He was obese, to be sure: He carried 400 pounds on his 6'2." But Patrick was also unemployed after losing his job as a sales rep. He was deeply in debt. He had a junker of a car. And he was also depressed, wondering how he would care for his wife and their two young boys. His situation was so dire that even his teammates rallied to help him. During one of the most poignant moments of the season, Ada and Brendan were the front-runners in a challenge to win a new Ford Edge. Instead of duking it out, they conspired to step aside so that Patrick could walk away with the vehicle instead.
On Tuesday, Patrick effectively won "The Biggest Loser" lottery, taking home a $250,000 payday after losing 181 pounds, or 45.25% of his body weight, and the Season 10 title. He'll use the money to settle debts and put his family on solid financial ground. Even better: He starts a new job in January. He'll help run an academy that will help obese children tackle their weight issues.
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"It means everything to us," a jubilant yet-teary-eyed Patrick said of the win. "It means we can start over." (We'll have the chance to speak to Patrick during a Wednesday morning media call. If you have any questions for him, let us know in the comments section below.)
Trainer Bob Harper said he'd pegged Patrick for the winner from the moment he arrived at the ranch. Normally, Bob discourages contestants from competing for the prize money or the fame that comes with winning the title. Such external motivations don't last, he said. But Patrick's case was different -- his family was on the verge of financial collapse and that was a powerful motivation. "He needed the money, bad," Bob said. And Patrick used that to motivate himself. "I knew he was going to win, I knew it, knew it, knew it," Harper said.
The Season 10 contestants were a close-knit group with hardly any overt rivalries. One flare-up occur ed when Patrick voted to oust Mark, his chief competitor. Mark was shocked and hurt. In retrospect, it was a wise decision. Had Mark stuck around and made it into the Final Three, he would have easily won: He started at 421 pounds and lost 213 pounds or 50.59% of his body weight. Mark had to settle for taking home the $100,000 at-home prize.
Other highlights, mostly sartorial:
--Ada was voted into the final three over Elizbeth, but in the end it didn't matter. Both women glowed in short, sassy dresses that showed off their new figures.
--We got a glimpse of the two mystery trainers who are coming in to help ease the transition as Jillian Michaels prepares to depart after the end of the next season. But the new trainers were only shown in silhouette -- who are they? If you know, message me!
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--Ali has found her perfect color -- that purple.
--Bob Harper was channeling James Bond in that tux. (He's the rare man who can equally rock the casual look as much as fancier duds.)
--Adam! The hometown kid -- he's from Santa Ana -- started at 402 pounds, and lost 182 pounds, or 45.27% of his body weight. He's now a lean, mean 220 pounds and credits his late mother with divinely guiding him to success. "I feel like I won. I came on "The Biggest Loser" to get my life back. And I did that."
--There are only three people in the world who would dare to pull off a white suit and black shirt. John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever." Al Pacino in "Scarface." And Jillian Michaels.
--Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch
Photo: NBC
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