Beacher Bios - 2012

[VermontMom]

User Name: Vermontmom, real name Holly, road name Cupcake

Starting weight/current/goal - 156/154/145 or lower?

Location: Vermont

Age: 51

Marital Status: Married, for 31 years, to the same guy

Kids: Two young men, 28 and 21

Pets: One dog, Eddie

Work: I have two seasonal jobs (and they both involve food!) The job I love is from May to October and I am the pastry baker for a private club in the woods. The other job is from November to April and I am a deli worker/cashier.

Plan: South Beach. I had done this years ago. Read the book and it made so much sense. I have terrible carb cravings, and the less I have, the better I am. And I do enjoy most of the foods allowed. I can eat eggs anytime, always!

Favorite diet cheat: Just about anything, but mostly sweet/cakey/cookie type stuff. I lose control when I'm hungry. I hate feeling hungry. It's like I'm being deprived of a basic need and I can't be hungry for long without getting a headache and so irritable. It happens at the deli store non-stop because the food aromas just stimulate my appetite so badly. And I'm not given a lunch break. And then I eat a huge (probably 400 calorie) cookie. Or more!

Hobbies: Motorcycling! I love my motorcycle. I use it to commute from May to November, and we take road trips when we can.

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: Pride..and vanity..and a growing sense of urgency about the future and getting older and wanting to fight possible loss of mobility and independence.

[smarkey]

USER NAME: smarkey. S = Samantha. “Getting back into it” refers to the activities I want to get back into – hiking, skiing, walking, cycling – gardening on a more energetic level like I used to. More weight has meant less energy, which has meant less activity, which has led to more weight.

STRTNG WGHT/CRRNT WGHT/GOAL - 160/152/120

LOCATION: The Northwest corner of the U.S.

AGE: 51. Mid-life transition time.

MARITAL STATUS: Married. For now. Things are changing. We’ll see.

PETS: Many, including three teens. They all need constant feeding and cleaning up after.

WORK: Writer/editor. Too much time at a desk or behind a computer putting weight on my butt, but I’m driven. I’m not sure hopping on a forum that will mean more time at my computer is such a great idea, but it’s such a great idea that I will sneak in time here and there.

WHY SOUTH BEACH. I wanted to reduce the amount of sugar and grains (esp. wheat) that I consume because I heard that doing so would help bring my energy up. And I needed a plan, in writing, to follow or I just wouldn’t get there. I liked the lists of foods and the basic principles of the diet. I’m sure this change in how I eat will lead to a fitter, healthier me.

CHALLENGES: Three teens who require a house full of a variety of foods, and who eat everything in sight, but grow only vertically, and who have boundless energy (unlike the dog).

Chocolate. So far, I’m staying ahead of the chocolate, but the teens are in the lead.

Sitting at a desk triggers the desire to snack unless I’m lost in a project, but that takes energy. I need to get up from the desk for breaks more often. I know that simple action is incredibly helpful, but it’s difficult. Getting up and outside is even better. I don’t mind the rain, so I can’t use that as excuse for not getting out.

HOBBIES: Reading, writing, gardening, hiking, skiing, cooking (I still cook for the kids - it's easier than I thought it would be. That tip about clearing the kitchen of all but diet-safe food just doesn't apply in my situation).

REASON FOR WANTING TO LOSE WEIGHT: Energy! I don’t seriously expect to keep up with my teens, but I’d like to keep them in site for a while longer. And then there's this mid-life transition. I want to enjoy the next phase of my life and remain healthy through it and beyond. I've watched my mother go down hard just from lack of looking after herself properly – and food has played a huge role.

[Dawnberry]

User Name: Dawnberry, real name Dawn

Starting weight/current/goal - 185/178/150 (dream weight 130ish)

Location: Texas

Age: 32

Marital Status: married 10 yrs

Kids: Daughter 9yrs, 7yrs, son 2yrs

Pets: 2dogs, 1cat

Work: children's director at Dance studio

Plan: South Beach. Just started today. Had been just trying to eat better and not binge. Workout at least 4X a week. Cardio and weights.

