This is certainly the CRAZIEST thing I have ever done.  I am very overweight.  Have been, since my first pregnancy.  I put on 60 pounds with Austin, and continued adding to that month after month until I ended up here.  Having a second son, 15 months later didn’t help…but I make no excuses!

What I will tell you is I am sick of it!!!!!!  I love making yarn and being in front of folks talking about my art, but this weight is just too much!  I’m always afraid a person will not see the yarn, because my big ole butt will be in the way.

Since I made the choice to lose weight, I have lost close to 10 pounds already.  Now, honestly I haven’t been working out much, just starting walking a little bit and trying to watch what I eat.  I’m really clueless when it comes to proper workouts and the correct food to eat.

About a month and a half ago, in my facebook feed, I saw that my local news channel KARK was having a contest for their version of The Biggest Loser.  They were giving 4 contestants the chance to work out for 10 weeks with a personal trainer, follow a strict diet, and lose lots of weight.  On a TOTAL WHIM I applied.  I sent in the below picture.

Here’s the link to my submission: CLICK HERE  if you want to check it out!

I didn’t think there was ANY WAY I would get picked!

When I didn’t get a call for an interview, two weeks before the competition started, I thought bummer!  I wasn’t too upset because I really never thought I’d be picked.

On Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Jake, from 10 Fitness, called to ask a few questions.  It turns out they had over 300 people apply! 😮  Jake was great and easy to talk to on the phone.  He asked if I would come in to meet him in person the next day.  Of course I said YES!!!!!!

The next day, it was pouring down buckets of rain!  CRAZY!  I left a bit early so I could go slow.  Jake called and wanted to see if I’d like to reschedule because of the weather, but I was already on my way.

NO WAY a little rain was going to keep me from making this interview!

When I got there, I was crazy early!  While waiting in the parking lot  I called and got a pep talk from my sister.  I was a bit nervous, but knew God had a plan and I was just trying to walk in it.

I went in and met Jake and we talked a bit.  He asked what I do, I told him I make yarn and he acted the way most people act…

“YOU MAKE WHAT????  How the heck do you do that?”

I explained the process…not enough to bore him (at least I hope!) and he seemed impressed and said I had a really great story.  🙂  The rest of the interview went really well.  I talked about my kids and their sports and how I wish I could keep up with them.  I felt very confident I might actually have a shot at getting one of the 4 spots!

Before I left, Jake said they would be making the decision by the end of the day and I should get a call by the end of the night.  Well…that night, the phone didn’t ring!  STRIKE ONE!

I was so bummed, but didn’t count myself entirely out yet.  I kept thinking about how well the interview went.  Figured he might have just been too busy! After all he had to deal with over 300 contestants and on top of all that he was in the process of opening up a brand new 10 Fitness location.

The next morning, my darling husband, insisted I call Jake.  I was so nervous!!!  Let me tell you, I KNEW Jake had to be getting a ton of calls and the last thing he needed was one more. At that point, I was convinced I had not been picked.  I really didn’t want to bother him, but my husband insisted.

I sucked up my courage (yeah I’m a big ole chicken) and called….the phone rang and then went to voice mail 🙁 It was about 9:15 in the morning.  STRIKE TWO!

That was it!  I didn’t get.  Time to move on.  I sat down and worked out a Knitting Pattern I had in my head the last 3 years!  It felt good to get that out.

It was all good for awhile!  I knew God had a plan for me, a specific path!  Maybe I wouldn’t be as skinny as I hoped, but God was in control! I figured the 4 people picked must need it more than I did and good for them!!

My day went on and I was determined.  I was going to go join a gym.  I called the hubby and he said wait!  Don’t go pay for a membership until you hear from Jake.  Then he INSISTED I call again.

REMEMBER I AM A CHICKEN!!!

I didn’t want to call!  But, my husband is very persuasive and really wants me to fight for things I want.  Remind me to tell you my story of meeting Vickie Howell…I’m such the chicken.

You know, it takes three strikes to get out.  I had only had two strikes!

So, I built up my courage once again and called.  This time it rang 2 times and then went to voice mail.  I assumed that meant he rejected the call.  D’OH!!!

STRIKE THREE!!!  Dude, I was totally out. 🙁

That was it, game over.  I was sad for a few minutes, but then I had a wonderful repeat customer purchase 3 skeins of yarn.  She had purchased one skein the week before and sent me a sweet note that said she loved my yarn so much she had to buy more.  THAT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME.  It picked me up from my bummed out state and refocused my attention to my business.  It was really like God telling me,” it’s okay, I got this!  Trust me, I know your path.”

That was all about 3:00 in the afternoon.  The rest of my day was crazy.  My middle son, Austin, is playing football (GO JETS!) and my youngest, Brady, is playing Baseball (GO COWBOYS!) and they both had practice that night.  Uffda!

One started at 6:00, next at 7:00.  The first ended at 7:30, last ended at 8:00.  So I played the role of crazy taxi mom, running back and forth between the locations.  At about 8:00 we were at the baseball field waiting for Brady to be finished, when my cell phone rang.

IT WAS JAKE!!!!

Now, I have to tell you…I already had 3 strikes.  I was out!  So, in my head, he was calling just to tell I didn’t get it.

He apologized for missing my calls.  He then asked how I thought our interview went.  Now I thought “Great!  Not only is he going to tell me he didn’t pick me, he was going to tell me WHY he didn’t pick me!”  Ahhhhh!

I told him I thought it went well, but I figured since I didn’t get a call the night before, I knew where this was going!

Jake then said he also thought our interview went great, and he was happy to tell me I was going to be one of the four contestants this year for The Biggest Loser Arkansas.  After thanking him repeatedly, (& squealing a bit) I promised him I would not let him down and he said he knew I wouldn’t.

THEY PICKED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so thrilled!  You have no idea.  It was awesome, I was at the ball park surrounded by my husband, my kids, and all the great moms my kids have played ball with over the last year.  It was perfect.
I had to call my mom, sister, step-mom & dad , best friends, grandmother, and squeal on Facebook (of course) and jump up and down, scream, & dance.

So, it’s official!  I have been chosen to be one of the four contestants for the 2011 Biggest Loser Arkansas competition.

I’m gonna be healthy, skinny, and I”M GOING TO WIN IT!!!!  Just you wait and see!

For the next ten weeks, I’ll  be sharing all about my success and struggles of being in this competition and talk about balancing my business and family life as well.  It’s gonna be fun and exciting and oh yes as always, there will be yarn. Maybe even a Biggest Loser Yarn  😉 (you know it’d have to be thick n thin).

The contestants will be announced on Tuesday, during the noon news broadcast.  Wish me luck!

Just so you know, even when you think you are out…there is always hope!

Three strikes doesn’t always mean you are out.  Maybe you just haven’t waited long enough to see the ball went out of bounds.  You might just have one more pitch coming.  KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK!!!

Biggest Loser Arkansas: The Hard Part Starts Today