'The Biggest Loser: Couples' votes off contestant Ken Andrews

The Biggest Loser: Couples eliminated Ken Andrews, a 49-year-old pastor from Pasadena, CA, during Tuesday night's broadcast of the NBC reality weight-loss competition. 


Ken became the sixteenth contestant ousted from the competition's eleventh season after he finished with the lowest weight-loss percentage at the sixteenth week's weigh-in, which featured the eight remaining contestants weighing-in individually as singles, and was subsequently voted off by the rest of the season's cast.

"Words can't express how grateful I am for this entire journey. I have a lot more confidence. I'm willing to try different things. I don't have the same level of struggle everyday just to exist and get around," Ken said following his ouster. 

"It felt great that here in New Zealand, I was able to face some of my greatest fears. Having the knowledge that I have at this point, I look forward to actually getting home and being home permanently to make some changes with my family. It truly is a whole new different life for me. My family and my life will never be the same."

The Biggest Loser's sixteenth eleventh-season episode began following the elimination of Moses Kinikini, a 47-year-old garage door installer from Shelley, ID, in New Zealand after his Blue team posted the lowest weight-loss percentage at the fifteenth week's weigh-in and was subsequently voted off by the rest of the season's contestants. 


The teams then met with The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney in Queenstown, New Zealand and learned they would be breaking down and competing as singles for the remainder of the competition. Each contestant discussed their colors and then got a surprise from new trainer Brett Hoebel who decided to just "drop in."

Brett -- who was previously sent home from the competition after all the members of his Red team were eliminated based on poor showings during the weigh-ins, leaving him with no contestants left to train -- dropped from the sky via parachute and landed back into the competition.

The contestants, fellow new trainer Cara Castronuova, and veteran trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper were all glad to see Brett return to the game, as it gave him a second chance to prove himself and another opportunity to work with the contestants he had grown close to.

The following day, Cara took Kaylee Kinikini, a 20-year-old student from Shelley, ID, and Hannah Curlee, a 32-year-old human resources representative from Nashville, TN, canyon swinging to please their adrenaline-seeking personalities. While Cara was terrified of the experience but found it thrilling and worth the initial fear, Kaylee and Hannah loved the activity and were really enjoying themselves in New Zealand.

All the contestants then worked out with the four trainers.


Later on, all the singles met again with Alison and learned they would be competing in the week's challenge. Alison then explained they would be individually riverboarding half a mile down the river. The person to reach the finish line first would win the challenge and get to go on a helicopter tour to Milford Sound. In addition, the winner would receive individual immunity at the week's weigh-in. 

Olivia Ward, a 35-year-old opera singer and plastic surgery office manager from New York, NY, won the challenge and was able to choose one person to take with her on her reward. The obvious choice was her sister Hannah, and the two went off to enjoy their prize together.

Meanwhile, after the challenge, Brett made Austin Andrews, a 21-year-old radio board operator from Pasadena, CA, and Jay Jacobs, a 53-year-old entrepreneur from West Orange, NJ, rock climb up a mountain, while Bob had contestants Irene Alvarado, a 26-year-old student from Portland, OR, and Rulon Gardner, a 39-year-old gym owner and motivational speaker from Logan, UT, go bungee jumping off of a bridge.

After everyone received their share of thrills, the next day, the contestants participated in their last chance workouts. Brett chose to have the girls in the competition do a Capoiera workout, which is an afro-Brazilian martial art which combines dance moves with self-defense.

Later on that day, The Biggest Loser: Couples' first singles weigh-in and the season's fifteenth overall elimination weigh-in commenced.


Alison announced the two individuals with the lowest weight-loss percentages would fall below the yellow weigh-in line, forcing the safe contestants to vote one of them out of the competition.

Olivia was the first contestant to step on the scale. Olivia started off the week weighing 172 pounds and dropped to 168 pounds after she lost four pounds and posted a 2.33% weight-loss percentage.

Jay was the next to step on the scale and posted a 1.85% weight loss percentage. He fell from 270 to 265 pounds, losing five pounds total.

Irene lost four pounds after she dropped from 161 to 157 pounds and posted a 2.48% weight-loss percentage.

Rulon started off the week weighing 311 pounds and fell to 301 pounds, shedding a total of 10 pounds and posting a 3.22% weight-loss percentage.


Austin dropped from 255 to 250 pounds after he lost five pounds and posted a 1.96% weight-loss percentage.

Ken lost four pounds and posted a 1.62% weight-loss percentage after he fell from 247 to 243 pounds.

Hannah started off the week weighing 164 pounds but dropped to 161 pounds. She lost three pounds and posted a 1.83% weight-loss percentage.

Kaylee was the last person to step on the scale. She shed five pounds after dropping from 168 to 163 pounds and posted a 2.98% weight-loss percentage.

As a result, Hannah and Ken fell below the yellow line and the other contestants had to deliberate to decide which of the two contestants would be eliminated from The Biggest Loser: Couples.


Ken pleaded his case and said he wanted to stay and fight, as he labeled being in the competition his destiny. Afterward, Hannah also tried to convince everyone she really wanted and needed to stay, and told the others she needed more professional help.

The contestants then revealed their votes. Olivia, Irene and Jay all voted to oust Ken from The Biggest Loser: Couples, while Austin and Kaylee cast their votes for Hannah.

Rulon did not have to announce his vote because even if he voted for Hannah and the results ended in a tie, Ken would have been automatically eliminated because he was the person who posted the lowest weight-loss percentage at the weigh-in.

If Rulon was to vote for Ken, it would have simply sealed his fate. Therefore, three votes were enough to constitute for Ken's elimination.

In a post-elimination update: Ken, who started The Biggest Loser: Couples weighing 377 pounds and left New Zealand weighing 243 pounds, currently weighs 238 pounds.

Ken said he started doing adventurous activities, such as paraflying, with his family and would now be able to share many experiences with his kids he never would have been able to participate in when he was overweight. His daughter claimed her family is finally healthy and better than ever. 






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski