DANNY'S BLOG | Nov. 04, 2009

Wow! Washington DC! That Abby wasn't with us was disheartening, but I know she knows who she is and she will do great at home. I just wanted to see her fight more for her life! It seems this season on The Biggest Loser, so many people want to sacrifice for others! That's how I got into the situation I was in at 430 pounds!

We flew JetBlue, which was awesome! I know it seemed like a commercial, but the leg room was huge and a tv at every seat! I watched "My Cousin Vinny" on the way there!

Washington was a great experience. I'd been there once before for 12 hours! Flew in, went to the mall to the "Stand in the Gap" conference, and flew out again! This time, I hoped I was going to see more sights...boy was that an understated prediction!

First, we arrive at the Jefferson memorial to see Ali there waiting by a table. A table with a sheet over it. What is underneath that table?!?! Well, it was an answered prayer! My brown shirt was under there! Finally! I'm not the person on the short end of an alliance! Finally, I have control over my own destiny again! Finally, if I go home, it is on MY terms...not my teammates political episodes! YEAAA! (and I just have to stay above that yellow line, not win immunity every week!)

Well, our pop challenge is fitting...try to win the votes of the people on the streets of Washington DC, just like a politician! Well, I found out that running through the streets trying to recruit strangers to work out was a little harder than I thought! But my partner Liz didn't! She had a great strategy...southern charm. And she has plenty of that! Allen almost won by calling his fireman brothers out, but guess what? Granny did it again this week! She won the pop challenge! Way to go Liz!

The challenge was a 4-part challenge. You had to finish well in each leg to advance to the next. Well, I couldn't even finish well in the 1st leg and I was out. But we all did SO MUCH BETTER than we did before! We are all winning the fight against obesity, and that's more important than any prize we could win! After the 1st 3 parts, it was down to Rebecca and Rudy. Rebecca took a huge step (or 206 to be exact) towards her fight to stay on the ranch by winning immunity! She is definitely one of the strongest compettitors in this game!

Well, we are actually about to go into the White House! I cannot believe this! What a great experience! We are going to the First Family's own personal garden and picking incredible veggies for an awesome salad for lunch! (none of us could stop eating those tomatoes! They were sun-warmed and deeeeee-Lucious!) this was definitely one of the best experiences I've had being on The Biggest Loser to date!

We went to a senate hearing and spoke about our concerns with obesity in our nation. It was a very good meeting and many points were brought to light. I really believe that we need to take steps to help our country become a healthier country! Let's turn this downward spiral of becoming the fattest country in the world to being the most healthy!

One thing that wasn't shown on the show this week was my meeting on Capitol Hill with Congressman Jon Sullivan of Oklahoma! We talked about how we have both had to overcome certain things that have been major speed-bumps in our lives, as does every American, and the Crossfit program he just started! Standing there on those steps was an awesome experience. Hmmmm..who knows! I might even run for office some day!

Now...the weigh-in! With all we did this week, workouts were sometimes a little hard to come by! I found myself in the gym at the hotel sometimes at 2:00 am! Well, let's hope it paid off to be working out while many others were sleeping!

Yeaaaa! Another double-digit week! This makes 4 in a row! I am going to keep on 'a rollin' this train to the finish line now! I feel like now that I am an individual again, nothing can stop me!

Well, my partner Liz fell below with Tracey. Thank God she didn't go home, and thanks to Tracey's prior decisions that has made everyone mad at one time or another, Tracey is sent packing from DC!

Well, we're definitely in the home-stretch now! Stay tuned to find out what happens next week in this circus we call "The Biggest Loser!"

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DANNY'S BLOG | Oct. 22, 2009

Wow, what a week! We weigh in, go through an elimination, find out Tracey stayed and Coach Mo got sent home, and now a CHALLENGE? REALLY! No time to get our heads straight, no time for recovery, let's throw them into a challenge right away! Well, it's night time and we pull up to the beach. We walk down the beach and see piles of sand with handle sticking out. Hmmmm. A SHOVEL! I might actually win this challenge! I used to cut mud on my uncle Goddard's paving crew! I'm also a land surveyor--I dig for corners! I can handle a shovel! I'm pumped!

