Allen Smith became the twelfth contestant eliminated from The Biggest Loser's eighth season during last night's broadcast of the NBC reality competition.

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"The most important lesson I've learned is that if you want to take care of others you have to take care of yourself," the 44-year-old firefighter/EMT from Columbus, IN said after his ouster.

"Being able to take care of myself allows me to be around for my family longer, to be able to be there for them when they need me, and also being a firefighter and EMT I'm also able to be there for people who really need us... It does feel good to know that I was here to the end with everyone. I made it. I'm going home a changed person."

The Biggest Loser's eleventh eighth-season episode began following the previous elimination of Rebecca Meyer with the five remaining contestants discussing how it was now basically Amanda Arlauskas, a 19-year-old patient care technician from Butler, NJ, versus the "older" foursome of Allen, Danny Cahill, a 39-year-old land surveyor and musician from Broken Arrow, OK, Rudy Pauls, a 31-year-old engineer from Brooklyn, CT, and Liz Young, a 49-year-old salesperson from Lewisburg, TN.

"Tonight I basically lost my only ally. Rebecca was the last person in the house that I knew was on my side. So now it's just me," opined Amanda.  "I know that if I fall below the yellow line, I'm definitely going home. I don't really have anyone else to rely on at this point."

The next day the contestants met with trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, who gave Rudy a hard time about claiming his "distrust" of Rebecca was the reason he had voted to oust her.

The contestants then worked out before meeting host Alison Sweeney, who introduced them to financial advisor Suzie Orman -- who discussed financial issues with the contestants before a quiz challenge was held. 

For every correct answer a contestant gave, they would receive $1,000 in a personal Ameritrade account. However for every wrong answer, the treadmill they were walking on would gain speed.  The challenge concluded with Danny, Allen, Liz and Rudy each receiving $4,000, while Amanda made $3,000.

The contestants continued to workout -- with Amanda lamenting her loneliness at the ranch, Danny and Rudy commenting on their rivalry, Liz expressing a desire to stay above the yellow line, and Allen wanting to finish what he started.

"My goal was to stay above the yellow line and become a finalist, and I'm well on my way to doing that," he said.

Danny and Liz also discussed how they're the only original teammates remaining, as they had started the competition as the Brown team.

"Having Liz through this whole process has been incredible," said Danny. "We're the last bond there -- the true team bond. To have each other in this process, I think we've got an edge over everyone else."

The five remaining contestants then met Alison for a challenge on a football field, and she explained the rules. Each contestant would have to transport the amount of weight they'd lost so far in the competition -- meaning Amanda would have to carry 57 lbs., Liz would have to carry 64 lbs., Danny would have to carry 126 lbs., Rudy would have to carry 134 lbs., and Allen would have to carry 87 lbs..

They would transport their weekly weight-loss totals in the form of footballs, which they'd have to deposit in corresponding barrels. The winner would receive a trip to the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl and a $5,000 athletic equipment donation to the school of his or her choice.

Allen won the challenge, with Rudy finishing second.

The contestants then participated in their last-chance workouts before The Biggest Loser's eleventh eighth-season weigh-in commenced. Alison explained the two contestants with the lowest weight-loss percentage for the week would land below the yellow line and be up for elimination.

In addition, the contestant with the highest weight-loss percentage would receive a home visit from celebrity chef Curtis Stone, who would teach them how to cook healthy meals.

Liz went first. She started the week at 203 lbs. and lost five for a weight-loss percentage of 2.46%. She was followed by Rudy, who began the week at 308 lbs. and dropped 12 for a weight-loss percentage of 3.90%.

Allen went next. He started the week at 238 lbs. and lost eight for a weight-loss percentage of 3.36%. He was followed by Danny, who began the week at 304 lbs. and shed 16 for a weight-loss percentage of 5.26% -- pushing Liz below the yellow line.

Amanda was the last to step on the scale, and she needed to lose more than six pounds to stay above the yellow line. She started the week at 193 lbs. and lost seven for a weight-loss percentage of 3.63% -- pushing Allen below the yellow line with Liz.

"Amanda is the swing vote," immediately recognized Liz in a confessional. "I wrote Amanda's name down two weeks ago to send her home, and I said, 'I hope this vote doesn't bite me in the butt.'"

Alison then explained that since all of the five remaining contestants would be leaving the ranch for home the next day, the impending vote was really to determine who would have a shot at the $250,000 grand prize.

"I know that Danny's going to vote to keep Liz here, and I know that Rudy's going to vote to keep Allen here. So tonight, I'm going to be the deciding factor," said Amanda. "Liz and Allen's fate is in my hands."

Both Liz and Allen stated their cases as to why they deserved to be in the Final 4.

"I truly don't know what I'm going to do yet," Amanda told them.

Allen pulled her aside to speak with her privately, explaining he feels he "cannot get down to the percentage it's going to take to win this."

"For you, there's a little game play in this as well," he told her. "You have a shot. You just have to look at what's best for you in the end. Do you want to compete against three people or against two people. It comes down to that."

The contestants then gathered for the elimination ceremony -- as Danny voted to boot Allen while Rudy opted to oust Liz.

"Tonight I could have voted in one of two ways," began Amanda.

"I could have gone the game play route, which would be to keep Allen and send Liz home because in the long-run I do see Liz as being a person that could beat me at the finale. Or I could go and keep Liz because of the friendship that we've formed. But tonight my decision was based on my integrity. For that reason, I'm voting to send Allen home."

The Biggest Loser's penultimate eighth-season episode will air Tuesday, December 1 at 8PM ET/PT and feature the four finalists going home before returning to the ranch to run a full marathon.

In addition, the penultimate weigh-in will be held and the two contestants who fall below the yellow line will find their fate in the hands of home viewers, who will vote to determine which one advances to the Final 3 weigh-in that will determine the season's $250,000 winner.

The Biggest Loser's eighth-season finale will then air live on Tuesday, December 8 at 8PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio

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