My name is Gale. I was a thin kid, until 10 years old. Then the hormones started and that really screwed me up. I kept going up and up and up. Being a heavy preteen with a name that rhymes with whale is no fun. I got picked on by kids, my parents and grandmother would constantly remind me of how "pretty you would be if you just lost some weight". I got up to 342 at one point. I have never looked in the mirror and been happy with what looked back at me. I avoid them at all costs now. I do makeup with the smallest mirror I can find. I have not bought clothes in years, because I dont want to break down crying in public. I will usually just cry in the shower at night so that nobody else in the house knows. I dont want to be like this, I dont want my little girl to see me like this. I want to be "normal sized" and feel like I am at least decent to look at.

My name is Ashley. I have gained 80 pounds over the course of about 2 years due to a severe car accident. After two years of seeing my true self die i am determined to bring myself back to life. I wish I could melt the fat away fast but i know that is not the right way. My goal is to loose simply 4 pounds a month. If I loose more then AWESOME but I do not want to accept any less.

I do the biggest looser workouts, go for walks and do the Insanity workouts from time to time.

I miss who I use to see when I looked in the mirror. Tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a stranger. Though I know loosing weight to be healthy should be my first concern but it isn't. I want to look and feel good. With that, I know that good health will follow. I want to beat the diabetes that corrupts my entire family. My husband and I also want to try to get pregnant. Getting pregnant for me will be very hard (due to medical reasons) so by loosing all this weight I am hoping that it will increase my chances.

My biggest battle is not the exercise, it is the food. I can eat small portions but I have a hard time resisting the sweets and late night snacking. So far I have been doing better with the sweets but the late night snacking is still an issue.

Here's to hoping 2012 is our year!

Hi my name is Monyca, and i struggle wit feeling beautiful and being confident and my weight has aloooot to do with that. I have lost 40+lbs on my own the good old fashion way but that seems to be not good enogh for me. I have always been heavier, but it got worse when I moved out on my own with my now ex-husband, then baby #1 then #2, which were both C-sections. I am very good at hiding my insecurities but wish i didnt feel this way. Im hoping one day i can look at myself in the mirror and not be my worst critic all the time!!!

Hi, I'm Lauren. I've always been overweight and have never seen myself as attractive. Even when people tell me that I'm attractive I don't believe it...I just don't see it. All I see when I look in the mirror is a fat person. Unfortunately this has had a very negative effect on all of the romantic relationships I've had in my life....and I'm getting older and would like to gain the confidence this year to be able to have a meaningful long term relationship!

Hi I'm Tina!

I want 2012 to be MY year in weight lose. I have struggled for years on end to lose weight. Even when I lose weight I end up gaining it all back or more. I am tired of seeing a fat, unhealthy girl in the fitting room trying on clothes and just examining herself in the mirror and wonder why. Why do I look so disgusting? Why did I let myself go? Why--why--why?

Well not anymore. I want to lose weight to feel better, healthy, and not self-conscience anymore.

Welcome Lauren and Trina! Great to have you both here!

It's Tina! :laugh:

Hello, everyone, my name is Leann. I have had issues with food and weight my entire life. I also have serious issues with low self-esteem and negative body image, always have. I can be the most optomisitc person for others in my life, but I am infamous for beating up on myself. I can't take a compliment. I hate looking in the mirror. I love shopping, but absolutely HATE clothes shopping. I love food....but just don't know when to stop. I would describe my relationship with food as a love-hate kind of fling. I have lost serious amounts of weight numerous times in my life, many different ways, some healthy, some not so healthy. I just can't manage to keep it off.

I lost 85 pounds in 2009 in preparation for my wedding day, October 17th, one of the happiest days of my life. I swore to myself that was the last time I would have to worry about losing that much weight. Two years later, I have gained back every single pound. My family and friends love me, don't want to hurt me so they tell me, "Leann, you've had so much stress".....yes that's true, but only an excuse. My husband and I have been together a little over seven years. We finally tied the knot, as I mentioned, in October 2009. We immediately wanted to try and start a family. We officially tried for a year without any luck, so we were referred to a fertility specialist in November 2010. After fertility meds, shots, ultrasounds, heart break, anger, frustration, and many other emotions.......still no baby. I found out in April of this year that it would be very hard for us to conceive. Long story short, I had surgery on June 24th to hopefully increase our chances. I had recooperated from surgery, so my husband and I went on a weekend trip to get away not far from home. My husband told me he had been having abdominal pain for about six weeks. I am a nurse, so of course, I made him go to the doctor asap......another long story short.....he was diagnosed with Colon Cancer on July 21st. We were very blessed, it wasn't as bad as they first thought. They removed all of the Cancer w/ surgery, but still recommended that he undergo chemo for six months. Needless to say, my family is right, we have definitely been under more stress than I have ever exprecienced, but I need to be healthy for my husband and hopefully our future children. Our trying for a baby has been put on hold until his chemotherapy is complete. He should receive his last treatment near the end of March 2012. So, it's time to stop the madness, and do everything I can to make 2012 the best year ever!!! I feel in my heart that losing weight and becoming a healthier, happier, more confident, positive person will help me in my efforts to have a family. My husband is by far my number one priority right now, but to take care of him I have to take care of me!

Hi everyone,

my name's Elisa and it has been 3 years that I keep gaining weight while it would be very important to me to lose it!
I love sport (hiking, biking, etc.) but I don't like to do it on my own very much anymore. I really would like to lose weight, gain more confidence and feel more at ease when around people. When I really believe in something I can be very determined and motivating. I'm sure we can support each other and succeed in our goals!

I'm Cana....40 (something) mother of 5! I'm actually looking to lose 7% body fat by 07/21/11. I know when I gain the muscle and lose the fat, I will go down in size and up on the scales. I'm starting out at 132, but figuring I will hit 140-145. I work 14 hour days (M-F) with a one hour commute each way. It leaves me very little time to exercise, but I know I must to reach my goal. I started on MFP on 01/17/11 and have lost just over 50 lbs. since then. I'm loving it, but really want to tone up! Wish me luck! :happy: