Dina Mercado, a 28-year-old custodian from Commerce, CA, became the sixth contestant eliminated from The Biggest Loser's eighth season during Tuesday night's broadcast of the NBC reality competition.

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"I have lost a total of 35 pounds in six weeks, and that is one of the sweetest things to say," said Dina after her elimination.

"The Dina that walked onto this campus was completely lost, zero confidence in herself. The Dina that's leaving the ranch today has begun to see her potential.  She doesn't have all the answers yet, but she's determined to not stop searching until it's finished. I'm going to win this battle."

The Biggest Loser's sixth eighth-season episode began following the previous elimination of Mozziz "Mo" Dewalt.

The new Blue Team -- which is comprised of Tracey Yukich, Allen Smith, Liz Young, Rudy Pauls, and Rebecca Meyer -- trained with Jillian Michaels; while the new Black Team -- which consists of Dina, Daniel Wright, Shauntina "Shay" Sorrells, Abby Rike, Danny Cahill, and Amanda Arlauskas -- trained with Bob Harper.

The two teams then met host Allison Sweeney on a beach for their next challenge. She explained that each team would be searching for four keys that were buried in the sand. Those keys would be used to open a treasure chest that contained the challenge's prize. Once a contestant found their key and removed their lock, he or she could help their teammates find the other keys.

Allison did not tell the teams what the prize was, only stating it would "definitely determine who stays on campus and who goes home."  Since the Black team had one more member than the Blue team, Amanda chose to sit out the challenge and joined Tracey and Abby (who were both medically ineligible to participate) on the sidelines.

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Each player was assigned a pile and started digging as the challenge commenced.  It proved to be a bit more difficult than they initially thought. Rudy and Allen were the first to retrieve their keys and give the Blue Team a lead that they would never relinquish, allowing them to win the challenge.

Upon opening the chest, the Blue Team was excited to learn that they had won tickets home to see their families for a week.  However there was a twist, as Allison explained they could keep the prize and go home while the Black Team stayed on campus and continued to train with Bob and Jillian, or they could stay at the ranch and send the Black Team home.

After briefly thinking about it, the Blue Team decided to give the tickets to the Black Team.

"It was a sweet pain," said Danny.  "It was like I get to see my wife, I don't get Jillian. I get to be home with my kids, I don't get The Biggest Loser gym. Oh my god.  This is scary."

Over the course of the next week, the Black Team's members went home and were reunited with loved ones while the Blue Team remained on campus and trained. In addition, the Blue Team also went to a food bank for some volunteer work.

Once the Black Team returned to campus, both teams participated in their last-chance workouts.

The Biggest Loser's sixth eighth-season weigh-in then commenced. Allison explained that the team with the greatest weight-loss percentage would win the weigh in and be safe from elimination.

The Blue Team was the first to step on the scale. Allen started the week at 278 lbs. and lost seven, Rebecca began at 237 lbs. and shed five, Tracey started at 206 lbs. and dropped four, Liz began at 232 lbs. and lost four, and Rudy began at 369 lbs. and shed 14.  The Blue Team lost a total of 35 lbs. for a combined weight-loss percentage of 2.65%.

The Black Team needed to lose more than 45 lbs. to avoid the chopping block.

Amanda started the week at 224 lbs. and lost six, Shay began at 416 lbs. and shed five, Abby started at 208 lbs. and dropped four, Dina began at 223 lbs. and lost five, Danny started at 372 lbs. and shed 15, and Daniel began at 276 lbs. and gained a pound.

"I don't get it. I don't get why I gained a pound and it sucks and it's embarrassing," opined Daniel. "I feel like gaining one pound just puts a target on my back."

The Black Team lost a total of 34 lbs. for a combined weight-loss percentage of 1.98% -- meaning the Blue Team won the weigh-in. Since Danny he had the highest weight-loss percentage on the Black Team, he would be safe from elimination.

The Black Team returned to the dorms and began to deliberate their upcoming decision.  Dina said she felt Daniel should go home since it was his second chance on the show however he pleaded his case, explaining he still had emotional hurdles to overcome. Needless to say, Dina was unsympathetic.

"Daniel should go home because he's been given that second chance," she said. "I think that he's learned a whole lot -- more than any of us will ever learn in the six weeks we've been here."

The elimination ceremony then commenced. Daniel, Abby, Amanda and Shay voted for Dina, who along with Danny voted for Daniel.  Dina was ousted by the 4-2 vote.

During a post-show update, Dina revealed that he has lost an additional 30 pounds since returning home and recently completed her first half marathon.

The Biggest Loser's next eighth-season episode will air Tuesday, October 20 at 8PM ET/PT on NBC.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio

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