Hi. I am 45 years old and have had weight issues for the last 25 years. I have 3 children...David (21), Chris, (20) and Allison (14). I have been married 3 times, 2 ending in divorce. The other one is the best thing that ever happened to me. We struggle with a lot of things but we are able to do them together.

We quit smoking Jan 10,2010 and my weight ballooned up to my heaviest at 335lbs. My husband also gained weight. He found this site on his Droid. We have started the South Beach Diet together 2 weeks ago. We joined the YMCA and are trying to go at least 3 times or more per week.

I have high blood pressure and diabetes. I have had surgery on my right knee 2006, left knee 2008, fusion surgery on my neck 2009, and then early this year shoulder surgery. My doctor keeps asking me to consider gastric bypass. I keep putting it off because I am sick of surgeries. I need to learn how to make the correct food choice, exercise daily, and to stick with it or nothing has changed.

I have dieted many times over the years once losing down to 195 but I always gain it back. This is going to be a life change not a diet. If I want to be around to spend my golden years with my husband I have to.