'The Biggest Loser' recap: You answer to the U.S. Marines

 
The world has long awaited the answer to the question: What's tougher? Bob and Jillian boot camp? Or the U.S. Marines' boot camp? Now we know the answer: Bob and Jillian.

Sure, the Camp Pendleton Marines put the contestants through their paces, and worked them into the ground. Literally. At one point, Elizabeth did her whole passing out / can't breathe thing again. (I go back-and-forth between thinking she's being pushed beyond the brink of what is safe, and what Jillian says: Much of this has become Elizabeth's calling card. How else to explain the fact that she got up and finished the beach obstacle course? What do you think?)

So, for sheer hard physical work and discipline, constant and endless physical activity and barracks living, I'd have to give it to the Marines, hand down. ("We're the best, cause we train the hardest. You think Bob and Jillian are tough? You ain't seen nothing." You know I am not going to argue with that.) But here's where the edge seemingly goes to the ranch: Bob and Jillian keep a tight rein on the calories and even the food that is available to the players (save temptations). And I suspect that the military food was plenty sweet. And starchy. And downright plentiful.

How else to explain this week's jaw-dropping weigh-in?

On the blue side, Mark lost "just" 7 pounds. Lisa lost just 2 and Jesse gained 1 pound. Aaron, who may finally be coming into his own, dropped 14, saving his team from an elimination.

Black team's numbers were miserable: While Ada -- this woman is a threat -- and Patrick each lost 7 pounds, Brendan lost just 4, Anna lost just 2 and Elizabeth gained a pound. And Frado -- a former Marine -- gained 4 pounds. (In 10 seasons, have we ever seen three players gain weight in one week?) When Frado's weight gain popped up on the scale, he insisted -- this isn't game play. Maybe I'm missing something, but who would think that Frado -- a former Marine -- would dishonor himself and the Marines who took the time to train him by throwing a weigh-in? Did I miss something? Or was he just saying that cause he needed to say something, anything? I wonder what happened there. You'd think he would want to deliver monster numbers this week. I hope Dr. Jillian investigates.

What happened next was no surprise, except that the black team could have banded together to ditch Frado, who is clearly a front-runner and chief game-player in this group. (But I'm glad they didn't -- I find him endearing.) Instead, they booted Anna, the relative newcomer in the group. Were you surprised by that choice? I wasn't. Brendan, Frado and Elizabeth are their own little voting block.

Anna, we will miss you. You deserved a little more time at the ranch. But you are doing great at home and inspiring others. Looking forward to seeing "less" of you at the weigh-in.

Other highlights this week:

-- Brendan getting his head shaved to honor the Marines.

-- Mark honoring the Marines in a less flashy way: "I am not a Marine. I had the privilege of training with them."

-- And, Brendan, reflecting on this week's last-chance workout (which included Patrick being forced to do lunges around the gym --with Jillian on his back): "There's nothing like a last-chance workout with Jillian. Smallest bully in the world....I almost would rather run with a real bull on my back rather than her screaming in my ear."

-- I was digging Bob's loosened tie and jacket look and the retro kicks at the weigh-in. I'm all about the blue jeans and T-shirts, but when Bob turns up the style, he really brings it.

-- Rene Lynch
Twitter / Rene Lynch

Photo: The black team at Camp Pendleton. Credit: NBC

Comments

[mary]

They did not go through Marine Corps boot camp. They visited Camp Pendleton for a week.

Also, their diet is typically controlled. At Camp Pendleton, they were expected to rely on discipline to turn down unhealthy foods. Harder than simply being denied unhealthy food.

[usmcnyc]

The contestants on this brain mushing show aren't even doing 20% of the training an actual Marine goes through on some days. Try waking up at 0630 and running 4-5 miles in the morning, 4-5 days a week, doing Daily 7's (pushups/side straddle hops/leg lifts, crunches, pullups, etc.).

3 10 pound weights? Try humping a mortar plate!

Pushing a Humvee a couple of yards? I only saw that done on family day lol

Sorry if we Marines work up a decent appetite every now and then...

[franz]

My unit did an 8 mile hump (hike) to Red Beach in Camp Pendleton where The Biggest Loser contestants were "training" and they were all in the back of a 7 ton just sitting back and relaxing. Enough said right there. I can't think of one day of training in my Marine Corps term that we just relaxed.

[Jeremy]

I like the previous comment that they didn't attend Recruit Training. Also, as I recall, you're pretty limited on options you have in the chow hall. Sure, discipline with portion control and all, but there are few choices. Also, they could've just been fed MREs for the week! We're talking about more than 2000 Calories in each one!

