Biggest Loser: Sam Poueu and Stephanie Anderson's first interview after his accident. True Love has NO BOUNDS!

If any of you have followed me on any of my blogs it will be no surprise that I am THE Biggest Loser Super fan.  I love these people.  The Biggest Loser Alumni/Family has my heart! They are warm and kind hearted.  They have been where I am. They have conquered their journey's further than I have.  They have been PIVOTAL in my weight loss success!  There are many of the alumni who will be forever friends of mine because of the returned friendship, love and support they have always shown me!

Steph and Sam (and family) are some of those people.  I was a BIG "fan" of them while they were on the show and followed them and their love story after the show.  When I was able to go to Season 11 finale, I got to meet Sam in person! I was honored and thrilled.  When I found out he would be one of my trainers while at Biggest Loser Resort Malibu (BLR), I was completely ECSTATIC!

While at BLR Malibu, I learned so much from his classes!  He was hard core!  He was AMAZING at motivating!  He could push you further and further than you ever thought possible and until it was over, you didn't even had a clue what you had just accomplished.  His Mountain and Water Aerobics classes could leave you weeping they were so hard, yet you felt so accomplished!  I couldn't WAIT to get back to do it again!

On September 3, 2011 Sam had a horrible fall while visiting friends in San Francisco.  When I found out on the 4th my heart was traumatized!  I was so worried and scared about what this meant for someone who was a "super hero" to me.  I was stuck to my computer for days trying to find ANY information about him and how he was doing.

Another fan of Sam's, Erin Bowling, was quicker than me to the attack and formed a Facebook group, "Pray for Sam Poueu" https://www.facebook.com/groups/171343502940911/ and the family soon jumped on that group and started leaving information on his well being, giving updates and legitimate articles that we could reference as to information about Sam and his progress.

In the days following I saw them throwing around Erin's idea of getting wristbands started with his favorite saying.  I felt that Erin so desperately wanted to head up this idea but didn't quite know where to get started and how to the have the time since she is a full time student.  I have headed up many fundraisers in my life and knew I had the skills to jump in and help out. I wrote to Erin and inquired about taking it from her and running with it. She obliged.

I spoke first to Sherry Johnston (Pink team from that season and also like family to him) to ask her if this was something the family could stand behind. She did the behind scene's work and I got an approval call from Stephanie a week or so later.

We got the wristbands ordered https://www.facebook.com/BLTEAMSAM?sk=app_135607783795 (The wristbands are Grey, the color Sam was on BL and Purple, the color of Steph.  The quote the family helped pick was, "Family First, God above all").  Once the wristbands arrived the Sam bandwagon started. We sold a lot in the first month!  I was so busy processing orders.  Every night I spent a few hours addressing, stuffing and recording all the order's that came in.

On the back of each order I hand wrote "PRAY FOR SAM" hoping this would generate some extra attention and a reminder that this is why they are being sold, to get as MANY prayers and reminders to pray for him out there on a daily basis.  We all know that when "two or more are gathered" in God's name, miracles can happen!

 As time consuming as the process was, it made me so happy to help in even the smallest of ways. The plan, to relieve a little financial stress from the family involved as well as help them feel the love and support they had out there.  Update: Order's trickle in slowly every week. And I fill them one by one.  I look forward to when I can announce that we met our goal and sold out of them!  

I would like to give a shout out to ALL the people involved on the Pray for Sam page.  First, Erin Bowling who started the ball rolling and was the brain child of this effort. Next, to all the moderators who help keep all the friend requests accepted, keep all the family information sorted and in the right folders for easy viewing as well as helping get the word out about wristbands available.  There several moderators that help and I am afraid I would forget one of them if I tried to list them, but they know who they are!  Also to Patti Anderson (Steph's Mom) and Sam's Sister Tracey who were staple's to this page and really helped calm many nerves and troubled hearts with info on Sam's progress.  It doesn't take just ONE person to do something for someone else. It takes an idea to get planted and then many willing hands to keep it all going! I give props and love to EVERYONE who had any part in this.

We also had some businesses offer incentives to people to purchase larger quantities of wristbands.  Thank you Wholly Guacamole and Shut up and Sweat Gear for your generous donations!!  Also to Biggest Loser Resort Malibu who offered wristbands for sale several times throughout the last few months! It is companies like you that make me proud to support you and your efforts! THANK YOU!

Anywho, I just wanted to give you a little background of WHY I was so driven to put a little effort in to helping these two. Their love story is so precious and knows NO bounds.  I adore them and was THRILLED to see this update and hear Sam's voice again.  He is a fighter! Life will only get better and sweeter from here on out!  God is GOOD! We are STILL praying everyday Sam and Steph!  Have NOTHING but love for you two!

Here is the real reason you are reading this.. to get the scoop!

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY TO MAKE YOU FEEL PROUD: BIGGEST LOSER SEASON 11 FINALE!

The only sad thing that happened today was that camera's were not allowed in the studio!  So we couldn't capture the fun things that happened.  Here are some of the highlights:

We were all given VIP room passes and I got to sit and talk with Sherry Johnson, pink team from season 9.  She is a southern belle with the cutest accent and the sweetest heart.  We had a lot of laughter back stage as well.

When they came and got us to take us to our seats right before filming began  A few of my FAV Loser's poked their heads out of the tenting to wave at me and blow me kisses, while putting their fingers to their mouths so they wouldn't get in trouble.  Courtney, Mama Marci and Sarah Nitta made me ECSTATIC to see their beautiful faces!

They had our names on the seat at NBC studios where we were supposed to sit, it was a fun feeling to be part of such an exciting day in these people's lives!

We brought in all our signs (this is only the one side of our signs.  We had some for all our fav's.  Sarah and Deni and Hannah and Olivia are some missing.  Plus our ALL GIRL FINALE!) the "cheer generator" guy started giving away prizes to those with the most vibrancy etc.  I tell you what, I tried EVERYTHING to get a year of Wholly Guacamole, a year to the Biggest Loser Club, case of oatmeal etc.. I was standing on my chair, dancing, whooping and the guy always said, "Wholly Guacamole, you are all so energetic!"...referring to my sign...and always picked someone else!!  I could have swore he was saving the best for last for Joni and I.. and never ever gave us anything!! haha  Oh well, you can't be too greedy, I mean we had the best prize of all ALREADY and heck, he helped me burn A LOT of calories that day! LOL

Here are the STATS for the entire season of Loser!

Name	Age	Height	Begin BMI	End BMI	Start Wt.	Week																					Wt. Lost	% Lost
						1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Final
Olivia	35	5'9"	38.5	19.5	261	245	239	233	228	224	208	206	202	190	188	185	180	176	174	172	168	162	158	153	149	132	129	49.42%
Hannah	32	5'8"	37.7	19.5	248	232	226	220	217	210	201	194	193	182	180	176	172	172	168	164	161	156	154	150	146	128	120	48.38%
Irene	26	5'4"	43.8	23.9	255	242	232	224	230	216	204	198	195	185	180	178	173	170	164	161	157	154	152	147	144	139	116	45.49%
Jay	53	5'11"	55.8	30.5	400	374	364	350	341	331	317	308				289	282	276	270	272	265	258	255	246	242	219	181	45.25%
Austin	21	6'1"	52.2	29.3	396	369	362	347	342	326	316	306	299	289	283	275	272	265	263	255	250	243	236	235		222	174	43.94%
Kaylee	20	5'5"	38.8	29.8	233	218	214	209	204	195	190	187	180	179	174	176	174	169	168	172	163	165				179	54	23.18%
Rulon	39	6'2"	60.9	X	474	442	425	415	411	394	382	371	367	350	342	335	330	325	318	311	301	Quit				did not attend
Ken	49	5'11"	52.6	30.5	377	364	357	344	335	321	307	296	291	286	277	270	263	257	253	247	243					219	158	41.91%
Moses	47	6'0"	59.7	38.9	440	399	387	376	365	351	340	333	322	317	309	303	300	293	286	286						287	153	34.77%
Courtney	21	5'7"	50.6	33.4	323	308	298	292	282	275	265	258	256	246	241	237	234	232	231							213	110	34.06%
Jennifer	28	5'10"	39.9	23.5	278	258	250	242	236	232	218	211	213	197	196	191	187	187								164	114	41.01%
Justin	39	6'3"	45.6	24.0	365	338	326	316	308	292	282	277	270	262	254	249	247									192	173	47.40%
Marci	49	5'8"	36.2	23.1	238	224	218	211	208	200	187	181	182	167	162	162										152	86	36.13%
Sarah	27	5'5"	43.4	25.8	261	247	243	235	231	222	212	208	204	194	190											155	106	40.61%
Arthur	34	5'8"	77.1	52.3	507	476	463	459	450	444	435	415	406	390												344	163	32.15%
Jesse	61	5'8"	44.6	31.9	293	286	278	269	266	257	246	238	241													210	83	28.33%
Deni	59	5'6"	41.3	21.1	256	237	233	224	221	210	201	196	204													131	125	48.83%
Q	27	6'1"	57.7	45.4	437	426	420	401	398	385	378															344	93	21.28%
Larialmy	26	5'7"	47.1	34.0	301	289	283	275	270	259																217	84	27.91%
Don	54	5'8"	47.0	27.2	309	288	280	289	286																	179	130	42.07%
Dan	54	5'8"	43.6	24.8	287	268	263	272																		163	124	43.21%
Ana	50	5'3"	45.2	25.9	255	246																				146	109	42.75%
Leann	52	5'11"	43.9	35.0	315												270									251	64	20.32%
Vance	19	6'0"	51.4	41.4	379												349									305	74	19.53%

