Amanda, the typical girl-next-door, is 19 years old and has been held back from every important milestone in her life because of her weight. She missed her prom because she did not want to wear a dress, has missed activities and vacations and is always being compared to her thinner friends. She is a good friend who is incredibly loyal and always looking after everyone else.

Amanda is going to school to become a Registered Nurse, and currently works at a local hospital as a patient care technician. She loves working and caring for all of her patients, but often time feels like a hypocrite as her outward appearance is in direct contrast with her career path in the health profession. Amanda wants to lose weight and become healthier, that way she can feel confident when promoting health to others.

Amanda is the only person in her family who is severely overweight. Ever since she was young, her food obsession has been her weakness and comfort. Her supportive aunt, who has terminal cancer, has made her realize that life is too short to be living it unhappy or unhealthy. She is now ready to change so she can find someone to share her life with. Amanda is a strong-willed teenager who is ready to start living a life she has never known. She is ready to begin her 20's and begin really living

Please check the second post of each contestants thread for any updates, news and/or links to their myspace/facebook pages... .....all new info will be placed here!

Isn't she the gal American voted in to be on the Biggest Loser? She's a pretty girl and the same age as my daughter. I hope she makes it far.

Yeah thats her...she was already on the show but they filled up the last show with the silly lets work out and let America vote deal....what the heck is a pateint care tech? Im beting a CNA or or as we call them, go getters and bed changers...which is a respectful job cause someone has to...she is cute..and will be very good looking if and when she loses about 80 lbs or so....good luck to all of these peps this season........

She was already on the show?

^^^On the Season 7 Finale, they had 2 young women working out with Bob and Jillian, and America had to vote as to which one would be on the show this season. Amanda was the one who won.

She is going to be a knockout once she loses a few pounds.

Amanda had the lowest percentage of weight loss for the first 2 weigh-ins. She's gonna need to step it up to remain competitive.

Amanda is not taking off the weight as fast as the others even though I think she is working her rear end off. I think there is an underlying medical problem that is keeping the weight on.

Amanda should honestly be let go. She's managed to only lose what 10 pounds in 2 weeks? I don't know what the issue is with her but there needs to be some focusing on her and get her to have a break through or vote her off.

She reminds me of Holly from a few seasons back. Holly worked as hard as everyone else and the weight just didn't fly off. She had a thyroid problem and I don't know if they knew that before selecting her for the show.

I heard that now, if you have hypothyroid, even if it's being treated, then they won't let you on the show. That's too bad. I'd like to know how that affects a contestant.

I definitely agree with 30lbs2go because none of the trainers or other contestants have gained up on her for not working hard so she must be keeping up in that sense. During the 1st episode rebecca said she didn’t understand why amanda lost so little because she was right there beside her working just as hard. Also I noticed during the 2nd episode while shay was criticizing julio’s work ethic she mentioned everyone else was working hard including amanda. There’s no evidence amanda in’t working hard unless it starts to come to light in the next few episodes. I’d assume there’s got to be some sort of medical issue going on and if that’s the case that’s all the more reason she should be on the show. She needs some support and guidance. I understand big numbers are good for ratings but the reason I love the show is not because of that. I love the inspiration and goodness it brings to people. If it is thyroid or medical related I wish her the best. Plus I'm a total pink girl. Go amanda and rebecca! I hope at least one of them makes it to the end!

From Dr. Huizenga's book Where Did All the Fat Go?, you are correct:

"The first 85 contestants who came through my doors for previous seasons had presented a veritable pathologic potpourri. Their hometown medical 'clearances' notwithstanding, diseases I 'allowed'-high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesteremia, cigarette smoking, gastroesophageal reflux, and sleep apnea-were often in desperate need of treatment. Deal-breaker medical ailments-unstable heart disease, critical anemia, hypothyroidism, drug addiction, and pregnancy-occurred about five percent of the time. But it took exhaustive medical, psychological, orthopedic, and dietary exams, along with exotic labs, stress testing, and body fat and body fluid checks to ferret out each hidden medical land mine. Cut even one diagnostic corner? No way. Guaranteed, something would eventually explode."

Given the even more comprehensive testing that is now done on the contestants before final casting, it would seem unlikely that Amanda could have a hidden hypothyroidism, although I guess anything is possible. Perhaps PCOS or any number of hormonal problems which affect weight and ease of weight loss could be playing into it.

Amanda is so attractive already and is not all that obese relative to the other contestants. If she goes on to lose 1/2 her body weight as some do, she will be unbelievably beautiful.

I just saw Amanda's tweets today - apparently she's moving in with Amy Cremen (BL6) in Detroit to prepare for the finale.

Maybe shes sneakin food like they did last season I think it was...yes she cute, but she needs to lose alot before I'd say beautiful...she needs to step up the pace a bit..in fact alot of them do, yes we are seeing pretty good numbers, but it is week 7 almost and still seeing alot of Butt and these girls, not to be mean or rude but it seems theres alot more around these girl's rears then past players on the game..get off the tred mills and get them out side on the hills and start running them til they fall out.

I like Amy and all, but I'd be moving in with Helen.

