‘The Biggest Loser’: Jennifer says she’s misunderstood
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Jennifer has been portrayed by her teammates as a petulant child. In one of the best lines of the season so far, Antone said she needed a doctor, but then quipped that Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, Dr. Oz and Dr. Dre combined might not be able to fix her. Her teammates blasted her for staying to herself, not participating in the teammwork, and then complaining about being left alone.
So it was no surprise that she was eliminated this week, becoming the first member of Bob’s stalwart team to crumble. In fact, it was those fellow teammates who helped send her packing. ‘You have become a major distraction for everyone here,’ Antone said as he voted against her.
But in today’s media call, Jennifer, who has lost more than 100 pounds so far, said she has been misunderstood. She said her leg injury early on limited her to pool workouts, and even though she pleaded with her teammates to join her on occasion, they turned her down.
She said she has an upbeat, sunny personality and sees the best in people, and was saddened that her teammates never got to see that side of her. She said she also regretted not doing a better job of trying to fit in.
‘I was isolated in that pool for weeks because of that injury,’ she said. And that’s what she was referring to when she told Bob — or snitched to Bob, depending on your prespective — that she felt alone. By the time she was cleared to do other workouts, ‘alliances had already been formed,’ and she often ended up being the odd person out.
Moreover, ‘I was becoming a threat’ on the scale, she said.
Now she plans to be a threat from home. She is actively training for the marathon. If she wins, she’ll gain an automatic entry into the finale.
So what was up with all the lousy weight-loss numbers this week? Was it all that Halloween candy sitting around?
The teams collapsed into singles for Halloween week, and we had plenty of cotume play, including Ali rocking a Bride of Frankenstein look as the trainers dressed up like the Three Musketeers. This week the focus was indeed one for all and all for one — at least until it all fell apart.
If the players combined lost 90 pounds total, they would all be safe from elimination. But despite getting beat downs from all three coaches, a.k.a. the Triangle of Death, the numbers were a mess. Sunny GAINED 5 pounds, and I thought she was going to faint. Bonnie lost only 1 pound, and Ramone lost just 2 pounds. What to make of that?
Other random observations:
— Ramone and Jessica. Say it with me: Awwwwww! But it’s not going easy. Anna brought up the love birds at the weigh-in (I kinda think she did the right thing by giving voice to it), but Ramone was having none of it. So I guess we’ll find out the answer to the question: Can you find love, keep it and still lose weight at the ranch?
— I think the girls carrying the boys on their backs is a snapped leg waiting to happen.
— ‘John is unstoppable,’ says Bob, and so far he’s right. But ... I dunno. I just feel like John is always piously saying the right thing and then doing another. Poised to tie the ranch record set by Moses for losing 100 pounds in six weigh-ins, he said: ‘If I’m blessed enough to tie Moses ... I think that’s great. But I didn’t come here to make records or break records. I want to get healthy.’ And I could almost hear a chorus of angels in the background. But when he did tie the record, he was plenty proud of himself and hoisted Ali up like a rag doll.
Come the elimination, it was all but clear that Jennifer was on her way. She says she’s made peace with it. Now her goal is to make Bob proud. ‘I’m going to become that athlete that he sees in me.’
What did you think this week about Jennifer, and John? And was Ramone right? Did Anna cross a line by bringing affairs of the heart into the weight room?
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— Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch
