2011 'The Biggest Loser': Sisters Vie for Top Spot

Five months ago, 22 men and women embarked on a weight loss journey on NBC's "The Biggest Loser." The friends and relatives arrived in pairs to meet their trainers, veterans Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper, and newcomers Cara Castronuova and Brett Hoebel. They came together on stage tonight, along with Host Alison Sweeney, to celebrate their collective 2,100 pound weight loss and to crown the "Biggest Loser" -- the person who lost the greatest percentage of weight.

The "Biggest Loser" Winner
Four contestants were left standing on the show's last episode. Two of them were guaranteed spots in the finale: sisters, Hannah and Olivia. It was left up to America to decide whether Jay or Irene would compete against the sisters, and Irene was chosen. It was the first time in the show's history that the top three contestants were all women. It came down to the two sisters, but Olivia, a 35-year-old opera singer from New York City, walked away with $250,000 reward. She lost 129 pounds -- over 49% of her body weight -- going from 261 to 132 pounds. Olivia's husband, Ben, was not to be outdone: he lost 113 pounds at home.

The "At Home" Loser
The contestants who did not make it into the final three competed for $100,000. Deni, a 59-year-old mother of eight, earned that prize. She dropped nearly 49% of her body weight, going from 256 to 131 pounds.

New Trainer
Jillian Michaels announced that this eleventh season of "The Biggest Loser" was her last. She will be replaced by one of the top ten tennis players in the world, Anna Kournikova, who is anxious to share what she's learned as a trained athlete with next season's contestants.

The contestants' transformations were impressive.

Contestants: Starting Weights - Ending Weights; Pounds Lost; % of Body Weight Lost

Ana: 255 - 146; 109 pounds lost; 42.75%
Daughter, Irene: 255 - 139; 116 pounds lost; 45.49%

Courtney: 323 - 213; 110 pounds lost; 34.06% (She had also lost 100 lbs. before the show started)
Mother, Marci: 238 - 152; 86 pounds lost; 36.13%

Dan: 287 - 163; 124 pounds lost; 43.20%
Twin brother, Don: 309 - 179; 130 pounds lost; 42.07%

"Q": 437 - 344; 93 pounds lost; 21.28%
Wife, Larialmy: 301 - 217; 84 pounds lost; 27.91%

Moses: 440 - 287; 153 pounds lost; 34.77%
Daughter, Kaylee: 233 - 179; 54 pounds lost; 23.18%

Ken: 377 - 219; 158 pounds lost; 41.9%
Son, Austin: 396 - 222; 174 pounds lost; 43.94%

Sarah: 261 - 155; 106 pounds lost; 40.61%
Mother, Deni: 256 - 131; 125 pounds lost; 48.83%

Arthur: 507 - 344; 163 pounds lost; 32.15%
Father, Jesse: 293 - 210; 83 pounds lost; 28.33%

Jay: 400 - 219; 181 pounds lost; 45.25%
Daughter, Jen: 278 - 164; 114 pounds lost; 41.01%

Justin: 365 - 192; 173 pounds lost; 47.4%
(Justin's partner, Olympic gold medalist, Rulon Gardner, quit the show mid-season.)

Hannah: 248 - 128; 120 pounds lost; 48.39%
Sister, Olivia: 261 - 132; 129 pounds lost; 49.42%

Source:
"The Biggest Loser"; NBC; May 24, 2011

http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/