First name: Amy

Geographical location: Chicagoland

Age:39

Marital Status: Engaged

Children/Ages:0

Occupation:

Pets:2 Cats

Hobbies/Interests: Biking, Dancing, Reading, Cooking, Computer games

Height:5'4":

Eye/Hair Color:Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: age 12

Starting Weight: 220 (9/9/11)

Goal Weight:189

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: PCOS

Following any specific plan:Not yet

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I do not want to hit 40 and be 200+ pounds.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name: Candy

Geographical location: Atlanta,GA

Age:43

Marital Status:Married

Children/Ages:19

Occupation:transportation

Pets:not any more

Hobbies/Interests:travel, reading;when i have time,old classic movies,

Height:5'2

Eye/Hair Color:brown/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:9/11/2011

Starting Weight:200

Goal Weight:150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss:ME!!

Following any specific plan:not yet

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

Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name: Tina

Geographical location: Australia

Age: 45

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: No Children

Occupation: Ex- Civil Servant

Pets: 2 Cats

Hobbies/Interests: Photography/Movies/Music

Height: 5ft 6in

Eye/Hair Color: Green Eyes/ Light Brown Hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 5th Sept 2011 - This time around!!

Starting Weight: 253

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Binging on Junk Food & Alcohol - especially late at night

Following any specific plan: Counting Calories

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Serious concerns about dying young & health risks due to being overweight

Anything else you would like to share with us: I have a mountain to climb & can't do it all by myself ....

First name: Annie

Geographical location: Iowa

Age: 40

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: Sons ~ 17 and almost 4, Daughters ~ 15 and 9

Occupation: Stay at Home Mom

Pets: None

Hobbies/Interests: Scrapbooking, Reading

Height: 5'4

Eye/Hair Color: Green eyes, Brown hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Technically September 2010

Starting Weight: 252

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Me, myself and I, Lack of motivation, sabotaging myself

Following any specific plan: None at the moment

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I turned 40 last year and I want to be around for my kids. I am tired of feeling ugly and I know I can do if I just don't let myself sabotage everything.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I was here before but not sure why I ever left. I am really hoping to lose the weight now.

First name: Michele

Geographical location: Florida

Marital Status: In a Long-Term Relationship

Children/Ages: 3 daughters - 26, 21 and 20

Occupation: part time accounting assistant

Pets: 3 cats, 1 large "husky mix" dog

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, butterfly & herb gardening, cooking, crafts

Height: 5'2"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/Dark Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 9/28/2010

Starting Weight: 176

Goal Weight: 135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating out, lasting motivation

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers (lost 20 lbs on Jenny Craig last year and have since gained 10 pounds back)

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am tired of the roller coaster, want to get to goal weight and stay there this time! My girls have all moved out and I'm an empty-nester now, time for me to take care of myself..finally.

Anything else you would like to share with us: see above re: roller coaster and empty nest..grin...

First name: Annalena

Geographical location: Europe

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: One girl, 5 years old

Pets: 2 cats

Hobbies/Interests: Photography, reading

Height: 5'8"

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel/ blond

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Spring 2011

Starting Weight: 207

Goal Weight: 141

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Binges...

Following any specific plan: Low Carb

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: in the past it was all about looking good. Now it is mainly about being healthy and being a good role model for my daughter.

Anything else you would like to share with us: English is obviously not my first language

First name: Jo
Geographical location:LA
Age:42
Marital Status: Married
Children/Ages: Son-23, Daughter-22, Daughter 17, Son-15 and Daughter-13
Occupation: Office Manager
Pets: None
Hobbies/Interests: watching my kids compete in their various sports, camping, motorcycle rides, reading, cooking/baking, traveling and just about anything that gets me outside..even yardwork
Height: 5'2"
Eye/Hair Color:blue/auburn
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 9/22/11
Starting Weight:166
Goal Weight:130
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: portion control
Following any specific plan: no
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I never kept a journal before and have realized just what a HUGE help to me it has been these past 2 weeks
Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name: Kim

Geographical location: Northwest Minnesota

Age: 45

Marital Status: Divorced

Children/Ages: Son~18 and Daughter~12

Occupation: Paralegal/legal typist

Pets: Cairn terrier and two cats.

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, gardening (when I can find the time), walking with friends

Height: 5-4

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Restarting today!

Starting Weight: 220

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: eating out of boredom; work at a desk/computer 8+ hours a day so need to get more movement in after hours.

Following any specific plan: Not yet

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This one will be successful!!!!

Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name:June


Geographical location:USA-Maryland

Age:46

Marital Status:Married

Children/Ages: Yes/ 29,26,23,21

Occupation:Store Team Lead

Pets:

Hobbies/Interests:Reading,puzzles,running,walking,cooking, gardening

Height:5'6"

Eye/Hair Color:Hazel/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:10/30/2011

Starting Weight:145

Goal Weight:130

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss:Binge eating even when I'm not hungry

Following any specific plan:No

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:I can't tolerate the way I look in the mirror and my clothes are becoming too tight. I refuse to buy a larger size.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name: Tricia

Geographical location: Southern Maryland

Age: 41

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2 daughters (ages 6 and 4)

Occupation: Client Relations

Pets: Dog (Brady) and 2 cats (Bootsy and Alex)

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, walking,

Height: 5' 4"

Eye/Hair Color: hazel

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 10/29/11

Starting Weight: 175.8

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: Commute, 2 young kids, willpower....me

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm really trying this time.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I weigh now what I did when I was pregnant. After my 1st daughter was born, I got pretty close to my pre-pregnancy weight. After my 2nd daughter, I didn't get quite as close, but it wasn't too bad. Now...youngest is 4 and I'm about 20 pounds MORE than I was when she was 1.

Geographical location: Texas

Age: 44

Marital Status: very happily married

Children/Ages: 28, 22, 21, 19

Occupation: Life Coach

Pets: cats, dogs, & llamas

Hobbies/Interests: bellydancing, tai chi, artist trading cards, reading, travel

Height: 4'10"

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 11/12/11

Starting Weight: 175.4

Goal Weight: 120 or below

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: staying aware of how I feel and what I am eating

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers & working with a fabulous Life/Weight Coach

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: My attitude. I am excited about the possibilities & positive things in my life now. In the past I tried to lose weight based on feelings of guilt, shame, & embarrassment. I love who I am now and who I am continuing to become.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Thank you for being here! Places of support like this bond us and allow us all to grow stronger. I appreciate you all!

Geographical location: Southern California

Age: 44

Marital Status: married

Children/Ages: Boy14 & Girl 12

Occupation: Jewelry designer

Pets: 1 cat & 1 dog

Hobbies/Interests: gardening, anything crafty, jitterbug dancing, music

Height: 5'2"

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 07/25/2011

Starting Weight: 178

Goal Weight: 115 or below

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: I can always get to my goal weight but then I fail to maintain. Over and over again.

Following any specific plan: Low-carb, low-calorie, low-fat, vegetarian

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am a vegetarian this time. Also I have a plan for maintenance, for the first time, ever. I am taking steps toward establishing a new fitness-related (not weight-related) goal for when I reach my goal weight.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I love this site! This and the Low Carb Friends site have made ALL the difference in my weight loss this time around!

First name: Kim

Geographical location: Southwestern Virginia

Age: 46

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: Son-28 & 2 Step Children Boy-10 Girl 8

Occupation: P/T Product Demonstrator

Pets: Peka-pom-chi named Matte

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, blogging, walking the dog in the spring & summer

Height: 5'6"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes, blonde hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Haven't specifically started yet.

Starting Weight: 185

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: NO ENERGY is the biggest...exhausted, no motivation and lots of roadblocks too.
Following any specific plan: Just to eat as well as I can and exercise at least 4 times a week to start.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have a lot more weight to lose than I've ever had before.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I am so happy I found this site and hoping to find the motivation and energy to start toward my goals soon.

First name: Barb

Geographical location: Oregon

Age: 42

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: Son (24 years old), daughter (22 years old)

Occupation: Secretary

Pets: 1 Yorkshire Terrier

Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my family, barbecuing, camping, gardening, traveling and shopping

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Green/Blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: This WILL be the year: 1/1/12

Starting Weight: 293

Present Weight: 293

Goal Weight: 135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Sticking with the diet

Following any specific plan: Counting calories/carbs, make drinking water a priority, exercising 5 days a week.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I feel I am READY emotionally. My children are grown and living on their own and my husband works in another state, pretty much just need to worry about me and have the time to do just that. I want to lose it all by my 45th birthday, October 12th, 2014

Anything else you would like to share with us: I had always been small until I was about 25 years old. I came close once to losing all my weight but was about 15 years younger and didn't have near the weight to lose as I have now. I want to lose the weight and keep it off...never will I be 293 again!

First name: Glitterkitty

Geographical location: Sunny California

Age: 43

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: one 13 year old and oh yes with full package teen attitude

Occupation: Registered Nurse

Pets: One cuddly dog and one forever toddler kitty.

Hobbies/Interests: I love to scrapbook, paint and quilt. And I like to travel, go to the beach, camp and cook.

Height: 5 foot and 1/2 inch.

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel and brown (for now).

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: January 2, 2012

Starting Weight: 243

Goal Weight: 110

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: My biggest hurdle is staying on my diet and exercise plan long enough to meet my goal weight. I start out with a bang and then after a month I slide back to my old ways.

Following any specific plan: I'm going to get the Beck diet solution book and see if I can change my old habits. As far as a diet plan I am lowering my calories, fat and salt and increasing my exercise, water and motivation.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: 1. Setting small goals that are attainable in a week. 2. Understanding how I sabotage myself and learning how not to do that this time. 3. Understanding that it will take me at least 8-12 months to loose all my weight. And feel ok with that. 4. No fad diets, pills, equipment or programs this time. This time it's just walk, exercise that I can really do and real foods that I really like.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm excited and nervous about this long journey that I am now on. I hope I meet a lot of friends along the way and I hope I can give others support too.