Get to Know Your Competition

Alex Jones 

Howdy y'all! I'm so excited to have this opportunity to get to know some of you and to have some good motivation for losing weight! Now to describe me in a nutshell: I am a stay at home mom of two adorable boys (Luc and Corwyn), and my rockin' husband and I are about to celebrate our 4th anniversary. Currently, my days are filled up with home life, but I also am a student at BYU with a few classes left before graduating. After trying out French, Psychology, and Interior Design degrees, I finally settled on working toward a degree in Marriage and Family Studies with an emphasis in Cognitive Development at BYU. I love reading no matter if it's a textbook or fiction. As for my other interests, I am somewhat --make that ridiculously--addicted to food. Any and all food is great to cook and eat, but my heart especially belongs with French cuisine. Also, I like to consider myself athletic, if a little clumsy. I love rock climbing, with volleyball and softball coming in close seconds. Well that just about sums me up! I'm way excited to be doing this, it is already helping me so much to get ready for my sister's and best friend's weddings! 

Amanda Campbell

I'm 26 years old and I'm madly in love with my amazing husband Erik of 6 1/2 years. We have one little boy named Hunter who is 5 years old. He is my super shy little guy but once he gets to know you, he could talk your ear off for hours. In my spare time I love to make cakes and I love challenging my creativity. If I see a picture of it, I can make it! We love being outdoors and do a lot of fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. I recently decided I needed a life style change (which was not easy making cakes and all) and needed to get healthy, lose weight and eatting better. When I heard about the biggest loser challenge I knew this is what I needed. Bring it on!!!

Amy Bowe

I was born and raised in Utah to the most amazing family anybody could hope for! I met my incredible husband at the age of 16 in the Happiest Place on Earth while we were on band/orchestra tour with our high school. A month after the trip, I got a job at a movie theater where, to my surprise and absolute joy, Matt was working and was assigned to train me! We just celebrated our 6th anniversary and are still going strong!

I love to read, I love peanut butter (especially with chocolate), I love sharks and I LOVE Disney!! More than all of that though, I love my family! There is nothing in the world that I would rather be doing than hanging out with them (preferably in Disneyland)!

My whole life I have been overweight and it wasn't until this past March that I finally got a leg-up on the weight issue. I joined my first Biggest Loser competition and it was the greatest experience of my life (aside from marrying my wonderful husband)! I came in second place (first place was the hubster), having lost 38 pounds. I was FINALLY enthusiastic and excited about being healthy and losing weight and I wanted to share that with the world! That motivated me to keep the journey going and so began OUR Biggest Loser competition! I sincerely hope everyone will have as good of an experience as I've had and am having. It is so wonderful to finally love me and to feel pride in my body! Why didn't I try this sooner?!

Brianne Scheaffer

I grew up in American Fork, Utah, but I have been living in Westfield Massachusetts for the past 13 years.  I'm 32 years old.  I have been married for the past 13 years.  I have 3 kids; Owen is 5, Holly is 3 and Isaac is 1.  I work for Verizon on the landline side of the business.  I recently won a Biggest Loser competition at work by losing 38 pounds!  The 2nd place person lost 8 pounds, so I probably didn't have to try as hard as I did, but I'm glad to be rid of those 38 pounds!  I won $445 and a two night trip to Cape Cod, which I will be enjoying with my family at the end of August.  I'm hoping to win a few more dollars because I need some smaller clothes.

Crystal McFarland

I am 56 years old.  I have four grown children and five grandchildren.  I work full time as a bookkeeper at a CPA firm.  I like to spend as much time as possible with my grandchildren, but that is a challenge since I live and work in the Dallas area and they are all in Austin and Houston.  I have had a weight problem since I had my second child thirty-five years ago .  I lost over 80 lbs while attending Weight Watchers, but gained most of that back after my house was flooded with hot water from my washing machine just over seven years ago.  Everything got really crazy in my life at that time and I felt I lost control of my life including my eating.  I haven't really tried to lose weight again after that. 

John Bowe

John was born and raised in upstate New York. When he was in his teens he joined the Navy and saw (part of) the world. He's a BYU graduate who's worked for HP for three decades. He likes to travel and he enjoys fly fishing. He loves Sci-fi movies, books and television. John recently returned from three years in Northern England. He's glad to be back with his children and his grandson, among people who drive on the right side of the road. 

Julie Sewell

Hi!  I'm Julie Sewell.  A little bit about me -- I live in Austin, Texas with my super-cool husby, Brandon, and my beautiful, brilliant kids:  London, who is 6; Hadley, who is 3;  and Anderson, who is 7 months.  I used to be a Java developer, but I am now a stay-at-home mom.  I like to sing, dance, and cook.  I'm really bad at doing laundry.  Amy Bowe is my cousin. :) I've always struggled a little with my weight, but I'm finding that kid #3 has really done me in.  I'm much better at getting fit when I can turn it into a social activity.  A little friendly competition doesn't hurt, either.  So, here I am!  Ready to kick some (shrinking) booty!

Leslie Hilleary

Leslie Hilleary is 23 years old and goes to Northern Arizona University.  She loves living in Flagstaff, Arizona because she can do a lot of great outdoor activities, like hiking, fishing, and camping.  She has always loved cooking healthy meals ever since she first discovered that she had cancer in 2008.  Eating healthy is going to be the easy part for her, but exercising is why she really needs accountability.  She has decided to join this competition because she was in the hospital for 3 weeks in December and January and has not really gotten back into peak physical shape.  Leslie also needs killer abs in order to successfully pull off her Halloween costume, so that is her goal out of all of this.  If she could keep these abs until ComiCon next year, it would be ideal. 

Linda Bowe

Linda learned to play the piano and ride a bike the same year, but she's much better on the piano. She's an avid quilter and enjoys cooking, reading, teaching music, walking her schnauzer and playing the organ in her church. She collects blue-and-white pottery and children's books. She has a troubling addiction to the New York Times crossword puzzle. She raised four children, on of whom has Down Syndrome. She gets to play wither her grandson several times a week.

Lindsay Eatchel

I have been married for 6 years and I have an 18 month old daughter who keeps me very busy.  I have been working as a Special Education Preschool teacher for the past 3 years, but now have been able to quit so I can be a full time mom. I am very excited to do this!  I love to do things outdoors like biking, hiking, swimming and camping.  My husband and I love to travel and explore new places.  I also love to read, I don't have as much time to do this, but try to when I get a chance. I love to try new things! 

Matthew Bowe

Matthew Bowe is a musician, teacher, dreamer, Disney guru, fly fisherman, technology fiend, trekker, fine-food connoisseur, goofball, and all-around amazing, German-speaking guy! He loves adventure and has done everything from playing the upright bass on stage with Weezer to SCUBA diving with sharks!

Matt has a passion for learning, doing and figuring things out. In my 10 years of knowing him (this is Amy speaking, by the way), I've never seen him meet a challenge or a problem he could not solve. He's incredible at fixing anything and spends most of his time fixing stuff for other people. He loves to help and serve others and does everything in his power to make sure those around him are happy and taken care of. 

Matt is mere weeks away from graduating from UVU with a degree in Hospitality Management. Currently he works at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. Despite his very busy schedule however, Matt always finds time to dote on his wife and dedicates his every waking moment to showing her how much he loves her. (I'm one lucky girl)!!

Melissa Singleton

Hi! I'm Melissa. I am the oldest of 7 children and my family is my favorite thing about myself. I am a story teller, teacher and artist. I am afraid of velociraptors, spiders and am all in all pretty easily spooked. My favorite things include the stars, snow cones and theater. I love making stuff out of junk, reading and being really critical about movies. But mostly I am really excited to do this with ya'll. 