Favorite diet cheat: I can't have pumpkin pie or brownie around...

Hobbies: sleeping

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: health and vanity
__________________

[lynnslife]

User Name: LynnsLife (Lynn)

Starting weight/current/goal - 254/254/150

Location: Halifax, NS

Age: 29

Marital Status: Married

Pets: Beagle Puppy & 2 Cats

Plan: South Beach Diet + 40 mins of cardio + 20 mins yoga most days of the week.

Favorite diet cheat: Pizza, chocolate

Hobbies: Cooking, reading, walking the pup and enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: My health - I'm type 2 diabetic and have PCOS. I have no choice but to lose the weight and get in better shape in order to better manage these conditions.

[Ruthxxx]

User Name: Ruthxxx Real Name: Ruth

Starting weight/current/goall - Was 232 once but now 180. Current goal is 160 or less by July 2012 so I'll feel better on the rides at Delta Fair.

Location: Village in Eastern Ontario in a 1928 house built by my Grandpa when he retired from the farm. Grew up in Ottawa but visited here lots when I was a kid. Bought this house back into the family in 1985. My Dad cried!

Age: I'll be 73 and can't believe it!

Marital Status:Widowed since October 2008 but coping fine. I am lucky to have a great group of supportive friends, plus financial stability.

Kids: Have two kids from my first marriage - Jim and Mary Ellen. They are both parents but live too far away for me to see the three grandbabies often. Jim is in Ottawa but his work schedule is nuts. Mary Ellen is way out West on Vancouver Island so I can't get to see her often enough. I try for at least one trip out there every year.

Pets: Used to raise Portuguese Water Dogs and loved them! Hershey and Lucy were wonderful dogs but are gone now. They are semi-replaced by Disney, my Katrina rescue dog, and Jazz, a Bolonka, who is still very puppy-ish. Both are well behaved dogs who do pet therapy with me weekly. I think I was a dog in my previous incarnation.

Work: Well, am supposed to be retired but I seem to be able to keep myself busy! I'm very involved in community and church work and have a full schedule.

Plan:South Beach Phase II suits me fine - feel good and finally have my blood sugar well under control now. I has a knee replacement in 2008 which was not completely successful. However, I am rising above it and, after 70 years of being a slug, I'm going to the gym for 90 minutes three times a week and trying to do treadmill the other days. The knee feels much better and I no longer have a limp.

Favorite diet cheat: red licorice - could be worse, I suppose. I'm also partial to wine and Scotch.

Hobbies: Gardening, sewing, cooking, theatre and music, dog breeding and adoration, reading good novels, entertaining friends, too darn much volunteer work, quilting, some writing!

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: I want to be a skinny corpse but no hurry! I am also Type II diabetic and need to keep that in control.

What else? I really do own a Chicken Purse. Had a metal bra which I made for a part in a play but it fell apart. Can whip up another one if anyone wants to put in an order.

[jenne1017]

NAME: Jenn
AGE: 34
BIRTHDAY: October 17
MARITAL STATUS: Officially Married (in ME) since 2006, Legally Married in DC 10/18/11.
Children/ages: none yet but we will TTC soon
TOP WEIGHT: 265 (Scale didn't go heigher)
START WEIGHT: 230 in 2012 (256 when I started SBD on 7/1/11)
CURRENT WEIGHT: 230
GOAL WEIGHT:195
HEIGHT: 5' 7.5"
EYE COLOR: Blue
HAIR COLOR: Blond/red
PETS: Aimee and Chloe, 2 cats.

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: facebook for sure, traveling (cruising!), reading, trashy magazines when I am on travel, swimming, taking snap pics
OCCUPATION: I am a lobbyist BUT I SWEAR, for the good guy. I work Congress and the White House too get them to see thing and save programs by and for kids. I am a child advocate.
HOME LOCATION: Originally born in the Bronx, NY, moved to Yonkers then Staten Island. After college (in central NY), I moved down to Washington, DC and have been here for 12 years. Lived in Arlington and Alexandria, VA and am now in Gaithersburg, MD
FAVORITE COLOR: purple or blue
FAVORITE FOODS: Something I will go off plan for each and every time is for a slice of good NY style pizza.
FAVORITE EXERCISE: Elliptical or swimming or Wii
PROBLEM IN WEIGHT LOSS: I am a binge eater and it typically spirals out of control.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL: I've been on South Beach Successfully since July 1. I was ready to do it and I did it. End of story really. just need some continued will power and motivation to exercise...

