I'm not sure if the decision has been made to extend the challenge but I know it was also suggested that the teams combine threads. I thought it would be cool to start a thread to get to know all those that have stayed in the challenge..... WE ARE ALL WINNERS!!!

HI... My name is Cindy

I decided after a visit with my grandbaby last November that I needed to get healthy and make sure I was around to watch him grow up.

I eat @ 1500 calories a day (nothing off limits) and exercise 5-6 days a week. I use FitDay to log everything I eat, I take weekly pictures, and monthly measurements. I love the support that I have here on 3FC (especially the ladies over at 40-something) and my husband has been on this journey with me and has lost almost 40 lbs.

Hi Cindy- Glad you started this thread. the post have been scarce lately with only a few of us left.

My name is Mary. I am a 40-something mom of three, grandmom of 1 darling little girl, Olivia!

I started counted calories in January. 1500 per day I try to eat mostly whole foods but I usually have a few pieces of candy each day! I workout at least 4 times per week and I use a Sensewear to track my calories burned and consumed. Although I post all of my food online I still like to write it down on paper to keep myself honest. I have been overweight most of my adult life. I really just feel like this is my time. It's only my dh, 1 dd, and myself left at home and I finally have time to concentrate on me.

Have a great Sunday!

Hi ~I too count calories...I am at 1400 a day ~
I am so excited I learned to count calories because I had no money for special diets ect ect ect
I am a wife(for 16 years) & I am 33 year old mother with 3 kids~ages 15(will be 16 may 17th~my only girl)
a son age 11~Another son age 8 ~actually they have lost some weight also just because I changed to healthy snacks for them~Snack cakes ect are gone and yummy yogurts /jello/and Sugar free pudding~although they still enjoy cookies~But I never mention weight to them because There only kids once~ but I am trying to change there eating a bit since I take total responsibilty for feeding them bad since I buy the groceries and prepare there meals!!!
ANYWAYS~ I wasn't in the challenge~But Just wanted to say a big friendly hello to ya~I am from OHIO.Online most days~anyone ever needs to talk just type me a message.GOODLUCK EVERYONE & CONGRADS ON EVERYONES WEIGHT LOSS SO FAR THAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED.

hi

i started doing south beach on january 1 and have been losing every since. i'm finally getting more exercise in and working on atleast 10,000 steps a day and trying to train myself to run, my boxer puppy (max) is helping me with that.

anyways, i live by myself but have have three girls...my youngest lives with her dad and 1 grand baby and one on the way....thats way to many for being 39.

To Everyone:

I'm the proud Mom to three, wife to one, I've been heavy most of my life, food has always been a constant struggle for me. My DH and I, have been, on WW since May of '07, and I have lost over 80lbs, he has lost just over 60lbs.

I do, try to exercise everyday, which I find is the only way I can manage this love/hate thing I have with food. I have tried to dig deep down to find out why I overeat, {it's not just that I Love Food} I do know that, this is going to be the last time I EVER have to lose this weight.

I also agree 3 fat chicks has helped me so very much, sometimes I find that answer without even asking a question, and the un-ending support is truly amazing.

Lori-Amazing weight loss! You look great. I am a guidance counselor at an elementary school and I am looking forward to being off this summer to be able to get that much exercise in! I love to workout but there just isn't enough time in the day. Keep up the hard work

Morning everyone. I've been overweight my entire life. It is only in the last 5 years or so that I have really tried to lose some of my excess poundage. Having kids will do that to you I suppose. Speaking of kids, I am a stay at home mom to 4.5 year old twins. One boy and one girl. I've been married for 8 years next month and I will be 34 this summer.

I've tried Curves. I lost 20 pounds and got pregnant. I attempted WW 2 years ago but got tired of trying to figure out points and I was way to cheap to buy the materials. I then did calorie counting and was doing okay so I thought I would relax and be able to keep it under control. Not so much. I foolishly tried Atkins last summer. I know it works for some people but it is not my style. I lost 15 pounds immediately and gained nearly 30 back after eating a cookie.

