This week’s show was also very good!

It was “Finals Week”

The remaining 5 contestants would under go 5 different tests. The person with the overall high score would win $10,000. For the first exam each person would take Bob Harper through a Spinning workout.

Then Brett Hoebel tested them on the science of exercise and weight loss. This was great not only for the contestants, but also for you watching from home. You need to know some basics about exercise and nutrition. If you don’t then you’re just guessing. If you guess wrong you may not the the results that you want. I was happy that they integrated this into the show, because my whole website is about providing you with enough knowledge that you can succeed, and reach your goals.

The third test was with Cara. She challenged them in the boxing ring, to find out if they were fighters. This was also an important moment. Because if you’re going to succeed in your own challenge to lose weight, you’re going to have to fight. It’s important for you to understand this. There are going to be times when you are challenged and tempted. You are going to have to be strong and fight for your health. It’s OK to do that, it’s part of the journey.

The fourth test was with Jillian Michaels. She tested them as a motivator. She role played and used their own words, and excuses. Each person had to find a way to help get Jillian back on track and in the right frame of mind. I thought that this was the high light of the show. Everyone who’s ever been on this show has had self-defeating self talk. You have to know and believe that you are worth something, before you will make yourself a priority and take care of your health. That process always begins in your mind. The way you think, talk and feel will manifest itself in your physical reality. Get your mind right and your body will follow.

The fifth test was a physical challenge, and an advertisement for Xbox360 and Kinect. Each person would be themselves in the game and the person who did the best to follow the workout would get the highest score.

Hannah won the Xbox challenge but it wasn’t enough for her to overtake her sister Olivia for the overall victory. Olivia won the $10,000.

Then it was on to the challenge. For this challenge each person would have to stack 25 sand bags so they could climb up a four level platform. They would then have to place 25 sand bags on each level until they climbed to the top and pushed a button. The winner would get a 1 pound advantage at the weigh in. Austin won. This was huge because the three remaining women are all fairly light right now. And if one of them got a 1 pound advantage the would almost certainly make it to the final four!

Then there were the obligatory advertisements. One for Subway. Another for milk (I’ll get back to this milk thing later)

Just before the weigh in there was a great twist. Olivia was given the option to trade her $10,000 in for a 1 pound advantage. And Austin was given the option to trade his 1 pound advantage in for $10,000.  Austin kept his advantage, which makes sense. If he avoids elimination, he’s onto the Final Four and could win the whole thing. Surprisingly Olivia kept the 10 grand. I’d think a one pound advantage for a lady that weighs 158 pounds would be a much better thing to have.

As for the weigh in

• • Olivia lost 5 pounds (turns out she may not need that 1 pound, 10 grand looks pretty good right now)
  • Hannah lost 4 pounds
  • Irene lost 5 pounds
  • Jay lost 9 pounds

Finally Austin with his one pound advantage. If he loses more than 6 pounds then Irene and Hannah would face elimination. Which stresses me out again because Hannah is my pick to win it all. If he loses less than 6 pounds then he and Hannah will face elimination…remember that one pound advantage….

Austin only lost one pound (even with his advantage he would face elimination)

At this point it’s pretty obvious what is going to happen. Austin is going to be eliminated. Olivia is Hannah’s sister, so she’s going to vote for Austin to leave. And Irene, Hannah, and Olivia are really close so I’d be surprised if Irene would vote Hannah off.

What I didn’t count on was Jay voting against Austin. I forgot that Hannah and Rulon were the reason that Jay was able to come back on the show. He showed loyalty and voted Austin off.

Rant Time!

Austin was the person in the “Milk” advertisement. He was eating cereal and milk for breakfast. Hopefully he only did it for the commercial, and didn’t eat it the rest of the week. But if he did, I hope that’s the reason he lost so little weight, and he deserved to be eliminated.  I don’t recommend milk and cereal as part of a weight loss program. Click Here to read my article on dairy.

I’m sad to see Austin go. I saw a lot of changes in him. He grew up, gained confidence and was becoming an entirely new person. It was inspiring to watch.

Now for the quotes of the week

“You can’t be the best wife, you can’t be the best mother, if you don’t take care of yourself”

“You have got to have something to fight for”

“I have a purpose and right now that purpose is to be the best person that I can be”

“I don’t come to a challenge to lose. I come to a challenge to win”

“Turn luck into sheer will power”

“I need to know that I can do this for me”

“I put off tomorrow, every week. No more looking for tomorrow, today I start the change”

See you next week…