Before coming to the ranch, all of the contestants have to weigh in - but for the first time ever, it will be in their hometowns in front of friends, families and neighbors. The new season players include Maria and Michael, an Italian mother-son duo who have always put others first while Michael's weight soared to 526 lbs., identical twins James and John, who together weigh close to half a ton, Tongan cousins Sam and Koli, who hope to inspire others in their culture like Sione and Filipe Fa did in season seven, and Cherita, a competitive mother who has already beat cancer and is ready to take on obesity along with her determined daughter, Vicky. It is the heaviest cast ever when season nine kicks off with twenty two contestants - eleven family teams of two - coming to The Biggest Loser ranch hoping to transform their bodies, their health and ultimately, their lives. By happenstance, the three finalists do have the highest percentage of weight loss this season, the only three contestants to have lost more than half of their original weight. The final three weigh-in last, to see who will take home the $250,000 grand prize. The nineteen non-finalist contestants weigh-in to see who has the highest percentage of weight loss to earn the $100,000 'at home' prize. The results on the 'Pound for Pound' Challenge is presented, this program which aims to tie weight-loss programs across the United States to food bank donations, with the amount of weight pledged and lost equaled by the weight of food donated. The decision on who that person will be is made by popular vote by the American public during the airing of this live episode, voting based on part on how each does in a workout with Bob and Jillian. Before season 7 is completed, season 8 already begins with two hopefuls, Amanda and Erinn, vying for the one remaining spot for next season's competition. Mike and Ron, below the yellow line on the latest weigh-in, learn who America voted for to proceed to the final three with Helen and Tara.

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