The episode first kicked off with an emotional reunion between sisters Tiffany and Stephanie and their family members who came in to town just for the birthday celebration. Then to the tune of music, dancing, teary speeches and of course, birthday cake, the girls, clad in gown sizes they hadn’t worn in years, toasted not just Stephanie’s birthday, but their collective weight loss success as well.

Perhaps it was the presence of their trainer, Jessie, but the ladies also exercised a serious dose of self-control and moderation when faced with a delicious spread of food. Fortunately, since the party was organized by two fellow DietTribe members, Mary and Tiffany, the menu was specifically chosen to reflect the clean-eating diet the group has been following for the past two months.

Another memorable moment during episode six came when Rita announced that she and her husband lost their home to foreclosure, but by allowing the bank to take ownership of their home, they are still able to remain living in it. In a show of commitment and perseverance, Rita did not allow the weight of her financial struggle to result in actual weight gain. Instead, she used the opportunity to strengthen her resolve in her weight loss journey and shared her thoughts and inspiration with her fellow tribe members and DietTribe therapist, Stacy Kaiser.

Eighty days into their weight loss program, here is the result of their weight loss thus far:

Rita: New weight: 156 pounds. Pounds lost: 4 pounds. Total weight loss: 21 pounds.

Stephanie: New weight: 203 pounds. Pounds lost: 7 pounds. Total weight loss: 41 pounds.

Mary: New weight: 170 pounds. Pounds lost: 6 pounds. Total weight loss: 40 pounds.

LaNessa: New weight: 294 pounds. Pounds lost: 3 pounds. Total weight loss: 40 pounds.

Tiffany: New weight: 186 pounds. Pounds lost: 6 pounds. Total weight loss: 35 pounds.

Tune in next week when we recap episode seven of DietTribe Season Two.

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DietTribe Recap Episode Six

The women, who are all also mothers except for LaNessa, are concerned that they will inevitably pass their unhealthy eating habits down to their kids. During episode four, chef Cat Cora stopped by to show the women how to cook for themselves and their families in a healthy way in order to prevent their eating patterns from being passed down to another generation.

With love as one of the strongest motivators, the ladies gathered around the kitchen with Cat who helped them prepare healthy, kid-friendly snacks and meals that will keep their children lean, strong and fit. In addition, Cat’s creations will show the kids just how delicious whole foods can be. One of the recipes that she concocted was a low-fat batch of chicken fingers using cornflakes as a crunchy coating rather than heavy batter and baking them rather than frying them in order to trim calories and fat grams.

After their cooking lesson, the DietTribe members had their scheduled weighed in.

Here are the results following the half-way point of their 120-day weight loss journey:

Tiffany: Starting weight: 221 pounds. Current weight: 196 pounds. Total weight loss: 25 pounds

LaNessa: Starting weight: 335 pounds. Current weight: 303 pounds. Total weight loss: 32 pounds

Rita: Starting weight:177 pounds. Current weight: 163 pounds. Total weight loss: 14 pounds

Mary: Starting weight: 210 pounds. Current weight: 183 pounds. Total weight loss: 27 pounds

Stephanie: Starting weight: 244 pounds. Current weight: 215 pounds. Total weight loss: 29 pounds

Keep tuning in to DietsInReview.com for continued updates on the progress of ladies of DietTribe Season Two.

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DietTribe Season Two Episode Four Recap

With ten weeks left to go on their weight loss journey, the women have just crossed the half-way point of their 120-day challenge to lose 50 pounds each and compete in a triathalon. Despite Mary’s near panic attack in the water, all of them made it to shore safely and with a newly found confidence in themselves.

Episode five’s theme was all about overcoming fears. From LaNessa living her dream and singing in front of a crowd (think a baseball stadium full of people) and to swimming in the Pacific Ocean, the tribe made momentous strides during these past two weeks and their weigh-in reflected their continued progress.

Here is a look at that progress in numbers:

Tiffany: Starting weight: 221 pounds. Current weight: 192 pounds. Total pounds lost: 29 pounds

Rita: Starting weight: Current weight: 160 pounds. Total pounds lost: 17 pounds

Stephanie: Starting weight: 244 pounds. Current weight: 210 pounds Total pounds lost: 34 pounds

Mary: Starting weight: 210 pounds. Current weight: 176 pounds. Total pounds lost: 34 pounds

LaNessa: Starting weight: 335 pounds. Current weight: 297 pounds. Total pounds lost: 38 pounds

Tune in for episode six when the girls celebrate Stephanie’s 40th birthday.

