Biggest Loser: Makeover Week and Finale Predictions

Some thoughts on The Biggest Loser’s Makeover Week, now that we’ve seen the Big Reveal.

– The most dramatic changes: Marie and David.  My conclusion is that if you want to add ten years to a guy’s face, have him grow a beard!

– The least dramatic changes: Bobby and Rachel. No fancy hair cuts or coloring jobs, they just looked like a dressed-up version of themselves.

– The least flattering makeover: Chelsea. Her pretty eyes are lost under a sea of “fringe” as the stylist calls them.

– Why are some of the makeover styles so unflattering? Too-tight clothes just show every bulge and bump, and gathered waistlines and horizontal stripes make a person look heavier than they actually are.

– When the show was an hour long at the beginning of the season, I longed to see more of the players’ workouts, daily interactions with each other, cooking and eating tips, etc.

Now that it’s been extended to two hours, most of the extra time is taken up with long, drawn-out weigh-ins and a lot of flashbacks. Surely, there should be enough footage taken during each week that we don’t have to see the same things over and over. How many times have we seen the clip of Tonya crying about how she was abused and “Nobody would save me, and I deserved to be saved.” It was emotionally charged the first time we heard it, but we’ve seen it what? about ten times now?  I tape the show and fast-forward through a lot of the redundant stuff, and I’m done in an hour.

I’m still disappointed that Jay got sent home. It was ironic that he deliberately didn’t try to win one of the challenges, because he felt the group would resent it and vote him off if they had the chance. But they voted him off anyway, so he should have just gone for it. He could have come home with another $5,000 in his pocket. And he should have taken off his cowboy hat for the weigh in — he could have lost another pound at least. Strategically, it wasn’t a wise move for the group to send him home, as Bobby is the bigger threat with more weight to lose. But Jay — and all the others who have been sent home — was a class act, graciously thanking everyone for their friendship and the opportunity to be on the show.

That’s the main thing I’ve noticed this season — a kindler, gentler group of contestants, especially compared with the ugliness of Season 13’s Conda Britt and friends.

Although many fans of reality series thrive on conflict and controversy, I think most “Biggest Loser” viewers have a different mindset. The conflict isn’t so much with contestants pitted against each other, but against their weight. It’s a fight against fat. People versus Pounds. That’s what makes the show so watchable.

Many fans tune in to “The Biggest Loser” to get inspired by players’ determination to win their weight battles. It helps us go the extra mile on the treadmill or pass up a dessert. Perhaps the producers finally figured this out, after so many viewers were turned off by the bad behavior of past seasons.

This time around, there were few times that players were asked to vote someone off.  So there was very little of strategizing, alliances and jockeying for support…at least, as far as what is shown to the viewers. After all, this is a show, and I’ve been told that there’s a lot that goes on that we don’t see, so we’re sometimes misled by a player’s actions or outbursts.

But, even Jillian stopped most of her screaming, swearing and bullying…at least as far as what is shown to the viewers. I’m OK with seeing less of the Psycho Trainer.

Who do I think will make the finale? I’m pretty sure Rachel will win the triathlon. David has always been consistent, and Bobby has shown a lot of determination. The others (including Rachel) don’t have much weight to lose before they are down to skin and bones. I’m predicting David will win.  For the at-home prize, I’m a Utah girl who always roots for the home team, so I’m hoping that Hap comes through.

Over the years, I’ve interviewed several “Biggest Loser” contestants.

Here are  Jackson Carter’s weight loss tips.

Here are Deni Hill’s weight loss tips.

Here are Justin Pope’s weight loss tips.

Here are Sarah Nitta’s weight loss tips.

Here are my parting thoughts on the disastrous Season 13:

For more stories and updates on these former contestants, you can click the Biggest Loser tag.