Previously on The Biggest Loser the thunderthighs weighed in and they did some weird age morphing thing with computers that made them all look old and ugly.

Tonight! The rules change (already?!) and Jess is already considering leaving, except we know she’s not going to because we can see her in the challenge later tonight…

Yes, later tonight the first challenge for the year sees the contestants dragging a heavy sledge across the grass beside a runway while Commando Steve gets a joyride on a jet plane.

The trainers are sitting around chatting to the contestants in the lounge after a hard week’s training. They’ve all got a lot of questions for the trainers still, what to eat, what exercises to do, etc. Then Hayley rocks up!

She wants the contestants to follow her outside so she can tell them something. Why couldn’t they do it inside? Who knows!

Hayley says the first competitive weigh in is coming, are they nervous? Of course! But what if nobody had to go home this week? Shannan’s dubious, because “there’s no such thing as a free lunch here at The Biggest Loser.”

Hayley explains that if the group can lose a total of 100kg by the end of the week then nobody has to go home. That’s a pretty sweet offer. But will they repeat it in future weeks? Hmm.

Train hard and Hayley will see them soon! Katie says she’s been working insanely hard but if one of them stuffs up, they’re all in trouble.

Kirsten’s scared walking into Shannan’s gym for the second training session. She’s worried what they might be up to. Shannan knows the 100kg mark across 14 contestants is achievable but they will have to work very hard.

Janet’s feeling strong and confident she can do better in this second session and she’s determined to lead by example for her daughter. Janet was gutted by Kirsten saying she’s a hypocrite. Janet wishes Kirsten had said she loves her and respects her and she’s a role model. Shannan says it’s up to her to make it happen.

Steve needs a “2IC”, second in command. He picks Katie. She’s pleased, as is her Mum Robyn. Katie’s not had anyone counting on her for a long time, it’s a big moment for her. Steve wants today’s session to be about encouragement, supporting their partners and so on.

Mish is smashing her people on the treadmills today. She wants them to increase the speed and the incline. She tells them they’re hardening up and growing some spines! Presumably only one each, you really only need one spine. Amber’s having a panic attack during the session, running out of breath and worried she can’t breathe. Mish tells us Amber is a princess (YAY!) who’s been allowed to get away with whatever she wants… oh, not yay.

Mish says, “Yes, I’m afraid of war. Yes, I’m a’scared of earthquakes. Oh my god, I’m scared of cancer! A workout? NO!” Mish is promising tough love, but she’s sure Amber will thank her for it.

Janet’s all over the place, Shannan says. Half the time she’s trying to give up, the rest she’s trying to push even harder. She’s having a panic attack too! Shannan’s worried she’ll end up flying off the back of the treadmill and he’s not having that in his training session! Shannan tells her that her head is getting to her, this is what exercising is like. If she gets her head under control her body is willing to keep going. You need stability and consistency in training and in your life, Shannan says.

Janet says her whole life has been volatile, even with her relationship with her daughter. One minute it’s lovely, then it’s volatile again. Shannan’s convinced he can change Janet’s mindset enough she can handle her life outside The Biggest Loser. Janet hasn’t quit, which has impressed Shannan immensely. She didn’t quit, didn’t throw up, didn’t leave the workout.

Meanwhile in the sandpit, Gerald’s leading by example. He’s not the fastest, Steve says, but he’s giving it everything he’s got. Afterwards Gerald’s having a laugh about all the things that hurt and yet his backside was numb!

Katie’s enjoying her role as 2IC. She’s taking well to pushing everyone else along and setting the pace. Chris thinks she’ll be a hell of a contestant. Gerald, “Jez” as Katie’s dubbed him, needed help today and so she’s been running along with him and encouraging him. No i in team, etc.

They have a rest bit at one point but Gerald’s obviously pushed himself so hard he gets a bit lost and sort of staggers off for a bit, huge huffing and puffing but Steve gets him to slow down, take a knee and recover. Todd says he was a bit worried about his Dad because Gerald had said he was going to push himself past 100% and Todd said not to, he’ll just collapse.

After an ad break Gerald is still huffing and puffing. Soaked in sweat. Should lose a stack of weight! He’s got Sophie in his head when he closes his eyes, which helps stave off the pain. The other contestants help him back to his feet and they get stuck back in.