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DietTribe Season Two Episode Five Recap

According to People magazine, A&E will air the ten-episode series which will chronicle Kirstie’s journey to lose much of the weight she gained while also trying to be a single mother to two teenaged children in Los Angeles. The weight loss reality series has yet to be named but viewers can look forward to Kirstie’s humor and spunk as she struggles just like so many other Americans to lose weight.

In the past, Kirstie has been unabashedly honest about her weight struggles including her love of food, particularly starchy carbs, her state-of-the-art fitness equipment which collects dust in her garage and envy over Michelle Obama’s arms. Not allowing the scrutinizing eye of the media to thwart her intentions of losing weight, Kirstie vowed on Oprah last spring to “get into a bikini again” and she is poising herself to do just that.

As weight loss TV has demonstrated to us season after season, the most powerful antidote for successful weight loss is to put yourself in front of cameras before millions and millions of viewers. From the success of the Biggest Loser to DietTribe, losing weight is not easy, but with constant support and a few camera crews taping your every bite of food and step on the treadmill, it can happen.

Let’s hope that if Kirstie is really serious about losing weight, then the impetus of her new reality series will be just what she needs to reach a healthy weight that she feels proud about.

Keep tuning in to DietsInReview.com and we’ll provide you with all that you need to know before Kirstie’s new series debuts.

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Kirstie Alley to Star in a New Weight Loss Reality Show

“Carnie Wilson: Unstapled” will follow the former member of the trio pop group Wilson Phillips as she tries to lose the 50 pounds she gained during her two pregnancies.

Wilson is no stranger to weight struggles. In 1999, she underwent gastric bypass surgery and had the procedure taped and shown online. She has also posed for Playboy magazine and wrote two heart-felt autobiographies. It is this candor and honesty that viewers will witness on Wilson’s show Unstapled, an obvious play on her weight loss surgery as she opens up her life and her family’s to the cameras.

In addition to her honesty, it is her infectious humor and down-to-earthness that has GSN senior vice president for original programming and development, Kelly Goode, extolling the qualities of Wilson that will surely attract viewers.

“Carnie is incredibly funny and earthy. She’s a personality the viewers have fallen in love with,” Goode said.

In addition to her own career and family, Wilson is also a spokesperson for the online support group, Lite and Hope which offers a network of services and resources for those who are overweight, obese or morbidly obese.

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Carnie Wilson’s New Show Unstapled

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.

Sign-up for the Biggest Loser Newsletter!

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Abby Rike – Biggest Loser Elimination Interview

Jeter will share his baseball prowess with the contestants during a game of action-packed baseball. He’ll also talk about the importance of teamwork and relate it to the Biggest Loser challenge.

Once the bats and balls have been put away, Chef Stone comes in and cooks a delicious and healthy Mediterranean Turkey Burger for the winners of the baseball competition.

Tuesday’s show is destined to be one of the hit episodes of the season with these two guests as well as another surprise visitor who stops by during the weigh-in to see a player break a Biggest Loser record.

The Biggest Loser airs this Tuesday, October 27 at 8-10 p.m. ET on NBC.

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Tune In: Derek Jeter and Curtis Stone on The Biggest Loser

Motivated to accomplish her goal of losing 50 pounds, Mary dished with us about her reasons for joining the weight loss reality show and how she will keep up the momentum of her newly-discovered healthy habits once the show wraps up.

What led you to being on DietTribe?

The idea was brought to me by my dear friend, LaNessa, another DietTribe member. I, fortunately or unfortunately, fell into that category of someone who needed to lose weight. I never had an issue with food or my weight until I had my second child and the pregnancy weight never came off.

I also never envisioned that I would be on a weight loss reality show. I always thought that having a show where people just needed to lose 3o, 40, or 50 pounds was a great idea rather than having to lose 100 pounds.

What is it like working as a team to lose weight?

Working as a team definitely makes a difference. Knowing that I had someone to workout with at 3:30 pm is great motivation. You can’t have as many slip-ups when you’re accountable to others. If it’s just you, you can make excuses to yourself, but with your friends, you can’t make those excuses.

Plus, having that supportive bond is so important. I can call up any of the others when I’m having an off day and they can know what exactly I am going through. They can relate and say, “Yep, that burger was staring me in the face, too.”

What have you learned about nutrition since being on the show?

Our eating plan is very clean. Much cleaner that what we are used to. I was hungry for a few days, then my body got used to it. I realized that I don’t need to eat fast food every day. I can eat veggies and be satisfied and I have more energy now. At first, I was just making small changes and then before I realized, my entire plate had been overhauled and my healthy habits have started to trickle down to my family.

I have three daughters and cooking for all of us has been pretty easy. If I make whole-wheat pasta and steamed vegetables for them, I will maybe have a small portion of the pasta or my husband and I will just eat the veggies and a piece of grilled chicken breast.

