The Biggest Loser: Couples is the fifth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The fifth season premiered on January 1, 2008 with ten overweight couples competing for a cash prize of $250,000. This season featured Days of Our Lives star Alison Sweeney as the host, with trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels; all three returning from season four.
Although the contestants came in as teams of two (couples), the grand prize was eventually awarded to an individual. In the end Ali Vincent won, making her the first female winner in the history of the American Biggest Loser series.
After his elimination from the show, Dan Evans released a country music album in 2008.
Contestants ContestantCouples TeamBlue vs. BlackStatusTotal votesLynn Westphal, 60, Elyria, OHGreen TeamEliminated Week 15Jenni Westphal, 31, North Ridgeville, OHCurtis Bray, 35, Los Angeles, CABrown TeamEliminated Week 24Mallory Bray, 36, Los Angeles, CAAmanda Harmer, 29, Oklahoma City, OKWhite TeamEliminated Week 34Neill Harmer, 28, Oklahoma City, OKAli Vincent, Returned Week 11Pink TeamEliminated Week 41Bette-Sue Birkland, 53, Mesa, AZJenn Widder, 22, River Edge, NJPurple TeamBlack TeamEliminated Week 55Jackie Evans. 49, Frankfort, ILOrange TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 64Trent Patterson, 39, Endicott, NYGray TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 74Paul Marks, 43, Rockledge, FLYellow TeamBlack TeamEliminated Week 86Mark Kruger, Returned Week 11Black TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 94Bernie Salazar, 27, Chicago, ILBlue TeamBlack TeamEliminated Week 105Maggie King, 23, Denville, NJPurple TeamBlack TeamEliminated Week 114Brittany Aberle, 22, San Jacinto, CABlue TeamBlack TeamEliminated Week 123Dan Evans, 21, Frankfort, ILOrange TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 133Jay Kruger, 31, New Bedford, MABlack TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 142Mark Kruger, 35, Dartmouth, MABlack TeamBlue TeamRe-eliminated at FinaleAmerica's Vote VictimKelly Fields, 38, Titusville, FLYellow TeamBlack Team2nd Runner-Up4Roger Shultz, 40, Enterprise, ALGray TeamBlue TeamRunner-Up0Ali Vincent, 32, Mesa, AZPink Team (Bob)Pink Team (Jillian)Biggest Loser0 Total Votes counts only votes that are revealed at elimination. The total does not count unrevealed votes.
Weigh-ins and eliminations ContestantAgeHeightStartingBMIEndingBMIStartingweightWeekFinaleWeightlostPercentagelost123456789101112131415Ali325'5" 234215212206198 16716015514914613512211247.86%Roger406'3" 363343340331319309301292276268259X25124223623421919916445.18%Kelly385'6" 271258257248240240233225218212206X20219919219117816210940.22%Mark355'10" 285268261249235230221215202201 195188185181182*16915612945.26%Jay316'1" 293280275268258253248244228221214X209206201202 19010335.15%Dan215'8" 310285277265264251244237226219211X207199198 17413643.87%Brittany225'7" 221211210203201199189188185179174X172170 1645725.79%Maggie235'3" 239229227221218211206204198190184X184 1697029.29%Bernie275'5" 283266261248241236223216211201195195 15313045.94%Paul435'4" X303286283269260263*251241236 233 did not attendTrent396'1" 436407401388375366357349 331 30113530.96%Jackie495'5" 246231223216214206204 182 1578936.18%Jenn225'0" 254242240236229223 206 1906425.20%535'5" 261245239231224 212 1867528.74%Amanda295'2" 204190190185 158 1406431.37%Neill285'10" 317304298292 262 2298827.76%Curtis356'1" 381359356 281 23115039.37%Mallory365'6" 217203204 175 1526529.95%Lynn606'2" 409390 345 3298019.56%Jenni315'8" 267260 229 2135420.22% Game Week's Biggest Loser Immunity (Challenge or Weigh-In) Immunity & Week's Biggest Loser Last person eliminated before finale(by America voting). Results from Eliminated Players Weigh in (Week 10, episode 11) Winners $250,000 Winner (among the finalists) $100,000 Winner (among the eliminated contestants) BMI Underweight (less than 18.5 BMI) Normal (18.5 – 24.9 BMI) Overweight (25 – 29.9 BMI) Obese Class I (30 – 34.9 BMI) Obese Class II (35 – 39.9 BMI) Obese Class III (greater than 40 BMI)
Notes Paul weighed 263 pounds after Week 5, but because he gained 3 pounds in Week 5, only 9 pounds of his 12 lost were added to the team's total loss. Mark weighed 182 pounds after Week 14, but his starting weight was displayed as 181 at the week 15 weigh-in Paul did not attend Finale due to illness Bette Sue & Ali and Lynn & Jenni were members of Bob's team before Week 5, while Curtis & Mallory and Neill & Amanda were members of Jillian's team before Week 5. When Ali returned in Week 11, she switched over to Jillian, but kept her pink shirt.
Weight loss history ContestantWeek123456789101112131415FinaleAli −19−3−6−8-31−7−5−6−3−11−13Roger −20−3−9−12−10−8−9−16−8−9−8−9−6−2−15−20Kelly −13−1−9−80−7−8−7−6−6−4−3−7−1−13−16Mark −17−7−12−14−5−9−6−13−1-6−7−3−4+1−13-13Jay −13−5−7−10−5−5−4−16−7−7−5−3−5+1-12Dan −25−8−12−1−13−7−7−11−7−8−4−8−1-24Brittany −10−1−7−2−2−10−1−3−6−5−2−2-6Maggie −10−2−6−3−7−5−2−6−8−60-15Bernie −17−5−13−7−5−13−7−5−10−6-42Paul −17−3−14−9+3-12−10−5-3xTrent −29−6−13−13−9−9−8-18-30Jackie −15−8−7−2−8−2-22-25Jenn −12−2−4−7−6-17-16 −16−6−8−7-12-26Amanda −140−5-27-18Neill −13−6−6-30-33Curtis −22−3-75-50Mallory −14+1-29-23Lynn −19-45-16Jenni −7-31-16
Away from Campus Notes Paul's 12 pound weight loss in week 6 was counted towards his team's loss as −9, due to his weight gain the previous week. Mark's 13 pound weight loss in week 15 was displayed as −12, due to his weight gain the previous week. x – Paul did not attend Finale due to illness.
Weight loss percentage history ContestantWeekFinale123456789101112131415Ali −8.12%−1.40%−2.83%−3.88%-15.66%−4.19%−3.13%−3.87%−2.01%−7.53%−9.63%Roger −5.51%−0.87%−2.65%−3.63%−3.13%−2.59%−2.99%−5.48% −2.90%−3.36%−3.09%−3.59%−2.48%−0.85%−6.41%−9.13%Kelly −4.80%−0.39%−3.50%−3.23%0.00%−2.92%−3.43%−3.11% −2.75%−2.83%−1.94%−1.49%−3.52%−0.52%−6.81%−8.99%Mark −5.96%−2.61%−4.60%−5.62%−2.13%−3.91%−2.71%−6.05% −0.50%-2.99%−3.59%−1.60%−2.16%+0.55%-6.63%-7.69%Jay −4.44%−1.79%−2.55%−3.73%−1.94%−1.98%−1.61%−6.56% −3.07%−3.17%−2.34%−1.44%−2.43%+0.50%-6.32%Dan −8.06%−2.81%−4.33%−0.38%−4.92%−2.79%−2.87%−4.64% −3.10%−3.65%−1.90%−3.86%−0.50%-12.12%Brittany −4.52%−0.47%−3.33%−0.99%−1.00%−5.03%−0.53%−1.60% −3.24%−2.79%−1.15%−1.16%-3.53%Maggie −4.18%−0.87%−2.64%−1.36%−3.21%−2.37%−0.97%−2.94% −4.04%−3.16%0.00%-8.15%Bernie −6.01%−1.88%−4.98%−2.82%−2.07%−5.51%−3.14%−2.31%−4.74%−2.99%-21.54%Paul −5.61%−1.05%−4.95%−3.35%+1.15%-3.46%−3.98%−2.07%-1.27%xTrent −6.65%−1.47%−3.24%−3.35%−2.40%−2.46%−2.24%-5.16%-9.06%Jackie −6.10%−3.46%−3.14%−0.93%−3.74%−0.97%-10.78%-13.74%Jenn −4.72%−0.83%−1.67%−2.97%−2.62%-7.62%-7.77% −6.13%−2.45%−3.35%−3.03%-5.36%-12.26%Amanda −6.86%0.00%−2.63%-14.59%-11.39%Neill −4.10%−1.97%−2.01%-10.27%-12.60%Curtis −5.77%−0.84%-21.07%-17.79%Mallory −6.45%+0.49%-14.22%-13.14%Lynn −4.65%-11.54%-4.64%Jenni −2.62%-11.92%-6.99%
Total Overall Percentage of Weight Loss (Biggest Loser on Campus) Bold denotes whom has the overall highest percentage of weight loss as of that week ContestantWeek123456789101112131415Ali -8.12% −9.40% −11.97% −15.38% -28.63% −31.62% −33.76% −36.32%-37.61%-42.31%Roger −5.51% −6.34% −8.82% −12.12% −14.88% −17.08% −19.56% −23.97% −26.17% −28.65% −30.85% −33.33% −34.99% −35.54% −39.67%Kelly −4.80% −5.17% −8.49% −11.44% −11.44% −14.02% −16.97% −19.56% −21.77% −23.99% −25.46% −26.57% −29.15% −29.52% −34.32%Mark −5.96% −8.42% −12.63%-17.54%-19.30%-22.46%-24.56%-29.12%-29.47% -31.58%-34.04% −35.09%-36.49% −36.14% −40.70%Jay −4.44% −6.14% −8.53% −11.95% −13.65% −15.36% −16.72% −22.18% −24.57% −26.96% −28.67% −29.69% −31.40% −31.06%Dan −8.06%-10.65%-14.52% −14.84% −19.03% −21.29% −23.55% −27.10% −29.35%-31.94% −33.23%-35.81% −36.13%Brittany −4.52% −4.98% −8.14% −9.05% −9.95% −14.48% −14.93% −16.29% −19.00% −21.27% −22.17% −23.08%Maggie −4.18% −5.02% −7.53% −8.79% −11.72% −13.81% −14.64% −17.15% −20.50% −23.01% −23.01%Bernie −6.01% −7.77% −12.37% −14.84% −16.61% −21.20% −23.67% −25.44% −28.98% −31.10%Paul −5.61% −6.60% −11.22% −14.19% −13.20% −17.16% −20.46% −22.11%Trent −6.65% −8.03% −11.01% −13.99% −16.06% −18.12% −19.95%Jackie −6.10% −9.35% −12.20% −13.01% −16.26% −17.07%Jenn −4.72% −5.31% −7.09% −9.84% −12.20% −6.13% −8.43% −11.49% −14.18%Amanda −6.86% −6.86% −9.31%Neill −4.10% −5.99% −7.89%Curtis −5.77% −6.56%Mallory −6.45% −5.99%Lynn −4.65%Jenni −2.62%
