gym where Alison is there to take them on a trip down Memory Lane. Tara admits that it's hard to watch herself and wonders why it took her so long to get where she is today. Filipe just laughs when he sees how he looked and how exhausted he was during the first week. Helen is horrified by her disastrous hairdo and to see Mike then and now is incredible.
Alison informs everyone that it's officially their last week on campus and sends them off for a workout where the trainers re-create some of the stuff they watched on the video from Week One. Afterwards, Helen, Tara and Mike try on their "goal" outfits and are amazed that not only do they fit, but they look fabulous. That Mike has really become a cutie.
Next it's off to Dr. H.'s to check in on their health progress. He reminds them that they were the sickest group ever accepted onto The Biggest Loser but today, you'd never know it. Helen, at 48, was biologically 60 years old when she entered the ranch. Today she's down to 50. Tara sees her stomach from Week One and shouts, "Oh, dear God," but then sees her stomach today and says, "That looks a hell of a lot better." Filipe has lost 15 inches around his stomach and Mike, who was the youngest and perhaps sickest contestant, has lost over half of the area around his waist. Ron couldn't even fit into the MRI machine the first week and now not only has he been able to stop taking most of his medications, but the fat pad that was around heart is almost gone.
It's time for the last challenge and the players have to lose the weight they've lost all over again. The task is for them to carry the amount of pounds they've shed over the last 16 weeks, and each time they make it over a hill, they can drop the number of pounds they lost in that corresponding week. Mike starts off struggling with his 153 extra pounds but soon picks up the slack. Tara also has trouble, but passes Mike to gain the lead and win. She gets to make the choice, yet again, of winning $10,000 or a one-pound advantage at weigh-in. Mike comes in second and gets whatever she doesn't choose. As each person finishes, they throw the empty bag that they carried over the mountain, to symbolize that they're getting rid of that old self for good.
Next it's train the trainer day and Jillian is not excited. "I didn't come here 400 pounds, so why am I getting my ass beat?" she says. Bob, on the other hand, loves it. But soon enough, he gets beat down and even has to yell at Filipe to shut up — in the friendliest of ways, of course. Afterward, it's payback time as the trainers hand out an intense, last-chance workout. Everyone gives it their all, determined to pull a good number in the final week. Filipe shows his confidence by saying, "There are four jackals in the house trying to take me down, but it's no problem. They're going against a lion."
Time for the final weigh-in to determine who makes it to the finale. Alison tells the group that the five of them came in with a combined weight of 1,733 pounds, but today they have lost over 600 pounds together. Pretty astounding. Tara announces her decision to take the one-pound advantage, leaving Mike $10,000 richer. Nice chunk of change for a college kid to pocket. So here's how the final numbers fell:
Ron: loses 9 pounds, 3.02 percent, to get down to 289 pounds. 141 total pounds lost in 17 weeks.
Filipe: loses 10 pounds, 4.10 percent, down to 234 pounds. (Yells his signature "wooo.") 130 total pounds lost.
Helen: loses 7 pounds, 4.35 percent, down to 154 pounds. 103 total pounds lost.
Mike: loses 11 pounds, 4.68 percent, down to 224 pounds. 164 total pounds lost.
Tara: loses 8 pounds, with one-pound advantage, 5.08 percent, down to 169 pounds. She's Jillian's only original contestant, has lost a total of 125 pounds, which is the most any woman ever lost on campus.
So Filipe and Ron are below the yellow line. Has the final week ever been full of such high numbers?
During deliberation, Filipe gets emotional as he talks about why he wants to be a finalist. He feels that in order to be the best, you got to beat the best but ultimately the decision will be in Helen and Tara's hands. Since both Filipe and Ron had previously placed votes against her, Helen feels no loyalty toward either person. But she does feel powerful and soaks it in as she and Tara are deciding the final four.
During elimination, Mike obviously votes for Filipe. Helen then also votes to eliminate Filipe as he's the bigger threat to her. But Filipe says he can't leave sad, as everything he's ever wanted to accomplish, he has.
