This post is waaaaay overdue! NBC’s Biggest Loser has been casting for season 11 for a while now – part of me still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that they’re now working on the eighth season since mine! Crazy! Basically, this post is a collection of tips I’ve written based on my experience making the cast of season three, as well as some links to casting advice I don’t think you should miss:
- NBC has posted casting information and the application here. They have all the casting news and information on a special blog just for Biggest Loser casting, which you can find here.
- Pete Thomas, the season 2 $100,000 winner has some of the best casting call advice out there, which you can find at his website, Winning Man.
- Jen Kerns, a season three contestant like myself, and a doctor for the show for seasons four and five, has also put together some fantastic casting advice that you can read here.
- Holland, a casting director for Biggest Loser sent me a bunch of great advice on how to be casted, you can find it here. She updated them October, 2009.
- I’ve been posting these casting tips for the last few seasons and they always seem to end up with thousands of comments; just about every season has contestants that were hanging out on here, reading and giving each other thoughts and advice. You can find the most recent one here.
- If you’re dealing with disappointment about not being cast, then check out my post on Biggest Loser casting disappointment.
One of the questions I hear a lot is about money … how do contestants afford to be away from home and work for months at a time? I don’t know what it is now, but when I was a contestant there was a $500 a week stipend for cast members on the ranch. When you received the check you could cash it and spend it, send it home, save it, whatever. All airplane tickets, hotel accommodations, etc., for the contestants and potential cast members are taken care of by NBC, and during the casting process it self there was a $50 per diem to cover food costs.
Another question is timing; typically a season lasts for about 8-9 months. About four of this is spent in filming; if you last all the way until the final three or four, you could be away from home for as much as four months or so. Once the ranch filming wraps and the last few contestants are sent home, however, there is still another four or five months that all the contestants have to continue losing weight until the finale. In addition, potential cast members are flown out to California a couple weeks before filming begins for the final round of casting, medical checkups, psychological evals, etc. NBC brings out more people than what they need and the cast is not finalized until filming literally begins. People have been cut at the last minute and replacements flown in with hardly any time to spare. Nothing is in stone until it’s on camera!
When will you hear from Biggest Loser about your video? There is no way of knowing. I heard back a few weeks after I sent it in, but even after that it’s a big waiting game. If you get a phone number or email from a casting direction, definitely drop them a line/call every couple weeks to find out if you’re still in the running or what’s going on. Schedules and plans change almost every day, so it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. If you don’t hear back within a month I would think your video didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean you can’t send in another or visit a casting call – it’s just up to you!
Finally, here’s my video application tips! This is by no means a recipe for success; it’s based on my video application and the conversations I had with casting directors out in LA in between things. I was pretty curious about the whole process so I was pumping them for info even after filming began. I’m such a nerd!
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They’ve usually decided if they’re interested in you within the first 30-60 seconds of your video, so front load it with your best stuff. Make it interesting! Start off with something funny or exciting!
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Keep in mind, if you’re going to be cast, your video is going to be watched hundreds of times by producers, executives, casting directors, etc. If it bores you or your friends the second or third time watching it … put some more time into it!
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Special effects? Don’t bother! We’ve all got video editing software with all sorts of bells and whistles on our home computers, but fancy transitions are not going to sell you to people who do video editing for a living. In fact, it can distract from who you are. I’m a video editing nerd and I didn’t use any special effects other than putting my name and contact info on as a subtitle at the beginning.
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Don’t bother talking about why you need to lose weight. When I first started filming my audition video I started describing all of my health reasons for losing weight – but when I was watching it back, I realized … they don’t need to hear it! One look at me was all they needed to know I needed to lose weight! Show them why you need to lose it; I said I needed to lose weight for my kids, and then I followed it with a minute or two of the best footage I could find of me with wrestling with my three boys. We probably filmed half an hour of that insanity and I grabbed the cutest, loudest, and funniest few moments for the audition video. Your physical need to lose weight is not nearly as interesting as who or what your losing the weight for.
