[RisKay84]

First name: Kay

Geographical location: San Diego, California

Age: Almost 29

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 1 daughter, Almost 2 (we share back to back birthdays)

Occupation: Program Manager in Diagnostics

Pets: 0

Hobbies/Interests: Dancing, reading, socializing, watching re runs of old 90s shows... currently getting through Ally McBeal LOL

Height: 4'11 - Hoping to make it to 5' one day ;P

Eye/Hair Color: Brown / Black

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 01/14/2013

Starting Weight: 139 lbs

Present Weight: 131.6 lbs

Goal Weight: 110 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Working full time and making time to exercise as well as curbing bad eating habits

Following any specific plan: Mostly vegetarian diet with some fish/poultry. Although after watching a documentary called Vegucation this weekend on netflix I dont think I can even eat eggs. Portion control. Deciphering between hunger and craving. Zumba daily. Techniques of the Beck Diet Solution.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:
Im just more committed then I have ever been . There is no time restraint. No getting slim for a wedding. Motivated because time is not the issue. No pressure if I fail/fall off the wagon. Slow and steady wins the race.

Anything else you would like to share with us:
Loving this community. Has definitely kept me more motivated and inspired. Thank you!

[Lotus7]

First name: Christina

Geographical location: Philadelphia, USA

Age: 29

Marital Status: Partnered

Children/Ages: None.

Occupation: Not employed at the moment.

Pets: None

Hobbies/Interests: figure skating, travel, film, languages, cooking, sewing

Height: 5'3

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Forever, but we'll say 01 February 2013

Starting Weight: 62.2

Present Weight: 61.8

Goal Weight: 52

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Emotional Eating

Following any specific plan: I'm trying to take it slow and steady this time. For the first 2-3 months, I'm just focusing on what some call the 3-0-1 plan which is eating three proper meals a day with zero snacking in between and taking it one day at a time. As for exercise, I'm doing 15-20 min bodyrock workouts 5 days a week and using the other two days as active rest days in which I am figure skating (It was my sport as a teen).

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I've identified my issue with emotional eating and have found some tools to help me address it. I'm also taking steps to build a support system which I didn't really seek out before.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I've lived outside of the U.S. for about 6 years and just moved back 6 months ago with my partner. Since then, I have not been able to find a job. So that with the readjustment to the US (and US food) has been a recipe for stress and thus, overeating. I'm learning to just control the things I can and leave the rest up to the universe and that has been a true release for me.

[Ash22]

First name: Ash

Geographical location: Toronto, Ontario

Age: 22

Marital Status: Dating

Children/Ages: 3 Year Old Son

Occupation: Stay At Home Mom

Pets: -

Hobbies/Interests: Playing Wii, Music, Reading, Movies, Family

Height: 5ft 6in

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel Eyes , Dark Brown Hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: FEB 4 2013

Starting Weight: 194lbs

Present Weight: 194lbs

Goal Weight: 145lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Medical Issues - Self & Child

Following any specific plan: Not atm

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Heaviest I have ever been.. need to take care of my son. Pain.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

This weight issue is not just stress on me but my relationship. My son is special needs and all my time goes to him. Stress has caused me to go to the back burner. I HATE myself now... I need a change.

[Mandaj86]

First name: Amanda

Geographical location: Wisconsin

Age:26

Marital Status: In a relationship

Children/Ages:0

Occupation: Unemployed Historian

Pets: 2 kittens

Hobbies/Interests: Snowshoeing, playing my guitar, reading and hanging out with my bf

Height: 5' 7"

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel eyes and dark brown hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: January 16, 2013

Starting Weight: 262

Present Weight: 246

Goal Weight: 195

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Fast food and eating out. I tend to go for the convenient and the meal that takes the least amount of effort. I've never been a good cook, so that factors in too

Following any specific plan: I'm tracking my caloric intake with the Lose It! app on my Kindle Fire HD. I'm also working out every day (at the moment following a 5k training program and lifting or snowshoeing on my off days).