She has not lost big numbers but she has been consistent in losing weight. I believe she has lost about 30 pounds, nothing to sneeze at.

Your right thats good, but this is week 7? maybe i missed a week here, she should be a bit more I think..but shes doing ok, not a contender to the end I dont think, but shes doing good, and yes shes kinda cute...lose that back side and get tight and shes gonna be a real cute kid.

Big G, your wife must have fallen in love with all your smooth talking

Amanda works at one of the hospitals I round at. A PCT is just the fancy word that hospital uses for a nurse's assistant. Just like custodians are "support partners." Whatever.

Saw her this week - she's not back at work, she was just visiting.
She looks awesome.

I think so...and something eles...but we cant talk about it here...thats another board...lol

I'm happy for Amanda that she lost 7 pounds. I just think she needs to realize that she is not going to have Bob by her side always. She needs to learn to depend on herself. She needs to learn that she doesn't need Bob to lose weight. Until she learns that she is not going to be a success at home like all the others. Even Tracey learned that lesson because look how good she looks in the followup segment.

Well stated! I think Bob is her crutch and she needs to lose this or she will not be a success after she goes home.

Wow ..... the girl is playing the game !!!!

Amanda deserves to go next. She just hasn't lost the weight like everyone else has. People that were heavier than her are now lighter. She needs to pick it up or go home.

I think she is trying, I really do. I just think her body may be a little more insulin resistant than some of the others. It's just going to take a little longer for her to lose the weight than the others. I just hope she sticks with the program and doesn't give up. Maybe she does need to be there to get the confidence she needs. As of now I don't think she's made the connection. Hoping she makes the connection soon.

Amanda has a waistline now.

Yes, and visible muscles in her abdomen!

Did you notice, though, that whenever she perceives she is being wronged, her eyes slit up and lasers shoot out from them? Lol, if looks could kill!

She's already pretty; soon she will be stunning.

I really liked Amanda but I almost feel like she should have asked people to vote for Shay.
She is like the Skinny B___ on the show now! She still deserves that chance but Shay needs it more.
I dont know..I even feel bad saying that.
I just wish the show did not offer the money so that the total focus could be weight loss and helping everyone on the ranch.
The game playing is getting old.

We really don't know how much Amanda "needs to be there." What is going on in her head? Maybe she fears losing control once off the ranch. Just because she's the smallest doesn't mean she could regain the weight quickly. Shay has done very well at home, so that seems to be the best place for her--where she can focus on herself instead of the game play. And she seemed to me to be one of the biggest (no pun intended) gamers on the show.

Has anyone noticed that Amanda always seems perfectly made up when she's working out? How the heck does THAT happen? Seriously, if I put on as much eyeliner and mascara as that girl does, then went to the gym, I'd be sweating it all over my face.

Either she's not working out as hard as she SHOULD be, or the producers are stopping her workouts every time the camera is on her to put new makeup on, either case makes sense as to why she's not putting up the kind of percentages as everyone else.

I guess it could be tattooed on her face.

Still I think it's weird.

Maybe she just wears really good quality waterproof makeup. Plus, I think she probably does have naturally beautiful skin.

If you see or read the other boards it says on film days they all go to makeup and get ready for there camera time...its a game show and hollywood, so there not gonna let them go on all sceeezed out so there ya go..makeup makes a difference

I go to workout all "sceeezed".........I hate that make-up runs with the sweat, and if that hits the eyes....it burns.

hmmm, well maybe waterproof makeup, but as for not letting them look all skeezed, did you SEE Shay when she was doing the plank and Jillian was yelling at her last week? SHE looked all skeezed.. I thought someone had punched her in the eye for a while.

I hate to say it, but i didnt see it yet...i work alot...and for some makeup just isnt enough...but they do go to makeup on shooting days...and then there some that cant get out of bed if they have no makeup...

Yes, she will, but honestly, that girl is a knockout now. I think she is just beautiful. I don't think her face could get any prettier than it already is, but she'll have a gorgeous body to match it.

I'm glad she's still in. Nothing at all against Shay (sorry if I spelled her name wrong, I am having a temporary fog), but they all have as much right to be there as Shay does. That's my opinion anyway. It isn't really fair to penalize every other person just because someone was chosen for the show who is much heavier and "needs" it more. They all need it and personally, I think the longer one has to do more work at home, the better their long term success. IMO

(I like Shay though!)

Someone out here needs to tell me of a "water proof" makeup that will not run.......I've been through several brands, none of them have worked for me.

Me either.

I have not read this entire thread, so sorry if I am repeating, but I just don't remember makeup running down the faces in past seasons. I swear I remember the girls not wearing so much. I noticed from the first show this season, that some of them had so much on that it was distracting. To me, having tons of eyeliner and mascara on at the gym looks goofy, and I know I would have remembered that before. I think that's why I always notice how nice they often look in the elimination room, because normally I am not used to seeing them in makeup.

I am almost positive they didn't wear it before like now, because I can remember thinking "gee, I'd hate to go on national tv without makeup."

I've thought about this before. Just imagine that you make it on the show (or win the chance, whatever), and you are so excited and on top of the chance to lose this weight you have tried desperately to lose for years and years...you also have a chance to win a lot of money.

