Last season on The Biggest Loser, which concluded earlier this month, 15 contestants competed for the big prize. But there could only be one winner. And in a season that focused on the “Battle of the Ages,” it was 41-year-old John Rhode who lost the most weight and wound up being named the Biggest Loser. His starting weight was 445 lbs; he ended the show at 225 lbs, losing 220 lbs along the way.

The Biggest Loser is all about changing people’s lives. So Bob Harper and the team will set out do just that once again, with a new twist that threatens to change the whole game. Who will lose it all to win The Biggest Loser season 13?

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The Biggest Loser Season 13 Splits Up the Family:

The Biggest Loser season 13 will start out like any other. The 20 contestants will enter the ranch in teams of two, paired up with someone they already know. But in a shocking move (more to the contestants, I’m sure, than to us), the teams will be split, pitting everyone against their own family members.

The Biggest Loser season 13 is dubbed the season of “No Excuses.” The contestants will be pushed harder and like never before. Along with helping them become healthy, the trainers will be making an effort to address the excuses and reasons they give for not losing weight in the past. An important challenge starts off the season, and one team won’t even be in the competition long enough to head to the ranch.

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Here’s a run-down on all the new contestants competing this time around:

Gail Lee and Lauren Lee: A mother and daughter from Maryland.

Mark Cornelison and Isaac “Chism” Cornelison: A youth pastor and his student son.

Kim Stone and Megan Stone: A mother/daughter duo. Daughter Megan works with an organization that helps disabled adults.

Nancy Rajala and Cassandra Sturos: A grandmother and her granddaughter, who is an in-home senior caregiver.

Conda Britt and Jeremy Britt: A sister and brother pair from Michigan.

Adrian Dortch and Daphne Dortch: A music producer brother and his sister.

Joe Messina and Mike Messina: A truck driver brother and his cook brother.

Allen “Buddy” Shuh and Ben Shuh: A pastor and his brother.

Christine Pickler and Roy Pickler: Two self-employed workers. Roy also works as Santa Claus.

Emily Joy and Kim Nielsen: Two strangers on the same team. One is a teacher; the other a former professional wrestler.

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Take a look at a preview for the new season:

Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince return as trainers (Anna Kournikova is not returning), with Alison Sweeney as host. At The Biggest Loser Ranch, 20 contestants will arrive and only one will be able to claim the $250,000 grand prize. What do you think of the new twist? And who do you think will be able to lose it all to win big?

The Biggest Loser season 13 premieres January 3, 2012, at 8pm on NBC.

Jeff Dodge
Contributing Writer

(Image courtesy of NBC)

Jeff Dodge

Staff Writer, BuddyTV

Jeff Dodge, a graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena.