So we got home about 2:30 AM this morning. We want to say that we just had an awesome time attending the Boot Camp Challenge. We truly met some amazing new friends. Marcus and Amber thank you guys for being so gracious and welcoming us to CINCI. Stephanie and Lori the Boot Camp trainers were very inspirational and really offered us some great heart felt words. Unfortunately I was unable to work out. It was 95 degrees when we arrrived in CINCI. I started back taking my Glucophage yesterday AM and it made me very sick. However after some fluids and cold air I was feeling much better. Chris was very excited to see his great friend and BROTHER David Griffin. We miss you already man. We hope that plane finally made it out of Ohio. :) We will be seeing you soon. So onto my day today. Well this AM I went with my mom for a surgery consult for bariatric surgery. I have enrolled in Weight Watchers again. I am signed up for 18 weeks and am really going to try hard. Today though I talked with a surgeon to discuss the possiblity of surgery. This is totally a last resort for me. I have one more try to make it happen. If it doesnt well then I am planning for a lap band. This is all I am going to say on this, as I am having an emotional day surrounding this. Thank you to all of our friends for your support and encouragement. We LOVE YOU ALL...

Hello friends. We just wanted to let you all know that there was a mistake on the last cruise flyer that we posted. The final payment is due in November 2008 instead of 2009 as the flyer stated. We hope that all of our great friends will consider joining us onboard the beautiful Carnival Liberty. The liberty boasts a 9 hole miniature golf area, a voley ball and basketball court and an outdoor movie theatre. Let us know if we can answer any questions.

 

Melissa and Chris

Hello and good evening. This email is sent with much heart felt disapointment. Chris and I are the moderators and developers of this (www.millionpoundmtchupreunion) myspace Page. Tomorrow at 12AM it will officially be removed from myspace. We have greatly enjoyed talking about the cruise and were looking forward to meeting everyone aboard the cruise. At this point we have resigned our position from CO-Charirs of the Million Pound Matchup Reunion Cruise. All that I can say is that our values and mission do not match those of the others on board the planning comittee. We have spent endless hours working to plan this event and are very disapointed that we will not be attending this event. Do look out for future announcements of another cruise event that we will be planning. The Million Pound Matchup Reunion Cruise will continue on, however not through this site and without (Team Guillaume's Under Construction's) participation. This event was originally began by two other individuals and they will now soley take over this event. You can locate them on MSN Live Spaces. If you are not a friend of ours at our personal site,  please come over and visit Chris and I at www.myspace.com/missmissyrn. We look forward to talking with everyone over at our personal site and look forward to sharing this weight loss journey with you.

Hello friends. We are trying to locate as many of our MSN live spaces friends over on myspace. If you are over there stop by and leave your link. We would like to keep in touch with everyone of our MPMU friends. :)

 

Chris and Melissa

MSN's biggest losers weigh in
By Jody Brannon, Inside MSN Editor
So how's that New Year's resolution for weight loss coming for you or a pal? If you need inspiration or some real-life role models, look to the MSN users who are participating in the Million Pound Match-Up, a contest tied to NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples." The show is now on TV but perhaps occurring more realistically on MSN Spaces.



Thousands of people signed up for the Match-Up, spurred by the chance for workout partners to win a trip to Los Angeles to see the "Biggest Loser" finale or for individuals to snag a luxury fitness trip. But participants, who combined have lost more than 185 tons, are finding that success lies both in the gym and online. Tools on MSN Health & Fitness help, but the real power comes from personal accountability and expression on their Spaces blogs.



From spaces. live. com, if you search for "Biggest Loser," you can read about the Indianapolis betrothed who are chronicling their efforts to get thin for their wedding; New Hampshire residents determined to put a new spin on "like mother, like daughter;" Texas gal pals slimming to become fitter role models for their kids; and a Las Vegas couple whose site, "No More Excuses," trumpets their determination to be able to keep up with their 3-year-old.



Given the popularity of NBC's "The Biggest Losers," success stories on MSN Health & Fitness and Windows Live search and Joy Fit Club profiles on msnbc's "Today" show site, great inspiration comes from real people telling their tales of the battle of the bulge.



MSN's Million Pound Match-up was designed to do the same.

