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Ruben Studdard leaves 'Biggest Loser' after sad, shocking weigh-in

Tuesday's episode of "The Biggest Loser" saw contestants give in to temptation by indulging in sweet treats in exchange for an even sweeter reward (immunity, which went to Bob's blue team). But the night ended on a sour note, with fan-favorite contestant Ruben Studdard packing his bags.Ruben spent the first four weeks of the competition working hard, charming his fellow players and proving to ever
Image: Ruben Studdard
\"I worked really, really hard this week,\" Ruben Studdard said while still standing on \"The Biggest Loser\" scale. \"I swam extra. I walked extra.\" But it just wasn't enough.NBC

Tuesday's episode of "The Biggest Loser" saw contestants give in to temptation by indulging in sweet treats in exchange for an even sweeter reward (immunity, which went to Bob's blue team). But the night ended on a sour note, with fan-favorite contestant Ruben Studdard packing his bags.

Ruben spent the first four weeks of the competition working hard, charming his fellow players and proving to everyone that he's not just a singer and a former "American Idol" winner. He's also a gracious, likable guy who just wants to lose weight (but certainly not back hair).

Unfortunately, when Ruben stepped on the scale this week, he learned he didn't lose enough. Following a couple of less-than-impressive losses from his red teammates, Ruben failed to drop the 11 pounds it would have taken to save his team. With a loss of just 5 pounds, he didn't even drop enough to save himself when it came to the dreaded red line.

Back home, 5 pounds would have been something to cheer about, but with the focused effort on the ranch, Ruben knew immediately what it meant.

"I worked really, really hard this week," he said while still standing on the scale. "I swam extra. I walked extra."

His trainer, Dolvett Quince, agreed, telling him, "Everything I asked you to do, you did it."

But it wasn't enough.

"This experience is one of the toughest things I've been through," Ruben admitted. "I've been through two-a-day football practices; I've been through the 'American Idol' experience; I've been through a lot of mentally and physically challenging experiences in my life. And this, you know, ranks right up there at the top."

Although it seems a shame that he wasn't able to stay in the game longer, Ruben stayed long enough to get what he came for.

"My goal coming to 'The Biggest Loser' ranch was to leave here a changed person," he explained. "I think I reached that goal."

As for his weight-loss goal, well, Ruben promised that his voice would remain soulful, but by the next time America sees him, his "body will be sexy."