Thanks for the invite! I am going to give this group a good, hardy try. I am already involved in three other challenges (The monthly challenges that I do are quite difficult). So I hope I can squeeze yours in as well.

Name: Julie (nickname is Spike from playing Volleyball in Army basic training).
Height: 5'10 (although I used to be 5'11 as a teenager).
Age: 40
BW: 322 pounds (January 2012)
SW/CW: 248 pounds (currently in a stall
GW: 157 (what I weighed as a teen and in the Army (which was really great shape)
Beginning measurements (January 2012):
*Hips 60"
*Waist 54"
* Chest 42"
*neck 16.5"
*Thighs: 35.5 L /35 R
*Arms 19 L / 18.5 R

A little about me: I wasn't ever overweight growing up and never understood (as a kid) why people would let themselves get "fat" (ironic huh?). I started to gain after each kid was born and then I quit playing sports and my metabolism couldn't keep up with the Little Debbies, Doritos, alcohol and fast food that I survived my teenage and young adult life on and started to get fatter and fatter due to the metabolism change from having babies and the lack of exercise. I quit smoking a few times (the final time is summer of 2007) and that certianly didn't help my weight gaining problem any. Needless to say I still eat the junk food (although not as much now as back them) but I don't smoke anymore and I don't drink alcohol anymore.

I have been married to my hubby for 17 years this Arpril and we have a son together that will be 15 in June. I also have a son that will be 22 in June.

I work as an Executive Vice President and Chief Safety Compliance Officer for a trucking company in the midwest. I try to work out of the house a couple of times a week---which is great. My job does require some travel and a lot of eating out for business lunches/dinners/breakfasts (where I usually just pick at my food and bring the rest back for my hubby to eat) and then I eat the food that I took to work with me from home when I get back to the office. Strange I know, but eating like that everyday is what helped in causing me to be so big in the first place. My husband is also an exec (President and CEO) in the trucking industry (which is how we met back in the day). He is a also a Part time deputy sheriff (which he considers as one of his hobbies). He was also a part time deputy U.S. Marshall until recently but he had to give that up as work was requiring him to travel more frequently.

I love animals and currently have two dogs, a bearded dragon, a snail and fish (used to also have rabbits). I used to volunteer at our local county humane society but just haven't really had the time to go over the past year or so, but I would like to get back to that (even if I can only give them a couple of hours on the weekends as I really miss it). I am an acitive member of a charity that we started for my little brother (PFC Kevin C. Ott) who was killed in Iraq in June 2003. We give college scholarships to deserving youths from the high school that we graduated from. My husband and I are also active in a personal charity (no other donors besides us and my parents) where we purchase Christmas gifts for children in orphanage situations and in no/low income families through local job and family services in our county, the county my parents live in a the county my husband is a deputy sheriff in (we rotate between the counties every year). We usually do 200-250 kids each Christmas.

I love to watch and play sports (although I have gotten too big to play a lot of them anymore and can't wait until I can play them again). I am a HUGE Michigan Wolverines football fan (although my house also has Ohio State and Florida fans so it is always a rivalry)!!!!!

My biggest hobbies are working brain teaser type puzzles, different type of poker and playing Blackjack (I have actually considered going pro at it and retiring early...like maybe in 10 years of so). I also collect Dreamsicles (cast art figurines) and I currently have about 600 of them. I have about another 300 or so on my wish list but they have been retired for 7 years now so it is very hard to find the rare pieces that I don't currently have.

I don't like to excercise (although I do get it in every day) because I don't like to sweat. I am enjoying step aerobics the most and what I dislike the most are exercises that cause me to have to get down on the floor (have no cartlidge in my right knee so I can't get down on it and quite frankly lying on the floor kills my back (I think it is because my table/bubble butt). Until last month, I was boxing but I kind of got burnt out on it and need to get my butt back into it again. I also play Competitive table tennis (amateur not pro) so I practice at home as much as possible for matches and tournaments. I love how faced paced it is but hate how easy it is to twist a knee or ankle. My 14 year old is really getting good and I would love to see him start winning some state and eventually country/international championships (he just won't enter them). I would love to see him in the Olympics in a few years but that can't happen if he doesn't compete on these levels ( I guess that is my dream for him and not his).

height- 5'7"
Age - 42
BW- 280 lbs
SW - 236 lbs
Goal weight - 165 lbs

So, I have had weight issues all my life...have been a habitual yo-yo. Have had short term success with many diets but non that lasted until I found a plan that worked for me. I lost 70 lbs 5 years ago following the same plan I am on now but I threw it all away when my oldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer...I used it as an excuse to go back to my horrible eating habits, after all, who wouldn't understand in those circumstances?? I learned the hard way that using stress as an excuse to quit trying was a cop-out... giving up on myself didn't help either my daughter or myself and it has taken me over 5 years to get up the motivation to attack the problem again. No giving up this time....NO excuse is good enough to do that to myself again.

Height: 5'8"
Age: 36
BW: 195
SW: 188.2
Goal Weight: 140

Beginning measurements:
Neck- 15
Shoulders- 45.5
Chest: 41.5
Waist- 42.5
Hips- 43.5
Thighs- 21.5 (r) 21.5 (l)
Calves- 14.25 (r) 14.5 (l)
Arms- 13 (r) 13.25 (l)

My name is Courtney. I have struggled with weight my entire life. My second daughter was born 9/09 and I gained 45lbs...I have never lost it. I decided I was done with the excuses and ready to get back in shape. My goals are 10lbs at a time. I need small numbers or I get discouraged. This group is perfect...it will help hold me accountable and we can offer support to each other....

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to start this! Viola47 keeps me motivated in real life. She convinced me to join mfp and always is there for me. She's the best, you guys will learn that very quickly :-)

Height- 5'2"
Age-27
BW (beginning weight - weight at the beginning/highest weight) -173
SW (starting weight - weight when you joined the group) -165
Goal Weight - 115/120/whenever I can wear a bikini
Beginning measurements/stats - tbt - ill get back to you on this!
Favorite Doctor: Matt Smith, by a hair. Favorite Companion? Definitely Souffle Girl already!

I'm 27 and have always been chubby and have always played sports. I live in upstate NY with my boyfriend, two cats, and yellow lab. I finally have a desk job and consistent schedule, after close to 5 years of crazy hours and on call jobs. There's no excuses, I am the one responsible for myself! Time to focus and do this! Feel free to add me if you're in this group, I love to keep people motivated and appreciate the motivation and encouragement from others. I really think that's the difference for me. This group, and a little extra Jillian butt kicking, is going to be the final change I need!

Height: 5'2
Age: 31
BW: 170
SW: 168
Goal weight: 125~130

Beginning measurements:
Waist: 36
Hips: 36
Chest: 36
I didn't do the other measurements sorry


Well, I am so glad you made this group! When I was younger I was really small. BUT, when I turned 23 my thyroid went crazy and so did my weight. I started this year working out at the gym, 5 days a week. I haven't lost a lot of weight but am losing inches. I am happy married to the love of my life and we have to boys. We are trying for a 3rd :-) I live in freezing cold Michigan, lol, but was raised in Phoenix,Arizona. I can't wait to have fun and lose weight with you all

Height: 169cm
Age: 34
BW: 125kg
SW: 109kg
Goal weight: 80kg

I will be back when I convert my measurements. Im an aussie so use different measurement.

Hi all, not much to tell. Started this journey 12 months ago, but really got stuck into it around 6 months ago. I was always a chunky kid, it hit mostly when I started High School.

5"4
28
BW 280
SW 256.8
Goal Weight 130
Beginning measurements/stats
Neck- 14
bust-45
waist-44
hips-49
thigh-27
arm-14

My name is Kandi and im 28 years old. Im married and looking to lose weight so me and my husband can start a family. I wasnt always overweight. I started gaining weight after 3 or 4 years after puberty due to having PCOS... which is a condition that makes it hard to lose weight and not have monthly cycles..... My biggest was 280 which was a few months ago. Im excited for this challenge. Feel free to add me as a friend

Hello everyone!!

Height 5'0
Age 22
BW (beginning weight - weight at the beginning/highest weight) 198
SW (starting weight - weight when you joined the group) 170
Goal Weight 120-125


Hey everyone I'm Jayme. I'm originally from the great state of Texas but moved to Kentucky late 2011 to be with my husband who is in the Army. I started my journey(sort of) in October of 2012 and have lost 20 pounds. I fell off the bandwagon during christmas time(of course) and started back on my journey after the new year without taking it too seriously but now I'm more motivated than ever and have lost another 8 pounds. I still have 45-50 pounds left to go but I know I can do this!

I am also starting to eat clean and hopefully can get some tips as to new recipes with a picky eater(my husband)
Thanks y'all!

Hi Guys,

My name is Kelly. Sorry I am just now posting this for some reason I have trouble viewing the group stuff from my phone so this is the first time I have logged onto my computer since Thursday.

Age: 35
Height: 5'2
Starting Weight: 220 lbs
Current Weight: 215
Goal Weight: 160

I have struggled with my weight most of my life and have lost a significant amount of weight and gained it all back plus some more times than I would like to think about right now. So frustrating how easy the weight comes back but how hard it is to get if off and keep it off. About 4 years ago I was only 7 pounds away from my goal weight of 160 down 65 pounds from my starting weight of 232 (biggest ever) and I had a bad knee and ankle injury that had me laid up for a while. Once I stopped going to the gym I slowly started eating bad again and making bad choices. It just snow balled and here I am once again trying to lose those same pounds. I am usually really good during the week and usually lose 2-3 pounds by Friday but come Monday morning I have gained those 2-3 pounds right back. I have a hard time staying on track on the weekends because I tend to eat out a lot and also drink too much alcohol. I am hoping that with the help of MFP I will be able to stop these bad habits and finally lose this weight once and for all for the very last time EVER! Good luck to everyone :-)