The fifth season of the Australian version of the original NBC American reality television series The Biggest Loser, known as The Biggest Loser Australia: Couples 2, premiered on 31 January 2010 on Network Ten. This season saw Australia's first female Biggest Loser. 41-year-old education assistant Lisa was the winner, dropping 56.2 kg from her 121.9 kg starting weight - or 46.10% - to become the first woman to win the competition. Also, she is the first contestant to double her prize money since she was crowned The Biggest Loser with the Double bracelet on her wrist.
Host and personalities Host: Hayley Lewis (new host) Trainers: Shannan Ponton, Michelle Bridges, Steve Willis ("The Commando") Masterclass: Dr Norman Swan (Doctor and Medical Journalist), Janella Purcell (Masterclass Chef) Nutrition Consultant. Professor Clare Collins PhD FDAA
Game variations Couples: Season Five began with contestants split into 9 teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship. These couples were divided into two groups for training purposes only - the contestants undergo challenges, Temptations and eliminations in their pairs. Like the previous season, this season was set to have 10 teams, but due to the arrest of one contestant before broadcast (see Production and release), all references to the 10th team (light blue) were removed in the broadcast episodes they originally appeared in. Double or Nothing bracelets: This feature was first introduced in the last season and is featured again. During the season, one contestant is given a gold bracelet (the "Double" bracelet shown with two-dollar signs) and another contestant is given a silver bracelet (the "Nothing" bracelet written with the word "Nothing"). Should the holder of the Double bracelet become this season's winner, he or she will win double the normal prize money (normal prize money is $200,000, so double this is $400,000; however, the normal prize amount is reduced if a contestant accepts cash to leave the competition early, and the double prize money is calculated from the reduced normal amount). Should the holder of the Nothing bracelet become this season's winner, he or she will win $0. No contestant can hold both bracelets at the same time, but they can hold one at one time and hold the other at a later time. Marathon: In week 1, the contestants were informed that towards the end of the series the eliminated contestants would participate in a full 42 km marathon. This would be the only opportunity presented for the eliminated contestants to return to the game. To train for this event, the contestants participated in several long-distance races over the weeks leading up to the marathon: a 4 km run in week 1, a 10 km run in week 3, and a 21 km half-marathon in week 8. The full marathon was run in week 12. No red and blue teams: For the first time this series, there was no red and blue teams.
Teams
ContestantWeek12345678910111213FinaleLisaPrincipal & Teacher's AideIndividualsFinal 4JoeTwin BrothersIndividualsTraining with The CommandoIndividualsFinal 4ShannonBest MatesIndividualsFinal 4WayneCoach & Player Eliminated IndividualsFinal 4DainaSistersIndividualsEliminatedEliminated ContestantIndividualsEliminatedPhilThe DadsIndividualsTraining with The CommandoEliminatedEliminated ContestantDavidThe DadsIndividualsEliminatedEliminated ContestantPhoebeAunt & NieceNew Red TeamIndividualsEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantRickTwin BrothersIndividualsEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantCaitlinSistersIndividualsEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantJarnaPrincipal & Teacher's AideIndividualsEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantChrisBest MatesIndividualsLeft via TemptationEliminated ContestantEliseTwin SistersEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantTenealeTwin SistersEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantJenniAunt & NieceEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantGeoff Left due to medical conditionEliminated ContestantAllanEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated ContestantRomiHusband & WifeEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedEliminated Contestant
Bracelets The two bracelets were introduced in week 1, and have moved around over the course of the series due to Eliminations, non-elimination penalties, biggest loser rewards and challenges. The Double bracelet has the power to double the prize money (to a maximum of $400,000) if worn by the winner of the overall competition, while the Nothing bracelet has the power to deny the prize money (so they win no prize money) if worn by the overall winner. If the wearer of a bracelet is eliminated, that person must choose onto which of the remaining contestants to pass their bracelet. Lisa won TBLC 2010, and was wearing the Double bracelet, but by the finale the prize money had been reduced to $185,000, so she won double that amount ($370,000).
