First name: Joanna/Jo Geographical location: Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Age: 22 Marital Status: Single Occupation: English teacher Pets: A hamster, Viking Gladiator Movits McGee Hobbies/Interests: Languages, computers, reading, stationery Height: 5'5" Eye/Hair Color: Hazel/Dirty blonde Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: January 4, 2011 Starting Weight: 96kg Present Weight: 94.5kg Goal Weight: 72kg Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I love drinking with friends and I'm a big-time boredom eater. Following any specific plan: The "trying to be more conscious of my choices" plan What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I feel more hopeful and in control.
Pets: 2 orange kittens, they're brother and sister Remy and Medli
Hobbies/Interests: knitting, hiking, playing video games, college football and hockey, fashion
Height: 5'4
Eye/Hair Color: blue/green blondish
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 1/1/2011
Starting Weight: 168
Present Weight: 165
Goal Weight: 135
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Time, I also get discouraged easily when I don't see results. Recovering from a running injury.
Following any specific plan: Calorie counting, exercise
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm finally fed up with half assed attempts at loosing weight
Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm a counseling grad student, and I work full time. I'm getting ready to start my internship in May I'm excited and very nervous.
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: January 5th, 2011
Starting Weight: 154
Present Weight: 150
Goal Weight: 120
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Skipping fun things like happy hours!
Following any specific plan: Bit of the 5 factor (5 small meals, around 1200 calories a day)
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm super motivated and annoyed as I've already lost this weight before, so ready to get back to a smaller size.
First name: Kayla
Geographical location: Kansas
Age: 20
Marital Status: Engaged
Children/Ages: None
Occupation: Production/Circulation
Pets: Toy Rat Terrier, 3lbs., 3yrs old. Rat terrier/Pug mix "Puggat" 4 lbs., 8 weeks old.
Hobbies/Interests: Walking, playing with my doggies, running websites.
Height: 5'2"
Eye/Hair Color: Green/Blondish-Brownish-Redish, really depends on the day haha. It changes on it's own.
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: December 1st, 2010
Starting Weight: 158
Present Weight: ??? - Not sure, need to weigh myself again
Goal Weight: 115
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Sticking to my calorie limit
Following any specific plan: 1200 calories per day.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm sick of not liking myself.
Anything else you would like to share with us: I used to way 204, I lost 69 lbs. and got down to 135 lbs., in two years I went up to 158 lbs. I plan on losing weight and keeping it off this time.
Occupation: Student/ Full time job - Assistant Manager in a retail store
Pets: 1 Cat - Dexter, 1 Dog - Topaz
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, playing video games, when its warm bike riding or walking.
Height: 5'9"
Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes, Hair is red ( but it changes a lot)
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Today would be day 1 so... 1/22/11
Starting Weight: I actually do not own a scale currently - last weigh in I was like 220
Present Weight: I will have to update this when I get a scale
Goal Weight: I want to be 'healthy' for my height - so possibly 160?
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating on a regular schedule. I am the biggest skipper of breakfast. Also, finding exercises I like and can stick with. I joined a gym that is 24 hours - but it is nowhere near my house so I rarely get the mojo to go.
Following any specific plan: I don't have anything in mind yet, I think I will check the forums for one I like that seems to be doing well.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I don't have anyone to bring me down. When I joined the gym I went with my friend, but her work schedule clashed with mine and she always wanted to ride together. Took way too much organizing to just get to the gym. Now I will try something at home first. Then get back into the gym habit.
Anything else you would like to share with us: I hope to learn all sorts of great things from the rest of you in the future! Good luck!
Pets: None, though in my house we have 3 snakes, 2 turtles, a ton of fish, and a hedgehog
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, writing, going out with friends
Height: 5'4"
Eye/Hair Color: blue-green/brown
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 01/18/10
Starting Weight: 240
Present Weight: 240
Goal Weight: 160
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: Actually eating well. I have a crazy work schedule and sometimes I don't eat meals just quick snacks.
