[frog princess]

First name: Eve

Geographical location:Pittsburgh, PA

Age:43

Marital Status: married 20 years this August

Children/Ages: three daughters, aged 17, 12, & 8 and two sons aged 15 & 2 1/2

Occupation : homemaker and part time food service

Pets: ferrets (but they're predominantly cared for by #1 daughter)

Hobbies/Interests: puppetry, writing

Height:5' 5"

Eye/Hair Color: hazel eyes, brown hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Trying to decide what was the beginning of this journey. I lost 110 lbs about five years ago, gained back about 80 of them and started losing again January 2010. Took a two month backslide (thankfully without gaining any back) and rededicated myself weighing in again on 6/13/10

Starting Weight:235

Goal Weight:170

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: neck and shoulder problems which hinder exercise

Following any specific plan: Transitions Lifestyles (low glycemic index)

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Having more fear of resistance exercise, less exercise in general, less enthusiasm in general than the last time, more humble, less sure of where I want to end up. I used to lift weights with great gusto and am missing it.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Drawing a blank at the moment. I'm going through a depressive phase right now but trying to function through it all.

[Here I Go]

First name:
Jenny

Geographical location:
Ireland

Age:
48 (49 next month)

Marital Status:
Married for 24 years

Children/Ages:
3 daughters age 25, 23, 15; 2 sons age 18 & 19

Occupation:
Accounts Clerk – part time/chief cook & bottle washer at home!

Pets:
1 dog, 4 cats

Hobbies/Interests
: Gardening, drama, music, reading, meeting friends and family

Height:
5’6”

Eye/Hair Color:
Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:
19/6/2010

Starting Weight:
205lbs

Goal Weight:
156lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss:
Sticking with it

Following any specific plan:
Eat sensible and healthy food in normal portions.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:
I want to be healthier. I avoid socializing as I am not happy with how I l look. I want to change these habits.

Anything else you would like to share with us:
No

[LastDitchEffort]

First name: Diane

Geographical location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

Age: 45

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 1 boy 9 years old

Occupation: office work

Hobbies/Interests: eating, reading cookbooks, family

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: blue/brownish

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: started at age 14 and have been at it ever since. New start date-today.

Starting Weight: not sure-I'll say 220

Goal Weight: 155

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: hunger, compulsive eating even if full already

Following any specific plan: Will try to follow WW points as I find it easy to think in points now.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: desperation. I last logged on 3 years ago, I was 30 pounds lighter then. I'm so pissed off at myself for gaining that back again. If I can't get something going with this now, I never will.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Thanks for having this site, makes me feel less alone in the world.

[Teacher0217]

First name: Stacy

Geographical location: Florida

Age: 42

Marital Status: married

Children/Ages: DD-22, DD-17, DSD-17, DD-13

Occupation: Teacher

Pets: 2 Boston Terriers, 1 Pug

Hobbies/Interests: reading, beach, walking

Height: 5'3"

Eye/Hair Color: hazel/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 6/15/2010

Starting Weight: 168

Goal Weight: 145

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: snacking/overeating

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers

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

Anything else you would like to share with us: Just got off the TTC roller coaster...unsuccessfully. Now I am trying to find ME again........

[marykp63]

First name: Mary

Geographical location: Texas

Age: 46

Marital Status: Single (divorced)

Children/Ages: Daughter/16

Occupation: Accounting

Pets: 2 cats - Lucy & Ethel

Hobbies/Interests: Volunteering, Spending time w/ family and friends

Height: 5' 7"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 6/21/10

Starting Weight: 255

Goal Weight: 175

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Changing my eating habits

Following any specific plan: Not yet

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This time I am ready for a change and have the right attitude.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I am a single mom of a 16 yr old daughter. I need to make changes to be healthier and be a good example for my daughter.