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I've found exercise and activities I love doing. Living in Wisconsin, winter is usually a bad time for me, but I've found I love to get out and snowshoe or hike in the trails and enjoy nature.

I'm also utilizing Pinterest to get ideas for healthy and easy meals. It's helped me to make meals that include more veggies and fresh fruits.

[quailgirl]

First name: Katie

Geographical location: Central Florida

Age: 24

Marital Status: Not married but not single

Children/Ages: None...not ever XD

Occupation: College student

Pets: A wonderful Tonkinese cat named Gizmo...but he stayed with my parents when I moved in with my boyfriend. Soon, we'll have kitties of our own

Hobbies/Interests: Video games, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, reading, being a massive nerd.

Height: 5ft 4in

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: December 1st, 2012

Starting Weight: 225

Present Weight: 200

Goal Weight: 130

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: PCOS I...hate it. So much.

Following any specific plan: Many small meals throughout the day to regulate blood sugar. Low carb (complex only), no sugar, no dairy, limited soy, no alcohol, no potatoes.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Before, I was only trying to lose weight for looks. This time, I need to lose weight for medical reasons as well. My PCOS causes all kinds of awful things, like an incredibly irregular period, facial hair, depression...losing weight will help ease my symptoms without having to resort to medication.

Anything else you would like to share with us: The last time I was able to shop in a "normal sized person" store, I was in 9th grade. I'm 24 now, and I can't wait to be able to go clothes shopping again!

[amandab33]

First name: Amanda

Geographical location: Mississippi

Age: 24

Marital Status: In a relationship

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Graduate Student and Behavior Specialist

Pets: Two cats -- Chloe and Oliver, and a dog -- Lucy

Hobbies/Interests: reading, hiking, swimming,

Height: 5'4

Eye/Hair Color: Green/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Off and on my whole life. I'm saying today is the last starting date though!!

Starting Weight: 247.2

Present Weight: 247.2

Goal Weight: 145

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: trying to make time for me and my health

Following any specific plan: None

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I need to do this for my health!

Anything else you would like to share with us:

[globetrotterleanne]

First name: Leanne

Geographical location: Los Angeles

Age: 20

Marital Status: single

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: Full Time Student

Pets: none

Hobbies/Interests: travelling, horseback riding, being outside, swimming (another motivation..)

Height: 170cm/5'7"

Eye/Hair Color: hazel/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: on and off for past 2 years

Starting Weight: 240 lbs

Present Weight: 236 lbs

Goal Weight: 160 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: binge eating.. inconsistency in diet/workouts

Following any specific plan: calorie counting, exercise, and hard work

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am done saying "tomorrow!"

Anything else you would like to share with us: I had lost 20 lbs this summer, but I lost my dad to cancer in October and it's been downhill since then, gaining over 40 lbs. I am mentally ready now

[AliceZee]

First name: Alice

Geographical location: Perth, Australia!

Age: 22

Marital Status: Engaged

Children/Ages: 13mo boy

Occupation: Stay at home mum/student

Pets: 2 cats and chickens

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, sewing, gardening

Height: 5'5

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/dark brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 21st January

Starting Weight: 210

Present Weight: 202

Goal Weight: 155

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Stress eating

Following any specific plan: Balanced whole foods and regular exercise

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Having a toddler I want to set a good example for

Anything else you would like to share with us: I've been on and off dieting since I was 10 years old and I'm desperate to break the cycle!!

