Remember last week when I told you I had a surprise? Well, most of you may not know that each season finale all the past Biggest Loser alumni get together for a special dinner to celebrate. Now, this is not just any dinner mind you. It is a FEAST provided by the beautiful chef Devin Alexander, who writes all the amazing recipes found in the famous Biggest Loser cookbooks. So, although it was an amazing spread, I didn't leave the dinner having busted my calorie budget for the day.

I already said the food was amazing, but I have to tell you that she makes these brownie bites... O-M-G!! To die for... and they are only 50 calories each. Talk about having your cake and eating it too. :) All the recipes used can be found in the BL cookbooks!! Anyway, it was a lovely night, and to get to spend time and catch up with past contestants was amazing. We are a CRAZY bunch that's for sure.

I took some special pictures to share with you from the evening... I hope you enjoy them. Don't forget to tune in tonight for the LIVE season finale of The Biggest Loser on NBC!!!

Health & Happiness,
Olivia xo

Next, was the moment we have been waiting for... the marathon!!! Woohoo!! It was so amazing to see everyone again. It brought us back to Day 1, as viewers meeting these contestants for the first time... broken, sad, unhealthy and unhappy. NOW, we see a group of hopeful, happy and healthy people, who have battled to get their lives back and won. This marathon represents so much... it is the ultimate race. We have watched many seasons of contestants run this race, but never have the stakes been so high. Alison told the contestants that in addition for the possibility of solidifying a place in the Final Three, there would be cash prizes given out as well. Hello incentive!! All the contestants gave a HUGE effort, but in the end, Ramon was the victor AND now a member of the Final Three, who will battle it out on the scale for the title of The Biggest Loser! Courtney ran her heart out and came in a close second, followed by John in third and Jessica rounding out the winner's circle in fourth place. I have to admit I just LOVE the idea that the winner of the marathon gets to be a part of the Final Three. What a great way to EARN your place back in the fight for the finish. I have always felt Ramon deserved to be a part of that group! So happy for him.

On to the weigh-in. Let's not forget that we have two more people to add to round out the finalists. Everyone did a great job on the scale, but in the end, Vinny and Becky were eliminated, and Antone and John will join Ramon. It's going to be a testosterone fest next week!! Um, did I just say NEXT WEEK?? Why yes I did!!! Next week is the LIVE finale of The Biggest Loser Season 12, where we will be crowning a new winner. I'm so excited to pass on the torch to the next victor!!

SOOOOOOOOO... who do you think is going to take it all? I have NO idea!! I can tell you that it's anyone's game. No one EVER thought I would win, but like I said, anyone can take it! Let me know who you think will win?? I'm dying to know what you think!

Also, I have a little surprise for you next week... check back Tuesday. ;)

Health & Happiness,
Olivia :)

Well, before we could get into the fun stuff we had a challenge... and not just ANY challenge... it was the Put-the-Weight-Back-On Challenge. If you watched last season, you know that was NOT my finest moment. I had to carry 109 pounds, and about 100 yards into the challenge my back went out... I'm talking full-blown back spasm. That weight took me down like a ton of bricks!! I will tell you it is so hard physically, but what I didn't expect was how hard it was emotionally. Here you are being forced to put back on the weight that made you so broken. It's such a real reminder as to what you actually allowed to happen to your body. It's heartbreaking.

As if just completing this challenge wasn't hard enough, Allison sweetened the pot. The contestant who finished this race first got a one-pound advantage on the scale. So, let me just break this down for you. Okay, these contestants are getting small... really SMALL. It's hard enough to pull good numbers on the scale each week when you're still big, but at the end, it's like trying to squeeze water out of a rock. Also, let's not forget this weigh-in was crucial because it determined the Final Four!!! I remember last season Jay from the Green Team said, "Listen, it's great to win and all, but really, if you make the Final Four, you win too." Really, he was right. Everyone remembers the Final Four from season to season.

Anyway, the race started, and for pretty much the first half of the course, it was Sunny, John and Antone side by side. The three of them were pushing each other hard. About three-fourths of the way up, John and Antone pulled ahead, leaving Sunny behind. It was a fight to the finish, but in the end, John won the one-pound advantage and first place in the challenge. In true Allison style, there was a surprise. The contestants were told that it was Makeover Week, sponsored by Progresso soup. They each won a year's supply of soup and $5,000!!! Awesome! The quote of the day HAS to go to Sunny... "Who has two thumbs and loves soup and money? THIS girl!" Hysterical.

