The Biggest Loser Finale extravaganza

Finale low-down

The last few episodes of The Biggest Loser had us on the edge of our seats. As the finale drew near, the excitement built. Each week was survival of the fittest as challenges, temptations and nail-biting weigh-ins revealed who the finalists would be.

The final 4 ended up being 3 tough girls – Margie Cummins, Kasey Cheesman and Brenda Hunt with favourite Alex representing the boys.

This year’s Biggest Loser finale did not disappoint. It came down to a matter of grams, but a winner was crowned. Among the eliminated contestants, the weight loss was impressive. Check out how our 2012 competitors fared on the scales ...

The official results leaderboard

The Final Four 2012
Contestant	Starting weight	Finale weight	Total weight loss	% weight loss	Ranking
Margie Cummins	159.1kg	85.9kg	-73.1kg	46.01%	1
Alex Zorzi	161.6kg	89.4kg	-72.2kg	44.68%	2
Kasey Cheesman	132.8kg	78.8kg	-54kg	40.66%	3
Brenda Hunt	120.8kg	76.5kg	-44.3kg	36.67%	4
Eliminated Contestants 2012
The Red Team – trainer Michelle Bridges
Lydia Hantke	141.9kg	78.8kg	-63.1kg	44.47%	1*
Lisa Ritherdon	104.2kg	69kg	-35.2kg	33.78%	5*
The Blue Team – trainer Shannan Ponton
Ryan Preuss	241kg	186.2kg	-54.8kg	22.74%	9*
Hamish Elliott	148.7kg	100kg	-48.7kg	32.75%	7*
James Moore	136.3kg	93.2kg	-43.1kg	31.62%	n/a
Luke Stephens	145.2kg	111.1kg	-34.1kg	23.48%	n/a
The White Team – trainer Tiffiny Hall
Michelle Cortesao	110.4kg	67.4kg	-43kg	38.95%	2*
Rebekah Gilchrist	126.3kg	79kg	-47.3kg	37.45%	3*
Selena Brown	163.5kg	125.1kg	-38.4kg	23.49%	8*
The Black Team – trainer the Commando
Simon Hurley	164.3kg	110.3kg	-54kg	32.87%	6*
Graham Pilson	209.3kg	135.9kg	-70.2kg	34.06%	4*
Shane Edwards	164.8kg	129.5kg	-35.5kg	21.42%	10*

 _{*Ranking amongst eliminated contestants.}

Winner Margie Cummins

Margie’s strength, no-nonsense attitude and sense of humour made her a favourite on The Biggest Loser 2012.

Now that she has lost 73kg and been crowned the winner (and scored $220 000), she’s on a high and loving life more than ever.

She entered the house a woman who was angry with everything, including herself. But as the weight fell off, the real Margie emerged – a loving, caring Margie who finally feels like her real self again.

Before she does anything, she’s taking her fellow finalists on a holiday to Bali, where she and her surfboard will get reacquainted with the waves. After that? The sky’s the limit!

“I just want to live my life, because you know what? You’ve only have one life. You have to make the most of it.”

Read Margie’s story here, and check out her photos to see her amazing transformation.

Runner-up Alex Zorzi

Margie might have called him an “old man”, but those words couldn’t be further from the truth about 50-year-old Alex Zorzi now.

Despite injuring himself during the first minute of the first episode, Alex clung to his dream.

“I just kept pushing and pushing, like a bulldog,” he says. His tenacity paid off and he lost more than 70kg.

Before he went on the show, Alex had constant pain in his legs from carrying his 161.6kg weight.

“I didn’t even want to get out of bed,” he says.

Now, he likes nothing more going to the shopping centre – something he never used to do for fear of being stared at – and going clothes shopping.

“I’m just loving it!” he says.

Read Alex’s inspiring story, and look at his before and after photos.

At-home winner Lydia Hantke

Determined Lydia clung on almost until the end.

After she was eliminated in week 10, she rejoined the competition as part of Shannon Ponton’s secret team. Following her second elimination in week 13, she went home and kept at it.

From weighing 140kg when she entered the house, she succeeded in losing 63.1kg and 44.47% of her starting body weight – the highest percentage of all the at-home contestants. This stunning result made her the winner of the at-home competitors.

Good one, Lydia!