First name: Barbara

Geographical location: Near Seattle WA

Age:25

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Speech Therapist

Pets: Would have cats if my roomies weren't so allergic...

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Random Crafts, Hanging out with friends, learning new things, volunteering

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: April 2010

Starting Weight: 278

Present Weight: 262

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Keeping up my enthusiams and willpower after the first few weeks pass

Following any specific plan: HMR meal replacements and shakes plus general healthy eating habits like eating fruits and veggies. Exercise at least 4 times a week.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I feel like I'm finally in a good place and ready to do this seriously. I'm using meal repalcements which I never though I would but I need to feel some success and learn the right habits before I can go back to doing it on my own.

I just realized I have never done one of these. Fun!

First name: Mary

Geographical location: Central Texas

Age: 38

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 19, 14, 6

Occupation: Sales - WAHM and homeschooling mom (FT job!)

Pets: 2 dogs and 1 cat

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, education, home decor

Height: 5'5 1/4"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: April 21, 2010

Starting Weight: 258

Present Weight: 225

Goal Weight: 140-150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: My mind

Following any specific plan: Counting calories and exercising

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: My mind is right, I snapped and was really ready to do something instead of just talking about it all the time.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I love this place and can't imagine my weight loss journey without it.

DATE: August 16, 2010

REAL NAME: Angie

AGE: 39

BIRTHDAY: October 8, 1970

MARITAL STATUS: Separated

FAMILY INFO: It's me and my 5 year old son, and my mother who moved in with us 2 yrs ago.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Love cooking (go figure!), outdoor stuff like camping, hiking, swimming, canoeing (riding more than paddling )

PETS: We have a dog, a cat, a bird and a fish


TOP WEIGHT: 271

CURRENT WEIGHT: 252

GOAL WEIGHT: 160

HEIGHT: 5'6"

EYE COLOR: Green

HAIR COLOR: Dark Brown

OCCUPATION: Manager

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Southern Ontario (Toronto area)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IN WEIGHT LOSS: Will power and determination, I'm too easy on myself.

FOLLOWING ANY SPECIFIC PLAN: Dr. Poon's Metabolic Diet

WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL: I've just made a major life change and feel motivated to make more big changes in my life; I'm recently separated, now I want to be fit and healthy and change my life even further. I'm turning 40 this October and hope to be a lot healthier by then. In December we are going to Disney and I want to make sure I can fit on the rides!!

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I'm fairly liberal and have lots of enthusiasm - it can be a bit much actually; be sure to let me know when it hits the annoying point

WHAT EXPERIENCES CAN YOU SHARE: I do best when I lose a good deal of weight quickly in the beginning; that seems to get me in the right frame of mind to commit to a food plan and exercise.

First name: Julianne

Geographical location: California

Age: 26

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Pets: None

Hobbies/Interests: I love to experiment with cooking and baking.

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown eyes, Black hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: July 2010

Starting Weight: 245

Present Weight: 229

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I find it more fun to go out with friends than to exercise by myself. So my biggest hurdle will be setting time aside for exercising.

Following any specific plan: Counting calorie and working out (Curves and cardio)

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm tired of being unhealthy and overweight. I want to lead a more active life and also be able to shop at non-plus sized stores.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm looking forward to meeting new people on 3FC.

First name:Regina (I like to be called Gina)

Geographical location: Quincy, MA

Age:27

Marital Status:Single (have been for a very long time )

Children/Ages:0

Occupation:Supervisor for a printing/mail room/ fulfillment company.

Pets:1 Cat names Tessie and a Hamster named Pepper

Hobbies/Interests:I love photography, art and animals. I also like cooking and roller-coasters!

Height:5'7"

Eye/Hair Color:blue eyes/ dirty blond hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey:9/15/10 (I had lost almost 50lbs in 2008 but gained some back, I feel I need to start fresh so my start date is today)

Starting Weight:304

Present Weight:264.8

Goal Weight:150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss:My binge eating at night and exercise.

Following any specific plan:Calorie Counting (1200-1300 a day)

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:My knees are getting worse and my health could be better, I just know this weight is not healthy for me.

Anything else you would like to share with us:I'm thankful I found this forum, I really need some help to keep me on track.

First name: Thais

Geographical location: Brazil

Age: 25

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Civil Engineer

Pets: No

Hobbies/Interests: Music, movies, books, any exercise involving a swimming pool

Height: 5'2"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/ dark brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Oct 2009 (sort of)

Starting Weight: 236 lb (107 kg)

Present Weight: 201 lb (91,5 kg)

Goal Weight: 125 lb (57 kg)

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: So many. Lack of confidence and faith in myself, losing weight slowly (way to slow for my taste), lack of motivation at times, not knowing a lot of people in the same situation as me (until I found this forum!)

Following any specific plan: Just eating smaller portions and exercising regularly (but not as much as I want to or as much as I could)

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I mean it. I need this phisically and mentally. I need to know that I can change.