Voting history ContestantWeek # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15EliminatedJennJackieTrentPaulMarkBernieMaggieBrittanyDanJayMarkAli ?XMaggieBrittanyDanJayBiggest LoserRoger?XXJackieTrentXMarkBernie?BrittanyDanJayXKelly X?JennXXBernieXXBrittany?Dan? FinalistMark?XXJackieTrentX?Elim. Week 9Maggie?XXJay?XXJackieTrentXMarkBernie?X?XDan?XXTrentTrentXMarkBernieMaggieBrittanyXBrittany XJennXXPaulXKellyXXMaggieXXXKellyXXPaulXKellyXEliminated Week 11Bernie XJennXXPaulXXEliminated Week 10Paul X?JennXXBernieEliminated Week 8Trent?XXJackieMarkEliminated Week 7JackieXXTrentEliminated Week 6JennXXXKellyEliminated Week 5 ?XEliminated Week 4Amanda XEliminated Week 3Neill XEliminated Week 3Curtis XEliminated Week 2Mallory XEliminated Week 2LynnXEliminated Week 1JenniXEliminated Week 1 Immunity Below yellow line, unable to vote Not in elimination, unable to vote Vote not revealed Extra vote (two votes at elimination) Eliminated or not in house Valid vote cast Below yellow line, America Votes Last person eliminated before the finale (by America voting) $250,000 winner (among the finalists)
Episode summaries
Week 1 First aired January 1, 2008
The new "couples" season begins with a challenge: All ten couples must race from the campus grounds along a marked path to the top of a nearby hill. Each member of the couple must touch a flagpole there and return to the starting point. As each couple returns, they may choose with which trainer they want to work out with: Bob or Jillian. Each trainer may work with only five of the couples, so, once that limit is reached, additional couples must go to the remaining trainer.
The second challenge requires the couples to drag a heavy helium-filled color-coordinated weather balloon around a racecourse. The first team to cross the finish line will have a bonus of two pounds added to their weight loss for the week. The last team to arrive will have two pounds subtracted from their week's weight-loss total. Jay & Mark (Black Team) win the challenge with Maggie & Jenn (Purple Team) finishing last.
At the weigh-in, two couples — Lynn & Jenni (Green Team) and Maggie & Jenn (Purple Team) — fall below the yellow line and are put up for elimination. The final result: five votes for the Green Team, one vote for the Purple Team, with the votes of two teams unrevealed. Lynn & Jenni are eliminated. After they return home it is shown that Lynn and Jenni still continued to exercise and watch their weight. Lynn lost a total of 30 lbs and Jenni lost a total of 20 lbs.
Week 2 First aired January 8, 2008
This week's reward challenge takes the couples out to the playground. Each team has to get on a giant seesaw, and the first team to achieve 100 repetitions will win a 10-minute call home for each member. Jay and Mark (Black Team) win the reward and an additional responsibility: they must choose three other teams to win the same prize. They select Curtis & Mallory (Brown Team), Roger & Trent (Grey Team) and Neill and Amanda (White Team) for the reward.
The second challenge separates the teams so that each member faces temptation on his or her own: four minutes alone, surrounded by thousands of calories in favorite foods. The team that eats the most calories wins $5,000. Members from only three couples give in to temptation: Mallory, who eats 210 calories; Paul (Yellow Team), who eats 912 calories; and Mark, who eats 925 calories. The Black Team wins the $5,000 by 13 calories.
At the weigh-in, the Brown Team and the Yellow Team both fall below the yellow line and are up for elimination. The final result is four votes for the Brown Team and three votes for the Yellow Team. Curtis and Mallory are eliminated.