Now I am back to calorie counting. A few fellow 3FC'ers mentioned a few books to read (Eat to Live and China Study) and a video to watch (Earthlings). I started cutting back my meat consumption immediately. Then around Christmas I decided to give it up completely. In 4 months I have eaten meat 4 times so I think I am doing okay. I try to stay under 2000 calories a day. It seems like a lot but I have lost 20 pounds this year and have not had to deprive myself at all.

Exercise is pretty much non existent around here. I used to go to the gym 3 days a week but found I was eating back all my calories plus some. I was okay with that though because I know I was getting stronger. The kids started preschool though and my gym was 50 miles in the opposite direction. I am patiently waiting for spring to arrive in Northern Michigan so I can get outside and start riding my bike and wogging.

zinkemomx2-you can borrow max (my boxer puppy) he keeps me going on walks daily

Hi ladies! I am a calorie-counter. I was eating 1200 cal/day, but have recently upped that to 1300 per day. I also work out 5-6 days a week. Trying to up my workouts this week as I think losing weight is getting more difficult it seems now.

Shannon - I can relate to things slowing down. For me it is because I started eating more (nothing bad) and moving less. The pup ate my power cord to the treadmill last week. I found running on the street VERY different than on the treadmill AND difficult. I posted a 1.4 loss for the week but on Friday when I got back from Vegas I was down to 150.2. I'm trying not to get frustrated but truth be told I am.

You blue chicks are rocking it!!!

Hi everyone. I must say I enjoyed reading everyone's posts and had a few thoughts for you. Let's see if I can remember them.

Zinke- Made me laugh. I live near Lansing so I understand the need for better weather so we can get outside for a workout. By the way, I think we got around 5 inches of snow today. Belated April Fool's joke???

Cruise- Gotta tell you I just read in a magazine that doing your workouts on the treadmill will give you "treadmill butt". A flatter A$$. If you run or walk on the ground you will get a more shapely booty. Maybe i don't want a treadmill after all.

Now a little about me. My name is Mindy and I am almost 49. YIKES!! I have been fat, not heavy, since I got pregnant with my DD. (23 years ago) Jan. 2008 I decided it was time. I started counting calories, logging food and exercising everyday. In 2008 I lost about 50 pounds. It has been much harder in 2009. I still work out, even harder, and the losses are coming slower.

I think it may be that my hormones are out of whack. After doing some research, I started using progesterone cream a few weeks ago. I am waiting to see if that helps. I am really excited about Jillian's new book coming out tomorrow. It is all about hormones and metabolism.

I am a hard worker, I never quit and you will see me around all the time. It is nice to meet some new people and people who are sticking to their guns. Hopefully we can help each other out along the way.

One more thing. GO STATE!!! GREEN AND WHITE!!! Yep, I graduated from good ole MSU.

Hi Everyone!

I'm a calorie counter, currently at 1500 per day. For exercise I am currently doing intervals of running/walking on the treadmill, generall for 60-90 minutes. I'm not sure how much longer we are extending the challenge, but I would really, really like to get out of the 150s by the end.

Have a great day!

Hello!
My name is Becky. I'm 24, married for 5 years and have two wonderful boys (4 years old and 6 months old). I've been trying to lose the baby weight since my first. I've already gotten the second's off. I've tried a lot of different things including Slim Fast, Curves, calorie counting and just watching what I ate. I've always failed with these. Now I am doing WW and 30DS every day. I have an elliptical that I try to do every day but I only really have time to exercise when the baby is napping.
I am so thankful for 3FC and everybody here. So many people have helped me. I'm finally in ONEderland (for good!!). I'm actually seeing the 180's now! I haven't seen anything that low in 5 years! Anyway, good luck everybody with all of your journeys! Have a good day!

Hi I'm Cat, 29 and mommy to two boys ages 5 and 6 1/2. I spend most of my days carting them to and from stuff and I also work part-time at our local YMCA and go to school part time. I love to run and recently got a treadmill which hasn't been used nearly enough so I am needing to get back in a routine. I started my weight loss in July 2007 and have to date lost 45 pounds. I am recovering from a little gain in Feb/March but should be back where I was by the end of this month.

Hi, my name is Mandy, I am 33, wife to a US Sailor, mom to 3 ages 12, 6 and 5. I started my lifestyle change on Dec 2nd(calorie counting, portion control switching to whole grains, adding in more veggies and less dinning out) and have lost about 25lbs.