Newest and Biggest Losers

I have to admit to really admiring the contestants on The Biggest Loser. These people really put it all out there for the World to see. Big butts, big guts, big boobs, triple chins, crying and tears. But it all ends well.

The big 2009 "Season Finale" was long but enjoyable. It's great to see so many happy people after watching so much frustration and anger from so many of them for so many weeks.



Helen Phillips, age 48, is the latest winner. She lost 54.47 percent of her body weight (loss of 140 pounds),and ended up weighing in at at 117 pounds. She took home the $250,000 prize. She plans to take her husband to Las Vegas for a vacation.







Michael Morelli, the 18-year-old kid whose overweight father, Ron, was also on the show, lost 207 pounds, a 53.35 percent loss, and weighed in at 181.










Finishing third was "green team ace" Tara Costa, who lost 155 pounds and 52.73 percent. She was long-thought to be unbeatable, as she won both the half-marathon and the marathon, and never "fell below the yellow line" during the entire run of the show.






The $100,000 consolation prize for the person who lost the most at home (not a finalist), was 64-year-old Jerry Hayes, who most notably "passed out" and was taken to the hospital during the first episode after working out in the gym for an hour. He only lasted two weeks on the show, and most of his weight-loss was accomplished at home. Hayes lost 177 pounds and his weight loss was 48%. Jerry showed off not only a terrific physique but also demonstrated some muscular strength by lifting trainer Jillian Michaels in one of the show's only original, non-scripted moments.





Coming in second for the "at-home" consolation was Ron Morelli, Michael's father, who lost 44.66 percent and weighed in at 238 pounds. His starting weight was 430!