Biggest Loser Season 13

In June of 2011, I decided to apply for Season 13 of The Biggest Loser.  Here's a small glimpse of the things I did during the application process.

Pre-Registration Questions

The first step to applying for The Biggest Loser is their pre-registration.  Within the form there are a couple of really good questions that made me really think about what lead me to this point in my life.  Here are my answers.

Why do you want to be on The Biggest Loser?

Over the years I've lost weight on my own but I always gain back everything I've lost plus more. I think my problem is I become complacent. I get to a weight that feels comfortable and just stop focusing on maintaining. I need to be motivated. I need help to not only lose the weight but to change the way I look at food and fitness. I need to discover why I eat and how I got this big so that I never do it again. I know it’s time to make a change. I know somewhere deep down inside there is an athlete and a fighter. I'd like to meet her. Being able to work toward my goal with other people that know exactly how hard it is wouldn't make me feel so isolated and alone in my weight frustration.

Why now?

At 390 lbs, I weigh more now than I ever thought I would and I can’t believe the lies I tell myself anymore. Lies like, "I'm tall and have a large frame, so I don't look like I weigh as much as I do" or "I can still do (fill in the blank) so I must be ok". Recently, I had a scare. A dear friend who has lived with diabetes most of her life told me she was worried about me and thought I should get checked because I seemed to be exhibiting symptoms of type II diabetes. I had no energy. I was constantly thirsty and was always running to the bathroom. Fortunately, I tested negative but I can’t deny that it may be in my future if I don’t make a change. My father, who was only 42, appeared to be healthy and was active, died from complications of diabetes when I was 16. Years earlier, his father died from complications of diabetes. My younger brother is diabetic. I'll be 36 in October and I can't say that I'm healthy or active, so what are my chances? I have to do something now before diabetes becomes my reality and ultimately my death sentence. I can no longer play the victim. I have to stand up and fight.

Bio

As part of the video submission process, I had to provide a bio.  Parts of it you see on the About Me page but here it is in its entirety.

I’ve always struggled whenever I’ve had to talk about myself. So for this bio, I decided to rely on a little help from my friends. I asked them to give me words, nouns and adjectives, that they thought best described me. This is what we came up with.

Honest. Daughter. Helpful. Gregarious. Sister. Totally Awesome. Honest. Romantic. Compassionate. Sassy. Big Kid. Creative. Big Hearted. Giving. Friend. Personable. Vivacious. Foodie. Smart. Fun Loving. Volunteer. Happy. Selfless. Witty. Educator. Encouraging. Responsible. Silly. Intelligent. Kind. Engineer. Playful. Considerate. Funny. Shopaholic. Strong Willed. Resourceful. True.

I was totally in awe of what my friends think of me. I think my favorite word of all is true, but if I really am true, I have to admit that they missed a few.

Lonely. Disorganized. Anxious. Shy. Awkward. Messy. Bossy. Easily Distracted. Insecure. Homebody.

I’m from Prichard, Alabama, the oldest of three children (I have two younger brothers, Tory and Jeremy) born to Claudette and Robert Jr., a beautician and a pipefitter. My parents were extremely hard-working. That meant that from about the age of ten, I was the one responsible for the house because they were at work doing all they could to support us and make sure that we always had everything that we needed. I was babysitter, cook, and housekeeper. I was also the big awkward nerdy girl that loved books. Books were and still are my escape. I used to sneak books into the kitchen and read when I was supposed to be washing dishes. I can’t count how many times I got into trouble for doing that.

I attended the University of Alabama where I received my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. ROLL TIDE. In college, I was still the big awkward nerdy girl that loved books. I hardly ever went out. When I did, I was the one at the table watching everyone else’s purses. The guys that I hung out with were friends that I helped with their homework. I never developed any type of romantic relationships and I didn’t go on my first date until after I’d graduated from college.

In the fall of 1998 I moved to Jacksonville, Florida for my first real job and I’ve been here ever since. As I’ve gotten older, I’m become more outgoing through my involvement with the local engineering societies, at least when it comes to group situations. I’m confident when it comes to work (I’m a civil engineer for a private consulting firm) or my volunteer activities (I’m a Big with Big Brother Big Sisters and a domestic violence educator for the local shelter here in Jacksonville) but when it comes to intimate relationships, I’m totally inept. I have wonderful friends and they’ve been there for me and I do all that I can to be there for them but they all have their families and loved ones and most nights I go home to an empty house. I hardly ever go out anywhere that I could meet anyone because I still tend to feel shy and awkward with anyone that could potentially be more than just a friend.

I guess i just feel lonely. I see everyone around me building relationships and families and here I am at 35, still by myself. If you'd asked me 15 even 10 years ago what my life would be like at this stage, this wasn't it. I'd never begrudge anyone their happiness but I guess I'm just a little jealous. As I get older, I think a lot about what I'm doing with my life and the more I think about it, the more I realize it's time to make some major changes.

Video

Making my audition video was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life.  It's probably the only time I've ever been totally honest with myself.  I think it's only fair that I warn anyone who decides to watch it that it's extremely hard to watch and tissues would be prudent.

Biggest Loser 13 Video Audition

Casting Call
On August 20th, I attended the open casting call in Orlando, Florida. 

Here's a pic of me and my friend Kristin waiting in line at the casting call.  We got up ridiculously early and I ended #64 in line.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a call back, but the entire journey leading up to the casting call was exactly what I needed to get me motivated to change.