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Live loud! Reality TV is over the top, dramatic, and filled with loud personalities. They need to see that on your video! I wanted them to know that even though I was morbidly obese I was up to the challenge of the crazy competitions and workouts – so I threw on a bunch of clips from my different youth group activities; me getting slimed, snowtubing, playing paintball, screaming at events, being on stage, running around … you get the idea. Other contestants did things appropriate to their lives; Tim from Oregon had himself spinning out on his Harley, Tim from Delaware recruited his elementary school class to do things with him, Heather Hanson filmed herself running around in a sports bra all day doing her household chores and errands. The less talking and more action you can have, the better (in my opinion)!
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If you have footage or photos of yourself thin, include those at some point on the video. If you can show them what your after will be, then do it!
Remember, enjoy the conversation here and know that I will never compromise your anonymity – not to NBC, 3Ball, Casting Directors or anyone. You can post anonymously, or you can leave your names and contact information … just remember that NBC likes to be the one announcing their cast for the show, so if you start identifying yourself publicly as a finalist, you’ll probably find yourself eliminated from the casting process. Be aware that casting directors do check in at my blog to see what people are saying, get a feel for what questions are going on out there, and sometimes to give us updates. Good luck to everyone … and let me know if you make the show! I get a kick out of hearing about the different contestants that have hung out on my blog before making the show! 
Matthew McNutt 
McNutties that means we will be there to represent the McNutties!! I will do it very proudly!!!
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i was with jillian…god she is a beast…so scary in person hahaha
@Fat and Sassy
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@Fat and Sassy
My cousin and I are at Caravelle too. LOL
I think we're going to be wearing gold shirts with our names on the back, or we might wear the blue BL shirts we got from the race-not sure. Sorry, I just got on here, been busy all day! LOL
My cousin and I went out for a run last night after midnight and there were all these skinny girls laughing at us but we just kept right on going!
It's not 5 miles, it's 3.1 miles-might as well be 5 though! Hopefully it won't be so hot in the morning. We had to meet with some producer guy today and I was standing there sweating like a pig on a spit. I hope he realized it was just because I'm fat and it was hot. LOL
Anyway, if you see us, come and introduce yourself. I have short red hair and she has long light blond hair. 🙂 Our gold/yellow colored shirts say BL5K on the front.
I hope you all have a most wonderful and blessed night!
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@Fat and Sassy
Oh, I do have a McNutties badge in my suitcase! LOL
My number is 754 just to let ya know.
Nitenite 🙂
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I will definately look for you!!! Girl are ya'll finalists or are you talking about the booth if you want to be discovered?
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@me
I found you on FB and I have my BodyBugg!
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@busy
Are you new to Bodybugg or have you worn it before? I am going to start wearing mine (again) on Sunday. I am going to be blogging my results on a blog and on my facebook. I have to lose some weight, my weight gives me so much anxiety. BUT I am totally inspired from the casting process and hope that I can use my motivation to get back on track.
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I made it across the finish liine!! It was hard the last half mile my legs felt like jello!!! I have to let this be the start of the rest of my life!!!
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-32685">
Fat and Sassy :I will definately look for you!!! Girl are ya’ll finalists or are you talking about the booth if you want to be discovered?
Is the booth you're talking about the one where Holland was? I had a chance to talk to her and despite what she said on Facebook last night, she looked great! LOL She's so sweet and encouraging.
I didn't get to see anyone that I was supposed to meet! They kept us separated before the race and then we were at the front when it started-with the former contestants and some volunteers who were kind of running buddies that some production assistant assigned to us.
I did get to talk to Bob for a little bit during the race. He came up behind me as I was running-glad I wasn't walking then-and was talking to me. My cousin was on camera with him but I didn't get filmed then. Got on camera a little later though. 🙂
People kept running up to me and asking if I was a contestant. I was just like, "not yet!". Maybe one day. hehe
What was your time? I know that for the last half mile I just held my breath and took off. I wanted to finish strong, and NOT last! LOL That was my goal and I kept repeating it to myself all the way through, "don't finish last, don't finish last, don't finish last!". LOL
Anyway, time to go to the beach now! We'll be down at the pool later, not sure when, but when we decide to go I'll post a message on here and maybe we can meet down there? I hope so anyway, I'd love to meet ya!
