Screen Name: UrsusMaritimus

Age/Age Range: 27

Family Life: I live with my boyfriend (and 10 other housemates) in a housing cooperative.

Occupation: Graduate student and college instructor

Hobbies and Interests: Movies, reading, hiking, camping, singing showtunes

Favorite Music: The Dresden Dolls, Rufus Wainwright, The Magnetic Fields, The Beatles

Favorite Color(s): Red

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: Weight training, bellydancing, hiking

What are your fitness/health goals? I'm trying to lose the 30 lbs. I've gained since starting grad school. I love myself just as I am, but I want to be fit and healthy.

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? Watching my family members struggle with their weight - obesity is a problem on my dad's side of the family and something I'd like to avoid if possible.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? My social life often revolves around food and drink, so that's hard. I also have a very demanding sweet tooth.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve?
1. The nutritional value of the foods I choose
2. Exercising regularly instead of sporadically
3. Balancing nutrition with a healthy social life.

(Evil motivation) Who do you want to look better than? My sister. Shhh!

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? I can't wait to look hot wearing nothing!

Screen Name:endora

Age/Age Range:20, 21 in august

Family Life:living home, single

Occupation:student looking or a part time job

Hobbies and Interests:reading, writing going back to drawing, music, movies, some other stuff

Favorite Music:A bit o everything, I can listen to pretty much all but mostly old rock, some pop, some rap, some o the new rock styles but not t big on some of them.

Favorite Color(s):Blue and its different shades, green, black, purple, browns...

Favorite Exercise/Workouts:walking, dancing freestyle in my house, home gym.

What are your fitness/health goals? going back to 125 pounds the healthiest, best looking I have been ><

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? I bought a pair o skinny low rise jeans and about a month latter they were to tight. None my clothes look goon on me except the flowy ones, and even some o those don't look that good on me.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? Binges, cravings, carbs. Also, laziness.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve?
Healthier eating, more exercise, consistency on these two things.

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? :
A friend of mine who spent a weekend i stayed in hr house kind o shooting comments at me about how i looked.

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? My old clothes I look forward to not having a tummy so they look good again.

Screen Name: LucyFlicker

Age/Age Range: 20 years

Family Life: Decent

Occupation: Student

Hobbies and Interests: Reading, music, hiking, attempting to learn to play tennis

Favorite Music: I can listen to anything but my favorite is Ska

Favorite Color(s): Pink

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: Strength

What are your fitness/health goals?
To transform diet and exercise into a permanent lifestyle

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit?
Not being able to fit into anything at the trendy stores for people my age

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health?
Exercising. I hate exercising. It is really a challenge for me to accept that it needs to be part of my healthy lifestyle.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve?
Making exercise a part of my every day routine, sticking to eating right every day and not having mini binges, cooking healthier meals and not relying on convenience meals.

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? :
My friends!

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size?
Any shirt that my stomach does not pouch in!

Screen Name: skinnybeach

Age/Age Range: 24

Family Life: engaged, will be married in November. Live with my fiancee and our dog Jenny

Occupation: waitress/substitute teacher

Hobbies and Interests: walking the dog/ hanging out at the dog park, swimming, hanging out at the pool, shopping, cooking, movies, learning to like wine

Favorite Music: Texas country, and pop/R&B/Rap...ha, i know

Favorite Color(s): Pink/green/navy/brown

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: yogalaties, walking/running, swimming

What are your fitness/health goals? Lose the 50ish lbs i gained after graduating from college, getting a crappy job, and moving in with the boy...quite the trifecta for disaster. Then maintenance!

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit?
Squeezing into my dress for my little sister's graduation, and feeling terrible because i kept getting bigger and more uncomfortable when i was once so small. All of that, plus being less social because i didn't want people to see that i'd gotten so big.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health?
working out, but luckily i have a pretty active job.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve?
making an exercise plan
setting goals
sticking to my guns!!

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? : myself 3 years ago!!

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size?
my goal jeans, and anything of my sisters, who is a 2-4

Screen Name: TheNewChristy

Age/Age Range: 25, almost 26

Family Life: Married to high school sweetheart, 4 yr old son, 1 yr old daughter

Occupation: Special Ed Paraprofessional, Middle Grades

Hobbies and Interests: Reading, 4-wheeling, Playing with my kids!

Favorite Music: Country, Rock, Classic Rock, some Rap, some Pop

Favorite Color(s): Blue, Purple, Green

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: Stationary bike, Biggest Loser workout, lifting weights

What are your fitness/health goals? Lose 50-60 lbs, FEEL GOOD, be able to run a mile without dying

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? I've done this before (haven't we all??) but just lost track with life things...I'm ready to make a permanent change, just have to get my head back in the game.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? The mental aspect...caring more about myself and my health than immediate gratification...I'm my own worst enemy.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? Just moving more on a daily basis, steering clear of the high fat snacks like chips/chocolate, coming up with a hobby that includes my kids and gets me moving.

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? My sister, sister-in-law, friends...basically any other females I know. LOL!!!!

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? Tank tops! And, I want to go out on the bike with my hubby wearing leather/chaps/the whole bit.

Screen Name: kukristen

Age/Age Range: 25

Family Life: Good... have an incredibly supportive family and bf... thank goooddddnesss

Occupation: Art

Hobbies and Interests: Old Hobby: Trying new restaurants... Looking for a replacement

Favorite Music: Nearly everything.

Favorite Color(s): All the pretty ones! (As a child, it was purple... now it really depends on my mood)

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: Pilates/yoga/Yoga booty ballet

What are your fitness/health goals? To stop the trend in my family of being diabetic or having a heart attack... or both...

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit?
High blood pressure at the doctor's office... and some REALLY bad pictures

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health?
The social impact

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve?
Exercising... exercising and exercising

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? : At least as good as... Jennifer Anniston!

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size?
a bikini! my goodness! Oh, and white pants!

Screen Name: MelodyLeigh

Age/Age Range: 18 years old

Family Life: I've been with my boyfriend for 2 years and have a wonderful family.. which I'll be leaving soon because of college.

Occupation: Unemployed, but hope to get a job on-campus

Hobbies and Interests: Reading, writing stories, swimming, hiking (just wish there were places to hike around here..)

Favorite Music: Alllll kinds. Alternative rock, hard rock, musicals, piano, metal, symphonic metal, techno.. but my absolute favorite is Coldplay.

Favorite Color(s): black and blue

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: swimming and biking; and (don't laugh) DDR! It's a workout, trust me.

What are your fitness/health goals? I hope to be able to run a mile.. I can barely run for 2 minutes as of now. I also want to have so much more energy. Right now, I feel like a slug most of the time, and I want to feel... well.. 18! I also want to have a better outlook of my body and I think getting in shape and having a healthier body will help me with that. I have high blood pressure already since I'm always stressing and worrying over EVERYTHING, so I really need to make exercise a priority in order to bring those levels down.

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? As soon as I hit 140. This may not seem like a lot, but on a 5'1 frame, and how my body holds weight, it wasn't a very high point in life for me. Also, I've been able to lose weight since my middle school years, which were my heaviest years. And I was 145 then. So, I'm getting back to that, and I need to stop it in its tracks.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? FOOD. I love it. I absolutely love it. My appetite is enormous. I really struggle with the word "diet" and everything it implies because of my addiction to food. But, I must think of it as a lifestyle change instead. My willpower is the size of a breadcrumb. Speaking of breadcrumbs, I loooove bread. And, that's another reason why I fall off the diet wagon. If someone places a French bread loaf in front of me, the whole thing will be gone in under 5 minutes. I really have to think of my goal and what I want to achieve so that I don't start stuffing my face again. It's a problem..

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? I need to lessen my intake of bread by a lot. I also need to increase my stamina during running, swimming, dancing, etc. And, I need to improve my diet overall. No more fast food everyday and fried foods.

