The Biggest Loser Couples Recap - - Episode 8

HOME SWEET HOME

So last week we lost Trent, who basically volunteered to go home among tears, hugs, a busted knee and homesickness. This week’s twist? The remaining players spend one week at home, without Bob or Jillian breathing down their necks. Mark and Jay, who have lost 70 lbs. and 49 lbs. respectively, arrive home to a party thrown by wives, kids and neighbors. Mark’s youngest son keeps sneaking danishes off of the table, and Mark decides that everyone will be eating healthy, not just him. He takes the sticky buns from the poor child’s hands, even though grandma put them out for him. He throws all of the sweets on the table away. Some kind of family support there…Jay’s family dines at a family restaurant, and as he and his wife make healthy choices, the kids rack up on fish and sticks. Jay puts his fingers all over his daughter’s french fries as a substitution for actually eating them. And then she wolfs them down.

For some reason, Bernie, who has lost 67 lbs., goes to his favorite bakery, which has named his favorite cupcake the “Bernie’s Boston Crème Cupcake”. He doesn’t indulge, but he does inhale the fumes as his (also supportive) friends have a bite at his expense. Being a Starbucks junkie myself, I know Starbucks when I see it, and Bernie is holding a Starbucks cup. How many calories is that? Back at home, he asks his mother why there are so many sweets laying around, and she says that not everyone is on a diet. But she is proud of him America. Way to go, mom.

Brittany’s biggest problem is her friends want to hang out and drink alcohol. Not about to jeopardize her 33 lb. loss, she goes out to a restaurant with them and orders water on the rocks with a side of halibut. At that moment, Jillian calls to check up on her. Brittany teases Jillian, saying she’s having a beer. Jillian tells her to call her as soon as she gets home to tell her everything she’s done. Seems Jillian is checking up on everyone, unlike Bob, who is just waiting to see who comes back to the ranch with an extra inch or two.

Dan, having lost 73 lbs. so far, arrives home to meals prepared by Jacki, who knows her son is still in it to win it. Dan gets his workouts in with his mother just like old times. Dan visits the school where Jacki works. They divide into teams, and play dodge ball. Everyone had a good time. I was glad to see it, because in my town, dodge ball has been outlawed. You see, you cannot aim at a kid with a plastic ball full of air like you could when I was younger. You could get sued for traumatizing a child. And actually lose the case.

Maggie meets up with her BFF Jenn, and they go to the gym where Jenn’s trainer puts them through a very elementary workout. Maggie is missing Jillian’s tough style. The trainer put’s a picture of Jillian on the punching bag and tells Maggie to go for it. Maggie complains that she only got in two of the fifteen miles on the treadmill that Jillian requires. Lord knows Maggie couldn’t have just kept going without being told…

Kelly, at 46 lbs., gets a huge greeting from her boyfriend and family members. Her mother cries. Her boyfriend cries. Kelly is worried because she hasn’t spoken to Paul since she arrived home. I don’t care. I fast forward to…Roger, whose family is proud of his 71 lb. loss, but that doesn’t stop them from having a big ole’ country bbq with all the trimmings. And then there is poor Paul. He’s lost 62 lbs. Although his girlfriend of six weeks, Julie, sees him as Sexy Paul, we know better. She admits that it’s been hard for her not knowing if he’d rekindle his feelings for Kelly. Note to Julie: No, he will not rekindle his feelings. He never lost hope. Open up your eyes, girlie. At a local restaurant, his ever-supportive family encourages him to indulge in his favorite pastime: wolfing down 40 hot wings and chasing them with soda and a big chocolate ice-cream thing. I’m thinking his man-boobs will be evening back out soon. Later, he has a few more sodas while he’s in the hot tub contemplating how hard it is to be away from the ranch….and Kelly maybe? But he assures us that his girlfriend has been his rock. After six weeks of dating, one phone call in seven weeks, sharing a room with his soulmate Kelly for seven weeks, and Julie passing him three plates of wings. I’m just saying…

All in all, we see the Blue team members turning down calories and working their butts off. Literally. We see the Black team struggling with temptation, but even as they pass up the goods, they don’t hit the gym as hard as they would if Jillian were there. To make matters worse, Paul avoids Jillian’s calls all week. Hell hath no fury like a Jillian ignored.

Our first tip of the week comes from Bob: in a restaurant, forego three things: (1) the bread basket, (2) oil and/or butter, and (3) get your salad dressing on the side. If you use any.