I wish you could have all been there. It makes you feel so good and that losing all this weight is really possible. Everyone is so encouraging of each other, it was just awesome! I heard that they have announced two more-one in Texas and one in Massachusetts-sign up and go if you can! It is SO worth the time!
Oh, and one of the best things about it was the advice from trainers and other people who worked with former contestants.
Hope you're al having a wonderful and most blessed day!
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I cried the whole final stretch when I took off to jog it just came flooding out! I got interviewed at the end and got a big hug from Bob. Words can't describe the feeling. I also had a long talk with the fantabulous casting director Holland. She understood where I was coming from and gave such encouraging words. I love my McNutties!!
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Going down to the pool now, hope to see you down there if you have time!
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That is soooo amazing and inspiring!!! Great job representing us McNutties! I am so proud of you!
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I hope there are going to be more people on here tonight!!! Cause i am in a hotel and wanting to chat!!!
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I went to the 5K/1 Mile and am waiting on my video blog to upload, it says 15 minutes, ugggg, just wanted to share with you all and hope this can be the beginning to my weight loss journey.
Since I see myself out of the casting at this point, if you see the video, you may recognize me ;), sorry, for not being able to say very much, just didn't want to hurt my chances.
Ok, I promised to give an update on my theory, my theory was that those going to finals would be plunged directly into a challenge, specifically the 5K/1 Mile Challenge in Myrtle Beach, so, that is why I was trying to myself and also help others get a head start on getting ready to walk/run. That's why I initially started the 21 day challenges, but on the way, I realized that a lot of us really needed them and then wanted to keep them going for everyone, even those who did not make finals.
Now, I don't have a clue if my theory proved true or not, cause I missed the opening ceremonies!!!!! I had a dang panic attack right before and almost completely missed the 5K too. After a 14 hr driving trip, missing the 5K would have been horrible!!! But, from what I heard, they did not reveal any contestants, like they did on the season 10, that we all just saw. So, big ?????s, and wondering if they did throw those who were in finals into the 5K/1 Mile but kept it quite, also maybe they are having two finals weeks, and giving more people chances to be on the show, I don't know but I will say, BL is definitely adding new twist! Which I think is really awesome 🙂 but makes it very hard to figure out how it all works!
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Wow, so glad to see several from here went to the Challenge. I got a question for those who did, sorry for not explaining details, but I just can't, but need to know for those who were signed up, did you receive an email having to deal with "chance to be…", please let me know, thanks.
Congrats!!! To all who were there and got their medals!!! It was not easy, but we did it!!! I hope others too can attend a BL 5K/1 Mile in the future 😀
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONzLFTItfGQ
1st Video Blog of my weight loss journey 🙂
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BLpickme……My breakfast supper was soooo good!! I'm leavin at 5;30 in morning long ride home!!! Will be looking forward to walking again
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http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rs…
link to see the 5K/1Mile results 🙂
We are not on it, they said the timer got us, so not sure why we are not there. I think our time was 1 hr.
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If anyone wants to follow my weight loss journey on Facebook, I am . . . . . ARE YOU READY FOR THIS!!!!! LOL, I SO LOOOOOOVE ALLL YOU GUYS/YALL!!!! Someone almost outed me a few weeks ago and guessed who I was, can't remember, but they were right!!! I AM Shawna Joy 😀 Following me on face book and we can be friends. I have two videos posted and will be adding more in a few days and am just going to keep adding as I have things to say during my weight loss journey.
Also, just set a new goal this morning!!! I plan on attending as many BL 5Ks as I can till I lose my weight!!!
