West Dundee resident wants spot on reality show

Arianna Fontana likes a challenge.

But the West Dundee resident's biggest challenge in the past eight years has hindered her health and compromised her happiness.

The constant struggle to lose weight, Fontana says, has pushed her to the limit. Now, the 31-year-old health care worker wants to take on the ultimate weight loss challenge: NBC's "The Biggest Loser."

"Right now I am in a funk and I need someone to kick me in the butt to motivate me," the former three-sport athlete said. "I know if I got on the show I would win. I am so competitive and a hard worker. I always give 110 percent to everything that I do."

And Fontana's friends Amy Buss and Nicole Werth are doing their best to help her catch the eye of NBC producers. They sent a 12-minute audition video - including a spoof on the fast food chain Sonic commercials - and stood in line for hours at a casting call in Schaumburg.

The pair also set up a Web site, http://nominateanietbl.webs.com/aboutanie.htm, to campaign for Fontana's selection. More than 5,000 people have visited the site and almost 1,500 people from 13 countries have signed a guest book in support.

Buss, who met Fontana about 18 years ago, says her friend puts everyone else's needs before her own, perhaps too often.

"She just does so much for everyone - friends, family - she goes so over and beyond," said Buss, 32, of Bartlett. "It is becoming a flaw. She's not taking care of herself anymore and it is getting to the point where I am concerned about her health. We just want her to get healthy again."

Fontana's weight became an issue about eight years ago when she began taking a steroid, Prednisone, for severe food allergies. Over a short period of time, she put on about 100 pounds and was unable to recover.

Fontana said she has signed up for weight loss programs, hired a personal trainer and tried every diet known to man from fasts to the Atkins Diet, which she calls the "anti-Italian" diet.

Watching a close friend struggle with weight issues has been difficult, Werth said.

"I want her to get healthy, start a family and have a good life," Werth said. "But I always tell her that if she's a size 2 or 22, she'll still be my best friend. I will love her either way."