By now most of my friends know that I just got home from filming on a national tv show. I have had a lot of questions about how it all went and how it came about after it came out in the CDA Press. So here’s the downlow. In June, I was contacted by a PR person at WW’s, her name is Jenny and I kind of took that as a sign! *G* She told me that she had seen my story in the WW’s database of success stories and just had to talk to me. After a couple of convos she emailed me and wanted to set up a conference call, she had an opportunity for me and wanted to talk to me. On that day, in the beginning on June, I got a phone call that changed my life. Honestly, when I was told there was a opportunity I thought it would be a weekly for WW’s, and if I was really really lucky it would be the magazine. LOL, which would have been totally cool with me. I have dreamed since day one of being inside or on the cover of the WW’s magazine. It’s honestly on my weight loss bucket list, and right up there near the top. I would have been ecstatic about that, but when she began to speak, she said that the Dr.Oz show wanted to talk to me, but not to get my hopes up. These things often change very quickly, and I wouldn’t know for sometime if it would happen. I nearly dropped my phone, and tried very hard not to scream into her ear. It had not crossed my mind that it would be something as major as this show. The platform to change peoples lives is absolutely huge. As I drove to the next grocery store (I was out running errrands) I couldn’t help thinking about the level of change and inspiration I could have. Not only could I potentially change my own life and the life of my family but I could reach so many people. So much of this most recent part of my journey has been about talking to that 500, 400, 300 pound, etc person sitting on
the couch and struggling, that person thinking it can’t be done. I want to touch their lives and hearts, to teach them that it without a doubt can be done. If I can do this with the past I have endured, than anyone can do this and do it well. I honestly believe that and I want to teach others to believe it as well!
I tried very hard not to get my hopes up and in fact we told no one, including our own parents. Within a week I had my first interview with the producers of the show, and I felt it went very well. We let a few family members know, and I was told to wait until the end of July, when everyone would be back in the offices in New York. As you can imagine, that was extremely difficult, but I focused on my Tri and my family. The deadline in July came around and emails, phone calls, and texts began to fly. What a crazy time in our lives!! I knew by August 5th that I would 100% be on the show! I actually jumped up and down, and screamed when they told me. Not going to lie, that was totally one of the most amazing moments for me. That same day I was told KHQ wanted to interview me and the next day I was told there would be a CDA Press article. I had a very hard time believing all of this was happening to us! Doing the Tri had even more meaning for us as we knew that having completed a Triathlon after weighing 500 lbs would add more impact to the story. As I have learned things move very quickly in show biz. Emails continued to literally fly back and forth and many many phone calls 
took place between everyone involved in the story. By Tuesday, August 11th we had a film crew in our home and I got my tickets for the plane on Friday, August 14th. Yes, it was that quick and very very well organized. The staff at the show that I worked with was beyond amazing and totally helpful with every single question I had. Including how to tip in New York or what kind of clothing to bring, etc.
I spent the weekend shopping, packing, and getting ready for the event. Rolled out of bed Monday morning at 4:15 am and got ready to leave. We were headed to the airport by 5:15 am, and I was checked into the Spokane Airport around 6:00 am. My plane boarded for Minnepolis at 6:40 and we were in the air by 7:20 am. The flight there started on a high note that was totally amazing for me. For the first time in my entire life I was able to fly without asking for one or more seatbelt extenders. I cried a bit and the guys on either side of me looked at me like I was crazy. Oh well!! The guy on my left was super nice but of course I ended up with a lame-o on my right. He spent the entire flight sighing loudly when I moved or even when I asked him if I could go to the bathroom. This was one of the few annoying parts on the trip but I guess there had to be a few. *G* Other than him the
flight went well and we arrived 15 minutes early to the airport. Which I needed!! I stopped to grab a container of hummus and flat pretzels and began to walk across the biggest airport I have ever seen. They literally have a mall inside and nearly every eatery imaginable. It took me nearly my entire layover to make my way across the airport. I flew into the G and had to go all the way to A27 or something. I walked most of it and ended up taking the walking escalators to save time. I got there right as the plane was starting to board and didn’t even have time to eat my hummus before I got on the plane. LOL I think the lady next to me on the plane either didn’t like garlic or really wanted some hummus because she spent the entire time I was eating staring at my hummus. Very nice lady though and no sighing which was great for me and this time I had a window seat. I was able to see all of the scenery as we flew over New York City. So freaking cool!!!
My plane as almost 20 minutes late landing in Newark because the line to takeoff was gigantic in Minneapolis! Which meant by the time I got off the plane my driver had been waiting for 30 minutes. I turned my phone on and headed toward the baggage claim, luckily this airport is much much smaller. I got a call that my driver was downstairs on floor 1 by the doors. I went down there and I couldn’t find him, so I grabbed my luggage and another call came through. He was now upstairs on the 2nd floor. So I took the elevator back upstairs and located him waiting with my name. How cool!! He seemed a little flustered as I took a pic of the sign and than surprised me when he loaded my baggage onto the trolley and proceeded to take 
it down the escalator. The elevator was literally 25 feet behind us mind you. I watched in horror as my 42 lb luggage and my carry on toppled down the escalator at the people below. I screamed out, but my carry on still hit a woman in the back of the leg. I got to see two New Yorkers, one of whom was my driver, get into a yelling match while I was walking up the escaltor so that I didn’t topple over my own luggage and trolley. Ya not my favorite moment for sure! My driver took me to a very nice car and than proceeded to take me on the craziest drive of my entire life. I will never ever complain about Spokane drivers again. Ever!!! LOL I did make it safetly to the Empire Hotel and checked in. I headed upstairs to my room, very very nice room with an amazing view of Lincoln Square. Changed clothing and put my running shoes on, made the decision to not go to the gym in the hotel but rather to walk Central Park and go eat dinner. By this time it was nearly 7 pm and I was pretty hungry. Walked from the hotel and towards Central Park. The Park
is so cool and I super enjoyed walking along it toward my destination. I was excited to see what looked like a Triathlon going on as I walked. I made my way to Blossom on Columbus which was a Vegan establishment and after an amazing dinner I walked back to my hotel. Mostly I walked because I didn’t know how to hail a ca,b or how to tell which ones were available. *G* Just one of those things I wish I had asked but I did get over 4 miles on my walk that day. So much fun! Got back to the hotel and skyped with my family before bed. They were able to see Lincoln Center which was all lit up and my room. What an amazing day leading up to a truly wonderful experience. Check out the blog later for the next part of the trip. Butterfly up and out!