The Biggest Loser Australia (Season 1)

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The Biggest Loser Australia 2006 was the first series of The Biggest Loser Australia, and was aired on Network Ten from 13 February to 27 April 2006.

1 Overview
2 Notes and References
3 External links

[edit] Overview

Applications for the first season of the program closed on 11 November 2005. Over 6,000 Australians applied to take part.

The show was broadcast at 7pm every weeknight for approximately ten weeks. The eventual winner of The Biggest Loser, as decided by percentage of weight lost throughout the entire show was Adriano "Adro" Sarnelli, who won AUD$200,000.

At the beginning of the season, all contestants were given one 'last meal' of their favourite meals such as steak, spaghetti, chocolates, alcohol, lollies, lasagna and pasta. These contestants were then divided into two teams by their trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels; the blue and red teams. 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.

The order of elimination was: David, Jo, Cat, Harry, Tracey and Artie, Wal, Ruth, Shane, Adro (with Harry and Adro returning to be part of the final four contestants).

A number of The Biggest Loser records were set during the first week, with contestant Wal losing 15.5 kg (34.17 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.

[edit] Twists & Controversies

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.
Adro was invited back later as it became apparent Harry was using vitamin supplements, a major rule breach.
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 lsos of 8kg the following week. The water loading technique was then officially banned with a new rule being stated, gaining weight resulted in being put up for elimination even if immunity was won.

[edit] Super Challenge Twist

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.

[edit] Contestants

Contestants were initially divided in two teams, Red and Blue. When only eight contestants remained, they were broken into pairs. After one week of pairs, contestants competed individually.

Pairs

Wal won the power to decide who would be paired together. Of the remaining contestants, Wal chose:

Artie and Tracy
Fiona and Shane
Adro and Ruth
Wal and Kristie

This is a list contestants associated with team colours, list of weekly losses and elimination order.^[1]^[2]

Key:
Biggest Loser
Immunity

Name	Age	Start Weight (kg)	Wk 1	Wk 2	Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5	Wk 6	Wk 7	Wk 8	Wk 9	Total Loss (kg)	Percent	Notes
Adriano "Adro" Sarnelli (Newcastle, NSW)	26	136.5	7.8	~2	~2	1.6	~0	7.3	~2	3.6	~6^[3]	51.3	37.58	The Biggest Loser Winner, won AU$200,000
Harry Kantzidis (Melbourne, VIC)	35	178.9	12.2	5.8	1.3	Eliminated Wk 4^[4]			10.7	?	~15	66.2	37.00%	2^nd place, won AU$30,000.
Kristie Dignam (Perth, WA)	32	104.8	9.4	1	~2	1.7	0.6	4.6	+5.9	8.1	~3	38.7	36.93	3^rd place, won AU$20,000
Fiona Falkiner (Geelong, VIC)	22	101.1	6.2	+0.1	2	1.5	+2.9	7.8	0.3	+0.8	~6	29.5	34.81%	4^th place, won AU$10,000.
Shane Giles (Ballarat, VIC)	38	154.0	8.8	4.6	~4	6	+2.6	5.9	5.3	2.8	Eliminated Wk 8	53.6	35.06%
Ruth Almeida de Campos (Newcastle, NSW)	28	155.2	5	~3	3.4	3	1	3.3	1.7	Eliminated Wk 7		24.3	15.66%
Vladimir "Wal" Milberg^[5] (Townsville, QLD)	42	176.7	15.5	?	6.9	?	4.8	5.1	Eliminated Wk 6			66.3	37.52%	Biggest loser of all ex-contestants, won AU$50,000
Arthur "Artie" Rocke (Hervey Bay, QLD)	42	156.4	8	~3	~2	~2	1.8	Eliminated Wk 5				40.0	25.58%
Tracy Moores (Sydney, NSW)	44	109.8	~7	1.8	~1	~2	0.5	Eliminated Wk 5				23.8	21.68%
Catherine "Cat" White (Melbourne, VIC)	27	157.8	6.8	4.4	2.4	Eliminated Wk 3						53.7	34.03%
Josephine "Jo" Cowling (Sydney, NSW)	33	108.0	~7	1.1	Eliminated Wk 2							31.3	28.98%
David Hilyander (Sydney, NSW)	33	196.7	7.4	Eliminated Wk 1								47.9	24.35%

[edit] Finale

The winner, Adriano (Adro) Sarnelli

The finale aired on 27 April 2006. It was a live broadcast contestant reunion show where the final four contestants were weighed to determine the first Australian Biggest Loser. Although commenting "I'm gonna win this", and losing an amazing 66.2kg in total (37.00%), Harry lost out to Adro's marginally better 37.58%, who in total lost 51.3kg. Adro had the highest percentage of weight loss, making him Australia's Biggest Loser for 2006 and the winner of AU$200,000. For Harry's efforts, he won $30,000. Third place went to Kristie, who lost 37.8kg when one considers she was the second lightest contestant to begin with. This translated to a percentage weight loss of 36.93%, only 0.07% below Harry and within a percent Adro. She won a total of AU$20,000. Coming in fourth was the lightest and youngest contestant, Fiona, who lost 29.5kg (29.18%) and won AU$10,000.

All previously voted out contestants also weighed in one final time to award a secondary prize of AU$50,000. Wal lost 66.3kg (37.52%) of his original weight, making him the biggest loser of those voted out. The remaining contestants achieved these results at the finale:

Shane Giles - 53.6 kg (34.81%)
Cat White - 53.7kg (34.03%)
Jo Cowling - 31.3kg (28.98%)
Artie Rocke - 40kg (25.58%)
David Hilyander - 47.9kg (24.35%)
Tracey Moores - 23.8kg (21.68%)
Ruth Ameilda De Campos - 24.3kg (15.66%)

At the end of the show, Adro could only manage to yell, "this is unreal", as the stage was invaded by loved ones and elated contestants. As Wal shouted 'Young Bull' at the top of his voice and the crowd cheered. On the Sunday night following the finale, 30 April 2006, a special episode of the show aired to reveal 'Secrets of The Biggest Loser' which includes all the diet and nutrition tips which were used as part of the show as well as a behind the scene look at the show itself.

[edit] Notes and References

^ 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
^ Adro was eliminated in week 10 but brought back to compete in the final four.
^ Harry was eliminated in week 4 but returned when the eliminated contestants took part in the Super Challenge to add one additional member to the final three.
^ Wal moved to the Red Team in week 3 to balance teams.