The Biggest Loser - Final Four Marathon Madness

30 Day Countdown -- No spa ranch with trainers, no gym out the back door, no kitchen stocked with healthy choices. Tara and Helen appeared especially nervous about being home on their own, while Mike was torn over training himself versus his 400-plus pound brother Max. But hey, weight loss is still their full-time job. Unless you're a personal trainer or deliver beverages -- I rarely see a fat soda delivery guy -- work steals away valuable time from the gym.

Drink This If You're in a Diet Frenzy -- Helen was wound so diet-tight at home, she was plagued by stress and exhaustion. Tara felt so out of control, her bedroom looked like a clothes bomb hit. Luckily, Jillian made house calls and promptly recommended a glass of wine. If you don't imbibe, make it a virgin colada. The point is a healthy diet and fitness regimen requires balance. You need to enjoy a dessert, those beloved pita chips or an occasional crave. The USDA's MyPyramid calls these discretionary calories, check out your recommended number here. But moderation is critical or those discretionary calories will crowd out the nutritional calories you do need daily. Fitz says you need to be picky about everything that enters your mouth -- eating the whole pint of Ben & Jerry's is not using discretion.

Turkey Turkey Mini-Meatloaves, Anyone? -- Tara showed her mom how to make these delicious turkey mini-meatloaves. At only 110 calories and served with a hearty salad, this meal is on my shopping list. I'm sure Tara's mom loved them no matter what, Tara did re-gift that $25,000 kitchen makeover prize to her. Was anyone else annoyed that kitchen looked sharp before the makeover? A before picture of peeling laminate counters would have been more satisfying to Diet Makeover Robinhoods everywhere.

May Marathon Madness -- When host Alison Sweeney told the final four they'd be running a marathon at the end of their 30 days, panic set-in. Marathons and Biggest Losers are cursed -- remember Dane? Of course Mike trained hard and injured his hip, and Bob recommended Ron withdraw. I figured Helen would twist an ankle and Tara would dehydrate, then bonk. However unlike the Chicago Cubs, the Biggest Loser marathon curse has been lifted. Tara finished in 4:55, Helen 5:48, Mike walked in at 8:58 and Ron broke the tape with his cane at 13:15. Past Biggest Loser contestants provided surprise race support, including Bernie, Michelle, Ali V. and even the villainous Heba.

When Family Won't Listen to Family -- With Ron and Mike back home, young Max had a chance to fully plug-in to their diet/fitness wisdom. But interestingly, Max honed in most on Bob's advice on how to eat, instead of his family's. Maybe it's because Bob made Max puke after a treadmill workout -- Jillian would be proud. Really, if that family member you're trying to inspire tunes out whenever you whistle diet and fitness, maybe it's time to seek assistance outside the dysfunctional bloodline.


Don't-Miss-Trainer-Gems

• Bob and Jillian remind us to focus on the small steps. Work out with friends, cook french fry-free healthy family meals, and hydrate. Then hydrate some more. You don't need to lose 50 pounds by Sunday.

Thirty days later Mike dropped a hip-disappointing 10 pounds, Ron lost 10, Helen lost seven and Tara lost 10. That put Mike and Ron below the yellow line. The polls are now closed and America has voted on who deserves a spot in the final three. Will it be Mike or Ron? My personal exit poll reveals Mike, with an accuracy of +/- zero percent. Now for a That's Fit exit poll:



See you next week for the three-hour Finale on May 12, 8/7c on NBC. It's LIVE ... someone's bound to slip on a rice cake.