Following any specific plan: Not yet. Starting with getting my eating habits right and exercising with a friend
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I never have attempted before, just said I need to. This time though I really want to lose the weight and have started making the changes.
Anything else you would like to share with us: Nah.
First name: Christina
Geographical location: West Texas/Southern New Mexico
Age: 21
Marital Status: Single
Children/Ages: None
Occupation: Student
Pets: Suki, my black lab/dalmatian mix
Hobbies/Interests: finishing school, baking, cooking, writing, reading
Height: 5'5"
Eye/Hair Color: Brown and brown haha
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: About a year ago, but since I'm trying to start fresh, 1/23/11
Starting Weight: 147
Present Weight: 147
Goal Weight: 120
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Being more active and not eating out of boredom
Following any specific plan: 1200 calories per day.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This is the farthest I've come towards my goal weight and I'm so ready to finally get there
Anything else you would like to share with us: My high weight was 180 in middle school but I found out I had PCOS and my doctors and I started fighting it. I've lost 30 lbs since then and am finally trying to make it to a total of 60 lbs weight loss
First name: Jasmine Geographical location: Birmingham, Alabama Age: 21 Marital Status: Single Children/Ages: None (lots of siblings though :-D) Occupation: Student (graphic design) Pets: None Hobbies/Interests: Design, cosmetics, social media, fitness Height: 5'3 Eye/Hair Color: Brown, Black Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 1.1.2011 Starting Weight: 314 Present Weight: 306 Goal Weight: 190 (my goal for now) Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating fried foods, drinking sodas, eating one or two BIG meals a day. Following any specific plan: Sort of counting calories, but I'm mostly working on eating 3 times a day, with two snacks. I am also excersising at least 4x a week. What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I don't want to spend the rest of my twenties being over weight, and becoming more un-healthy. I've had too many close family members die from health related issues, or become limited because of their weight, and I want to do something about it now while I am still able.
Pets: Rottweiler (Angel), German Shepherd (Star), Pitbull (Chance), and Chihuaua (Peanut)
Hobbies/Interests: Reading (especially old Brit Lit and Harry Potter), friends, shopping, psychology, and a new one - exercise!
Height: 5'4"
Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Brown
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: September 2010 (when I joined this site)
Starting Weight: 216
Present Weight: 206
Goal Weight: 140
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Binges, late night eating, and fast food.
Following any specific plan: I eat between 1200-1400 calories per day, I exercise six times a week for at least 20 minutes, and I stop eating at 9 PM to form a habit of not eating a single thing at night, not even fruit!
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Vigorous and consistent exercise. I did not make genuine attempts to exercise before. When I did exercise, it was never for more than 10-15 mins a day and it was not consistent. I just didn't know what I was doing.
Anything else you would like to share with us: I used to weigh 170 lbs, but bad college habits caught up with me and, before I knew it, I had gained about 40 lbs in under two years. I was fine at my previous weight (although I did want to lose some), but I hate the way I look in my clothes at over 200 and that is ultimately what motivated me to finally get serious. Seeing my father severely disabled from a stroke last year after years of bad habits, in addition to other health problems in my family, also provided a lot of motivation. Genetics are not on my side, so I need to do everything I can to stay healthy.
Marital Status: Married to my long-time sweetheart
Children/Ages: None yet
Occupation: Secretary ("Administrative Assistant, to be PC...lol)
Pets: 2 cats who know they're cats, 1 cat that thinks she's a dog, and one miniature schnauzer that thinks she's a lazy lump..oh wait, she is!
Hobbies/Interests: Scuba diving (aiming to get certified this year!), hiking, reading (love me some J.D. Robb and James Patterson... and the Twilight & Harry Potter series! Yum), watching crummy chick flicks and - my guilty pleasure - Judge Judy
Height: 5'3"
Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Dark Brown
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Jan 24 2011
Starting Weight: 238 in Feb '10. Recommitted as of yesterday, 01/25/11, starting at 217.
Present Weight: 215 (love that water weight loss)
Goal Weight: Right now, I'll be over the moon to see onederland...I haven't been below 200 in about 13 years. Ultimate goal is around 150.
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: IMPATIENCE and determination. Sometimes after busting your butt in the gym you just want to see your effort reflected on the scale immediately... and when I don't, or see an increase for whatever reason, I give up.
Following any specific plan: Slow/low carb + calorie counting.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Trying to take it one step at a time rather than seeing the final goal being the end-all and be-all. Determined to celebrate my NSVs and depend less on the scale as a measure of my success.
Anything else you would like to share with us: My hubby lost 40lb in the time it took me to lose 20..grr! I am looking forward to making this journey at my own pace, and to making as many friends as I can along the way.
Marital Status: Was engaged and now recently single.
Children/Ages: None.
Occupation: Therapeutic Recreation Assistant at a nursing home.
Pets: None.
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, watching movies, listening to music, exercising, cooking, traveling.
Height: 5'2.5"
Eye/Hair Color: Greenish-hazel/Black (naturally a golden dark brown)
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: My teen years lol. It's been a looooong journey.
Starting Weight: 260
Present Weight: 215
Goal Weight: 135-150 range.
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Low self-esteem.
Following any specific plan: Not really. I make sure I eat whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and lean proteins every day. I go to the gym 4 or 5 days a week. There's no specific diet plan. I'm just making healthy choices.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I actually believe I can do it this time. I used to get depressed, start binging on food, and give up. I'm going through a really hard time in my life right now and instead of using pizza or french fries to make me feel better, I'm getting healthy. I need to make real changes. Binging on junk food may feel satisfying at the moment you eat it, but afterward I'm just plagued with guilt and negative feelings. I need to feel good about myself and unhealthy habits don't work.
Anything else you would like to share with us: I lost 60 lbs back in 2009 and then slowly gained a lot of the weight back. I'm finally back down to where I was in August 2009. I'm also currently a full-time college student. This summer I'm going to take the New York State Teachers Assistant Certification Exam and I'll graduate in September with an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education. I then plan on applying to colleges in New York City for my Bachelors degree. It'd be a dream come true to live in NYC and I'm determined to give it a real try!
Last edited by surrendertolis; 01-25-2011 at 08:09 PM.
Occupation: A tutor to the meanest (and most troubled) 10 year old in the world.
Pets: Two adult cats named Grouchy and Jiji. Three half grown kittens named Meeko, Pink Panther, and Kovu. A crazy little dotson who goes by Princess Pei Pei and Bunny Kruger a Mini Rex rabbit.
Hobbies/Interests: Singing (a long time goal was to sing opera haha), reading (give me my trashy romances, please), video games, writing, gardening, and organizing.
Height: 5'5"
Eye/Hair Color: Hazel (sometimes dark brown)/ brown with blonde and red highlights
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: September 30, 2009
Starting Weight: 234
Present Weight: ...218.6 D:
Goal Weight: 160
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Overeating, junking, and motivation. Overeating: if it is something I like, say, mac & cheese, I can sit there and eat and eat until I'm sick. If it is cooked I'll eat it, if it's not, I can stop myself from cooking it. I just can't say, "No." when it is cooked. Junking: Sunday my grandmother bought a huge bag of candy and the last 2 days I've pigged out on it- literally. I usually don't have a sweet tooth, but today I've learned my lesson. I feel awful.
Following any specific plan: Um, I have tons of Special K bars, Zone Perfect bars, and Slim-fast shakes/powders. So, I've adopted the 2 meal bar, 1 actual meal plan because this has worked for me in the past. Also, I try (really, I do!) to count my calories.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I only have a short amount of time to lose weight before my 21st birthday hits. When that day hits and I still haven't lost weight, I will not have health insurance. This is why I'm determined to lose the weight so that I can join the Air Force and become a healthier me (and because this -joining the AF- has always been a dream of mine).
Anything else you would like to share with us: Not that I know of. ^^
I'm excited and very nervous.
I am looking forward to making this journey at my own pace, and to making as many friends as I can along the way. 
