Operation: Sexy Claus Challenge (CLOSED GROUP)

Name: Annie
Where you are from: Pennsylvania
Current Weight and Height: 5'3.75 tall and 147lbs. right now
How much you have lost so far: 100lbs.
Weight Loss Goal: UGW 115-120 (I'll ultimately be happy with 120)
Current Workout Regimen: Running, P90X
Why you joined the challenge: This is my first challenge & i thought why not?!? --- Ditto

Backstory: I was always "fat skinny" up until I was 20. Always active and always into sports, got my first job in the corporate world, and slowly packed on the lbs. By the time I was 20, until I got married at the age of 22 I went from 160 to 210lbs. in a matter of 2 years. By the time I had my third son, I weighed in at my highest at 247lbs. Today I weigh 147lbs. after 2.5 years of hard work, and diet changes. I'm ready to lose the rest and enjoy this challenge with all of you!

Name: fnm101
Where you are from: Philadelphia (no
Current Weight and Height: 185 @ 5' 7"
How much you have lost so far: 15lbs since May 2011
Weight Loss Goal: down 12-15 more by December
Current Workout Regimen: I row (on water, not the machine) 5 days a week, and I do interval training (e.g., running up hills, and jogging down) of different types 1x/wk.
Why you joined the challenge: I loss the first bit and then leveled off due to my eating habits and not tracking my diet. I started the last challenge but fell off very quickly. Now that winter is quickly upon us, I need to shed the weight and stay motivated to keep it off through the colder months. I'm looking forward to supporting everyone, and being supported through December 2011.

A little about your personal journey....
I've always been a little overweight (pudgy belly all of my life!), but thankfully I've been healthy. When I was about 15 I started working out seriously and playing soccer and volleyball in high school. In college, I started rowing and was fit and firm at 168-173lbs, size 8. I continued rowing for three years after college but had a hard time maintaining the muscle/fat balance, so my weight creeped up to the high end of my college range (173) and my size changed to about a 10 due to a shift in greater fat/muscle balance. I then stopped all of that physical activity, and three years later (May 2011) ended up being 200lbs. How did that happen?!?! I always told myself that I would never hit 190 again (a place I went one stressful summer during college), but somehow grad. school life had taken over and I found myself 15lbs heavier than when I started...

At the beginning of the summer I decided that I was done! The quickest way I knew how to lose weight was rowing, so I joined my local club. I dropped the first ten pounds quickly (working out twice a day, eating right), the next four, slowly (less careful eating, and working out less), and now I have about 12 more to go. I'm going to need all the support I can get (especially with eating) because there are so many social events that it's easy to get out of control. Thankfully, I LOVE working out, so that is not an issue. I also LOVE to socialize, cook, and eat. Time to make better choices and "bring sexy back" from where I left it four years ago! I'm ALL IN this time!!! Thanks a lot, Krystle, for your support and hard work for the good of us all.

Name: Keela
Where you are from: Orangeburg, South Carolina
Current Weight and Height: 183 lbs., 5'4"
How much you have lost so far: 31 lbs.
Weight Loss Goal: 155 lb.
Current Workout Regimen: walking, jogging, Precor AMT, some DVDs
Why you joined the challenge: I have been slipping the past few months and I need to hold myself more accountable.

A little about your personal journey... I'm a 41-year-old recently divorced Mom of the cutest 4-year-old EVER! On my 39th birthday I decided that it was time to make a change. My goal was to lose 40 lbs by my 40th Birthday. I joined Weight Watchers and began walking almost daily. I was successful and felt better than I'd felt at any time in my 30s. I spent the last 9 months of my 40th year gaining and losing the same 10 lbs. I need to finish the first part of my journey so that I can work on maintaining my health and fitness for the rest of my life. Earlier this year I trained for and ran my second 5K. I'd like to continue running and reach my goal of a 30 min. 5K someday!

Name: Karen
Where you are from: Long Island, NY
Current Weight and Height: 124 lbs 5'3"
How much you have lost so far: 70 lbs
Weight Loss Goal: 115 lbs
Current Workout Regimen: 60 cardio daily, 30 minutes am and 30 minutes pm, walking or jogging
Why you joined the challenge: I really enjoyed the last challenge. It was very motivating to see my name moving toward the top of the spreadsheet. I know I will not move up as quickly since I do not have that much to lose, but I don't want to come this far and stall.

A little about your personal journey.... I wasn never unhappy about my weight. I realized I was unhealthy, but I was unconcerned about my looks. In March my husband of 17 years told me he no longer wanted the life we had together. I was devastated. I just couldn't eat. There was a lump in my throat and my stomach was fillied with butterflies. I began losing the weight. I was unable to change my domestic situation. I felt like my life was suddenly out of my control. I couldn't change my situation, but I soon realized I could change my reaction to it. I could not sleep more than a couple hours a night. I began to fill my nights with exercise. I needed the control and the stress relief it brought me. I was suddenly so insecure and afraid of everything. I hadn't worked in 15 years. I was afraid to job search being obese. I never lost the weight because I was never motivated enough to do so. This motivated me. I am still incredibly insecure, but I look and feel better now.

Getting So excited for this challenge!!! I've read each & every story & can't wait to challenge with such an incredible group!

Hugs,
Amy

Height: 5'5" 231.5lbs
How much you have lost so far: about 9lbs
Weight Loss Goal: I would like to get under 200 lbs (but for this challenge 15lbs would be great)
Current Workout Regimen: zumba 2-3 times a week, yoga 2 times week, weights 2-3 times a week
Why you joined the challenge: I did the summer sweeties challenge and liked having to be accountable weekly, but plateaued a bit I want to get back to loosing.

A little about your personal journey.... I'm tired of making excuses and want to be able to fit into cute clothes. I’ve struggle with weight since I was in high school (well really middle school I guess). I reached my highest weight 245 at the beginning of the year and decided it was time for a change. Having PCOS makes losing weight a battle each day but I am proud to have lost 9lbs so far. Every little bit counts. I seem be stuck at this weight the past few months but have since gone back to work and had a few injuries so not totally on my game with diet & exercise. I hope to get sexy(er) by Christmas!

Height 5'8" 176
Lost weight: -10, +6, -3, +3....you know, the never ending yo-yo! Overall, about 22 pounds.
Weight Loss Goal: for this challenge....15 pounds and keep it off!
Workout Regimin: Walk Away the Pounds, Step Aerobics, 30 Day Shred
Why you joined the challenge: I'm a teacher and the school year can be so stressful. I need some motivation and accountability!

I'm going into my 7th year of teaching and have been battling my weight since beginning teaching. There are sweets everywhere and during stressful meetings, the administration literally throws candy at us. I also work a part time job at night and weekends so it can be hard to have time to work out. But, I'm gonna do it!

Thanks Krys!

Name: ..................Tiffani Rodriguez
Where you are from: ......................Chicago
Current Weight and Height: 5'5" 230.4
How much you have lost so far: 43 pounds
Weight Loss Goal: between 165 and 175
Current Workout Regimen: whatever i feel like doing that adds up to 45 minutes to an hour
Why you joined the challenge: I joined this challenge because i think it will help me get back on the right track.