We started off the makeovers with some good old-fashioned pampering... Beverly Hills style! Believe me, at this point this was just what the doctor ordered for these contestants. They've earned it!! Celebrity stylist Jeannie Mai was introduced. She took the contestants on a NO-BUDGET shopping spree... while Ken Paves (hairstylist to the stars) gave them new hair glam! Jeannie looked like a ball, but I can tell you from experience, Ken Paves is the master... love you, Ken!!! Anyway, after much primping and shopping, the contestants walked the red carpet in true style at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Little did they know, their loved ones waited inside. One by one, each contestant reunited with the loves of their lives. Awesome. I have to say, of all the makeovers this season, Becky won the prize!! I might just be a little biased because she went very short with the hair, and you ALL know I love a good short haircut! :)

The rest of the episode was more getting to know the contestants' families. Bob took time out to meet each family member and have a conversation to get them up to speed on the progress. It was only days before these contestants were to face the challenges of home. Next, we had the Last-Chance Workout, and before we knew it... it was time to weigh in. Moment of truth.

I'll give you a little inside info... although Makeover Week is fun and so worth it, it usually brings low numbers on the scale. The schedule is so packed with shopping and primping, there's little time to work out... Hello stress!! Most of the numbers this week were pretty good on the scale. I was sad to see Sunny only lose one pound, which put her under the yellow line with Antone. In the end, the contestants chose to send Sunny home. Sunny, you did amazing, and I have to say you represented the girls of BL proud!!!! I can't wait to see you at the live finale!!

Did I just say LIVE FINALE?? Yep, I did. It's almost time... can you believe it? We're about to crown another Biggest Loser!! Who do you think is gonna take it all?? Leave your guesses in the comments... I want to hear what you think!! Until next week...

Health & Happiness,
Olivia xo

The workouts this week seemed to have a different feel. I can tell you from experience that as the group gets smaller and smaller the heat gets turned WAY up in that gym. You really have to FIGHT for your spot each week. This was very evident this week, not just for the contestants but also the trainers.

My absolute favorite moment of the episode was the Thanksgiving dinner with the contestants and the trainers. This to me is why I have always watched this show. I love not only hearing people's stories, but watching these amazing contestants share their lives and struggles with us as viewers is so inspiring! I loved hearing Bob share about his family and his sister. I will tell you Bob Harper is one of the most caring and loving people I will ever have the honor to call friend. I'm so glad the viewers got a glimpse of his "insides." He is truly a blessing to the contestants and the show.

The next challenge was a physical challenge, and let me tell you... this was the challenge I feared the MOST during my time on the ranch. THE JACOB'S LADDER. The contestants were each given a Jacob's Ladder and were told it was a basic race. Hahahahaha! Basic??? Funny. It was a one-mile race straight up. I think Sunny said it best... Satan himself makes these machines! Once again, Alison explained there would be three prizes. I can tell you this just looked painful. In the end, John came in first, followed by Sunny and finally Ramone. John chose the one-pound advantage which came with a one-pound disadvantage "gift" he got to share with someone. Sunny chose the six-month Biggest Loser meal plan, and she gifted Bonnie with the same prize... Awwww... GREAT choice Sunny! *High Five* Ramone won $2,500, and gifted Vinny with the same prize! It's all about sharing the love!!

The Last-Chance Workout was less about the beat down and more about the drama. Man, we're really starting to see the cracks in this household!! It seemed like the whole house was against John, right? Not sure exactly what was going on there, but John better have hoped he put up a big number or it looked like he was going home!

At the weigh-in, John had to decide who he was going to give the one-pound disadvantage to. He chose Sunny. Um, what? It seemed like a really cheap shot to me... and I got the feeling all the contestants felt the same way. Sunny overall hasn't been a scale crusher, and with all those big boys left it just seemed like an odd choice to me. Anyway, I guess what goes around comes around, karma, and all that jazz, because John put up a very low five pounds. He seemed shocked. I will give you my guess... there was major game play in that five pounds. I don't know what, but that man has been tearing up the scale ALL season and the ONE week he has an advantage he mysteriously has a low weight loss. Hmmmmm. Anyone serving fish for Thanksgiving... 'cause something smells fishy to me. Again... just my two cents. In the end Sunny and Ramone fell under the yellow line and Ramone was sent home. S-A-D!! Not that I wanted Sunny to go home, but not Ramone!!!!!

I will say that Ramone's Where Are They Now? video was one of the BEST ones I have ever seen. I just love him and Jess together... they are soooooo adorable!!! I can't wait to see them together at finale. Wait did I just say finale?? Yes, I did. Can you believe we're in the home stretch? Wow.

Well, don't forget to tune into the The Biggest Loser Thanksgiving Special: Where Are They Now? There are some amazing past contestants that will come back and visit!! I'll give you a hint on who will be there... you might just see some Purple Team sisters!!! Woooohoooo!!

Have a HAPPY and HEALTHY Thanksgiving!!!

xoxox,
Olivia :)

Okay, onto business. This week we are in singles. I can tell you from experience that going to singles is scary!! It's like the mother bird kicking the babies from the nest, your first day of college, and all that jazz rolled into one. You are on your own... no help from teammates. To add to the pressure cooker, Alison announced to the contestants that this week they will participate in a pentathlon. Um, what?? This was definitely a first. So, there would be five events throughout the week and each event would award points. The person with the most points at the end of the week wins and wins BIG! What's the prize you ask?? Immunity. Yep, the golden ticket in Biggest Loser land. BUT... yes, there is always a but... don't act so surprised this is Biggest Loser after all! Okay, so the person who finishes last has a one-pound disadvantage on the scale... yes, you read that right.

Throughout the episode, we watched the contestants go head-to-head in a wide variety of events that work the mind and the body. Two events really stuck out to me. First, was the trivia event. Basically, it was Jeopardy, Biggest Loser edition. I'm such a sucker for the mind challenges... remember last season?? I proved I'm a grade A nerd over and over. :) Anyway, Antone reigned supreme with the most correct answers! I have to brag... I got all the questions right. How did you do?? My second favorite event was what I have named the peanut water float race extravaganza! (Say that 10 times!) I know that challenge was hard! The challenges that look the easiest are usually the ones that are killer. In the end, Sunny raced across the pool and smoked the rest. I just love to see the girls win... have I said that before? ;) The overall winner of The Biggest Loser Pentathlon was ANTONE!! I know it might be too early to predict, but I think he could possibly win the whole show!! Unfortunately, it was Bonnie at the bottom earning a one-pound disadvantage. I love Bonnie and that made me so sad.

There were some really special moments this week. My favorite was hearing some of Dolvett's back story. Hearing about his childhood and being adopted by foster parents was very moving. I feel like we always hear so much about the contestants that it really is a gift to get a glimpse into the trainers' lives. I love that Dolvett used the pain from his past to fuel his inner "fight." It's so easy in life to become a victim of your past. Those chains are so incredibly heavy to carry, and I love the idea of not dragging the past around like chains, but to overcome and fight. So awesome!!

Another amazing moment was none other than a visit from Olympic Gold medalist Apolo Ohno!!!! Wooooohoooo!!! A little side note... Hannah and I actually met Apolo two weeks ago at the New York City Marathon, and he was truly great. He was so nice and genuine and chatted with us for at least 30 minutes... AND he comes with Subway sandwiches. WIN!

The weigh-in went down like this:
Antone: 9 pounds
Bonnie: 5 pounds
John: 9 pounds
Vinny: 10 pounds
Sunny: 9 pounds
Becky: 4 pounds
Ramon: 7 pounds

The contestants had to vote between Becky and Bonnie in the elimination room. After all was said and done, Bonnie was sent home.

Soooooo???? How would you have done in the pentathlon?? Who do you think is going to win it all?? I want to know what you think! Leave it in the comments. :)

Health & Happiness,
Olivia xo

We started the episode with what I like to call "airing out the laundry." I can tell you from personal experience that those elimination situations can be extremely brutal. As much as everyone tries to do the right thing in the beginning, things start tearing at the seams as the game comes into play. It's different every season as to when that happens, but let me tell you, lines get drawn in the sand and alliances form. It's clear in the beginning of this episode that for Season 12 contestants the play button on the game had definitely been pushed. Everyone begins to sound off about the elimination of Jessica... especially Ramon. Watch out people... the dude is mad... and I totally understand - it broke my heart to see her go. We quickly transitioned to Alison telling the trainers about the weekly challenge. This week the trainers would have ALL the power... yes, that's right, the trainers! They picked only one person to weigh in for their team, and only that person's weight counted. Now this was definitely a Biggest Loser first!!!! I mean this could be a huge game changer!

To add more spice to this week's drama we had a cooking challenge! You all know how much I LOVE a cooking challenge... remember I won the cooking challenge in Season 11 with my partner Moses. Okay, the coolest part about this challenge was that the trainers got to participate with the contestants. The teams were presented with a pantry of ingredients, and they had to come up with a low-calorie, healthy entree worthy of going into the new Biggest Loser cookbook! The prize you ask? Well, it was a big one... a one-pound advantage on the scale, the winning recipe goes in the cookbook and a lunch with ME! The contestants didn't know it yet, but I was so excited about sitting down with the winning team... how fun is that?! Oh, how could I forget... in addition to me, we had the beautiful chef and author of many of The Biggest Loser cookbooks, chef Devin Alexander! Wooohooo! Let me tell you, before I knew it the three teams were cooking up a storm in the kitchen... the catch... of course, there's a catch... Devin and I couldn't watch the teams cook, so it was a blind tasting! After a short 30 minutes, the three dishes came out and we began my favorite part... the tasting! First, we tasted the London Broil... it was a little on the rare side... No actually, it was still wiggling on the plate! It was paired with some sweet potato mash and asparagus. Although the asparagus was just plain, the sweet potatoes were amazing! The second dish was chicken fajita cups. They were also very tasty and very creative, putting it in cabbage cups. The taste was there, but it wasn't very creative in my opinion. I mean, how many diet books have you seen some sort of fajita dish? Tons! Lastly, we had pork medallions with an Asian slaw and cranberry chutney. WOW, just typing that makes my mouth water! It was by far for me the clear winner... it was so yummy and beautiful to look at! I always tell people that you eat with your eyes first, and I think when we are all dieting we forget that. I think this dish proved that healthy food doesn't have to be boring! Love that!! The thing that tipped the scales... the pork dish was the lowest in calories!! What??? Winner. Done. Then it was the moment of truth... which team prepared the winning dish?? Alison announced that the Black Team prepared the pork medallions, so they were the winners!! Well, it was no surprise I was thrilled!! Black Team forever yo! :) It was so great to sit down for lunch with the Black Team and give them some love from their families and encouragement for the last portion of their time on the ranch. It was an amazing day! I can honestly say I really love all the contestants from this season... I'm so glad they are part of the BL family!

On to the weigh-in! I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see who each trainer picked. For the Red Team it was John. Bob chose Becky to represent the Black Team, and Anna put up Joe for Blue. I don't know about you, but I had John pegged to win this weigh-in hands down. So was it John who stood victorious?? NO! It was Becky! I was jumping up and down in my living room! I have to say it makes my little girl heart way too proud when the girls beat the boys. Not to mention that it was another win for team Hot Bob and his Black Team. I know people in the beginning just thought Bob was winning because he had strong contestants. Um, no. Now the game's switched up, and the man still dominates! I can tell you from first-hand experience that Bob Harper knows his stuff and is unbeatable. Period. Can you tell I love the guy?? I do... I owe him and Jillian my life. ;)

The Blue Team had the lowest percentage of weight loss, with Ramon as The Biggest Loser on his team, which meant Sunny and Joe were on the chopping block. In the end, Joe was sent packing. I'm telling you this is getting gooooooooood!!!

Okay, so tell me... which dish would you have picked? What contestant would you have chosen to weigh in for each team?? I wanna know!!! Tell me in the comments... let's chat!!

Until next week...

Health & Happiness,
Olivia xo

The episode starts off with the cast walking through spider webs (okay fake Halloween décor, but you get the idea), and I'm immediately thinking metaphor: Biggest Loser, oh the web you have weaved and now here you are.

Alison comes out right off the bat, spitting out scary Halloween statistics about how much money is spent on candy, how much candy is eaten, etc. All of the hard facts that are unfortunately true. Then to make everything just that much more impactful, she shows the contestants candy hanging from a scale in a caldron and tells them they can have a pound advantage for every pound of candy they eat, BUT they have to lose a total of 100 pounds together in order to be safe or someone will go home. The idea is all for one and one for all. The contestants then start training with different trainers for the week. Jennifer was noticeably missing Bob as her trainer when she was working out with Anna. I mean, who wouldn't miss Bob? No candy and no Bob Harper? This "holiday" was really the week of no treats. Dolvett, on the other hand, was psyched to work out every contestant and was cheesin' hardcore about the opportunity.

In between workouts was another challenge for this week that involved a maze, pounds of apples and pound advantages. The challenge was only 10 minutes though (now that's a treat). I remember challenges on the ranch lasting hours, and I mean hourssssss! The teams ended up working well together and won a 10-pound advantage for the weigh-in.

And then they worked together to play a trick on Bob Harper. Before they worked out. I mean, that's just dumb y'all. If you play a joke on your trainer, you're just asking to get the crap beaten out of you, and Bob gave it to them with a cardio workout with him, tennis court drills with Anna and a prison yard workout with Dolvett.

Also this week, John had a heart-to-heart with Dolvett; Vinny had a heart-to-heart with Bob; Jessica and Ramon were still adorable and are in love; and then it was on to the weigh-in.

Nobody ate any candy, but the biggest shock was that Sunny somehow gained five pounds this week! Everyone else was just happy to have lost some weight, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough; and all-for-one week turned into everyone for themselves when Ali sent them to deliberate because they now had to vote someone off.

All the players pleaded their cases to each other, and Vinny called out Jennifer for not surrendering completely to Dolvett's workout during the week. Once they were in the elimination room, Jen received six votes, and three were from her own Black Team. The players who voted for her said her negative energy was affecting their performance, and they needed to put themselves first; and she was eliminated. It was heartbreaking to see Jen go, but she looked genuinely happy in her Where Are They Now moment, and every girl knows there aren't too many heartbreaks that can't be mended with a new fabulous dress.

Speaking of dresses, I think I have some online browsing to do now... Pilar, do you have any more of those wrap dresses? In purple? ;)

Until next week!

Health & Happiness,
Olivia xo

Okay, moving on. Now, I imagine my best "Price Is Right" voice... "Come on down for a fun game of... wait for it... PLINKO!!" Did anyone else notice that this pop challenge was PLINKO?? So. Much. Fun. The rules of the game are simple... it's just plain chance. The prize however could be a major game changer. Alison tells the contestants that the player who wins will be going home for a week to spend time with family AND take their trainer with them. There is however a catch. Duh, this is Biggest Loser after all! Not only do you get to go home, but your weight will be the only weight that counts for your team. *Cue record scratching sound effect* I was so fascinated to hear the contestants reactions to this prize. As expected, it was really all across the board. For me, I would have wanted to avoid this prize like the plague!! Anyways, the contestants all place their names on the playing board and Alison releases the game piece. It bounces down the board and lands on Sunny from the Black Team. She immediately starts running around screaming in complete excitement. All this celebrating is going on, and I can't pull my eyes from Bob Harper. He has steam coming out of his ears! He immediately explains to Sunny that there is no reason to celebrate, AND basically she isn't getting a vacation because he is going to KILL her in Texas. Awesome.

The rest of the episode really focused on Sunny and Bob in Texas. I loved seeing Sunny's family and their excitement for how well she has done. We got a mix of workouts... lots of Bob killing Sunny in the gym. The highlight of the evening was Bob on a mechanical bull. Yes, that happened.

I think my favorite out of all the Texas scenes was when Sunny had a breakdown at her local gym. She shares with Bob that in the past she had come to the gym and a group of college-aged kids laughed and made fun of her. She continues to break down and tell us that after that incident she never returned to the gym because of embarrassment. I think so many people feel that way at the gym. Sometimes it feels like a fishbowl, and everyone is looking at you. I really applaud Sunny for facing a VERY real fear and overcoming it. What a great example for so many of us.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Dolvett really tried to drive home that losing challenges and weigh-ins is "not funny." He felt like his team wasn't taking things seriously, and there was way too much joking. I can say based on the workouts this week... all joking came to a stop. Then over on the Blue Team, issues came head to head with Bonnie and Anna. Anna really feels like Bonnie has always had to put on a brave face in sight of hardships and now that repression is surfacing. On the flip side of the coin, Bonnie says that Anna always tries to blame Bonnie's frustrations on her past, but that is not it at all. Bonnie said that it is an issue between her and Anna. Throughout the episode, we never really got to the bottom of that issue. Now I'm SO curious as to what's going on there... hopefully there will be some light shed in the weeks to come. Lastly, the rest of the Black Team really feels the loss of Sunny and Bob. There seems to be some major tension between the guys and Jennifer. That was another bag of problems that was surprising.

Finally, we had our weekly physical challenge. This time we got big barrels of orange soda (yuck) that the contestants have to carry in drinking glasses through a bungee maze to a cylinder on the other side. The team that fills their cylinder first wins. The prize: each team member will get to gift a family member with a two-week stay at The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge. Let me tell you, having spent a lot of time at Fitness Ridge - that is an AMAZING prize! As usual, it was neck and neck between the Black and Red Teams. In the end, the Red Team was able to solidify their first challenge win!

The weigh-in was great. We saw pretty good numbers across the board, but everyone was DYING to see Sunny get on the scale. Not to my surprise, she got on the scale and SMASHED it!!! Not only did she save her team from the elimination room, but she helped the Black Team win the entire weigh-in!!

The Red Team was forced again to eliminate one of their own, and unfortunately, it left Courtney on the chopping block. I was surprised at how sad I was to see her go. I didn't realize how much I liked her. It really felt like her journey was cut short, but based on her "Where Are They Now" piece at the end of the episode, I can't WAIT to see her at finale!

Well??? What did you think?? How about Bob on the bull?! TV gold?? Share your comments below!! Until next time...

Health and Happiness,
Olivia xo

We start off this episode with some familiar faces to help encourage the contestants. Who are those familiar faces you ask? Well, they are former contestants Marci Crozier, Adam Hurtado, and the lovely and ever inspiring Hannah Curlee (love ya BananaPants)!! I can tell you that having past contestants come and spend time with you at the ranch is priceless. They not only can empathize with what you're going through, but they provide a sort of "light at the end of the tunnel." I remember in my season when Tara Costa and Ali Vincent came to visit, I just wanted to pick their brains clean. Here were two amazing women that not only were incredibly successful on the show, but they continue to be such amazing examples of health and fitness.

Anyway, each of these returning guests was assigned to a team for the day. Hannah was with the Black Team. Marci worked with the Blue Team, and Adam hung with the Red Team. I really enjoyed seeing each of these past contestants really mentor and encourage these teams. Paying it forward is EXACTLY what BL is ALL about!

