Welcome!!!

Hey every one I'm Floyd. I'm 34 and very active but just cant loose the weight. I play foot ball and do jui jitzu, and I have 4 kids that keep me very busy. I don't know where the issue is and im re joining after what feels like forever to find this out

Hi i am Joe 54 live in Maryland have traveled a little i am a team leader for Baltimore.

I work for a mechanical contractor and have my master plumbers lic.

I collect old books and write poems just started writing this past January. Recently separated and soon to be divorced.

I look forward to these talks no subject is taboo.

I started off at 330 pounds and now down to 270 slow but steady

Hey y'all. I'm Amanda. I'm a 32 year old married mother of 3. I've been on and off SP since 2007 and now I'm down to the last 30 pounds! Almost 7 years (and 90 pounds) ago I never would have thought I'd be in the home stretch. Overall, I'm fairly quiet. But when I do get to talking my mouth has a way of putting people off. Maybe I'm just socially awkward??? Anyhoo...I'm glad I found a group where nothing is off limits. Look forward to chatting with y'all.

Hi, I'm Samantha and I'm obnoxious.

Well, sometimes.

I'm a stay at home mom from Montana with one child who often drives me insane. I suffer from depression and anxiety, but I tend to do a lot better when I can hide behind a keyboard.

I'm in a long distance relationship with a much younger man who will hopefully be moving this way this year (Yes, I'm a cougar.)

I've always been overweight. I can blame it on things that happened to me, but basically it boils down to me not ever dealing with my self image issues. I need to value myself enough to tell ME no.

I've been a sparker twice before, but it didn't stick. I'm starting up again because of the new year. Not the usual new year new me thing. I woke up on New Years Day and I felt bloated, I felt like I couldn't get a full breath, and I had trouble with personal cleanliness that morning. It was a HORRIBLE feeling. I made an appointment with my doctor, semi fasted on that day, and went from there. I didn't make it to the doctor until the fifth, and by then, my weight was down a little (since I wasn't quite as bloated after drinking 3 liters of water a day for four days) and still, I clocked in at 379. The highest I've ever been, and I'd probably lost five pounds.

So, back to spark, back to exercising, and back to tracking every bite I take.

My guy is a former Marine, and he's promised to help whip me into shape once he gets here!

Hello, everybody.

My name is Brody. I'm a 41 year old man from east central Minnesota. I'm married. I have two college age step-daughters and a son and two daughters in elementary school.

I've been a state corrections officer for about 16 years.

I'm a liberal/border-line socialist, but I do occasionally see things from a more conservative viewpoint.

I have a dirty mind and have a difficult time keeping thoughts, jokes, etc. to myself. It's tough to get through work sometimes.

What else? I've lost most of my interest in sports over the last 10-15 years. Fantasy football burned me out as well as the behavior and attitude of many of the athletes.

I'm a huge nerd. I love playing videogames with my kids. My son and I are very excited for the new Star Wars movie. I also like playing role-playing games. Both pencil and paper/tabletop and the naughty kind.

I think that's about it, so yeah. Cheers. : )

I just posted this as a blog post, but please forgive the copy and paste and allow me to introduce myself:

My name is Frank. I was born in Queens, NY, but only lived there about six weeks. I was raised in Alabama and Tennessee (Go Vols!).

I currently reside in Wichita, KS with my wife and 8-year-old daughter. I own a small business blending, packaging and selling (online) specialty organic flavored iced teas. I am about 160lbs overweight, and I have been obese most of my life. I really want to lose some weight and get more flexible so I can do more things with my daughter and live to see more of what she does with her life.

I'm a literature nerd. I love short fiction, poetry, philosophy. I'm also VERY liberal-minded politically.

I am pro-choice but anti-abortion (I think abortion is rarely the best option, but I believe women have the right to decide for themselves and should have access to a safe procedure; I believe that is a much better solution than outlawing it and creating a situation where young women are endangering their lives dealing with pseudo-medical professionals or worse).

I am also pro-cannabis legalization. I have traveled to Denver and tried cannabis, and all I can say is that it works miracles on my PTSD and anxiety symptoms, and I really hope the end of prohibition comes soon.

I am an ally of the LGBTQ community, #blacklivesmatter, and a number of other marginalized groups. I support Bernie Sanders and I voted for President Obama twice. I believe our government is quickly becoming an oligarchy, if it hasn't already, and that it's up to the common people to stand up and put an end to it.