The EXCITEMENT was sooo electric in the NBC studios! It was so fun to see how they do everything behind the scenes, how they build the excitement, the makeup crew that always came up to powder foreheads and noses, and the love and camaraderie of past and present contestants. they really are family.

I was hoping from the last episode that this year would be an ALL GIRL FINALE (no offense Jay)!  I even made a sign that said, ALL GIRL FINALE!! And waved it several times!  Of course the only sign that was shown was the one I made that said WE <3 BOB!  Joni, became famous! LOL She was shown on TV holding that sign and Bob actually waved at us an SMILED huge when he saw it! Yes, Bob is just as adorable in person!

One of our entourage snuck in his camera phone (names will not be revealed) and got us THIS awesome capture at the end of the finale!  There was silver, red and green shining papers coming down ALL AROUND US! It was magical!

WHOLLY GUACAMOLE, I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!

Ever since Wholly Guacamole hit the shelves of Costco, I have had a food affair with it!  All the families I nannied for always had it tucked away in their freezers, somewhere. I would pull it out and eat taquitos, quesidillas, chips and Salsa and frozen burritos with it while at their houses. (I know, the processed food are not healthy but the Guac is!)

Today We got to do something, I never even considered being an option or a possibility.  Joni and I were invited to lunch with the Marketing big wigs of Wholly Guacamole!  They treated all the different winners to lunch at Buca di Beppo before hitting the finale.

They had ordered SOO much amazing appetizers, salads and dishes I was in food HEAVEN...I know kind of funny to be in food heaven right before The Biggest Loser Finale, but as a thank you to them picking me as a winner, I couldn't refuse, right?! LOL

Right away we clicked.  They had us rolling.  Tracey, a VP is one of the funniest women I have ever met in my life!  I wanted to take her home with me! Pictured above, she is an awesome, animated story teller with a Bostonian accent! When you add the three together; Jennifer, Tara, and Tracey, you have a constant well of gut laughter flowing.  I was afraid to drink, in fear that it would come out my nose in a moment of hysterics!

I made ALL these signs for The Biggest Loser Finale so we had to get pictures at the end with all the different winners and the Wholly Guac signs.  I have decided to officially invite myself as an honorary member of the Wholly Guacamole family, hope they don't mind! hehehe


 Below is a picture of all the Battle Buddy Winners! We absolutely adored them and plan to continue following their journey's as well!

