'The Biggest Loser' Winner: It's Ali Vincent's time

Ali bested the boys -- and conventional wisdom -- to become the very first female to proudly call herself  "The Biggest Loser."

Fans had a big say in the outcome of tonight's live finale on NBC: They voted online to decide whether Mark or Roger should be the third finalist to compete for the prize along with Ali and Kelly. The thinking going into the evening was that a victory for Roger -- the former football player who started the game at 363 lbs. -- would mean defeat for Ali because Roger still had so much weight to lose.

But conventional wisdom was dead wrong.

Roger reached the finals, but conceded that he'd hit a plateau when he and the other contestants left "The Biggest Loser" ranch and continued to work on their own at home in advance of tonight's final weigh-in. In all, he lost 164 lbs., or 45.18% of his body weight.

Ali, too, conceded some challenges -- including late-night visits to the freezer for a frozen yogurt fix.

But in the end, her "warrior mentality" -- dating back to her days as a championship synchronized swimmer -- served her well. Ali entered the game at 234 lbs. Looking trim, toned and plenty confident, she needed to lose only 105 lbs. to upset Roger -- and she handily passed that benchmark as she weighed in at 122 lbs. In all, she lost 112 lbs., or 47.86% of her body weight.

And there's another number staring back at Ali: She takes home $250,000 for her troubles.

The other finalist was Kelly, a nurse whose struggle with obesity prevented her from having children. She started at 271 and lost 109 lbs.

Bernie took home $100,000 for being the "Biggest Loser" among the contestants who were eliminated from the ranch, but continued to lose weight at home, on their own.

It's too soon to say whether Ali's victory will quell criticism that the NBC reality show is biased in favor of men, who seem to lose weight so much more easily than the women. Some have questioned whether the show should create a second category -- so that one woman and one man can take home the title each season.

Jillian Michaels, Ali's trainer, has dismissed that notion, saying it would be a cheap victory. Prior to Ali's weigh-in, she offered this message for women struggling to lose weight: "Make impossible your favorite word. Invite the challenge."

-- Rene Lynch

Comments

[Michelle]

GIRL POWER! I was thrilled that Ali won! She deserved it, she kicked ass! I loved Mark and wished that more people would've voted for him to stay, but that was not to be. I was not a fan of Roger, he liked to get his digs in and was egotistical. Do I think this was rigged, heck no. The people that say so are just ticked off that a WOMAN finally won, fair and square. I'm also thrilled that Bernie won the money too, although......I would've been even more thrilled had Mark won it, he deft won me over, I was a HUGE fan! Missing it by one lb...that had to suck. But he looks awesome. This was my first season to watch and it was the couple theme that drew me in. I laughed, I cried, I got mad........I wished that Jillian would've kicked ass more with her team like Bob did, but in the end she did....and Ali got it!
Pride........NOT! GIRL POWER ROCKS!!!

[Steve]

The competitors had 15 weeks at the ranch and an additional 5 or 6 weeks at home. That's either 20 or 21 weeks (140-147days). Someone was wondering if it is possible or probable that obese people working out 8 hours a day for 140-147 days could lose 150 pounds in that time period. The answer is a resounding YES!

Others thought a fix must be in because Ali kept saying she was going to win. How about Ali is a confident competitor and knows how to set and achieve goals. She had what she needed: the drive, the focus, the atheticism, a high enough weight at the start and no men with the same.

To all detractors - get a life!

[Allison]

I love to hate this show, it is a great motivational tool for some but it, truly, is VERY unrealistic. Any diet plan that promotes a 12 or 15 pound weight loss in 1 WEEK is unhealthy and should not be promoted on TV. Any dietician will tell you that this is not a healthy way to lose weight, and it is not physically possible to lose 12 or 15 pounds of "fat" in a week.
I would just hate for someone struggling with weight to see this show and become dissapointed when they were unable to achieve the same results.

[Cricket]

Yeah Ali! !!! Your focus and determination paid off and is helping motivate all of us.

Those who would scream foul or fix with their words, can't take anything away from what these contestants have accomplished. They set goals, stayed focused, and worked so very hard. They denied themselves immediate gratification, dealt with their baggage and in the end they all won the prize of a stronger healthier body to reclaim their lives.

The money issue is so huge to some but it is not the priority win here for any of these people. Bless you guys and all the off camera Biggest Loser America folks too.

[Molly]

I am so pround of Ali - way to go, girl. But also, I want to congratulate Kelly. As I watched the show, I saw much more of a transformation from the inside for Kelly. Her attitude went from "I can't keep up with these guys" to pushing herself so hard anyway for her own benefit. I think the "triathlon" in Sydney was a turning point for her self-esteem. She did it, and believe me, triathlons are HARD - and they don't include 44 flights of stairs at the end! She didn't stop, she kept going, and she DID IT! Despite the fact she was at the end of the show with three super-competitors, she did HER best, and look at her now. Keep it up, Kelly - you are truly an inspiration, especially for those of us who don't have the crazy competitive drive. But also, way to go, everyone. Hopefully, the inspiration you provide will help the rest of us who are struggling at home with weight issues!

[Linnie]

COngrats to all...you all look great! But my question...where did the sagginess go? I noticed kelly had some but ali had none? I lost weight worked out too but the fat is still there? Just wondering. I WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW~~~~~~~~

[Pat]

I almost quit watching the show a few weeks ago. I was so glad when Mark got voted off the first time, then when he came back that ended it for me, but my roommate still watched. I got sick and tired of them showing Mark's crying jags! I'm sure he was exhausted, but enough is enough!!
I didn't think the girls had a chance, but Congratulations Ali & Kelly for proving me wrong!
GOOD JOB!!

[caroline]

If you're severely overweight, losing that much weight in the 6 months they were given is pretty reasonable, especially when you consider at the ranch they were often working out 8-10 hours a day (according to Jillian). If you say they're burning 400 calories an hour during their exercise, in a ten hour workout day that is 4000 calories, 500 calories over the amount to lose a pound! Is that feasable for someone who can't dedicate that much time to exercise, doesn't have a top notch trainer, and doesn't have their nutrition figured out for them...maybe not, but it is true that all these people were given every advantage to lose those pounds, they're not popping pills to lose the pounds, they are doing it the right way. And the last weigh-in before the finale was over 2 weeks, not one, for anyone that thinks they lost double digits their final week.

[Dave - Arizona]

Congratulations Ali !!!!
Everyone from SoCal will be happy to know that the frozen yogurt in Ali's freezer was none other than Golden Spoon !!!!!!

[Annie M]

The Biggest Loser has consistently chosen challenges that are more suited for the males to win (i.e., the last one of running and carrying a flag up a hill). Their strength, their size, and their stride, alone, precludes any of the females from having any chance to win. They should incorporate more challenges that are oriented around nutrition knowledge/choices, utilizing core strenght/balance skills, and encouraging women to feel more like there is a realistic opportunity to compete and win.

What needs to STOP... is the in-fighting between teams that the producers THINK make for good ratings. Of all my peers, that is the BIGGEST turn off in watching the program. Many will mention changing the channel when the bickering commences.

[KB]

What's wrong with people? Can't anybody be happy for anybody anymore? The fix is in...nobody can lose that much weight...give me a break - if you eat right and exercise your brains out - you're going to lose weight - didn't you people see the amount of sweat that was pouring out of those people??? Just lose your ***ing egos and be happy for Ali and everybody else that took charge of their lives and lost all those pounds. I'm willing to bet that everybody that thinks the fix is in and that NBC and The Biggest Loser had planned from the start of this season that a woman would win and that Bernie was definitely going to win "by one pound" because he was so likeable is grossly overweight and has their hand on the clicker or their butt on their computer chair and sits in their car and doesn't even walk into a fast food restaurant ---- it's drive through all the way!!! I'm definitely sensing the green-eyed monster is doing all the negative talking here people - so take a look in the mirror and put down the Ben & Jerry's before you start knocking those people - you know who you are - ever heard of a gym????

[candra jones]

Ali I am so proud of the work you have done. THE POWER OF PINK!!!!!! keep up the good work and never let your mom stop before you know it she too will be as hot as you are now she is just about there she is looking really good. You go laides!!! You have no real idea how many people are proud of you and have been inspired by you both as well as the BL. Again congrats and keep up the good work were very proud of you and your mom as well as the rest of the teams. Candra
Indpls, IN

[Christina]

You Go Girl! Congrat's Ali. You are truly inspiring! You want to come and train me now?
I am soooo happy for you!
Christina

[maria]

Ive read some of the comments and I wanted to kinda give my 2 cents and hopefully it was sink in-

First off- THE SCALE ON THE SHOW IS NOT REAL who knows of a scale that goes up and down like that???
Its just a prop people- they are weighed in before each show by the doctors and its written down- then for “show” they keep you guessing with different numbers.

Also- you are right into thinking that it could be “fixed” BUT from the start ali had the drive to win it- and they “nbc” rode that horse all the way in- they knew she had enough drive where if they kept shooting her say “ I will be the next biggest loser” then just in case she won, they would have plenty of footage of her saying it.
And what pissed me off season after season is that the women would just give up. Half of them ( like this season) seriously could have beaten Bernie- but they didn’t. The girl in the green ( sorry don’t know names) should have could have lost soooo much more weight- as for the young 20 something’s- seriously they could have easily been up there with Ali.

You guys need to think- everyone who goes on this show- has taken time off from their jobs- they are on a ranch with 2 trainers a 24 hour gym open to them, food given to them prepared for them in the exact calorie amount, working out 8 hours a day… probably even more!

So I hate people saying “ how can they lose 11 pounds in a week? “- hell anyone can with all of that by their side 24 hours a day!!!

And then when they get off the show- half of them im sure still were out of work so they got to work out all day!!! In the real world obviously it takes us weeks to lose 5 pounds, but we all work, some don’t have gyms some do some can afford trainers, others cant- what I loved was when bob said simply- take it day by day. He knows us “ viewers” of biggest loser cant do it in just the amount of a few months- obviously they could have cause they were on a tv show!

So with that said- I don’t think ali was “helped” in any way- most of those women should have given it as much as she has- she proved with a lot of drive- it can be done- women- don’t let those words of “ men lose it faster and more weight” screw that- that’s just to make us feel better- it takes hard work and eating right, period!!!

[Athena]

I watched every week. I think Ali and Mark shouldn't have been in the finals, They were dropped on the biggest loser. Kelly and Roger went the distance and stay till the end. Ali and Mark got a second chance.. "Not Far" The show didn't play fare- Kelly is the winner in my Eye's, or Roger for losing 164'.. I won't be watching next season. You Cheated the real winner out of their price, $250,000

[M. A. G.]

I think like some of the others on their comments...I do not believe that Ali should have been brought back and where did the fat go that should be hanging for as big as she was. And Kelly looks like a person should look that would have lost that much weight. Now for the scales, I do not believe the scale is right either. And further more everytime I have been on a scale at weight watchers or a dr's office they tell you to stand still and not be moving around. That makes sense as the scale is not going to weigh you right if you are moving. Dah.....But Kelly and Roger are the big winners to me. But I am happy for all for all of them.
God bless anyone that has the courage to keep going.. I must say I do not like Jillian's filthy mouth. They have to bleep her to much. I personally would not take it and I would have to leave... You get no where by talking to people like that. And I think more than wanting the people to lose the weight she wanted to win... Plain and simple.
M. A. G.

[sarra]

Its not how much weight they lost, its the amount of body fat. I really thought that
Mark, Roger and Alli looked pretty skeletor towards the end of the show. I think they
lost way too much weight, especially Mark, he looked pretty bad.

[Sue]

Really, where did the sagging skin go? Will working out that much tighten the skin? Is it all the training with weights?

[maria]

good for ali and bernie they won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lmy]

Say what you will about Mark. I started out not caring for Mark but he grew on me. He was domineering, bossy and mean in the beginning. If this was a competition of who was transformed most internally, he would truly be the winner, hands down. Only real change can make you humble and see life in a different light.

I wish Kelly would have won and she very well could have if she could've lost just a bit more weight. But hat off to Ali for she truly had the drive. I didn't like how she straddled the fence when coming back to the ranch. It was a game so what did she expect people were going to do but try to vote her and her mother off, and she held that against people on the black team. But gotta give her credit, she truly transformed herself and deserved that title.