First name: Angeline

Geographical location:Northwest US

Age:25

Marital Status:newly wed

Children/Ages:none yet

Occupation:University Admissions Counselor

Pets:Katie the Cat

Hobbies/Interests:hanging out with friends, time with the hubby, reading, going to the movies, fun times

Height:5'6''

Eye/Hair Color:blue and blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:let's see.... 8th grade? I started keeping a new record on Feb 7th, 2009

Starting Weight: 182

Present Weight:180

Goal Weight:135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: boredom, my runner husband who eats anything he wants and doesn't gain a pound, friendships that revolve around food, quite a bit actually

Following any specific plan:eat 1500 calories and workout five days a week. I need to start small because I always go over board and then drop out after two or three weeks

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:starting small and celebrating small successes

Anything else you would like to share with us:I'm hoping I'll be at my goal weight in time for my 26th birthday in August and actually wear a two piece for the first time in my life!

First name: Monica

Geographical location: UK

Age: 23

Marital Status: Long-term relationship

Children/Ages: None yet

Occupation: Currently in a slump...

Pets: A cat called Ben :-)

Hobbies/Interests:

Playing music, watching films - going to cinema, reading, eating out

Height: 5'9"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes, dark blond hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 18.02.09

Starting Weight:

Too scared to weigh myself right now... will edit when I have summoned the courage!

Present Weight:

Goal Weight: Size 12 (UK size)

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Tiredness, laziness - I hate cooking, eating out, and even ready-meals are so tempting! Boredom eating... I sit around in coffe shops all day, drinking tea and munching for lack of a job or motivation...

Following any specific plan: No, I tried Slimming World, but gave up...

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

I am going to want children in the next 2-3 years, and I already have lower chances than normal from having PCOS. Being overweight is an added hurdle I don't need! My boyfriend has unofficially asked me to marry him (he still has to do the down on one knee jobby!) and I am too big to wear the type of dress I've been dreaming about since I was about 5!! ;-)

Anything else you would like to share with us:

I'm prone to mood-swings... one day I'll be happily positive about things, the next, convinced my life is a mess. The truth is, that some aspects of my life (family, and boyfriend, friends) are amazing, and others (career...) are not going well at all.

First name: Courtney

Geographical location: Miami!

Age: 19

Marital Status: very taken

Children/Ages: ahaha none yet but I do have a 2 year old sister and 4 year old brother

Occupation: student/photographer/desk assistant and mail assistant

Pets: sadly none here but at home I have a german shepard and a cat

Hobbies/Interests: arts and literature

Height: 5'8"

Eye/Hair Color: light brown/ naturally brown, currently redish brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 1st time 01/2008. 2nd time 02/2009

Starting Weight: 160

Present Weight: 157

Goal Weight: 135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: feeling like I have time for the gym

Following any specific plan: just counting calories and eating healthy

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm fully committed, I saw how easy it is to gain it back and don't want that to happen again. And I have a partner in this... my boyfriend!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm a pretty big fan of 3fc
and my goal is to be able to wear a swim suit confidently this summer :]

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First name: Emily

Geographical location: Illinois

Age: 22

Marital Status: very single

Children/Ages:none yet

Occupation: student/soon to be special ed teacher

Pets: Golden Retriever named Bella

Hobbies/Interests: movies, music, and books

Height: 5'7"

Eye/Hair Color: brown/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Off and on for a few months, officially 12/03/08

Starting Weight: 274

Present Weight: 254

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: finding motivation to exercise

Following any specific plan: counting calories, considering weight watchers

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm very ready for a change. I have found myself in a place I never wanted to be, and I am ready to leave it all behind

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm planning a trip to LA in July, and would love to see a new me taking it!

First name: Amy

Geographical location: Norfolk, UK

Age: 27

Marital Status: Married (4 years)

Children/Ages: nope, maybe in another year or 2

Occupation: HVAC Design Engineer

Pets: Does this include husbands????

Hobbies/Interests: wine, theatre ( i love a musical), friends,

Height: 5'2"

Eye/Hair Color: greeny brown eyes / browny red hair (not natural, i went grey at 20! )

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Joined 3fc in nov 08, fell off the wagon in december, got back on in feb 09

Starting Weight: 318

Present Weight: 307

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: will power, not making excuses.

Following any specific plan: nope, just sensible eating, lots of fruit and veg, no take out, and lots of exercise

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This time its for me, not because i want to wear a dress to someone elses wedding etc. I know that sounds corny but it true.

Anything else you would like to share with us: i can wait to fit back in top all the clothes in my wardrobe.......

First name: Caitlin

Geographical location: Wiesbaden, Germany (originally from Long Island, New York)

Age: 20

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: Well, kind of, haha. I take care of two boys 7-8 hours a day -- thatīs kind of like having kids, right? They are 7 & 9.

Occupation: Au pair

Pets: I have two at my home in the US. A cat named Puppy and a dog named Louie. None here though.

Hobbies/Interests: Learning German, reading, music and dancing, working out, traveling.

Height: 5'5''

Eye/Hair Color: green eyes (though each one is rather different shade of green!) and brown hair.

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: February 20th 2008

Starting Weight: 95.2 kilos, 204 lbs I actually think I weighed a bit more than this at some point but I have been eating somewhat healthier the past few months. But now I am promising to myself to be more proactive about it.

Present Weight: 95.2 kilos, 204 lbs

Goal Weight: 58 kilos, 128 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: A love of junk food, binge eating, snacking, awful food choices!

Following any specific plan: Calorie counting and exercise

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: More knowledge than I've had in the past. I have awful eating habits and I go back and forth between starving myself and then going on insane binges, which has probably made me even fatter. Now I know I need to eat lightly all day. I need to exercise and move around. I feel stronger and more determined.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Weight loss has been a life long struggle for me. I have always been fairly athletic but I have awful eating habits that totally negate any efforts I make in that department. I have had success with weight loss before, I got down to 167 from 190 and I was so incredibly happy. Then I went to college and kind of had a rough time there and gained it all back plus some. I am happy again though, here in Germany and the weight has been coming off without even trying, so now with a little effort I am hoping to see big results!!

First name: Jessica

Geographical location: Vancouver

Age: 21

Marital Status: Engaged

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: student

Pets: Golden Retriever.. Charlie

Hobbies/Interests: Hockey!

Height: 5'1"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Feb 1st, 2009

Starting Weight: 175

Present Weight: 170

Goal Weight: 130

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: mindless eating

Following any specific plan: Counting calories and exercising 4 days out of the week

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am really motivated this time. I recently got engaged and this is my biggest motivation.. I want to look good in my dress!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I have been heavy for years and have never felt comfortable going to the beach with my friends. My goal is to be able to feel good in a bathing suit this summer!

First name: Stephanie

Geographical location: Boston, MA

Age: 22

Marital Status: In a relationship

Children/Ages: My son Taharka/ 11 months on Saturday

Occupation: Student

Pets: Fishes

Hobbies/Interests: I like to read, cook, work out a little

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color:Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 02.19.2009

Starting Weight: 231

Present Weight: 227

Goal Weight: 150's

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating ALLn the time!!!

Following any specific plan: Calorie counting and exercise

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I feel like this time I have more support with 3FC by my side!!! Thanks guys!!!

First name: Stephanie

Geographical location: AZ

Age: 29 (so almost out of the 20 somethings, but I relate better to your threads!)

Marital Status: Not :P (dating)

Children/Ages: 0

Occupation: Operations Analyst

Pets: 1 Dog - Dublin and he's a dachshund

Hobbies/Interests: Wii, Dancing, Baggo, RockBand!!