I am an atheist-with-a-small-question-
mark, but I don't hate Christians (I don't hate anyone for their particular flavor of religious beliefs), but I can't stand bigotry. I don't believe all religious people are bigots, and I happen to have some religious friends who exemplify this.

I am also polyamorous, which has been a great comfort to me as I go through this recent emotional crisis. I've been very grateful to have a small circle of intimate friends and lovers that I can lean on a little bit each and not be an overwhelming burden to any one person.

And, yes, I am going through a bit of an emotional crisis lately as I start taking my first steps towards living a live without anxiety. I have a new therapist who is helping me deal with my PTSD and anxiety issues, and part of the way I am dealing with things is to stop pretending to be someone that I'm not. So, if you are asking why I, as a small business owner, would tell you about my business and then tell you about all of these potentially divisive ideologies I hold dear, it's because A) it might be a little crazy; and B) this is how I'm dealing with my crazy right now, and if I lose some customers and alienate some people around me but manage to save my soul, it will be worth it to me.

THANKS for reading.

Hi, new to this group, but looking forward to being a part of it! Have a great day everyone

It has been a long time since I last sparked. I have decided to start over from the beginning. This was my favorite team. I hope it is still fun and interesting.

Hello all. New to the Team and new to Spark. Looking for friends that can motivate, likes to have fun and has a sense of humor. I'm just a simple, honest guy.

Hello, I'm new & joined this group yesterday. I have yo-yo'd most of my adult life. About 3 years ago I lost 45 lbs and kept it off until last winter , just crept back on!! Ugh!! I'm pissed at myself because it's hard damn work......and I felt awesome. Soooo, here I am starting again on this journey but this is a first with spark. My 40th ( wth???) birthday is in nov & my goal is to rock it & look and feel awesome again. I'm a sahm have 2 boys, married 19 years and live in SC.

Edited by: CD14885000 at: 7/21/2014 (22:08)

Hey, y'all. You seem amusing. I am looking for more daily interaction from my teams... I am on a lot and only talk to one :P

I got up to my highest weight (about 200) about fifteen years ago. I typically lose some weight fairly easily when I make some changes, then plateau for a few years... (yes, years, usually). I was 180 in my early 20s, 165 for most of my mid-20s to early 30s, and have spent the past 2 years working my way down into the 130s.

Hello! My name is David. Just joined this team today.... I like humor healthy habits and my goal is to get to my Ideal weight of 180 lbs. .... I currently weigh 202...I just joined sparks people in January.... To know more about me please see my page n read my blogs..... I look forward to a productive n fun time on this team....

Hi Bob & Carolyn! This group isn't nearly as active as I hoped it would be when I joined!
Welcome to you both from snowy, cold Maine!

Welcome Carolyn, Unfortunately not a very active site. But glad to provide support.

Bob in SC

Hi, fellow Sparkers!! I'm Carolyn from Alabama. Stumbled across this team just today. I'm excited to be a part and to gain encouragement and motivation from you all.

Greetings all, I'm bob from Bluffton PA. I'm 64 retired, moved here from PA were I spent most of my life. I'm diabetic and need to loose 50 lbs and take back control of my life. Lkg for a team that's not afraid to be open about our issues. I have many. Lkg forward to getting to know you.

Bob

Edited by: BOB_IN_SC at: 1/4/2014 (23:48)

Hello, I am Kat.

I am from Texas and I am looking to lose a little and look better.

I have been looking for an active and interesting team..

Hello everyone! My name is Kris and I am from Nova Scotia, Canada! I am excited to be here and can't wait to get to know my fellow team mates!!

I'm the new guy in town -- well, for this moment anyway.

My name is Rich and I'm a thirty-something Father of 3, Husband of 1 and friend to many. I was super skinny growing up, but college and sitting behind a desk put me way overweight. Now it's time to get fit again. I live outside of philadelphia, PA and enjoy all sorts of passions and interests.

I've always been too into philosophical conversations and double entendre, so this group will suit me fine. So, looking forward to interacting with the less PG version of SP.

hello :) my name is torie, 22 years young and trying to lose about 15 more pounds. i have already lost 20, just fell off track after high school and sports teams stopped. looking forward to what looks like a very interesting group!

Hey everyone!
I'm new and just wanted to say hi. Look forward to getting to know everyone!

One can hope.

Nice to meet you!

J

This group used to be extremely active. Now, not so much. Maybe they'll come back now that it's a new year.

My kind of team.

3rd time's the charm, they say, and so it is with me. Glad to be here, hopefully this group has some lively discussion. Hope to talk to some of you soon.

J

Hi!

This certrainly looks like an interesting team. I have been with SP since April of this year and am just now exploring the teams and message boards. It seems the more I discover the better it gets!

Hi all!! Just found this team. Still trying to get used to the site. Glad I found a team that's got a fun streak in it!! I believe having fun is the best way to lose weight. When you're happy, your health just falls into place.

Good mornin' Everyone!! It has been quite awhile since I've been active in ANY team or even SP in general. I am ready to feel good about myself again! :)
I was within 25 pounds of my goal weight about two years ago...and for some reason, I let life get in the way of taking care of myself. I've packed on 10 pounds...so back up to 35 lbs to go. It is so much about the number on the scale for me.. but getting into those sexy jeans and fun dresses! I know I have the will and I have the way, I just gotta get my mindset back on track and remember to take the 30-45 minutes a day to workout and work hard. My husband thinks we are 'newlyweds' now....just wait until I am feelin' good about myself again!!

Hi Y'all! I'm Candi, It's great to see a group here where I can be a little more me and a little, (uhm, shall we say) less conventional? Which is a good thing cause well, I'm not conventional at all. I will be turning 49 in a few months but that doesn't mean what it used to anymore. Age is not a life or attitude defining parameter. Thank gawd! There is more of me than I'd like so I've decided I need to take charge of my erroneous ways and make the changes I need. For the last almost 4 years, I've been involved with a very amazing man who loves and appreciates me regardless of what size I am. He's one of those rare ones who can see beyond the body! He's a guitarist and is active in a few different projects (aka bands). Our house gets very loud a few days a week! Most weekends one of the bands he's in (the progressive hard rock one) is booked to play in some bar somewhere in the Jersey area. Lately, more often than not, I run the sound board. Eventually I'll be on the stage singing with them since I finally let them talk me into it. We both work day jobs so the music is a side thing. I have a variety of interests besides music that include but is not limited to: reading, kitchen play (culinary!), sewing (steel boned corsets and quilts), movies and before the accident, paintball, hiking, biking.. you know, just all kinds of stuff.

Anyway, I am a ketogenic eater cause carb eating begets carb bingeing (for me!) and I can't have that kind of thing going on! I do not get offended easily and I try not to be easily offensive. I'm open minded (have to be in my line of work!) and it would take a lot to shock me. Hope y'all let me hang out awhile!

Hello everyone!
I'm new here and just wanted to say hi! I look forward to getting to know everyone!
Cheers!
Kristen

THJones, hello and welcome to our group. I'm also pretty new but the folks are friendly, kind, and fun, all things I need more of in my life and journey to health.

Welcome to the team, TH! IMHO, this is the best place to hang out. Jump in and tell us about yourself.

Hey everyone, i just wanted to introduce myself. I am fairly new to the whole sparkpeople thing but not new to the weight loss game. I've yo-yoed for about 15 years now. I have always had a mental picture of what i wanted to look and feel like but have never achieved that. I'm ready to make that idea a reality. I look forward to interacting with this team.

Hey Armsports and welcome to our team. I'm pretty new to this bunch but if I'm a bit down on my journey I can always find something to smile about someplace on this team board.

I turn 50 next month so your commitment to fitness is inspiring on my journey.

welcome, ARMSPORTS! I found a lot of the other teams to be a little stuffy also, so I belong to about 6 or 7 of them, but this is where I hang out! I am considering do a little weight training, and KJ told me you would be the guy to talk to, so I'm kinda glad to see you here!



Edited by: BEAR8MM at: 8/17/2012 (20:51)

Hi Guys. Guess I should have done this before I started posting lol! Quick summary on me is I am a happily married father of two. I am a faculty member, personal trainer and fitness consultant. I am 50 yrs old, long time weight lifter and competitive arm wrestler. Unlike most here, I struggle to keep weight ON as I often work 70-80 hrs/wk most of the time on my feet. My goal is to be healthy and strong and lean, just a bigger version than some at 300 lbs!

I really like the concept of this Sparkteam because many of the others can be redundant and boring, not to mention too PC at times. I hope I can offer something to you good folks, and not offend you too much in the process!

