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`The Biggest Loser` (NBC photo)
"The Biggest Loser" (NBC photo)

NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' celebrates 10-year anniversary in October

by jmaloni

Submitted

Tue, Sep 30th 2014 11:50 am

More than 33,000 pounds lost in show's first 15 seasons

Including current players from season 16's 'The Biggest Loser: Glory Days,' 310 contestants have dramatically transformed their health and their lives

October will mark the 10-year anniversary month of NBC's popular series "The Biggest Loser," celebrating more than 33,000 pounds lost in the first 15 seasons of the show. Including the season 16 contestants on the current edition, "The Biggest Loser: Glory Days" (airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC), the series has helped 310 contestants dramatically transform their health and their lives.

From the heaviest contestant (Michael Ventrella, season nine) weighing 526 pounds, who lost the highest percentage of weight his season to win the grand prize of $250,000, to the oldest player (Jerry Hayes, season seven), who, at age 63, won the at-home, eliminated contestant prize of $100,000, the contestants have proven no obstacle is too great in learning how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Since the series premiere in October of 2004, "The Biggest Loser" also has sparked four marriages and two engagements among contestants who fell in love while going through their weight loss journeys.

As part of the anniversary celebration in October, host Alison Sweeney and trainers Bob Harper, Dolvett Quince, Jessie Pavelka and Jennifer Widerstrom will be live tweeting along with fan favorites and past season contestants during episodes of "The Biggest Loser: Glory Days." Viewers can join the social conversation and follow along using #BL10years

People magazine will host a "where are they now" photo gallery on its website, www.People.com, featuring current photos and updates from popular past season contestants.

The current season features all former athletes, ranging from former NFL players to Olympic gold medalists, to athletes who were standouts in high school and college.

On the Oct. 2 episode, a lottery challenge sends one player home for the week with his/her trainer, with the condition that his/her weight will be the only one that counts for their team at the weigh-in. The Oct. 9 show features a high-flying, canyon-cross challenge that gives the winning team a big weigh-in advantage. On Oct. 16, the players return to the LA Coliseum, where their journey began, for their first temptation: a tailgating challenge with stadium food. In the Oct. 23 episode, the trainers cause quite a splash when their teams have to hold a weighted pulley to keep them from falling into a pool and subsequently, losing their trainer for the week. On Oct. 30, the team that wins the challenge at the start of the week gets to determine penalties for the other two teams - sending one away for the weekend to Las Vegas, a city full of food temptations - while the other team is tasked with undesirable cleaning duties.

The series moves to one-hour episodes starting Oct. 2.

"TBL" fans can find more about "The Biggest Loser" on NBC's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/. For the latest 'The Biggest Loser" news, videos and photos, fans can "Like" "TBL" on Facebook and follow along on Twitter:

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