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 ... Written by Huggo

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 ... Written by Huggo

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 ... Written by Huggo

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 ... Written by Huggo

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... Written by Huggo

Following Nancy's elimination from the ranch after the latest weigh-in, the animosity on the red team between Adrian and the rest of the team members continues. Later in the week, Dolvett tries to smooth the waters, but he too realizes that Adrian's issues are that he talks often but very rarely listens. The week's team challenge is one that the trainers do not like, as they are their respective team's target in a dunk tank. Each team, via pulleys, collectively are holding up 240 pounds. The team that drops the weight first loses, the dropping of the weight which triggers a mechanism that will dunk their trainer into the cold pool of water below. The losing team will not have access to their trainer from that point onward for the week until the last chance workout. What the contestants don't know is that that trainer will be watching their week's workouts via video, which he will use as an assessment on what needs to be accomplished in that last chance workout. What that trainer ... Written by Huggo

Adrian's elimination from the ranch after the latest weigh-in and vote results in a finger pointing match between Conda and Daphne. Alison announces that two additional contestants will be going home for the week, one from each team, those respective contestants whose weight will be the only one that counts for their team at this week's weigh-in. The choice of the contestants will be made by the respective trainers, who end up making unconventional choices. The trainers will accompany their chosen team member home. Some of the contestants are relieved not to be chosen, while one feels betrayed by not being chosen. Alison also informs the teams that the teams' weight loss for the week will be important as the winning team will give their team member a one-pound advantage at the weigh-in. Without their trainers, the two teams struggle to maintain an intense workout schedule. The winning team in this week's team challenge will also provide a one-pound advantage at the weigh-in to their ... Written by Huggo

Roy was eliminated after the latest weigh-in and elimination vote. The remaining contestants go into a temptation challenge consisting of plates of their respective favorite foods, which they can eat as much as they want in three minutes. The person who consumes the most calories has the ability to switch up the team members in any way he/she sees fit. What makes it even more attractive for some is that the winner will remain anonymous. The winner of the challenge makes what most of the others don't understand from a strategic standpoint, and thus feel that the changes were done for more of a personal reason, which not only affect the people involved in the change but the entire house. The trainer of the temptation challenge winner finds out who it is and encourages that person to admit to making the change so that the toxic feelings pervading the house will cease. Will that person heed the advice and if so will it heal the wounds? The newly formed teams enter into their first team ... Written by Huggo

The eleven remaining contestants learn that Daphne - the contestant who was eliminated after the latest weigh-in and elimination vote - is not the only person going home this week. All eleven will be heading home for an eighteen day period to face the pressures of losing weight while living their real life. They also learn that any contestant who loses at least five percent of their body weight will automatically earn immunity from elimination at the next weigh-in, and if all on the losing team reach that five percent goal, no one will be eliminated for the week. Once home, the contestants learn that simultaneously they will be participating in the week's reward challenge. All contestants are provided a rowing machine, which are theirs to keep. The first contestant to row 10,000 meters will additionally win $10,000, which Alison will announce once the contestants return back to the ranch. The contestants find the biggest challenge over the eighteen days is maintaining a normal ... Written by Huggo

Not only Mark but the entire house is reeling from Chism's elimination after the latest weigh-in, he the only contestant on the losing team who did not meet the weight loss goal. His elimination is not the only thing that sends the contestants reeling as Alison tells them of two changes to the game side for the week. First, the contestants will train with the opposing trainer for the week, which causes some tears as some contestants feel a special bond with their own trainer. Bob and Dolvett use this switch to provide the contestants with workouts that may shock their muscles. Dolvett in particular wants to gain trust and get everyone, including himself, outside of their comfort zone. The contestants, however, hope their long time trainer will take into consideration the fact that if they work their new team hard, one from their long time team will potentially go home. And second, at this week's weigh-in, the winning team members will have the only votes in the elimination. This ... Written by Huggo

With Cassandra's elimination after the latest weigh-in and vote, Emily and Kim feel vulnerable for elimination. That fear is lessened with an announcement by Alison: that all the contestants are now singles, meaning that there will be for the first time this season a yellow line. Emily and Kim feel they need to stay above the yellow line at the weigh-in to control their own destiny. With Buddy not cleared medically to compete, the remaining eight contestants compete in a seven round reward challenge, with each round having the contestants all tied to a ring. Each person is trying to reach their buzzer which is located in opposite directions from everyone else's, meaning that they have to pull all the other contestants in their direction. The first to reach their buzzer wins the round and sits out the remaining rounds. Each contestant does win a reward, which is determined on the old white elephant gift giving method. One of those rewards is a fashion shopping spree for two with an ... Written by Huggo

Emily is the latest contestant to be eliminated after the weigh-in and vote. Despite stating that she is a self-sufficient person who doesn't need someone else to rely on, Kim is feeling alone among the remaining contestants which places her in a fragile emotional state. She will later learn that she is not alone among the contestants. The excuse for the week is I can't lose weight on vacation. As such, Alison tells the remaining contestants that they will be going on vacation for a week in Hawaii, where none of these contestants have ever been before. The trainers in particular are afraid that many within this group will treat it solely as a vacation. The trainers do use their locale to their advantage in new training methods, one which ends up challenging them mentally and physically. The contestants are provided a role model in overcoming whatever fears in that activity. Alison provides a pop quiz on Hawaiian health trivia, the winner to receive a one pound advantage at this ... Written by Huggo

The contestants arrive back to the ranch from Hawaii without Kimmy, who was the eliminated contestant after the latest weigh-in and vote. Their first task is a pop challenge, one of each packing one hundred fifty 15-20 pound boxes onto a truck, the first person to do so winning a one pound advantage at this week's weigh-in. They also win an over 30,000 pound delivery of food to their local food bank courtesy of Newman's Own. The contestants who don't win that challenge have motivation of their own to complete the challenge. Because of the week's theme of exercise is boring, the trainers decide to change up their workouts, one of Dolvett's which Buddy allows himself to let loose. Bob decides to focus his attentions this week on Megan, who he feels has not yet reached her potential. The week's challenge is a cooking one where each contestant will have seven minutes to shop and twenty minutes to prepare an entrée which will be judged on creativity, taste and health by three season 12 ... Written by Huggo

Conda is lamenting the latest vote, which saw one of her best friends, Megan, being sent home. Jeremy tries to keep her on track mentally through her tears. The final six contestants enter into a challenge where they must break through two panes of glass - the glass which symbolically has a photograph of their selves when they first arrived on the ranch - using a slingshot. The first person to break through both panes of their glass wins the challenge and a one-pound advantage at this week's weigh-in. The sixth place contestant will conversely have a one pound disadvantage. On the bright side for all six, they learn that it is make-over week, with stylist Jeannie Mai, hair stylist Ken Paves and Clairol consultant Marcy Cona their style team. But Jeannie tells them that this make-over week is unlike the show has ever seen as they will be showing their made-over selves to a special VIP guest at a special VIP location. Written by Huggo

First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes the final six contestants, their families and the trainers into the White House. She congratulates them on their weight loss and associated health journeys. Both Bob and Dolvett lead the group, including the First Lady, in a twenty minute workout at the White House. The contestants also learn from Mrs. Obama that they each are in the running for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. The competition consists of Americans signing up under the banner of one of the six to lead a healthy lifestyle for six consecutive weeks. The contestant who has the most people complete the challenge under their banner will have a furnished gym built in their hometown. Being away from the ranch provides the contestants contact with home, one which leads to an emotional breakdown and a binge eating session. That contestant, who eventually gets back on track with help from his/her trainer, will see if that binge negatively affects the weight loss for the week. At the ... Written by Huggo

The season's final five contestants - Buddy, Conda, Jeremy, Kim and Mark - throw the show's producers for a loop when they collectively conduct a mutiny. Having learned before the official announcement that one of the eliminated contestants will have a chance to make it automatically into the finale which they all believe unfair to them who have worked to earn their place, they announce to the producers that they will be quitting the show. Alison and the producers take the opportunity to talk to the five individually both to lay out what they agreed to in their contract and also try to convince them to stay. Some do change their minds, which pleases the trainers, who were left out of the discussions, especially as the five felt that the decisions had nothing to do with the trainers. Alison tells those remaining that this week's weigh-in will have a red line, the contestant who falls below it who will be automatically eliminated, with the remaining contestants making it into the finale... Written by Huggo

At the latest weigh-in, Jeremy fell below the red line, meaning that Conda and Kim are automatically in the finale. However, Jeremy learns that he and the fourteen eliminated contestants, which does not include the three that quit, namely Buddy, Joe and Mark, will compete to earn the last spot in the final three. Regardless, Jeremy feels cheated that he was not automatically in that spot having in his mind been one of the last three standing after the week to week weigh-ins. Alison informs the contestants that the final spot will be determined in two stages. The eight with the highest percentage of weight loss since day one will move on to stage two. Alison however makes those eight wait one full day before telling them of what stage two is. It ends up being much like day one, with a three part challenge that tests speed, knowledge and endurance. Written by Huggo

Alison introduces the fourteen eliminated contestants and the two trainers. Those fourteen, one by one, step on the scale to see how much weight they have lost since day one, the person with the highest percentage of weight loss being the winner of the $100,000 at home challenge. Alison then introduces the final three contestants, Conda, Jeremy and Kim. With all the contestants now in the theater, Alison announces the winner of the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, who will get a gym built in their home town. The final three then weigh-in one last time in reverse order of their weight loss on the ranch. The person with the highest percentage of weight loss wins the $250,000 grand prize and the title of the Biggest Loser season 13. Written by Huggo