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? : Ooh, I like this question. I would have to say.. Alex Lawless. She went to school with me in middle school and high school, and she had the perfect, tall body that I would love to have. Me, short and stubby, would give anything to have that.. But, I know that I can't change my height. So I'm going to embrace my 5'1ness. After all, you can't go wrong with short and cute. Also, she was in tennis, which I've always wanted to be in... OOH! I just made a goal! I want to learn tennis in my quest to be healthier!

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? A two piece bikini. I know, I know. Cliché. But, really. I would LOVE to run around on the beach, saying, "Look at me! I'm gorgeous!!"

Screen Name: snapplegirl69

Age/Age Range: 28

Family Life: My fiancee Marc and our 2 monster kitties,Rambo and Milo

Occupation: Operations/Purchasing Mgr

Hobbies and Interests: Reading and Surfing the Net

Favorite Music: Rock/Alternative

Favorite Color(s): Blue

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: I like the elleptical cuz it kicks your butt and burns an awesome amount of calories

What are your fitness/health goals? to slim down and tone up

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? Depends on which time..lol..Most of the time it starts with a clothes shopping melt down..lol

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? Being able to eat anything like normal people..I cant

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? I started this week..My 8 glasses of water and more exercise

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? : My BFF Nicole..lol

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? Soemthing skanky..ROFLMAO

Screen Name: Jermsgirl

Age/Age Range: 25

Family Life: I have a wonderful hubby who I call Jerm and two kids, Andrew (2) and Ella(7 months)

Occupation: I stay at home and am kinda working on my teaching credential. I still need to pass one more CSET test.

Hobbies and Interests: I LOVE Jesus (but I'm not offended if you don't ), so we go to church often, I love to travel and read (chick lit is my favorite). I also really like school and hope to further my education when the kids are older.
Favorite Music: classic rock and 80's are my all time faves

Favorite Color(s): purple

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: I used to go to the gym, but that became too difficult with the kids and my husband gone at work a bunch, so now I job, rollerblade, swim and take walks regularly. I also like Turbo Jam and Power 90.

What are your fitness/health goals? I want to firm up and stop eating sooo much sugar!

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? I still need to lose 20 pounds of pregnancy weight and some people from church started a weight loss challenge, so I figured why not lose this weight and win some money? I've been working on my weight loss for months now. Breastfeeding and a lack of sleep have made this a bit difficult for me.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? not eating sugar

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? cut out the sugar, be mindful of my portion sizes and how much I snack, eat more veggies

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? All those skinny wenches that lost there baby weight in the first month after delivery! BOOO!

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? A nice pair of expensive jeans. I am hoping to get more roundess in the butt area! It used to be nice and bubbly, but now it's flad and wide.
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Screen Name:707goddess

Age/Age Range:35

Family Life:married almost 8 years

Occupation: SAHM

Hobbies and Interests: i love HGTV and my kids

Favorite Music: all

Favorite Color(s): purple and blue

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: dancing

What are your fitness/health goals? be thick but tone

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? i bought a scale

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? i just quit smoking

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? ALL im starting over today

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? : no one really i just want to look good for my younger husband LOL

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? NOTHING i want to look great NAKED

Screen name: Jasmine721

Age/Age Range:55

Family Life:married 16 years (this time around)

Occupation: supervisor

Hobbies and Interests: quilting, crocheting, cross stitch, needle punch, reading

Favorite Music: light rock

Favorite Color(s): pink

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: walking/toning

What are your fitness/health goals? decrease pain on joints, lower BP

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? trying to find clothes that fit and looked good

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? to not stress eat

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? I need to be more consistent, push myself a little more.

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? no one

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? clothes that I don't have to hem because I didn't have to buy such a larger size!

Screen Name: slowmo runner (though you can call me slowmo or SR for short)

Age/Age Range: 35

Family Life: I have lived with my boyfriend for the past 12 years. We have three cats. Two sisters who live in the same city, amazing parents who live four hour drive away. Two cute nieces and one brand new nephew.

Occupation: Community organizer.