[CyndiM]

Name: Cyndi
Age: 50
Where you live: Vermont
Where you grew up: Central NY

Do you have kids? How old? Daughter 30 who is a PA in the Boston area

Who do you live with? My wife and our two utterly insane cats, Luna and Sebastian.

Current job or field of work / studies: I've worked in early childhood ed one way or another for most of my career. I am currently a consultant with the AFT organizing conferences around the state. I am supposed to be using this year of light work to figure out what I want to do in the next leg of my career. I don't think it involves child care at all.

Why did you choose South Beach? I woke up one morning sick and tired of feeling older than I was, getting winded up a flight of stairs and terrified that my aching knee meant impending replacement (I've been warned already). I had lost and regained 100s of lbs since I was a kid and knew I did not want to yo yo anymore so had to find something I could live with. I did a Google search for diet plans that fit our eating habits (whole foods, vegetarian, etc). Honestly I thought, based on the name, that it was a stupid vanity diet plan not a healthy way of eating. Imagine my surprise.

Are you going at this plan by yourself or do you have support (other than us of course)? I do the cooking so this is dinner at our house (and lunch leftovers). The funny thing is my wife is now eating the way I do by choice so I never have veggies leftover and we go through huge amounts of refried beans every week!

Favorite Color: purple

Favorite Foods: Anything spicy, I love all kinds of ethnic foods and will try almost any spice combination

Favorite Exercise: In the winter it's the Wii - Just Dance or the EA sports games. In the summer I love to walk or ride my bike

Problem In Weight Loss: I've always had issues with food and eating, bulimia, binge eating, etc. I still slide into binges now and then so vigilance obviously is an ongoing issue for me.
South Beach helps, if I stay away from sugar and processed carbs it's just easier to avoid binging though honestly I could binge on celery.

Beyond the facts
Favorite books: I love books so whatever comes to mind first usually ends up on the list Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Hood, The Secret Life of Bees, anything by Alice Hoffman, Chris Bohjalian, Emma Donohue, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Pollan, Anna Quindlen. I'm hooked on cookbooks and health & nutrition books.

Favorite kinds of music / bands: Depends on my mood. I have workout mixes of 60s, 80s and some new stuff my DD made me. I also enjoy a lot of jazz and classical music. My wife is a musician and plays this crazy blend of jazz, classical, blues, and traditional. I can't even explain it.

Favorite movies: To Kill a Mockingbird, It's a Wonderful Life, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,The Spitfire Grill, the entire LOTR series, The Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and old black and white films

Hobbies: BIRDING!, gardening, dehydrating, hiking, riding my bike, reading

Passions / obsessions: living sustainably and locally as much as possible, managing my health through diet not drugs, Syracuse University basketball

Are you a camping and hiking kind of person or do you prefer less sweaty and “roughing it” kinds of activities? Love the outdoors, camping, hiking, kayaking, you name it

The place you’d most like to visit: I have always wanted to go to Alaska long enough to really see it all.

[Lexxiss]

Favorite saying / quote:
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and create a new ending.-Maria Robinson

2/4/2012 I can't believe it's only been 2 years since I simultaneously joined 3FC and started SBD. My life has changed so much since I started following SBD principles. My energy levels are just incredible and my moods have really stabilized (along with my blood sugar). My friends here are the best! My DH, too, is healthier than he has ever been and has embraced this lifestyle (not to lose weight) as he approaches 60.
My goal for 2012 is to work towards a healthy food/exercise/life plan week by week...streamlining and tweaking until I find the combination that is structured, yet flexible and puts me in the space of living healthy and happy.

