Tue, Sep 15, 2009
The sixteen contestants for season 8 are introduced. The theme for the season is having a second chance, which brings with it a lot of baggage for most, if not all, contestants. The second chance applies to the show with one contestant, back from a previous season, and has been allowed to continue with his weight loss journey. Before the contestants even have a chance to do a workout, weigh-in or meet the trainers, they are subjected to their first challenge, a 1-mile race, the winner to have immunity from elimination. As with previous seasons, all the contestants will be paired up, the winner of the race also having the choice of his/her partner. The race proves to be too much for two of the contestants. At the first official weigh-in, there are five people over 400 pounds apiece - the largest number ever for the show, and the heaviest single person ever on the show. At their first workout, the contestants learn that both Bob and Jillian will be jointly training them all. Each contestant goes through a medical evaluation, which is a wake up call for most. At the first elimination weigh-in, only fifteen contestants weigh-in, although all sixteen are still in the game.
Tue, May 12, 2009
Mike and Ron, below the yellow line on the latest weigh-in, learn who America voted for to proceed to the final three with Helen and Tara. Before season 7 is completed, season 8 already begins with two hopefuls, Amanda and Erinn, vying for the one remaining spot for next season's competition. The decision on who that person will be is made by popular vote by the American public during the airing of this live episode, voting based on part on how each does in a workout with Bob and Jillian. The results on the "Pound for Pound" Challenge is presented, this program which aims to tie weight-loss programs across the United States to food bank donations, with the amount of weight pledged and lost equaled by the weight of food donated. The nineteen non-finalist contestants weigh-in to see who has the highest percentage of weight loss to earn the $100,000 "at home" prize. The final three weigh-in last, to see who will take home the $250,000 grand prize. By happenstance, the three finalists do have the highest percentage of weight loss this season, the only three contestants to have lost more than half of their original weight.