Meanwhile back in Mish’s training session Amber has recovered from her panic attack and is having a drink. Mish is getting them back into training afterwards. Amber’s determined to prove to Mish she won’t quit. Jess is struggling with the additional bit of training. She weighs more than her Dad so it’s hurting. And she’s started grunting and groaning as she does weight repetitions. Jess is over it, she tells us and is considering just going home.

Mish has Richard and Amber on the ellipticals afterwards and says it’s almost over, if everyone can just “shut the hell up with all your bitching and whinging”. You tell ’em, Mish! Mish is urging them on and Jess is shouting louder. You’re fine! Keep going!

Jess is off to the side afterwards with her face in the bucket. Mish asks her how breakfast is the second time around. Lovely, very caring! Jess doesn’t want to face it anymore, just wants to feel okay and go home. She had decided she’d finish the session and then tell Michelle she was going to leave.

Mish gets a message afterwards that Jess wants a chat and Mish figures it’s probably not good since Jess has been there a week now. It’s been a tough couple of days. Jess has lots of reasons to stay but also lots of reasons to go. She doesn’t stick anything through and can’t remember the last time she saw something through. She doesn’t even finish jigsaw puzzles! What was her promise? To do her best and to get a life. She wants to get healthier and more stable and married. She doesn’t want to look back at her wedding photos and be disappointed. Mish understands that, and that’s what Mish is there for, to help her. She can help you get there, Jess!

Mish is asking her for just a little bit of belief, in Mish, in herself and in them as a team. “I’m going to rock your world, lady!”

Next morning they’re up bright and early and out into the cars to head off for their very first challenge. Hooray!

They’re at a small airport when they get out of the cars and so everyone’s wondering what they’re doing with planes. Kirsten thought maybe they’d have to jump out of one but then remembered they’re too big to jump out of a plane!

No, you’re never too big to jump out of a plane. Surviving the fall is the hard bit!

They find Hayley next to a skip full of rocks. They’ve done planes, trains and automobiles before but today they’ve got something special in mind, Shannan says.

They’re at Camden Airport, it turns out, for their challenge. It’ll be epic, Hayley says. A drag race of extraordinary proportions. They’re going to drag the skip 500 metres down the runway to the finish line. 1,856.1kg in the skip – the exact weight of the fourteen contestants.

So who’ll they be racing? Or what?

L-39 Air Combat Australian Fighter Jet. The Albatross! It was built in the 70s and 80s for training and combat. Weighs nearly 6 tons. And travels at 910km/h! And they’ve got Commando Steve in the co-pilot seat!

They’ll both start at the same time. The contestants drag their skip the 500 metres, Steve and his pilot will fly… to Canberra and back! Not bad! 570km round trip for the plane, they’re estimating a half hour total travel time.

So what are they playing for? Each person will win a half kilo advantage at the weigh in, which will count towards their 100kg goal. So that extra 7kg could make all the difference.

Shannan’s going to be in contact with Steve throughout the race so he can keep track.

Mish says they’re going to have to pull everything out to make this happen because it’s a pretty fast plane.

Ready, steady, spaghetti!

As the plane takes off Steve can see the contestants struggling to push the skip along. Meanwhile back on the ground Shannan’s very pleased by how well the contestants are doing. I guess going really fast and really high makes the tiny fat people look like they’re moving slower?

The skip’s on wheels. THE SKIP IS ON WHEELS. They’re not dragging it, they’re pulling it. Shenanigans!

Katie’s got them working together well, Janet’s just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

Katie was in the cadets from 12 and a half and only left last year. Yelling at the top of her lungs is what she does best, she says. Shannan’s dubbed her the Commandette, which I don’t think is a thing, but Shannan thinks she’s doing very well. Steve would be proud, he says.

Meanwhile on the plane the pilot is showboating with some rolls with Steve looking as cool as ever in the back seat.

The contestants finally start to slow down and the skip eventually stops. Keeping momentum is key, Mish says, as if you stop you’ve got to start all over again. They’ve only covered 100 metres so far and Shannan knows they’ve got to keep the team united if they’re going to get there.

