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I don’t have a huge sweet tooth, but I definitely couldn’t survive without dark chocolate. There’s just no substitute for its flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, but there doesn’t have to be because it’s so darn good for you! Aside from being packed with antioxidants, dark chocolate contains natural substances that relax blood vessels, opening up blood flow and lowering blood pressure. And here’s something you may not know about this heavenly treat (it’s why I included it in the Flat Belly Diet): when you look at the nutrition facts panel on a bar of dark chocolate, you’ll see a lot of saturated fat (typically 8-9 g per serving) but not all saturated fat is created equal. The type in dark chocolate is called stearic acid and a large percentage of it gets converted into oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat or MUFA (moo-fah). MUFAs are the healthy fats that form the cornerstone of every Flat Belly Diet meal. This past weekend I was cooking for my friend who is healing from surgery. I made lots of immune boosting dishes including a few chocolaty ones. Here’s the recipe for one of my favorite creations:½ bag dark chocolate chipsAbout 2 Tbsp boiling water2 Tbsp fresh grated ginger¼ cup unsweetened (or 100% fruit juice sweetened) dried cherriesAbout 1 cup whole oatsTo be honest, I don’t really measure the ingredients so those are estimates, but here’s how I make them: 1) Pour the chocolate chips in a medium bowl. Add a little bit of hot water (about 1 Tbsp at first) and stir to melt the chocolate. Add a little more as needed (you can melt in a double boiler too but I don’t have one and the water helps thin the chocolate a bit). 2) Stir in the ginger and cherries and add the oats a little at a time until the mixture is thick enough to hold together (putting it in the fridge for about 5 minutes can help). 3) Spoon one dollop at a time into your palm, roll each up into a ball and place on wax paper. 4) Once all the little blobs are formed, transfer them to a dish and store them in the fridge. I’ve changed up this recipe in lots of ways, but I always use ginger. Instead of cherries I’ve used minced dried apricots, chopped figs, raisins and even dried mulberries. I’ve also made them with a crushed whole grain cereal (like Barbara's Bakery 100% Natural Shredded Cereal Multigrain Spoonfuls) but I prefer oats. And I’ve added just about every type of nut or seed - slivered almonds, chopped walnuts, crushed macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, pistachios…..yum!If you give them a try please let me know what you think. I’d love to hear about your favorite combinations. Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!

I adamantly believe in the power of nutrition! Every day, more and more studies confirm just how effective food is for not only preventing disease but also fighting it! Here’s an amazing example: Researchers at Ohio State University conducted experiments on groups of rats. Some rats were injected with a chemical that causes cancer (the same kind found in fried bacon, cured meats, tobacco products, and certain industrial compounds). One group of rats exposed to the carcinogen nibbled away at a regular diet. In the second group, 5% of the rats’ diets consisted of black raspberries, and a third received 10%. Some of the rats were fed the fruit before receiving the cancer-causing agent and others afterward. Among the rats fed 5 and 10% black raspberries both before and after exposure, the number of tumors was reduced by 39 and 49 percent respectively. The berries also prevented cancer in rats fed black raspberries only after exposure. By the 15th week of the study, the 5 and 10 percenters were able to reduce both tumor occurrence and size. By week 25, the berry-rich diet resulted in 60% fewer tumors and tumors that were 40% smaller.By week 35, the rats fed 5% berries had the best outcomes. This may be because the smaller amount of berries provided a level of antioxidants that was “just right” for fighting cancer. Previous studies have found that too high concentrations aren’t as effective and may even be dangerous. That’s why getting antioxidants from a wide variety of food vs. concentrated supplements is crucial. In addition, too much of one type of food means less of another and more studies are finding that a smaller amounts of a broader spectrum of nutrients is much more powerful that high doses of fewer types (I’ve blogged about this before). In other words, loading up on too many berries squeezes out room for protective watermelon or apples, so their nutrients don’t show up for work, resulting in less protection. Bottom line: you may not be able to prevent your genetic predisposition to cancer or control your exposure to every cancer-causing substance, but there is whole a lot you can do to boost your defenses. I just finished reading one of the best books I’ve ever come across on this topic, Anti-Cancer, a New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, a physician diagnosed with brain cancer. Prevention magazine just published an excerpt of this book. If you or anyone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, I urge you to order it today, but I actually think every adult should read this book. The theories apply to not only cancer, but also every major disease, including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Click here to watch a video of Dr. Servan-Schreiber talking about how food, activity and attitude can create an anti-cancer (or anti-disease) biology in the body. So, what are your thoughts on the potency of black raspberries? Do you believe in the power of natural foods as much as I do? Please share!

