Monday, March 1, 2010

Episode 6: "The Lie"


The morning after elimination, Kristy jogs up to the Villa and discovers that Garry is gone. Before she can stop herself, with a rather rude statement flying out of her mouth, the Red Army starts giving excuses for voting a strong member like Garry off their team. In her confessional though, Christine admits, “I am glad Garry is gone.”

Kristy is understandably livid and calls Rashmi out for losing the last challenge for the Red Team. Carlo admits to the mistake made by the Red Team, saying that Garry’s departure has put the team so far behind in the competition, that he cannot imagine the Reds competing with the Blue team at any level moving forward.

Not keen to entertain any more weak excuses from the team, Kristy comes down hard on them and makes it more than clear that the competition is, “not a free ride”. It becomes obvious to the team that they were in for a punishment at their upcoming training session.

A stark contrast to Kristy’s wrath on the Red Team is the mood in the Blue family. The day after elimination starts off on the right note for team Blue. Seeing all his team members there in the gym, Dave’s excitement knows no bounds. “I am incredibly proud of the team, for all their energy and effort that they put in.”

The Blues are cocky with their win, with Martha summing up how the team feels - “Of course the Blue Team is the stronger team. I mean, we win all the challenges!”


On the contrary, the mood on the Red Team is lower than it has ever been. But Kristy doesn’t seem to care. It is obvious that she isn’t there to take them on a walk in the park, but to drive them hard. “You get rid of Garry. One of our strongest competitors. You have to pick up the slack.” She tells Nadia, who is struggling with the gruelling exercises. Kristy’s punishment towards her remaining 5 members on the Red Team reaches a boiling point when she forces Kevin to kiss her foot while doing push ups. Needless to say, having lost the weigh-in, the training session for the Reds is endlessly excruciating.

The Blue family is doing better than ever and Dave decides to spend some quality time with them at the Villa. He is even bearing gifts - as a sign of his appreciation for each and every member of the Blue Team. Tony shares his thoughts on Dave - “Dave Nuku our trainer is pleased with our winning streak & how we gel together. And Marilyn of course has her own take on Dave’s gesture - “It shows that he is not stingy!”

As the Blues are enjoying this moment, the dejected Reds walk in. Nadia like the others is feeling low and breaks down in her confessional about training being too hard. “Kristy is really pissed. I can understand. But to carry on like this is just *beep* up.”

Sitting in the living room, the Reds are sapped of all energy. And Carlo is the first to call a spade a spade - “Right now the Blue Team has got 4 strong men that are getting fitter and fitter. And the Red Team has - myself & Kev.” He lays on the sarcasm on the team - “I don’t think this has ever happened in Biggest Loser history that one team has been picked off so soon.”

Damietta returns from hospital after falling ill the prior week. The blue team is overjoyed that they are a complete unit again. She tells the team about her gastric infection that will keep her out of training for a couple of days, after which she will be able to train as normal. Marilyn wastes no time in cracking a joke when she states - “Yeah it’s about time you got your butt working.”

Dave pays Damietta a visit and is thrilled that he has his entire team together. But then instead of telling Dave the truth, Damietta spins another yarn for Dave. ”The doctor told me I have got acute gastroentitis. So I have to take rest for more than 2 weeks. So I am not going to be here in the Blue Team any more.”

Dave, naturally shocked at this unexpected revelation, is supportive of Damietta. He thinks the reason for her early departure from the competition is purely medical and he reassures her that he is not disappointed - “I want you to know that you would never let me down.” Dave does not realise what Damietta has just done and is only concerned about her health.

There is a liar in the Blue family and no one realises it.

Back in training, Dave is surprised to see Damietta on an exercise cycle. Damietta reveals that she decided to come to training as it may be her last session and she is keen to show her best side. The Blues are feeling and looking confident about being the stronger team in the competition. “The Blue Team training is not rocket science. It’s simple & effective,” says David, echoing the sentiment of the entire team.

As the training session ends, Dave decides to talk to Damietta, while the rest of the team troupes out of the gym. Alone with Dave, Damietta grabs the opportunity and comes clean about her lie. She tells Dave how she is mentally and physically tired and can’t seem to cope with the competition. Dave gives her all his attention and never once accuses her of having lied to him. “I don’t feel bad that Damietta has lied to me. I believe that the two hospital trips... has played a role in her feeling depressed about her progress.” After forgiving her, Dave hands her a barbell, equivalent to the amount of weight she had lost thus far in the competition. Driving home the message of how far she has come in the competition, Dave manages to change Damietta’s mind.