Commando Steve lives for adrenaline, he says. He’s obviously having a ball as the pilot pulls a loop out. Not sure if this is part of the race or just footage from practice runs…

Most of the contestants have never been in a team or if they have it was so long ago it barely counts. Shannan’s striking up conversation along that line as they continue dragging the skip along. Not sure that’s helping! Mandy was always picked last because she was the fat kid.

Sam hasn’t been in a team in sixteen years, Jess has never been in a team. But she is now, Shannan points out! Jess is struggling, she feels like she’s hit her limit. Shannan’s right beside her, telling her she can do this, the pain is nothing! Mish comes up alongside for more encouragement. She tells us that if Jess thinks this is hard, it’s going to get harder, she has to really want this. Jess says talking to Mish as she goes helped immensely.

Shannan says getting to the halfway mark was the easy part, but now they’re slowing down a lot. Todd’s very proud of his Dad because he’s pushed very hard, but Todd’s wrists are hurting a lot from pushing.

Steve says he’s done a lot of things in the military but he’s never flown in a fighter jet. They’ve just hit Canberra and are turning back for Camden Airport. ETA 12 minutes!

The skip stops rolling again which makes things so much harder for them all. Every time they stop they’ve got to get the momentum going again.

Everyone’s getting a bit sick of Katie yelling at them, especially Sam and Jess. Sam tells Katie to shut up. Sam tells us that telling them to harden up and yelling at people isn’t good leadership. Mish agrees, saying she’s losing it a bit.

Then Sam goes down, his ankle’s a bit hurt and Mish is worried because they’ve lost their workhorse. But it’s okay, he gets back up and gets back to pulling.

Tough gig up the back, Mish says. Legs pushing and arms and backs being put into it as well. Amber’s particularly impressed by Gerald’s efforts in continuing to push without complaint.

Atlas 1 is requesting permission to buzz the tower. NEGATIVE MAVERICK. I mean, yes, you can flyby and then land the plane.

Mish knows her contestants can still get this done, it’s not their bodies stopping them, it’s their minds. Mish is getting extra loud now, Richard approves but is surprised how loud she is for such a tiny lady!

They’ve stopped again! They’re all knackered and wondering how they can beat Steve now…

Steve’s two minutes out! Push! Use your guts, Mish suggests. I guess because they’ve got plenty of them! It’s not just the physical side of being exhausted, it’s seeing the finish line and it feeling like it’s not getting any closer. Lots of shouting and groaning as they stop again, 10 metres away from the finish line. Mish is frustrated, who stops 10 metres from the end?! Shannan’s urging them on too.

Uhh, did I just see a fit person helping them tug it along? Looked like Mish was giving them a hand so they’d make it in time for that picture perfect jet flyby as they cross the line. How awfully convenient!

Seriously, guys. Don’t manufacture crap, it’s really obvious!

Everyone’s very happy to get over the line. They’re all knackered so it’s hard to even cheer. Gerald’s fallen over, he’s so tired. Richard pours some water over his head. I assume to help cool him off, not to be a massive jerk. Gerald may not have been the best at doing the task, but he didn’t collapse till he got it done, Richard’s obviously very impressed by Gerald’s determination.

Shannan takes a knee beside him for a chat. Todd’s thrilled to have completed this challenge alongside his Dad. They can break the cycle of generational obesity, Shannan says. Gerald tells us he doesn’t care if he collapses every time they do something, so long as he’s giving 100% to show Todd how to live his life.

Mish says these challenges are set to push the contestants to their limits and they’re designed to build up their self confidence and self belief.

It’s really the first time Jess has won anything? She says yes, and the first time she’s even wanted to win anything. Jess thought it would be easier after watching it at home but it really is hard, but also pushes the disbelief aside and starts creating a whole new mindset. Etc etc.

Sunday! You can go down Pussy Street or Man Up Road! I’m not going to lie, Michelle. Pussy Street sounds a lot more fun.

First competitive weigh in. Can they lose a hundred kilograms between them all and ensure nobody goes home?

And then a game changing twist! The fattest fatty to ever be fat at Fat Camp! The heaviest contestant, ever, worldwide. He’s huuuuge. But we don’t see his face! And will there be two people? Find out Sunday!

(And don’t forget you can follow @TBLRecap on Twitter to keep abreast of updates!)