A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that tying an unhealthy behavior to an “out crowd” (a group you don’t want to be part of) reduces the frequency of that behavior. For example, think of a group you would not want to be associated with—in this study, online gamers were a definite “out” group—now think of an unhealthy habit you’re trying to break, like skipping breakfast. Let’s say a big public health campaign portrayed gamers as breakfast skippers. That connection could motivate you to start pouring a bowl of cereal in the morning, just so you won’t be “like them.” I am intrigued by this study for a number of reasons. Understanding why people do what they do, what really prompts change is always a challenge for a practitioner like me. The reality is, health benefits typically aren’t the strongest motivators. Public health experts even have a name for it: the health behavior gap. In other words, you can know that saturated fat will raise your bad LDL cholesterol and fully understand how serious heart disease is, but at the same time load up your baked potato with butter. In that moment, something stronger than health is influencing your behavior. I’ll be attending a nutrition conference in a few weeks and I’m very anxious to hear the opening session. It’s being given by Masao Ito, MD, PhD, a neuroscientist from the Riken Brain Science Institute. Riken is a group of over 500 scientists who study the human brain, and many of the researchers specialize in how the brain decides what, when and how much to eat. Dr. Ito’s talk is supposed to cover the following questions: 1) What mechanisms in the brain judge the value of food? 2) What happens if one value is in conflict with another (such as taste vs. healthfulness)? 3) What causes a person to either overeat or refuse to eat? 4) How do influencers like brand names on food products impact the perceived value of certain foods in the brain and how do they affect behaviors? Fascinating stuff! After I finished my master’s degree in nutrition and began working as a nutritionist, I found that no matter how motivated some of my clients were one-on-one with me, and no matter how much information and resources they had, their success was largely tied to their relationships, environment, culture and emotions. That’s why I went back to school again. I completed 21 graduate credits in counseling psychology and earned a second master’s in public health with an emphasis in community and family health education. That training helped me relate to people in a "bigger picture" way, but it also showed me just how complex change really is. Have you ever started your day intending to eat in a certain way and wound up right back in your old pattern? If so you know just what I mean. I would love to hear your thoughts on this fascinating topic. What do you think influences your eating habits the most? What prompts you to change? Do you think linking unhealthy behaviors to an “out crowd” would cause you to change? Please share!

If you read my blog, you know I’m no fan of fake sugars. I just don’t like anything artificial and I’m not convinced that any of them help people lose weight. But here’s some surprising news about the “yellow stuff,” a.k.a. Splenda, generally considered to be the safest of the bunch. Sucralose (Splenda’s generic name) hit Norwegian food markets in 2005. One year later, scientists found the chemical in raw and treated wastewater. Here’s why: you don’t digest or absorb sucralose—it goes right through your digestive system and out the “other end” unchanged. In a nutshell, your body excretes it, and it lasts in the environment, with a half-life in water of up to several years depending on pH and temperature.Scientists say the presence of a sugar-like chemical lingering in the environment could change organisms' feeding behaviors, interfere with plant photosynthesis and cause algae problems, but no studies have thoroughly examined its environmental effects. Although sucralose is made from sugar, it’s chemically very different, and it’s not “natural.” A molecule of Splenda contains three chlorine atoms. Sugar, on the other hand, has three pairs of oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) thinks it should be marketed as, "made from chlorinated hydrocarbons," or "made in a laboratory," rather than “made from sugar.”A few years back, CSPI surveyed 426 Splenda users and found that only 57 percent were even aware that it is an artificial sweetener. Just under half (47 percent) thought it was an all natural ingredient, and only 8 percent of those surveyed knew it was made from both sugar and chlorine. So what do you think? Is Splenda’s environmental “loitering” a cause for concern? Did you know this sweetener contains chlorine? Are trying to reduce your use of artificial sweeteners or are you hooked on them? Please share!

