'The Biggest Loser' votes Alexandra "Alex" Reid off the ranch

The Biggest Loser eliminated Alexandra "Alex" Reid during Monday night's NBC broadcast of the reality weight-loss competition's ninth fourteenth-season episode.


Alex, a 24-year-old legal assistant from Carrolton, TX, was ousted from the competition after she finished with one of the lowest weight-loss percentages at the season's ninth weekly elimination weigh-in -- which featured a yellow weigh-in line and the six remaining contestants weighing-in as singles -- and then the majority of the rest of the season's cast voted her off the ranch.

"I'm taking a lot home with me when I go home tonight, and that emotional stress and drama that I had is what caused me to gain weight to begin with, and now that I've overcome that on the ranch, I can go home a more confident person. Alex can finally be proud of herself, and that's where I am right now. I'm going home proud of myself," Alex said following her ouster. 

The ninth broadcast of The Biggest Loser's fourteenth season began with host Alison Sweeney telling the six remaining contestants that one player would be leaving the ranch for an entire week to face their weight-loss issues without The Biggest Loser's trainers, kitchen or gym, and that person would be determined through a little competition.

For the competition, each contestant had his or her own picture blown up along with blocks. Their job was to protect their friends by using their blocks to cover up each other's pictures. A player could not place his or her own blocks in front of his or her own picture. But once a picture was completely covered, that player would be safe.


The last person whose picture was left uncovered would be sent home for the week, and the contestant to stack the most blocks would win a one-pound advantage on the scale at the upcoming weigh-in.

In the end, Jackson Carter, a 21-year-old volunteer coordinator for LGBT resource center and movie theater assistant manager from Layton, UT, sacrificed his time on the ranch for Gina McDonald, a 47-year-old attorney and law firm owner from Hoover, AL -- who was convinced the cast would choose to send her home since she was liked the least. In addition, Joe Ostaszewski, a 43-year-old senior sales executive from Williston, FL, put down 20 bricks, so he won the one-pound advantage.

In a twist, Alison revealed Jackson had to take someone else home with him, and Jeff Nichols, a 24-year-old pharmaceutical representative from Monroe, MI, volunteered. Jackson was relieved he didn't have to make the decision and called the little trip with Jeff a "man-cation."

Afterward, Jillian Michaels, Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince checked in with the season's teenage participants -- Sanjana "Sunny" Chandrasekar, a 16-year-old eleventh-grader from Rochester, NY; Noah "Biingo" Gray, a 13-year-old eighth-grader from New Windsor, MD; and Lindsay Bravo, a 13-year-old eighth-grader from Fillmore, CA.

As part of "face your fears" week, the kids were forced to face their own fears. Lindsay was afraid of learning she has diabetes, as she had already tested positive for pre-diabetes. Biingo was scared of vegetables and Sunny feared her mother might end up dying from obesity because she was so unhealthy.


As a result, Biingo's mom incorporated and disguised veggies within a meatloaf dinner and he liked it. Lindsay's guidance counselor, who has diabetes, talked to her about the condition and showed her what it was like to take an insulin shot. Sunny then had a dreaded conversation with her mom, who was devastated to be a part of her daughter's fears rather than being able to calm them. Her mother promised they'd lose weight together with Sunny's support and help.

Meanwhile, Jackson and Jeff were adjusting to life away from the ranch. They helped each other grocery shop, went hiking and worked out.

Later on, the adult contestants met up with Alison again for the week's main challenge and Jeff and Jackson joined them for it. The challenge required each person to be harnessed in while standing on a platform seven stories above the ground. Their job was to hold onto 40% percent of their body weight, and if they dropped it, the contestant would be dropped off the side of the building.

The last person standing, still holding his or her weight, would win the challenge and receive immunity for the week as long as he or she didn't gain weight.

Gina ended up winning the challenge and immunity. She was beyond thrilled about her victory and cried tears of joy. Following the challenge, Jackson and Jeff were sent away again.


On the ranch, some of the player this season faced their own fears. Gina was afraid of small spaces, and Jillian made her get inside a coffin to realize she was slowly killing herself because of her weight. Dannielle "Danni" Allen, a 26-year-old advertising account coordinator from Wheeling, IL, faced her fear of singing live for an audience, and Joe swam in open ocean water despite his fear of sharks.

The contestants then participated in their last chance workouts.

That night, the six remaining players and The Biggest Loser trainers arrived for the ninth fourteenth-season elimination weigh-in.

Alison reiterated that the two contestants to post the lowest weight-loss percentages would fall below the yellow line and then one of them would be voted off the ranch by their fellow players. Gina had immunity, however, and Joe had a one-pound advantage.

The contestants then stepped on the scale one by one to learn their fate.


Gina, whose weight didn't count, shed seven pounds over the course of the week after she dropped from 180 pounds to 173 pounds. Gina posted a 3.89% weight-loss percentage.

Jackson fell from 261 pounds to 250 pounds after he lost 11 pounds. Jackson posted a 4.21% weight-loss percentage. Jeff posted a 4.22% weight-loss percentage after losing 13 pounds and dropping from 308 pounds to 295 pounds.

It was then time for Joe to weigh-in. Joe shed 12 pounds after falling from 273 pounds to 261 pounds and posted a 4.76% weight-loss percentage -- which included his one-pound advantage.

Alex dropped from 195 pounds to 187 pounds after losing eight pounds total and posting a 4.10% weight-loss percentage. Danni was then the last contestant to step on the scale for the week and learned she had dropped from 194 pounds to 184 pounds after she lost 10 pounds. She posted a whopping 5.15% weight-loss percentage and was named the biggest loser of the week.

Therefore, Alex and Jackson both fell below the yellow line and it was up to their peers to determine who stays and who goes. In the event of a tie, the player with the lowest percentage of weight-loss would automatically be eliminated and that person would be Alex.


In the end, Joe and Danni both voted to oust Alex from The Biggest Loser ranch and the other votes weren't shown nor would they have made a difference. The remaining contestants soon learned they had made it to "makeover week" and would reveal their new looks to their loved ones at home next week.

In a post-elimination update, Alex, who started The Biggest Loser weighing 240 pounds, said she currently weighs 170. Alex made it a routine to work out at the gym six days a week, sometimes for four hours a day. She also became the same clothing size as her mother and finally found it fun to shop and try on clothes in the fitting room. Alex's mother was very proud of her.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski