(S09E09) This was a very emotional week for the contestants. Remember when O'Neal thought Sunshine had been eliminated, and the producers made him wait until the last possible moment to see that she was still there? They were at it again this week with Daris, only the news wasn't so good. Why they can't just let the first person in say, "Sorry, bud," and put him out of his misery, I don't know.

Actually, I do. It's good for ratings. Also good for ratings is a sexy chef, which is why they brought Curtis Stone back for a food-themed week. Even the blatant product placement in-show commercials were food-based, covering avocados, milk and a silent shout-out to Subway.

There were two challenges this week, and I'm going to go ahead and spoil right here that the black team finally won a challenge, though I won't tell you which one -- or if it was both. It was a much needed boost of confidence for the team, coming off of that brutal weigh-in loss last week on top of all those challenge losses.

It didn't start off as well for them, though. I'll admit that when I saw it was a quiz challenge, I thought the edge would go to the team of women, as well. Perhaps I'm as naive and sexist as Ashley. The blue team proved us both wrong, with Michael coming through in the end with the final point.

I suspected the spa treatment reward might backfire on the blue team, but when it was revealed that the hotel restaurant had a healthy options menu, I quickly had to chuck that theory out. I just remembered a couple years back when a nice reward away from the ranch led to bad eating habits, drinking and a terrible showing at the weigh-in.

Certainly the black team was hoping for that, as well. They know they don't stand a chance against the blue team in physical prowess, so mental prowess was supposed to be their vindication. Instead, they had to clean up both the gym and the kitchen while the blue team was away, further demoralizing them.

The emotions early in the week may have had an effect on how things turned out for them, as despite that promised victory in the second challenge -- completely with a massive five pound advantage as the prize -- they still came up short in the final numbers. This, with Michael having been gone most of the week visiting his sick grandmother.

Granted, Michael still managed to have a huge night, which proves that the lessons he's learned about how to live a healthier life have clearly sunk in. On the reward trip, they showed O'Neal in the pool getting his workout in. It's good to see that these people are truly changing their lives on this show, perhaps even more than playing for the prize money.

Sam said as much when his cousin Koli, on the opposing team, had a monumental week on the scale, dropping below 300 for the first time, as well as becoming only the second person on campus, behind Michael, to shed 100 pounds or more this season.

It was definitely an emotional back-half to the night, with Koli's impressive achievement, Sunshine's epic nine-pound loss; proving to her team that she can hang with the big boys, and the heartbreaking second loss in a row for the black team. Michael definitely made sound strategic moves for himself and his team when he stacked the decks the way he has. The blue team erased that five-pound advantage, and then some, and Daris had the raw elbows to prove it.

The elimination broke another team, leaving only yellow and gray intact, and only O'Neal representing for the parents that started the competition. With Sherry already so tiny, it did make sound strategic sense to get rid of her. That said, her three pounds was still better than Stephanie's two. At five pounds in two weeks, Stephanie needs to figure out what's going on (something I can definitely relate to with my own struggles).

I was genuinely moved during Sherry's follow-up video package, as well as stunned by how much tinier she had gotten. As small as her frame is, she could easily lose even more and stands a great shot at capturing that $100,000 check, which she promises she'll be strong enough to carry. It was great seeing her in the canoe, fit and able to live her life the way her late husband would have wanted her to.

[Catch up with clips and full episodes of 'The Biggest Loser' on SlashControl.]

My Pound for Pound Challenge

This week I decided to take your suggestion, and remember to pay a lot more attention to what I'm putting into my body, along with continuing my exercise. I'd already cut out soda and most sweets, and now it's about portion control and making sure the meals we're eating aren't junk food in their own right. I'm not as vigilant as the contestants are, because I don't have a show paying for my food, but we are making improvements, and that's good for my whole family.

• Starting: 224 lb.
• Week 1: 222 lb.
• Week 2: 225 lb.
• Week 3: 220 lb.
• Week 4: 218 lb.
• Week 5: 221 lb.
• Week 6: 216 lb.
• Week 7: 221 lb.
• Week 8: 220 lb.
• Week 9: 217 lb.