Another thing that we all need to remember: The Marines are a combat unit. Their training, as will all the military, is going to have more Calories because THEY NEED THEM! There's a reason why 3 MREs a day gives our troops more than 6000 Calories: in combat, they're going to need them! Marines train hard and for good reason. Few others can back up the claim "Anywhere in the world in 24 hours".

Also, about the weigh-in, Jillian made a VERY good point: The environment was different and they were under a new kind of stress that they weren't accustomed to. I caught the very end of the show and didn't see a whole lot of barking from the trainers during the last chance workout. Is it possible that the contestants put on some more muscle while with the Marines and didn't just burn fat? It has always been said that muscle weighs more than fat. The Biggest Loser doesn't appear, to me anyway, to focus on that. They only look at actual weight loss. While in the Marines, they took (somewhat at least) that into account. I could be over my weight limit, but I had to be careful about body mass. This contest is purely about weight loss. I think, what Frado was saying before they weighed him says it all: he new that he gained weight. He just hoped it wasn't as bad as it he thought, and he was right.

I'm sure the contestants have a new appreciation for the Marines and what they stand for. I know that, while I was standing atop the Reaper in Camp Pendleton back in 1998, I had a new appreciation for what it takes to be a Marine. One thing I can say: It can't be experienced in a week.

[Marine NCO]

This article was very misleading- they didn't go through boot camp. If they think that was what Marines have to go through- they are mistaken. That was a very Hollywood themed week at a Marine base. Let some Drill Instructors have them for a week with no cameras at the Depot- then we'll see how weigh ins go.....

[Michael]

If this was true the United States would be in a world of trouble. The Marine Corps is America's 911. Boot camp? Take them to Parris Island. They will never hack it. And thats the beginning. Wait till they ge to the FMF(Fleet Marine Force). The physical challenges get harder. Last but not least-- give them the same equipment (including weapon and all the ammo you have to hump) and then introduce them to COMBAT conditions like those in Vietnam,Iraq and Afghanistan. Not to mention all the other wars and conflicts the Marines have been in in the last 235 years. November 10 is the Marine Corps birthday. As a Marine NCO all I can say is Happy Birthday to the Corps and the Marines that make it. Semper Fi. Oooorah!!!

[Honestrob]

Hey, Jarheads -

We get it.
They didn't go through Boot.
It's a flippin' tv show about weight loss for crying out loud.

These people could not have gone through ACTUAL Boot for the sake of the show's schedule - and for the sake of their physical health.
Instead, they got a taste of it - a TASTE - and it was overwhelming.

These are folks who collapsed running just a mile at the start of the show. It is unrealistic thinking these contestants could do an entire real boot.

Yes, the show could have stressed the facts about calories, but it was mentioned in passing in the mess hall scene (where the dude that GAINED weight loaded up on sausage saying he "needed the calories" to get through the day).

Going through actual boot camp is a different, older show ("Boot Camp") that was actually directed by Neil DeGroot, Biggest Loser's Director.

Was a great show, too bad Burnett sued the creators resulting in its cancellation.

[Kopp]

Well, when it comes to the gaining, its called muscle. This is not a fat losing course. This is hardcore USMC Infantry Training. You lose fat during phase one of boot at MCRD San Diego, or Parris Island. You gain muscle you didnt know you had in infantry school, as well as phase two in boot. And, if you are training your butt off, you will need at least 4000 calories per day to function. Remmber "Train like you fight, and fight like you train". Not every military force can say "Anywhere in the world in six hours"

[Judy]

Sorry this show as training for a Marine was totally unreal. As a wife of a former Marine who is still active working on a Marine base, what a joke this show made of the Marine Corp. I would sure like to know who approved this.
As for what they ate, every chow hall Marine Base I've been into has a salad bar with plenty of vegetables and foods that would of helped them lose weight. They chose the options to eat what they did. I do not know why they showed only fatty foods that were provided to them. Had to be for the shows reasoning somewhere. Though 29 Palms is training for being sent to wars in the desert we are fighting,Camp Wilson would of been great training for them. Running in the desert sand, climbing really big mountains. The only reason I can see why they picked Oceanside was because of it being cooler in temp and not as hard on them. This was just entertainment people, not the real basic for Marine Corp training. The Biggest Losers should be ashamed about what they showed as training. Give our Marines credit they really deserve.

[roadwarrior]

To Judy,

Like you, I also honor our Marines (as well as ALL those who serve in the military). One way you could give the Marines the respect they deserve (as you've chastised the show for not doing), is by spelling Marine Corps correctly. That's "Marine Corps", not "Marine Corp". It's not a corporation. Anyway, I'm nitpicking. Sorry.

To honestrob,
Ditto to everything you posted. A voice of reason.