By Ali Vincent, Special to BiggestLoserClub.com

Another great week on the Biggest Loser. I'm not even going to go through it step by step this week, but I do want to talk about a few things. I think it is so important as we near the end of the season to make sure a few issues are being addressed.

What's Tara Afraid Of?
I think that Tara really needs to sit with herself and take a look at what she is so afraid of. We all know she is an amazing woman, capable of doing anything she puts her mind to. My wish for Tara is that she acknowledges and understands with every part of who she is that whether or not she wins--she is a winner. I'm not sure she's there yet, and there will be times throughout her journey in life when "wins" are not as obvious as they are in these challenges on the show. Will she know herself well enough to really feel her greatness? Her worthiness?

Growing up is hard to do, especially on The Biggest Loser. A lot of the contestants are in their early 20s, and there are so many issues that come up in the process of weight loss not to mention the constant state of exhaustion our bodies go through while on the ranch. I personally do not know that I would have made it through the process at their age. I look back at my life in my early 20s and, of course, it would have been great if I had grappled with my weight issues then. But I don't know that I would have survived doing it on national TV.

Knowledge Is Freedom
There is something to be said about having the knowledge that liberates you! I did an interview the other day and the interviewer kept going on and on about how counting calories is such a pain in the you-know-what, and asking me why did I still do it?  I was dumbfounded at the question. The interviewer admitted she could never manage to count calories, yet said she was struggling to lose weight. That's the thought process that led me to 234 pounds just over a year ago.

Here's the thing. If we want change, we have to do things differently and, yes, counting calories may seem like a hassle in the beginning when you are constantly having to reference your Biggest Loser calorie counter, but as you eat what you love, you get to know the calorie values. When I first started I thought it would be so cool if I could memorize all calorie values so that I would never feel uncomfortable again in choosing the best meal for me. Bob and Jill know their calorie values cold! (And you never know, you might just win a trip to New York like Mike did in the nutrition pop quiz during week 16. Sorry, Kristin!)

Keeping Your Word
What does it mean to keep your word and yet participate in gameplay on the show? It's an interesting part of being on The Biggest Loser because there is so much to consider. Of course it's the opportunity of a lifetime, but the contestants need to remember that their time on the show is just a small part of their overall lives.

I do not judge anyone for the decisions made about staying in the game. I do however think it's a copout when one player eliminates another to get a legup on winning the prize. But everything happens for a reason, and you all know that I believe that wholeheartedly even when we do not necessarily understand the reasons in the moments.

I love Kristin and know that she is exactly where she should be! I am so happy that I got to see her come into her own with such grace. I am getting my little chin pillow ready as I always do for the finales!