First name: Cindy

Geographical location: VA

Age: I'll be 40 in December so I thought I'd go ahead and join the 40s group!

Marital Status: Married for 21 years

Children/Ages: Two boys ages 12 and 3

Occupation: SAHM

Pets: A cat and a dog

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, music, trying to lose weight

Height: 5'3

Eye/Hair Color:

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 10 years ago. It's been a long off and on process (mostly off). I'm getting more serious about it now and have lost 13 pounds in the last few months.

Starting Weight: 143

Goal Weight: 120

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Laziness and chocolate

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:

First name: Dana

Geographical location: Minnesota, USA

Age: 48

Marital Status: Happily married 13 yrs

Children/Ages: Two boys, 28 (almost) & 25

Occupation: Publishing

Pets: One fat housecat

Hobbies/Interests: Writing, website development, gardening, mysteries

Height: 5'7"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Blond

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Sept 10, 2012 (tomorrow)

Starting Weight: 181

Goal Weight: 130-135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Commitment

Following any specific plan: South Beach-type, no grazing, limited grains, exercise!

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I don't want to spend my life obsessed with food and dieting. This is a non-desperate, non-emotional, intentional decision to take care of myself in a way I can maintain forever. This time is based on self-love, not self-hatred.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I truly believe my 50s & 60s (and 70s?) will be my prime years. I don't want to spend it fat and food obsessed - like I've been the past 35 years. What a waste. I plan to beat this problem and need support to do it (and I want to support you all, too!). Also, I have several beautiful family members who battle overweight, and I want to be an inspiration & resource for their own weight loss if/when they decide to make the journey.

First name: Ina

Geographical location: Soon to be midwest

Age: 48

Marital Status: married

Children/Ages: 12, 11

Occupation: Cafe owner

Pets: None

Hobbies/Interests: Sewing, cooking

Height: 5'2

Eye/Hair Color: Blue, light brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Sept 2012

Starting Weight: 154

Goal Weight: 115 ultimately, settle for 120

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating cakes, I have a tea shop

Following any specific plan: exercise, calorie counting

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm under less stress now. My kids are growing up and I've got more time to focus on me.

Anything else you would like to share with us : I lost 22 lbs 9 years ago by lifting light weights at home everyday. I kept it off for 2 years but now my weight has crept up month by month and I was recently diagnosed with asthma and it's very aggravating!

First name: Lisa

Geographical location: Illinois

Age: 47

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2 daughters ages 26 and 20. Also raised my little sis age 36

Occupation: Self employed/property management

Pets: none at the moment

Hobbies/Interests: scrapbooking, card making, cake decorating

Height: 5'5" but my daughter insists I am now 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: blue/blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: May 1, 2012

Starting Weight: 238

Goal Weight: 138

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: EXCERCISE

Following any specific plan: DASH low sodium diet for high blood pressure

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I don't have any bloating or excessive water weight to deal with anymore. My focus has also been diverted from the numbers on the scale to the numbers on the blood pressure machine. Focusing more on getting healthy than getting thin.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm very proud to say that after 4 months on the DASH diet plan, 35 pounds lost, a year cholesterol meds and 9 years of being on bp meds I am officially medication free. I've tried so many different approaches to dieting over the years but this is the only one that actually lowered my blood pressure. I feel better than I have in years!

First name: Keli

Geographical location: north-northeast PA

Age: 49, hopefully you won't kick me out in a month or so when I'm not in my 40's

Marital Status: Married for 10 years (late bloomer )

Children/Ages: none, 5 nephews, a niece and a great-niece

Occupation: counting down to retirement...

Pets: a dog, ducks and chickens

Hobbies/Interests: gardening, hiking, outdoor activities, kayaking, love to read

Height: 5'3 and a half

Eye/Hair Color: hazel brown/green

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: this time...June 1st, I've been on or off a weight loss journey for probably 30 years, scary to type that...