So now it's 30 days at home for the final four — Tara, Helen, Ron and Mike — before the finale weigh-in. Who do you think will take home the grand prize?
http://www.tvguide.com/Episode-Recaps/biggest-loser/Biggest-Loser-7-1005528.aspx
RealityFreakWill:
'Biggest Loser''s Filipe Fa on Leaving the Ranch
It was clear to Filipe Fa that if he fell below the yellow line on Tuesday night's "The Biggest Loser" he would be going home -- and just miss becoming one of the final four. But when his weigh-in showed a loss of 10 pounds, he had a fleeting thought that he was safe.
That was until he saw that everyone else was making big numbers, too. After all was said and done, Filipe was below the yellow line with Ron Morelli. And when it came time to vote, it was a no-brainer that Ron's son Mike would vote for Filipe. Then, when Helen Phillips, too, cast her vote for him, the fate of 26-year-old from Arizona was sealed.
ET: When you look back at the show, do you think there is anything you could have done differently that would have put you in the final four?
Filipe Fa: No. I killed it that week. In fact my regimen was even tougher than before. I made a goal to wake up every morning at 4:30, finish breakfast by 5 a.m., and workout from 5 to 7 a.m. I basically worked out eight to 10 hours a day that last week. I have no regrets. I gave it my all.
ET: Helen said that since both you and Ron voted for her previously when she fell below the yellow line, that she had no loyalty to either of you. So do you think if you had not voted for her earlier, it might have changed her vote, or was she really into the game by then?
Filipe Fa: I think she was really into the game by that point. I don't know why she would have felt that I would have voted otherwise. I would never write Kristin Steede's name down. I was closer to Kristin than to Helen. I know that it made her upset, but I had to vote for my friend. Whether I voted for her or not, I don't think it would have changed the outcome, because this week everybody was playing the game. So when I fell below the yellow line, I knew I was gone.
ET: Going back to your blow-up with Jillian Michaels. Did that have anything to do with the fact that she was a woman? Was that part of your issue with her, or was it that you really felt she wasn't working you out?
Filipe Fa: No. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was a woman, or that she wasn't working me out. I think we just had bad communication that week. I didn't really mean to blow up on her, and she didn't mean to say some things, as well. In fact, off-camera we talked about it and made up. We are really good friends right now. I haven't talked to her since I have been off the show, but I have no ill feelings toward her. She is probably one of the best trainers out there.
ET: Have you lost any more than the 13 pounds we saw last night since you have been home?
Filipe Fa: I am still the same. I am around the same range.
ET: Do you have a favorite from the final four to win the competition and the $250,000?
Filipe Fa: Tara Costa. That last week on the ranch, Tara and I were able to get close. We had some great conversations. By nature, she is a tough competitor. Because she is so consistent in being so tough, she deserves it more than anybody else.
ET: You mentioned that you had problems when you first got home. Why do you think your routine stalled?
Filipe Fa: When I first got home, I had the hardest time trying to adjust back to normal life. Going from having a routine on the ranch, where I knew I could wake up every day and do this, and then I had to incorporate family life into that. I still worked out every day, I just I found myself plateauing. Then my father had his stroke. I had to tend to that while my mom worked. I had to be there for my dad. There was a lot of family drama I had to deal with before I could get back on track. [Note: Filipe's dad is doing better and has improved his eating habits and has lost 18 pounds since his stroke.]
ET: How is your relationship with Sione since you have taken this journey with him?
Filipe Fa: I think for the most part it has drawn us closer. Sione has always been there for me. He was always a close cousin to me. Being able to make the journey with him has been amazing. We still work out together every morning. As much as it is a competition, we still workout together every morning.
ET: After losing large amounts of weight, what happens to all the stretched skin?