BraceletWeek12345678910111213FinaleDouble ($$)AllanCaitlinCaitlinRickDavidLisaNothingShannonShannonDavidDainaShannonShannon
Weigh-ins Weigh-ins occur every week. They show the contestant's weight, previous weight and difference. Every week contestants are weighed in. While the contestants are in "couples", the two couples with the lowest weight loss percentages are eligible for elimination. When the game shifts to "singles", the two players with the lowest weight loss percentages are eligible for elimination. After the finalists are decided, they go home for a certain amount of time to continue their diets at home until the live finale where the "Biggest Loser", the winner, for 2010 is crowned. The contestant's weekly results can be seen below, and are listed in chronological order of elimination with the exception of the finalists, who are listed in order of the place they finish.
Notes In week 2, Geoff didn't weigh in as he was in hospital. In week 5, it was "All vs. One"; Caitlin & Daina weighed in against the other five couples, comparing the two teams' average percentage weight losses. Caitlin & Daina also had a 2 kg advantage from winning the challenge. In week 6, the contestants began weighing in as singles. In week 7, a head-to-head competition was in place, similar to "Face-off week" featured on the American Version, so contestants were paired up (with the exception of David who held immunity) and whichever contestant in each pair had a lower percentage of weight loss fell below the yellow line and was eligible for elimination. In week 9, Rick gained weight and therefore lost his immunity, as the rules of The Biggest Loser state that if the holder of immunity gains weight at the weigh-in, the immunity is revoked. In week 10, there was no elimination, but the contestants still weighed in, and Hayley explained that the player with the lowest weight loss percentage would suffer a penalty. That player was revealed to be David, who had gained weight that week, and so received the penalty, which was to bear the Nothing bracelet. As he already had the Double bracelet, he had to forfeit it. As "Biggest Loser" for the week, Lisa was awarded the choice of choosing another contestant to allocate the Double bracelet. She chose to keep it for herself. In addition, because David gained weight, he was ineligible to take part in the next immunity challenge. In week 13, Phil and Joe weighed-in first having returned from training with The Commando in the Northern Territory, and whichever of them recorded a greater percentage weight loss since Day 1 of the competition would stay, and the other would be eliminated. Phil recorded a weight loss of 61.4 kg since Day 1, which was a percentage of 41.80%. Joe recorded a weight loss of 77.7 kg, which was a percentage of 43.19%. Phil was eliminated while Joe remained and his weigh-in result carried over to face off against the other four contestants' weigh-in results as normal.
