Real name: Carole

Geographical location: West Michigan

Age: 54

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2 sons age 17 and 20

Occupation: LPN

Pets: Dusty a blind/deaf old loveable ****zu and Mena (short for Willamena-the daughter my husband-William never had) a goofy black lab

Hobbies/Interests: Quilting, gardening, fishing

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: Graying/hazel

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:Hoping to have surgery 2/2008

Starting Weight: 240

Present Weight: 240

Goal Weight: 150s

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: emotional eating

Following any specific plan: WLS

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This works!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I am so blessed to have a great
support system of family and friends.

Real name: Terry (or Theresa

Geographical location: Arizona, just outside of Phoenix

Age: 50

Marital Status:married f9r 25 years! I cann't believe it

Children/Ages: duaghter-24, son-21

Occupation: 6th grade teacher-God help me!

Pets: The laziest cat in the world and a goldfish who has more personality than our cat!

Hobbies/Interests: reading, crafts, painting, home makeover

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: graying brown/brown hazelish

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: since the dawn of time

Starting Weight: well, to make it easy lets just say way too much

Present Weight: 329 I've gained back most of the 35-40 lbs I lost a few years ago

Goal Weight: around 170

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: emotional eating and keeping up with the exercise

Following any specific plan: WLS (probably in February '08)

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I've accepted I'm fat not just because I eat too much which I sometimes do or I'm lazy which i can be but because there are some tall, thin people walking around out there with my metabolism!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm just starting this whole process and have a long way to go!

name- misty

location-zachary, la near baton rouge

age- the big 30

marital status- married 6 years on feb 16 together 16 years on feb 18

children/age- olivia m'lynn is 4 and ella claire is 5 months

occupation-i am a dme manager (medical eqiupment like beds, walkers, 02)

pets- none, we dont have a fence

height- i am 5'7 or so

starting date-i had lap band 01/28/2008

starting weight-that am i was 368 highest 379

present weight-dont know have not been back to dr

i hope to gain lots from you girls and guys to help me go to disney world with my husband and my girls. ha ha

Real name: Jaime
Geographical location: FL
Age: 19
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Student
Pets: 2 cats, 1 dog
Hobbies/Interests: medicine, coloring, chemistry, biology
Height: 5'3"
Eye/Hair Color: blue/brown
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 1.1.06
Starting Weight: 262
Present Weight: 176
Goal Weight: 135
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating the bad stuff, getting enough nutrients, exercising
Following any specific plan: lapband (6.18.07)
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This is fool-proof and it is time for me to be healthy and ME

Anything else you would like to share with us: 3FC is an amazing forum with a lot of information and motivation! Getting banded was one of the best things I've done in my short life.

This is one smart group and I have learned so much from them and their support is wonderful. Keep us informed and great job on taking off the put-on pounds. I'm not crazy about the life-long nutritional plan given by my clinic, but the NUT is really nice, but not too involved.

Real name: Kimberly

Geographical location: Virginia now, soon to be Cali

Age: 27

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: Arabella, nearly 6, Kerrigan 4 1/2

Occupation: RN

Pets: None

Hobbies/Interests: Running, Crocheting/Knitting & Reading

Height: 5'

Eye/Hair Color: Green

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Surgery was 7/08/06

Starting Weight: 244

Present Weight: 122

Goal Weight: 104

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I have 2 small children who take after their dad, some junk does need to be in the house. Luckily, I buy thing I would never possibly eat!

Following any specific plan: Not anymore, just count my protein & carbs

Ggoing by your preset format
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: It really works, I had roux en y, you have to be sadisitic to mess w/ that!

Anything else you would like to share with us: My family, especially my husband loves that I've had to surgery however now my Mom & husband are pressuring me to get a tummy tuck (the mucles are tight, the skin is loose & pumping some juice into my boobs!)

Read name: Pamela

Location: Florida

Age: 55

marital status: married

children: no (see pets!)

occupation: data collector

pets: Zack a goldendoodle and Lola a rottweiler

Hhobbies: fiber arts

height: 5'7"

eye color: blue

surgery date: 9/13/2007

starting weight: 271

current weight: 179

type: vertical sleeve gastrectomy VSG

following specific plan: no, eat protein first then avoid sugars and high fat

what is different about this time: I'm successful!

Read name: Kristi

Location: Western Australia, but Kentuckian by birth!

