The Biggest Loser Australia (Season 1)

Infobox Television
show_name = The Biggest Loser


caption = Current Australian "The Biggest Loser" logo.
genre = Reality television,
Game show
creator = NBC
developer = FremantleMedia Australia
presenter = Ajay Rochester
starring = Jillian Michaels,
Bob Harper
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Shannon Noll,
Adam Reily,
Byron Jones,
Andrew Roachford
opentheme = "Lift" by Shannon Noll
endtheme =
country = Australia
language = English
num_seasons = 3
num_episodes = 53
list_episodes =
list_episodes = List of The Biggest Loser Australia episodes
producer =
executive_producer =
location = Sydney, New South Wales
camera =
runtime = 30 mins (inc. commercials)
network = Network TEN
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = 13 February, 2006
last_aired = 27 April, 2006
preceded_by =
followed_by = "The Biggest Loser 2" (2007)
related = "The Biggest Loser" (US)
website = http://www.thebiggestloser.com.au/
imdb_id =
tv_com_id = 56677

"The Biggest Loser"' was the first Australian version of "The Biggest Loser Australia", and was broadcast at 7pm each week night on Network Ten for 10 weeks from 13 February to 27 April, 2006. The eventual winner, as decided by percentage of weight lost was Adriano "Adro" Sarnelli, who won AUD$200,000. The host was announced as Ajay Rochester, who had previously gone through weight loss herself. American trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels reprised their roles from the previous American version. Applications closed on 11 November, 2005 with over 6,000 Australians having applied to take part.

At the beginning of the season, all contestants were given one 'last meal' of their favourite meals such as steak, spaghetti, chocolates, lasagna, lollies, alcohol, and other items.

eason overview

Game variations

*Final 4 at finale: Adro was invited back in a rather odd twist that was seemingly forced into the show after Bob and Jillian whined that it was "unfair" for Adro to be knocked out by Harry, because Harry was allowed to take vitamins in the time that he was out of the house while the contestants inside the house were not allowed to take vitamins.

*Returning contestants: All contestants previously voted out were given the chance to compete against each other to be returned into the game. Tracy declined the opportunity to return and Wal gained weight meaning he had to leave the competition. Harry made the final spot and in turn knocked Adro out of the game with a vote from Kristie and Harry.

*Super Challenge: The several eliminated contestants returned to the show to compete in a "Super Challenge" in which they trekked through 3km of sand dunes to then make a choice of meals from a table of varied calorie meals. The contestant to choose the lowest three calorie meals would have a chance to be in the final 4. Harry completed the Super Challenge first, and chose the meal second lowest in calories (canned Roma Tomatoes). Jo was second to complete the challenge and chose the lowest calorie meal (Ribena Light), and although coming in last place, Cat chose the third lowest calorie meal (Tuna in Oil). A weigh in decided who was a part of the final 4; Cat lost 0.9 kg, Jo lost 2kg, Harry lost 10.7kg which was enough to award his place in the final four contestants.

Team arrangements

*Teams: Contestants were initially divided into two teams of red and blue by their trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. The red team consisted of Adro, David, Jo, Kristie, Shane and Ruth and the blue team consisted of Cat, Artie, Harry, Fiona, Tracey and Wal.

*Pairs: When only eight contestants remained, they were broken into pairs. Wal won the power to decide who would be paired together, which were Artie and Tracy, Fiona and Shane, Adro and Ruth, Wal and Kristie. After one week of pairs, contestants competed individually.

*Final four: The final four contestants were Kristie, Fiona, Harry and Adro

Game elements

The weigh-in

The following is a list of contestants and their weekly weight losses. [http://www.thebiggestloser.com.au Weekly totals for season 1 contestants were taken from news posted on the Official Biggest Loser website] [http://www.the-biggest-loser.com.au/mambo/season-1-contestants.php Contestant data for season 1 calculated from data listed on the Biggest Loser Fan site]

Eliminated contestants

Contestants

*David "The Ox" Hilyander (Sydney, NSW, Age 33)
*Adriano "Adro" Sarnelli (Newcastle, NSW, Age 26)
*Arthur "Artie" Rocke (Hervey Bay, QLD, Age 42)
*Catherine "Cat" White (Melbourne, VIC, Age 27)
*Fiona Falkiner (Geelong, VIC, Age 22)
*Harry Kantzidis (Melbourne, VIC, Age 35)
*Josephine "Jo" Cowling (Sydney, NSW, Age 33)
*Kristie Dignam (Perth, WA, Age 32)
*Ruth Almeida de Campos (Newcastle, NSW, Age 28)
*Shane Giles (Ballarat, VIC, Age 38)
*Tracy Moores (Sydney, NSW, Age 44)
*Vladimir "Wal" Milberg (Townsville, QLD, Age 42)

Controversies

*In the first week of the show, contestant Ruth thought she was pregnant and almost left the show. She tested negative and returned to the competition.
*Trainer Bob Harper was absent for the second week of the show on season 1 after his mother suddenly died of a heart attack.
*At one stage in the game, Kristie, having earned immunity, used water loading to gain 5.9 kg which meant she had a large loss of 8kg the following week. The water loading technique was then officially banned with a new rule being stated, gaining weight resulted in being at risk of elimination even if immunity was won. This happened before when Shane and Fiona used that technique so they can lose big numbers on their following week.
*After the contestants were reduced to a final three, one of the evicted guests was given an opportunity to reenter the game. Jillian immediately voiced her opinion that it was unfair and pledged her allegiance to the previous final three. Harry was the contestant that won the right to return and he feuded with Jillian who was still not happy. After Adro was eliminated, Jillian and Bob successfully lobbied to get Adro back on the show citing Harry's "unfair" advantage at being allowed to use vitamins while he was out of the house.

Trivia and records

The final three finalists from US season 2, Suzy, Seth, and Matt, make an appearance in week 4.

A number of "The Biggest Loser" records were set during the first week, with contestant Wal losing 15.5 kg (34.1 pounds) - the most weight lost by any contestant in one week; together with the greatest total weight loss for all contestants with 97.8 kg (215.61 pounds); and the Blue team losing the most weight by a single team with 56.4 kg (124.34 pounds). Kristie lost the most percentage of body weight in the first week of any show. In later shows, Shane, Fiona & Kristie are the only contestants to gain weight, Shane gaining 2.3 kg and Fiona gaining 2.6 kg, both "Water Loaded" so they could lose more weight the following week. Recently, a contestant on US season 4 also utilized the same strategy, water loading to gain 7.7 kg in one week and then losing 14.9 kg the following week.

After the show, Fiona later participated in "Dancing with the Stars", and was the first celebrity eliminated. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/fiona-not-the-biggest-dancer/2006/10/04/1159641361959.html]

In March 2008, Adro opened up 'The New Me'--his very own version of The Biggest Loser; a weight loss retreat built upon his own experiences during and since The Biggest Loser.Adro is now successfully teaching people how to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle as he promised to do on the night of the finale as he won and became Australia's original Biggest Loser.He teaches the principles "Eat Smart, Move More, Think Thin". These are the principles he feels are the most important elements to successful weight loss.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.thebiggestloser.com.au Official Network Ten Site: The Biggest Loser (Australia)]
*

Contestant pages
* [http://www.thenewme.com.au Adro Sarnelli's Official Site] , [http://www.adrohealth.info Adro Health] (Winner)
* [http://www.kristie.com.au Kristie Dignam's Official Site] (Finalist)
* [http://www.jolosingit.com Jo Cowling's Official Site]
* [http://www.tracymoores.com/ Tracy Moores's Official Site]
* [http://www.artie.com.au/ Artie Rocke's Official Site]
* [http://www.ruth.net.au/ Ruth Almeida de Campos's Official Site]
* [http://www.campdavidpt.com.au/ David Hilyander's Official Site]
* [http://www.goddessinthemaking.com.au/ Cat White's Official Site]