THIS IS THE PART ABOUT US...:)

"I’ve been amazed at the level of participation and the excitement," said Dick Larimer, lead producer for MSN's Health & Fitness channel, recounting the thousands of people who attended sessions of health and fitness experts and former "Biggest Loser" competitors on the Match-Up's kickoff tour in five cities. One determined Indiana couple drove to Chicago for the first session, then a month later trekked to Miami for the last.



"I was struck by how hopeful they were," Larimer said, "that they were really going to be successful this time. Online, we've made more weight loss tools, and I would love MSN Health & Fitness to be the place for them to hook up and have a richer experience.

"

MSN expected this promotional effort to lead to the creation of about 2,000 new Spaces blogs. The total as of mid-February? About 19,000.



On Spaces, people are posting their photos, videos and ostensible journals, often with a creative weight-loss tracker (palm tree making progress down the beach) and – perhaps most powerful – comments from family and friends, well-wishers and even fellow competitors.



The humor, passion, compassion, determination, weaknesses, temptations and results are seen on these blogs. As example, "Two Fluffy Chicks," also known as Beth and Heather of Virginia, whose blog, "Going for It 2008," have more than 600 friends on their blog, many so impressed with how they've enhanced it that they contribute a comment.

Sandy and Bubba, from Georgia, offered their support – and a tip:

"You both have done a tremendous job of journaling your thoughts and actions, which will make all the difference in your success. You both are doing fantastic on your weight loss, keep it up and victory will be yours with a healthy and joyous lifestyle. The way I lost my original 65 pounds, prior to the Million Pound Match-Up, was by journaling everything and writing my thoughts down instead of going to the kitchen.

"

For Cassandra, an Alabaman seeking to lose 97 pounds to her husband Michael's 43, has found energy from the Match-Up and both pressure and support from the Match-Up community. "I have a MySpace page, a WordPress blog, I've tried Blogspot shortly. I've finally found my personal favorite! I love Windows Live Spaces – I've found it very easy and it allows me to personalize my page the best.

"

She named their Spaces blog "Stumbling to Standing," as a symbolic commitment to changing their lifestyle, proudly crafting a proclamation: "We Are Married 'Losers' on our Weigh Down.

"

Asked about her experience so far, she wrote: "This blog has been such a crucial, much-needed tool because I guarantee if we wouldn't have made our commitment known to the whole world, and wrote our stats, thoughts, struggles weekly, sometimes daily, by now we would have gone back, maybe not intentionally but … we would have gradually stopped writing down our calorie intake or getting on the scale each week, just because life gets so hectic and crazy sometimes.



"We aren't losing our weight at record speed," she admits, acceding instead to making healthy changes in the family's eating and activity habits. But a proud and astounding moment came when she saw the impact of her commitment on her 8-year-old son, a lad overweight by about 7 pounds who cared little for sports.



"He actually came to me and asked if he could play (baseball) – you don't know how shocked I was," Cassandra explained. Her daughter, 6, is also signed up for softball. "I truly know both of my children would not have approached me to play … if it weren't for the “Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up. That just brings tears to my eyes right now because I'm not only seeing changes in my husband and me, but in our children. I'm so grateful.

"

Another thinning pair, Chicago roommates Betsy and Amy, dish about the merits of the competition on their blog, Oh, You Got a Sandwich Goin'. They agreed to post their insights about how blogging is a major factor in their ongoing success, with the impact far more than just peer pressure and encouragement. Betsy said one reader spurred her nearly to tears by her heartfelt reply to their post.



"She told us that she had lost 30 pounds, gained it all back and has been so discouraged. After visiting our site, we encouraged her to start trying to lose weight again and that, even though she didn't have a partner, she was going to try and keep up with us and pretend that we were her partner.

Knowing that we were someone's role models was one of the greatest feelings!"

It's no secret that America has a big fat problem: Federal figures indicate about a third of the population is obese. If more people slide behind the computer instead of yanking on the fridge door or – better yet – work out or even take a walk, the number of obese people would shrink – literally.



But losing weight is not easy for everyone. MSN's Million Pound Match-Up ends March 11, and the major vacation sweepstakes April 15 (though Zunes are awarded daily). But for many of the participants, their efforts will extend much further into the year. For some, it requires a lifestyle change that lasts a lifetime, supplemented by blogging.



