Biggest Loser Australia

With the success of the American version of The Biggest Loser, Australia was given its own version of the show. The Biggest Loser Australia began airing on February 13, 2006 and just wrapped up its third season.

Like the NBC version of the show, Biggest Loser Australia takes overweight contestants and through diet, training, and exercise teaches them how to lose weight. The contestants also participate in challenges for rewards. The contestants are usually divided into two teams.

During the first season, the teams were coached by the same personal trainers as the American contestants - Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. The second season, Bob and Jillian still made appearances, but they were replaced by Michelle Bridges and Shannan Ponton. Michelle is fitness professional who was named the winner of the Fitness Leader of the Year award in 2004. In the off-season, Michelle tours the lecture circuit passing on her wisdom about weight loss and training. Shannon has been a fitness instructor for over 17 years. He likes to incorporate different techniques such as kickboxing, spin, swimming, martial arts, circuit, and weight training into his workouts. Bob and Jillian returned as the full time trainers in season 3.

Occasionally appearing on the show is former SAS soldier Steve "The Commando" Willis. Willis has over ten years experience with the Australian Special Forces as a Counter Terrorism Team Commander. The show is hosted by Ajay Rochester. Rochester is a comedian and writer who struggled with her own weight, eventually losing over 50 kg. She hosted her online weight-loss support network, called Healthy Body Club, in 2005.

** The latest person eliminated on the Australian Biggest Loser was Neil.

Season 3

Season 3 ran from February 3, to May 1, 2008. Like the U.S. version, this season featured the red and blue team, but also the black team. Of the 30 original players, 15 were eliminated, but four were chosen by Willis to be flown to the U.S. to train with Bob and Jillian and represent the black team. The black team were Michelle, Carrianne, Bryce, and Steven, however when Steven quit in Week 3, he was replaced by JJ

Season 3 Contestants

* eliminated by Kristen immediately as part of The Walk competition
**eliminated in Week 1, but returned in Week 5

Latest American Biggest Loser Recaps

Ali Drinks her Milk
Posted: 16 Apr 2008
It is really amazing to watch the weight loss of the Biggest Loser contestants. Here is a photo that we just received of Ali; this seasons winner of the Biggest Loser Couples: Photo provided by: Lowe Worldwide for MilkPEP

Biggest Loser Couples: The Big Finale!
Posted: 15 Apr 2008
Tonight on the Biggest Loser, it was down to Ali, Kelly, and either Mark or Roger. I really wanted to see Roger in the finale – both my husband and I voted for him online. And it must have helped – he was the top vote getter and was the third contestant for [...]

Biggest Loser Couples: The Final Four and a Big Surprise
Posted: 8 Apr 2008
It is just amazing the transformation the final four have made. Chef Rocco came back this week to show them how to prepare their favorites foods, just a lower calorie version. The challenge was to carry their old weight in a fat suit down the beach, take off the fat suit, pick up a flag, and [...]

Biggest Loser Couples: Jay Leaves and Mark Cries
Posted: 1 Apr 2008
Actually, my title is a bit misleading as Mark spent much of this episode crying. In fact, at one point, he was on the phone with his wife and she told him to toughen up! The remaining contestants went to Australia, where Bob and Jillian are the trainers for Biggest Loser Australia. They got [...]

Season Two

Season 2 ran from February through April 2007. The contestants in order of elimination were:

Season Two Contestants

Name	Start Weight (kg)	Total Loss (kg)	End Weight (kg)
Sarah	153.3 (left in week one)
Alex	155.2	41.8	113.4
Sam	128.0	40.6	87.4
Kelly	117.1	28.0	89.1
Michael	165.2	70.0	95.2
P'eta	136.0	24.9	111.1
Gerard	133.5	43.3	90.2
Jules	126.3	34.9	91.6
Mel	108.4	30.4	78.0
Greg	148.8	48.9	99.9
Laura	109.2	25.0	84.2
Damien	216.3	74.6	141.7
Courtney	139.2	40.9	98.3
Kimberlie	141.8	46.8	95.0
Munnalita	127.3	53.2	74.1
Pati	120.2	48.0	72.2
Marty	160.6	65.9	94.7
Chris	149.5	70.1	79.4

Chris and Kimberlie arrived in Week 7 as an outsider - they had not been training with the others, but with Steve "The Commando" Willis. Chris eventually won season 2, taking home the AUD$200,000 prize.

Three contestants quit the show this season. Sarah quit in Week 1 because she felt isolated from the other contestants and the trainers could not convince her to stay. Sam had to drop out in Week 1 due to deep vein thrombosis. Sarah and Sam were replaced by Laura and P'eta. Jules had to drop out in Week 5 because of irregular heart patterns.

When the eliminated players were invited back, P'eta declined. Sarah, Jules, and Sam, despite being eliminated for medical reasons, did not come back as well. Michael won the runner-up prize of AUD$50,000. He lost 46.89% of his start weight.

Season One

Season 1 ran from February through April 2006. Over 6,000 Australians applied for the show, but the contestants in order of elimination were:

Season One Contestants

Name	Start Weight (kg)	Total Loss (kg)	End Weight (kg)
David	196.7	7.4	189.3
Jo	108.0	7.3	100.7
Cat	157.8	13.6	144.2
Tracy	109.8	11.7	98.1
Artie	156.4	17.7	138.7
Wal	176.7	36.6	140.1
Ruth	155.2	19.7	135.5
Shane	154.0	34.2	119.8
Fiona	101.1	14	87.1
Kristie	104.8	21.4	83.4
Harry	178.9	32.8	146.1
Adro	136.5	27.6	108.9

Additional Biggest Loser Resources