The Biggest Loser: Second Chances is the eighth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The contestants competed to win a $250,000 prize, which was awarded to Danny Cahill, the contestant with the highest percentage of weight lost. This season premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 15, 2009.
The season's theme meant that each of the candidates had met with heartbreak and tragedy during their lifetime. Among notable stories, Shay Sorrells grew up in foster care while her mother unsuccessfully struggled with heroin addiction, while Abby Rike lost her husband and children in a head-on collision caused by a speeding driver. Amanda Arlauskas became a contestant after winning a public vote against Erinn Egbert (who got at-home special assistant packages and made a cameo appearance in the week 12 episode) held during the Season 7 live finale. Contestant Daniel Wright was a contestant in Season 7, and has returned to "finish what he started".
Another change to the format this year is that the two trainers will work with all contestants rather than splitting the contestants into two camps and creating an imagined competition between the two trainers. In the fifth week, when teams are changed to blue and black, Jillian leads black while Bob leads blue. In the eighth week, the contestants are competing as individuals and Bob and Jillian are once again training the contestants together.
Contestants
The complete sixteen contestant cast list was revealed by NBC on August 20, 2009.
The "Total Votes" column indicates the number of votes cast against the contestant when he/she was eliminated. This contestant fell below the Red Line and was eliminated without any votes. At Home Winner of $100,000
Weigh-Ins
Contestants are listed in chronological order of elimination.
Winners
$250,000 Winner (among the finalists) $100,000 Winner (among the eliminated contestants)
Standings
Week's Biggest Loser (Team or Individuals) Week's Biggest Loser & Immunity Immunity (Challenge or Weigh-In) Eliminated at the Finale
BMI
Underweight (less than 18.5 BMI) Normal (18.5 - 24.9 BMI) Overweight (25 - 29.9 BMI) Obese Class I (30 - 34.9 BMI) Obese Class II (35 - 39.9 BMI) Obese Class III (greater than 40 BMI)
Notes
- Tracey was still in the hospital and was weighed in at the hospital in Week 1. However, on the ranch, Coach Mo represented their team with the power of Tracey in his hands.
Weigh-In Figures History
Weigh-In Percentages History
* Allen had a one-pound advantage in Week 9. So his percentage of weight loss counted as 4.35%.
Total Overall Percentage of Weight Loss (Biggest Loser on Campus)
Bold denotes whom has the overall highest percentage of weight loss as of that week
Elimination Voting History
Immunity
Immunity, vote not revealed
No elimination due to total immunity
Below yellow line, unable to vote
Not in elimination, unable to vote
Vote not revealed
Eliminated or not in house
Below red line, automatically eliminated
Valid vote cast
Below yellow line, America Votes
Last person eliminated before the finale (by America voting) $250,000 winner (among the finalists)
Notes
In week 2, the contestants completed a weight-loss challenge that allowed them to avoid elimination. In week 9, Daniel fell below the red line, and as a result, was automatically eliminated.