Well, as predicted, I was first to finish this challenge, but remember, this is Black vs. Blue! Uhhhh, my partners were NOT as good with a shovel than I am! We lost and the Blue team won...again! Give me a break! Will we EVER win a challenge?!

The prize was tickets home! I'm like "go on home folks!" Well stay here at the Biggest Loser ranch and lose weight! Y'all go on home now...and be sure to eat some home cookin'! Heck, go out to eat some Mexican food or the Chinese buffet! NOPE! They send us home! You can tell by my look that I am torn. Oh goodie! I get to see my kids and my beautiful wife! But will I lose the weight? I mean, this is what I escaped from! A life of eating out, responsibilities, and worries! Well, it was great to see the family, and as you can tell, I'm not eating out! I'm grilling kabobs on the grill! And I'm working out as hard as I ever have! I'll show those Blue team members whose boss! I got mad!

My wife could see it the second I came through the door...my spirit had returned. She married a guy that could do ANYTHING! I placed no bounds on my dreams! I lost that, but events at the Biggest Loser campus have set me straight again! I have finally learned that the only limits I have are the limits I put on myself! And I'm tired of limits! The week flies by and we return to the ranch and I'm excited to get our last chance workout done and get on that scale. Let's see the damage!

When it came to me, only Daniel and I were left to weight in...with 25 pounds to go to win! Impossible? Well let's see...

I get on the scale and...BAM! 15 pounds! I lost more than any week on the ranch but the first! YEA! Now for Daniel. 11 pounds is a big number for anyone at home, but Daniel has been there! He should be a pro at this! Beep...beep...beep...+1 pound! Are you serious! Daniel has been through this before and he gains a pound!?!? Arrrrrgh!

Well, we have to go to that darn elimination room again...and Dina is sent home. I was close to Dina and was upset to see her go. I just hope she can do good at home! What looms around the corner next week? You never know! Tune in and see! I sure will!

Danny C.

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DANNY'S BLOG | Oct. 13, 2009

Week five on the ranch kicks off with contestants getting the news that they’re all going to be joining either trainer Jillian Michaels’ black team or Bob Harper’s blue team. But the bigger news from host Alison Sweeney is that whoever wins this week’s temptation gets to make the critical decision of which contestant goes on which team. And when one person wins that much power, all of the contestants are worried about being potentially separated from the partner who has been with them since the beginning of their weight-loss journey. Later, a challenge tests the contestants’ ability to work together in their newly-formed teams, and one player gives another a very special gift. Then a weigh-in leads to a tough elimination, sending another player home.

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DANNY'S BLOG | Oct. 06, 2009

This week at the ranch was full of surprises! I mean, REALLY!?!? You
are making us "eat out" for EVERY meal?! Well, aside from the orders
constantly being wrong, fried potatoes on our egg white omelets, and oil
and salt when they were told to hold them (maybe we were paranoid, but
I swear there was salt on that food!) it really wasn't too bad! Less
dishes to be done, no cooking, but ALOT more trash to be taken out!
Well, I think some ordered "smarter" than others, but it was hard for
all of us!

Now, how dissappointed was I not to win the year of free healthy
groceries? VERY! Ugggh! Liz and I were on the money with our answers,
but boy did we blow the calorie count! Oh well, I'm not nearly as
dissapointed as my wife!

Now this week, Tracy is sidelined by her medical issues, and it is
clear that she is feeling as desperate as ever! Who can blame her?!
She gets the chance of a lifetime to change her life on the Biggest
Loser ranch, collapses on the beach, and finds herself fighting just
to stay on the ranch while not being able to exercise! Wouldn't you be
a little desperate at that point!? I know I would. Try to remember
that all she wanted to do last week was help herself by staying on the
ranch. Give her a little grace...at least this week!

Bob and Jillian taking us out to the restaurant was enlightening! You
are in control of how your food is prepared! Take charge! Tell the
cook how to prepare it and what is a no-no! After all, you are paying
for your meal!

Julio was my roommate in the house, and one of my best friends! He
wasn't lying when he said "I take care of Liz, she takes care of me,
and we both take care of Danny!" The others laughed because they knew
that was partly true! Without Liz and Julio on the ranch I might have
starved the first 4 weeks! Now that Julio is gone, Liz had better take
up the slack! She always takes care of me, cooking, supporting me, and
she even washed my sheets! Please don't think I'm spoiled. I'm just
not stupid! When they offered, I received graciously! Thanks Julio and
Liz!