[Fortunate]

First name: Michelle

Geographical location: South Africa

Age: 24

Marital Status: long term relationship

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: animal rehab therapist

Pets: 4 dogs, 4 birds, 1 bearded dragon, 2 200liter fish tanks

Hobbies/Interests: animals, agility training, obidence training, squash, tennis, reading

Height: 5'5" (if i worked it out right - 164cm)

Eye/Hair Color: blue eyes / red hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: officially in sept 2012, but have struggled my whole life

Starting Weight: 85kgs

Present Weight: 69kg

Goal Weight: 60kg

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: harsh comments people make

Following any specific plan: eat right and exercise

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have a plan and a goal, and a **** you attitude to the people who want to drag me down

Anything else you would like to share with us:
I have a twin, and I love my animals (they are my kids) making people happy makes me happy, im a big softy (inside and out )

[castiel]

First name: Cas

Geographical location: USA

Age: 20

Marital Status: single

Occupation: frustratingly unemployed other than selling my crafts (which I do fairly well on really)

Pets: one dog and one very fat cat

Hobbies/Interests: reading, crafting, watching entire television series in surprisingly short amounts of time, cosplay, mythology

Height: 5'8"

Eye/Hair Color: green and brown. well, the eyes are green, the hair is brown. except sometimes it's green too.

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 15 Feb 2013

Starting Weight: 195lbs

Present Weight: 195lbs

Goal Weight: 150lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: sticking with it!

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: this time I have a clear enough goal set for myself: lose as much weight as possible by August. The motivator is that I need to look good (read: feel comfortable) in a very skimpy outfit while at a huge scifi con. I've always wanted to get down to 150lbs, and regardless of how much I lose before August, I think this will give me the momentum to keep going with it and get my weight down further.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm pagan, queer, and extremely nerdy.

[L J]

First name: Laura

Geographical location: Alabama

Age: 26

Marital Status: married

Children/Ages: 2 living, ages 6 years and 18 months

Occupation: automotive parts industry

Pets: none

Hobbies/Interests: Thrift stores, reading, yard work - especially burning leaves! Fire is fun! Ha!

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: green

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: I decided on my son's 6th birthday, Jan 28, 2013, to do something about my present state. I started making small changes a few days later, and started full on focusing in the middle of February.

Starting Weight: I was 159 on January 28

Present Weight: 150

Goal Weight: mid 130s

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I love candy, and my co workers come to work with bags of Reece's and M&Ms and they are very generous. Its been really hard to say no, but I have been. Its hard to keep sweets out of the house with a big kid who expects them in his lunchbox, so I have asked my husband to hide them from me.

Following any specific plan: I am counting calories using the FitDay app, and I am working out using Slim in 6.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am working out! I have tried to lose in the past, and seen varying degrees of success, but I have never committed to exercise. I just couldn't get into a routine, or "find the time". I joined gyms, quit. I tried running, hated it. Bought a treadmill, used it for a coat rack, sold it. Now, as a married, full time working mama of two, one of which is in extracurricular activities that are time consuming and the other still a baby, I have found the time and discovered that I LOVE working out to videos! My Amazon wish list is two pages long with workout videos I can't wait to try. I know this is what is going to make me ultimately successful this time.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I have been pregnant or breastfeeding for the past 7 years. I am currently breastfeeding my 18 month old, and I do not expect her to wean any time soon, which, based on what I have already seen with my body, will slow down my weight loss. This is frustrating, but worth it. I was pregnant for almost all of 2010 and 2011. My youngest son was stillborn full term in 2010, and I was pregnant with my daughter less than 3 months later. This has taken a toll on my body, and I am both surprised and proud of how fast my muscles are catching on to being used again!
I joined this forum because I am boring my friends, family and coworkers to death talking about working out, feeling strong and losing inches. I am excited to talk about it with people who are right there with me!

[mariam892]

First name: Mariam

Geographical location: Currently home in NY but most of the time in Philadelphia, PA (where I go to school)

Age: 20

Marital Status: nope

Children/Ages: 0

Occupation: research assistant

Pets: 0

Hobbies/Interests: people-watching in Starbucks, fashion, reading, drawing

Height: 5'8"

Eye/Hair Color: dark brown for both

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: TODAY!

