On their way to the gym, the “Biggest Loser” contestants were surprised to see Alison in front of the gym, but the biggest surprise was when they noticed the gym doors had been chained up. Alison explained that there would be another “pop challenge.” She went on to say that the two teams who won the challenge would have the whole gym to themselves. As for the losing teams, they had to work out without the gym.

As soon as the challenge began, contestants ran uphill to a board full of keys. They’d grab a key, run back down the hill and try that key in the lock on the gym door. If the key fit the lock, they won access to the gym.

Although Ron’s bad knees slowed him down, he continued to push through the pain for his team. Tara worked so hard for her team that she got sick. Laura tried to stop and help her teammate, but Tara encouraged her to keep going.

Working out and acting out

After almost an hour, Helen and Shanon discovered a working key and won access to the gym. There was one key left. Mike found it and earned access to the gym for him and his father, Ron.

Bob and Jillian joined their teams. Both teams told them about the “Pop Challenge,” and Bob laughed when he learned that everyone but Helen, Shanon, Mike and Ron had to work out without the gym. Jillian, on the other hand, expressed how much she hated working outside.

While Bob and Jillian taught their teams how to burn calories without being in a gym, Helen, Shanon, Mike and Ron took advantage of a gym all to themselves. Because they had the gym to themselves, Helen and Shanon decided to turn Jillian’s side of the gym into a lounge. They placed a table and chairs in the gym, brought in some fruit and then hung a “Members Only” sign up.

Making anywhere your gym

Since Jillian didn’t care for exercising outdoors, she had her team exercising indoors. Bob appeared to be more creative than Jillian. Not only did he have his team outside, he had them using the lawn furniture for their workout.

First, he had them use the benches as a stair stepper, and then he had them lifting weights with the benches and chairs. Bob proved that anyone can work out without being in a gym. Furthermore, he showed his team that they could invent their own equipment instead of investing in expensive workout gadgets.

Later, Bob headed to the gym to see how Helen, Shanon, Mike and Ron were doing. Helen was worried that their idea to create a lounge might anger Bob. Although Bob wasn’t angry with Helen and Shanon’s idea, he was a bit surprised when he discovered that the four of them wasn’t working out too hard, so he wasted no time in putting them through a workout.

Rowing to immunity

The “Biggest Loser” contestants met Alison for their next challenge. Alison told them they must row on a rowing machine that was set up for them and connected to light panels. If the contestants didn’t row hard or fast enough, their panel turned yellow to let them know they needed to step it up, but if they failed to step it up, the panel turned red and they were out.

In the end, it came down to the green (Laura and Tara), blue (Filipe and Sione) and black (Dane) teams. Exhaustion set in, but they pushed through it. However, despite their determination, Filipe, Sione, Laura and Tara couldn’t keep up, so Dane won immunity. Laura thought she and Tara were doing great, so when her panel turned red, it left her in tears. Everyone rushed over to console Laura and let her know she did well, but she felt as if she let Tara down again.

The last chance and weigh-ins

For the contestants’ last-chance workout, Bob had his team running in the sand on the beach. To add to the intensity of the workout, he had the contestants lug big logs on their shoulders.

Jillian — still not excited about working out without the gym — finally took her team outside for their last-chance workout. After having them hopping, running and jumping rope for a while, she led her team to the pool for a workout in the water.

The “Biggest Loser” contestants headed to the scales for another weigh-in. Helen was confident that having access to the gym would benefit her and Shanon’s weigh-in.

• Dane, who won immunity at the challenge, lost four pounds (1.22 percent).
• Kristin and Cathy lost a combined 13 pounds (2.3 percent).
• Filipe and Sione lost a combined 16 pounds (2.65 percent).
• Tara and Laura lost a total of 15 pounds (3.14 percent).
• Mandi and Aubrey lost a total of 12 pounds (2.74 percent).
• Helen and Shanon lost nine pounds (1.99 percent) together.
• Ron and Mike lost a total of 17 pounds (2.51 percent).

When Helen’s prediction didn’t pan out, she surprised her competitors with the news that she and Shanon both thought it was best if Shanon went home. Shanon confirmed and admitted that she’d already proved she could lose weight at home.

The other contestants disagreed. They felt Shanon would benefit from the “Biggest Loser” ranch more than Helen would, but when it came time to make the decision, they voted to send Shanon home.

Shanon knew she could lose the weight at home, and the update proved it. Since leaving the “Biggest Loser” ranch, Shanon now weighs 198 pounds.

(By Misti Sandefur for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 and is filed under Biggest Loser, Diet TV this week. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Permalink.