Mike & Karlie Badger

 Hey guys! I am a friend of Amy and her sister Crystal. My name is Karlie Badger. I am 28 years old. I’m a wife, and mother of three beautiful kids. My youngest is 4weeks old. Needless to say I am here to get the baby weight off. Lol. Married to Mike Badger also part of the competition. I love summer time, and Mike and I had an amazing year last year.  I was at my fattest Fall of 2010 reaching almost 300 pounds. Fast forward January 2011 Mike and I decided it was time. Enough letting ourselves go. There were a few instrumental occurrences that got us to the mentality we were in last year, (post for another time)Together we lost a whole person worth of weight! I lost 75 pounds and Mike lost 125 pounds in a YEAR! It's possible people. If we can do it anyone can do it.

I am here, NOW!!! It’s TIME and I am in it to WIN it!!!
My weight has always been an issue ever since I can remember much like a lot of you I’m guessing. Until last year I just didn’t care about myself. I was careless with what I ate and how much I ate. I sat on the couch all day and was super depressed in the winter. I would get spurts of motivation to try a diet, but that would quickly fade. Out of frustration and with lack of results, and I was back where I started maybe even worse off than when I started. I’ve heard the term yo‐yo dieting. I was there. I was sad, I was depressed.

TODAY, I am happy and healthy and ready to get this baby weight off! I am consuming 1500 calories a day and counting every one on My Fitness Pal online. I drink 145 ounces of water a day. And I exercise at least 5 times a week. Accountability is essential.  I couldn’t do this without the support of my Husband Mike he is my inspiration.

Find and do what works for you. Stick to it, exact to the plan. That is my advice. I’m no expert ;)

Below is a pre-pregnancy picture of me last year after I won third place in the Biggest Looser contest with my cousin who won second and her friend won first.

Thanks Amy for getting this going! Just one more way to be successful!

  

Sheila Martinez

My name is Sheila and I live in Arlington, TX. I am a Chemistry graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington. I'm 32 years old and recently divorced. I had been extremely focused on my weight loss and was down 137 lbs. In the last 5 months as I was going through the divorce, I gained back 34 lbs. I need to get back on my weight loss journey.

Sherry Ashford

I'm a 37 year old stay at home mom to a 3 year old, Grant, and a 1 year old, Abby.  I've been married to my husband, Rick, for 5 1/2 years.  I graduated from BYU with a Finance degree and Texas State with my MBA.  I enjoy playing soccer, cooking, and doing crafty things.  I started struggling with my weight about 7 years ago after breaking my arm in a skiing accident.  Then after having my second child, I ended the pregnancy 65 pounds heavier than I started and it put me on a mission.  Since then I've lost 80 pounds and would love to lose 30 more to hit my goal weight, but I've hit a little plateau.  Which is why I am so excited about this...I'm hoping this will give me the extra push I need to get there.

Susan McCoy

Susan McCoy:  Amy Bowe's favorite mom;
                      Loves housework, gardening, dieting & exercising (I should, I keep doing it), doing home improvement projects and frolicking with the grandchildren.
                       Hates road trips, scuba diving, etc.

Valerie Kellogg

My name is Valerie Kellogg. I am 32 years old.  I have been married to the same guy for 11 years.  I am a SAHM.  I have a DS (6)  DD (5) and DD (7 mo).  I enjoy planning and doing things with/for my kiddos.  I plan and host a lot of kid friendly events.  I also enjoy making girl hair bows and accessories.  I would like to see this take off, but for now it is just a hobby.  I have steadily gained weight since I was married and would like to feel more comfortable in my own skin.  I am a big time emotional eater so that is probably my biggest obstacle.  I would like to run a 5k this year (which is something I never thought I COULD do). 
Oh and I don't have many pictures of myself (especially recently) that I even look halfway decent....so here is me and my friend in our red pajamas at the Llama Llama Red Pajama party I had.