Starting Weight: 219

Present Weight: 219

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: failure

Following any specific plan: Not anything specific. My brother is lending me some of his diet pills which he used when he lost over 70 lbs. Planning on hitting up my school's gym and cutting down the late night snacking/study eating.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am much more serious. I actually bought cute work out clothes to motivate myself to go to the gym. I also have a big trip planned for Germany in May and would love to lose as much weight as possible by then.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I just need support to not give up. These past few years have been pretty rough for me; my father passed away, my brother became depressed/suicidal, and I myself have been going to therapy for a few weeks. Losing weight is not just to look better, but to help me on my path to a healthier mind.
__________________

[Keep Moving Forward]

First name: Rachel

Geographical location: Louisiana

Age: 26 (for another ten days)

Marital Status: as single as the day is long

Children/Ages: nope

Occupation: unemployed presently

Pets: 2 cats, 6 dogs, 4 horses

Hobbies/Interests: cooking, baking, photography, music, singing, tv, taking care of all the animals, reading

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: greenish brown/dark brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: a couple months ago

Starting Weight: Between 295 & 300, not entirely sure

Present Weight: 290 (my growing muscles make the scale stay higher than necessary)

Goal Weight: 150-160

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight-loss: My ADHD, it can cause lack of motivation, distraction, poor ability to plan/think ahead. I'm pretty sure it's why I've always given up when things got too hard because I can get easily overwhelmed. A close 2nd would be my scale. When I put too much focus on what the scale says I can completely derail all my hard work.

Following any specific plan: Eating more natural, whole foods & avoiding additives/preservatives, as well as sugar. Working out with kettlebells following Lauren Brooks's book "Kettlebells for Women," as well as her DVD. And I'm drinking 64-96oz of water a day.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This time I'm not focused on numbers (lbs, inches), or at least I'm telling myself that. More than being thin, I want to be fit & healthy, that's my ultimate goal. My scale may not be changing much but I can see & feel the difference in my body. I have tons more energy &, most days, I'm in a great mood. This new mindset & shift in focus about food and weight loss seems to help me stay motivated and more willing to make changes.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm still struggling to make better food choices, especially when faced with my weaknesses: candy, cookies, brownies, etc. However, I feel so proud of myself for the positive changes I've made. I feel in control, even when I really just want to go on a sugar bender. I have never enjoyed this process of weight loss so much. EVER. I can now fit into a pair of skinny jeans that I haven't been able to wear in over a year!

[LaSperanza]

First name: Stephanie

Geographical location: Minnesota

Age: 23

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None, but I have a wonderful 5-year-old niece!

Occupation: Retail for now.

Pets: None, up until a few months ago had a dog and a rabbit though.

Hobbies/Interests: Barbershop music, reading, traveling, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, theatre

Height: 5' 3.5"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/Blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: February 10, 2013

Starting Weight: 193.4

Present Weight: 178.4

Goal Weight: 135-140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating out of stress and boredom

Following any specific plan: Medifast

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have a group of people supporting me and serving as accountability partners. In the past it's only been a case of, "well, I guess I'll try to eat a bit healthier" without sharing specific goals with anyone.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I love speaking Spanish. If you speak Spanish, debemos hablar!

[destyni]

First name: Destyni

Geographical location: Atlanta, Georgia

Age:27

Marital Status: boyfriend

Children/Ages:1 son, 4 months

Occupation:customer service rep/student/mommy!

Pets:none

Hobbies/Interests:shopping, computers, amusement parks, DIETING!

Height:5'7

Eye/Hair Color:brown/black

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: march 4th, 2013

Starting Weight:255.8

Present Weight:249.2

Goal Weight:145

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: staying on track with continuous workouts.

Following any specific plan: calorie counting, daily workout, 1 gallon of water a day.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:this time i am doing it right. no starvation, no laxatives or binging.

Anything else you would like to share with us: im awesomely awesome!