Hobbies and Interests: Playing the banjo, running, traveling, goiing to plays, reading, going to concerts

Favorite Music: folk, but I listen to all kinds of music

Favorite Color(s): green and brown

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: running

What are your fitness/health goals? lose weight and fun faster

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? Just slowly getting heavier over the years, but the trigger was the realization that I will only become a faster runner if I can take off some of this weight.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? I am great at the exercise part and not at all great at the food part. That is why I am going to start counting calories.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? 1) get on a more consistent schedule for eating despite my crazy work 2) push myself harder with the running...it is too easy for me to coast for miles slowly and I need to learn to leave everything that I have behind on the course instead of reserving my energy 3) cut the fried and the sweet stuff down to a reasonable level

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? : Every stick figure person who ever passed me in a race.

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size? regular running type shorts (I cannot wear them now or my thighs rub something fierce, so I wear longer compression type things which are a: fugly and b: almost never have pockets)

Screen Name:

Rain Dancer.

Age/Age Range:

43.

Family Life:

Married 19 years. One son, 19.

Occupation:

Mad housewife.

Hobbies and Interests:

Reading, knitting, crocheting, decorating, playing on my 'puter.

Favorite Music:

Rock, some pop, 80's, ABBA, classical.

Favorite Color(s):

Blue, red, pink.

Favorite Exercise/Workouts:

Walking. In home walking.

What are your fitness/health goals?

To reach a healthy normal weight for my height, build and lifestyle. I don't need to be a size 2. But an 8 might be nice...

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit?

Lots of things. Bursting out of a size 5X... Not being able to get out of the car without help, being too fatigued to even take care of my home and family, the knowledge that I was killing myself.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health?

The urge to binge. I am an emotional eater and have used food as a drug and anesthesia for decades. It is a real biotch getting my mindset to change. My inner dialog is horrid. I am terrible to myself. And it causes me pain and makes me want to binge and numb out and make it stop.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve?

***snort*** What don't I need to improve? I am beginning to get a handle on things. But I have a lot of work to do. I did just get through a major holiday and stayed on track. A huge accomplishment, for me.

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? :

Every little chippy who ever looked at me in the supermarket, ran into another isle and burst into hysterical laughter.

Hey, , I'm fat... Not unable to hear.

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size?

A great pair of jeans, a silk cami and high, high heels.

Screen Name: MalibuBeachBound

Age/Age Range: 28

Family Life: Married - June 4, 2005 to my wonderful husband

Occupation: Dental student - Graduating in 2011 (Future Dentist)

Hobbies and Interests: Running, rollerblading, tennis, painting, guitar, keyboard, relic hunting

Favorite Music: Country, pop/rock

Favorite Color(s): Lime green and pink

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: RUNNING!!! 3-4 miles

What are your fitness/health goals? Reduce thigh size, lose 30 lbs. I'm fairly content with everything above my hips and below mid thigh.

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? I have always wanted this. Struggle since I was 12

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? I gain much easier than I lose

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? Portion control, cut down on wine

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? As good as Jennifer Aniston... I think she has the PERFECT build

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size?
Size 6 bikini (currently size 10 tankini with shorts )

Screen Name: sm177

Age/Age Range: 20

Family Life: Single, live with my dad

Occupation: University student/part time cashier

Hobbies and Interests: science, tv, movies, running, biking

Favorite Music: metal, indie, pop,

Favorite Color(s): grey, brown

Favorite Exercise/Workouts: running or biking

What are your fitness/health goals? Lose 10-15 pounds, lose my belly fat. Run a half marathon

What was the "trigger" or incident that made you decide it was time to lose weight and become more fit? I had a bad break which caused me to lose weight and loved the way I looked, after gaining it back I decided I wanted to be smaller again.

What do you struggle with the most on this journey to health? I deprive myself then binge, I have no self control.

What are three things in the area of diet/exercise you need to improve? Portion control

(Evil motivation ) Who do you want to look better than? Scarlett Johansson

What can you not wait to wear when you are at goal weight or size?
size 4 mini skirt without my gut hanging over