Well now that the dust has settled I can finally tell you all about my Today Show experience and really just how I got on the show in the first place.

I submitted my story to The Today Show's Joy Fit Club about 6 months ago..I was contacted to be on the show in May and missed my chance by only a few minutes. I went from jumping up and down to contemplating a big bowl of ice cream with tears soaking my cheeks in a matter of 5 minutes..true story! But..I just knew I would get on there..just didn't know when. So each month I shot over a new email letting them know I was still interested in an appearance and I would also send new progress pictures.

For those of you not familiar with the Today Show on NBC..well you're crazy!! It's a great show of news..entertainment..current events and of course the weather. But there's a segment run on the show that I followed for years called The Joy Fit Club. The Joy fit club.. named Joy after its founder Joy Bauer the nutrition and health expert for The Today Show and one of the nations leading in the nutrition field with a ton of certifications..tv shows and books under her belt. The show celebrates "members" handpicked by Joy for large amounts of weight loss..100 plus pounds or more.

Once chosen as a member to be on The Today Show you get to go on and show off your new figure and talk briefly..very briefly indeed.. on how you lost your weight. To be chosen as a member is an honor and it basically means you kicked butt and took names..and I for sure have done that.

I still remember what I was doing the day I received my second invite to the show. I had just finished training some clients and I happened to check my phone for emails and there it was... Are you still interested in being on our show? WELL YEAH OF COURSE!!!! I screamed and jumped around and then I quickly panicked..national TV??? Live??? Holy lord..I did not know if I could even do it!

After speaking with numerous producers and Joy's fantastic assistant Tina I was told that they would fly me up Sunday August 10th and then I would be on the air Monday August 11th before I return back home to Florida. A quick trip but one I didn't have to pay for and one that I wanted to take!!

I was told they wanted me to show a workout move to Kathie Lee and Hoda and that made me extremely nervous but I couldn't not do it! I was also excited to rep my book FAT CONFESSIONALS as I had just self published it and wanted to get the word out.

Fast forward to Sunday August 10th and I'm flying up to NYC nervous as ever with a few doses of Dramamine for my motion sickness. We landed after a very turbulent ride and I was shocked when I saw a limo driver waiting with a sign with my name on it. How surreal!!! They paid for me to stay in a nice hotel pretty much right by the studio and I was told to be at the studio at 9am to get ready for hair and makeup.

My parents live in NY currently and were lucky enough to book a room and come with me to the studio..thank god because I was so flipping nervous!!! I was shaking as I crossed the sidewalk over towards the studio..but so many people want this kind of opportunity so I just kept on walking.

After checking in with a guy that had a clipboard we entered right into the green room to wait for hair and make up and there was Olivia Wilde and Carson Daly..It's so odd to see people you watch on TV right up close in person..Carson was way taller than I thought he was and Olivia was even more gorgeous than she is on the big screen. I was shaking more now and eager to get it all over with so I could relax. My nerves were getting the best of me.. I met the other guy chosen to be entered into the Joy Fit Club..because they now induct two members at a time. He was very nice and appeared to be nervous too so I felt a little better.

Hair and make up time!! My favorite part of course..what girl doesn't like having someone do their hair and make up after all? I had to quickly get dressed in my workout gear behind a small curtain and then go back and wait until it was our time to enter the actual studio. Joy then entered the green room and thank god..I remember turning to my mom and saying I was so scared and didn't think I could do it..Joy came right over hugged me and introduced herself and I immediately felt at ease.

Joy spent two hours with myself and my parents and really made our trip the best it was! She told me to rock it on the stage in front of the cameras and to just be myself. She grabbed my book from me and was eager to talk about it on camera.

We were told it was time to head to the studio and the knots in my stomach came back as I was getting microphones placed on me and we waited behind a curtain. I could hear Kathie Lee and Hoda talking on camera and then the producer came out to let us know we were going to be standing behind our before pics and where to stand when our names were called to enter on the stage.

I stood behind my photo and could see all these people standing behind me on the sidewalk looking in the window and waving..was I dreaming?? Was this all real? Did I really give myself a goal and actually accomplish it? I started to get tears in my eyes and then even more nervous that my mascara would run..but it was that very moment when I think I finally felt proud of myself.

You see im the kind of person always seeking approval and recognition and when I don't get it sometimes I feel dejected. I looked down at my feet which I do often to remind myself of the days when I could never see my toes because my stomach was always in the way. I clicked my heels together like Dorothy on the Wizard of Oz and then I heard CAITLIN FLORA come on out.

I walked out and did a little turn and shook hands with Kathie Lee and Hoda while Joy started telling them my story..but the segment goes so quick!! Two people to interview about their weight loss in 2 minutes flat.. I wished I had had more time to talk because it was like once I stepped out on that stage the nervous dissolved..completely gone. I just knew what to do and what to say.

And then just like that..it was over. The microphones were coming off and Joy was escorting me back to the green room and hugging me goodbye..she said if I ever needed anything to contact her and that she was so proud of me. I truly felt as if I met a great lifelong friend that really understand where I had been and where I am at now.

NBC was kind enough to give me a few hours of extra time before heading back Monday night..so that way I could hang out with my parents...shop and eat lunch. The weather was perfect and I was eager to be relaxed again.

I want to thank Joy Bauer for her being so kind to me and picking me to be on the show. Without her I know I wouldn't have been chosen. I also want to thank her assistant Tina that was so sweet and gracious during my phone interview that I felt at ease.

If you want to read Joy's bio and all about the amazing things she does check out her site!

http://www.joybauer.com/