Starting Weight: 203

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: making time for myself to live healthy and exercise, I changed jobs at the end of July and am making that extra commitment to eat right and exercise for myself

Following any specific plan: combo of whole foods, WW, and primarily eating more fruits and vegetables less read meat

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I feel like I have made a commitment to myself for my health, maybe because I'm older, just really making it lifestyle changes rather than short or long term diet.

Anything else you would like to share with us: 3FC rocks, always here, doesn't kick you out if you stay away for awhile, I've been coming here since 2005 off and on, like going to WW meetings, when I come to 3FC I have better success, thanks!

First name: Debbie

Geographical location: Austin, TX

Age: 41

Marital Status: Happily Married since May 2010.

Children/Ages: 5 children. Boy/22, Boy/21, Girl/17, Boy/15, and Boy/13

Occupation: Professional Lifestyle Photographer

Pets: Yorkie and a yellow nape amazon parrot.

Hobbies/Interests: Photography, cooking, martial arts, reading

Height:5'7"

Eye/Hair Color: brown/blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: On and off. This time August 2012

Starting Weight: 198

Goal Weight:135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightless: Sticking with my diet/Willpower

Following any specific plan: Started Atkins Sept 27, 2012

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Regular exercise and drinking as much water as I'm supposed to!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm not new to the forum, but I've not posted since 2003, so I 'feel' new.

Just looking for support and hoping I can offer the same. I've had tons of issues that affected my weight from surgeries, chemical imbalances, pregnancy, gluten intolerance, disability to a super ugly divorce/custody battle and alcoholism. I've been through it all and I'm still here and still fighting!

First name: Heather

Geographical location: New England

Age:44
Marital Status:Married

Children/Ages:2 boys 13 & 11 and one girl 5

Occupationevelopment Consultant

Pets:6 mo. old Frenchton puppy and a guinea pig

Hobbies/Interests:decorating, reading, walking, cooking, piano

Height:5'9.5

Eye/Hair Color:blue/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:July2012

Starting Weight:258

Goal Weight:168

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I am certain that it will be maintainance/emotional eating

Following any specific plan:Ideal Protein

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:Health trumps vanity this time. Maturity and life experience.

Anything else you would like to share with us:




































9-29-12

First name: Joan

Geographical location: California

Age: 52 (but I still *feel* late-40s, so here I am, hope that's okay)

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2 boys, 14 and 17

Occupation: writer, housewife

Pets: Dog

Hobbies/Interests: Art, pop culture, "Real Housewives"

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/bron

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: TODAY--October 1, 2012. Seems a good day to start

Starting Weight: 183 "OBESE"--shocks me, only because I was always thin and cute.

Goal Weight: 141

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Food tastes better than ever. Eating at night, out of fatigue and habit. Metabolism has slowed WAY down in past few years (menopause). Spend too much time on the internet, gotten lazy and inactive. Feeling hopeless, need to GET GOING. Some results might motivate me.

Following any specific plan: No. I'm a calorie counter, basically.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm fighting my own slowed metabolism. Never was overweight EVER, until a few years ago.

Anything else you would like to share with us: My weight is starting to really make me feel physically awful. My knees, my feet, my stamina, my mobility. I'm borderline resigned to being fat. Don't want to give up.

First name: Cheryl

Geographical location: San Antonio, Texas

Age: 40

Marital Status: Divorced

Children/Ages: 0

Occupation: Administrative

Pets: 0

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Watching/Collecting Movies

Height: 5-5

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 10/2/12

Starting Weight: 304

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: Staying away from Whataburger and Mexican Food

Following any specific plan: Lifestyle changes

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have been diagnosed with Diabetes and don't want to die before I'm 50

Anything else you would like to share with us: I need a big kick in the booty sometimes to keep me focused.

First name: Gail

Geographical location: northern CA

Age: 48 on Nov 8

Marital Status: Married since 1989

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Customer service but looking for a new job

Pets: Agatha Noel, my 12 yr old feral kitty.

