One couple against all – talk about a Loser twist like no other! Nathan and Andrew have dodged an unexpected elimination and, like all contestants, have been reminded that you just never know what’s around the corner.
Last week Nathan was talking about taking a Gladiator approach to his weight-loss journey; he and Andrew are going to need to embrace this way of thinking if they’ve got any chance of trumping the other couples on the scales this week.
But they’re in for a real fight as not only are statistics on the side of the other couples, Shannan is a master of the mental edge which is probably why he tackled ‘thought blockages’ in last night’s training session. For example, jumping onto that step looked pretty simple but I understood why Cameron was so getting so frustrated.
When you’re overweight, many things in life are embarrassing. Not only do you worry about getting hurt, you’re often ridiculed or laughed at, especially when you do something physical, so you build up a fear of trying new things and do everything possible to avoid being a ‘public failure’.
With his difficultly jumping onto the box, Cam was displaying the mentality that I call ‘fat brain’. Fat brain is a result of years of telling yourself that you can’t do it. And because you’ve struggled before, you can never push past it.
That’s where Loser is so unique. It’s not just about the weight loss – the mental component is so important. As the contestants prove to themselves each week, your body can do amazing things if you move your brain out of the way. Like Shannan said,“You don’t have to be a slave to your body… If you believe in yourself you can do the incredible.”
Incredible or perhaps unbelievable was what I thought about the other curve ball thrown to the contestants last night. As soon as you see a locked fridge, bare cupboards, you know that it can only mean one thing – the warehouse!
A $5-per-day food budget vs takeaway was a difficult choice but, if I had been standing in front of those two warehouse crates, I would have taken the takeaway.
Not only will the takeaway team have a big training advantage – they’ll get at least an extra hour in the gym each day while Nathan and Andrew prepare their meals – they’ll also learn the important skill of making healthy menu choices which starts with looking up your options in The Biggest Loser Club's food search or Calorie Counter.
Sean’s disappointment at being lumped with takeaway is understandable but, as Sharif reassured him, you’ve got to control the controllables and let the variables take care of themselves. This is a lesson that Shannan teaches us in the house and it’s been a ‘rock’ for me ever since I heard it. It means that you can’t control the game (or life), but you can always control your diet and exercise – even when you’re eating takeaway!
It will be interesting to see how this maxim carries the contestants through tonight's temptation. Be sure to tune in at 7PM on TEN and check your inbox in the morning for my daily update.
Episode 21 highlights
If you missed last night's show, you can watch the full episode at The Biggest Loser TV show website.
I've share my favourite segment below – it's where contesants such as Cameron, Julie and Sammy overcome their fear and leap with two feet onto the step and then the bench. It's a perfect example of what Shannan means when he says, "Believe in yourself."