"There are some super sexy hot mamas underneath all this chub," writes Megan, a Texas mother who is taking the challenge with her pal Jennifer, "and it's about time we get back to there! I'm ready to unleash the thin, healthy girl in me.

… Here's to shrinking dat booty!"

Adds her buddy Jennifer, in her kickoff post last month and several inches ago, "Thanks for joining me on this ride.

Hey there everyone. Chris and I have not been on here using our msn space much lately. We have been using the myspace platform for our weight loss chronicle more now. We are looking to find as many of our MPM friends here that are also located on myspace. If your over there let us know your URL or look us up. Our MPM page there is www.myspace.com/missmissyrn

 

 

 

We hope to talk to everyone soon.

 

Melissa and Chris

TEAM GUILLAUME'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Ok I know I have been terrible at writing lately. Chris and I have been through some emotional ups and downs with things surrounding the biggest loser. Long Story. And then over the last two weeks I have been battling bronchitis that turned into bad bad pneumonia. I am finally starting to feel a bit better. Well at least without a fever finally and able to breathe a little easier. The one positive the scale is now moving DOWN!  Well I just wanted to stop in and say hi to everyone. A big huge thankyou to EVERYONE that has sent there kind positive words after our appearance on the biggest loser. Chris was actually on last week doing that crazy dance with his construction hat on. I just wish we could get our segment onto you tube. So if anyone has any suggestions on how to do this PLEASE advise. For some reason our DVR is not working right and will not let us copy it. GRRRR...... Hope everyone is continuing to do well on their journeys.

 

Melissa and Chris

Well hello everyone. Let me first extend so many thank yous to everyone across the country. Ever since we were featured on Tuesday's show we have received so many nice emails from people all over the country. It really is weird to have someone say we are an inspiration. We do appreciate all of the positive thoughts coming our way. Of course it is amazing the hate mail we have also received. All I can say to those thinking we did this for attention....Well you sure were paying attention. LOL Actually we did not ask to be featured and were apporached to do this. We are definitely keeping our fingers crossed to end up on the tv every Tuesday during an upcoming season of the BL. Of course its like winning the lottery to be chosen. However just like the lotttery one can not win without playing. We hope everyone has had a great week and many blessings for a fun weekend ahead.

 

Melissa

 

Hello everyone. Well life has been so hectic these last few weeks. Our weight loss efforts have just been all over the place. We are very excited about tomorrow night and hope that everyone will tune in to see us on the biggest loser tomorrow. Ok so that is when we have heard we will be on.

 

Let us know what you think. We hope that everyone is doing good on their goals.

 

Melissa and Chris

 

 

 

I have said so many times throughout this contest that we have been truly blessed. I again am saying the same. The Million Pound Matchup has truly given Chris and I an avenue to find our love again. Before begining the matchup we were two very unhappy and lazy individuals. Now we are two people ready to take on the world. We have definitely had some ups and downs and hit a few road blocks along this short journey. We are happy to say that we did reach our 20 lb goals before the end of the matchup. I just really want to given another thank you to all of you in America for your support and encouragement in this journey to change our lives. Each of you have touched our lives and inspired us in different ways. We do plan to continue on this page after today. Please know that you can also find us on IM at yahoo at missmissyrn and on our myspace page at www.myspace.com/missmissyrn. Our friend David Griffin of Season 4 will also be sending us flyers for his workout event coming to many cities across the US. I will post that once we receive them. We are heading down to hang out with him and his wife this weekend. Thank goodness the snow will not be stopping us this weekend. So I should end this now and get up and get a small workout in before the BL comes  on tonight. It should be an awesome show tonight. Everyone take care and we are so proud of your sucess.