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, music (classic rock & metal), SciFi, classic movies, photography, walking, writing

Height: 5' 6"

Eye/Hair Color: Dark blonde, blue

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 10/05/2012

Starting Weight: 275!!!

Goal Weight: For now I'll say UNDER 200

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Emotional/bored eating, physical injuries (pulled tendon in left foot---happened at about the same time I decided to lose weight) & sciatica.

Following any specific plan: None specific. Just healthier eating, more water less sodas, exercise. Taking it one step & one day at a time. If I slip, I try again.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I don't have my dad to encourage me. First time I lost this much weight Daddy knew just what to say & do. I'm going to try & remember his love & encouragement to do this again.

Anything else you would like to share with us: My thoughts about loosing weight....It took time to put on this extra weight, it's going to take time to take it off. To me, each little thing you do...moves you that much closer to your goal. If you slip, get up, dust yourself off & start again.

First name: Kat

Geographical location: California

Age: 41 (I had to think of what year this is to get that one.)

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: Boy, 13 (HELP)

Occupation: Housewife and General Mischief Maker

Pets: 2 cats

Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, walking, just having fun and enjoying life.

Height: 5'8"

Eye/Hair Color: Dark Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 10/2012

Starting Weight: 185

Goal Weight: 145

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Chocolate ice cream

Following any specific plan: Nope. Portion control and 30 min work out each day.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Working on the last 40 lbs. I successfully lost a bunch about 10 years ago, and havent put that back on, but never got the last 40 off.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name: Lisa

Geographical location: Iowa, USA

Age: 42

Marital Status: remarried 1 year

Children/Ages: daughters: 22, twins 21, 12, son: 14. stepson;15, stepdaughers 13,12

Occupation: RN

Pets: a pomeranian, beagle, and two old cats.

Hobbies/Interests: reading, exercise, gardening, video games, hiking, camping, sci fi, music

Height: 5'3"

Eye/Hair Color: hazel/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: this time was 10/15/12

Starting Weight: 180.0

Goal Weight: 125.0

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Adjusting to all the changes life has brought the last 1.5 years. Keeping myself as a priority, following my goals and not being overwhelmed by everything and losing myself.

Following any specific plan: Calorie counting, joined a zumba class, start exercising again

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Fitting my goals into my life including my new husband, new children etc.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

I've never joined a support group, but then again I've never lost my weight. I feel like it defines me. Because I believe that I know the way to solve the problem and more or less choose not to. My age- the menapause etc.. Has made it harder than ever. The effort I spend on my face, concerning age doesn't parallel any effort towards making my body healthy and I notice that men are not as concerned about some laugh lines as they are about rolls of fat and lack of muscle tone. My marriage takes a hit in the bedroom my depression rules the day and I've just washed down my pepperidge farm raspberry turnover with ice cream and a Vicodin and a melatonin so I can sleep.
At some point today I was sure that I was going to get up at 6am and go try body pump at the gym, now I know it will be 9 and ill be drinking coffee and trying to convince myself to get out of bed.
My marriage needs help but I've lost my power, if I can't regain my health and get to a reasonable body weight, I don't think I can do anything.
I'm not 100lbs overweight but I'm 50lbs for a lot of years. Lot-
Why am I powerless. Why do I feel so exhausted at the mention of fitness.
Help

Being 40-something is spectacular! If you get a chance, introduce yourself to current and new members by filing out the bio below. Copy the below to a new reply and fill in as desired

(copied from 100 club, thanks!)

First nameamara

Geographical location: Pacific NW

Age:45

Marital Status:Married

Children/Ages:2 boys 7 and 9

Occupation:Stay at Home

Pets:3 cats, 2 dogs, and fish

Hobbies/Interests:Hockey, Hockey, Hockey

Height:5'4

Eye/Hair Color:Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:11/1/2012

Starting Weight:160

Goal Weight:125

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss:STRESS

Following any specific plan:IP

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:I really want to succeed

Anything else you would like to share with us: