There is so much sadness and joy at the very end of Loser. Despite the relief that Sharif, Tiff and Sammy must be feeling now that they’ve finally made it through to Finale, the sadness of their very final training session with Shannan and Michelle would still be lingering.
I remember my last training session with those two like it was yesterday. It was very emotional because on the one hand I couldn’t wait to get home to be with my family and on the other hand I was so sad that this whole wonderful experience was coming to a close. I could have trained forever that night just so it wouldn’t end…
At the end of last night’s workout when Tiff described what the trainers had done for her, I got goosebumps. She said, “They’ve given me the keys to unlock Tiffany – they’ve given me freedom.”
Boy, do I know what she’s talking about. You see, because of Loser I finally feel like myself – for the first time ever in my life I feel like Alison.
Before Loser Alison was a mother and a wife – I played those roles (which were and are still are very important to me) but the difference is that back then I was just a shell and didn’t have much of Alison inside me at all. But now, like Tiff, I feel free and alive and able play many roles and do whatever I set out to achieve in life.
That’s why I always say this show is so much more than diet and exercise – I truly found myself during Loser, like I think Tiff, Sammy, Sharif and even Cam have too. The weight loss they have all achieved is sensational but it’s everything you learn along the way that makes this journey so profound. Loser teaches you the tools you need to keep the weight off and, ironically, to stop you from putting it on in the first place.
One of those tools is sacrifice; and Cam was such a sweetie to fall on his sword and sacrifice his place at Finale for Sammy. I don’t think you could expect anything less from a father who wants the best for his baby girl. I know at times Cam has been a bit of a stick-in-the-mud, but he’s really come such a long way and should be so proud of his achievements.
When we first met him on Fitzroy Island, I thought no way is this guy going to last. He was a moaner, allergic to change and not prepared to step out of his comfort zone. But Cam has ridden the wave of this journey; he’s stared down the pain and proved, no matter what your age, you can turn your life around.
It was a bitter twist of the game that Cam had to hand over his Nothing bracelet to Sharif. Sharif has never been there for the money but I know he'd love the title so I hope having the bracelet actually spurs him on to work even harder, win the crown and prove that the rewards of this game are so much more than money
I can’t wait for the return of Bob and Nathan on tonight’s episode to see who has the numbers to clench the final spot at Finale. That’s at 7PM on TEN and then at 8:30PM, it’s what we’ve all been waiting for – the 2009 BIGGEST LOSER FINALE. It won’t be as good tomorrow on catch-up TV so DON’T MISS IT. I’ll be back in the morning with my final monster blog of the series.
If you missed last night's show, you can watch the full episode at The Biggest Loser TV show website.
It meant so much to me last year that I can't help but share the contestants' final last-chance training session with Shannan and Michelle – I hope you find inspiration in it!
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Alison Braun is one of the most-loved contestants in Biggest Loser history. Since losing over 55kg during Series 3, she has kept the weight off with the help of The Biggest Loser Club and, more recently, The Biggest Loser Club Meal Replacement Program.