The Beginning

For those who don't know me, I am a 46 year old mother of 3.  I have been married for 27 years to a wonderful supportive man.  I love God, my family and all things Disney.  I have a wonderful life that I realize could be better if I just took better care of myself, and that is where it all began.

It all started back in December 2012 when I decided to drop off an application at Global Fitness for its annual Get it Back - Give it Back program.

I have long struggled with my weight and fitness but this program offered an opportunity to get some help and allow me to maybe, just maybe, figure it all out.  I filled out the application and somehow managed to walk through the front doors of Global Fitness and hand it in.  That may sound like a fairly easy task but it really wasn't.  Gyms are intimidating and asking for help isn't easy for me.  By handing in the application, I was asking for help.  Step 1 over.

The information meeting finally arrived, and my girlfriend offered to come with me.  I'm thankful she did because the place was packed and I was scared.  I listened to everything everyone had to say and I came away inspired by the whole program and especially by the things previous participants had to say.  30-40 of us in that room would have the opportunity this year, out of 70-80 applicants.  I left with everyone else to begin the long week of waiting.  We would all know on Friday.

During this week, Biggest Loser started a new season.  I watched those participants throw up, get yelled at, fall off the treadmill and break down and cry.  I started to wonder if I really wanted to be a part of the program.  I became scared I would get in and scared that I wouldn't get in.  It was a roller coaster of emotions that week while I waited.  I really wanted to change and I didn't have a plan B.  Get it Back-Give it Back was it.

Friday came and I can honestly say I have never checked my email as often as I did that day.  I wanted in and I wanted to know.  When the email came and I saw my name on a team, it was a sense of relief and a feeling of total fear.  Now I needed to wait out the weekend and on Monday I would meet Stephanie, my trainer and the rest of Team Castanet.  The journey was about to begin.