On a more serious note, Julio and the brown team falling below was a
nightmare! We were 3 best friends. I can remember Julio saying "what
if we fall below together?!" while we were walking on the presidential
mile. Liz and I both told him to NEVER say that again! It was as bad
as red and orange last week to some of the others. I knew I just had
to fight to stay! My life depended on it! My kids and wife would die
if I came home now! I really needed to be on the ranch, even for just
1 more week! So I fought. And, bless their hearts, they voted to keep
me! I am sure counting my blessings! Thank you guys for saving my
life! Except you Rudy! But I forgive you! (quite frankly, at this
point, I'm sick of Rudy beating me on the scale every week!)

Next week looks to be a crazy week, so be sure to tune in! Thanks to
all who are watching and reading Sean's and my blog! See you next week!

Danny C

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DANNY'S BLOG | Sept. 25, 2009

Have you ever thought you got something you didn’t deserve?  This week, I think there are many contestants who think they did due to one player's focus on controlling the game.  The player alienates the contestants AND the trainers in a determined attempt to stay another week. In a week filled with choices, the challenge also includes a prize that will affect the weigh-in. This week of decisions ends in tears with a dramatic and heartbreaking elimination. With the week 2 curse defeated, week 3 wreaks havoc on the house on tonight's episode of "The Biggest Loser."

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SEAN'S BLOG | Oct. 30, 2009

The week starts with the house sad about Dina leaving.
Then on to a pop challenge, whoever wins will be choosing who will go
head to head in the next weigh in. The challenge is to get to 500 taps before the other team and blue
taps to 500 to win and gains control of who will go head to head. They choose like this:
Rebecca and Amanda, Tracey and Abby, Allen and Danny, Rudy and Shay,
Liz and Danny
Bob trains his people at the pool and hammers away at them and jillian
trains in the gym, and Amanda has a big breakdown and leaves the gym
challenge:
Derek Jeter explains that each team, black and blue, have to throw 316
baseballs at lifesize poster targets of each of the players and when
the 316th ball hits the target, that person is out.
Black team wins for the first time and they win a 2lb advantage at the
weigh in and lunch cooked by curtis stone, so black team is totally
pumped about winning.
Abby and Jill have a heart to heart and and Amanda returns to
apologize to Jillian about walking out to which Jillian says, "You
didn't walk out on me, you walked out on yourself!"
Jillian and Shay also have a very intense and emotional moment where
Shay breaks down and talks a little about her mom and how old
decisions have turned into new problems.
On to the weigh in:
the black team has the 2 lb advantage, and they give it to Amanda.
Rudy weighs in and loses 14 lbs which makes him the fastest person in
Biggest Loser History to lose 100 lbs, 7 weeks is all it took, great
job Rudy!
Blue wins the weigh in and black goes to decide who goes home.
Abby asks to be sent home and in a decision based on her wishes, black
sends Abby home
Abby looks great in her "where are they now" shot and I can't wait to
see what Abby does at the finale.

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SEAN'S BLOG | Oct. 15, 2009

On the heels of Julio's exit, the contestants start with a temptation. All are in but Abby.

Several eat high calorie items and Tracey wins the golden ticket and wins control of the game.

Oh my my my my my my, Tracey in control, oh my. I love you Tracey, you definitely know how to play this game!

Shaken but not out, Shay, Daniel, Rebecca and Amanda work through their fears of Tracey being in control.

On to the picking of the teams, everyone is shaken. Black is Jillian and blue is Bob, and all teams are split except for Tracey and Mo and Daniel and Shay.

Tracey chooses and few are happy and most are very angry. The teams work out and Liz has it out for Tracey.

Liz passes out and needs medical attention. Dina walks out of the gym and talks with Rudy. Dina has to work hard to overcome the obstacle of jumping onto the platform.

On to the challenge. The players in their new teams, blue and black, must carry a team member down a trail on a heavy metal platform, and the winners receive videos from home.

Blue wins and Rebecca gives her video to Dina but Dina refuses and says that she needs to conquer her fears. They hug and it's an emotional moment.

