The Biggest Loser Season 8 Teaches Lesson on Control and Choices

The Biggest Loser reality show trainers Jilian and Bob possess much passion for helping obese contestants to achieve weight loss. In addition to sharing their weight loss expertise, they constantly enforce basic life skills. On Season 8's The Biggest Loser episode aired on Tuesday, September 29, the theme of the show described as "Would You Rather" by the host Allison, revolved around the life skills of self-control and wise choices.

Tuesday's episode began with a temptation to trade the weight loss assistance of Jilian and Bob for an automatic two-pound weight loss during the weigh-in. Only one contestant, Tracey, choose this option, creating extreme disappointment within the trainers who began a lecture on making choices based on priorities.

Afterward, the contestants were posed with a choice between having control over themselves versus gaining control over the whole game at the weigh-in. Specifically, cupcakes were placed before each contestant for a set amount of time. The contestant who ate the most cupcakes would win the challenge and gain the control of choosing one player to represent each team of two in their weight loss at the weigh-in. Creating further agitation with the trainers, Tracey won this challenge by eating four cupcakes.

While Tracey stole the show's spotlight for her capricious decision-making, another contestant who weighed the most, Shay, stole the spotlight for her desire for self-control expressed during her outcry, "You don't have control over me!" in response to Tracey's decision for her to represent the orange team during the weigh-in. This was seen as betrayal since Tracey had initially given the orange team the impression that she sympathized with Shay as the more vulnerable player and would choose her partner Daniel to represent the team. Shay's weight loss fell short of one pound that would have kept the orange team safe from elimination. Ranking below the yellow line with the orange team that had a percentage weight loss of 1.35%, the red team (Sean and Antoine) exposed a percentage of 1.46%. Shay's lack of family support as well as her strong determination to stay on the show to fulfill her weight loss goals, touched the hearts of the red team who expressed their desire to sacrifice their safety on the show with that of the orange team. In turn during the final voting, the teams who ranked above the yellow line voted on behalf of the orange team to stay.

The unfolding plot of the show led to the lesson that meeting one's weight loss goals goes hand in hand with the life skills of possessing self-control and making wise choices. Tracey's behavior symbolized the challenge to make the right decisions as the game's temptations tested whether the players' priorities were based on losing weight or on playing a game. This applies to real life in that people face challenges of choosing between immediate gratifications versus working hard toward a long term goal. In addition, Shay's behavior symbolized the challenge of self-control as the players' willpower was tested against negative or tempting situations. This applies to real life in that though a situation may be beyond one's control, a person does have the self-control over the way that he or she responds to the situation.

Sources

"The Biggest Loser."NBC Site.