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TEAM GUILLAUME'S UNDER CONSTRUCTIONChanging Our Lives In The 2008 MILLION POUND MATCH UP
A list of things that we want to do in life, however that have been interupted or prevented because of our obesity
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July 14 Melissa Mentioned In An Article For Chicago Casting CallDozens line up to be the 'Biggest Loser'
By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald Staff Contact writerPublished: 7/14/2008 12:12 AMSend To:
The grand prize for being "The Biggest Loser" is $250,000.
But for many of the dozens lined up Sunday morning in Schaumburg for a chance to be on the show, the money is secondary.
"I'd do it for free," said Sam Morel, 26, originally from California but now living in Hanover Park.
Morel sat his 375 pounds on the curb waiting for the doors to open at the maintenance department at Woodfield Lexus, 350 E. Golf Road, where auditions for the NBC reality show were being held.
Contestants compete to lose the highest percentage of their starting body weight. Clearly a lot was at stake for Morel, who said he gets out of breath just going from his room to the bathroom or going up the stairs to bed.
"I want Jillian (Michaels, one of the show's personal trainers). She's the hardest trainer on there, and I want her because I know she's going to kick my butt," said Morel.
For 40-year-old Janet Stecker of South Elgin, who weighs 245 pounds, life has been a constant battle of the bulge. "I have been dieting since 6th grade. I have lost weight, gained it back, lost weight and gained it back."
Stecker, who works in a dental office as an office manager, said fast food and comfort food are mainly to blame.
She said she wants to provide a positive example for her children, who are 8 and 11 years old. "I don't want them to grow up and have the problems I have."
The applicants included Janet Palasz, 42, and her son Michael, 21, both of Elmhurst.
"We'll drive each other. We're competitive," said Michael, an operations agent for a trucking firm.
Janet, a textbook manager for Follett's, weighs 283 pounds and wants to lose 120.
"All my jobs have had food in them. Restaurants. Pizza places," she said.
"If you didn't need it, you wouldn't be here," she said, adding, "Every doctor says that my weight will kill me before anything else. I literally had a doctor tell me that. 'Don't worry about anything else. Your weight will kill you first.'"
Palasz said she is willing to appear on the show, even though it could be embarrassing having excess flesh exposed by revealing outfits. "When you're heavy, you're embarrassed enough wearing clothes, let alone being half undressed on TV."
She said she also realizes the show's methods can be brutal, but realizes they are needed.
What will she do if she doesn't get cast?
One option, she said, will be joining a new 24-hour gym opening up in Elmhurst.
Getting cast isn't easy, even if you're a "VIP." At the front of the line were several VIPs, including people who have won radio station contests or sent material to the show before. They also included some who were previously rejected.
Melissa Guillaume of Indianapolis, who has been at eight castings, said that she weighed 405 pounds in January but has since lost 42 pounds.
Living with excess weight is not easy, said Guilliame, a 33-year-old nurse. "It can be miserable.
"We went to the mall yesterday. There was one store we could go to buy clothes in our size."
Just fitting in chairs can be a problem, she said, noting that she has a seat belt extender in her car.
Brandon Nickens, the show's casting director, said over the next few days there will be callbacks for an on-camera interview in downtown Chicago.
Nickens allows that the show's routine can be grueling. "There are days when you're going to work out nine hours a day. Three-hour workouts three times a day."
Asked about what happens to contestants after the show is over, he said he thinks 85 percent of the people usually stay within 20 pounds of their final weight.
Most of the contestants, he said, stay in touch with the show's doctors and trainers. "I feel like as the show goes on, people tend to keep the weight off more and more."
Some of those who came in teams had interesting histories.
They included two women from Green Bay, Wis., who have been married to the same man.
Sherry Sommerfeldt was wearing a T-shirt with her husband James' picture on it, while Sue Roberts, James' ex-wife, was wearing a shirt with the picture but a line drawn through it.
Sommerfeldt said she hoped the two would have an edge. "We're hoping that it's a unique relationship, because they're looking for brothers or sisters or families who are teammates. We figure that's kind of a unique relationship."
Another couple was 19-year-old, 320-pound Jared Hamby of Hampshire and 20-year-old, 220-pound Lindsay Wood of Batavia, who were once boyfriend and girlfriend. The two wore shirts that read on the front, "I may be fat," and on the back, "But I'm also phat."
"When we're young, we can do something about it now," Wood said. "We don't have all the responsibilities of a job and a family. We can take a year off of school and just get back in the thick of things and be twice as healthy." July 13 Chicago Casting Call..Hello all.