 

Melissa and Chris

TEAM GUILLAUME'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION

So I know I have not been blogging like I was and updating the page as much. If you look our weights have actually been left off a few weeks now. Well the truth and reality to this is that I Melissa have returned to within 5 pounds of my staring weight. I really have felt devistated with this. Let me share a bit of information about what has been going on with my health. Well from complications of my PCOS I have been having a cycle for nearly the last month and a week now. The doctor started me on some hormones which turned my emotions in all directions. And oh my they made me hungry as ever. Anyhow its been almost impossible to exercise or even move from one prone position. You ask why I write about such a personal experience and how does this correlate to weight loss. Well it has a lot to do with it. Having PCOS does not cause me to be fat solely. It does however cause just a bump in the road. I will beat this. And I know there are thousands of other women out there that are or either have gone through these lovely problems with PCOS. I am so excited that tonight I did get on the scale and I am down to 384. So I am back down to a total of 16 pounds loss this after gaining from 374 to 395. I am trying to think positive and realize that this was just a detour that I had to go through. Chris is doing good. He has not gained and has stayed at the same weight. My doctor has put me on a diuretic for a few days to help with all of the water I am holding. So tomorrow is a new day and we will start over and get ourselves back on track.

So it looks like we are getting away to Nashville, TN this weekend. Chris was invited down to celebrate his 32nd B Day with Cowboy David Griffin from season 4 of the Biggest Loser. I know I keep saying this however it is so awesome for me to see him so happy talking with David. I definitely have seen a completely new person since his meeting David. Anyhow just wanted to jot down a few words before turning into bed for the night. What a show the BL was tonight. Maybe I am just an emotional basket right now, however I have never cried so much watching the BL as I have tonight. Dont we all just love being women and having those rages of hormones throughout the month. GRRR.....

 

NIGHT ALL

Hello everyone. Its been a bit since we have come and updated anything on our page or even blogged. Life has been so busy here lately. Melissa is busy searching for a new job in the middle of having come down with the flu. I am busy working a lot of hours. I hate to say it however it feels kinda like we have slipped on our being well lifestyle. We truly need to regroup and get our butts back in gear. It will happen. Melissa and I want to thank everyone for all the continued support in our efforts.

 

 

Our two month numbers are in. Our combined weight loss number is 58 pounds. We are very happy with our numbers thus far. Not to mention that our bodies are definitely feeling the 58 pound loss. We know there were many things we could have done to have had a better loss. Through all of the travelling we have done over the last month for the biggest loser and the Million Pound Matchup we truly can not complain. All that we can do is look back at where we went wrong during gaining weeks and make a change. Thank you to EVERYONE that has supported us along this journey over the last two months. We look to the future with a renewed strength and determination.

 

Melissa and Chris

TEAM GUILLAUMES UNDERCONSTRUCTION

So here I am its 3AM and I can not sleep. I dont what is going on. I just took a benadryl to try and get myself sleepy. I feel the stress getting to me at this wee hour of the night. Everyone around me is snoring away and I am sitting here typing away. I just want my mind to slow down and take a rest. Well I have been off on a mental health leave for about a month now. I got back from Nashville and found out that my boss has decided to fire me while on an approved leave. And to think I was really feeling better and was requesting to go back to work early. Boy what a slap in the face. Anyhow so now I am job searching frantically. I have decided that truthfully I am done with nursing and really want to find something new. So ok if anyone knows of anything good in the Indy are please send it my way. I really feel bad for Chris as though I am not doing my part and providing in the family. Through this I am trying to keep up my diet and exercise. Its actually helped me to exercise. Maybe thats another reason I can not sleep. I am so pumped up from working out. I did this crazy stuff in Nashville also. Could not sleep Saturday night and so I got up and went and worked out. So anyhow I am bored right now and I do believe that the Benadryl may be kicking in. I better go before I fall asleep and drop the laptop. Hopefully this night all.

 

Melissa

 

So we made it back home safe and sound. This weekend has been the best in our nearly 3600 mile trek across the US for the biggest loser. We made friendships this wekeend that will last a life time. Granted we went to Nashville for the casting call and accomplished that. I have to say that the end result from the casting call was very positive and turned out just the way we had dreamed for. A huge thank you to our CD's for their casting expertise. You guys made us feel so welcomed. And thank you for sharing a small part of yourselves with us. So about the actual trip to TN. OH my those Nashville folks sure know how to party. John, David, and Sherrie you guys rock. When it gets warmer we are definitely coming back to party with our Nashville friends. Going on this last trip has really made us realize even more that we are in this to not be on a show, to not win a grand prize. Rather we are in this to WIN at what life GOD has given us.The one thing that really came out for us was to NEVER GIVE UP... A few people have told me that after this casting if they do not make it they are done trying out. WHY?????? DONT give up. Giving up has gotten so many of us to where we are today. You can not give up on a chance of a life time. Sure its discouraging to not get a call back. However you can not STOP at that. You just never know when your time to be chosen will be. And hec the journey along the way can really be a fun one. Kinda like with us. We had VIP passes at the calls we attended. We could have just went straight from our cars to the front of the line without waiting. However we battled the snow, rain and frigid temps to share the experience with others. Through this journey we have learned so much about ourselves.  Before begining the matchup Chris and I were facing divorce. By deciding to work on this together we have become so much closer and actually are trying to work on US.  And I have to say we are doing so much better and are actually happier and not wishing the other was out of each others life.  So to end this I want to again say thank you to everyone that has sent their warm wishes for our journey. We have a long way to go on this journey ahead, however we are READY. Best of luck to everyone of you as you move through this journey in life.

