That elimination didn’t keep Rebecca down. She is positively thriving at home. With a current weight of 157 pounds, and a new love in her life, Rebecca has become the person she always wanted to be.

Listen now as she tells about her romance with fellow contestant Daniel Wright, a person she says is her best friend. She’ll also talk about who the new Rebecca really is.

While Rebecca’s weight loss story is remarkable, the thing everyone is buzzing about is this relationship with Daniel. She admits she didn’t really like Daniel in the beginning, but by week three the two were building a friendship. Rebecca is a night owl, so she and Daniel would take long walks on the ranch at night to burn extra calories and talk. She says the real turning point came on the Biggest Loser’s Washington, D.C. trip.

But sooner after Daniel was sent home. Once Rebecca returned home, she says they started having five or six hour phone calls, and it was in those calls that Daniel admitted his feelings for her. Since then, “I fell in love with my best friend,” coos Rebecca. The two have been dating for a while and she says they are key parts of each other’s journey.

Today, the couple is making a long distance relationship work, with Rebecca in Iowa and Daniel in North Carolina. She says she gets “gaga” for Daniel, and uses him as a sounding board for food issues or when she just doesn’t want to go to the gym.

You can’t very well tell Rebecca’s at-home story without Daniel, she says the relationship is “pivotal, the most important thing for me.” The two enjoy trying new recipes together, with Rebecca typically manning the kitchen. One of her favorite recipes that she created on the ranch is a vegetable stir-fry. She includes asparagus, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, fresh herbs, garlic and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, and serves that with baked fish topped with herbs and lemon zest.

The two also enjoy pushing one another in the gym. One activity they enjoy is a treadmill interval challenge. They’ll run at an incline of 15 for one minute, then take it all the way down and walk for a minute, then back up to 15 for a minute, and keep doing that until they can’t any more.

It’s this transition to home life that Rebecca says has been the most difficult of the journey. She spent three and a half months away, came home an entirely new person, yet found everything to be exactly the same. She said she re-evaluated the relationships and friendships in her life and makes sure that everything she does fits her new lifestyle.

That new lifestyle also includes completing a half-marathon. “Becky Meyer would never do this,” she says of her old self. Of the new self, “That girl is Rebecca. This person who can achieve what I set my mind to, will be afraid, will possibly fail, and will set out to do things and finish them.” She ran the 13.1 miles in 2:16, and in those two hours evolved into what she calls the girl she always wanted to be.

Rebecca’s got three weeks left to prepare for finale, and make her television debut with beau Daniel. Given that her “ultimate focus is on changing [her] life forever,” Rebecca will no doubt dazzle us all at that final weigh-in.

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Rebecca Meyer – Biggest Loser Elimination Interview

This week, the challenge was one that I do not envy. The losers had to traverse a gorge while sitting on a platform suspended 200 feet in the air. The winner will receive a two-week trip with his family to the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge. Now that is a prize that should be on the show. Not immunity. Biggest Loser at Fitness Ridge is a very cool experience. Rudy ended up winning the challenge, with Amanda falling just short.

Of course with all the excitement of makeover, not a lot of working out was done it seemed. The last chance workout given by Bob and Jillian seemed absolutely brutal to make up for it.

The beatings seemed to pay of big for Rudy, coming off an immunity week of course, losing 16 pounds, and Amanda losing 9. Liz and Rebecca were below the yellow line and in danger of going home. Rebecca tried her best to fight to stay in the house, but in the end, Rudy cast his vote to send her home.

A slew of arguments erupted that I didn’t follow about trust early in the game. I don’t know, it seemed weird. But since Allen didn’t have to reveal his vote, we assume he also voted to send Rebecca home. Next week looks like it’s going to be an amazing episode so tune in. And if not, I’m always right here giving my sarcastic view of everything. See you next week!

-Mike Morelli

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Mike Morelli’s Biggest Loser Recap – Episode 8.10

The Biggest Loser prize pack, valued at $286.76, will include:

• 3-month membership to the Biggest Loser Club Online
• 1 Biggest Loser Hand Blender
• 1 Biggest Loser Wii Game
• 1 Biggest Loser DS Game
• 1 Biggest Loser Ultimate Fitness Kit
• 1 Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga DVD
• 1 Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD
• 1 Biggest Loser Simple Swaps Book
• 1 Biggest Loser Protein

It’s so easy to be eligible to win the drawing:

• Click here to sign-up for any of our free health newsletters, including our weekly Biggest Loser Newsletter
• Click here to post this giveaway on Twitter. (You must be following @dietsinreview to be eligible.)

