So you think "I could do that!" Let me tell you as a witness, that going from being an avid viewer of NBC's reality show Fear Factor to being a contestant can change your whole attitiude about the events that make up the show. As a fan, I thought I could do almost anything that Fear Factor threw at its contestants, which of course prompted me to apply. I thought, "Okay, I've faced some really mentally challenging obstacles in the past few years, most of the stuff on the show is about being gutsy and all, so I'll go for it!" Then I got to be on Fear Factor and everything I thought was hard pales in comparison. Not only do you need physical strength, mental toughness, and plain old guts, you need a little bit of luck.
The Helicopter stunt was quite intimidating when it was first revealed. Being fourth in line to go, I go to see the stunt performed by off of the men. I can't say that I learned much from them, but at least I got to see what Eddie, Mike and Rich were made of! When I was up, I was so happy since my adrenaline had been pumping from the moment I watched the helicopter fly over the hills and had the stunt explained. While I was up on the trapeze, I knew I had to flip my body over and ger focused on the buoys and flags. One I was in flight all I could do was grasp at the yellow flags I was whirring past. I managed to grab five flags, two rope burns on my feet and several cuts on my fingers before plunging into the frigid water. Next up was Tamie, who grabbed 15 flags which threatened to send my "packing" but thank goodness Janine fell after only four! WHEW!!
The Electric Chair Piercing was a huge mental challenge for me. Needles and blood are my enemies, so when Joe told us that we would have to endure 10 needles being stuck in our arms, each one getting larger in gauge, I didn't think I would go through with it. I was fourth again but this time I hated it because I had to watch as each of the other contestants were being tortured. When it was my turn, I seriously considered backing out, but since the first three made it I didn't want to be the only one to go, so I decided I had to do it. While strapped in the chair, my face and hands went numb. My leg muscles were contracted the whole time, but I was wholly aware of the pain I felt as the thicker gauged needles pierced my arm. When it was over, I was overjoyed that I faced one of my own biggest fears and overcame it. I had some nice bruises and holes, just battle wounds that healed over time!
The Maggoty Cheese was my final event. I have never in my life smelled such vile food. The odor invaded my whole body and made me gag when I inhaled. If you've ever taken a big whiff of a dumpster in the hot summer heat you might have some inkling of an idea at what the cheese smelled like, rotting flesh. Last to go in this event, I thought everyone would drop and I could get by without having to eat much. Rich dropped out after a trying a couple times to get down a big bite. Eddie's reaction to the cheese was so utterly disgusting that I began dry heaving just hearing and watching him. How did he finish that regurgitated mess?! When Michael quit without even tasting the stuff, I thought Tamie would surely quit. Much to my surprise she finished the cheese with very little gagging, so my only option was eat the stuff or be done for good. I couldn't give up without a fight, so I put a nice sized chunk into my mouth. Big mistake to put so much in, because it gagged me. Trying to swallow that warm, gritty, salty, sour, thick maggot infested cheese with a dry mouth and throat just didn't go over well. My body rejected the stuff and I knew I was done.
In the end, Tamie took the prize in shimmying across a horizontal flag pole.
Being a contestant on Fear Factor is an experience that will never be forgotten. Although I was not the winner of the episode, I know now that I am capable of so much more than I have given myself credit. Disappointment that I didn't win the money, yes, but I have done something that "tested my limits" in many senses, so I am quite happy to have had the experience.