The Biggest Loser: Poles Over Troubled Water

This week's The Biggest Loser began with Alison informing the remaining contestants that their fates fell in the hands of America. That's scary if you really think about it. But as is usually the case in this show, it was grossly exaggerated. She told them that viewers had voted online for their favorite challenge from the seasons so far. The challenges the viewers could choose from were: the 74 flights of stairs challenge from the first season, the never-ending jump rope challenge from the second season, the poles over the pool challenge from the second season, and the endless escalator challenge from last season. They wouldn't find out which one they'd be doing though until the next day.

While all of the teams were working out back on the campus, Bryan spent some quality time with his trainer Kim. I'm sure he would have rather spent his time in a different manner though. She got onto him for not eating right. And when she found out that he had been marinating his food in soy sauce, she really hit the roof. Don't you know that sodium makes you retain water? No more soy sauce!

At the challenge, they found out that America had voted for them to compete in "Poles Over Water". Each of them would be suspended over a swimming pool and left hugging a large metal pole. There was a tiny lip at the bottom of the pole but if you were one of the big-footed variety it really wouldn't help much. Via video, Andre Agassi (he's so cute!) congratulated them on their weight loss so far and told them that the winner of this challenge would win a vacation for four at the Tamarack Resort in Idaho. That looks like a really nice place to vacation.

After the challenge started, it didn't take long before they began dropping like flies. Isabeau fell first followed by Neil, Nicole, Bryan, and then Hollie. It was down to Bill and Julie (both black team members) and Julie really wanted to win it. Besides, Bill has won enough right? Not just yet obviously because he managed to last longer than Julie. Bill was excited to win the vacation and even more excited that he would be able to actually ski with his family when they went.

So you've figured out where the "poles" and the "water" parts come in concerning the title of this post. But what about the "troubled" part? Well, after the challenge some of the contestants decided to take a dip in the pool and Hollie dove right in. Unfortunately for her, she dove into the shallow end and hit her mouth on the bottom of the pool. Do you get the "troubled" part now? She chipped her two front teeth pretty badly and had to go to the dentist to get them taken care of which cut into her last chance workout time. When she returned though, she was ready to go and never complained at all about anything.

After they all met with the doctor who evaluated them before they began their weight loss regimen and received his good news on their current physical conditions, it was time for the weigh-in. All week long we have been previewed to death about an entire team leaving the show but anybody who could read between the lines knew what was going to happen here. Julie lost the most percentage of weight (2.84%) while Bryan (1.48%) and Hollie (1.47%) were the bottom two and, as a result, up for elimination.

Bryan was the one voted out and would be leaving the campus this week. No more red team members are left so there is no need for a red team trainer either. I don't mind that because I've never really liked Kim much. Bryan's exit was a gentle one and there were no hard feelings held by him. It was refreshing to see another contestant leave with such class. After showing his homecoming, we were updated on his progress as of now. Bryan started The Biggest Loser weighing 347 pounds, he weighed 266 pounds when he left the show, and now he weighs 228 pounds. He is looking pretty good!

Next week, the remaining contestants leave the campus and test their willpower at a pizzeria. At the challenge, someone will punch their way to a one-pound advantage in the weigh-in.

What did you think about this episode? How about that diving blunder by Nicole? Do you think it was Bryan's time to go or would you have rather seen Hollie go home?