The Contented Cow Blog

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I thought it was about time for an update on Julie Hadden, the contestant on NBC’s reality show The Biggest Loser, who just happens to be my sister-in-law. I take no credit for any of this. My brother had the good sense nine years ago to marry her, and Julie had the chutzpah to apply to be on the show.  Apparently lots of people have found their way to this blog by searching for Julie, and that is just one of many things, this Thanksgiving Week, that I’m thankful for.

The show’s 11th episode will air tomorrow night, November 20, at 8:00pm (7 central), and Julie’s still in the game, having survived 10 eliminations. Her weight loss, to date, on the show, has been 38 pounds, or 17% of her body weight.  Keep in mind that Julie was the least heavy contestant at the beginning, that only 10 of 15 episodes have aired, and that all contestants keep losing weight through next month.

Two episodes ago, she won a physical challenge, and her prize (and that of fellow “black team” member Bill Germanakos) was a 2008 Ford Escape SUV Hybrid. She and my brother Mike picked out the actual car this past Friday at their local dealer (she couldn’t take delivery until the episode had aired), and it is a beauty! And with gas at $3.17 a gallon here in Jacksonville, Florida, the hybrid engine will be most welcomed.

If you watched last week’s show (Nov 13), or if you get a chance to watch the Nov 20 episode, you’ll meet my brother. As the number of contestant grows smaller and smaller, the show is focusing more on the personal and family lives of the contestants.

The show wrapped up filming in August. But the way the show works - contestants are to continue losing weight, at home, through an extremely rigorous program of physical training and nutrition, until the show’s finale, on December 18. During that episode, which will be broadcast live, ”The Biggest Loser” will be determined, and will go home with the grand prize of $250,000.

No one knows who the winner (Loser) will be yet. Those of us who are close to Julie and see her often (they live about 10 minutes from us), are sworn to secrecy on her progress. I just keep telling everyone what my brother has instructed me to say: “Keep watching!”

   

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