Augusta's Biggest Loser, Unofficial Day One

Last Friday I received a phone call from the promotions manager at NBC Augusta, telling me that I had made the final 15, and that I needed to be at the station at 7:00 PM on Monday to talk to the people from Omni and PHC. I took a seat in the back row of the three rows of chairs they had set up for us. As the chairs began to fill in, I thought, "I wonder if they will assume that the people sitting closer to the front want it more?" So I moved up and told everyone that I was afraid they would send the back row of contestants home. No worries, though. Jay Jefferies, the morning weather guy, picked up the papers from the table and said, as only a true Southerner can say, "It's ALL YA'LL!" We received congratulations from him and Liz Hill, the morning anchor, and then were introduced to various people standing around the newsroom. Trainers, nutritionists, chiropractors, ad people came up to speak to us. We then had to get up in front of the group, introduce ourselves, and tell why we were there. Afterwards, the masses began to depart for home, leaving us to take "before" photos, hop on the scale, and exchange numbers and email addresses. We were cautioned not to go have a "last meal", but to begin immediately watching what we ate, drinking plenty of water, laying off the diet sodas, and doing the best we could with what we already know until we have a chance for PHC to analyze us and put together a nutrition plan. Between now and Friday, it's off to the doctor and the lab so they can figure out what I need. I've already been in contact with my trainer and my other team members, and am enjoying getting to know some really terrific people.