Summer’s not over yet! If your pre-Labor Day plans involve a trip to the State Fair, taking in a concert or ball game or enjoying a summer blockbuster (the Dark Knight & Iron Man were my favorites), check out my picks for the best and worst munchies: STATE FAIRCalorie bombs:5 oz deep fried Snickers bar (444 cals)Funnel cake (760 cals)32 oz lemon slush (450 cals)Total: 1,654 caloriesCynthia’s picks: 1 (4 oz) chicken kabob (450 cals)1 corn on the cob, plain (77 cals)1 medium candy apple (240 cals)Total: 767 calories (saves 887) State Fairs love those deep fryers! Frying the Snickers doubles the calories and a funnel cake has about a quarter cup worth of grease! To burn the calories from 1 chicken kabob, 1 corn on the cob and a candy apple, you only have to walk the grounds for 1 hour vs. 2 hours for just the funnel cake alone.Here’s my top calorie-burning tip for a day at the fair – have fun! Vanderbilt University researchers found that people burn 20% more calories when laughing. In fact, belly laughing just 15 minutes a day can help you lose 4 pounds of fat in a year! CONCERT:Calorie bombs:12 oz frozen Mudslide (made with vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, vanilla ice cream) (820 cals)1 order (9 sticks) fried cheese with marinara sauce (1,210 cals) Total: 2,030 caloriesCynthia’s picks:1 bottle light beer (103 cals)1 Gardenburger with buns (250 cals)1 cup peanuts in shell (200 cals)Total: 553 calories (saves 1,477)Concert stadiums have all kinds of food these days, including lots of typical bar and happy hour selections – a frozen mudslide and fried cheese are probably two of the worst possible choices with over an entire day’s worth of calories.Fortunately, stadiums also offer some healthy selections like veggie burgers – one Gardenburger on a bun provides about 250 calories, the amount in 1/3 of a typical cheeseburger. Also grab peanuts in the shell – cracking the shells will slow you down and make you feel like you’re eating a lot more - 1 cup in the shell provides the about same number of calories as ¼ cup shelled.MOVIE THEATRECalorie bombs:1 large buttered movie popcorn (1,640 cals)1 32 oz cola, no ice, (400 cals)Total: 2,040 caloriesCynthia’s picks:1 small popcorn, no butter (400 cals)Water (0 cals)Total: 400 (saves 1,640)Popcorn itself is a whole grain full of fiber & antioxidants but there are almost 1 ½ sticks of butter in a large buttered popcorn! And a large cola without ice contains 27 tsp worth of sugar. Go for a small unbuttered popcorn – it counts as almost 2 servings of whole grains, a healthful food group 90% of Americans don’t eat enough of. If you have a sweet tooth and need to satisfy it, choose a small (3 oz) box of candy. It’s more filling than soda and a 3 oz box of Mike & Ike has 100 fewer grams of sugar than a large soda.BALL PARKCalorie bombs:Chili cheese dog (710 cals)Large nachos with cheese sauce (1,101 cals)1,811 caloriesCynthia’s picks:1 slice cheese pizza (325 cals)1 small (3.3 oz) soft serve vanilla cone (150 cals)Total: 475 calories (saves 1,336) 1 large nachos contains almost as many calories as 4 slices of cheese pizza. If your ball park offers soft serve and hard ice cream, definitely go for soft. One cup (size of a baseball) of hard vanilla can pack up to 500 calories, more than double the fluffy stuff. Get into the game! Mayo Clinic researchers found that people who tap their feet, fidget and move around more burn 350 extra calories a day – that’s enough to burn that pizza slice! So what are your thoughts? Does the State Fair or other summer activities throw a wrench in your healthy eating plans? Please share!

I hope everyone has been outside enjoying spring and summer, whether you're doing yoga like Bob or sprints on the beach like Jillian! The theme of the sixth season of The Biggest Loser is families -- so the teams of contestants will be pairs from the same family. The season starts in September, and this blog will be going on hiatus until then. I don't know about you, but I'm going to use my Tuesday nights to hit the gym, run outside and get in shape! See you back here this fall!

