The Biggest Loser - October 2013 - Discussion: There will be spoilers!

I agree.

And in the first 3 weeks two of the trainers have already used their "save".

Yep, watching it again.  I was glad they did a little check-in with the Lindsay, one of the kids from last year.  Hoping they do the same with Biingo and Sunny. 

I'm favoring David and the swimmer girl or maybe Hap, although I agree keeping up with Ruben and Holly's progress will be interesting as well.

I was definitely in favor of the 1st week trainer save since I hate to see people tossed from the show even before they get going.

This is the Fifth season I have watched BL, and I am SO HAPPY with the changes! Last season nearly ended my viewing, as it was just way too whiny and game-ish. I have always enjoyed it just for the motivation factor--seeing all these people and how they improve--not just weight, but their athleticism, it truly encourages me to get active more often. I am also glad they shortened it--less room for drama and the psycho-babble from the trainers (a little is okay, but when that was the majority of the time seen...ugh.)

I am rooting for the weightlifter girl, but I have found overall that no one is really 'grabbing' me as of yet....I think that as more of their personalities are revealed, I will have a favorite.

I know this has been mentioned before in previous BL threads, but I find eating challenges contradictory to the goal and to their training.  Why essentially (not not technically) force high calorie, high temptation foods that more than likely the contestants haven't had since arriving at the ranch?

What. The. Heck???

I get what they are trying to do with the temptation but it doesn't simulate real life because there is external pressure to eat the candy. I guess that is possible in the real world but just "awe c'mon one won't hurt" kind of pressure rather than "letting your team down and someone goes home" kind of pressure.

Ok I just caught a bit of this last night - but what's the deal on Jillian's caffeine supplements?

Sounded like she knowingly broke the rules by giving her team caffeine supplements, but when asked to make a statement said she preferred it over copious amounts of coffee (or something like that) and stood by her "professional opinion." And it cost her team 4 pounds.

I would have liked to know more about... all of that! 

Edit: article for reference

I think learning to fight temptation is only part of the reason they do it.  The other part is the entertainment value for the viewers.  This is a tv show that's fighting for ratings and ad revenue.  And there's a draw to watching some morbidly obese man who's never turned down pizza in his life get thrown in to a situation where they work out 12 hours a day and eat nothing but vegetables and lean protein, then suddenly there's this hot greasy pizza in front of him and we get to watch the internal struggle. It's like a driving past a car wreck, you don't want to look but you always do.  

How did I not see any of that?!

ETA: Just realized I'm a week behind! 'doh!

Ha ha ha, last night when they featured him singing at his producer's house I thought of this discussion and chuckled to myself.

I just watched last week's episode.

First -- these people aren't losing any weight. Do you think the show is being more highly scrutinized?

Second -- I think Jillian is the one leaving the ranch. Until we got to the weigh in, I couldn't remember seeing her or Dolvett during the whole show. (Granted, I was grading papers while I was watching, so I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention).

I think this show is over. I hate getting to the weigh in and saying to myself, "Who is that person???" I don't know these people.

Ruben - gone again, let's hope for good this time.  As much as I like the guy and want to see him do well, something's gotta be wrong with his eating or his workouts or something for someone of that size to only lose 2 pounds while others around him, although smaller, are losing much more.  I don't think NBC can find another creative way to get their celeb back again.

On a more positive note, I'm glad they showed Dolvett taking Rachel to the pool and letting her swim, good stuff.  She's been one I've rooted for from the start.