Filipe Fa: That has been the struggle with me being home is dealing with this excess skin. The advice I got from Bob was just a lot of cardio. It is going to take a lot of intense cardio to take it off. I am dealing with it. I have gotten more off since I have been off the show. Hopefully, by the finale I will look as good as I want to.
"The Biggest Loser" returns next week for the penultimate episode, when we will see the competitors after they have spent 30 days at home -- and, in addition to the weigh-in, they will be tasked with completing a marathon. Then the finale airs Tuesday, May 12 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/04/73383/index.html
RealityFreakWill:
A New Lease on Weight-Loss Life with Filipe Fa of The Biggest Loser
After watching his cousin, Sione, leave The Biggest Loser ranch in week ten, Filipe Fa of Arizona was left to fend for himself in this season of The Biggest Loser Couples. Outgoing and fun, Filipe entered The Biggest Loser at 360 pounds with a goal to be an inspiration to his family, all of Tongan heritage, who have an organic cultural predisposition to being heavy. When Sione left the ranch, Filipe gave it his all to become the final "Biggest Loser" but soon found himself on the other side of the weight-loss scales, at a disadvantage to the still remaining father and son team Ron and Mike, without the votes to continue his Biggest Loser journey.
When the votes were counted, Filipe gave a heartfelt and appreciative final speech before the remaining team members, surprised and confident after losing 140 pounds to set himself on a new path to a happier and healthy life without all of the extra weight.
The morning after Filipe left The Biggest Loser ranch, we stepped on our weekly conference call scales to learn more about Filipe's time on The Biggest Loser Couples, his run-in with Jillian, how he's dealing with the extra flab left by so much weight-loss, and why his health routine stalled somewhat when he returned home from The Biggest Loser.
THE DEADBOLT: What was your time on the ranch like after Sione left?
[Biggest Loser Couples] FILIPE FA: You know, it was kind of rough. In fact, the next day I don't think I said a word to anybody. I was so devastated. I went on a hike. I ran for a little and everybody gave me my space and respect\. But it was kind of hard because we had a routine together. We would wake up every morning, eat the same thing, and workout together. So when he left, it's like back to that square one where I was when he left the first time, except this time I wasn't able to bring him back. So it was kind of hard.
THE DEADBOLT: How often do you talk to Bob?
FILIPE: I talk to Bob once a month on a rare occasion. He's very busy and we're busy. But the great thing about him is that he'll check in once in a while on everybody, and when he does call he gives us the words of encouragement and advice. And then he needs to do what he does best, and that's help people lose weight [laughs].
THE DEADBOLT: I thought it was funny when he kept telling you to shut-up during the workout. What was it like to be Bob's trainer?
FILIPE: Oh, my God, I had so much fun with that. You know, they showed probably one percent [of that]. I talked so much trash that day. There was a part where he was on the Stairmaster and he was breathing so hard he was whistling. He was like, [wheezing sounds]. He was gasping for air and I was like, "Oh, do you need air?" And he goes, "Shut up, Filipe!" I loved it. I loved the fact that we had "train a trainer" day and that he admitted that I killed him. So that was good.
THE DEADBOLT: What's your relationship with Jillian like now?
[Biggest Loser Couples] FILIPE: You know, I had that little blow up with Jillian, I think it was week ten. I haven't spoken to her but I have no ill feeling towards her. You know, we just had a miscommunication that week. In fact, we talked about it over and over while I was on the ranch and my relationship right now is - I love Jillian. I think she's a wonderful trainer, actually, an amazing trainer and I wish the best for her.
THE DEADBOLT: I was wondering about something that no one has mentioned yet. After losing these massive amounts of weight, what happens to the stretched skin?
FILIPE: You know, that's something. In fact, that's been a struggle with me being home, is dealing with this extra skin. So the advice I got from Bob was just a lot of cardio, and so it's just going to take a lot more intense cardio to take it off. I'm dealing with it pretty well. I've gotten a little more off since I've been off of the show, and so hopefully by the finale I'll look as good as I hope I do.