After our photo op we were ready to hop in cars and go!  The sad thing is that my feet were already in excruciating pain from the Jimmy Choo fancy heals the family I worked for gave me. We walked really far and fast to get to lunch to meet every one. ( on the cobblestone streets of Universal City Walk and that did it!). I knew that as soon as we got to the finale, my fancy shoes were coming off! 

California Dreamin'...Let the FUN begin... AMERICAN IDOL STYLE

This morning started out REALLY early!  I had to leave Arizona at 3 am to meet Joni in Long Beach, CA as her flight arrived. Of course I didn't even go to sleep, due to excitement and preparation, and the fact that I was so HYPED I didn't really need any.  It was a neat drive watching the sun rise and just having a lot of thinking and praying time in my car.

Was this day really happening?!  Was I really getting to go to the finale and the resort?! After once again talking myself through these questions and the answer being a RESOUNDED YES, I was so thankful for that alone time in the car to spend it in thanksgiving to my Heavenly Father (God) for blessing me with such an amazing gift! I will never forget to thank Him, I realize that all goodness in my life is through Him.

Made it to Long Beach in time to pick up my Battle Buddy, Joni and our journey TOGETHER (at last) began!

Joni and I decided that we were going to travel in our workout clothes so that we could start our "battle buddy trip" off right by crossing something off the bucket list and hiking to the Hollywood sign.  Before our hike we needed to power up our bodies, we decided to have a healthy breakfast at Subway.   It was Delish!

While sitting at Subway, I decided to check Twitter (I had just signed up for it specifically for this trip.  Someone told me it helps be in the "IN" and might get some "sitings" by watching where people are.) This is going to be so stocker-esk sounding but I will not be ashamed because of what happened next...

Ryan Seacrest, the host of American Idol, posted that the current season as well as past contestants would be at the Chinese Theatre today for the star placement of the founder, Simon Fuller's star.  I told Joni I was pretty sure that the Theatre is right by the Hollywood sign!  We looked at each other and were off!

When we made it to the street we saw a crowd gathering and I paniced!  I basically threw Joni out of the car while it was running to save us a place.  I went to the closest parking lot, paid a fortune, tossed the car in a slot and ran.  We had PRIME viewing!  I have been watching season 10 of American Idol consistantly so this was yet another bonus for me.  I had NO idea what we were in for.  We got to meet them ALL.  Take pictures with them...WE WERE IN HEAVEN!!

Yes, this is the REAL people here!!  Yes, they took pictures with us!  Yes, I met Carrie Underwood and Jacob Lusk!  YES, WE WERE BOTH IN HEAVEN!  

Some side notes from this "siting":

• Ryan Seacrest wears WAY TOO much makeup!  He looked like he was ready for burial, seriously looks plastic. I do ADORE him however for tweeting about this event :)
• Pia Toscano is just as beautiful in person and so gracious!
• Joni did indeed get kissed by Casey Abrams (and she didn't even know his name..so jealous!)
• There is some REALLY CREEPERS in this world.  (See picture) You would think this guy was right off a movie set...but NO, he was the REAL DEAL CREEPER! 

• Lauren Alainer was not friendly (but reports said she was sick)
• Haley Reinhart, still not a fan (too much tude), but she was eating up the crowd.
• Yes, I have had a HUGE crush on Jacob Lusk's voice! "God Bless The Child" moved me to tears and goosebumps from head to toe! (I will be in a Black Gospel Choir in Heaven!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op79hYvqkEw
• I might have screamed and drew ALOT of attention to us so we could get all these pictures
• There was really rude people around us that pushed us and stole our shots
• I have NEVER in my life wished I would have gotten ready that day more than today. Looked frumpy! I made Joni get in the most pictures, even if I wanted too..cause atleast she had makeup and hair done.
• Carrie Underwood is still one of my fav people ever
• David Cook and Kris Allen were so geniune & spent A LOT of time with the onlooker/stockers like us
• I met Mary Murphy and she was a SWEETHEART
• Randy was the only judge that cared enough to stop by with the fans. 
• This really was our life for a day and we are going to OWN IT!

Ok...I will have to write about the Hollywood sign later, this was too cool to not get a WHOLE blog!