TV Watch The Biggest Loser
Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC
On Jan. 3 we started quite an emotional journey together with season 13 of The Biggest Loser. It seems like only yesterday that I was welcoming the players onto the Ranch, each of them having a look of excitement and fear on their faces, all of them having sadness to them and a desire to make a change.
Since the premiere, these contestants definitely struck a nerve with many of you, and with all of us. During Tuesday's finale, I was caught off guard by my emotions when I saw Buddy and Mark in the audience rather than on stage weighing in. They both had left their families, committed to the time on the Ranch, gone to the White House and Hawaii, opened up about their struggles and were so close to the finish line that it just hurt my heart that they quit the show. I had such a lovely conversation with Mark's wife. She and I shared our thoughts about Chism, what a great guy he is, and how wonderful it is to see how he has changed through being a part of The Biggest Loser.
It was a fast-paced finale! The show stylist hooked me up with a gorgeous Donna Karan dress (it definitely won the popular vote on Twitter) and some fabulous jewelry, so I was ready for the night. And before the show, when I went on stage to welcome the audience, I loved looking out and seeing my dad, my husband Dave and for the first time, my son Ben in the audience. It was so awesome to see my family out there and for me to share the experience with Ben.
Permalink | Filed Under: Celebrity Blog, The Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney
Credit: Trae Patton/NBC
Jeremy Britt, who was crowned the winner of The Biggest Loser: No Excuses on Tuesday, said the first thing he plans to do with his $250,000 winnings is buy a minivan for fellow contestant Buddy Shuh – who quit the show before the finals.
"When he left he said all he wanted was a minivan out of the show," Britt, 22, tells PEOPLE. "I promised him if I won I would get a minivan. So I owe Buddy a minivan."
Britt lost 199 lbs. (more than half his body weight) during the course of the competition. And he says he wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of his family, including his sister and fellow contestant Conda Britt, who lost 115 lbs. and also made it to the finals.
Credit: NBC (3)
Who will win what trainer Bob Harper calls the most dramatic season ever of The Biggest Loser?
Former professional wrestler Kim Nielsen, single mom Conda Britt and her brother Jeremy will all step on the scale on Tuesday's finale, but only one will get $250,000 and the title of the Biggest Loser.
Nielsen, 38, left the ranch 105 lbs. lighter than when she arrived, but maintaining that kind of weight loss at home for seven weeks will be a challenge for the single mother of three.
"Going back home is going to be difficult. I am going to have to prioritize and put time in for myself and not be all about my kids," Nielsen said before returning to her family in Roswell, Ga. "I have a goal – I am going to win the whole thing."
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty
After a tragic accident and many difficult months, two former Biggest Loser contestants were able to relish a day devoted to celebration.
Sam Poueu, 27, and Stephanie Anderson, 32, exchanged vows at Saint Paul's Catholic Church in San Francisco on Saturday, PEOPLE confirms.
The bride wore a gown from White by Vera Wang from David's Bridal that she described on her wedding website as "meant for me." Stepping into it for the first time, she said she "wept tears of excitement, relief, joy and I felt like the most beautiful woman."
Permalink | Filed Under: Couples, Weddings, The Biggest Loser, Sam Poueu, Stephanie Anderson
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty
After getting sidetracked by a terrible accident last year, the big day is almost here for two popular former Biggest Loser contestants.
Sam Poueu and Stephanie Anderson will finally tie the knot this Saturday in San Francisco, more than seven months after he almost died after falling four stories from a building in San Francisco.
"With what has happened over the last 7 months, we've had to refocus our energy and time," the couple write on their wedding website. "Now here we are just a short time away from our BIG day and we cannot be more anxious and excited to join together as husband and wife."
Permalink | Filed Under: Couples, Weddings, The Biggest Loser, Sam Poueu
Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC
It's the last week before The Biggest Loser finale and it was definitely was an exciting one for all of us on the Ranch.
After the emotional weigh-in with Jeremy falling below the yellow line, seeing the eliminated contestants return was definitely exhilarating. To see how far the contestants had come, to weigh them in again and to give them the opportunity to return to the final three was really fun.
As I mentioned during the show, those who quit the competition were not eligible for return and that ended up helping the remaining contestants get a spot back in the game.
Permalink | Filed Under: The Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney
Credit: Trae Patton/NBC
Contestants have left the Biggest Loser in the past. But never like this.
"We had gotten word that contestants were going to be given the chance to come back and it felt like a dagger to our hearts," contestant Jeremy Britt told reporters Wednesday of why he and the four other remaining finalists threatened to quit.
Bringing back former contestants is nothing new on the show, but – as Britt pointed out – never this far along in the competition, unless it was explicitly explained earlier in the season.
"The timing of it seemed wrong," Britt said. "Everyone would want another chance but that doesn't necessarily mean they need another chance that other people didn't get."
Permalink | Filed Under: The Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney, Bob Harper
Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC
To say this week's Biggest Loser was full of surprises would be an understatement. When I arrived at the Ranch to start our week, I learned from the producers that all five remaining contestants were planning to quit the show.
As I've said before: The campus is not a prison, and any contestant can leave whenever they want. That certainly has been true this season. While a contestant's choice to leave is one I respect, I asked each of them to really consider before making such a huge decision whether they will feel they made the right choice six months from now – five years from now.
For our contestants this season, that's something we'll all be hoping to understand better during the live finale on May 1.
Permalink | Filed Under: Celebrity Blog, The Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney
Credit: David Glesbrecht/NBC
How impressive was Mrs. Obama this week during the Biggest Loser workout at the White House? When I first heard about the contestant, their families and the First Lady having a workout with Bob and Dolvett, I assumed the guys would go easy on them and on her.
How wrong was I? Mrs. Obama was an inspiration in talking to the contestants about her Let's Move! initiative and in her personal fitness. Plus, how cool is it that she's a fan of the show?
Because of my shooting schedule at Days, I was unable to travel with the show to D.C., so it was fun to join all of you in being a viewer of the episode instead of a participant. As I watched, I was touched by how Mrs. Obama knew the journeys of the contestants and how she could continue to inspire them in their final weeks on campus.
Permalink | Filed Under: Celebrity Blog, The Biggest Loser, Bodywatch, Alison Sweeney, Michelle Obama
Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC
I'm on spring break with my family right now at Mayakoba in Mexico (this place is incredible and the kids are having a blast) but I wanted to check in with you all during this exciting two-part makeover on The Biggest Loser.
As you know, nothing is ever the same on our show from one season to the next. It was exciting this week to surprise the contestants with the First Lady Michelle Obama's invitation to the White House.
The week started out just like any other – with a challenge. We were cold, it was raining and the contestants were vying for a 1-lb. advantage on the scale – and to avoid the 1-lb. disadvantage. As I stood there trying to not have a reaction to anything, it really was hard to contain my laughter, as Conda could not figure out the slingshot.
Permalink | Filed Under: Celebrity Blog, The Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney, Michelle Obama
