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Biggest Loser 3rd Place – Tara Costa

Brandi — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:04:01 +0000

Going in to the Biggest Loser 7 finale, Tara Costa was as close as you get to a sure thing. She was an immediate competitor on the Biggest Loser ranch, winning a record-breaking 12 challenges and losing 135 pounds while on campus, more than any other woman in the show’s history. However, last night, Helen Phillips swept the win out from underneath her.

Tara has reason to celebrate regardless, she lost an amazing 155 pounds, currently weighing a slender 139 pounds.

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Biggest Loser 3rd Place – Tara Costa

Coleen’s Biggest Loser Recap 7-18

Coleen — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:23:20 +0000

It all started 17 weeks ago. Eleven couples began a journey to change their lives. This journey has given the final four contestants the ability to see what they are capable of. Ron, Helen, Tara and Mike have all been sent home for thirty days and will return to the ranch for one final weigh-in before the finale. This weigh-in will determine who is in the finale as the final three. It’s up to the contestants to find balance at home and make a system that works for their lives. As if transforming your home life to match your new body wasn’t tough enough, everyone receives a surprise package at their doorstep.

Everyone receives a DVD from Alison that reads “PLAY ME.” She has a very important message for the contestants, they have one more major accomplishment to conquer. For their final challenge they will be running a full marathon. Just 17 weeks ago, the thought of a marathon to most of these contestants was exactly that, just a thought.

Jillian and Bob make their way out to the contestants’ homes for a little one on one time with them to remind them that the game of the Biggest Loser will be over and the game of life is much bigger and more important. It’s Biggest Loser then the rest of your life. Helping the contestants find the balance they need along with the strength and determination to take their final challenge head on, everyone heads back to California with full focus.

Now for the challenge they will be running 26.2 miles and if they finish the race, $10,000 will be donated to the charity of their choice. With the support of their trainers, Biggest Loser’s and at-home winners, Michelle, Bernie, Ali, Jim, and Heba, the contestants received some great motivation and inspiration to cross the finish line. One by one, Tara, Helen, Mike and Ron, complete the marathon.

This week’s weigh-in will determine who is in the finale. With Helen and Tara safe above the yellow line, it will be up to America to vote in the third finalist. Ron and Mike, father and son, are below the yellow line together. America must choose who will compete with Tara and Helen in the live finale. Regardless, every contestants has worked so hard to get where they are. Everyone is a winner in this and getting your life back is the ultimate prize.

Don’t miss the three-hour live finale Tuesday, May 12. I will be reporting live from the finale. Post your questions for the contestants below and we’ll do our best to get those asked.

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Coleen’s Biggest Loser Recap 7-18

Vote for the Biggest Loser Finalist – Ron or Mike?

Brandi — Wed, 06 May 2009 02:20:33 +0000

Once again, Biggest Loser is leaving the fate of its contestants in your hands America. Tara and Helen secured their positions as finalists tonight, but the third finalist is yet to be named. It’s a “worst case scenario” for father-son team Ron and Mike, as they fell below the yellow line together. One will go on to compete for the coveted Biggest Loser title and the $250,000 prize, while the other vies for the $100,000 at-home prize.

[poll id="10"]

After you’ve voted here, make your vote count at NBC, where you can vote up to 10 times online and three times by phone.

The results will be revealed during the three-hour live finale Tuesday, May 12. Coleen and I will be there covering the event and will have interviews from the finale stage with the newest winner!

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Vote for the Biggest Loser Finalist – Ron or Mike?

Interview with Laura Denoux, Eliminated Biggest Loser Week 15

Brandi — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:19:47 +0000

The journey of Laura Denoux on the Biggest Loser can simply be summed up by two milestones. The first, early on in the season Jillian Michaels called her “the weakest link” on the team and publicly called her out for bringing down the team. The second, her final weigh-in displayed a +3 gain that would send her home after an emotional farewell with Jillian.

