Hi there !
First I´d like to say that this is a great initiative, it´s wonderful to have the opportunity to get in touch with such a nice group, and also to realize that we´re not alone in the quest for a healthier life !
I´m 26, and have been overweight all my life, but until I was 19 I was "chubby", but not obese, then someone I am very close to had a serious heart attack, and during the months that she was between life and death my weight began to escalate... 6 years after that and many diet attempts and failures, I reached my all time high at 108kg (approx. 240lb)
The turning point came when I was putting together my little sister´s bike, and had a back pain crisis, in front of the whole family (uncles included), afterwards they did a little intervention, and at the end, asked me to do the stomach surgery, as I didn´t want to go through that, we agreed that I would try one last time
From october 2004, to may 2005 I lost 38kg (approx 85lb), since then (I´m from Brazil) I have spent 2 months in Atlanta (that was a disaster as I gained 12kg (26lb) ), went back to Brazil and managed to loose all the gained weight, then off to 2 months in Europe, this time the disaster was smaller, but nevertheless 8kg (18lb) gained, now I have permantely moved to Spain, and after two months here, I have managed to control my weight at 78kg (174lb) and am back on track with the weight loss, to reach my 54kg - 118lb goal !
Wish me luck !
I´m posting below a before and current picture, looking at them always gives me a boost of motivation !