The Biggest Loser: Work Week Two-A-Days

Full-time weight loss was slashed to a part-time position on Week 8 at "The Biggest Loser." Adding a dose of reality, work week surprised Blue and Black teams with an eight-hour job, a bus commute and restricted gym hours. Push-ups weren't allowed in the bus aisle, but two-a-day workouts after a long day at the office burned off pounds. In a pep talk to America, contestants revealed how to get yourself to the gym before and after that exhausting day at the office.

It Can Be Done. Among other concerns, critics complain this show doesn't speak to the average working American. No one can lose weight that rapidly with a full-time job and modern-day pressures. That theory received a serious challenge this week as contestants had a nine-to-five volunteering job at the LA Regional Food Bank for a week. They packed their lunch and fit in the sweat before and after at the ranch gym that opened at 6:00 am and closed by 7:30 pm.

Find Your Jumpstart. In an emotionally honest moment, Steve, the Food Bank Inventory Clerk, met with contestants and shared his frustrating battle with obesity. At one point he found his weight reached a defeating point of no return -- he feels stuck in obesity. But contestants have shown you can turn back those pounds. They encouraged Steve to get up and walk around the block every morning, then as his stamina increases, go two blocks. Instead of the movies, go to a park. Those little changes can ignite your weight loss story. Find those sparks and begin today.

33,000-Pound Pull. In the tradition of Nascar Tara's historic winning pull, Blue team hauled a 33,000-pound semi faster than Black to score enough extra time to load up their semi with plastic crates, then stack them to spell out the winning puzzle phrase -- groceries for one year. Possibly the second best prize to winning immunity.

Gym Imagination. For added motivation, Sam imagined himself a lion in the gym, donned boxing gloves and made Jillian his prey. O'Neal never imagined he'd complete an entire hour on the treadmill at a decent speed and an incline, but he did. Start visualizing the gym work ethic and body you want, then find a training partner or hire a trainer to help you direct your energies. As work week revealed, short, intense workouts and healthy eating can deliver sizable weight loss.

Parental Responsibility. O'Neal used to be extremely fit. He was even strict with his sons when it came to soda and sweets. But for some reason, he never parented his daughter and teammate on the show, Sunshine, with the same principles. With significantly less restrictions, O'Neal joined Sunshine in overeating and didn't notice the damage until they were both seriously obese. If you're a parent, are you setting equal nutrition and fitness standards for your children? Don't feel O'Neal's regret -- be consistent.

Don't Miss Trainer Gems
"Combine strength training with your cardio workout," said Jillian. Muscle burns more energy than resting body fat, so focus on adding lean muscle to up your calorie burn. four more ways to major muscles.

Work week did not slow down Blue's weight loss as Koli and Lance's double-digit drop catapulted the team to a 2.71 percent overall weight loss. Most telling, this was better than the team's previous week's weight loss without a full-time job. Black lost slightly less than last week, but losing 32 team pounds put them well over a 2 percent combined weight loss. Looks like a youth alliance on Black sent Cheryl packing, minus the disappointment and drama typical of a diminishing cast. Cheryl's big voice is motivating her at-home workouts and she's lost another 23 pounds. "My life's not going to be cut short because of my health and because of my weight," said Cheryl. Her road to the finale includes a 5K, then 135 pounds on the scale. She's got a shot at the $100,000 at-home prize.

Blue's big men appear unstoppable, let's see if producers shake up their advantage. See you next week.

It's not just Biggest Loser couples losing weight, this mother and daughter lost 100 pounds together.