Thanks for the welcome. So far I'm doing fairly well staying on track with my eating although my exercise has suffered a little.

Hi Vicki! Welcome to this fun little corner of the internet. I've learned many things from the fun and support from folks I've met here. Some things that I've learned, I'm not sure that I wanted t know but hey with no topic off limits, one never knows.
Wow I'm sorry about the surgery on your wrist. See many times when I've gotten on a roll with my journey to health an unexpected derail has taken its toll. Let me encourage you not to turn in the direction of food to feel good even with this struggle. It is impossible for me to imagine how I would function without the use of my right hand and wrist.
Have a super day!
Steve

I've been on sparkpeople for awhile and I'm looking for a team that I can connect with and feel a big part of.
Due to breaking my right wrist 12 days ago and surgery 10 days ago to repair the damage, there are some things I simply can't do right now as I'm right handed. That makes simple chores and cooking a workout in itself. But I'm working to get back down to a weight where I can move more freely and hopefully get off blood pressure pills. Currently my goal is to get down to 200 lbs or less. I won't be thin by a long run but I will be a lot healthier than I am now.

Thank you for the welcome Steve. And ya my pantry is stocked with maple syrup! hee hee

Hi Snowangel and welcome! Several years ago I had a great friend who used Snowangel as her internet handle, alas she lives in Arkansas USA. Your loss of 90 pounds is inspiring to folks like me who have that far and more to go.
Good luck on the stop smoking goal, you sound well motivated. My Mother and Father were both able to stop smoking, in my Dad's case after 40 years of cigaretts. It is not an easy road, but one well worth traveling.
Why is it that every Canadian woman I know has great legs? Must be something in the Maple Syrup? :)
Best Wishes!

Hi everyone,

I am a 41 year old Canadian gal who joined spark a couple weeks ago. I lost 92 lbs last year, and this year i quit smoking. I still want to lose another 15. I take it one day at a time,
i work hard and i know i will reach my goal this fall.
Looking foward to getting to know all of you as we journey together towards a healthier and fit lifestyle.

Carla
snowangel

Hi Courtney! I'm new to this team but I've already gotten several great ideas and thoughts from members. Good luck on this journey. Oh and I loved the MM quote in your signature!

Hi all--

I've been on SP since April. I've lost and managed to gain it back. Yikes...I'm down 2lbs. though as of today. SO, I'm going in the right direction. My first mini goal is to lose the weight that I gained back. My ultimate goal is to lose 70lbs. I've gotten serious (again) I track everyday, walk almost everyday, post, and blog. I'm hoping to post around the threds in here and getting to know everybody. Seems like this may be an interesting team. I live in MASS. with my hub and stepson. I am bipolar and on meds that do not help with the weight loss process but I know now it IS possible to lose and still take the meds. I just have to try harder than the average person..lucky me. So, you'll hear alot about me and hopefully I'll hear alot about you guys too..I'm always up for some juicy convo!! Hope everyone has a great day! Courtney

Hi my name is Peggy and this team seems like a goof fit for me. I live in Ohio with my husband and daughter (they never seem to leave). I broke my ankle last October and haven't really gotten back on the band wagon since. I hope this team can keep me motivated to get back on track.

Welcome

Welcome to the site, Steve!

Hello, another noob here at Spark. I've been overweight and unhealthy almost my entire life, and I've finaly realized that it is cutting my life short. I'm 49 and want to live many, many more years and the only way that will happen is if I get healthy.
The Apache part of the name comes from where I work. I'm a computer tech for a school district and get to do radio play by play for the same school. You guessed, the school's mascot is Apaches. We even have written permission from the Apache Nation to use this name. The sent representatives to our campus several years ago to make sure we were worthy, and we met their requirements.
To sum it up, I'm a full time computer geek, part time radio broadcster both dj and play by play, and plan on being able to walk up and down our hallway at work without being out of breath.
Steve

Welcome and as far as I know bikers are welcome! lol

HS

Another newbie here! Heartstopper told me to check out this forum, and I like what I see! Y'all don't have nuthin' against bikers, do ya? If I gotta lose weight, might as well make it fun!

Hi all! My name is Jackie and I joined SP a few months ago. I was with WW for a long time and I am trying something new here. Big learning curve to go back to calories which I haven't counted in decades, lol.