 

Lastly I must share something that happened to us yesterday. Well we did have a call back. So when we went we walked into the venu and sat down. All of a sudden music began playing. The first song that came on was Taking Chances the Biggest Loser Theme song, then Josh Grobans You Raise Me Up began to play. As some of you know my uncle whom I was very close to passed away a little over a year ago. That was his favorite song and has so much meaning to our family. He always wanted me to get healthy and live a good life. Anyhow after the music stopped it was time for our interview. And then no other music could be heard playing. Strange, a sign, who knows.  Also my uncle was very spiritual. At his memorial there was a discussion about three things and how they impact our lives. Those three things were Rock, Water and Light. Before passing he has just helped a friend of his build a backyard water landscape. It included these three things. Well where we were sitting was a large rock sculpture made of rocks, water falling and a huge solar window. To not get to in depth here I just have to say that I do believe that GOD works in wonderful ways.

 

 

Well its now 6 AM and I am sitting here among the snoring concert going on in my hotel room. Chris and my friend Christina are sound asleep and here I sit up plugging away on the net. I just wanted to say good morning to everyone and say thank you for all of the kind emails and phone calls of encouragement. We are so truly blessed to have such a support team back home and online here. Chris and I are truly changing our lives once and for all. For Chris he looks so forward to finding himself again. For me I just anticipate finding who I have never known. I told someone yesterday that I just want to dance on that stripper pole. :) Ok I know thats not a great aspiration however could be FUN as hell! We went to Coyote Ugly bar yesterday while here in Nashville. I was having LOTS of encouragement to get my  butt up on the bar to do a little dance. Then of course they wanted me to leave the bra at the bar. Are you kidding me if I go around without I would get a black eye. LMAO.... Anyhow Nashville has just been awesome. I never realized there was so much to do here. Last night we met some crazy fun folks at the Stage on Broadway. I was the good girl  last night and became the designated driver. In four years of being married I have still NEVER seen my husband drunk...He may play like he is, however he is a light weight. So we made it back to the room safe and sound after getting lost for just a short bit. Today will be a long day as we are hanging out in Nashville until  the early evening and then heading back to Indy... My GOD I hope I get to nap a bit this afternoon. I am heading now down to the gym to workout for a bit. I think I am going to be trainer Melissa and make Chris get his butt out of the bed to go workout. He will not be happy with me, however its the sacrifice one has to make. Oh yeah I must share something funny that happened yesterday. After our casting call we were standing with some friends upstairs at the Wildhorse Saloon. Anyhow to get upstairs you have to climb a small flight of stairs. Anyhow you could here the masses complaining all around about sore feet the stairs etc. Anyhow this woman comes walking up the stairs just cursing and fussin about " why do they have to make us walk these stairs this is BS". I dont know why I did this however without thinking I say to her, well if you think those are hard stairs you better prepare to walk 20X as much if you was to get on the show. She looked at me like I was nutts. I was like come on you are for a casting for the BL show. HELLO! They dont sit on the couch eating donuts all day they are kicking major butt. SOME PEOPLE. Ok so thats my only vent at the moment. I hope everyone is doing well this weekend . May you each find great blessings as you begin a new day today. Remember this, Yesterday is History, Tommorow is a Mystery, Today is a GIFT that is why we call it the PRESENT!

OH my CHRIS is mad as hec at me.... He is needing some pushing to go do this...Ok all I am outta here to go kick his butt to the gym.

Melissa