At the end of their talk, Damietta decides to not abandon her Blue family, and simply states “I can do it, Dave”.


It is Challenge day and the contestants walk into a big hall. Seeing all kinds of food laid out, Carlo voices everyone’s concern. “We all saw the food. And we knew that we were going to have to eat something.” Sarimah welcomes the contestants to their first temptation challenge. The stakes are high and Sarimah reveals that there are 3 immunities hidden under a plate of the unhealthy food table consisting of doughnuts, pizza, and soda. However, only one immunity plate lies hidden underneath the healthy food table, consisting of vegetables, yogurt, and fruit. Knowing they would have to choose between the unhealthy & healthy spread, both teams were clear that they would have to base their decision on the grand prize. “The first person who wins immunity also has the choice of adding a 3 kilo weight loss for their team’s total at the upcoming weigh in, or seeing a loved one. And as usual, the team that wins, gets the power to decide which members to sit out at this week’s weigh in.

Both teams attack the food with the seven Blues going for the healthy spread & the five Reds throwing caution to the winds, and heading to the unhealthy table. The Reds pray for some luck while stuffing their face with doughnuts & pizza slices. The plates of salad & fruit seem to be easier to down with the Blues powering through. With a bit of retching thrown in, it looks like it could be anyone’s game. But it seems to be one Red members lucky day! Nadia stuffs her face with a dough nut and underneath the plate is the precious “I”, giving her immunity, as well as the 3 kilogram weight advantage or seeing a loved one, not to mention the all important power to choose who to sit out from the Blue Team at the upcoming weigh in. “To win the immunity plate was a bliss.” Says Nadia.


The Red Team stops eating, grateful to Nadia for finding the immunity plate. The Blues are struggling but not willing to give up. Martha finally gets lucky and finds immunity. The Blues are thrilled to finally stop shoving food down their throats.

It is the first challenge win for the Reds, and Nadia selflessly chooses to help the team by choosing the 3-kilogram advantage over seeing a loved one. With the Challenge wrapped up, it is time for the teams to head to the gym.

“After the challenge... we were just sitting there. Especially me and Marilyn, we really felt sick after eating all that food” shares Martha. Burps & belches greet Dave in the gym. The Blue family gathers around and breaks the news to their trainer that they lost an important Challenge. One that has given the Reds a crucial victory. Dave is concerned that the Blues are now in deep water. “Now we’re on the back foot. We need to be even more committed.” Despite his team feeling poorly, he pushes them to sweat it all out in the session.

“We’ve got some good news and some bad news.” Carlo’s ominous words greet Kristy in the gym. She is over the moon about the first ever win for the Reds but flips out in a characteristic “Kristy” style about all the calories consumed by the team! Knowing that the 3-kilo weight advantage may not be enough, Kristy steps up the training once more for the Reds - “I was not surprised about the choice that they had made. But still I was kind of pissed about the calories. All I could think about was how much exercise they would have to do to get it off.”


Later, back at the Villa, Nadia decides to go for a walk and as she steps out, she gets a huge surprise. Nadia’s brother Hussin, and her two children, Hannah & Farhan, is there to spend some quality time with her. Having given up the choice to see a loved one, Nadia was not expecting such a wonderful reward after winning the Challenge for her team. Tears, hugs, and much chatter fill the evening and leave Nadia feeling even more pumped to do well in the competition - “After seeing the kids, I want to change my life so I’m going to go out for it. I’m going to go all out.”

At their last chance work out, the Reds give it their all. They want to leave nothing to chance at this crucial weigh in. “It looks like we’re holding all the cards here. But if we lose this - what the hell is going on?” , voices Kristy’s at the workout.

The night before the weigh in, the Blues are dealt a severe blow with Tony being taken to the hospital with a severe kidney stone problem. Aaron refuses to be pessimistic and hopes that his teammate will return in time for the weigh in, “Thinking about Tony not coming back is not something I am dwelling on much because I’m thinking positive. I am an optimist.”

With a 3-kilogram weight advantage and the power of sitting out two Blue Team members in their pockets, the Reds can’t help but have smiles on their faces as they troop into the gym for the weigh in.

