Join Date: Jan 11
Location: United Kingdom


S/C/G: 284/284/155

Height: 5'9"


Hi great idea and this will stop me just 'lurking in the shadows'


First name: Helen

Geographical location: Hampshire,UK

Age:49

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: boys aged 15/17

Occupation: IT Consultant

Pets: 2 male cats

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy reading ( have been in a Book Circle for 15 years ! ), theatre, movies, art galleries. Also enjoy swimming and walking.

Height: 5'9''

Eye/Hair Color: Green/Dark Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Jan 2011

Starting Weight: 284

Present Weight:284

Goal Weight:155

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: finding its not coming off quick enough,and giving up. I also have finally realised that I am addicted to carbs/sugar.

Following any specific plan: My own plan, whilst not doing the Atkins diet ( which I have done before and lost 60lbs - but felt I was damaging my body - so came off and put 75 lbs on ! ),I am avoiding refined carbs from now on. So no bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, white rice etc. Lots of veggies, fruit and lean protein, with some protein at every meal.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am going to post and read other posts, and realise that this is a marathon not a sprint. I like that other dieters have admitted it has taken a couple of years for them to get to goal, with hiccups on the way, and I must realise that this wont be easy. This time I am working on a way of living, not a diet, and trying to work on something that I will be happy to live with for the rest of my life.

Anything else you would like to share with us - I was made redundant a year ago, and the year has been tough. My Mother in Law was diagnosed with cancer and died last summer,and we have had a lot to deal with sorting out her house since then. I realised over Xmas that I had 'wasted' the year , in that I always said I couldnt lose weight whilst working because I was too busy, and I had just had a year where I had the time to exercise and work out a good eating plan, and had let it slip away. I am looking for another job, but in the mean time will make sure I exercise for an hour a day ( today I went to Aquarobics - which was great fun ) and work out an eating plan that I can live with forever more. I am also enjoying having more time with my sons - they are growing fast and the eldest will be off to University this summer, and looking after my husband - who is now the only breadwinner ( and enjoying me doing most of housework/cooking/home admin a little too much ).I live in a very male household ( even the cats are male) - and they are all slim, so I need this forum for female support and weight loss support moving forwards.

First name: Beth

Geographical location: Florida

Age: 43

Marital Status: Engaged

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: Retail Loss Prevention

Pets: none

Hobbies/Interests: love college football (Roll Tide), used to enjoy playing softball and volleyball (hoping to start up again)

Height: 5'1"

Eye/Hair Color: Green/Reddish Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 1/6/2011 (this time)

Starting Weight: 220

Present Weight: 220

Goal Weight: 130

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: boredome and frustration

Following any specific plan: starting Weight Watchers tomorrow.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm committed to trying everyday. I didn't put it on overnight so I have to be patient with myself and know it won't come off overnight.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I am getting married this year. The date depends on when I feel sexy!

First name: Vanessa

Geographical location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Age:27

Marital Status: Common Law

Children/Ages:0

Occupation: Health Information Analyst

Pets:0

Hobbies/Interests: Scrapbooking, reading, quadding, snowmobiling, cooking, baking

Height:5'8"

Eye/Hair Color: Eye- Green Hair - Dark brown with pink/red highlights

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Nov 29th, 2010

Starting Weight: 221.8

Present Weight: 209

Goal Weight:150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Chocoloate, chips, all the bad snack foods basically

Following any specific plan: Herbal Magic

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Hit rock bottom this time and told myself I need to do this and not fail myself ever again because being at rock bottom is scarey!

Anything else you would like to share with us: Can't wait to gain some buddies and a support system, if others agree with me.

Okay, I am game...here it goes

First name: Lisa

Geographical location: St. Louis, MO

Age: 43

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2 boys. My oldest is 15, my youngest is 14. They are 11 months apart and born on each others due date. No, it wasn't planned. I may be dumb, but I anit stupid!

Occupation: Wife/Mom/Exec Admin Assistant

Pets: Dudley, my grumpy old cat, and Lulu my English Bulldog

Hobbies/Interests: Stamping, card making, reading

Height: 5' 9"

Eye/Hair Color: brown/ brown-blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: This last time???? Dec 27, 2010

Starting Weight: 258.6

Present Weight: 253.8

Goal Weight: 145

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating and not realize I am eating. Stress eating, depression eating.....just plain eating!

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: My internal dialogue. In the past 2 yrs, I have survived Breast Cancer and being fired from my job of 10 years. I figure, I could handle this.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Let's do this!

I could've sworn I did this already. Oh well! LOL

First name: Sarah

Geographical location: North Carolina

Age: 28

Marital Status: Marred

Children/Ages: Boy, 5. Girl almost 3

Occupation: SAHM

Pets: 2 large dogs. They're total idiots.