First name: Stephanie

Geographical location: North Carolina

Age: 35

Marital Status: married

Children/Ages: Daugher 13

Occupation: Property Manager

Pets: 2 dogs

Hobbies/Interests: Watching TV, Internet, Movies, spending time with family

Height: 5'6"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown Eyes/Black/Brown hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 101910 this time

Starting Weight: 296

Present Weight: 288

Goal Weight: 135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Binging, boredom, hunger, laziness

Following any specific plan: Decrease calories, increase water and exercise

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Tired of the bad self image I have, tired of feeling bad physically, tired of being tired all the time, want to be able to do all the things normal people do.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

First name: Denise

Geographical location: Alabama

Age: 49

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: Son 25

Occupation: Homemaker

Pets: 1 cat Bamm Bamm, 1 duck Mickey

Hobbies/Interests: Homemaking, sewing, reading, watching movies, cooking for my family

Height: 5' 4"

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel, Dark brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: June 2010

Starting Weight: 255

Present Weight: 200

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: staying on course, pushing onward, hanging in there and not giving up!

Following any specific plan: calorie counting/ calorie cycling

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I realize this is something I will have to work at the rest of my life. If I want to live and live healthy this has to become a way of life for me. I want this so bad...I want to be there for my family. I want to have lots of fun with my grandchildren.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Thank you all for the encouragement and wonderful motivation!!
Yay University of Alabama! Roll Tide!!!!

First name: Lizz

Geographical location: Europe

Age: 27

Marital Status: single

Children/Ages: N/A

Occupation: project manager

Pets: N/A

Hobbies/Interests: reading, music, discussions, swimming, movies, family time

Height: 5' 7''

Eye/Hair Color: brown/brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 5 Dec 2010

Starting Weight: 260 lbs

Present Weight: 247 lbs

Goal Weight: 159 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: staying motivated and being consequent.

Following any specific plan: counting calories and trying to get in some light exercise regularly and gradually starting with weight training.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have made a commitment this time.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I think these boards are great and I am excited about getting to know the wonderful people who support and motivate each other on here.

First name: Theox

Geographical location: The southeastern US.

Age: mid-20s

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: No.

Occupation: Graduate student.

Pets: No.

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, photography, walking, drawing, and music, among other things.

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: No.

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 12/21/10

Starting Weight: 275.2

Present Weight: 271.4

Goal Weight: 125

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Staying motivated and dealing with stress and set-backs effectively.

Following any specific plan: No.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Older and hopefully wiser.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I really like the dancing carrot.

First name: Kelly

Geographical location: Pennsylvania

Age: 36

Marital Status: happily married

Children/Ages: three lovely adult stepdaughters (21, 20, 18)

Occupation: office manager at local university

Pets: Westie pup, Zoey

Hobbies/Interests: cooking, canning, reading, one of my resolutions for the new year is to learn to knit and give yoga a try

Height: 5' 4"

Eye/Hair Color: hazel eyes, brown hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: December 30, 2010

Starting Weight: 247.1

Present Weight: 247.1

Goal Weight: 145

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: making the time to plan in advance and sticking to it

Following any specific plan: picking up Weight Watchers Momentum plan - have all the materials and don't plan to attend meetings. Looking forward to using these boards as a strong support system.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm starting to gain weight again after staying steady for a while. My body is suffering for all the additional pounds. My husband and I are motivated to make this important change in our life.

First name: Leslie

Geographical location: N. California

Age: 28

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Massage Therapist/Office Manager

Pets: 3 cats, 2 dogs, chickens

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, making lotions

Height: 5' 9"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown for it all

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Been overweight my whole life. I finally started doing something about it in September 2010

Starting Weight: 315

Present Weight: 285

Goal Weight: 155

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Making myself do the exercise in the morning.

Following any specific plan: I got the BodyMedia arm band in November. I really like it it makes me enter what I eat and I get to see how many calories and am burning.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am sticking with it and I have a set goal and a reason for that goal.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I am going to Hawaii in June and am trying to be down to 240 by that time.

First name: Christine
Geographical location: Saskatchewan Canada

Age: 36
Marital Status: Common Law (for 8 years)

Children/Ages: London 6 years
Faith 5 years
Occupation: stay at home mom

Pets: 3 cats (Sprite, Cricket and Mouzer), 3 dogs (Hunny, Trixie and Spice)

Height: 5'7

Eye/Hair Color: Grey eyes, red hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Jan 7 2011

Starting Weight: 285 lbs

Goal Weight: 160 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: the habit of snacking

Following any specific plan: moderate carbs, lower sugar

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I was diagnosed with insulin resistance in December, a week later my husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes so lifestyle changes are a MUST. As well I am on Metformin.

First name: Larry

Geographical location: Brooksville Florida, (on the West Coast and one hour North of Tampa)

Age: 66

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: two boys 22 and 17

Occupation: Retired from US Navy and MCI Telecommunication

Pets: Presently none unless you count the squirrels in my yard

Hobbies/Interests: I am very active with the Shriners and Shriners Hospitals for Children

Height: 5' 6"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown / Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: This time January 6th 2011

Starting Weight: 317

Present Weight: 293

Goal Weight: 143

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Sticking with it for the long haul

Following any specific plan: Balanced 1500 calorie diet plus walking 1 to 2 miles a day

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I feel a sense of impending doom if I am not succesful. I realize something has to change. I can't continue doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Tried almost every kind of diet with great success but I am a YO YO dieter and I have historically put the weight back on plus some additional each time.