Prevention.com has just done a fabulous new interview with my favorite Biggest Loser trainer, Bob, where he dishes on "The Season of One Pound," including why he thought Ali would win. "I had a gut feeling that this was Ali's year," Bob said. "It's so hard for a woman to win. But this year everything fell into place. Ali is an ex-athlete and that made her a fierce competitor. Athletes have a one-track mind. Her vision and focus were on winning. I thought if she stays around, she'll be the Biggest Loser." Bob also said that he felt this season had too many twists and turns. "I work on a reality TV show. I expect twists and turns to happen all the time," he said. "We have to expect the unexpected. But this season I thought there were too many twists and turns. Enough already!" In other Season Five news, Ali and Kelly recently gave interviews to TVGuide.com about their time on the Biggest Loser. "I actually pulled it off!" Ali told TVGuide. "I wanted it so bad. I forgot what it was like to truly go for something." Alison also said that she plans to go back to work -- and that she knows she'll be able to keep going with the healthy lifestyle. "For me, it's all about health and fitness and showing beauty through strength," she said. "I will continue to set goals to have something to work for because I realized that I need to always be going for something." Kelly spoke to TVGuide.com about Paul, who missed the finale because he was too ill to travel. "He is really, really sick," she said. "In the past two months he's spent six weeks in the hospital. He's had ruptured diverticula and he got a colostomy, which got gangrenous. He's had [several] surgeries." She also dished on her decision to continue working out despite the threat of paralysis. "I knew I could overcome this. As you watched this show, how many times was I the underdog and I overcame it? I worked with an excellent trainer and if it hurt, I didn't do it. The only thing I could find myself doing was the step mill and the elliptical machines. I did those for four or five hours a day." And what about those baby plans? Kelly said she plans to go back to work, get back into the swing of things, and go from there.

It's been almost six months since the contestants on The Biggest Loser: Couples began their journey, and it's hard to believe that it all came to an end tonight. At stake:$250,000 for one of the final three, and $100,000 for the contestant who lost the most weight at home.First things first: Who did America choose to send to the final three? After watching the four remaining contestants morph backwards so we could see what they looked like when the show began -- how cool, and incredible was that? -- Alison announced that America picked...Roger. (I actually groaned out loud.) Mark didn't seem surprised, or upset, saying that there was no spilled milk or sour grapes for him -- that it was a wonderful experience. Besides, he was still eligible for the $100,000 runner up prize. He went to sit down, and Alison introduced the rest of the eliminated contestants. It was interesting to see them again after all this time. They all looked great, but I was incredibly shocked at how small Amanda was, pleasantly surprised that Neill appeared to have stopped complaining and started working harder. Brittany, Jackie and Mallory looked so gorgeous. Curtis and Bernie were totally the super stars, though -- they looked like completely different people! Alison also announced that Paul was too sick to travel for the show, but was at home rooting for Kelly!Once all the contestants were seated, Alison asked them about various aspects of their experiences on the Biggest Loser. She called Mark a crybaby (which was hilarious!) and he embraced that description, saying that after he was sent home, he realized that he had been squandering an incredible experience by worrying so much about gameplay. When he got a second chance, Mark decided to focus more on himself mentally and emotionally. Curtis told Alison that he had come onto the Biggest Loser for a specific reason -- to qualify for health insurance. He wouldn't know if he was eligible until he got on the scale.Next, we watched the final three contestants go home and see their families. When she saw Ali, Bette Sue said all the humiliation she had endured on the show was worth it. Seeing their families' reactions to how amazing they looked was incredibly moving for the contestants -- and probably for us, too. I know I teared up!After the commercial break, the contestants had changed into their weigh-in gear and Alison brought out Jillian and Bob. (Nice to see Jillian in a dress for once, huh?) It was time for the eliminated contestants to face that scale one last time. One by one, they weighed in: Jennie lost 54 pounds. Lynn lost 80. Mallory dropped 65, and Curtis lost 150 pounds and 39.37% of his body weight -- taking the top spot and learning that he is finally eligible for health insurance! And he held the title until Dan, who dropped an incredible 136 pounds and 43.97% of his body weight. But it wasn't meant to be for Dan: Instead, Bernie lost 130 pounds and 45.94% of his body weight. Brittany couldn't take it from him; Jay couldn't take it from him; and neither could Mark. This really was the season of one pound: Bernie won the $100,000 by a single pound! It really couldn't have gone to a better person.Then it was back to the final three. We watched as they tried to manage their diets and their workouts in the outside world. Ali said she was self-sabotaging, giving up in the last 10% of her workout and dipping into several flavors of frozen yogurt in the middle of the night. Kelly found out she had a herniated disc and so much nerve damage that it could be crippling. And Roger seemed reach his plateau: At home, he was unable to lose weight. But they struggled on. Ali pushed herself harder, Kelly did what exercises she could, and Roger worked out so hard he puked. (And, by the way, I totally could have done without that vomit shot!)And, finally, it was time to bring out them out! Roger came out first -- and though we'd already seen him, there's no denying how great he looks. Kelly came out looking like a completely different person than when she started; you could tell she was just so proud of herself and what she'd accomplished. She told Alison that she'd given 100% all the time, and, though she was scared, that she handed the competition off to a higher power. Ali was last, and she looked incredible! (I loved her new hair!) thought back to when she and her mother were eliminated -- and she told us all that she would be the Biggest Loser. Ali decided that Roger would weigh in first, followed by Kelly, and that she would go last. Roger stepped on the scale; he had started at 363 pounds and dropped to 199 pounds. Throughout the Biggest Loser, he had lost 164 pounds and 45.18% of his body weight, setting the bar incredibly high. Next, it was Kelly's turn on the scale. When she started the Biggest Loser, she weighed 271 pounds and was the heaviest woman on campus. She dropped to 162 pounds, losing 109 pounds and 40.22% of her body weight. It wasn't enough to knock Roger out of the top spot, but it was amazing nonetheless.Alison told Ali that, in order to beat Roger, she would have had to lost more than 105 pounds. And when she stepped on that scale, she had dropped 112 pounds for a final weight of 122 pouds -- becoming the first female biggest loser winner! Finally! With any luck, this will be a new trend in the Biggest Loser!How thrilled are you that Ali won? And what will you do with your Tuesday nights now that Biggest Loser is off the air? I hope that you've been inspired by these contestants and will get out there and ride a bike, throw a ball or go for a jog! I can't wait to hear all your reactions to tonight's episode, so make sure to comment below! Last night, Ali beat out Roger to become the first female Biggest Loser. Photo Courtesy of NBC-TV

Photo Courtesy of NBC-TV For the first time in Biggest Loser history, viewers will choose who goes to the final three -- but trainers Bob and Jillian have both spoken out against the decision to allow America to participate in the competition. "I was disappointed with that because 'The Biggest Loser' is not a popularity contest," Michaels told the Daily News. "It's so much more than that." "The viewers haven't seen all the things we've gone through," Bob said, who also called the voting a tricky thing. "It seems that they get all they've seen on the show, and it's still much more than that." Producer Mark Koops defended the decision to allow America to vote because he said people want to be involved. "It gives the viewer a chance to really make a positive decision," he said, "as opposed to a negative decision in terms of who goes home." He also said he has faith that America will make the right choice. Check out the full article here, and don't forget to tune in on Tuesday to see you who sent to the final three -- and who will win $250,000! The last four players standing pose with host Alison Sweeney. Ali and Kelly are headed to the finale, but who will America choose as the last member of the final three -- Mark or Roger? Photo Courtesy of NBC-TV

We started with 20, and now we're down to four: Mark, Roger, Kelly and Ali. It has been 15 weeks since this latest batch of contestants arrived at the Biggest Loser campus, and it's truly incredible how much they've changed. Between them, they've lost 400 pounds. They've doing things they couldn't do before -- running up mountains, swimming in triathlons and saying no to the foods that tempted them. It's been an amazing journey -- but it wouldn't be the Biggest Loser without a couple of final twists. The first: No trainers on campus for this, the contestants' finale week. And Two: That America will choose to send one of the contestants who falls below the yellow line this week to the finale -- and one of them home.The episode opened with my favorite cooking vignette so far. Rocco DiSpirito, who appeared earlier this season, came back to teach the contestants how to prepare healthy versions of their favorite high-calorie meals. He showed that it's possible to knock off as much as 1,000 calories by making smart choices, including using chick pea flower instead of white flower, egg whites instead of whole eggs, and replacing white rice with brown. (Did those dishes look mouth-watering or what? Get the recipes here and try them yourself!)It was interesting to watch the contestants work out on their own. Kelly seemed to push herself especially hard -- maybe because she never thought she'd make it this far, and so desperately wants to stay in the game. She was really working on that punching bag! (I thought what she said about running -- that she might one day like it -- was hilarious, not to mention true! Starting on running definitely feels that way!) Ali wondered if she had enough in her to keep going, and the guys just kept chugging along.For the past few seasons, the last challenge revolves around contestants recognizing how much weight they've lost. This challenge was no different in that regard. So what was different? The contestants actually had to don all that weight again -- in the form of fat suits, which were precise replicas of what their bodies looked like when they arrived on campus. The contestants had to put on those suits, run to a shedding station and take them off, then run to flags with their names on it and run that flag up a mountain. The first person to get up the mountain would get freshly prepared meals delivered to them every day until the finale -- a huge advantage in the real world, where diet is likely to be the biggest issue -- and $10,000. Mark took the lead early on and never really let it go. He was the first up the mountain -- and the winner of the prize -- followed closely by Roger, then Ali, and finally Kelly. I think the greatest thing about it is that they carried the weight once again, and showed what they can do -- both physically and emotionally -- now that they've lost the weight.With one day left until the weigh-in, Bob and Jillian came back to campus to give their trainees much needed pep talks. Jillian felt the girls looked tired and stressed at the thought of another weigh-in