Hi! I think this team will be a good fit. I don't mind discussing various topics and there's only so much I can take of the hand-holding and mundane kvetching that seems to take place on the majority of the forums here at SP.

I'm 49 and live in Virginia. Married to a great guy and SAHM to two teenagers. Since hanging up my running shoes last year, I packed on about 15 pounds that I'm not happy about and it's finally time to do something about it.

.

Edited by: HEALTHYNEWPAIGE at: 6/18/2012 (00:47)

Hey!
I'm 31 and living it up in Southern Cali! Not afraid of a good off topic subject and actually enjoy the break sometimes or even a good debate. Not much ruffles my feathers and most things I find funny others find offensive. So hopefully this team will be a great match! I was invited over here so someone else thougth so as well. I gained my weight while pregnant with my thrid baby. Went through some really emotionally challenging times while pregnant and packed on way more then I needed. But it's just weight and it will come off!

See you all around.

Edited by: KELLEA927 at: 6/8/2012 (14:43)

Hey :)
I am Natashia im 29 from Virginia.
I was already a little chubby before i had my daughter & i packed on the pounds while pregnant and have been up and down with my weight for the last 6 years. I have decided this year will be the year I get on track and eat healthy and exercise and just keep the weight off and get to my goal. I am wanting to loose 50 pounds. I look forward to getting to know you guys!

Hello, I was invited to this team by KJFitnessdude, I assume he saw my reply on a religious thread that popped up in the Cafe. ;)

Not sure what to say about myself, I live with my husband and plenty of furry creatures in Virginia. I'm currently a grad student, hoping to graduate May 2013 then get a job and be an adult again. I hate to say I'm opinionated because that has a negative connotation, but I have plenty of opinions and am learning how to filter those opinions. I love a good argument (preferably when I'm right). I'm not modest and everyone who knows me at least knows that about me!

So, have fun seeing ya'll around.

this board seems like a good fit for me lately. Possibly all the time. ;0 ... anyway, I'm here, I'm new. My name is Dea. and I have no problem keeping up with the big dogs, unless they are exercising. ha ha ha

Hello, I put weight on slowly after I got married and took a desk job. A couple pounds a year added up. Then I worked my but off trying to make the marriage work (ya I know - I'm embarrassed to admit it). I kept in shape for a while, then again, a few pounds a year... Then I got a job working nights and put on quite a bit more weight. I then got divorced and put on a few more pounds. I have been saying I am working on getting shape for a few years now but it was all talk. Recently I was playing with my friend and took notice of my body and was disgusted with myself. I want to look good (in my mind) in some sexy bedroom stuff. Finding this group was perfect because I want to be honest about why I am here, what my motivation is, what my goals are. I am in a really good place overall, happy with who I am and what I am doing. I have great friends and a super family. I just want to be a little happier with how I feel about myself physically. I think I am ready to really get to it. Even though I have not been online much some of the group members have already motivated me and I look forward to being motivated and maybe even motivating others!

Hi all - I'm Celeste, 32, South African
Been sparking for a few years now and it's an awesome place to be... I have reached some goals but not all yet and I definitely wouldn't have achieved as much as I have without this site and all my great SP friends!
Welcome all the newbies and I hope you find what you're looking for

Hi all! I have been with SP for about 3 weeks. Tried every diet in the book now I am trying common sense! Hope to lose 25 pounds by June 22nd and keep it off forever. This sounded like a 'my cupof tea place to be'. Look forward totalking to all of you!

Hey all, I am new to this team. Not to sparkpeople though been here roughly 4 months. This group appealed to me, Hope to meet many friends here too.

Huddling ... Under the filter stream is view huddle wall/huddle now button, just click on that and huddle :) ... i too at first was lost on how to huddle someone told me how though :)

Hi, I'm Claude from Silver Spring, Maryland. I'm 57 and a retired manager from Montgomery County Schools. It's Sunday everyday. I'm trying to keep moving, and of course lose weight.

Hello everyone! My name is Georgia. I have recently moved from New England to the Heartland. Could someone please explain how to huddle?

GM everyone! I have been away for over 2 years, but now that I am retired, I am back. So good to see so many familiar faces once again. Hope everyone is having a great day.....I know I am!!

Hey everyone, my name is Chris (I am a girl), and I am 25 (about to be 26) and married to a wonderful man. I have no children yes (a few years before that is happening) and I am well-versed in everything nutrition (have studied it for 13 years, since I was a teen), now it is just a matter of putting it to use. Everything is going very nicely as far as my goals are concerned and I hope to make some good spark friends!

