Hello, hello, hello.
My name is Tiffany and I am 33 years old living in Los Angeles, CA. July 2013, I decided to finally get serious about my weight loss, again (I lost 70 pounds in 2006 while on Weight Watchers but have gained it all back). I just joined MFP yesterday, found this challenge and instantly joined the group. I always like to participate in challenges because of the encouragement, tips and tricks and generally feeling of community that I can receive and give to others.
My starting weight was 256 and I am now 239. Don't know what my end goal is yet so right now I am just focusing on eating the right amount of calories and going to the gym 4 - 5 times a week. However, I am determined to lose 20 pounds by Christmas so I can find a cute new dress for my birthday/New Year's celebration in Las Vegas (crazytown!).
I am looking forward to meeeting and supporting each and everyone one of you. Feel free to friend me, I'm super fun!

Hi! My name is Christie. I am so excited to find this group! I turned 33 this week and I decided this is going to be the year I get back on track. I have two awesome daughters ages 4 and 5 and while pregnant my weight sky rocketed to 220 pounds. It took me two years to get down to 124 pounds (my lowest weight ever). Unfortunately since then I gained back 40 pounds. I have consistently worked out during the time I gained back the 40 pounds, but I have not been eating great. The goal of loosing 20 pounds by Christmas will be a perfect starting point for me.

My plan is to get five workouts in per week, eat healthy, track my food and weigh in weekly. I am so happy to find a group of people with the same goals to help me stay on track. I know we can do it!

Hi there! My name is Eliska, I'm 32 and I'd love to lose 20 lbs before Christmas! :-) I'm currently 204 lbs (only 4 to go and I'll be so happy to see the dreaded number start with 1.) My GW is 150 lbs and the heaviest I've ever been was 220 lbs. I've recently found out I'm a Celiac and changing my diet has totally changed my life (for the better!) :-) I do agility with my chi/yorkie and that's also one of the reasons I want to be fitter & a better runner. I've started the C25K program not long ago and it's really helping me. Feel free to add me and be strong everyone, we can totally do this!! :-)

Hi, my name is Erin and I am turning 31 next month. I currently weigh 172 and am 5'4. My ultimate goal weight would be around 138. I have a gorgeous 2.5 year old son who deserves a more active mommy! My husband has committed to a better lifestyle so we are doing this together. I had been doing really well last winter then gained 10lbs over the last few months. I always struggle in the summers and just found out that my thyroid function has dropped yet again. I had my thyroid removed nearly a year ago and am still struggling to find the right dosage to keep my hormones stable.

I am committed to this goal as we want to give our son a little brother or sister soon. So when I lose the 20lbs I will be that much healthier and in a much better position to have an enjoyable pregnancy. I've printed out a four month calendar with my mini-goals and I'm starting prenatal vitamins so IT'S ON!!!!!

Hey fellow challengers,

I'm Mel and I'm the one that decided to create this group I have been overwhelmed by the love and support that has been coming my way and I am so excited about joining you all on this mission to a freer, happier, carefree and lighter existence!

I am 30, from London, born in New Mexico and living in Germany- so I feel like I am a little bit from everywhere all over the world ;-) I am also an opera singer by day and studying to be a Nutritionist by night

As a strong independent woman, I am ready to start my life now and am ready to let go of the lbs that are holding me back, emotionally, physically, spiritually and probably financially too.

Reading all your stories makes me so proud of everyone out there, we all DESERVE to feel FANATSTIC every single day and that includes being good to our bodies and our souls.

I want to keep the support flowing, so feel free to log into my blog, where I will share ideas and little freebies a couple of times a week.

Sending you all huge love and support! LET'S LOSE 20LBS BY CHRISTMAS!

Your,

Mel :-) xxx


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/meowmezzo

My name is Sue. I am probably the oldest person on this challenge at 73. I don't feel 73 (nor act it so I am told) but I look it!...I am a recently retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a lot of knowledge about "why" we gain weight. Trust me, knowing WHY doesn't automatically mean you can solve the problem. Since my retirement, I have focused a lot on figuring out which behaviors and which foods caused me to have an almost addictive relationship with food.....I have discovered the power of sugar and refined foods ! I put into action a food plan that strictly limits cookies, doughnuts, desserts, etc........I limit my total carbohydrates each day and it has resulted in me gaining more control over what I put into my mouth. I am so relieved to feel that I am more in control......Let's hear it from all the control freaks out there......LOL......I have set a goal to lose 20 pounds by December 25th.....so I can shopping on the day after Christmas and buy new clothes.......Longer terms goals include having surgery in the spring of 2014........To everyone I hope you do well.....May everyone be a LOSER, thereby becoming a WINNER.......Don't give up......

Hi everyone. My name is Leah and I'm a librarian. About 4 yrs ago I lost 50 lbs, starting at 220 and ending at 170. I kept it off for a couple years and slowly regained 30 lbs. Now I've been staying around 200 for a while. I'd love to get those 30 lbs back off again and getting down to 150 would be even more wonderful.

I'm hoping to stay active once winter hits. I live in the north and winter is not my favorite time of the year. Looking forward to this challenge.

Leah

Hi, I'm Terri - 45 year old daughter, sister, friend, community volunteer, wife and working mother of two grown children. For years I have put everyone else first and now it is time for me! When the kids were young I used to stop by the family farm a couple of times a week and regardless of how long it had been since their last visit, my two would kick up a fuss about leaving. Dad's response to the commotion, "You can't come back if you never leave".

Today his words are motivation for me, I have been physically fit most of my life, when I met my husband 12 years ago I was at the top of my healthy weight range at 158 lbs. Since then I have struggled to fit exercise into my routine and I have watched the scale creep up little by little each year. At a recent annual checkup my doctor suggested that I should lose some weight. I would have never used the word "obese" to describe myself but . . . newsflash . . . my doctor did and at 5'7" I learned that I reached the point of being obese 11.3 lbs ago.

Although I feel healthy now and don't feel like the extra lbs. have negatively impacted me research has shown that the extra lbs. put me at increased risk for: cancer, particularly endometrial, breast, and colon; diabetes; heart disease; high blood pressure; liver and gallbladder disease; osteoarthritis; sleep apnea and respiratory problems; and stroke.

I am excited to participate in this challenge as I think that it will be a great motivator to see me through the end of another challenge that I am in with my son - he is trying to save 15% of his gross pay and I am trying to lose 46 lbs. We started July 1st so we are just about at the halfway point. I have a MFP blog called - A Mom, Her Son and One Life-Changing Wager - in which I post recipes and weight loss related tips, as well as, host guest bloggers on a variety of different topics - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/takerbrat

Hi everyone...I am happy to be here and get a little more accountability. My name is Theresa...I am 52 years old. I am a stay at home mom of 6, with 3 left at home. I had lost close to 50lb and have gained back about 20 (lots of family stuff) So I am here to get rid of that 20 before Christmas. Last fall I started C25K. It is awesome and now I am running 4-5 miles a day 6 days a week. My problem is that when I run that far, in the back of my mind I give myself permission to eat too much. I have increased my calories from 1200 - 1500 per day, but often go over that. So with this challenge maybe I will be able to stick to the 1500 I am working on a marathon training program, not sure that I will ever run a marathon, but I am enjoying increasing distance and decreasing my times!! Good luck to everyone, feel free to add me as a friend if you want. Thanks for being here.

Hi everyone, I'm Jessica. I am 23 years old and work full time as an accounting assistant. A year and a half ago I lost about 40lbs with having a very active job and did it on my own; however with this desk job I have gained all of that back. This time though I'm looking to have more motivation and support from others so I can lose the weight and not gain it back. I'm currently 234lbs and looking to be about 210lbs by Christmas, and I know with all of your support I will be able to make it happen. I work alot of overtime so it makes it hard to get out and walk, but I try to walk 3 miles (which involves alot of hills) at least 3 times a week. I am starting to run part of that walk; however I do have knee and back problems which makes exercising a little more difficult for me.

Add me if you like and I look forward to completing this challenge with everyone.

Hey everybody. I am Kara I'm 28 years old Just got married in July I have three kids two of which are mine and my husband's together and on is my step son. I stay very busy with my daughters with soccer and being a Girl Scout troop leader.. I am looking to lose 30 lbs by the new year so this will be a good start.. I weigh 156.5 as of Saturday morning...

Hello all,

My name is Mary and I'm 40 years old. I am married with no kids. I started MFP at 223 pounds which is the heaviest I have ever been. I am ready to commit to a new me. I am working out at least 4X a week, and recording every thing I eat. Feel free to add me as a friend, together we can do this.

Hello everyone, My name is Shanik and I am about 25....(wink)! I am looking to lose about 25 pounds total with a starting weight of 160. For my height a healthy weight is around 135 so that's my goal. Prior to having my kids and dozens of steroid shots, I was thin with a terrible diet. Post pregnancy and fast forward 3 years I have a moderately healthy diet and a not so thin body. I am not aiming for model thin, tv star thin, but for a healthy weight and thin waist. I have given myself 6 months but it would be awesome to really push myself and lose most of it by XMAS.

Hi my name is Tracie and I'm 41. I have been away from MFP for a while and gained back 15 pounds that I had lost. I began going to Curves a few weeks back but I still need the extra support that I got while I was here. Feel free to add me because all the friends I had before are no longer on my list and I definitely need the support and I have support to offer. I wish everyone luck with their weight loss journey and I am so glad that I am back here and beginning mine again.

hey every one this is fk here...

hi i am new to group and the concept of calorie counting... i would love be in touch with you all and perhaps we can inspire each to stay on track...

a bit about me i am 32 in UAE work in a bank and need to get fit and make this a lifestyle change...

once i lose all my weight i am gonna treat myself to a bike license...