These events show Laura’s growth from disinterested to completely focused on changing her life. She says Jillian’s earlier assessment was fair because she didn’t believe in herself at that time. Then she slowly started realizing she wanted to be there, she started to get it and that she loves diet and exercise. A stress fracture in her hip limited the exercise she could do in the last week, contributed to a weight gain and she was eliminated.

If you train under Jillian Michaels, she makes you work for it and doesn’t handout any favors. The relationship between Laura and Jillian seemed strained, maybe Jillian asking too much or Laura not giving enough. Jillian said a tearful goodbye to Laura in the final weigh-in and it was clear the relationship had changed. “I realized I needed her and she was being harsh with good intentions,” says Laura. “I got over it. She did it to open my eyes.”

Laura says the show also benefited the relationship she has with teammate Tara Costa. They met as plus-size models in Miami, as they traveled in the same circles and shared friends. They both realized they’d gained weight and decided they might be perfect for Biggest Loser. They were the only people they could trust at the ranch, and today they are best friends.

How is Laura’s weight loss journey now? Moving forward! She’s excited about continuing to lose weight despite the hip fracture and a fracture in her knee (not mentioned on the show). She sticks to low-impact work like weights, training the upper body, spin class, swimming and limited cardio. She is also committed to physical therapy. She’s proof that an injury doesn’t rule out any kind of workout, you just have to adjust your approach.

If you see Laura, she’ll be sporting an entirely new wardrobe and still loving her new red hair. As a lifelong blonde, she said it was emotional to change her tresses, but now she is very happy with it. She’s also spent the $1,000 gift card from Macy’s, given to her by Tim Gunn as part of the week 15 makeover episode. Gunn encouraged her to play with color, flaunt what should be flaunted and to not hide behind black. No longer having to shop in plus-size sections or go to specialty stores, she said she loves picking a size 12/14 off the rack (formerly a 24). “It felt amazing to know that we’ve come that far,” she says about the makeovers she and fellow contestants received.

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Interview with Laura Denoux, Eliminated Biggest Loser Week 15

Interview with Blaine Cotter, Eliminated Biggest Loser Week 6

Brandi — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:45:18 +0000

Blaine Cotter left Biggest Loser season seven on his own terms, and very glad his competitors respected his wishes. Blaine had a newborn son and family waiting for him at home, and with only 50 pounds left to lose, thought it was best to let teammate Dane remain on campus. After a six-week run, in which he and his cousin posted some of the best weight loss in the house, Blaine left the house at 299 pounds, a total loss of 66 pounds. Today, he is 275 pounds and working toward an iron man competition in May.

Some have questioned why Blaine chose to be a part of the show knowing his wife was expecting. He explained that he and Dane had tried for season six, and were then asked to try out again for the current season. When the call came, he says it was worth the sacrifice. “I may miss the birth of my child… but it’s a matter of living past his birth and birth of his children,” he shared. Blaine’s health was in jeopardy when he joined Biggest Loser. He had a starting weight of 365 pounds and was taking eight medications every day.

Blaine says he didn’t go in to the ranch with “a whole lot of ideas” about what was waiting for them. He says Dane was the big fan of the show and dragged him along. Which is interesting because Dane is like the invisible contestant this season. He’s dropped the most weight this season, 83 pounds in six weeks, and stands to be a formidable competitor. So where has Dane been? “We’re not sure why,” laughs Blaine, noting that they’ve noticed too.

“With his overbearing, loud-mouth cousin gone,” Blaine joked, maybe we’ll get to see Dane going forward. So we asked Blaine to introduce us to his cousin. He says Dane doesn’t create any drama and it’s amazing what he can do. Jillian doesn’t have to push Dane as hard as she did Blaine. “He’s made for the show and this environment,” said Blaine.

The other relationship the producers seemed to skim over is the one with Blaine and Tara. Her emotional good-bye during the elimination is a result of what Blaine calls “a strong friendship” that grew while the partners were at home. Blaine says he, Dane, Mandi and Tara “all got very close. The four of us pushed each other a lot.” He then explained “Even when Laura is there, Tara is still by herself. We were her partner.”

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Interview with Blaine Cotter, Eliminated Biggest Loser Week 6