Hobbies/Interests: Sewing, outdoorsy stuff, singing, music, baking, playing with the kiddos.

Height: 5'2.25"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue and blonde.

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Technically it was last year, but had to re-start this past fall in the beginning of September.

Starting Weight: First starting weight: 167, second: 157

Present Weight: 154

Goal Weight: 115-120

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: Telling myself no. No binging.

Following any specific plan: Calorie counting. I'm thinking of doing low-carb.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have no other option. Gaining weight or staying here is not an option anymore.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Um... I can't think of anything right now.

First name: Tia

Geographical location: Jax, Florida

Age: 32

Marital Status: married

Children/Ages: 12, 8, 7 (all boys!)

Occupation: ESOL instructor

Pets: A toy poodle, Lilo, I don't really like pets. I like animals I just don't like to have to take care of them. So I don't. That's my husband's job and then to top it all off? I'm allergic. But she's cute!

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Reading, and more reading. Listening to music, mainly Linkin' Park!!

Height: 5'5

Eye/Hair Color: Brown / Black

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: June 21, 2009

Starting Weight: 218

Present Weight: 198

Goal Weight:150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: eating clean

Following any specific plan: Body for Life

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I sooooo love the food and the success stories that I have read have been a tremendous asset!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm really open and I LOVE meeting new people and I love Linkin Park (in case you didn't read the interests section at the top! LOL)

First name: Maria

Geographical locationerbyshire,U.K.

Age:45

Marital Status:Living with Partner

Children/Ages:5 children 27,22,15,11 and 9

Occupation:Assistant Manager

Pets:None

Hobbies/Interests:Spending quality time with the family, knitting,cooking

Height:5 7

Eye/Hair Color:Blue

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:4th January 2011

Starting Weight:245

Present Weight:245

Goal Weight:155

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss:Wine!

Following any specific plan:Weight Watchers ProPoints

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:I am really determined to be a fit Grandma!

Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name: Bree

Geographical location: San Francisco

Age: 27

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: Nope!

Occupation: Cubicle monkey

Pets: Nope!

Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, watching bad tv, dancing

Height: 5'5

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: August 2009

Starting Weight: My highest was 181, about. But I consider August '09 my starting point, when I got serious about weight loss; I was 170 at that point. I lost about 20 lbs, and then gained 10 lbs back over the last few months when things were crazy at work!

Present Weight: 160

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Avoiding bad food while I travel a lot for work, and getting enough sleep!

Following any specific plan: Good old fashioned calorie counting, with a bathroom scale for me and a kitchen scale for my food. I count everything!

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:
1. Since I've lost weight before I have a good sense of what does and doesn't work for me. I think that being responsible to whatever plan/calorie number/exercise plan is the hardest thing. I used to eat too little and plateau, or eat too much and gain. Hitting the right range is tough.

3. Eating between 1800-1900kcal a day is about right for me, since I also walk about 12,000-16,000 steps a day. In late February I am going to start taking dance classes, so my deficit will be even higher. I admit I'd rather work out more so I can eat that one extra cookie than not work out and go without the cookie.

4. I know that for me, since I really have about 20 lbs to go (I wouldn't mind losing another 10 on top of that, though!), the max I can really lose in a month while keeping my metabolism in good shape is about 5 lbs. I'm not going to get depressed about going slow during this process. I'd like to lose in a range of 3-5 lbs a month, which is steady and reasonable!

5. I just bought a BodyMedia Fit--getting it Monday!--and I think this will be a good tool in getting me to where I want to go.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I want to lose that last 20 lbs by July 2011. I am very, very, very motivated. I think this is doable. I'm looking forward to getting to know people and watching all of our progress!!!

I need tough love, so if anyone wants to be my tough love buddy and push each other, let's do this thing!!!

OK here we go,


First name:Robin

Geographical location:Oklahoma

Age:39

Marital Status:married

Children/Ages:son14/daughter7

Occupation:stay @ home mom and help run husbands business

Pets:4 cat-Elvis,Sophie,Harry,Edward Cullen 1dog-Scooby
1 chinchilla-Chilly
Hobbies/Interests:travel,reading,playing with my babies

Height:5'2"

Eye/Hair Color:blue/blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:the day I was born

Starting Weight:this time 242

Present Weight:175

Goal Weight:140, but would love to be 120

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss:not believing I could do it

Following any specific plan:not really just thinking before I eat.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:I don't want to be an embarrassment to my kids.

First name: Ashley

Geographical location: Georgia

Age: 27

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Media Relations/ PR

Pets: Samson, 6 ys old mini dachshund

Hobbies/Interests: Music, Sports, Traveling... Love College football!

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: Green/Blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: February 2010

Starting Weight: 254.4

Present Weight: 210.8

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Traveling a ton for work, along with living alone and having a hard time cooking for one, which leads to eating fast food.

