The Biggest Loser - 13 ª Season

Alison greets the twenty season 13 contestants outside the gates of the ranch, the contestants who are in couples (siblings, parents and children, spouses, friends, etc.). They learn that the theme for this season is "no excuses". They also learn that one couple will not make it through the gates of the ranch, they who are last place couple in a three phase challenge, where the four leading couples move on after the first phase, an additional four after the second phase, and the final couple after the third phase. However, the losing couple is provided some incentive to do well in their weight loss journey at home. The eighteen contestants who proceed through the gates of the ranch then meet the two trainers for the season - Bob and Dolvett - with who they are provided a two hour training session before the contestants choose with which trainer they want to train. The contestants will ultimately be in two teams of nine. At the end of the two hour session, which ends up being a difficult process for many, the contestants learn the rules of the selection process, which does not sit well with many of them. At the first last chance workout, the competition heats up not only between the contestants on the two teams, but also between the trainers as Dolvett notices the work ethic of his team compared to Bob's. Dolvett is determined that his team will not to lose to Bob's at the inaugural weigh-in as his team did so often in season 12.

Falling on the sword for his team, Ben is the first eliminated player of the season, leaving the black team down a contestant. Alison informs both teams that the person with the highest percentage of weight loss on this week's winning team will be able to provide immunity from elimination for one player on the opposing team. Everyone is gearing for this achievement as they will provide that immunity to their loved one on the opposing team. Alison also requests two volunteer leaders from each team without telling them what they will be required to do. It ends up being a gambling game, where the leaders bid on what percentage of weight they think they will lose this week, with the team making the final bid gaining a five pound weight advantage at the weigh-in if they make that weight goal. If they fail to make that weight goal, the opposing team wins a five pound advantage at the weigh-in. The final bid ends up surprising both teams, including the trainers, which leads to the two bidders having potential targets on their backs for elimination if they fail to make the weight loss goal. That weight loss goal stands heavy on the bidding team's mind throughout the week. That bid also results in a sometimes not so friendly competition between the teams, each accusing the other of childish behavior. This feud extends to the trainers, who each have problem team members with regard to focus during the workouts. Despite the trainers wanting to foster a unified team mentality, a major crack forms on the red team. The first team challenge of the season is truly a team effort in strength, endurance and visual puzzle solving ability, with each person on the winning team earning the Biggest Loser meal plan for six months after they go home. The result of the post weigh-in elimination vote turns out to be an inevitability after the first couple of votes and resulting discussion, which devolves into a finger pointing yelling session. Meanwhile, Dr. Huizenga speaks to half brothers Mike and Joe, perhaps the two unhealthiest people on the ranch, about their genetic disposition toward disease and their unrealistic mentality toward their respective lifestyles. And nutritionist Rachel Beller teaches the contestants how to go food shopping properly. She also visits Adrian and Daphne in Chicago to assist in their at-home food planning.

Mike's elimination from the ranch following the latest weigh-in hits half-brother Joe especially hard, he who makes an important decision which is a Biggest Loser first. Joe's decision doesn't sit well with his teammates or his trainer, Bob. Alison issues the first temptation challenge of the season - a Chinese food buffet - with the winning person gaining a two pound advantage at the next weigh-in which he or she can allocate as decided just before the weigh-in, and the ability to allocate a one-on-one match-up at the weigh-in. One contestant from each team will weigh off against one person on the opposing team, with one point awarded for each winning face-off. The winning team will be the one with the most points, and not necessarily with the greatest percentage of weight loss as a team. If the teams are tied at the end of the temptation challenge, each contestant will face-off against their loved one on the opposing team. Both Bob and Dolvett use the face-off mentality to their advantage in firing up their team members, who they face off in mini-challenges in the workouts. One of those mini-challenges is especially competitive, which leads to a rematch during the last chance workout. The reward challenge is a water relay, the water used to melt a block of ice which contains an enclosed package which names the reward for the winning team. Many on the winning team end up giving their reward away to another who they feel would benefit from it more. The weigh-in ends up being as competitive as the mini-challenges during the workouts. And Bob travels to Chicago to assist Adrian and Daphne with a workout.

Lauren, last week's eliminated contestant, and Joe, who quit during mid-week last week, are not the only contestants who go home this week as Buddy goes home temporarily to support his wife as she gives birth. Buddy is scheduled to return by week's end, with his weight still counting for his team. The remaining contestants learn that their team challenge has what they consider an important advantage for their weight loss journey: sole access to the gym for the week, with the losing team relegated to working out elsewhere. The challenge is an obstacle course with five health related questions for each team, with each wrong answer resulting in the team needing to overcome an obstacle on the course. During the week, both Bob and Dolvett come across difficult team members. The trainers try to overcome those team members' issues. However, another person whose comment "I want to go home" is another scare for his/her team, and may be his/her death knell for staying if that person decides to stay and if that team loses the week's weigh-in. Meanwhile, Dolvett heads to Chicago to give at-home contestants Adrian and Daphne a tool to monitor their progress.

Immediately following Gail being voted off the ranch after the latest weigh-in, Alison brings all the contestants together to tell them the deal made to brother and sister Adrian and Daphne, who never made it on to the ranch on the initial show of the season: that if they lost more than a combined 50 pounds during this first month at home, they would earn a place on the ranch. Some of the existing contestants welcome the potential of new contestants, while others see it as being an injustice. Adrian and Daphne also learn that if they make it on to the ranch, they will be split as were all the other couples, and that they will receive immunity from elimination on their first week. The week's team challenge is a race of bouncing medicine balls off a trampoline which must be caught in a net by their teammates. The award for the winning team is the ability to choose one contestant from each team whose weight will not count at this week's weigh-in. During the week, obvious cracks appear on both teams, which the respective trainers try to repair. The black team's crack is between Chris on one side, and Jeremy and Chism on the other, the latter two who voted to eliminate Chris during the latest post-weigh-in vote. The animosity during the week extends to this week's elimination vote.