Wednesday, February 23, 2011

This Week on the Biggest Loser

To find this week's episode of the Biggest Loser, go Here or watch it below.



***SPOILER ALERT***

There's a big issue that came up this week, but first I want to cover some of the more trivial items.

First, any time MMA or Randy Couture are mentioned, our house is automatically filled with endorphins.  Josh doesn't watch very many sports, but he does enjoy UFC every once in a while.  In case you didn't know, the UFC (Ultimate Fighter Championship) is a fighting competition between two competitors at a time and uses Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).  So from the get go of this episode, I already liked what was happening.  And for Rulon to get a chance to catch up with his trainer for a few minutes was really good to see.  I loved watching the Red Team just absolutely kick butt in the training center and loved that they "went back to basics" as one of them said.  It was good to do, even though a few of them ended up struggling in the weigh in.

Second, the challenge looked like it would've been fun.  Josh said it would be a great YM/YW mutual activity.  And once the Red Team got their mojo, they rocked it.  A 3 lb advantage seemed to be an incredible prize.... Until the Black Team threw the weigh in.

Third, Cara's willingness to get into the ring to box with Kaylee impressed me.  How often do trainers seem to sit to the side and allow the trainee to do all the work while they stand there and tell them what to do?  Often, it seems.  Cara laced up her gloves and challenged Kaylee to a match.  And she didn't hold a lot back. She willingly took several hard punches and allowed Kaylee to learn to literally "fight back."  It gave us a new side of Cara.  I like her.

So here's the big issue of the episode: Did the parents on the Black Team do the right thing?

They started out with the Team meeting where their codependency became painfully obvious: If I love you, I'll sacrifice myself for you.  If it's not obvious, I'll just let you know that I hated this meeting, its purpose and its outcome.  Honestly, the parents thought that they needed to take themselves out to save the "kids."  Really?  Really??  Not only did they jeopardize themselves, but they jeopardized their entire team. 

I think Moses hit the nail on the head when he said that they weren't doing the kids any favors by doing that.  The better approach was to teach their child to survive and fight back.  He and Kaylee had an incredible week.  Not because they let someone else take their licks -- and Kaylee's fight with Cara proved she could take her own licks -- but because they came together, pushed through the pain and non-morning-person-ness, and worked hard. 

By the end of the episode everyone was emotional, some because they had been "saved" and some because they were just relieved.  But where's the accountability?  Isn't that why most of us struggle with our weight and other goals?  Because we've let ourselves off the hook too many times? 

What did you think of that?

2 comments:

Merinda Reeder said...

I have nothing really to add. I thought the hero of the week was Moses... and not because of his 11 pounds. He's the parent with the ultimate master plan; and Kylee's 7 pounds show it.

colds1 said...

I was disgusted. Completely and totally disgusted. I'm glad they threw it so that Jen didn't go home, but otherwise I found it revolting.

Not just because they weren't letting their kids prove themselves, but also because of this stupid mentality of needing to be on the ranch longer. Seriously. These people go on and lose weight at home. Leaving the ranch is not the end of the world or the end of their weigh loss journey. I hate that. If their real issue is the money and the title, say it! It just bugs me.

People do lose weight without Bob and Jillian. People do lose significant weight without being on the ranch. Accept that and don't be dorks.

Oh, and I liked how this episode showed the "therapist" side of Cara and Brett better. They are just different than Bob and Jillian. Jillian's speech to those on the treadmill was a total motivational speaker moment, and Cara and Brett don't do that.

Stupid parents.