It was down to just 5 contestants this week on the NBC hit reality show The Biggest Loser: Couples 3. Week 17 was filled with tension because at the end of the week, one person would be sent home and the Final 4 would be vying for $250,000 at the finale in two weeks.
There was no yellow line or elimination voting by the contestants. The player with the lowest percentage of weight loss would be eliminated immediately and sent home. Actually, all of the players went home at the conclusion of this episode for a four week period of weight loss on their own.
The final challenge had each of them carrying a canvas tote filled with bags of sand that represented the amount of weight each had lost over the course of their time on the ranch. Sunshine carried 99 pounds, Ashley 136, Daris 141, Koli 159 and Michael 192.
The first one to climb over 16 hills, depositing each week’s sandbag in the proper place along the way, could choose between $10,000 or a one pound weight advantage. Daris sailed up the hillside and won the challenge. As enticing as the $10K sounded, he played it safe and took the one pound advantage. As it turned out, he didn’t need the help.
The group got an opportunity to meet Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo. He provided some positive insights and went for a run with the group. Paying a return visit to the ranch were Season 7 winner Helen Phillips and Season 3 winner Erik Chopin. They sat down with each of the contestants to talk about the pitfalls and traps that they may encounter when they get back to their normal life.
Chopin got their full attention because he gained back 122 pounds a year after winning the title in 2006. He got his act together this year and has dropped 70 pounds and intends to keep going. Helen appears to have maintained her weight loss.
Contestant Michael had a particularly rough week on the ranch. He came in weighing 526 pounds, the biggest player to ever appear on the show. Though he had lost 192 pounds in just 17 weeks, he suffered a major meltdown in the gym and told trainer Bob Harper that he was feeling despair because he is still obese. The outburst seemed to clear his head and he went back to his workout after getting some positive reinforcement from Harper.
At the weigh in, Michael lost 12 pounds, Koli lost 13, Daris 10, and Ashley dropped 7. Sunshine Hampton lost 2 pounds and was eliminated. She will be vying for the $100,000 prize with the rest of the contestants who have been continuing their journey at home.
Ashley has set the record for the greatest amount of weight lost by a woman on the ranch, having shed 143 pounds. Michael has lost the most weight of any other player in Biggest Loser history with an amazing 204 pound lost in 17 weeks.
Check out the makeover photos – before and after here.
Next week the Final 4 will run a marathon and get a final weigh in. We are told that one of the remaining contestants will have gained 2 pounds.
The Biggest Loser: Couples 3 finale aired Tuesday, May 25 on NBC.
SEE THE BIGGEST LOSER ‘WINNER’ HERE.
More photos of the Final 4 and the elimination video below: