Filming for the Biggest Loser adverts that you have seen plastered all over your TV screens since before Christmas last year took place on a beautiful sunny Ararat morning in April 2013.
It was already 2 weeks into the Walking Challenge and I was maintaining my lead.
I hauled myself out of bed for the usual 6am start that I had adopted during the challenge and made my way up to the Ararat Town Hall. We had to wait then for the sunrise and the light to be in just the right spot to begin.
My friend Jacqui and I were head-hunted to run with Shannan Ponton in front of the Shire Hall for the filming of part of the advert, along with another group of lovely girls. Sandy and her daughter Ebony, Lauren and another lady whose name I never managed to catch unfortunately. So if you happen to be reading this, Mystery-Lady, please, let me know your name!
I've always had a bit of a 'thang' for The Commando, I think he is just so good looking, but I was completely awestruck upon meeting Shannan.
I've never been so lost for words, or nervous for that matter, in my life.
He made us feel completely at ease though within a few minutes and struck up conversations with all of us.
He asked how I was going with the Pebble Challenge. I told him I was coming first and I went to give him a high five, thinking, well that's what you do when you are doing well with something hey?
He pushed my hand out of the way and said "We don't high five for an achievement like that! That deserves a hug!"
I nearly died. Or peed my pants. Or died and peed my pants.
Shannan is just such a lovely, inspiring, genuinely down-to-earth person. And he's just that, a person! He might be a celebrity, but when it comes down to it. He is just like you and me. Except, there isn't an ounce of fat on that man! Not a skerrick! It's ridiculous how fit and toned he is! Even his heels, where his achilles tendon is, have a dent on each side. And... I was staring at his legs probably a little too much...
Shooting of our piece of the advert took HOURS! And they made us RUN!
Oh my gosh! I have never run that much IN MY LIFE!
I wasn't a runner, I never had any inclination of ever wanting to run. I was always too unfit! But for that man, I think I would have run to the moon and back again!
I also had the chance to meet Michelle Bridges and oh my gosh is that woman TINY! There is nothing of her! We joked around and she had some great advice and some funny sayings, for example when she was complaining that the day was so cold and how we must really feel it here, we told her this was actually a warm day! She said "Well, this isn't Pussy Street is it?! Pussy Street's that way! This is Harden-Up Avenue!! You people from Ararat are tough!"
I briefly met The Commando, when our two groups met up at the front of the Town Hall. Shannan was a bit excited to tell him that I was first on the leader board and he asked how many steps I had done so far.
Now keep in mind, this was 2 and a half weeks, almost 3 weeks into the Pebble Challenge.
I had just passed 700,000 steps.
I'm pretty proud of that.
Commando raised an eyebrow and wished me well. You don't get much out of that guy. I get the feeling he's pretty reserved and quite. Shannan told us he'd just got up too early and 'kitty hadn't had his milk yet'. Poor Commando, Shannan picked on him so much while he was here. He really is a big kid. As he put it, any way to get a bit of fun out of anything is good.
I left the filming that day feeling so inspired and full of energy. Nothing could bring me down.
It was one of the best days of my life and I am so grateful to have meet such a wonderful person.
I will remember it for the rest of my life and loathe the word 'RESET' until the end too, but that's a story for another day.
xx Krystal
It was already 2 weeks into the Walking Challenge and I was maintaining my lead.
I hauled myself out of bed for the usual 6am start that I had adopted during the challenge and made my way up to the Ararat Town Hall. We had to wait then for the sunrise and the light to be in just the right spot to begin.
My friend Jacqui and I were head-hunted to run with Shannan Ponton in front of the Shire Hall for the filming of part of the advert, along with another group of lovely girls. Sandy and her daughter Ebony, Lauren and another lady whose name I never managed to catch unfortunately. So if you happen to be reading this, Mystery-Lady, please, let me know your name!
I've always had a bit of a 'thang' for The Commando, I think he is just so good looking, but I was completely awestruck upon meeting Shannan.
I've never been so lost for words, or nervous for that matter, in my life.
He made us feel completely at ease though within a few minutes and struck up conversations with all of us.
He asked how I was going with the Pebble Challenge. I told him I was coming first and I went to give him a high five, thinking, well that's what you do when you are doing well with something hey?
He pushed my hand out of the way and said "We don't high five for an achievement like that! That deserves a hug!"
I nearly died. Or peed my pants. Or died and peed my pants.
Shannan is just such a lovely, inspiring, genuinely down-to-earth person. And he's just that, a person! He might be a celebrity, but when it comes down to it. He is just like you and me. Except, there isn't an ounce of fat on that man! Not a skerrick! It's ridiculous how fit and toned he is! Even his heels, where his achilles tendon is, have a dent on each side. And... I was staring at his legs probably a little too much...
Shooting of our piece of the advert took HOURS! And they made us RUN!
Oh my gosh! I have never run that much IN MY LIFE!
I wasn't a runner, I never had any inclination of ever wanting to run. I was always too unfit! But for that man, I think I would have run to the moon and back again!
I also had the chance to meet Michelle Bridges and oh my gosh is that woman TINY! There is nothing of her! We joked around and she had some great advice and some funny sayings, for example when she was complaining that the day was so cold and how we must really feel it here, we told her this was actually a warm day! She said "Well, this isn't Pussy Street is it?! Pussy Street's that way! This is Harden-Up Avenue!! You people from Ararat are tough!"
I briefly met The Commando, when our two groups met up at the front of the Town Hall. Shannan was a bit excited to tell him that I was first on the leader board and he asked how many steps I had done so far.
Now keep in mind, this was 2 and a half weeks, almost 3 weeks into the Pebble Challenge.
I had just passed 700,000 steps.
I'm pretty proud of that.
Commando raised an eyebrow and wished me well. You don't get much out of that guy. I get the feeling he's pretty reserved and quite. Shannan told us he'd just got up too early and 'kitty hadn't had his milk yet'. Poor Commando, Shannan picked on him so much while he was here. He really is a big kid. As he put it, any way to get a bit of fun out of anything is good.
I left the filming that day feeling so inspired and full of energy. Nothing could bring me down.
It was one of the best days of my life and I am so grateful to have meet such a wonderful person.
I will remember it for the rest of my life and loathe the word 'RESET' until the end too, but that's a story for another day.
xx Krystal