It’s a precarious position this father-son team has found themselves in, in fact Mike Morelli called it a worst-case scenario. They are part of the four finalists on Biggest Loser 7, but both Mike and his father, Ron Morelli, fell below the yellow line in the last week on the ranch. Neither were eliminated, but only one will advance as the third finalist to compete against Tara and Helen for the $250,000 prize and title of Biggest Loser.
“I hope that America votes Mike up,” pleads his father. A similar situation occurred with husband and wife duo Heba and Ed in season six, and fans ignored their pleas to send Heba to the finale, instead voting for Ed. When asked if they fear the same situation, Ron responded “Mike’s won enough hearts that Heba didn’t.”
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And won hearts he has. Mike’s popularity amongst women young and old, single and attached, seems to grow with each pound he sheds. He said he’s oblivious to the extra attention right now, as he’s focused on the finale, but maybe in a few months that tide will change! That’s likely as he heads back to the Michigan State University campus this fall. He said that’s when finding normalcy will finally settle in. Because of his experience on the Biggest Loser he’s returning as an athletic training major, a switch from human biology.
You’ll also find Mike running a half-marathon May 31 in Ann Arbor. He said if he runs another full marathon, he’ll do it right this time and train properly. Ron doesn’t see himself running anymore marathons, but is glad to say that he did it. They each completed a 26.2 mile course through varied California terrain in week 18. Due to separate injuries, they were both forced to walk, rather than run, the entire way. Mike’s final time was 8:58:02, which earned him $10,000 toward his choice charity, St. Jude’s. Ron cleared the finish line with a time of 13:15:48, with a lot of support from former contestants like Bernie, Michelle, Ali and even trainer Bob Harper, and gave his check to Active Faith. Toward the end he said all he could think was “just get me off this damn sand!”
Ron and Mike aren’t the only Morelli men expected to debut their new, fit bodies at the May 12 live finale. Son and younger brother Max earned his own recognition this season. He’s 17-years-old, too young to join the show, and weighs around 400 pounds. It’s been an emotional journey for Max to see the success enjoyed by his father and brother, and it’s given him the fire to win his own weight battle. Ron says Max has lost 20 pounds in just seven weeks, and reminds that is a healthy rate of weight loss for someone outside the ranch. Ron says they were hoping to “carve 100 pounds off of him by finale,” but both Bob and Jillian recommended weight loss of about two to three pounds per week.
Both Ron and Mike walked away from the Biggest Loser ranch having learned a similar lesson — If you just do the work, if you make a plan and stick to it, the weight will come off. They remind that “If you’re waiting for your Biggest Loser moment to happen, don’t wait.”
I use to love Biggest Loser. This “percentage of weight loss” is a bunch of bull! Mike deserved the win. How the heck can you do a percentage of weight loss man vs. woman? They need to re-think their way of doing things.
Tara and Helen make me want to BARF!!!
Mike and Ron..in my heart you ARE the Biggest Losers! You both deserved the crown!
I was expecting Mike or Tara to win. When I saw Helen, I thought she was too skinny and she looked older than last week’s episode. She’s the only winner who looked older than younger because she lost too much. She didnot look healthy for me anymore. She should have gained like 10-15 more lbs.
I agree Helen looked older and LESS healthy than the last episode on ranch. Please don’t encourage the same miscnceptions that drive eating disorders in first place. . i.e. must be skinny, or don’t bother. That is what has always been so amazing about this show. . it turns folks into FIT trimmer individuals. . not boney-maronies. And tell the backstage flks to loose at least half of the make-up already!!!
Mike, you should have won! I am so proud of you. Your looked very similar in features to my own son, he is 10, so we both were pulling for you. Yes, that’s the first thing I noticed about Helen, her 117 lbs frame did not look healthy. In fact, she looked so much older than her age. She looked better after the full marathon episode.
Let’s see………Helen throws her own daughter under the bus so she herself can stay and then loses too much weight, and wins. I think she’s disgusting for putting herself before her daughter. In all likelihood, she is the one who taught Shannon her poor eating habits. I wish Shannon the best of luck in shedding whatever weight she feels comfortable losing, and congrats to Mike and Tara for an absolutely outstanding job! And I wish Max a happy, healthy life!!
I was praying for Mike to win! Helen became my least favorite when she let Shanon go home.. What mother does that!? Ron would have sacrificed ANYTHING for Mike to stay there, and Cathy did the same thing.. The whole time Helen was saying, “I did this! I did this!” I was thinking… “…that could have been your daughter.” But, some people are always going to be selfish, no matter what. I think Mike and Tara deserved it SO much more than Helen.. but it’s over with now, and they’re all happy.
Oh! Did anyone notice that if Ron would have been voted to stay, Mike would have taken the at home prize? haha.. I thought that was neat.
I was so disapointed to see Helen win the biggest loser title. She looks so sickly now! (too thin) She also llooks alot older. I was a big fan of Mike and Ron right from the beginning. I was hoping to see Mike win it all. He is a sweetie, and he really deserved to win. He and Ron both worked their asses off to get to where they are today. Ron, you are amazing! Mike, you are so handsome! I love both of you!!! Best of luck!!!!! Love, Sherri
Ron
You said that you were to blame for your sons being over weight, by setting a poor example. It appears to me that you set a very poor moral example for Mike, when you let him be the cause Kristen was voted off, after you “promised” that you would never voter her off. The old play on words was in reality just a lie. A lie that ended up costing Mike the game. Mike is a winner, despite you.
i really did not like the biggest loser before i met mike and ron, you guys had me in tears every episode. I’m really proud of the two of them. i wanted mike to win so bad, i cried when helen won.keep up the good work guys you two have really inspired me to lose some more weight.
I was with Mike from the beginning. And I was in tears when I seen him in the finale, he looks so amazing! In my mind, he won. He might not have won the money, but he and Ron sure won my heart from the beginning.
I agree about Helen…she looks a lot older. I really hoped Mike would win the finale. I wish Max the best and he surely has great role models now at home! Go Max!!
Helen worked really hard. I have to say though, I really wanted Mike to win. I know we only see the TV part, but I feel like I know him. He seems like a truly genuine person. Mike, I love you and your dad so much. You are so lucky to have Ron as a dad. You looked amazing at the finale!
I’ve always loved the biggest loser. As a matter of fact, The show is what has given me inspiration to do what I am doing, thus far (in 4 months) have lost 45 lbs, still have 100 to go, it shows you that it IS possible, and my God my heart just went out to Mikey, i wanted him to win sooo bad, he soooo deserved it, and Helen was my least favorite yes, she put her daughter under the bus, what mother does that? that is such a crock for her to do that.
Everytime I see Mikey smile, my heart melted, and to see the happiness in Rons eyes to watch his son while he lost weight right along with him was just priceless. America Loves you Mikey, it wasnt fair.