where the guys could put up big numbers. Roger alone seemed confident, telling Bob that he was going to lose 15 pounds -- and beat Neil's record for weight loss on campus. Mark, on the other hand, was having a hard time without Jay on campus. (Interesting, isn't it, since Jay seemed to thrive when Mark was gone?) This episode, more than any other, was about the journeys the contestants have made; to remind the contestants of just how far they've come, videos were prepared that showed highlights of each person's stay on campus. Each contestant watched the video with his or her trainer. Seeing what they looked like, and what their attitudes were, when they came to campus -- and just what they'd accomplished during their stay there -- reduced the contestants to tears. After the videos, which Alison said she hoped would motivate the contestants to do well in the weigh-in (like they need any extra motivation for that!) it was time for the last last chance workout of the Biggest Loser's sixth season. Bob aptly said that this has been the season of one pound, and he's right: One pound has made and broken able-bodied contestants since the beginning. With that in mind, all the contestants worked really hard -- and the trainers pushed them that much farther beyond their limits. I was particularly moved by the exchange between Jillian and Kelly. "Why are you here?" Jillian asked her. "Because I want it!" Kelly responded.And she and Ali proved just how much they wanted it at this week's weigh-in. Roger weighed in first; he dropped 15 pounds. He lost 144 pounds on campus, one pound more than Neil, and more than any other person in Biggest Loser history. Next was Mark, who lost 12 pounds. At this point, I was quite literally asking the air how he could possibly be pulling that kind of number. With such huge losses, it seemed guaranteed that the guys would be headed to the finale three, and that Ali and Kelly would fall below the yellow line. But they are the literal embodiment of what girl power means: Ali dropped 11 pounds, enough to send her to the finale -- and, at 99 pounds, she had lost more weight than any woman on Biggest Loser history. And then Kelly got on the scale -- and lost 13 pounds, shoving both men below the yellow line! The girls were jubilant, and rightfully so. It seems like, for the first time in this show's history, we have a real chance of seeing a woman crowned Biggest Loser. And I would like nothing better.Ali and Kelly knew who they'd send home: Roger, the bigger threat. But this elimination wouldn't be their choice -- instead, Alison announced that America would be choosing the last member of the final three. Roger and Mark headed to the confessional to make their cases to you. I'm not sure how you felt, but here's my analysis: Roger seemed very flip, with a cockiness and an attitude that I really didn't like; it felt like he wasn't quite taking this seriously. I was down on Mark earlier in this season -- he was hotheaded and pigheaded and all other kinds of badheaded that you can think of -- but I feel like he's grown more than any other contestant. Where he was angry, he's now even-keeled; where he was stubborn, he's now more willing to compromise. He's nicer, more compassionate and supportive. And let's not forget that, while still a force to be reckoned with, he's more than a few pounds past his goal weight and really not the biggest threat anymore. Sending Mark to the finale could be our best shot at finally, after five seasons, have a female Biggest Loser. So I know who I'll be voting to send to the finale; who are you going to vote for?After Mark and Roger made their pleas, the contestants got to stand next to cardboard cutouts of their former selves. It's incredible -- they don't even look like the same people! And they're not, really. I think they've all been changed forever, in really good ways, by this competition -- and more than just physically.How excited are you for next week's live finale? Who's your bet for the third contestant in the finale? Don't forget to vote for either Mark or Roger by clicking here; let me know who you voted for in the comments section! You have 48 hours to cast your vote!

The actor, father to two children with Téa Leoni, requests privacy for his family

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