Height: 5'7"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 1/5/2009

Starting Weight: 159.6

Present Weight: 152.4

Goal Weight: 130 for now

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Staying disciplined, I have 2 roommates that don't care about what they eat, so if the DBF and I don't cook they order pizza, I stay away from it for so long, and then finally crumble when I know there is enough for me to eat, and they'll still get all they want. I just love pizza, its delish!!! My DBF makes a whole wheat pizza that is awesome, no sauce, and fat free cheese! Thank goodness he's on WL Journey too!

Following any specific plan: My DBF follows WW Core from 2008, so I pretty much do that too. I don't keep track of points is all.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:
I have this site! I know I'm not on a diet, I know it doesn't come fast, and takes a lot of hard work and determination.

Anywho...I've been hanging around for a while, but haven't said anything. But its time to join in, so HELLO everyone...

First name: Fran

Geographical location: London, UK

Age: 21

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: Not for me thanks

Occupation: Student

Pets: 5 cats at home home, they are looking after my mum!

Hobbies/Interests: Shopping, I have a seriousl problem, I can't save money for the life of me!

Height: 5'5

Eye/Hair Color: Dark brown hair and brown eyes

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: December '08

Starting Weight: 240

Present Weight: 200

Goal Weight: 140 (although I'll see what I look like when I get there, so maybe more)

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: to not get angry at myself when I get stuck on a weight, and then binge on food because I'm depressed

Following any specific plan: Nope, not really

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Ummm...I'm not sure really. The last time I got really skinny it was down to an eating disorder, apart from that time I never lost weight really.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm a classical musician!

First name: Nikki

Geographical location: Bloomington, IN

Age: 24

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: Not for a while

Occupation: Graduate Student

Pets: none myself, but my childhood pets are at home with my parents.. 3 dogs and 3 cats

Hobbies/Interests: what are hobbies?

Height: 5'3

Eye/Hair Color: brown and brown brown hair and brown eyes

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Jan '09

Starting Weight: 160

Present Weight: 150

Goal Weight: 130

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: currently I am trying to overcome a month long plateau, but usually it's stress related eating and then it all just snow balls from there

Following any specific plan: Nope, just trying to exercise more

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Not much really, maybe more motivated because this is the heaviest I've ever been? Not really sure.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I wish it was summer.

First name: Shelby

Geographical location: Lecompton, KS

Age: 20

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: Not for a while

Occupation: Student working towards BSN

Pets: 2 dogs

Hobbies/Interests: Being outdoors, going to the gym

Height: 5'8

Eye/Hair Color: brown haur and hazel eyes

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Jan '09

Starting Weight: 245

Present Weight: 236

Goal Weight: 160

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: changing my eating habbits and not going back to my old habbits, also getting through the tough times

Following any specific plan: I joined MRC and going to the gym more

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: just watching what I ate and trying to workout I think joining a program where there is support will help me stick with a program

Anything else you would like to share with us: After reaching my goal I plan on buying a swim suit

First name: Lisa

Geographical location: Wisconsin

Age: 23

Marital Status: Engaged. Getting married in September.

Children/Ages: None yet.

Occupation: Human Services Assistant/Social Worker. I work with homeless adults who are mentally ill and substance abusing.

Pets: 2 of the cutest dogs you will ever see, Bam! and Jasmini Cooper. 2 cats, 2 horses, and 1 leopard gecko.

Hobbies/Interests: horseback riding, reading, taking the dogs to the park, doing agility /w the dogs, driving fast...

Height: 5'3.5"

Eye/Hair Color: Green/Brunette

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Feb. 5, 2009.

Starting Weight: 218.5

Present Weight: 206.5

Goal Weight: ideally, 145. for now, 160.

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: i have a major sweet tooth.

Following any specific plan: Not really, i'm just eating really healthy while counting calories. so far it is helping me make better choices.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: i have never tried in the past. this time, i'm going for it.

Anything else you would like to share with us: i recently became a vegetarian (ovo--my neighbor has free-range chickens) again. i'm so glad that i did.