Right off the bat, the drama begins. Sarimah tells the contestants that due to Damietta’s lack of training from being ill, her weight will not count towards her team’s total weight loss. And since the teams cannot be uneven given that the reds will be choosing two blue team members to sit, she asks the Red Team to sit one person out in order to even it out. Nadia names Rashmi to sit out.

It is finally time for the Red Army to reveal which two Blue Team contestants to sit out. “We’re going to sit out the two strongest from the Blue - Hafiz and David.” - Nadia’s words echo through the already tense room.

The actual weigh in begins with Tony’s absence, having been taken to the hospital the night before. His one-kilo weight loss, checked at the Prince Court Medical Centre, leaves the blues disappointed.

With her weight not being factored, Damietta’s weight loss of 2 kilograms still leaves just a -1 for the Blues on the board, and with their added reward from the challenge, a pre-existing -3 for the Reds.

Seeing Rashmi’s one kilogram weight loss, the Red Team realises that they made the right decision. “When I saw just one on the board I knew that my team made the right decision to sit out Rashmi”, Nadia exclaims.

Even though Hafiz’s weight was not to be added to the team’s total weight loss, he’s keen to get on to the scales. Seeing a -4 kilo on the board puts a smile on his face. But it doesn’t last long as he realises that his effort has gone to waste for his team.

Nadia is up next. Meeting her family gave her a boost, but not enough to put a higher number on the board. Her two-kilogram weight loss does at least add to her team’s weight loss lead.

King David gets onto the scales next. Loud gasps fill the room as a six kg weight loss pops up for David. The indestructible leader of the competition seems to have found his feet again! “I thank god for losing six kilograms. But not being counted to your team’s weight loss really was disheartening for me.” Says David.

The Red Team continues its lead as Martha weighs in with a minus two, as does her rival on the opposing team, Christine.

And then Marilyn, with her 4-kilogram weight loss, gives the Blues a chance to even the scores. But the Reds lead continues with Kevin’s minus 3 for the Reds.

With only one person left from either team to be weighed in, it all comes down to Aaron for the Blue family and Carlo for the Red army. Aaron is consistent with his weight loss and puts a solid minus four on the board - immediately giving his tense team a lead for the first time at the weigh in, but by just one kilo.

It was time for the last man standing - Carlo knows that he needs at least a two-kilo weight loss to take his team to victory. Feeling the pressure, he adds, “I was the last one left and we were one kilo behind. I was definitely visualising a five-kilo loss. But I was starting to get a bit uncertain about what was going to happen.”

All is set right in the Red house. Carlo posts a 3-kilogram weight loss for the week and the Red team wins the weigh in by 2 kilos. Tasting victory after being branded the Biggest Losers of the week, they are overjoyed.

“When we realised that we had won the weigh in I felt a very big relief on my part.” Carlo reflects.

The Blue Team knows the hardest part of the day has yet to come. They head to the villa to deliberate on whom to send home. With close bonds shared between each of them, the Blue family knew this was not going to be easy. David sums up the chat succinctly - “I’d just like to say that no matter what happens in the elimination room, it’s nothing personal. Whichever person goes home just know that we love you and we care about you and you will always be in our prayers.”

In the elimination room, Sarimah gets straight down to business and asks Marilyn to be the first to kick off the elimination process. Starting off on a positive note she shares, “This person has showed me great determination and inspired me along the way.” She then reveals Damietta’s name on her plate.

Martha is next in line for this difficult task. “The person I voted for I actually really like. But I think that they have reached their own limits.” And she then reveals Damietta’s name.

Aaron is a little more honest, refusing to sugar coat his reasons for choosing his vote. “I feel this person had a string of unfortunate events and that has hindered their performance and that is why I am voting for Damietta.”

David, Damietta’s fellow Indonesian has the deciding vote. Like Aaron, he too lays it out like it is, without beating around the bush. “I feel this person could have contributed more in weight loss to the team... she didn’t deliver.” He lifts the cover off the plate, and Damietta’s name is on the card. The team had spoken.

Damietta walks out with her head held high, “I come with a smile and I shall go with a smile.”

And now there are 11. The race for being crowned Asia’s first Biggest Loser is heating up with the US$100,000 prize money, closer than ever.

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