You know the feeling that, after dedicating yourself to a certain cause for a really long time, you see that the end is nigh and you start pushing yourself one last time to get to the finish line? That's always been the feeling you get on The Biggest Loser's second to the last week. Imagine: four contestants remaining--Amanda, Danny, Liz and Rudy--and a couple more weigh-ins to go before one of them wins a quarter of a million dollars. But, of course, they've won just by losing their weight.

This week's episode--an extra-sentimental one, I must say, since we get to see how the contestants were at the beginning, and compare it to today--began with the four remaining contestants going home to reunite with family and friends. 60 days flat, to be precise. Apart from working out to lose more weight, each of them confronted the things that got them into health trouble in the first place. Danny, for one, talked about his yo-yo dieting habit, and vowed never to do it again. Rudy and Liz both confronted their emotional troubles: him with the death of his sister, her and the problems she encountered with her marriage.

Of course, that doesn't mean Bob and Jillian won't show up. They sent messages to each contestant (and gum for Amanda, the perfect example of ridiculous product placement) and later told them via phone that, upon their return to the ranch, they'll have to run a marathon--yep, all 26.2 miles of it. Curtis Stone went to Danny's house--it was, after all, his prize from last week--and cooked up some yummy-looking turkey chili and baked potatoes.

Bob and Jillian eventually paid the contestants a visit, and got an idea of how hard it is for them to juggle working out and spending time with their family. Yep, Rudy, it sucks wanting to go to the gym when your kid doesn't want you to; I know she misses you, but it's funny to think that your daughter is the only person getting in between you and your weight loss. Bob was surprised when he visited Amanda, who was with Erin--you remember her, from last season? When the two girls pleaded their cases to America for a chance to be part of this season? Subtle reminder that thanks to us, Amanda has come a long way. But the 60 days was soon over, and they had to return to the ranch, and run that marathon. Dropping by were season 7 finalists Tara Costa and Mike Morelli, and last season's winner, Helen Phillips. Rudy also got a special visitor: Alexandra, his ranch partner at the very beginning.

The whole thing was peppered with more of those cheesy flashbacks, so I'll cut to the chase and give the results. Rudy finished first, crossing the line in 5 hours, 12 minutes and 41 seconds. Amanda got to the finish line around 15 minutes later. Danny and Liz struggled with the pain, but took off their ice wraps and decided to continue running, albeit at a slower pace. After more flashbacks of why they picked each other at the very beginning, they crossed the finish line at five minutes shy of seven hours.

Alison never skimped in reminding the contestants that this weigh-in--their last on-campus, before next week's live finale--would be crucial. The top two will get into the finale quickly, while the two below the yellow line will face a public vote for the third and final finale slot. Liz was the first to come in, and lost a total of 16 pounds. Amanda also lost 16 pounds, but edged Liz in percentages. Both girls weren't that happy with their losses, but still, any loss is a good thing.

Danny then astounded everyone by losing a whopping 59 pounds, bringing his total weight loss in the show to 201 pounds--making him only the fourth person to lose at least 200 pounds in the show, and he's still got a week to go! Rudy lost 43 pounds, and easily pushed the girls below the yellow line. So, Rudy and Danny are in the finale, and we choose between either Liz or Amanda to get into the finale.

Liz thinks she has it in her, being the oldest female ever in the final three. Amanda wants to finish what she has started, after having done the same thing last season. Me, I'd love to see Amanda stay. But it's not just up to me, and you all know that. To vote, visit nbc.com--and please do remember that only ten votes are allowed for each email address. Whoever wins the vote gets to compete in next week's live finale, and a one-in-three chance at the $250,000 grand prize. To the scoreboards, then:

Amanda: 170 pounds (-16) (up for elimination)
Danny: 229 pounds (-59)
Liz: 182 pounds (-16) (up for elimination)
Rudy: 253 pounds (-43)





(Image courtesy of NBC)