The Biggest Loser: Temptation Nation crowned Roberto Hernandez its champion during Monday night's live finale broadcast of the reality weight-loss competition on NBC.

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Roberto, a 36-year-old physical/health/driver's education teacher from Burbank, IL, began the competition at 348 pounds and weighed-in at only 188 pounds during the finale -- giving him a 160-pound weight-loss and 45.98% total weight-loss percentage that won him the show's $250,000 grand prize.

"God works in mysterious ways... I went home and I did exactly what I said I wasn't going to do. I went and sat down on the couch. And [my son Jacob] came up to me and said, 'Daddy, you promised you wouldn't go sit down.' And I got my butt up and I started working out. He gave me this little shark [toy] and said, 'Daddy, this shark is strong, and that's what you are,'" Roberto said before the final weigh-in, adding that his brother Luis Hernandez was his backbone and best friend throughout his journey.

Stephen Kmet, a 43-year-old pharmaceutical sales recruiter from Hainesport, NJ, finished Season 17 as the runner-up. He dropped from 309 to 176 pounds, shedding 133 pounds and posting a 43.04% weight-loss percentage.

"Before you can help anyone else, you have to help yourself. I always believed in my wife; I thought she would be a finalist. For me to be here, it's a testament to my wife, a testament to my teammates, and I can honestly say a testament to myself. I believe in myself now," Stephen said.

Colby Wright, a 31-year-old car dealership salesman from K'Ville, GA, came in third place. He was revealed as the season's third finalist at the beginning of the broadcast. He started out the show weighing 339 pounds and currently weighs 217 pounds for a total weight loss of 122 pounds.

Before all three finalists stepped on the scale for the last time, The Biggest Loser host Bob Harper explained they must face one final temptation: $50,000 in exchange for a three-pound disadvantage on the scale. The three contestants were given 30 seconds to think about their decision, and the first person to ring his buzzer would receive the money.

The finalists were warned, however, that half of the last six The Biggest Loser winners were determined by three pounds or less.

Colby still opted to take the $50,000 with only one second left on the clock. Although everyone seemed shocked, his wife Hope Wright cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines. Colby ended up posting a 35.10% weight-loss percentage -- which included his three-pound disadvantage -- so he wouldn't have beaten Roberto regardless. Colby was just thrilled to have made it this far.

The Hernandez family collectively took $350,000 home because Luis, a 36-year-old physical/health/driver's education teacher from Chicago, IL, won the $100,000 at-home consolation prize. Luis shed a whopping 139 pounds after falling from 308 to 169 pounds. Luis posted a 45.13% weight-loss percentage and lost more than both Stephen and Colby.

The start and finish weights and final weight-loss percentages of the other previously-eliminated contestants -- who hoped but failed to win the consolation prize -- are as follows:

Lauren Clark, a 32-year-old nutritionist from Bladenboro, NC, fell from 234 to 167, shedding 67 pounds and posting a 28.63% weight-loss percentage.

Vicki Clark, a 54-year-old women's healthcare nurse practitioner from Bladenboro, NC, dropped from 237 to 176, losing 61 pounds. She posted a 25.74 weight-loss percentage.

Rob Kidney, a 56-year-old small business owner from Warner Robins, GA, shed a total of 116 pounds. After falling from 326 to 210 pounds, Rob posted a 35.58% weight-loss percentage.

Sarah Gilbert, a 27-year-old make-up artist from Perry, GA, fell from 267 to 148 pounds, losing 119 pounds and posting a 44.57% weight-loss percentage.

Hope, a 35-year-old housewife from K'Ville, GA, dropped from 232 to 192 pounds. She lost 40 pounds total and therefore posted a 17.24 percentage of weight-loss.

Former Survivor winner Richard Hatch, a 54-year-old television personality from Newport, RI, dropped from 314 to 269 pounds, losing a total of 45 pounds. His percentage of weight-loss was 14.33%.

Former The Voice contestant Erin Willett, a 26-year-old singer and songwriter from Brooklyn, NY, fell from 238 to 151 pounds. She lost 87 pounds and posted a 36.55% weight-loss percentage.

Tonsheia "Toy" Grandison, a 35-year-old store manager and part-time caretaker at a girl's group home from Statesboro, GA, lost 84 pounds. After dropping from 316 to 232 pounds, she posted a 26.58% weight-loss percentage.

Britney Anderson, a 27-year-old health unit coordinator and make-up artist/hairstylist from Kissimmee, FL, dropped from 253 to 220 pounds. She lost 33 pounds and posted a 13.04 weight-loss percentage.

Whitney Clay, a 30-year-old nanny from Raleigh, NC, fell from 253 to 197 pounds, shedding 56 pounds and posting a 22.13% weight-loss percentage.

Felicia Buffkin, a 29-year-old nanny from Raleigh, NC, dropped from 234 to 178 pounds. She lost 56 pounds and posted a 23.93% weight-loss percentage.

Jacky Kmet, a 42-year-old high school counselor from Hainesport, NJ, lost 117 pounds after falling from 304 to 187 pounds. She posted a 38.49 weight-loss percentage.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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