The challenge this week was just plain cool... AND to add to the awesomeness was the prize: LETTERS FROM HOME!!! Yes, I am yelling... Why? Well, I can tell you that when you receive letters from home while on the ranch, it's like you're being given solid gold. Seriously, I craved letters from my husband. I would go back and reread them when I needed comfort or encouragement, and I can truly say they kept me going every day! Okay, so the premise of this challenge was to pass a clear box of letters from contestant to contestant through an obstacle course. The team that completed the course with their box won! This was not just any old obstacle course... No, no... it was through the elements. There was wind, mud, water, snow and rain. Not to mention a mountain to climb at the end! It was once again a close finish between the Red and Black Teams, but in the end, the Black Team was victorious. Seriously, they are unstoppable!!! Alison had an extra bonus prize for the winning team... Skype time with their loved ones. Awwwww... bring out the Kleenex! Who else LOVES seeing these contestants talk to their families? I have to admit, it's always my favorite part of each season. We hear these contestants talk about how much they love their families, and now we get to put faces with names. I cried at the first hello... so good for the heart!

Okay, so like I said, there were a few breakthroughs this episode. One of the breakthroughs that really struck a chord with me this week happened with Joe on the Black Team. It was at the end of a Black Team workout, and Bob told his team that this week they were going to concentrate on nutrition. This seemed normal until he said they were going to take a close look at the emotional side of food. Bob goes on to tell the team that food will no longer be "taboo" in their lives. No longer will they continue to eat in private, or be ashamed of eating a piece of pizza or a scoop of ice cream. In that moment Joe broke down. What I loved is the sheer honesty in his willingness to admit that he had been "cheating" on his family with food. Wow. How many of you have felt like that? It really hit home for me. I used to be so ashamed of what I used to eat. Joe spoke about eating in his car and throwing away the evidence before going home. Bob told his team that it's okay for these foods to be in your life, but it's not going to be a daily indulgence. He continued to explain that as you are able to incorporate food into your life in a healthy way, you are literally getting your power back, one bite at a time! Such empowering words to live by.

Another breakthrough moment that really stuck out was with Courtney. Dolvett noticed that Courtney had been struggling mentally, and to help her gain confidence he took her out to the basketball court for some one-on-one. As she began to shoot hoops you could literally see the self-doubt melt from her mind one hoop at a time. I really loved this moment not only because of the mental breakthrough, but we really viewed a special moment... we watched Courtney become an athlete. It was so awesome to see her insides and outsides shake hands and become friends.

Last-Chance Workouts were extra special this week. The Black Team had a pool workout with Bob where he really killed them by doing exercises... Wait, who cares about the workout... BOB TOOK OFF HIS SHIRT. I don't remember anything beyond that moment. Seriously, that man is beautiful. The Blue Team received a special gift... a tennis court! I have to agree with Becky on this one... a tennis workout with a professional tennis player... so freaking cool! Dolvett was out for blood, and gearing for a win this week. There was no doubt in this workout that he was taking no prisoners and setting up the Red Team for a strong win.

The weigh-in was not incredibly exciting. In Week 4, you are really struggling for strong numbers. At this point you have lost the "easier" initial weight, and we begin to see the real fight on the scale begin. The Black Team brought strong numbers, and once again won the weigh-in. Again, duh. In the end, Ramon pulled an incredibly impressive 11 pounds to keep his team safe. We really are seeing a new Ramon now... and I have to tell you I'm diggin' it! Once again, the Blue Team headed into the elimination room. After a tearful decision, Bonnie's final vote sent Coach Mike home.

Whew!! See, jam-packed! Okay, now it's your turn... what did you think?? Any predictions yet as to a Final Four?? Tell me below in the comments!!

Question from last week:

Heather Linn asked: How do you stay motivated?
I get asked this question all the time. I wish I could say I figured this out on my own, but this I learned directly from Bob. You know life is full of tons of choices... from what am I going to wear today, to the harder stuff like am I going to love myself today? That being said we make choices all day long... some good, some not so good. Motivation is simply a choice. Bob taught me to wake up daily and ask myself a simple question... Am I going to make good choices today? It takes five seconds, but sets my mind for the whole day. I literally choose to stay motivated and make good choices for ME! You can't do it for anyone else. So, I encourage you to ask yourself that question each day... the choice is up to you!

Health & Happiness,
Olivia xo

We start out the episode with a challenge. The concept is simple. The contestants have to run down the field, grab a football and throw it into the target of their choice. What's the target...? In true Biggest Loser style, the targets are life-sized cutouts of the contestants themselves. The idea is that when you pass your football into one of the contestant's cutout, that contestant is out. Easy right? Um, wrong... this IS The Biggest Loser after all, and there's always a catch! Alison tells the contestants that not only will they be competing against one another, but there will be three NFL superstars competing as well. We are now introduced to Clay Matthews, Tony Gonzales and Drew Brees!!! I'm sorry for all you dudes out there, but I'm gonna have to take a moment to wipe the DROOL off my computer... Clay Matthews is a hottie! I need to repeat that sentence... Clay Matthews is a hottie. I'm telling you, if I was in that challenge, I would just chase him around the field the whole time. :) Okay, back to business... the prize. The prize is a whopping $5,000 to the last one standing! I have to say that this is where Biggest Loser gets it right... in the challenges. You would think that the NFL players would wipe the field with the contestants, but in the end, it is a GIRL that stands alone. Being one of the few females to ever win BL, I was personally jumping up and down with pride. Our challenge winner is Courtney! You go girl!

