The Biggest Loser lost one contestant and gained another during Tuesday night's broadcast of the NBC reality weight-loss competition's fifth tenth-season episode.
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Rick Deroque, a 54-year-old pediatric physical therapist from Conway, AR, was eliminated while Anna Wright, a 39-year-old administrative assistant and songwriter from Atlanta, GA, won her way onto the ranch after she lost the most weight working on her own at home.
Anna made it to the ranch after the five remaining tenth-season contestants who had initially failed to make it to the ranch participated in a second chance weigh-in. Anna lost 39 pounds and posted an 11.82% weight-loss percentage.
However the rules of the game also changed with Anna's addition, as the 12 remaining original ranch contestants stopped competing as individuals and she became responsible for dividing them into new Blue and Black teams.
Since there were an odd number of contestants, one contestant would also receive immunity from the week's weigh-in and then join the team which lost the season's first team weigh-in.
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As the person tasked with determining the team assignments, Anna also had the option to make herself the contestant who would receive immunity, however she passed on the opportunity and decided it was more important she ensure she ended up on The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels' Black team.
Instead, Patrick House -- a 28-year-old sales representative from Vicksburg, MS who many contestants considered a strong team asset -- received the plum prize from Anna, who did her best to please everyone and place each contestant within their support system.
Many contestants, like Jesse Atkins, a 28-year-old law clerk from St. Paul, MN, found Anna's immunity decision to be foolish.
"The funny thing is she seemed like an intelligent woman, and that is just a stupid move," Jesse said afterward. "No one here has got a lick of loyalty to her so far."
In addition, both teams began considering throwing the weigh-in in order to be able to add Patrick to their team.
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The Blue team lost a total of 62 pounds with a 3.16% weight-loss percentage at the weigh-in, led by Jesse who lost 16 pounds.
The Black team lost only a total of 40 pounds, giving them a 2.40% weight-loss percentage. Brendan Donovan, a 32-year-old special education teacher from Boston, MA only lost two pounds -- forcing his team to question whether he was attempting to ensure the team would be able to add Patrick, a charge he denied.
After deliberating among themselves, the Black team members met with The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney and revealed their elimination votes. Anna and Rick both voted for Elizabeth Ruiz, a 31-year-old medical assistant from Lawrence, MA, while Elizabeth, Brendan, Lisa Mosley, and Alfredo "Fredo" Dinten all voted for Rick.
According to Fredo's voting comments, he and Brendan -- who had previously been in an alliance with Patrick -- had come to see Rick as a threat after concluding Patrick would never vote to eliminate Rick since they had been roommates at the ranch.
During the episode, both teams also participated in a challenge in which they visited five downtown Los Angeles food trucks and had to determine which of two meals was the healthier option. As the winning team, each Black team member received a 40 week The Biggest Loser meal plan as well as letters from loved ones at home.
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During a post-show update, Rick -- who left The Biggest Loser ranch weighing 287 pounds -- said he now weighs 230 pounds and hopes to continue exercising, living a healthy lifestyle and being a good role model to his family.
"I expected to make it to the final four, but I fell a little short and gave them the opportunity to get rid of a threat," Rick lamented. "When I looked in the mirror before, I saw a fat man... When I look in the mirror now, I see a man that is over-weight but is looking to be healthy."
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski