'The Biggest Loser' season premiere recap: Best Foot Forward

Hello, one and all, and welcome to the ninth season of The Biggest Loser! My name is Kate Ward, and I'll be your recapper for the season. A few things you might want to know about me before we begin this journey together: I hate working out (but do it anyway) and hate crying, but The Biggest Loser inspires me to do both. And I fully accept doing these things I hate, because I lurve, lurve, lurve this show. Something about the swelling music, people achieving the impossible… ack, I'm already getting verklempt! So before I go through an entire tissue box, let's get started!

Soon after our 11 teams were told they'd nabbed a spot on this season of The Biggest Loser, they were given their first task: In a Biggest Loser first, the contestants would be conducting their first weigh-in in front of friends and family instead of Ali & Co. Then they had to read their weight out loud as if they were in AA, and then tell everyone how they were going to change themselves. Okay, here's the deal, Biggest Loser. I'm all for encouraging our contestants to be courageous. And they already are — even when they weigh-in at the ranch, they're doing so with the full knowledge that America will see them in all their glory in a few months time. So why conduct the first weigh-in this way? Honestly, that was the most unnecessary display of public humiliation I've seen since the Salem witch trials.

But, if nothing else, it gave us a chance to learn about our 11 teams. And here they are:

Daris and Cheryl (Orange Team): This team from Ardmore, Okla., is made up of Chris Sligh's long-lost twin and his mom, who both vow to make their family proud with their weight-loss goals. Starting weights: Daris: 346 pounds. Cheryl: 227 pounds.

John and James (Brown Team): Here we've got identical twin brothers, otherwise known as “The half-ton twins.'' But at least they've got plenty of folks cheering them on — the Orlando, Fla. mayor showed up to lend these two their support. Starting weights: John: 484 pounds. James: 485 pounds.

Stephanie and Patti (Purple Team): This daughter-and-mom team from Lafayette, Calif., were not all-too-eager to have their clothes stripped away during their first weigh-in. Starting weights: Patti: 243 pounds. Stephanie: 264 pounds.

Ashley and Sherry (Pink Team): Ashley is the heaviest girl on the ranch. And her mother, Sherry, has got some heavy baggage as well — Sherry began gaining weight after her husband died of melanoma cancer. Starting weights: Ashley: 374 pounds. Sherry: 218.

Darrell and Andrea (Black Team): Andrea doesn't want to end up like her father, Darrell, who often can't participate in family activities because of his weight. Starting weights: Andrea: 298 pounds. Darrell: 413 pounds.

Victoria and Cherita (Blue Team): Cherita, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, decided to do the show with her daughter, Victoria, because, as she said, “I need to live. I can't afford to die.'' Starting weights: Cherita: 277 pounds. Victoria: 358 pounds.

NEXT: Pedaling for a cause

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