Good Luck everyone and Congrats to all who took on the 5K/1Mile Challenge!!! 😀
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-32697">
Hot Momma :Wow, so glad to see several from here went to the Challenge. I got a question for those who did, sorry for not explaining details, but I just can’t, but need to know for those who were signed up, did you receive an email having to deal with “chance to be…”, please let me know, thanks.
Congrats!!! To all who were there and got their medals!!! It was not easy, but we did it!!! I hope others too can attend a BL 5K/1 Mile in the future
About the email-yes.
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Fat and Sassy :BLpickme……My breakfast supper was soooo good!! I’m leavin at 5;30 in morning long ride home!!! Will be looking forward to walking again
It was so nice to meet you yesterday! I'm glad we had a chance to chat in the lazy river. LOL Sorry your sister almost got her head smashed by those kids on the floats so many times!
Praying that you and Hot Momma have a safe trip home! We're leaving in about 30 minutes. Going home early. Did you hear the fire alarm at 3a.? We didn't get it but Samantha did. LOL
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Hot Momma :If anyone wants to follow my weight loss journey on Facebook, I am . . . . . ARE YOU READY FOR THIS!!!!! LOL, I SO LOOOOOOVE ALLL YOU GUYS/YALL!!!! Someone almost outed me a few weeks ago and guessed who I was, can’t remember, but they were right!!! I AM Shawna Joy Following me on face book and we can be friends. I have two videos posted and will be adding more in a few days and am just going to keep adding as I have things to say during my weight loss journey.
Also, just set a new goal this morning!!! I plan on attending as many BL 5Ks as I can till I lose my weight!!!
Good Luck everyone and Congrats to all who took on the 5K/1Mile Challenge!!!
Awww Shawna Joy! I never try to guess who anyone is on here! LOL
I wish I had been able to meet you too. I looked for ya but had no idea! I was at the front when the race began-up with the former contestants. And we had on the gold colored shirts.
We're going to try to go to other BL 5k's too. 🙂 I only have 60 more pounds to lose before I won't be able to audition for BL anymore. Can't wait for that day even though I really want to be on the show. We'll see what happens.
Stay safe and have a wonderful and blessed day!
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me :@busy
Are you new to Bodybugg or have you worn it before? I am going to start wearing mine (again) on Sunday. I am going to be blogging my results on a blog and on my facebook. I have to lose some weight, my weight gives me so much anxiety. BUT I am totally inspired from the casting process and hope that I can use my motivation to get back on track.
I wore it for a few days and stopped when I got my callback. Then, after I didn't get on BL, I just ate a little better and gluten free and pounds came off. Now, I need to exercise. I want to start with the BodyBugg soon. I have been sick, but when I am well, I NEED to do it!! It is such a cool tool!
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@Hot Momma
I just found you! Cute profile pic!
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That is so awesome that many of you did the 5K!! That is a goal of mine.
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BLpickme – You made my sister chuckle!! It has been raining really bad the whole way home. You must have had ear plugs in girl if you didn't hear that alarm. Yes we did and we went down to the entrance very few people left their rooms though. It was just an electrical issue with the alarm. Ya'll be careful goin home also!! Plan to walk some this week!! Ya'll hang in there cause ya just never know
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@the email – NO 😦
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I'm home safe and sound. The rain was sooo bad driving home we couldn't hardly see. I am so glad I went. I just looked at Active.com and see that as far as time and place we didn't do so well but at least we finished. That gives me something to work towards.
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@BlPickMe Are we friends on Facebook already? Wanna write you, but what to make sure it is you 🙂 Can you send me an email if you are, thanks.
@Busy, thank you 😀 Rose wore her medal all day and is in her shirt now. I have a feeling she will be wearing her medal all the time, lol 😀
If they have a 5k near you, maybe you can go. It is so worth it! It's like now, I might still like to be on the show, but now that I got a kick off on my weight loss, I kind of have peace about not making the show and doing it on my own. AND, yes I know singles may be next season, and honestly, I think I will get pitched and I have a great chance, but I just don't think I can put off my weight loss, any longer, and I only have a little over 100 lbs to lose now, so I guess i just chose me over me trying to get on the show. I will lose the weight in the end and I will have my videos to document my story, the only thing is that I wont get a chance to win $250,000.00 LOL!!!!