Now, I personally don't think any of them, other than a very small amount, have gone on this show for the money alone. No way. The money is an awesome bonus, but you can tell at the "finale" that every person there who has lost weight is thrilled, money or not.

Okay, anyway, you are going on the show, and you have your family and all your friends backing you.

So, you get on the show and meet people you've never known in your life before...and you should give up your chances to win for them? All your dreams, for someone you recently met, who none of your friends or family even knows? What if someone asked you that before you went on the show: "okay, there will probably be someone who "needs" it more than you, so should you give up your chances for them?"

Hey, I think it is wonderful when I see people do that. I think it was wonderful when Pete from Season (2?), arranged all of the teams in a way to benefit everybody but himself. However, this IS a competition and we should not expect everybody to do that, or think bad of them for not doing it.

When you go to any sporting event, do you see people throwing the game because the other team "needs" the win?

This is just my personal opinion on it, but I don't think any of us could make this decision unless we were there in these folks places. I don't think people should be cast down upon for not throwing the race.

Its makeup......maybe not so much before but I do remember some wearing it last season as well..maybe the season before that..but yes it is to much..again it is just a gameshow and reality show...

YES everyone goes for the cash and the weight loss....if they didnt give cash no many would go on, come on you leave you life and work just to lose weight? they can do that at home..just choose not to it seems. They only get very little cash while at the ranch, so it it wernt for the chance of big $$$ at the end, there just wouldnt be as many peeps applying, it be like working for free or at the least min wages. And as far as givng up for someone elese to win...no freakin way...im there to win and lose weight and if i have to feed you brownies while you sleep ill do it...lol

As we all know no one needs this show to lose weight, we can ALL do it with out tv and cameras and money...well maybe money for ther gym but other then that no need for any of it...I can yell at ya and keep you motivated we dont need bobby and juli to yell and cuse at us to do it...but id go on in a heart beat just to play the game lose weight and win the cash...

Oh how wrong you are.

G, people PAY thousands of dollars to leave their lives and go to weight loss camps. They PAY it. Well, most people cannot afford that, so to have the opportunity for free, is HUGE. Are you kidding me? Leaving their lives just to lose weight? Just to lose weight? I think that considering for just about every person there, this would be the dream come true of their lifetime to have help with this monumental task, that they would consider it big enough to leave their lives to have this opportunity for free. If everybody could just "do it at home" then no one would be fat. I am not saying that everybody can't do it at home, but many people don't know how to do it at home. They need help and guidance. THEN they can do it at home.

What about you? You complain of a bit of weight you want to lose. Have you lost it at home?

NO way are they all doing this for the cash. Yeah, of course the money is wonderful, and I would imagine after you've been on the ranch for a while, and you are still there while others have gone...you might start to think "hey, I might have a chance to win this thing!" Sure. But no, you have a very different view of this show than most people do. You always say it is just a gameshow. No, G, it is not.

If it were just a gameshow and money was the only motivating factor, you would not see everybody thrilled and so happy and excited at the finale.

I really don't understand how you don't see this?

I'm not saying that money is not a motivator to lose the weight fast, but this opportunity is a dream come true for these folks, where others pay thousands and thousands to go to a place like this. It is not just a "gameshow." For one thing, to leave for all those months for $250,000 (while you are not getting paid at your job most likely while you are gone), and then pay taxes on that...

It is not like the other reality shows where they get a million bucks, but on this show, everybody wins.

I guess Im not saying this right......your right it would be a dream come true for lots of people..but you have to admit, that we hear hear so many on here say they can on do this weight loss deal if they can work with Bob and Juli...and thats the point Im trying to make I guess...no one NEEDS Bob and her to help them here..yes it seem like its so easy to drop 100 lbs in just weeks on the show...it is a gameshow...and more yes...but these people work hard to do it...8+ hrs a day working out, a very low callorie intake and the fact that there not at home, not making the bills, unless they have lots of help at home or well...like some of the kids on the show, very little to no bills...
So its not an easy fix, yes I wanna lose weight too, Id love to go on the show and lose weight meet some really good peeps and have fun..hard work...and see my self thinner and in great shape when I left the Ranch....but My point is this....If we all could have the time to workout 8 hrs a day at home and could stick to a 1200 cal diet every day we all would lose the same weight as these peeps do...its not magic...I dont have the time...I try hard to eat right and at the least walk a bit with my job...I lost some just changeing my diet from fast food alot to healthy choice dinners and better food choices when I do go out...but now Im stuck at my fat 235 lbs...


Any ways, Im sorry if I sound like its not a big deal to go on here...or make it sound like its so easy to lose it at home, cause I know full well its not ....but I know that it can be done and We all know its kind a waste of time to sit back and not do anythiong while waiting ans hoping you be the next star on the ranch...so Im sorry if I sounded like a J.A. here

It will be fun to see everyone's makeover tonight. Amanda is a beautiful girl but you can't see her eyes behind all that heavy black eyeliner and mascara. Hope the makeover artists ditch it.

she finally lost more than 4 pounds! She still looked the same after her make over though