Blue goes back to watch the videos. They are so cool. I cried watching them, especially because I missed my family so much while I was there
Liz (blue) goes to get Danny (black), her former partner, to watch her video, but it's not her video, it's Danny's !!! How sweet Liz is! All cry when Danny watches his family!

On to the weigh in: blue falls below with their percentage and most think Tracey is going home.

Mo decides to tell them to send him home. All are unanimous and Mo goes home. Tracey is safe, and so starts another week at the ranch.

Can't wait for you to see what's next!! It's gonna be BANANAS!!

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SEAN'S BLOG | Sept. 30, 2009

THE KITCHEN IS OFF LIMITS TO CONTESTANTS THIS WEEK AND THE TRAINERS TEACH THE PLAYERS HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES WHEN EATING OUT

This week, one contestant is sidelined due to a medical condition and frustrated about not being able to work out to their full capacity.

And all of the contestants are in for a big surprise when they learn from host Alison Sweeney that the kitchen is off limits this week and why.

A pop challenge about calories brings one winning team an amazing prize, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels take the players out to a restaurant to help them learn how to make healthy choices when eating out.

Later, a tough challenge tests all the players’ endurance before the weigh in.

Will game play influence this week’s elimination or do the players still want to help each other as much as possible? Tune in this week to find out!

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SEAN'S BLOG | Sept. 30, 2009

Tuesday night's episode can be summed up in one word. SACRIFICE. It
starts where we left off last week, coming back to the house from
the most amazing display of weight loss in a 2nd week on "The
Biggest Loser." On a high from winning the team weight challenge,
the house prepares for week 3. Welcome to "would you rather" week
on "The Biggest Loser." We go to the gym and there is Allison and
she asking us "would you rather have a 2 lbs advantage at the
weigh in and train without your trainers this week or would you
rather keep your trainers and have no lbs of advantage at weigh
in? DUH!! this ones a no-brainer, right? WRONG!!! Tracey quickly
jumps over the purple line and secures a 2 lb advantage for her
and her teammate, "Coach" Mo. the rest of the cast looks on like
"what did you just do crazy lady!!" Bob and Jill are less than
stoked to hear of this shenanigan and decide to have a heart to
heart with the purple team about impulse behavior. Lesson
learned.

Moving on, the cast finds themselves face to face wtih
their first food temptation: tiny, itty bitty, teensy weensy,
cupcakes!!!! 100 calories a piece to be exact, and whoever eats
the most cupcakes gains control over all of the universe!! Well at
least "The Biggest Loser" universe, more specifically, whoever eats
the most cupcakes gets to pick who weighs in for each team and
that persons percentage is what carries the team to the next
week! This week a team goes home!! BANANAS! Antoine and Tracey
eat cupcakes but Tracey wins the temptation by eating 4 cupcakes.
My jaw hit the floor when i saw that he ate the cupcakes, I mean I
was so convicted about food challenges that I thought "what are
you doing, i love you, but what are you doing?"

On to this week's challenge, an incline challenge where you carry
25lbs. or 10lbs. up a ramp and drop them into a hole at the top.
Each team picked which weight they wanted to use. Here's the
catch, the 25 lb. buckets would get the job done faster but they
were several yards away from the ramp so you had to be able to get
a bucket, get your hind end to the ramp and then make it up. If
you chose the 10 lbs, you would be making more trips, but they
were at the base of the ramp. Allison yells "Go," everyone
scrambles, and Green is triumphant. All rally to help Coach Mo
finish and that is the key word for this challenge. FINISH. All
finished and all were proud of their accomplishments.

Bob and Jill are so angry at Tracey for gaining control of the
game that they have a "conversation" with her in the gym. The
rest of us burn off what we can not knowing who Tracey will choose
to represent each team.

On to the weigh-in.
All weighed in and Tracey picked who would represent each team.
Tensions were at an all-time high at this point because some felt like
she wasn't honest. In the end, red team and orange team fell below
and that brought on a whole new bucket of worms. Should the red team
explain why they should stay? Should the orange let the red team stay?
The red team in a bold move asks for all to send them home and let
Shay finish what she started, and it was unanimous, red team went home.
Don't worry though people, the story ends well! Antoine is down 100
lbs. and in love with Alexandra and Sean's down 120 lbs. and preparing for
the birth of baby Jillian! Bananas right? Can't wait to see what
happens next week!

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