THE DEADBOLT: So they are just toning up exercises, I guess, to tighten up everything?
FILIPE: Yeah. A lot of it's less weight, more reps. So we have more intense workouts where we go high intense cardio for a half hour, hit the weights for a good hour, then go back cardio and just bring the heart rate down.
THE DEADBOLT: What do you currently weigh, and what do you ultimately want to get to?
[Biggest Loser Couples] FILIPE: Well, I've only lost 13 pounds since the show, so currently now I'm in the 220-219 range. So I'm hoping to drop another good 10 or 15 before the finale and I'm working hard on that and things are looking good for me. So we'll see how things go.
THE DEADBOLT: You also mentioned that when you got home your routine kind of stalled. What happened?
FILIPE: Yeah. When I first got home, I think my routine kind of stalled a little bit because I think I had a hard time trying to adjust back to normal life. You know, going from having a regiment and routine on the ranch, where we knew every day I'm gonna wake up and do this and then turn a corporate family life into that.
So I was still working out every day, I just found myself plateauing from here to there. And my father having a stroke and me having to attend to that while my mom worked, you know, long hours. So I had to be there for my dad, and so it was just hard. I still worked out every day but there was a lot of family drama at home that I had to deal with before I could get my schedule back.
http://www.thedeadbolt.com/news/105667/filipe_fa_biggest_loser_interview.php
RealityFreakWill:
The Biggest Loser: Couples
It's Official: American Will Vote!
Can you believe it? We are down to the final four of The Biggest Loser: Couples and we still have an actual team intact so close to the finale. While I wasn't a Filipe fan, I was secretly hoping that he would stay. He and Mike did so well on the challenge this week - and yes, I was surprised that Tara pulled off her 12th win of the season. That's not to say I wanted Ron to go home either. I have to agree with Bob, Ron has played this game basically with one shoulder and one leg - not easy to get to the final four with those odds. But, hey, the green team may have hung in there to the end had it not been for Laura's fracture.
Coming up this week, our contestants learn that their final challenge is to run a full marathon - cheered on by past season winners of The Biggest Loser. Unfortunately, I can't see Ron winning this one - but you can bet he will give it all he has. Will Tara make it to a first-place finish and win her 13th challenge of the season? Tara, Helen and Mike had excellent percentages of weight loss last week... they were the Top 3 out of 5 losers last week! Will the stress of being at home take away their momentum? The last time Tara went home, she only lost 2 pounds to Ron's 10, Mike's 8 and Helen's 7. That said, Tara did have the best time in the Half Marathon and lost to Sione only because Helen ate a cookie... but that was 6 weeks ago, everyone has gotten stronger and more athletic.
Hooray! It's official - America will once again determine who will be the third finalist in the season finale. So warm up those voting fingers devoted fans. Last time America could vote online or text in their choice. We'll be sure to post the necessary voting information immediately following the show Tuesday night.
For me, this is must-see TV... well, it is if you love watching The Biggest Loser as much as I do... There are so many different scenarios, all of them exciting: Ron is the last remaining member of Bob's team - can he lose enough weight during his 30 days at home to push either of the ladies below the yellow line? Can Mike and Ron loose enough weight to take the top 2 spots and push both ladies below the yellow line? Will an intact Brown Team make it to final 2? Will the youngest contestant make it to the final 2? Or could it be that Jillian just might have all three of her remaining team members make it to Finale night? If Helen stays in the top 2, could it be that Jillian will once again have a Pink Team member in the Finale. Will Pink once again represent in the final 2? Will Jillian's only remaining original team member make it to the final 2? I can't wait to find out!
Join us when most of these questions are answered on Tuesday, May 5, at 8/7c on The Biggest Loser Couples 2 - only on NBC! I know if my favorite falls below the yellow line, I will be voting till my fingers bleed to make sure my favorite makes it to Finale night... how about you?
http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3520:the-biggest-loser-couples-american-will-vote&catid=71:biggest-loser-couples-2009&Itemid=62
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