[FloridaGirl1970]

First name: Amanda

Geographical location: Florida

Age: 40

Marital Status: single

Children/Ages: 0

Occupation: work for a large financial institution (work from home)

Pets: none

Height: 5'

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 6/10/2010

Starting Weight: 269

Goal Weight: 135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: exercising

Following any specific plan: more calories burned than eaten

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: no fads, no gimmicks, just counting calories and getting more exercise

Anything else you would like to share with us: not overly joyed about being 40 While I realize life is not over, I always wanted children and I kind of considered 40 the cut off. It is sad for me to have to let that dream die, all the while knowing it was most probably my own fault due to my weight.

[Mikkijoe]

First name: Annette

Geographical location: Central Washington--where it is Sunny!

Age: 44

Marital Status: Marries

Children/Ages: Son 18, daughter 13

Occupation: Human Resources (I hire and fire all day long)

Pets: 2 Boston Terriers, and My son's Schnau Tzu, One cat, Short Haired Persian

Hobbies/Interests: Creating Recipes,

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Green eyes, Hair----about 4 colors right now LOL, browns and auburns

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 6/15/10

Starting Weight: 299

Goal Weight: Don't know, probably about 180

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: weightloss

Following any specific plan: Very Little processed foods, no artificial sweetners, no 'diet' foods....eating actually, having breakfast and lunch which is a struggle for me

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Trying to just take one day at a time

Anything else you would like to share with us: I am a smart 'arse' , I usually tell it like it is, but only if there is a benefit to the reciever

[120someday]

First name: Renee

Geographical location: New Mexico

Age: 47

Marital Status: happily married

Children/Ages: daughter 19 son 17

Occupation: Office manager

Pets: dog, cat

Hobbies/Interests: walking and running again someday

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: brown/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 6/28/2010

Starting Weight:181.8

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Commitment

Following any specific plan: no

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: concern for my health

[JessLess]

First name: Jessica

Geographical location: Massachusetts

Age: 40

Marital Status: married

Children/Ages: I like other people’s children

Occupation: publishing

Pets: 2 rescue dogs, a golden retriever and a border collie/golden retriever mix.

Hobbies/Interests: volunteering, politics, reading, Lush, nail polish, fatshion/fashion

Height: 5' 8"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown eyes and dark brown hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Apr. 5th, 2010, I got down to serious business

Starting Weight: 257

Goal Weight: 150 or abouts

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: I love food and am an emotional eater. I used to live in New Orleans, where there was great food and most people were pretty chub and no one really cared.

I am also an activist for fat rights and need to find a comfortable place between being against fat-hate and wanting to lose weight for personal reasons. I really believe in health at any size and I would hate to lose those beliefs or hate my body/self to try to lose weight.

Following any specific plan: Strength training 2x a week with trainer followed by 30-60 min. on the Elliptical, one day of jog/walking ala Couch25K, reduced fat, carbs and calorie diet. Increased water intake. I am also taking Phentermine.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am very motivated for reasons other than looks alone. I want to have stamina and keep up with other people. I think it will positively affect my career.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I have had two successful 40 lb. weight losses in the past. This is different because I have much more to lose and want to keep it off. I know that exercise and vigilance has to be part of the rest of my life.

[Losing It 2010]

First name: DG

Geographical location: Nashville, TN

Age: 43

Marital Status:

Children/Ages: Yes 1

Occupation: Self-employed as a photographer

Pets: No

Hobbies/Interests: photography

Height: 5'0

Eye/Hair Color:Brn/Brn

Starting Date of Healthier Eating Journey: 6.30.10

Starting Weight:169

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: Giving up and throwing in the towel

Following any specific plan: This month, eating more healthy and avoiding soda and fast food

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am not going to become obsessed about it

Anything else you would like to share with us: The forties have been awesome best decade of my life so far

[neurodoc]

First name: Andrea

Geographical location: Okemos, MI (near Lansing)

Age: 44

Marital Status: married since 1991 to the same awesome guy.

Children/Ages: Joshua-12, Ari-8, Zach-5

Occupation: Physician (neurologist)

Pets: none

Hobbies/Interests: reading, singing, neuroscience

Height: 5'2"

Eye/Hair Color: blue/dk. blonde and curly

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Hmm. This time, it was in mid-February 2010. But I have had 2 other serious weight loss efforts, once in my 20s and once in my 30s.Each time, manage to get to ~125 pounds, then drift back up within a few years.

Starting Weight: 162

Goal Weight: 120 (maybe 125)

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: (1) finding time to exercise regularly with a full-time job and 3 attention-hungry boys; (2) not becoming complacent after I reach goal.

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers, modified to reflect a whole/natural foods lifestyle.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: absolutely nothing, which worries me a lot. But I take comfort in the statistics for smokers - the more times they quit, the more likely they are to succeed at staying off.

Anything else you would like to share with us: My oldest son is also overweight. Even though I never encouraged him to overeat, or eat unhealthily, I still feel guilty and responsible (he inherited my lousy metabolism and love of sweets).I need to figure out how to get him more physically active before he ends up with a lifetime of weight-related problems. Any advice on this would be welcome.

[danyale]

Hi, My is Danyale and I weight loss pursuer:

First name: Danyale

Geographical location: Northern California

Age: 41

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: new mom, 21months

Occupation: Wine account manager

Pets: 2 cats

Hobbies/Interests: walking, movies, cooking, antiquing,

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes and currently a redhead

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: age 20; but just revisiting the journey

Starting Weight: 188

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: being motivated and sticking to a healthy lifestyle.

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers on my own

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I know I need to lose weight; but I can't seem to stick to my goals. I'm not as motivated as used to be in the past. Ever since getting pregnant; food has been my buddy that I can't ditch. This time, though, I have talked to my family doctor who asked me to look at this journey differently than from the past - I need to be realistic and get support.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I hope this is the beginning of something I can stick to.

[dcleblanc]

First name: Denise

Geographical location: Texas

Age: 44

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 19, 17, 17

Occupation: Accountant

Pets: Two Teenies Weenies and a Gigantic Lab

Hobbies/Interests: Music & Reading

Height: 5'3"

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: July 14

Starting Weight: 179

Goal Weight: 125

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Boredom

Following any specific plan: Medifast

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Lasted more than two weeks

Anything else you would like to share with us:

[securitygirl]

First name: Lisa

Geographical location: Florida

Age: 46

Marital Status: Married 27 years

Children/Ages: 25, 24, 19, 16

Occupation: ADT Security, Realtor

Pets: 2 dogs, 2 cats

Hobbies/Interests: Crocheting, knitting, camping, watercolors, fishing

Height: 5'2"

Eye/Hair Color: blue/auburn (today)

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: July 6, 2010

Starting Weight: 190

Goal Weight: 145

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Focus, motivation, loss of energy, depression.....

Following any specific plan: Water, no sodas, no fast food, eating more often and less, staying away from junk food, more fruit and veggies, less pasta, bread and potatoes. Exercising-walking daily (weather permitting), bike riding, gonna try Zumba, try some DVD's

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Did not really try in the past

Anything else you would like to share with us: Need to quit smoking--reduce stress in my life.

[roxxie rocket]

First name: Michele

Geographical location: Las Vegas, NV

Age: 42

Marital Status: Happily married

Children/Ages: No kids

Occupation: Manager of Cage Operations -- Casino Industry

Pets: 4 pomeranians & 2 cats

Hobbies/Interests: photography, hiking, camping & traveling

Height: 5'5

Eye/Hair Color: light hair and green eyes

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 07-27-10

Starting Weight: 200 pounds

Goal Weight: 135 pounds

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Putting everyone else first & organization

Following any specific plan: Body Bugg & counting calories

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Planning -- I am actually planning my weekly menu's - shopping & cooking them and NOT eating out. When I have been faced with eating out I'm not going all hogg wild and eating everything in sight and then using that as an excuse not to get back on track ..

Anything else you would like to share with us: Hmmm I feel that this time is different and that I am FINALLY going to get this right ...