One of the other highlights of the episode was another physical challenge. The challenge consisted of four quarters where each team had 15 minutes to burn the most calories. The team at the end of the four quarters with the most calories burned won bragging rights and a spa day. Oh, I forgot to mention that not only are the contestants participating in this challenge, but so are the trainers! Who else LOVES the fact that they have the trainers involved in challenges this season? It really seems to unify the team with their trainers... I'm really digging it! It was a fight to the finish between the Red Team and Black Team... and not to my surprise, the Black Ream with smokin' hot Bob Harper at the lead was victorious! The Black Team is really proving to be a powerhouse this season. They are really proving that with good training and leadership age is just a number.

So, Last-Chance Workout brought us more NFL stars to aid in the butt kicking! I really noticed that everyone's intensity was through the roof this week. It's amazing what dangling a carrot in front of a horse will do! :) Anyway, the weigh-in brought huge numbers across the board... again, carrots anyone? The Red Team did very well this week, and Jessica was the Biggest Loser on their team and first in line for those Super Bowl tickets. Even with great numbers, the Red Team was SMASHED by the Black Team. Wow, those numbers were impressive. Jessica was beat out of the tickets by Joe. Lastly, we have the "oldies but goodies," the Blue Team. I was so happy to see Bonnie finally break through her low weight loss. I can so relate to that. It's devastating to stand on the scale two weeks in a row, knowing you worked as hard as you could, and the scale doesn't show it. She proved that when you keep going, you WILL breakdown those walls. The final weigh-in of the night was Coach Mike, who, bless his heart, wanted those tickets so bad! I literally screamed when he lost an amazing 17 pounds. 17 POUNDS! Finally, the Blue Team gets a break from the elimination room, and Coach gets to cross another goal off his bucket list. He gets to go to the Super Bowl! The Blue Team continues to prove age doesn't matter on the scale. Truly inspiring.

After a tearful deliberation, Patrick was eliminated from the Red Team. It's always so hard to see one of your teammates go, but the Red Team promised to work hard even in his absence. Whew, Episode 3... BRAVO. My favorite so far.

So what did you think?? Let me know in the comments! Also, got a question for me? Ask away - you might see your answer in next week's blog!

Questions from last week:

CordovaBelle asked: Do you think it's fair to divide the teams by age?
Well, I have to admit, I was very skeptical in the beginning, but as each week goes by, the Blue Team is smashing those stereotypes! I mean Mike lost 17 pounds this week, leaving everyone else in the dust! They really are proving that age is just a number!!

PattyH1983 asked: How are you maintaining your weight loss?
Great question. I get asked this a lot. My answer is pretty simple. At The Biggest Loser, they really do teach a lifestyle change. It's not about a quick fix or a magic pill. So, basically I have continued to eat and exercise like I did at the ranch. Now, I don't work out for 6-plus hours anymore, but I do work out 90 minutes a day, six days a week. I stick with whole foods and skip the processed stuff. It's hard work, but the benefits are so worth it!

Health & Happiness,
Olivia xo

We start Episode 2 with a Temptation Challenge... can we say brutal? Wow, it's only Week 2 people! So, the lovely Alison Sweeney tells the teams that they will each have three minutes to stand over a plate of donuts. The team that eats the most donuts will get to choose their gym time for the week. Not only do they get to pick their own workout fate, but they get to dictate the times for the remaining teams as well. As the camera shows the contestants in the donut booths from hell, we see the struggle unfold. It's funny with these temptation challenges... most of the time the contestants are not tempted by the food, but mostly tempted by the game. The food is just the vehicle. So, in the end, the Blue Team, aka "oldies but goodies," think they have it in the bag. Then John from the Black Team eats over 30 donuts. Game over. The Black Team not only wins the Temptation Challenge, but they get to assign gym times for the other teams... for the WHOLE week. The workout times break down like this: Black team - 5:00 a.m., Blue Team - 12:00 p.m., and Red Team - 9:00 p.m.

I personally LOVED the physical challenge this week. The challenges that combine strength of body and mind are the most fun to watch. So, if you didn't watch, it was a HUGE floating maze in a pool. Each team had to choose four players to step on the float and guide their ball through the maze using their own body weight. Bravo, challenge team... this is a good one. Each team gave it a great shot, but in the end it was the Black Team that was victorious... by the skin of their teeth. This was a big win with an even bigger prize. We ALL know Week 2 usually means low weight loss across the board. It is the week every contestant dreads on the ranch. The prize was a two-pound advantage on the scale for first place, a one-pound advantage for the second place team, and third place zilch. Even though the Red Team was squeezed out of the win by mere seconds, they still walked away with a pound. Unfortunately, the Blue Team probably needed an advantage the most this week, but left empty-handed.

The weigh-in went down without too many surprises. The Black Team once again wiped the floor with everyone, with the Red Team behind them. The Blue Team was once again left standing alone at the bottom. It was Johnny with his two-pound weight gain who was voted out by his teammates. I did feel so bad for the Blue Team having to go to that elimination room two weeks in a row, but it was the right decision to let him go. We are once again left with the reminder from Alison that even though people are being voted home, it's not the final word. Johnny, as well as the others who will be voted home, will get the chance for vindication at The Biggest Loser Marathon. It will truly be a fight to the finish!

Okay, what are your thoughts?? Are you liking the season so far? Do you want hot Bob to wake you up for workouts with a bullhorn and a song? Tell me about it in the comments. If you have questions for me, leave them in the comments, and I will try to answer some next week! Talk to you soon!!

Health and happiness,
Olivia

Now that everyone is accounted for, Alison informs the contestants that they are going to get to pick their trainers. They all look excited about this prospect... I, on the other hand, know this means a CHALLENGE... cue the music theme from "Jaws." The contestants are divided into their teams by age. The Red Team is the "young" contestants who are all under 30. The Black Team is the "middle age" contestants who are from 30 - 50 years of age. Lastly, the Blue Team is the "older" contestants who are all 50+. The challenge is simple. Carry your team's flagpole a mile down the desert where the three trainers are waiting. The first team to finish gets to pick their trainer and so on. The middle age group came in first, picking Bob. Duh... that would have been my choice. :) Next, the young group comes in and they pick trainer Dolvett Quince. I think what happened next was the most MOVING moment of the entire episode. The older group was struggling to go the mile, and instead of everyone standing and waiting for them to finish, all the teams and Anna Kournikova ran out to help them to the finish line. THIS is the truth behind The Biggest Loser. No man left behind because it's not just about a game; it's about EVERYONE changing their lives. I am now in a puddle of tears on my couch in a way only this show can do, and it feels great.

The rest of the episode is full of workouts and really great introductions about the contestants and their stories. One other very special moment was with Bob and Antone. I can tell you those "breakdown moments" with the trainers is where the real growth happens, and I love watching that happen... so inspiring. Not to mention Bob is amazing at those types of moments. I admit I was once again in a puddle of tears. At the end of the first weigh-in, Debbie from the "older" team was left on the chopping block. She is such a spitfire; I have no doubt we will see a major transformation in her by the marathon.

Whew... well, that was Episode 1. There is no doubt I am already hooked. I can't believe we have to wait another week for the next episode! AH!!!! Let me know what you thought... I'm dying to know. Until then...

Health and Happiness,

Olivia xo

It seems like just yesterday I was standing on that scale basking in the glory of the confetti as I won Season 11. I can't even begin to tell you how The Biggest Loser changed my life. Well, the obvious is I wear a much smaller size in jeans, but how my "larger and more full" life fits in those jeans is still a daily miracle. Although I was the winner of Season 11, I must tell you that I fully share that win with my partner, sister and best friend Hannah. It was a mere 1% that separated us... splitting hairs if you ask me. :)

Anyway, Hannah and I quickly decided that we would move forward together speaking to as many people who wanted to hear what we call "the good news." We have been fortunate to have had so many amazing opportunities. Straight out of the chute, we did a bathing suit shoot for OK! Magazine. Talk about being put out of your comfort zone! Whew! This month, Hannah and I created another "Biggest Loser first" as we graced the September cover of Fitness magazine. I can't tell you how strange it is to see yourself on the cover of a magazine as you check out at the grocery store. It makes me giggle every time because it's like being in on the best secret you could ever imagine. I tell you if I could bottle this feeling and sell it, I would be a billionaire!! We will also be featured on Dr. Drew's Lifechangers, which is a new daily talk show that airs this month.

I have had the honor to meet so many amazing fans and hear so many amazing stories of tears and triumph. It challenges me to continue to grow daily. The Biggest Loser truly has the BEST fans on the planet. I can't imagine what the future will bring, but I can tell you last year at this time I was unhealthy and broken. Now, I am healthy and the happiest I have EVER been... not to mention the sky's the limit.

So, why this update on my life, you ask? Well, I am super excited to announce that I will be joining you every week here on NBC.com to blog about each new episode of The Biggest Loser Season 12!!! Who's excited?? I can tell you I am bouncing in my seat as I type. I can't wait to meet up with you every week and chat about another exciting and inspirational season of The Biggest Loser. I hope to see you all here -and don't forget to leave questions and comments!! See you next TUESDAY!!!

Health & Happiness,

Olivia Ward