Hi Everybody! I've been a member of spark people for a few years now, but just found this team. I'm pretty excited as I get a little board with some of the same old stuff on some of the regular message boards. I'm 26, a full time student, a part time accountant, mother of a three year old and also run a farm. It's close to impossible to offend me, so I figured this would be an interesting team to join!

Dropping a formal 'hello' in. I joined this group last week, I think. Been with spark for a couple years now. Looks like a place I'll enjoy hanging out in. I'm that type of person where no question is too personal, and I tend to warn people to give me a TMI notice if they don't want to know something. Looking forward to seeing who's around and what's up.

Hey all. Been a SparkPeople member since last March, but really started my biggest fitness push ever on July 4 of this year.

Never thought of myself as athletic before, but having run six races (5K & 5milers) since July and having spent the last two months using the gym fairly religiously, I'm starting to feel it. And with the inches lost, I'm starting to look it too.

Looking forward to fun stuff in this team. Had no idea this team existed, but it's right up my alley -- I'm the guy at work with the "no topic off limits" attitude.

Hi all. Joined the team yesterday, Looking forward to getting back on the program. The scale today was worst than I thought . But I know what to do to get it back down... It is up to me, time to get back to making the RIGHT choices with rest, nutrition and exercise.

But I hope to have more fun this time around with this group. Life is to short, we can all get fitter and lose weight. But let's have FUN doing it.

Spice up the day, Replace the food with virtual FUN

Hi I am Summer, gained weight when I had my kids. Have lost a lot of weight already took 2 years. I do 60 min of cardio 4 times or more a week. Life is good!!

Thanx WELLREDHEAD, And welcome to all the rest! :)

Hey all,

I'm Wendi. I'm 40 and have lived in Oregon pretty much my whole life. Ive been on SP for going on 2 years. Over the years I've lost, gained whatever you know the drill. I won't say it'll never happen again because who really knows but I'm determined to make it a change that will stick. I saw this team and it looked like it may be some good fun.

Hi all!

I've been on Spark for a little over a month now when I switched to counting calories from counting points with Weight Watchers. I had joined WW in December, 2010 with the goal of losing 111 pounds. With my 40th birthday looming in February, 2012, I was finally motivated to shed the weight that made most of my 30s suck. But after I switched to a mostly vegan diet last summer, WW wasn't working for me anymore. I was eating too many calories in the form of zero-point veggies and fruit. Counting calories has done the trick and got me moving in the right direction, so I'm really happy with Spark.

Saw this group and thought it sounded like fun. Plus, I can already think of several questions I've been dying to ask that seem appropriate only for this forum!!

Nia

Hi Susan, welcome aboard!

Hello all, I am Susan in California. I just joined this site on Sunday, I have been a bigger girl pretty much my whole life... I have a sister that is opposite and has always been shorter smaller skinnier... my nickname to her was Amazon.. I really love food and have trouble with portion sizes, I eat way more than I should, I have tried and failed at several diets which only made me gain even more weight. anyhow... I love the idea of this team having No topic off limits.. could get very interesting... at least I hope... lol ;)

Hi, I'm Brooke from Michigan. I joined this team because I haven't told anyone why I put on weight It happened after I moved in with my now husband. I love him, I think he's cute and sweet and funny but we are very different temperamentally. He won't argue. Not ever. He's a big procrastinator. I can ask him to do something ten times and ten times he will agree to do it but it never gets done. SO to keep peace in the house, I gave up. On communication. On everything. I ate my feelings, I guess. I had a friend in a similar situation who I watched lose 60 pounds over the summer. The change in him was amazing. Energetic, happy, vibrant. I wanted those things back in my life. I've got more stuff that's currently off-limits conversation wise at home so I guess I need this team bad!

Edited by: WELLREDHEAD at: 11/12/2011 (03:02)

Hey everyone, I'm Morgan, I will be 28 years old in 12 more days, and I live in Pocatello, ID. I joined this team because I am very opinionated and don't really have anywhere that I can just let loose and be me without pissing people off! I am hoping that this can turn into a place where that will be possible.