Age: 35+

marital status: married

children: do pets count? lol

occupation: Environment Dept. Rio Tinto

pets:Ursa--Stafforshire Terrier cross, Sarge--Jack Russell, Squeaker--domestic shorthair tabby (aka ally cat), Grommet--domestic semi-long hair tortoiseshell

Hobbies: hmm--perhaps you should just check out my profile......bit long for here!

height: 5'7"/173cms

eye color: brown

surgery date: 19 May 2008

starting weight: 281.60lbs/128kgs

current weight: 264lbs/120kgs

type: adjustable lap band

following specific plan: plan ahead, portion control, chew chew chew, no drink during meal, water water water the rest of the time. don't forget to walk!

what is different about this time: I'm unlikely to sabotage myself, because I can't. I love having no choice!

Real name: Melissa

Geographical location: Richmond, Va.

Age: 25

Marital Status: Happily Single

Children/Ages: Madilyn, 2 1/2

Occupation: Student of Paralegal Studies

Pets: 1 happy little mutt, Frodo

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Spending time with family and friends, watching movies

Height: 6'

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: March 2008. According to my insurance I have to have 6 months of diet and exercise while under the care of a doctor. My 6 months are up in September and I am looking forward to it.

Starting Weight: My weight at the start of the 6 months was 410

Present Weight: 397

Goal Weight: 160

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: the 6 months lol

Following any specific plan: Right now just watching calories and carbs and walking the treadmill

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm looking forward to the surgery and losing the weight, but kinda worried about after i lose the weight.

Real name: Cheryl

Geographical location: NYC, NY

Age: 28

Marital Status: In Love (not married, just dating)

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: Finance Manager

Pets: 2 month old Yellow Lab named Daisy.

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, watching movies

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue / Blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 5/15/08

Starting Weight: 376 yikes!

Present Weight: 329

Goal Weight: 170

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Drinking the water and getting in enough protein.

Following any specific plan: WLS

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Im actually losing weight!!

Anything else you would like to share with us: My personal goal is to lose 200lbs. I have never seen myself skinny so I am really curious what I will look like. Actually kinda scares me!

Real name: Andrew

Geographical location: Oakland, CA

Age: 43

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: Kept Man (as of 9/24 will be "Student")

Pets: 2 cats, Dot and Dash

Hobbies/Interests: gadgets, computers, youtube

Height: 6'1"

Eye/Hair Color: brn/brn

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 9/15/08

Starting Weight: 428

Present Weight: 410

Goal Weight: 265

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Drinking the water and getting in enough protein.

Following any specific plan: WLS

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm married -- my wife is very supportive and encouraging. Oh, that and the RNY.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Like the previous poster -- I've never been anything other than fat. I can't imagine what the skinny me looks like but I can't wait to find out.

Real name: Mary

Geographical location: Agawam, Massachusetts (Suburb of Springfield)

Age: 43

Marital Status: Married 16 years to Bestfriend Bob

Children/Ages: 2 Step : Jay -26, Matt - 22, and my miracle child thru IVF -Paul almost 9

Occupation: Stay at Home Mom

Pets: 9 Year Himilayan Cat named Mosa

Hobbies/Interests: Scrapbooking, Digital Photograhy, Hanging with Friends, Movies, Playing on the Internet

Height: 5'6"

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel / Bottle Dirty Blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Ongoing for last 20 Years with no luck but am now starting process to have Gastric Bypass

Starting Weight: now am 238

Present Weight: 238

Goal Weight: 138
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Drinking Water

Following any specific plan: Whatever my Gastric Bypass Doctor Gives me

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Surgery

Anything else you would like to share with us: Just excited!

Sasmnky--also in NTexas here-- wife and momma...You can get your weight back to the 150..you have done it before..what are you doing to kick it back in gear if you don't mind me asking

Real name: Jill

Geographical location: Northern Virginia (outside DC)

Age: 26

Marital Status: Engaged

Children/Ages: none, yet, but I like to spoil my 2 nieces, Jackie (8) and Izzy (almost 2)

Occupation: Proposal Manager for a government contractor

Pets: 2 dogs - Corgi/Jack Russell/Chihuahua mixes, Bean (female) and Bowser (male); toad, unnamed; blue/purple Betta fish on my desk at work, unnamed

Hobbies/Interests: music, editing, desktop publishing, movies, cartoons

Height: 5' 5"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown for both

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: around June or July 2008 is when I started researching seriously

Starting Weight: 324 (that's my highest known)

Present Weight: about 295-300

Goal Weight: 150 (to be adjusted as I approach that weight)

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: keeping both my weight and my type 2 diabetes in check

Following any specific plan: limiting carbs

Anything else you would like to share with us: I was against WLS for myself until my diabetes diagnosis at age 25. Now I am seeking the DS as a means of potentially curing my diabetes.