Basic facts:
Name (real first name if you feel comforable):Lexxiss/Debbie R
Gender:F
Age (or general age group):53
BIRTHDAY: March 4
MARITAL STATUS: Married
TOP WEIGHT:275 (at least)
SBD STARTING WEIGHT: 232
GOAL WEIGHT: 179 then I'll reevaluate
HEIGHT: 5'5"
EYE COLOR:Brown
HAIR COLOR: Brown

Born, raised and reside in Colorado-but spent 23 years in Alaska

Kids: No

Pets: (rescued) Bing is a Parti Cocker and Sophia is a Ragdoll or Birmen.

Current job:I co-own a family rental business with my Mother and happily waitress 2days/week

Why did you choose South Beach? Healthy eating/Weight loss combo. I wanted to LIVE a healthy lifestyle every day and get off the rollercoaster. Short term? I wanted to get off blood pressure meds (I have) My DH is supportive and eats whatever I cook. His insatiable cravings have gone away, too!

Beyond the facts
Favorite books:Cookbooks, I have over 200.
Favorite kinds of music / bands:I like lots of stuff, but my favs I play over and over are Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John and Indigo Girls....I have the family record collection which includes everything anyone in the family ever owned and many thrift store purchases by DH.
Favorite holiday:
Hobbies: Cooking, canning and dehydrating produce, organic foods, knitting, gardening, jigsaw puzzles, animal rescue, reducing my carbon footprint, pet therapy, NPR.
Passions / obsessions:composting & recycling.


FORMER OCCUPATION: Semi-retired entreprenuer-I ran a sawmill, co-owned a travel agency and kitchen store in Alaska.
FAVORITE COLOR: Lupine purple and Fireweed fuscia.
FAVORITE FOODS: Shrimp, healthy pizza, pumpkin, true Chinese (I lived in Hong Kong), fruit (especially raspberries, blueberries and cherries), and big salads filled with every vegie I can find to put in.
FAVORITE EXERCISE: Water aerobics, water Yoga, and riding my bike..
PROBLEM IN WEIGHT LOSS: emotional eating, stress eating (especially work related),low self esteem, making poor food choices in general, and lack of regular exercise. Geez....that ought to cover it.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL: I have been on losing since 2005, but since starting South Beach I realize I have all the pieces of the puzzle needed to succeed; a healthy WOE, a comfortable regular exercise routine and a great support group here at 3FC.
-I wanted to start putting my pictures in the family photo albums after years of dodging the camera, and am grateful to be doing that again.

-I was quite a downhill skier being raised in Colorado. I hadn't skied for years because of my weight, and have skied for three seasons now.

[WaistingTime]

User name/name: WaistingTime/Karen

Age: 48
Birthday: May 20
Marital Status Married since 1987, husband does not work outside the house either.
Children/Ages: 2 sons, 19 (college freshman at school in CA) and 22 (college senior at school in PA)
Height: 5' 2.5"
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Red

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Blogging, reading, scrapbooking, biking

OCCUPATION: I just went back to work after 15 years as a stay-at-home mom. I'm working part-time in a store that sells women's "activewear."

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, MO

FAVORITE COLOR: Purple

FAVORITE FOODS: Maybe chocolate covered strawberries

FAVORITE EXERCISE: biking (outdoors or in class)

FAVORITE BOOK(S): Too many to name.

FAVORITE MOVIE(S): Not sure.

FAVORITE MUSIC: Soundtracks from musicals

PETS: None; used to have a dog.

PROBLEM IN WEIGHT LOSS: yo-yo dieter, I clearly don't have a "normal" relationship with food

WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL: I am still trying to figure that out! I need to be consistent. I need to get rid of my "all or nothing" thinking that too often leads to binging on off plan foods. But, I refuse to give up!!

[chickadeee55]

User Name: Chickadeee Real Name: Marilynn (boring) prefers Mare

Starting weight/current/goal - Started our at 192. Goal150. But I may decide to settle in earlier, depends how I feel about it all.

Location: Wisconsin.

Age: 56 and enjoying it

Marital Status: Married to my best friend.

Kids: We have a total of 3 sons, they are grown and out on their own with their lives. Hoping they come back for visits.