ContestantAgeHeightStartingBMIEndingBMIStartingweightWeekFinaleKilogramsLostPercentagelost 12345678910111213Lisa 41 15948.2 26.0 121.9 113.2 108.4 104.3 100.3 96.0 89.8 84.7 81.5 78.6 77.2 74.4 X71.0 70.9 65.7 56.2 46.10%Joe 20 18652.0 28.1 179.9 167.6 161.2 154.5 148.7 141.9 132.6 126.5 122.5 115.3 113.3 113.1X105.5 102.2 97.2 82.7 45.97%Shannon 24 18364.0 37.2 214.3 200.5 193.7 187.3 180.8 174.7 165.0 157.9 150.6 145.1 144.2 138.5 X132.0 129.0 124.7 89.6 41.81%Wayne 43 19343.4 26.5 161.5 147.1 139.5 130.3 124.0 119.9 110.8102.2101.1 98.7 62.8 38.89% Daina 25 17434.7 25.7 105.2 96.5 92.8 89.1 88.7 83.7 81.5 78.675.678.0 77.8 27.4 26.05% Phil 44 18941.1 26.3 146.9 135.1 129.3 123.3 119.7 112.7 98.0 94.1 99.0 91.2 90.2 89.0 X84.385.593.0 53.9 36.69% David 40 19842.2 26.4 165.6 149.0 141.5 134.0 129.2 122.9 115.8 113.3 107.8 103.5 103.695.4 X97.3 99.2 66.4 40.10%Phoebe 19 16443.1 28.6 116.0 108.9 104.6 101.2 97.4 93.5 87.8 85.0 82.5 80.3 79.5 78.0TBA 76.9 39.1 33.71%Rick 20 18649.9 28.1 172.6 157.8 149.6 142.9 137.4 133.0 122.3 116.6 111.1 111.6 107.2 97.2 75.4 43.68% Caitlin 23 17260.6 42.2 179.4 164.2 158.6 153.5 150.6 143.3 136.9 131.5 126.9 121.9 124.8 54.6 30.43%Jarna 38 17140.6 25.8 118.8 110.3 106.9 103.3 99.7 97.0 90.5 86.3 80.6 75.5 43.3 36.45%Chris 26 18537.7 30.4 128.9 120.5 116.6 112.2 107.2 103.2 LEFT X 104.2 24.7 19.16% Elise 24 16140.4 25.7 104.6 97.6 93.0 90.1 87.7 72.1 66.7 37.9 36.23% Teneale 24 16137.622.7 97.4 88.4 84.6 81.1 78.7 63.6 58.8 38.6 39.63%Jenni 47 16249.8 31.7 130.6 122.4 117.0 113.3 92.9 84.3 46.3 35.45%Geoff 56 18348.3 35.1 161.6 147.6 DNW LEFT X 117.8 43.8 27.10% Allan 34 18545.5 38.4 155.8 147.7 TBA 131.5 24.3 15.60% Romi 29 15441.9 36.2 99.3 94.0 87.6 85.8 13.5 13.60%
Contestants Winner (among finalists) Winner (among eliminated) Below the yellow line Had immunity for the week Gained weight Gained weight and below the yellow line Had immunity but lost it due to gaining weight, and below the yellow line Gained weight, below the yellow line and last person eliminated before finale The week's biggest loser Had immunity and the week's biggest loser DNW - Not weighed in for medical or other reasons LEFT - The contestant left the competition before a weigh-in (by choice or challenge) Results from the Northern Territory weigh-in Results from the eliminated contestants' return weigh-in Won weigh-in after returning from training with The Commando, and the week's biggest loser Eliminated by losing weigh-in after returning from training with The Commando
BMIs Healthy Body Mass Index (less than 25.0 BMI) Overweight Body Mass Index (25.0–29.9 BMI) Obese Class I (30.0–34.9 BMI) Obese Class II Index (35.0–39.9 BMI) Obese Class III (40.0 or above) Phoebe, in the episode before the beginning of the marathon, stated that had lost 100 grams.
Weight Loss History ContestantWeekFinale12345678910111213Lisa -8.7 -4.8 -4.1 -4.0 -4.3 -6.2 -5.1 -3.2 -2.9 -1.4 -2.8 -3.4-0.1-5.2Joe -12.3 -6.4 -6.7 -5.8 -6.8 -9.3 -6.1 -4.0 -7.2 -2.0 -0.2 -7.6 -3.3-5.0Shannon -13.8 -6.8 -6.4 -6.5 -6.1 -9.7 -7.1 -7.3 -5.5 -0.9 -5.7 -6.5-3.0 -4.3Wayne -14.4 -7.6 -9.2 -6.3 -4.1 -9.1 -8.6 -1.1-2.4 Daina -8.7 -3.7 -3.7 -0.4 -5.0 -2.2 -2.9 -3.0 +2.4-0.2 Phil -11.8 -5.8 -6.0 -3.6 -7.0 -14.7 -3.9 +4.9 -7.8 -1.0 -1.2 -4.7+1.2+7.5 David -16.6 -7.5 -7.5 -4.8 -6.3 -7.1 -2.5 -5.5 -4.3 +0.1 -8.2 +1.9+1.9Phoebe -7.1-4.3 -3.4 -3.8 -3.9 -5.7 -2.8 -2.5 -2.2 -0.8 -1.5 -1.1Rick -14.8 -8.2 -6.7 -5.5 -4.4 -10.7 -5.7 -5.5 +0.5 -14.4 Caitlin -15.2 -5.6 -5.1 -2.9 -7.3 -6.4 -5.4 -4.6 -2.1Jarna -8.5 -3.4 -3.6 -3.6 -2.7 -6.5 -4.2 -10.8Chris -8.4 -3.9 -4.4 -5.0 -4.0 +1.0 Elise -7.0 -4.6 -2.9 -2.4 -21.0 Teneale -9.0 -3.8 -3.5 -2.4 -19.9Jenni -8.2 -5.4 -3.7 -29.0Geoff -14.0 -29.8 Allan -8.1 -16.2 Romi -5.3 -8.2
Weight Loss Percentage History