How do you plan on maintaining your weight once DietTribe Season Two is over?

I plan on taking all that I have learned from Jessie and Stacy and incorporating into my life. I need to be realistic and understand that every day is not going to be a breeze, but I have to learn how to be strong and make wise decisions. I am constantly reminding myself that this is a lifestyle change, not a diet. And sometimes, I have to take it one meal at a time. In fact, just taking it one moment at a time is what gets me through.

Stay tuned as DietsInReview.com continues to bring you more interviews and recaps from DietTribe Season Two.

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Mary Lasnier Interview – DietTribe Season 2

So, first things first. Coach Mo is gone, Tracey stayed in the game. The contestants were shocked. After they get a hold of themselves, it’s straight into a challenge. This challenge had the teams digging up crates to get a prize that the ever-so-clever Alison Sweeney kept a secret. The blue team ends up being the better archaeologists, or moles, or whatever else that digs, and wins. The prize is a week’s trip home. For either team. The blue team makes the smart decision and sends the black team home, hoping for some massive stumbles.

The blue team stays on the ranch and has some generally awesome workouts courtesy of Bob, while the black team is faced with the lonely, frightening world called reality. We see a lot of different things from these contestants. Daniel finally realizes that he is becoming a thinner, healthier person, and is making that mental change. Dina is balancing being a mother with exercising and making it a part of a daily routine.

Meanwhile, Amanda is still getting accustomed to being in a gym. This actually happens to a lot of people. I know that if I don’t go to the gym with plan, I’ll get lost. It’s a good thing that she is finding out these hardships early on so that when she does go home she can kick some butt.

Shay begins to realize that just because she is changing, the people around her will not necessarily do so as well. Again, something everyone has to deal with when losing weight at home. We all have to determine who enables us, and who helps us.

To me the biggest story at home is Danny. He is 100% focused and doesn’t seem to let anything get in his way of BL. He seems very diligent about his exercise and food journals and will do amazing in the game and onward. Flash-forward to the ranch. Jillian is giving another merciless beating to Daniel. She finally breaks him down and he is really starting to realize that he is changing. It’s great to see contestants ‘click’ and Daniel is a long time coming.

At the weigh-in, the blue team’s strategy pays off and they barely edge out the black team (and some stellar performances). Danny lost 15 pounds and is kicking butt; Amanda lost 5, proving to herself that she can do this at home; Daniel, although having a great mental week, didn’t have a great week, losing no weight. He seems to be on some crazy yo-yo that I’d be willing to bet doesn’t end well, unfortunately. Dina is the unfortunate one, being sent home by her black team, saving Daniel. Rudy is at 84 pounds lost and has one week to break Dane’s record of weight loss. I hope he does it, but that will have to wait until next week… Until next time BLers.

-Mike Morelli

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Mike Morelli’s Biggest Loser Recap – 8.6

“Yes, NBC has finally lost their minds and decided to give me my own show,” posted the trainer on her Facebook page.

We spoke with Jillian, and executive producers Mark Koops and Ellen Rakieten, to learn more about her thoughts on the new show and what viewers can expect. Listen now as she tells us why she’s excited about “Losing It,” what we will see as she works with children, and how Curtis Stone came to be a part of the show.

Jillian says the show will allow us to see more facets of who she is and learn more about the methodology of the Jillian Michaels approach, things she says we miss on Biggest Loser. “I’m passionate about showing more of what we do,” she says.

There was talk last spring that Jillian was working on a show of her own, with a sort of “Super Nanny” approach. And it looks like that’s the format they’ve settled on. Tired of hearing from Biggest Loser fans that the weight loss would be easy enough if they could make it to the ranch, Jillian and producers set to work to alleviate that problem. “So we’re telling people, we’ll come to you and teach you how to be healthy.”

Jillian says with “Losing It” there are no more excuses. She’ll spend five to seven days with a family and follow them to work, school and the rest of their day-to-day lives, then evaluate their lifestyles and offer tools and information they can implement to enact real change. She calls it their marching orders, and assures us they’ll be following up to see how the families are doing. She’ll also make sure that the changes she suggests fit in with the families situations. If they can’t afford a gym, she’ll show them how to get the workouts done at home.

To help, she’s recruited Chef Curtis Stone, a popular fixture in the Biggest Loser kitchen. Jillian calls him a “natural and obvious choice” for the show. Executive producer Ellen Rakieten says that “Losing It” will actually feature a host of consulting guests to help families in areas where Jillian is not the expert – like cooking or finance.

Think your family is ready to face the reality that Jillian will deliver? “Losing It” is casting!

Families with children ages 9 or older will be considered. Learn more casting details at CastingDuo.com.

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Jillian Michaels Casting New Show “Losing It”