Well we just got back into Indy after an AWESOME night and day today in Chicago. We were able to meet up with old friends and also met up with many new friends that were in the matchup. :) We hope to get the pics up soon. We did not go to cast, rather were there to promote and pass out flyers for our Boot Camp Challenge Cruise in May 2009. We are becoming more and more excited about this event everyday. We have had many donations from celebrities and other corporations. We are really trying to make this a great event and raise a substantial amount of monies for the Jared Foundation to support Child Hood Obesity. We hope that you will ALL consider joining us for what is shaping up to be a grand event. Take the time and INVEST IN YOURSELF! Well we need to sign off now and get our things unpacked. Blessings to each and everyone of you.
Chris and Melissa
Team Guillaume's Under Construction. July 08 Million Pound Matchup ArticleHi all. We are so excited we just realized that we were featured in an article wrote about the Million Pound Matchup.
http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100188465Losing One Million Pounds, One City at a TimeThe Million Pound Match-Up kicks off in Chicago.By Bob Trott for MSN Health & Fitness John Leggett wants to get back in shape, like when he served as a paratrooper in the Persian Gulf War. Melissa Steward was a barrel racer in high school, 10 years ago, and wants to return to “rodeo shape.” Chris and Melissa Guillaume have been overweight for most of their lives, and know that it’s a condition that’s jeopardizing their wellbeing–particularly Melissa, a 32-year-old registered nurse who sometimes feels guilty dispensing health information to others when she seems to be ignoring it herself. “Life is too short,” she says, “and I’ve got to do something about it now.” Those four, along with more than 1,000 others, took their first step toward serious weight loss at in suburban Chicago, at the first of several nationwide “Million Pound Match-Up” events, co-sponsored by MSN Health & Fitness and “The Biggest Loser: Couples.” Some fans of the NBC show, which recently kicked off its fifth season, came from as far away as St. Louis—the Guillaumes drove up the night before from Indianapolis—and some arrived at the Gurnee Mills shopping mall at 5 a.m. to stake out a place in line.
At the events, participants can sign up for the Million Pound Match-Up online sweepstakes and prize giveaways; consult with local nutritionists and fitness trainers; meet past "The Biggest Loser" stars; find a weight-loss partner; and take "before" photos for their Windows Live Spaces blog to chronicle their weight-loss journey. “We’ve been watching ‘The Biggest Loser: Couples’ on TV and we’re using it as motivation to start taking care of our bodies, says Leggett, 50, of Naperville, Ill., who hopes to ultimately drop at least 100 pounds off his 343-pound frame. Participants met Marty Wolff and Amy Hildreth—the “Biggest Loser” sweethearts who got engaged on the third season reunion show—and Kae Whang, who lost 97 pounds during the show’s fourth season. “The kindness I’ve seen from so many people—I was [initially] doing this for myself and to help others is the most rewarding experience you’ll ever have,” Whang says. “Who knew a year ago that anybody would ever ask me for fitness advice!” The Guillaumes kicked off 2008 by dedicating themselves to losing weight. After the first two weeks of the year, Chris had lost three pounds, down to 357. Melissa, who was at her all-time high of 400 pounds, lost 10 pounds in that same time period. Her long-term goal: 145 to 150 pounds. They’ve made drastic changes to their diets—cutting back on carbs, eliminating fast food, eating smaller portions, eating more salads and fruit—and started regular workout regimens. “When you’re young you don’t always realize what bad habits do with your life,” says Chris, 31. Adds Melissa: “Now we’re getting into do-or-die time.” “The Biggest Loser: Couples” Million Pound Tour has events scheduled in Wichita, Kan., Jan. 19-20; Phoenix, Jan. 26-27; Houston, Feb. 2-3; and Miami, Feb. 9-10. For more tour information, visit biggestloser.msn.com. June 25 So yeah!!So yeah I am so excited about tonigt. Chris has been hanging out at the Jared Foundations golf event today. He is late to pick me up and I was texting him like crazy. Lo and behold who calls me but Brittany. That girl is so super cool. Then today at work I get a call and its Chris's cell however there is a different voice on the other end. I knew that I recognized it. It happened to be Bernie. So anyhow I know I keep saying this however I am so supper stoked to get in the car and head to the event tonight. And they say women are always late. :) I hope everyone is doing good. Hey if your going to be in Louisville or Chicago for the casting calls for BL7 let us know. We would like to meet everyone.
Talk soon.
Melissa
Hello Everyone. Thanks for stopping by and visiting our page. May each and everyone of you find the blessings you are searching for as you embark on this weight loss journey. Melissa and Chris
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