Hi everyone! I am 39 years old and 5'3". I gained an obscene amount of weight over 5 years working full-time while simultaneously juggling graduate school/family. It's amazing how much damage long-term stress does to the body.

Highest weight: 181.5 lbs
Current weight 171.5 lbs
Goal weight: 140 lbs

Hi, I am Karen, I turned 50 just before Christmas and if that isn't depressing enough for me this weight is. I have 2 children my daughter is 14 and son 13. We are going to Disneyland in Feb. so hoping to drop some of this by then so I can keep up to my kids.
I live in Saskatchewan, Canada and it is getting cold here I guess winter couldn't stay away forever.
I am at my heaviest now, even when I was pregnant I didn't weigh this much, no one in my family has a weight problem so I find it very hard to stick to any type of weight loss program.

Starting weight 250 lbs
when I met my husband 20 years ago I was 150
I know it is a lot but eventually I would like to be about the same, but at this point I would be happy with anything under 200 then go from there

Heaviest weight: 225

Starting weight: 201.8

Currently weight (as of 12/30): 201.8

Goal weight: 170

I'm 5'4 and 36 years old. I have really been trying to live a healthier lifestyle over since the beginning of November and I am down just over 23 pounds. I have about 32 pounds to go to get to my goal weight! I travel a lot for my job, but luckily the next 6 weeks I will not be traveling much so this will give me time to focus on me and get back into my routines after being at my parents house for almost 2 weeks! Good luck everyone! I look forward to reading about everyone's success and motivating each other!

Hi, my name is Avi
Age: 33 (soon-to-be 34)
Height: 5'5
Heaviest weight: 216
Starting weight: I need to weigh myself in the morning.
Current weight: 213
Goal weight 155-165

I'm the poster child for yo-yo dieting over the past few years. I've allowed my heaviest weight to creep its way back after being dealt a lot of low blows in 2015. I'm an emo/stress eater and lacked motivation to workout, so I can't say that I'm surprised.

I'm welcoming 2016 with open arms: vision board (check), food tracker (check), workout plan (check), weight loss challenge (check)! I'm ready and motivated to get this weight off. So much is riding on me to make this happen!

Good luck everyone and happy New Year

I want to join too.

My name is Dennis
Age: 48 Male
Height: 5' 16"
Current weight: 298
Heaviest weight: 345
Goal weight: 250

I've never been small: my healthiest adult weight was 250 at age 25 with practically no body fat from working construction and working out 2 hours a day (martial arts, weight training, running), but that was a galaxy far, far away before 50 hours a week, grad school, 3 kids and a sedentary job.

I've lost 47 pounds since 2011, slowly, very slowly. I'd like to pick up the pace, but I have to be careful since I'm type 1 diabetic and no carb diets send me to the ER I'm focusing on portion control and moving from 5,000 steps a day to 10,000.

Good Luck and I'll follow along . . .

Hello!! I'm Ember :

Heaviest Weight: 162
Current Weight: 143
Goal Weight: 125
Height: 5'6

I'm 23 from Scotland
I have a rottweiler x staffordshire bull terrier cross who just loves her walkies! I love running and cycling and workout a lot. I eat really healthily and since I'm a vegan a lot of fruit and veggies!!!

Hello All, I'm Daphne. I am 44, from Chicago

Heaviest Weight: 438lbs
Start Weight: 400lbs
Current Weight: 357lbs
1st Goal Weight: 299lbs

Thank you all for your support. It's nice to continue on my journey with extra inspiration. Happy New Year's to everyone...and here we go....good luck :-)

Heaviest weight: 232
Starting weight (Nov 8, 2014): 229
Currently weight (Dec 30, 2015): 193.5
Goal weight: 149

I'm 5'8 and 42 years old. I am married, have an eighteen-year-old son living at home going to college, and own my own business. I work too much, and sit too much. I've been trying to run for years, and have done a lot of races, but have never been able to move past a run/walk method. I am finally making a little progress. I joined MFP in November 2014 after starting a new exercise program and seeing an ad for it. I can't believe I have never counted calories before this. I feel like I have wasted years of my life being overweight when it was completely unnecessary.

At first the weight came off pretty easily and I was eating around 1700 to 1800 calories, but since June or July I have lost very little. I am feeling motivated again and ready to start dropping the rest of this weight. Glad to be in this challenge!

Thanks @RunRachelleRun Have you tried Couch to 5 k? Worked wonders for me and the best part is that you can start at your current fitness level. I skipped the first couple of weeks.

I have had a few plateaus myself. I'm glad that you are back at it, though. Never give up!

Well, @RunRachelleRun, there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing intervals. Just keep up the good work!