283 Pounds Lighter, Already!!!

Wow.  Biggest Loser did NOT disappoint this girl.  When I walked in the door from the gym, the show, which I would later watch on DVR, had already started and Mitch let me know he had watched the beginning and he new I would really love it.  I could hardly wait and finally got to sit down about 9pm.  Loved the opening...seeing the 15 new contestants, meeting the new trainers and seeing good ol' Bob again, too.  Anna and Dolvett both impressed me immediately.  Who wouldn't be impressed by Anna Kournikova?  Her looks and her athletic accomplishments are both pretty impressive, but could she train people?  Dolvett Quince is pretty great looking too, and he has a proven track record of helping people lose weight and get in better shape.  I did not question his capability, but wondered how he would do connecting with his team.

The teams were divided into 3 groups according to age...young, middle and let's just say over 50, because old would offend ME.  Each team had to run a mile together, and the first and second teams to win would pick their trainers in that order and the last team would be, naturally, with the remaining trainer.  I wasn't at all surprised that the "middle" team came in first and I was even less surprised that they picked Bob.  Next came the youngins and they picked Dolvett, leaving the over 50 group lagging behind as they decided to walk because Bonnie has a bad knee.  It was nice a sign of Anna's character, that she went to meet her team at this point, and walk back with them.  At this point we also learn of a new twist this season--all the contestants would be coming back to the ranch during the last week of the season to compete in a marathon, and the winner is guaranteed a spot in the finals with a chance to win the $250,000.  Interesting.  Not sure how I feel about that.  What if they run fast but haven't lost a lot of weight?

As always in life, there is some drama. Dolvett has issues with Patrick  and he throws him out of the gym.  I was a bit turned off by Dovett's military like attitude.  It wouldn't work for me, but I realize that we are all different and all motivated in different ways.  On Bob's black team, Antoine, the former NFL player, becomes Bob's pet project.  That I love.  Bob is anxious to instill confidence in this man whom he KNOWS has it in him.  And on the blue team, Becky's dad passes away from congestive heart failure and she must leave for a few days.  While I relate to the compassion that Anna shows her team, might she be too soft?  Also on this team is Debbie, who apparently asks way too many questions and doesn't put in enough effort. As a trainer, I am reminded that there are many styles we can use to motivate people and none are right or wrong, they are just different. In the end, it is really up to the individual to have the desire to get the job done.  Even if you are capable of leading a horse to water, it is still up to him, to drink!

The weigh in was awesome as always.  The first way in is always over the top, especially for those "big boys!"  We saw John and Antoine, both from Bob's black team,lose 37 and 32 pounds, (this is why I said yesterday, this cannot be done at home!  Who loses 37 pounds in one week?) but even the girls on that team pulled huge numbers.  Red team did really well, too with everyone in the double digits.  Anna's blue team clearly lost the weigh in.  Debbie and Bonnie were the only 2 out of the 15 to not see double digits on the scale.  One of them had to be sent home and after Debbie got nasty with Bonnie in front of the others, the decision got easier.  Though Bonnie, the least loser, got 2 votes, Debbie got 3 and out went her refrigerator light.  1 down, 14 to go.

The season opener surely brought me to tears a couple of times.  I often make an IMMEDIATE connection with a contestant, but I didn't last night.  I do think Antoine is a clear threat because he has muscle memory and has been through grueling athletics as a football player.  Does he have the desire?  This remains to be seen.  I am also partial to the black team because I love Bob and because they are the middle aged group and from my experience in the fitness field these are the people that can kick some serious butt when they set their minds to it.  Though I am always partial to my "seniors" in the gym, I was not impressed by any of Anna's team members.  I have to say, all things considered, I already have a spot for Ramon, the tattoo artist.  He is the same age as my son, Derek, and could easily be part of my Thursday night dinner gatherings.  I look forward to getting to know him and the rest of the contestants!

I have one burning question and it is NOT "Does age matter?"  Does the black team take the same "supplements" as the others.  Does each trainer have their own favorite supps?  I know they must be taking something as Jillian had her own brand and I have seen Bob advertising his.  I would love to know more about this as I have never been an advocate of fat burning supplements, but wonder what it REALLY takes to lose these kinds of numbers in a week.  What do YOU think?  I am curious.

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