Sometimes, losing weight sucks. You put everything you have into your workout regimen, have a mental breakthrough that sees you really turn a corner in your life, and the scale still obstinately refuses to give you a high number. That’s what happened to Megan last week, as she fell below the Yellow Line with Mark, and she was sent home one week after her mother. Six contestants remain.
It’s worth noting that the seven pounds Kim lost last week put her BMI (Body Mass Index) at 24.9, which officially puts her in the “normal” category. She went into this week at 164 pounds, and I can’t imagine she has much more than ten to fifteen pounds left to lose before she reaches her ideal weight. Meanwhile, Buddy and Jeremy are still at 36.5 and 39.5 respectively, which means they both have a lot left to lose. I predict this is the week that Kim will cede her lead in the standings for good. (And yes, I’m writing this paragraph before I actually watch the episode.)
With The Biggest Loser being shortened to one hour from now on because The Voice has reached the voting stage and therefore requires a “Results Show”, I wasn’t sure how they were going to squeeze Makeover Week, a trip to D.C. and a weigh-in into one short hour. And the obvious answer was: they didn’t. This episode was all about positivity, validation and triumph, with no sign of competition whatsoever. (That’ll come next week, you can be sure.)
The first order of business was a challenge, in which the contestants have to climb a cargo-net and slingshot baseballs at a two-paned glass likeness of their Week One selves. Buddy surprises me by taking first place and winning a one-pound advantage, and I’m glad. Whatever keeps him on the Ranch is a good thing. Last place, unfortunately (or fortunately), went to Conda, who will be saddled with a one-pound disadvantage.
So then Makeover Week officially begins. Fashion expert Jeannie Mai greeted all six contestants in a swanky-looking boutique, and she promised that she will be helping them get all duded up for an audience with… none other than First Lady Michelle Obama… at the White House. Yikes, what a great prize. No matter what you think of Barack, or Democrats, or politicians in general, you can’t find fault with Michelle, who is class and dignity personified.
There’s really not much I can do to describe the second half of the episode without the benefit of “before” and “after” pictures. All six contestants walked into an atrium in the White House to be greeted by Bob and Dolvett, who then surprised them all by bringing in the contestants families. Take it from me: they all look amazing. Tears were shed, hugs were exchanged, and it was a feel-good episode from beginning to end.
And as for Michelle Obama, well, she didn’t make a live appearance until minute fifty-eight. We got all of three seconds of footage of her before we get the “To Be Continued” message on the screen. Oh well, there really is only so much you can squeeze into an hour. And this is, by an order of magnitude, far and away the shortest recap I’ve ever written.
Next week: Michelle hangs with the contestants, and even works out with them a little bit. Also: bad news from home hits Chris really hard, to the point where she might hop off the wagon. Uh-oh.