I was always a fat kid. I was a size 16 by the time I graduated high school, and I'm only 5'2"! I ballooned all the way up to a size 18/20 by my early twenties due to many life circumstances, all totally my own doing. I was in a terrible relationship and have always, always had an incredibly sedentary lifestyle. Flash forward to about 2008, and I got serious about dropping weight. I lost 65 pounds, was down to a size 10, and I looked damn good! Then I got a boyfriend...a boyfriend who can eat whatever the hell he wants and not gain an ounce. I quit being active on SparkPeople, and I am not about back to where I started. I have gained back 60 pounds, and it sucks ass! I hate myself for it, and it needs to go, and it needs to stay off this time! My boyfriend is incredibly supportive, so that is helpful. I think the main thing that I need to do to take it off again is curb the drinking. Two or three vodka drinks or beers a night adds up! So yeah...that's me. Good luck to all in your goals; catch you in the forums!

HI. I'm Lisa and am 24 years old. I am from California and have multiple sclerosis, which is stable since I found medicine that works. I think this group is perfect for me because I always like to discuss real issues and see people's opinions, but am afraid of offending others. I hope to make friends, offer my support to everyone's weight loss, and just have fun here!

Hi there,
my name is Diane, i'm from Glasgow in Bonnie Scotland.
I have been a member for over a yr now, though finally just finding my feet again and willing to get going and work hard with the help of Spark's.

Basically joined this group because i wanted something a wee bit different. Looking forward to getting to know the group and participating more once my feet are grounded..lol

Hi all, Im new here to sparkpeople just joined yesterday and new to this group which i joined today. I have broke my weight loss into sets and %. In the end with advice of the doctor to be in healthy range of my BMI i would have to loose 45% of my current weight. I am done being big, i know it will be a long haul and frankly i do lack motivation but i think sparkpeople and buddies for accountability will help me through this weight loss journey.

Hi to all! This team might be just what I need to divert my over taxed brain to fun stuff.

I joined SP in 2008 . It is wonderful support for me ---who is a very slow loser. Ten lbs. a year is the very best I have ever done since turning 40. I am now 64.

I do water aerobics for exercise. We have one grown daughter who lives almost 3 hours away. We also have a Maine Coon cat, Cujo, who keeps us laughing!

Nice to meet you all !!! Chris

Hey All! I'm Jen. I'm a 27 year old, married stay at home mom of a 20 month old little boy. I stumbled across this team and I thought it might be a good fit for me. I seem to always be inadvertently offending someone so to find people to talk to with a thicker skin is a VERY good thing for me! LOL (I'm not mean, I swear! I think I'm just more direct than most people are used to...) I'm hoping I can find some people to talk with that are a bit less sensitive so feel free to add me as a friend or sparkmail me if you want to talk.

Here's hoping for a great October!
Jen

hi everyone, im deb im not working, i like to drink, for real, trying my damnest to keep it down to 1x a week, for real!!!!so im a fat, unemployed alcoholic!!! hahaha no really, im workin my azz off to take these pounds off. working out a lot!!! i have 2 grown children and 2 grandkids who all finally moved the hell out this past april. i live about 15 miles from chicago. i was born and raised in chicago.

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Wow, what an interesting mix of people! I'm Laurie, another Canadian, and I've been living on beautiful Denman Island (on the west coast) for a year and a half. Age 58, I freelance at home, and in my spare time I just relax on the beach--or anywhere outdoors. I've been exercising on and off for 30 years; I'm on Spark because I need to lose about 20 pounds and keep exercising. Good luck everyone!

Hi, my name is Kristi, been on Sparks for awhile and came across this group and thought it might be a good fit for me as I have a hard time doing the Politically Correct thing or playing by the rules.

Just wanted to say welcome to all of the new members!

Andrea here, single cougar from NNJ/NYC...been on Spark since April, having a good ol' time...came across this team which seems to have some like minded people, which is cool...So far, lost 54 lbs, into clean eating and bodybuilding...Nothing offends me, so looking forward to getting into some interesting convos...

Edited by: CD9779212 at: 7/19/2011 (23:48)

Hello! I'm Jessi and I'm not really new to SP but I'm new to sticking to my program this time. (Go me!) I'm hoping to form healthy habits to use later in life while keeping up with the busy college-student schedule.

I'm open to making new friends so stop by my page and let's chat!

Hi everyone! I'm backat it again. Trying to reach my weight loss goals. Im so excited to see that this team is still alive and healthy. I was once apart of this group before. Im excited to be back and ready to tackle my goal of losing 30 pounds. Let's go!