I don't know Tom that well, but we seem to share a lot of the same views. He's a very knowledgable and helpful guy and I just saw his photos - amazing work Tom!

I'm an accountant (very sexy, I know) and father of a soon to be 5yr old. I'm 34 (turning 35 next week!) and I've always had more bodyfat than I wanted. I've yo-yo'd from 230lbs 5 years ago to about 185lbs 2 years ago. Now I'm about 214 and I want to get back down to 185. I practice a full-contact style of karate and I love cycling (both road and MTB). I want to feel better about myself and look good naked I generally know what I need to do and not do, but I tend to experience spurts of high motivation mixed with spurts of low motivation. I generally eat very well, but I crave junk food a lot and I tend to give in easily.

I don't know 12packabs at all but we seem to share the same love of junk food and ability to give in easily

My name is Darcie and I am a mom to 5 wonderful children. I joined this site to help find the strength and confidence I lost when I gained all my weight. I know I will never be as thin as I was in high school but being able to play with the kids without needing a nap in the middle would be nice

I love this place it really makes any day good or bad better!

Okay, I don't know dragonlover but... FIVE KIDS??? Wow.

I am contemplating a bag of cookies just thinking about.

Girl, I admire your strength!

You have know idea!! You would think I would be thin from chasing them all around!

I will continue with indigo because otherwise she will be skipped:
I don't know indigo well, but she seems to be a very friendly person with a great sense of humour and she does NOT want 5 kids.

Me, my name is Mila, I am 22 years old study (and graduate in May from) Human Physiology and Pharmacology, which is why I know quite a bit about the human organism and this helped me decide to change my lifestyle.
I suffer from a series of more or less serious diseases, which makes eating right and exercising hard because I go through spells of daily vomiting for a few weeks and then my organism is all jumbled up.
In my former life I was an athlete, a professional dancer, and worked in musicals (Cats for example) and even did Gogo dancing *slightlyashamed*, but going to university, I fell in love a little bit too much with my couch!
Apart from that I am with the best man ever and I am quite happy with my life when I am healthy and doing good.
Love, xxMilaxx

I don't really know Mila, but I do know that she always something positive to say and is always helpful and inspiring!

I am Renee. I am 24 years old. No significant other and no kids (thank goodness!). The first time I realized I was fat was in 4th grade when this boy, Adam, started making fun of me for being fat. Before then, I never really paid attention. Throughout my life I've tried to lose weight and get healthy but I've always given up after a day or two. I've also suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a child and I think over the years that has contributed tremendously to my inability to sustain motivation to do anything (including lose weight). But right now it seems like the right time. And I actually feel myself making healthy and positive changes in my life that will not only allow me to lose weight and be physically healthy, but also gain confidence and mental clarity.

I don't know Renee. (however my middle name is rena, as well)

My name is Angie. I am 41 years old. I have been married for 23 years and we been together for 26 years. We have 3 kids aged 21,19 and 16.

I have had alot of problems with weight partly, due to the meds used treating my bi-polar disorder and my panic attacks with agoraphobia.

I don't know crazybabie but I can relate to her being bi-polar because I've dealt with depression which sometimes goes with bi-polar.

My name is Rebecca but all my life it's always been Becky. I am a former exotic dancer which says I was once thin. After dancing I gained twice my wiehgt and until 3 nights ago losing wiehgt wasn't very important to me, but now it's a primary goal. I am 29 years old, no kids, can't have kids, but I help raise my little sister's 6 kids. My 8 year old nephew is my walking/running partner. He has lots of energy to burn and he's entertaining. Today I officially kicked off the "Help Aunt Becky get thin" routine. We walked a little over a mile non-stop. For a beginner I guess that's pretty fair. Because of an accident a year ago my ankle can't take the pressure of my weight, so running is currently out of the picture. I will be doing a journal soon, unfortunately this lady gets sunburnt to easily and because today was a nice 80 degrees I have a burn induced headache.

My name is Bill and im 20 years old. I wasted the first 18 years of my life. Really nothing to show for it. Ive always been average in everything because I lose interest extremely fast (School, Jobs, etc.). The exact day I graduated highschool I ended my addiction to soda and subsiquently lost 50 lbs. Currently 6'1 215 lbs.

Ive got alot of "Plans". Pretty much sums up my life, I plan out a lot of things and never really get around to doing them. I "Plan" on playing ice hockey professionally sometime in the near future, even though thats a massive pipe-dream.

I really didn't keep up with any of my friends after highschool and have grown apart from all of them. Theres a couple girls in my life that im actually interested in but as usual thats just one of my amazing "plans".

I decided that I needed to take time off of school(dumb**** move) so I bypassed college in favor of a terrible factory job. Ive had a catering job since I was four-teen, nothing amazing.

Im going to school this summer or fall at a local community college, in the hopes of actually getting into a decent four year university. But, as one would expect, that probably will not happen.

Im the most sarcastic individual you'll ever meet and the funniest person ever. I'll always stick by my motto "Failure at life".

To be continued

I don't know Bill, but you kinda sound like my little brother Chin up kiddo, you'll get it all figured out, you're young!

I am 26 and getting divorced. No kids. Been with the same guy since I was 15, so excited to get out and about, and at the same time terrified Never lived alone, never been alone, so really can't wait to do my own thing! Got a bachelor's in MIS and work at a non-profit research and development firm in Ohio. I have a 5 yr old pug, Emma Lou, whom I adore. Original goal was 125lbs, but now that I am there, think I will take it a bit further. I love soccer and cooking/baking. Family is of the utmost importance.

Jennay has done a remarkable job of achieving her goals and adjusting them along the way.. She's worked her behind off and it shows in her pictures... (my fingers are crossed that she wins the best body transformation challenge She's a very friendly person and has agood heart

Me? eh like you don't know this already, I'm extremely opinionated... and I can't believe I am admitting this but I actually look forward to the rubber leg feelings that I get when I'm done with my walks in the park...

I have to say that I am loving this line. Sometimes it's hard to fine your way around, sometimes there is a significant time crunch, sometimes the internet in China is just NOT happy..........but this link gives me the chance to meet or know many folks on the forum with a quick read through the links. There are so many diaries I haven't read, and I haven't even started my own! Amazing how geographically scattered, how different the careers, and yet how consistent the goals are.........Shout out to Steve for starting this thing!

turned fatlete.

I know Mal - she's an amazing, hilarious, warm, caring woman that I'm glad I've gotten to know

I don't know jlynne well, but I'm looking forward to getting to know her and following her journey towards her goals!

I don't know e72 well, just seen a couple of posts, but I do want to say congrats on losing 21 pounds!!

As for me, well, what don't you guys know by now? Oh - I HATE chick flick movies. My idea of torture is to sit and be forced to watch Steel Magnolia kinda movies. I'll take Gladiator any day.