Following any specific plan: Nothing specific. Eating reasonably, going to the gym

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm completely tired of being fat. I work for a company who provides its staff with clothing from a high-end company, and I can't wear the pants because they don't come in my size. It's so frustrating!

Anything else you would like to share with us:

first name: Annie

location: Texas

age: over 50

marital status: single

occupation: elementary teacher

pet: cat

height: 5'5"

starting date: just beginning

starting weight: 140

goal weight: 125

biggest hurdle: I hate it when I sweat and have to re-do my hair!

special plan: last summer I lost weight and dropped my cholesterol using the Meditarranean diet, so I think I'll do that one again

what's different this time: I saw my brother for the first time in a year, and he has gained so much weight he seems to have trouble breathing at times. I want to make sure I don't follow that path myself.

First name: Emmy

Geographical location: TN

Age:31

Marital Status: Engaged (been together 7 years, currently living together)

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: none at the time

Pets: little girl min pin

Hobbies/Interests: volunteering, cooking, travel, reading, movies, football, spending time with my family

Height:5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: brown/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: It's been a struggle my entire life, but this *final* journey began on January 1, 2011

Starting Weight: 218

Present Weight: 209

Goal Weight: 145 (I think)

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Laziness, cravings, self-doubt

Following any specific plan: Calorie counting, keeping my carbs in check, drinking lots of water, exercising - overall, eating real food

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: It's time. Way past time, actually! But, this time feels different, and I can't really explain why. In the past I have always hidden my weight, not announced that I was trying to lose weight, and been very secretive - just in case I failed. This time, I have gone so far as to post my weight on my personal blog, putting it out there for everyone to see. And, I'm talking about it with anyone that wants to hear about it. And, thankfully, I have the support of a loving partner at home with me.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I dunno! lol

Good luck to you all! Can't wait to get to know some of you better! :-)

Emmy <3

First name: Helen

Geographical location: New Zealand

Age:38

Marital Status:Married

Children/Ages: 3 daughters: 9, almost 5, and almost 3

Occupation: Teacher

Pets:None

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Walking/Tramping, Listening to Music

Height:172 cm

Eye/Hair Color: Greeny blue

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: About a month ago

Starting Weight: Too scared to look .... but my clothes are looser so it was more than 93kgs .....

Present Weight: Today I checked for the first time in a year 93kgs

Goal Weight: 65 kg

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I'm on my summerbreak at the moment and love exercising and cooking/eating well. However, when school is back in February that is when I struggle to do it all .....

Following any specific plan: No - just eating better and exercise.

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

I was quite successful between children, and then pregnancy and stress have taken their toll. But now I am done I know I need to get back to a healthy weight to enjoy then growing up as well as being able to keep up. I would also like to be a better role model to them.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I hope to get to know you some of you ..... Good luck .....

irst name: ni

Geographical location: yorkshire in the UK

Age: 23

Marital Status: single

Children/Ages: none!

Occupation: student

Pets: 1 dog and one hamster - but at parents home!

Hobbies/Interests: reading - my degree, chatting with friends and going outa lot, shopping!!! , badminton - also used to be really into going to the gym.

Height: 168 cm

Eye/Hair Color: black / dark brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 8th of january

Starting Weight: 126.4

Present Weight:123.4

Goal Weight: 80

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: feel so heavy at the moment- very self conscious - s even tho i would love to go swimming or to hte gym - just feel im too fat and unsightly

Following any specific plan: no- just planning on a healthy diet and lots of exercise

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: i am determined to not look back

Anything else you would like to share with us: yea - i lost 4 1/2 stones aged 18. now am 23 - and bad habbits crept in over the past year - and ive put on the four stones that i lost plus more!

Hi all!

This is my very first day on the forums so I thought I'd join in the introductions.


First name: Patricia

Geographical location: Montréal

Age: 20 (21 in just over a month!)

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: 0

Occupation: Student in my last semester of University

Pets: One 6 month old kitten - Tobias Fünke

Hobbies/Interests: Languages, Reading, Writing, Cooking, Music

Height: 5'7''

Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes, brown hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: My entire life? The last most serious attempt was first year of University. This time it was December 31st, 2010.

Starting Weight: 277.2

Present Weight: 275.6

Goal Weight: 177.2

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weight loss: If I don't see fast enough results I get discouraged VERY easily. I'm generally an incredibly determined person until I start feeling depressed and then I just give up.

Following any specific plan: Cutting calories, less junk food, EXERCISE!

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: EXERCISE! I always find ways NOT to exercise, usually by blaming school and claiming to not have time. This time exercise is a necessity!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I love what I've read on the forums so far and find it all incredibly inspiring! I can't wait to be a success story someday! =D

Also, the icon is genius.