@Fat and Sassy, so glad you are home safe and sound, we had to stop for the night, cause the rain was just too much this late and we got a late start cause we went to the beach again today 🙂 Got a ton of shells and had sooooo much fun! I don't think you should worry about your time, I mean that overwhelmed me a lot to see all the athletes out there, but I just hope that my next 5k, I can beat my own time 😀 AND, you know we all completed it and that's what really mattered 😀
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@Hot Momma
I really should try to work toward a 5K.
So….I only have lost 23 pounds since April, but my cholesterol has gone down to 190 from 285! Now I will add exercise and bring my triglycerides down (they are o er 300) and my good cholesterol up (it is too low). Such a small thing made a huge difference and my BMI went down 3 points! That is motivating!
I think you should do some on your own and you can still apply. I was at 90ish to lose and I was pitched! You never know!
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Kuddos to you all! I do not think I could have finished!
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@Hot Momma
Yes, we are friends on Facebook. I'll send ya a message!
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-32715">
Busy :@Hot Momma I really should try to work toward a 5K.
So….I only have lost 23 pounds since April, but my cholesterol has gone down to 190 from 285! Now I will add exercise and bring my triglycerides down (they are o er 300) and my good cholesterol up (it is too low). Such a small thing made a huge difference and my BMI went down 3 points! That is motivating!
I think you should do some on your own and you can still apply. I was at 90ish to lose and I was pitched! You never know!
23 pounds is awesome! And even better that your cholesterol is getting better! 🙂 Keep working! It will all be worth it in the end!
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mando :Kuddos to you all! I do not think I could have finished!
Hey, Mando, I bet you could have 🙂 But, they also had a 1 mile and you could walk that to, so that would be a really awesome start for those who feel the 3.1 mile/5K would be too much, I know that I was very very worried that I could finish it in time, cause I had never ever done any thing like that before, I just walked and ran as I could but definitely didn't push myself to the point of passing out, throwing up, or what was the other things they said on BL last night, lol, when I felt myself feeling a bit sick, I stopped and rested.
My parents said that they were concered cause hrs later I was still breating hard, when talking on the phone, I didn't recognize it only that I was having a little more difficulty catching my breath, but they did.
All, said and done, now, I'm like let me at another 5K!
I wish you all could do this, sooooo bad, you get a number to wear 🙂 and just cool to feel what athlets feel when in a race, you also get a little band that goes on your shoe, when you start the race and end it, you go through a little run through/not sure what it is called, but it takes your time, so it is very cool 😀 and of course we got the super awesome BL shirts and the beautiful medals, to us, so worth the $25 entry fee.
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@BLPickMe
Thanks! I just found out I have fatty liver disease. I need to keep losing weight to reverse this. I am also prediabetic. I guess 23 pounds is a good start. I need to move more! No more waiting for BL. We could all get too many bad diseases while waiting!
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Man this place dried up like Tuscon in July!
Where's everyone at???
Hopefully out exercising and losing weight and getting healthy! 🙂
It's 4:02a. and I ran a mile in our gym at work about an hour ago. Gonna go run another one in a few minutes. Helps me stay warm and exercise at the same time. It's COLD in here!
I hope you all have a most wonderful and blessed day!
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BLpickme… How you doin? I hope things are workin out good for ya!!
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hi guys!! just wanted to let you all know i ran my very first 5k today and did it in under an hour! thats all i wanted! and i ran it for Jay Kruger (season 5 biggest loser) i got to meet so many people..i wish there was a way for me to add you all on facebook. if you feel comfortable sending me your email, you can do it and ill add you! i have a ton of pictures on there now, and got to hang out with a bunch of the "losers" lol 😉
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Hey guys!!!! Good for you…I ate and drank WAY to much this weekend at a party this weekend, and next weekend I am going back home to visit friends and family (so I know that means alot of food!) Hopefully when I get back I will kick myself into high gear! I miss talking w/ you guys. However, since I haven't been on here I have been getting "work done at work"…go figure 🙂 I really feel behind for awhile. Oh well….I'll say it again…MISS YOU!
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Callback Confusion 2, look me up at Shawna Joy on facebook, I'm real excited about doing another 5K and beating my last time of a little under an hour too, lol 🙂 Love to see your pics too and a BIG Congratulations for doing the 5K!!!!! My profile pic is of me and Rose with our Biggest Loser 5K/1Mile blue shirts on and showing our medals from the 5K 🙂
Blpickme, fatnsassy, sillygal, and everyone else if you want to see some awesome vids for salsa, juices, smoothies, follow me on facebook, and let's keep in touch and lose this weight together!!! 😀
I'm learning healthy tortillas tonight!!!! AND will post a vid on those too 😀 I got two more vids to get uploaded. They also show what I will be eating to lose the weight.
AND, I am walking as much as I can and cant wait to know when the next BL 5K is!!!!
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Shawna Joy~~~ Hey I just tried to facebook you and I didnt see a profile pict that you discribed 😦 I'm trying to find you sister ! 🙂 so I just have to look up "Shawna Joy" ?
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Never mind 🙂 Found ya 🙂
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Hey Fat and Sassy! Yep, I'm doing great! Send me an email if you want and I will remind you of my name to add me on Facebook. My email is BLPickMe@aol.com (original huh?) How are you doing? Ready for another 5K? 🙂
I talked to one of the fitness expert people at the 5K in MB and he said that when you lose 10% of your body weight you will hit a plateau, and I did for over a month and a half (and man oh man was that frustrating!!!!) but I think I'm finally over it! I've lost 6 pounds since Sunday at midnight! So hopefully that's over for a while and I will lose for a good while! 🙂 I've lost 41 pounds so far and I can't really tell a difference anywhere but I have had to buy new um….undergarments (top). hehe
Did all of the people who used to post on here make it onto the show, or are they out working out somewhere losing the weight at home? I know the finalists were picked last week but I don't know if sequestering is now or if the finalists were the "FINALISTS" who made it to the ranch. I was just told that the finalists were chosen a week ago Monday.
I hope you all have a most wonderful and blessed day!
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@BLPickMe
41 pounds is awesome! Way to go. I am at a plateau so thanks for the post!
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OK Hot Momma….for some reason my computer is crazy and I added the WRONG Shawna Joy. When my computer starts acting right and posts the pictures of people on facebook (instead of X's or wrong pictures) I will look for you!!!! 🙂
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Happy Birthday…..you know who you are 🙂
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SillyGal :Never mind Found ya
Yea 😀 Silly Gal glad you found me, email me and let me know which one is you 😀 I just put more vids up 😀 OMG!!! I added the recipe for Mango Pico De Gallo Salsa!!! Soooooo Yummy and Soooooo good for you! Will not make you fat ;D I love love love it and so does Rose, yall gotta try it 😀 A detox one too 😀
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@blpickme, 41lbs, SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU :D!!!!! That makes sense, I was 225 and lost about 20 then gained back 10 with this last casting call, ugggg, I stress eat, but am really trying to get that undercontrol, I know it could take a long time, but am really trying to get healthier foods that I can stress eat with that are filling and good for me too, like my Mango Salsa!!!!! Hint, hint, hint!!! Everyone has got to try it 😀
Anyways, might be why i am stuck here at 210, was 213 prior to BL 5K, but have lost 3 lbs, not that much but not gaining so that is good for me. Oh, and a smaller size top undergarment, funny, but so true and I just can't wait till I can do the same 😀
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To Find Me, Search facebook.com for
Shawna Joy (Traininggroundsfarm)
Ok, I added Traininggroundsfarm to my name to help people find me 😀 Thanks for letting me know sillygal 😀
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Hey Busy, too late to plant a fall garden? thinking of doing it, am I crazy in KY or are there some quick growers that you know of 🙂
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