Michelle, Chicago
Jeanne, Villa Park

Michelle and Jeanne are sisters-in-law; both are bridesmaids for an upcoming wedding and want to look fabulous in their dresses. Over the next eight weeks, with the help of WGN and Bally Total Fitness, their goal is to lose 16 pounds each.

Michelle has recently recovered from her cancer diagnosis and is ready to get herself in good shape and improve her self esteem. Jeanne is looking forward to toning and defining her body before the big event. In addition, both women hope to inspire others along the way!

Lisa, Algonquin
Flo, Schaumburg

Lisa and Flo are both 22-year Veterans of the Hoffman Estates Police Department. Their main goal is to get healthy and stay healthy. They have struggled with yo-yo dieting and maintaining a regular exercise regimen, and they have recently found that their weights are affecting their careers. With Flo's 50th birthday coming up, the ladies are ready to look fabulous for the big celebration. They are dedicated in improving their health and fitness levels, so that both are able to catch the bad guys.

Theresa, Chicago
Derrick, Chicago

Theresa and Derrick met on a blind date. She drove to their date with a bicycle in her car and having seen this, Derrick knew Theresa was the one. They walked and rode their bikes throughout the summer. Both contestants had been lifelong athletes, playing sports that included baseball and tennis. In addition, they have both taken part in triathlons.

Their wedding took place last July, and they have been keeping busy with work and caring for Derrick's elderly mother. Their workouts have slipped away, so they're ready to dedicate the next eight weeks to getting in shape, again!

The Bally Spring Fitness Challenge 2008 kicked off on the WGN Morning News on Thursday, March 13. See the contestants in action.

Day two, so far so good controlling healthy eating habits! Today at the Bally Justin kicked our sorry butts today!!! I don't know if I'm going to be able to move my arms tomorrow. I am very excited to get into shape! Keep up the good work Justin, if we show up again! Remember we are old!!!

It was so much fun meeting everyone. Anna, Val, and Dean are hilarious. They kept us all so relaxed, it didn't feel like I was on live TV. I know that we will have a lot of competition and I am going to enjoy the challenge.

I really need to work on my cravings. While at work yesterday, I wanted to eat and had no healthy snacks with me. When everyone had left the room, I went out to the vending machine to get an unhealthy snack. I discovered that I only had 77 cents. Everything in the machine cost 80 cents or more. I survived the day without the snack. From now on, I will always have a healthy snack with me.

Yesterday at work I pulled over a person and just when I was finishing up another car stopped in the opposite direction (blocking traffic) and beeped their horn. A little annoyed I asked her what was up and she had a huge smile on her face and said "Hey aren't you one of the women on Team Blue from WGN!!?" I thought to myself "you've got to be kidding!" I'm like yes, but you're going to get hit from behind if you don't get going... She yelled as she drove away... "COOL!!! GOOD LUCK, I HOPE YOU WIN!!!" It was quite funny! It actually made my day and gave me more encouragement to win!

Back to back grueling workouts, major diet changes, and I'm feeling fine! My husband thought for sure at this point in the challenge I would be a bear to be around. I'm a little tired, but ready to see what tomorrow brings.

I know we are only in our first week however, I am still very excited about the contest. Today when Jeanne and I were in the locker room after working out a lady said "hey aren't you the bulging bridesmaids?" I hope that in 8 weeks we can lose that name. In the past few days I feel like I have already learned so many new things. I am very excited for the next 8 weeks. While getting in shape we will also be learning stuff that we can use after the contest is over. We can bring everything we learn with us to MAUI!!!!!!!

It's early Monday morning. I arrive to work early to get a quick workout on my own. The ETHS spin room is where I enjoy working out. I turn off the lights, throw in a DVD, adjust my bike and start my workout. I enjoy the ambient light from the DVD and energizing music that comes with it. Just as I begin my warm up, Brett, coach of the ETHS Girls Water Polo Team, comes in and crashes my private workout session. Behind him are 25-30 high school girl athletes who came to have a spin session of their own. I'm actually happy to see them. Now I can lead the team and really have an intense workout. The team and I completed the 27minute workout at a level I might not have done alone. I just wanted to say "THANKS" to Brett and his Water Polo Team for joining me for an intense, upbeat and energizing workout! IT WAS FUN!

It"s time for the only testosterone in the competition to make his appearance and I have four words for you..........I NEED SOME CANDY! Actually, the workouts have been going fine(especially if you count our trainer Gretta stretching my formerly inactive legs into a quivering hunk of muscle), our diet has progressed very well and it feels good to actually SWEAT a little..........okay, if you must know, I was sweating so much water they had to replace a treadmill already! Keep up the good work everybody.

Val??? Dean????
Did you guys give up already? Couldn't take the heat, huh? Your trainer did look pretty fierce!

Good Luck Flo while talking to WGN this morning!!! We'll all be watching!

Have you been wondering, "What does Spark represent?" Take a guess, here's your 1st hint:

• It started at zero hour

Justin our trainer has his work cut out for him. We were at Bally yesterday and he kicked our butts again. Not without much laughing though, I didn't realize that working out could be so much fun!!! The thing that I've learned the most from this challenge is that working out with someone else is the key to success.

The last 12 days have been quite an experience. Just getting a handle on the food that we've been consuming has made all the difference in the world. The scream you heard a little over a week ago was me reading how many calories are in a Baconator(850, to be exact) and figuring that was almost 40% of a daily intake for a average person!......and people eat them EVERY DAY!. Fortunately we've been eating a lot of strawberries, blueberries and pineapples getting our palates ready for the tropical fare!

Well week 2 is almost through and I survived! Easter was a little rough- there were sweets and candy every where I looked! I did have a nice juicy piece of filet mignon- it was so good- I savored every bite! The filet and a glass of wine were my big treats this week (and well earned in my opinion!!). But the most exciting thing about this week is that I'm starting to see some changes!! Yeah!!

Michelle and I are running the Shamrock Shuffle this weekend- come out and cheer us on!!

As Jeanne mentioned we made it through Easter ~ while everyone enjoyed their Easter goodies we just kept each other occupied by talking about Maui! Last week my younger sister was home from college- she's sort of the health nut of the family-she taught me how to prepare some healthy foods that I had never even heard of! Every session that we have with Allegra I feel like I learn so many new things.We only have 6 more weeks to go. It's encouraging to know that we have both made so much progress in only 2 weeks I'm excited to see what the next 6 weeks are going to bring!!

Wow! I just got back from my cruise. I ate healthy and worked out every day. I did not think that I could do it. I just hope that next six weeks pass by fast.