From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Season 9, Episode 8
It was Week 8 here at the Ranch, and the contestants were still reeling from being formed into just two teams last week: Black and Blue. O'Neal was overcome with anxiety over whether Sunshine had been been sent home at the last elimination, but relieved when he found out that she was safe. With O'Neal now filling Miggy's spot on the Blue Team — and reunited with his daughter! — the teams would be: O'Neal, Sunshine, Michael, Daris, Koli, and Lance on the Blue Team. Sam, Sherry, Cheryl, Andrea, Ashley and Stephanie would make up the Black Team. This week, the teams would be forced to rediscover what it would be like when they leave the Ranch and head back into their real lives. Would O'Neal's knee injuries allow him to keep up with the new challenges or would he let down his new Blue teammates? Would the Black Team figure out how to beat Big Blue's heavier players? Let me tell you how this week's Blue vs. Black battle played out!
Welcome to the Work Week: After an emotion-filled night, the contestants found themselves facing yet another challenge — and it was a big one! The two teams walked towards Ali Sweeney on a lonely stretch of open road at Agua Dulce Airpark Ranch to hear what was in store for them. She noted that the contestants' only job since they'd come to the Ranch had been to eat right and get fit. However, all that was about to change — this was Work Week! Each contestant would be required to work at a full-time job — a daily 8-hour shift alongside volunteers for Feeding America, a non-profit organization committed to providing food for those less fortunate. They would commute to work by bus and prepare and bring their own healthy lunches. Oh, and one more thing: the gym would now have hours, opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m., so they'd have to squeeze in their workouts during those times. Welcome back to the real world (or at least an amazing facsimile)!
A Long Haul: Before the teams could focus on the busy week that was ahead of them, they still faced an enormous challenge. Behind them on the deserted road waited two semi-trailer trucks — one black, one blue, and each weighing 33,000 pounds. Ali explained that each team would pick five members to pull the semis towards the finish line, with the remaining team member following behind. At three stopping points along the way, the sixth member would gather a pile of milk crate–size puzzle pieces and throw them into the back of the truck. The first team to reach the finish line and arrange their puzzle pieces to spell out their prize, "GROCERIES FOR ONE YEAR," would win.
As the team members harnessed up, the male-to-female ratio of Blue versus Black was painfully obvious. The bulkiest players were pulling for the Blue Team: Michael, Koli, Daris, Sunshine, and Lance. Sam worried that since he was the biggest member of the Black Team — and the only male — they might not have the strength to pull the truck. No matter what, they were all determined to pull together and finish the challenge — no excuses! The Blue Team took off with ease; the Black team couldn't seem to get rolling, but after some false starts, they got the truck moving. With O'Neal and Sherry trailing the semis and a series of grueling stops and starts, both teams were soon neck and neck. With the finish line in view, Blue Team's Sunshine encouraged her teammates and pushed them to beat the Black Team. Her drive motivated O'Neal to push himself as hard as he could. He charged past the truck and inspired his teammates to pull even harder and faster. With heaving breaths and wobbly legs, both teams scrambled to assemble the puzzle pieces. In the end, the Blue Team finished first and won the coveted groceries prize.
Back at the Ranch: Bob and I met with our teams and learned the real deal about what this week would be all about. As crazy of a twist as this was, I knew that this could only be a learning experience that could help them in the long run. Real life doesn't include six-hour workouts without distractions! As we headed back to the gym, I wanted to take advantage of every minute we had. The workouts were short but intense — since the players only had one hour at the start and finish of their work days, they needed to make those workouts count.
Work Week Gets Real: The next morning, the contestants woke up extra early and headed to the gym to start their first day of work. Work was at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, where they operated the call center, unloaded crates from trucks, and took inventory in the warehouse. At lunchtime, they got another unexpected surprise. Steve, an inventory clerk, dropped in to let them know just how inspiring they were to so many people. Steve had watched his father die at age 33 from obesity-related complications; he was turning 33 himself this year and was also a father, so was worried about his own health now. The contestants were so touched and could definitely relate! They shared some great healthy-living advice with Steve.
Lessons Learned: On the bus ride home, fatigue began to set in. But there was no time for rest here — it was back to the gym the second they got to the Ranch. Over the next couple of days, the contestants found themselves not only doing work at the Ranch and on the job, but learning as well. When Sam forgot his lunch one day and came face-to-face with a vending machine, the lesson about preparing healthy meals at home came through loud and clear. Thankfully, Stephanie told him about a Subway restaurant around the corner; he made a healthy choice and stayed on track.
Tick-Tock: At the end of the long Work Week, I met up with my Black Team to touch base about how things had gone — and to start the last-chance workout. Sure, they were tired, but they were still going to sweat. The countdown was on. They needed to work together to push each other as hard as they could and take advantage of every second.
The Weigh-In: Heading over to the weigh-in, none of us knew what to expect. Not only was it practically men versus women, but the Work Week really had thrown a wrench into the mix. Ali explained that the contestants would weigh in as a team, and those with the lowest percentage of weight loss would decide who would go home. O'Neal was up first with a 5-pound loss, followed by Sunshine with a 7-pound loss; Michael and Daris dropped 9 pounds each. Koli and Lance, who finally dipped below the 300-pound mark, both lost 10 pounds and brought the Blue Team total to an impressive 50 pounds, a 2.71 percent total weight loss. Andrea kicked off the Black Team's weigh-in with a 7-pound drop; Ashley lost 8; Cheryl and Sherry lost 5 each; Stephanie lost 3. Now it was all riding on Sam, who needed to lose more than 13 pounds to keep the Black Team's head above water. Unfortunately, his 4-pound loss didn't cut it. They lost 32 pounds, a 2.27 percent total weight loss, and they were sent to the elimination room, where Cheryl was ultimately sent home.
Back at home, Cheryl has continued her journey from the Ranch and has gone from 227 pounds to 164 pounds, and is aiming to weigh 135 pounds by the finale. With her family by her side, she has been staying very active in the gym and now plans to run a 5K in late March! As she puts it, "My life will not be cut short because of my health."