Stay tuned to Biggest Loser to see the final transformations of this season of contestants. They’ve lost some serious weight and they’re going to blow us all away at the live finale on NBC Tuesday, December 8.

DietsInReview.com will be interviewing the winner and contestants live from the finale stage. Then, we’ll announce the winner of the prize pack in the December 10 Biggest Loser Newsletter.

We want you to become your very own version of the Biggest Loser!

DISCLAIMER: Eligibility requires a Twitter post with DietsInReview.com follow and/or newsletter sign-up by Tuesday, December 8, 2009. One prize package will be sent to one individual drawn at random. The winner will be notified via the email address provided via the newsletter form or their Twitter account. DietsInReview.com is not responsible for lost or stolen packages, nor failed shipments due to user providing an incorrect address. DietsInReview.com may replace the prize with one of equal value if prize is not available; not redeemable for cash.

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The Ultimate Biggest Loser Prize Pack Giveaway

The Biggest Loser Gift Card is an easier to way for you to either join the club, or offer this life changing program to someone you love. You’ll receive two $25 gift cards, each good for a one-month membership. Keep them both for yourself, or find a weight loss partner and you can join together.

The Biggest Loser Club gives everyone access to the diet and fitness information that you thought was only available to the contestants. You’ll learn about the Biggest Loser Diet, the Biggest Loser Workout, have the option to interact with the show’s experts, connect with other members, build customized meal planners and workout programs, and keep track of your progress in your personal journal. Plus, it’s all completely online so no matter where you are, the plan goes with you.

These cards are only available in stores, like Target.

Learn more about Biggest Loser Club or join online today!

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Biggest Loser Club Gift Cards

Now, Shay tells us that no matter how many times she fell below, you’re still never prepared to leave the ranch. And Daniel explains in leaving the ranch for the second time he’s now more focused on the emotional barriers in front of him.

They were the likeliest team of two this season. When Daniel asked Shay to join him in forming the orange team, it was instantly a perfect match. Only a few months before was Daniel in Shay’s shoes, even though her 476 pound initial weight was only about 20 pounds more than Daniel’s season 7 initial weight of 454.

While Shay set a record in week nine by reaching a 100 pound weight loss faster than any other female in the show’s history, she conceded that “the ranch is not the reality.” In nine weeks she lost 100 pounds, and at home it’s taken her three times as long to lose 54. It’s extremely difficult at home she admits, balancing her weight loss with two jobs, family and kids. For Shay, it’s all about making the sometimes difficult choices to move forward and continuing to lose the additional hundred-plus pounds in front of her. They go to the park instead of a movie, and she swapped her ice cream habit for frozen yogurt or peanut butter and jelly Lara Bars.

Daniel said it was at finale when he was approached by producers to come back to the ranch to be a part of season eight. They told him filming would start in three days, and he said “absolutely!”. His struggle this time around was different though; this time he was able to run and and he could work harder, but he had to dig deep into the emotional issues that had brought him here in the first place so that he could keep this weight off for life. Daniel says during season seven he was fighting for a chance to stay alive, and in season eight he had to decide how deep he could really go to stay healthy.

As Daniel and Shay move forward with their tremendous weight loss (Shay down to 322 and Daniel down to 224), they each share one other important thing: being role models. Daniel says the experience is both weird and amazing, and calls it “an absolutely incredible feeling” that people have taken their victories and applied them to their own lives. Shay recalls that Daniel was her role model while watching season seven, and that she never thought her story would impact others. But she says they’re showing other 500-pound people that it’s not hopeless or impossible, when it is entirely possible to do this without taking drastic measures.

Shay reminded that half a million people applied for Biggest Loser 8, and 16 were chosen. She says “Don’t wait for next season. What if there is no next season?” That’s why Shay has started the “100 Pound Down Club” on Facebook, and she’s telling everyone “It’s possible, whether it takes nine weeks or nine years!”

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Shay Sorrells and Daniel Wright – Biggest Loser Elimination Interview

As I said before, this week is a double elimination week for the contestants. This put all of the contestants on edge and really brought out the best competitive nature in all of the them. We finally saw some game play by the two groups of alliances (young vs. old), and tensions really started to heat up. In the pop challenge, the human tank, Allen, won a one-pound advantage at the weigh-in. That reward is extremely important at this stage in the game. So many contestants have gone home on just one pound, it’s ridiculous.

This week’s challenge was circus inspired as the contestants had to jump through hoops to eliminate their competitors. I know I ask for a lot of stuff from you all in this blog, but this one is kinda cool. 1. Does anyone work for the circus. 2. Can I come and play with the elephants, or jugglers or something fun? Thanks.

Back to the challenge. Shay seemed to think that Rudy made an extreme alliance with her and proceeded to act like a crazy person. There was some ground for the claim, but, seriously, Shay would have lost anyway and in the end it’s a game. Start playing chess, not checkers.

The contestants had some very intense workouts, and again, Danny was out back with the giant tire and sledgehammer (I’m still waiting for that gift by the way; I understand it could get lost in the mail, but it’s been a while). He wins intense workout of the week, and it showed on the scale.

(Another perfect transition to the weigh-in. Man, I’m getting decent at this blogging thing.)

The contestants dropped absolute bombs! The numbers for week nine were huge. Shay lost 17 pounds, losing 100 pounds faster than any woman in Biggest Loser history. Danny dropped a bomb, Liz had her highest weight loss total, and Rebecca lost a monster 10. Daniel was the unfortunate victim of the red line, losing 199 pounds in his stay on Biggest Loser. He did an amazing job and is doing great at home.

The people below the yellow line this week were Shay and Amanda. The house voted out Shay, most likely for game play reasons. I would have voted off Amanda, because she is the bigger threat. Sure, Shay has a lot of weight to lose, but does not have enough time to lose enough weight to have an amazing percentage. Amanda on the other hand is just like the winners from seasons past, being a smaller woman. She even has the right color to win (pink). But, again, I’m not there.

Next week is supposed to be an amazing week people so let’s get excited. Until next time BLnation.
-Mike Morelli

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Mike Morelli’s Biggest Loser Recap – 8.9

DietsInReview.com had the opportunity to speak with Ali just moments after her victory, in which she continually said to us “Believe It, Be It.” It’s a personal mantra Ali used to drive herself during the competition, and today, it’s the title of her first book.

Believe It, Be It: How Being the Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life releases today, and shares her very personal story of going from an all-time low point in her life before Biggest Loser, to feeling on top and regaining the life she so desired.

In the book we’re reminded of Ali’s personal journey, and one that is completely relatable. She was overweight, unhappy, stressed and ashamed. When Biggest Loser came along, she embarked on a transformation that won her a title and her life back. Ali shares a rarely seen look at her true story, as well as a look behind the scenes at the Biggest Loser ranch where she made it happen.

Ali also shares with readers the healthy eating habits and workout plan that have helped her keep off more than 100 pounds from her original weight.

It’s a motivating story that will move anyone to make the changes in their lives to be happier and healthier. You just have to believe it, to be it!

To learn more about Vincent’s book, here is DietInReview.com’s complete review of Believe It, Be It.

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Believe It, Be It by Biggest Loser’s Ali Vincent Releases Today

But don’t think that Tracey’s feeling down on herself. Quite the opposite. She’s doing really well at home, and proud of this new Tracey.

Listen now as she tells us about the strained relationship she had with Bob and Jillian, and what it’s like today; as well as why she’s so grateful she got to take on that one-mile run once again.

As Tracey told us she has a wonderful relationship with Bob and Jillian today, she says the strained-on-TV relationships she had with the contestants has also changed, and that she has “amazing, great” relationships with them.

When asked if she played the game too hard, and remembering Alison Sweeney’s comment that her choices came back to bite her, Tracey adamantly confirms she has no regrets. Due to the choices she made in the beginning of the game, she says she’s not at all surprised how people have reacted to her. In her own defense, she says she did what she had to do to stay in the game.

“This was my time to do things my way instead of trying to please everyone else,” Tracey says of her strategy on the show.

Knowing how she came across on the show, and the reaction from fans, she was DVRed each episode and watched before letting her children. She said her kids, like any others, look up to her, their mom, as a superhero, and she didn’t want the show to skew their feelings about their mom.

It’s that role as a mom that not only helped land Tracey on the Biggest Loser ranch, but also helped her thrive back at home. She’s including herself on the list of to-dos these days, and making her needs as important as everyone else’s. She’s not revealing her current weight given that finale is five weeks away, but it was clear on her Where Are They Now that the Tracey at home is fit, strong and healthy.

How does this busy wife and mom of four do it? She has a strict, concise schedule for herself, one that she says works for her and her family. She’s up by 4:00 a.m. each day, and spends three hours in the gym doing her extreme workouts while her family sleeps. She’s then home in time to make lunches and get the kids out the door for school. And then it’s back to her daily routine of running the household and shuffling kids to dance and sports. She says she’s not the best homemaker these days, but she doesn’t freak about chores not being done. She knows it’s OK for now.

In addition to learning that it’s OK to let the little things go to care for herself, she learned a few other things from Jillian.

For one, she learned that it’s OK to ask for help. Everyone needs it, and it doesn’t make her weak to ask for it.

She also learned that’s it’s OK for people not to like you. And she’s OK with that. Jillian encouraged Tracey to know that as long as she likes herself and knows where she stands, then nothing else matters.

Tracey remains upbeat, motivated and encouraged to continue her journey and says “for the first time I’m starting something, then I’m going to finish it.” She says you won’t find a “coulda-woulda-shoulda-Tracey” anymore.

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Tracey Yukich – Biggest Loser Elimination Interview

The second cool thing this week was that the contestants traveled to Washington, D.C. for the week.

The challenges were Capital inspired. The contestants had a pop challenge trying to get as many people to do a public workout as possible. Liz won a mystery prize (always fun) to be used in the later challenge.

This week’s challenge was a series of mini challenges. Now, I have to admit that I lost a little love for Biggest Loser when Miley Cyrus was being played as the background music, but whatever, it’s not my show to run. In the end, Rebecca won immunity.

Bob, Jillian, and the gang all headed to the White House for a very special tour. They picked vegetables from the First Family’s garden and made a salad in the White House kitchen (try the White House Salad recipe). I was jealous, I didn’t get a trip, not fair.

Jillian gets the quote of the week expressing her hatred for Tracey, while Tracey gets oblivious of the week for thinking Jillian likes her.

Bob was happy to have Amanda back under his wing, and it showed on the scale that Amanda was glad to be there. Which is a perfect transition into the lovely 50-minute weigh in….

The contestants are weighing in for the first time alone. The most notable weight losses were Danny, with a double digit, Amanda with her highest weight loss ever, and Tracey and Liz with merely three pounds lost, putting them below the yellow line.

In the end Tracey was sent home (shocker to all of you I’m sure), but personally I liked her. She is doing fantastic at home and is a big competitor for the at-home winner.

I know next week is a huge episode, so hold on to your hats folks! Until next week BLers-or if you run into me at school- best in health.
-Mike Morelli

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Mike Morelli’s Biggest Loser Recap – Episode 8.8

Two years ago Abby’s husband, who she calls her “favorite person on the planet,” her young daughter and newborn son were tragically killed in a car accident. In our interview she explains how prior to going to the Biggest Loser ranch her heart wasn’t in life and felt as though she didn’t have anything left to give. She also tells us how she no longer lets one person fulfill her the way her husband did, and feels blessed to have a wide range of supporters.

Today, Abby’s finding joy in the small things. And in our interview with her she laughed, a lot! She says going to the Biggest Loser ranch served as a catalyst for finding the light in her eyes again.

Part of that is learning what it is she really wants out of life. She’s seeking a new career. As a teacher, she’s now looking forward to transitioning to become a speaker, what she says is truly what she wants to do now. Abby will travel the country sharing her story and offering motivation and inspiration to others seeking that.

She’s also busy finishing this journey that she’s started – regaining her health. Abby’s currently lost about 82 pounds. She’s taking off the weight, and working on the 15-20 pounds remaining, eating cleanly, counting calories, working out, getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of water. She enjoys a variety of different fitness classes in her gym, and says she feels strong having “put on a ton of muscle.”

For her diet, she says these days her fast food is from the grocery store. When she’s on the go, she’ll run in and grab carrots and hummus, low-sodium turkey, or Greek yogurt and blueberries. She says these changes are all about choices, and it’s just as easy to run in to the store as it is to hit a drive-thru.

Abby continues to live her life in a ways that makes her feel good, and she’s focused on living presently in the moment. “I’m showing the world I’m still here, I’m still a part of life,” she says.

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Abby Rike – Biggest Loser Elimination Interview