Pets: I have two dogs, Pella a 12 yr old Lab, sweetest dog you will ever find, she is my spirit, very attached. But she is getting to the point where she has health issues. Not as young as she use to be, so I take real good care of her. Then I have Abby, who is really my DH dog, she is a terrier mix and quite the character. Good lap dog but also a pistol. Love what these creatures add to our life.

Work: I work in health benefits, enjoy it, but yep can be stressful

Plan: P2 South Beach – I feel I do real good on this plan, it has so many options. I am not 100% strict with it, but I want a plan I can live with and not think about it. This seems to be working well for me. If I added some exercise to the plan I would be super happy, still working on that.

Favorite treat: I love Carmel corn, is there a SB version!!!!! But I do have Biscuits and Gravy once in awhile. I try not to say I can’t have something, just make sure it is really worth having in the long run.

Hobbies: Quilting, sewing, reading, outdoors, gardening, cooking

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: Mostly because I want to feel good about myself, my current loss has made me feel so much better, (if only other people realized how they could feel). I don’t want to live a long long life, but I want it to be a healthy life.

I think life is great, and consider myself a lucky person to be here, my thought is to just be yourself (and hope others take the time to get to know you). And things do happen for a reason, we just don’t always understand.

[sophie]

User Name: Sophie (middle name) First name Stephanie

Location: Ontario, Canada

Age: 67 (its only a number)

Current weight: 166 started at 188 but weight a lot more earlier.

Marital Status: Married for 42 years to the love of my life.

Languages spoken: English, Ukrainian and French

Kids: Two sons, one daughter, all grown and one most adorable grandson.

Pets: None, but love dogs

Work: Use to work in human resources a long time ago until the kids came along and then was a SAHM.

Hobbies: Weaving (a passion), knitting, beading, spinning (fiber), reading, cooking and baking, gardening and travelling

Favourite Exercise: Walking Canada Trails, walking in general

Favourite food: Anything to do with French cooking and a glass of wine but only of weekends.

Favourite colour: Turquoise and collect turquoise jewellery

Problem with weight: Weekends.

I have tried many diets but have been able to stick to South Beach the best. One thing I found I just can't handle making that special little S.B. dessert for moi. Became more successful with I stopped and have really just had a sliver of something on that special occasion.

[frankiki]

User Name/Name: Frankiki / Frankie

Starting weight/current/goal - 155/140/126 but to be honest, my goal is less about a number on the scale and more about fat loss and dress size. I want to be trim, toned and even all over. If that means a weight higher than this due to muscle gain, so be it.

Location: England

Age: 30

Marital Status: Married and very happy.

Kids: One 12-month-old daughter

Pets: One kid, a husband and two houseplants are about all I can keep alive right now! We hope to get a kitty in the future, allergies permitting.

Work: Former environmental charity marketeer, currently a SAHM until my daughter starts daycare, when I'll be joining my husband part-time in his health insurance business.

History: While never officially very "overweight" for my height, although right on the line shortly before falling pregnant, I've always had a high percentage of body fat and randomly placed fat too (huge unsightly love handles!), so I've never been happy with my shape and my diet is obviously quite high in fat. I had bad food issues during my teenage years and want to finally make peace with it all. After years of struggling, discovering the SBD "lifestyle" a couple of weeks ago has given me such enthusiasm that there is hope for me yet, especially as there seems to be so many success stories.

Plan: Phase 1 starts Monday 13 February 2012. I will be following the 'Supercharged' exercise programme and adding in yoga during Phase 1 and then re-starting the Turbo Fire 20-week programme either on the first or second week of Phase 2, depending on my energy levels. My focus throughout will be to do better today than yesterday, therefore improving a little each day and seeing any slip ups as an opportunity to improve the next hour/day/week (whatever it takes) rather than give up.

Challenges: I self-sabotage an awful lot and in a complicated way that even I struggle to understand, so my main challenges will be to remember that it's a long-term lifestyle and a re-education rather than a strict programme that's ruined with one little cheat, and also to be able to cook regular grains and substitutions to pad out the meals for my non-SBD husband!

Favorite diet cheat: Sugary stuff, bread and pizza.

Hobbies: Yoga, art history and visiting galleries, wildlife, reading. Actually, there's not a lot I do 'for myself' these days. Must work on that.

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: Mostly for physical and mental health, but also to set a good example for my daughter. I don't want her growing up with a bad diet and negative body image like I did.

[redautumn]

User Name/Name: Redautumn/Jen

Starting weight/current/goal -151/147/120

Height: 5'3

Location: Indiana

Age: 39

Marital Status: Married

Kids: one 7 year old daughter

Pets: 2 cats, Snowball and Callie

Work: I work for a John Deere dealership. It is my family's business. I love my job!

History: I have never been overweight until now. I could always eat whatever I want and never had to worry about weight. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in my late 20's. Weight didn't become a problem until around 35. It kept creeping up and up. I don't want it to get any highter. Having hypothyroidism does make it harder to lose weight. I did do South Beach before and lost 10 lbs in a month. Hoping I can stick with it this time!

Plan: Started on South Beach January 1. Plan to go back to Phase 1 because of some bad choices made this week.

Challenges: The vending machine at work. I can stay away from it if I make sure to bring snacks with me to work.

Favorite diet cheat: Pizza and coconut cream pie

Hobbies: Yoga, knitting, reading and gardening (I really miss my garden right now).

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: I want to be healthier and teach my daughter to make smart choices with food. I also want to feel better. Dh has decided to try South Beach. He has already lost 10 lbs. Also, I am being a little vain. I want to lose the fat around my middle.

[Kelly J]

Name: Kelly
Age: 35
Where you live: Western NY
Where you grew up: Central NY

Do you have kids? How old? Daughter 9 and a son, 6

Current job or field of work / studies: Accounting - at least until I figure out what I want to do when I grow up

Why did you choose South Beach? It's worked for me before and the lifestyle makes sense to me

Are you going at this plan by yourself or do you have support (other than us of course)? My husband is on board but probably won't stick to plan 100%

Favorite Color: blue

Favorite Foods: Pasta, good ice cream, red wine

Favorite Exercise: umm, yeah, none - this is part of the weight problem

Problem In Weight Loss: Lack of planning and preparation. That and I hate to cook.

Beyond the facts
Favorite books:too many to list; fave authors are Joshilyn Jackson & Anna Quindlen

Favorite kinds of music / bands: I'll listen to just about anything

Favorite movies: Comedies

Hobbies: Reading, nutrition, yoga -- whether I have time for those is a totally different story

Are you a camping and hiking kind of person or do you prefer less sweaty and “roughing it” kinds of activities? I prefer being pampered in a spa, however I'm married to a very outdoorsy-type person and my kids love camping so my camping/hiking experiences outweigh any spa time by about 100 to 1

The place you’d most like to visit: Hawaii

WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL: I've started (& stopped) SB a few times over the last three years. This time I'm committed to making it work. I'm tired of having a tummy roll and I'm tired of my clothes not fitting right. I've also got to start setting a better example for my kids.

[lilmisschattabox]

User / Real Name: lilmisschattabox / Alicia

Starting weight/current/goal - 84.1kg(185lb)/81.8kg(180lb)/63kg(139lb)

Location: New Zealand

Age: 27

Marital Status: Long distance currently Left my bf in Australia!

Kids: none

Pets: One Rhodesian Ridgeback dog - Chloe, 1 cat - Sphinx

Work: Currently studying animal care with the hope of becoming a vet nurse

Plan: South Beach. I looked at this a while ago but never actually tried it. But I like the foods and it ticks the boxes for me with being able to eat snacks and not having to starve myself! So far really enjoying it and not feeling hungry at all!!

Favorite diet cheat: Wine (missing my red wine lots!!), chocolate, cheese and crackers, lolly cake, pretty much anything yummy will tempt me!

Hobbies: my animals, belly dancing, crochet, reading

Reasons for wanting to lose weight: sick of the scales going up, want to feel healthy and look good, want to buy pretty clothes instead of fat ones that I feel disgusting in! Also gained most of this weight in a really bad relationship so it reminds me of some really bad times - going to feel lighter both physically and mentally when it comes off!!!