The Biggest Loser - 9 ª Season

The twenty-two contestants - who arrive as teams of two - are introduced, three of whom are the heaviest three contestants ever on the show, and one team which weighs collectively close to half a ton. Their initial weigh-in is held in each's hometown in front of family, friends and other townsfolk. When they arrive on campus and enter the gym for the first time, the contestants are surprised to see it empty, except for twenty-two bicycles. Each team is to cycle collectively 26.2 miles, the equivalent of a marathon. The team to finish the distance first gets immunity from elimination, the bottom two teams who will be asked to leave the campus immediately. However Bob and Jillian are training together, and use the first workout to assess the fitness and personality of each of the contestants. At the first weigh-in, the contestants are weighed as a team. The team with the lowest percentage of weight loss falls below the yellow line. The remaining contestants vote which of the two on that team will be eliminated. At the weigh-in, two contestants set new weight loss records for the show.

With two couples asked to leave following the bicycling challenge and James being voted off after the first weigh-in, seventeen contestants remain on campus. Jillian and Bob are still feeling out the contestants and try to get to their core issues. Everyone in the gym is feeling the pressure of what is known on the show as the week 2 curse of an extreme drop in weight loss following the first week high. Dr. Huizenga takes each couple aside to demonstrate to them in meaningful ways how their weight issues are negatively affecting their lives. The reward challenge is one of balance and speed, with the ultimate reward for the winner, and the ultimate penalty for the last place team. Extreme fear takes hold of one contestant, which Jillian later helps try and conquer. Going into the weigh-in, the contestants weigh-in as teams, one person from the team with the lowest percentage of weight loss who will be eliminated. Bob calls out one contestant to admit to games playmanship.

During "student-teacher week," the contestants on each team assume the role of either teacher or student. "Teachers" get to continue working out with Bob and Jillian, but then have to teach what they've learned to their teammates or "students," who don't get to work out with the trainers. The "student'" on each team will be the only one whose weight counts at weigh-in. Acclaimed chef Curtis Stone teaches the contestants about portion control and helps them whip up a healthy chicken cacciatore dish.

This week starts off with a high-stakes pop challenge in which contestants race for the prize of immunity - and the winning team also gets three envelopes to give to the teams of their choice with instructions that could have a dramatic impact at this week's weigh in. Also, tensions are high between the trainers and one team suspected of game play, and a lifting competition rewards the winning team with a prize that everyone wants.

At the last weigh-in, Migdalia was voted off campus. The campus is not only down one contestant but two as one is sent to hospital temporarily on a medical issue. But two others ultimately return to campus as the at home challenge given to Victoria and Cherita and Sunshine and O'Neal, which the on-campus contestants did not know about, comes to an end and the four return to campus to weigh-in. Before doing so, they go through what Bob calls the Biggest Loser rite of passage: a last chance workout. The returning team is told that they will receive immunity for the week, but that they are also given ultimate power: the only vote at the week's all contestant weigh-in. During the week, Bob and Jillian each focus in on a few contestants to get to the bottom of their weight issues. The reward challenge is a Super Bowl week football related challenge, with the winning team receiving immunity at the week's weigh-in, the losing team getting a two-pound penalty.