The 50 Million Pound Blog

Hi Everyone,

My name is Renee. I live in Oakland, CA, but I'm originally from the Southside Of Chicago, Hyde Park in Particular. I was at the Oakland, CA Event and thats a Picture of me( Orange Top waving white towel) Featured in Win a Treadmill, kicking off 2008. Just wanted to let you all know I'm Motivated!!!! I'm going to lose 15-20 lbs in the next upcoming months. When I do, I'm going to post a picture with my new weight. Semi-Slim (I gotta keep a little meat on my bones, Trimmed (Firm), and BANG!!!!!
Peace and Blessings,
and The Best to You in Your Endeavors!!!!

Help I am 39 year old. I can't lose weight. Don't know how to diet. Eat small meal every day. Do very little exercise. Need a support system. Don't know how to get start it. Please email back cameron_selena@cdph.org

I am 39 and need to lose weight. I lost my mother on mother's day to heart disease and don't want my kid to lose me to that same disease. I need to lose 115 pounds. Before my mother passed away I weighed 180 pound. After her death I gained 115 pound due to depression. I don't know how to diet, I don't know where to start but I can feel my life slipping away because I don't know how to handle the situation. I just need someone to email me and tell me how they handle their situation. Email me at tsmith0629@yahoo.com

Hi, everyone I am mother of two teenage boys, I am 52 stand 5ft 6 in weigh 247lbs my blood pressure is 130/90 and I am scared. I work two jobs and I am pursuing my Ph.d. I eat junk when I am studying or driving in my car. I have got to do better. My goal is to lose 80 lbs. I would like to lose between 2 to 3 lbs a week. I have excersise tapes and loads of healthy eating tips I just have to stop eating junk and being greedy. If I can excersie 30 minuutes a day.

Hi my name is angela and I have three kids and I am very over weight. I work morning and nights but I sleep in between and never have the energy to walk around the block. I have been on a lot of diets and even been to see the doctor but something is not working and I really do need some help getting on my feet and back on track. Right now I am at the heaviest point in my life and it is time for some change. My mother found out she has cancer and she weights 544.45 pounds, she has blood clots all over her body, and she also has fliud around her heart. I don't want to be like my mother.

Hello everyone I have struggled with my weight for over 13 years,I gain, I lose a little then gain double the amount that I lost. I am excited to join this challenge 02/17/08. I am 5'4'' 217lbs I need to lose 82lbs,I am facing taking blood pressure medication due to the weight and lack of exercise. I will lose the weight because I want to be around to watch my children and grandchildren grow into healthy men and women. I CAN DO THIS!!!

Hi everyone,
I am a 33 year old mother and nurse who has tried many different times and in many different ways to lose weight. I wasn't always big but since giving birth to my son in 1997, I have ballooned to 220lbs (I did lose 20lbs last year). It makes me sad and is a source of stress for me. I am fairly healthy considering my weight but I know that there are some ailments just waiting, if I don't do something soon. This has been the hardest thing I've tried to do in my life but I want it so bad that I'm willing to continue the struggle to win my battle over food addiction. God Bless all the challenge members in his/her endeavors!

Hi, my name is Tiffany from Columbus, OH. I am a 37 year old ovarian cancer survivor and have type 2 diabetes. I am about 45 pounds overweight. I don't look like I'm overweight because I am fairly tall but the extra weight is causing me to have many health problems. I have been trying to walk more, eat better and drink plenty of water. I want to look and feel better but most of all I want to be around to watch my children grow up.

Hello Everyone and Good Luck on your Personal Journey towards phsyical fitness.My Name Is Kim Freeman,I am 41 years old and have topped my all time high on my weight.I am heavier than I was at 9 Months Pregnant so for me this is it my goal is to be like M.J.B.(Just Fine)I would love to Like What I See when I'm looking in the Mirror My current weight is 247 my goal is to be 190 pounds again so before i have a story of health issues i will take on this challenge Bless You All and Good Luck!

My name is Precious i am 18 years old and i weigh 210 lbs...i am very motivated by the stories that ive read and i am looking foward to losing 50 pounds by next year...im so excited aboout starting the 50 million pound challenge

My name is Dee and I am from Buffalo, NY. In April of 2007 I was diagnosed with Diabetes. I was shocked to say the least because I had never had any medical problems such as this. My Dr. told me that I would have to take medication for that and high cholesterol and stick my finger twice a day. Well that did it for me, I hate taking pills and I hate anything that makes me bleed. I began working with my nutritionist and walking everyday at least 30 minutes to 1 hour with my daughter. From April 07 till today I have lost 25lbs. Unfortunately it is hard to walk during the winter months here in Buffalo so my friends and I try to go to the mall at least twice a week and walk. I am looking forward to losing at least another 50 lbs.

My name is Shayla C. I am a 24 year old single mother of a 4 year old whom I love very much. My biggest motivation for losing this weight is for myself, but mainly for my son. I never want to be an embarresment to him and I want to live long enough to see my grandchildren. I am also tired of looking in the mirror at my beautiful model-like face and then looking at my body and and it's not a match. I have finally learned that you must love and except yourself enough first to want to make a change. If you don't have any love for yourself you can't expect anyone to love you. Many blessings and love to everyone on the road to weight lost success. WE CAN DO IT!

I signed up 2 weeks ago. Being part of the challenge gives me the little push I need to stay motivated. If your looking for exercise equipment and are on a budget I would recommend going to www.craigslist.com. I was able to find a practically brand new treadmill for $125. I saw the same treadmill on Sears' website for $400. I have been walking at least 30 minutes daily and I already feel a difference. I want to lose 20 lbs and I know I can do it.

I use to focus on losing weight and trying to lose a certain amount in a certain amount of time. The result was that I always would fall off the wagon and gain the weight back.
I don't focus on losing weight any more; I focus on what my perfect body will look like to me. I created a vision board with a photo of a person who represented my perfect body image and I look at it often during the day.
I also do not factor time with my goal. I expect I will achieve my goal and time is not relavent. I no longer feel pressure to watch what I eat and eating is not a big deal. I eat when I want and I don't feel pressure to reject food. I can say yes or no to any kind of food whenever I want and it doesn't matter. The power comes from focusing on the goal, not the journey; I am enjoying this experience.

Hello, my name is Danielle. I am 22 years of age, 5'10" and in December of 2006 I weighed 365lbs. I really couldn't say how I got there, all I know is that I'm not trying to go back. Right now I am 326lbs. I've fallen off before, but I don't plan to anymore. My long term goal is to get down to about 200lbs. This may be pushing it just a little, but it would be so nice to see 299 when I get on the scale around my b-day in April. Anyway, I'll keep you all posted. I have a long way to go!

I just sign up today and I need to lose 110 lbs and probably more since I been going through in my health the past couple years. Someone want to walk in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I join to enter the One love cruise but I know it will help me in the long run. Thanks for being here for me.

Hello everyone! I just joined the challenge. I am new to this hole online thing. My story is this. My husband is on dialysis and have a chance to receive a kidney through a living donor but the donor has to lose 50LBS. Guess who the donor is. You got it, it's me! I am asking all who pray to pray for my strength. I know God will bring us through as he did 10 years ago when my husband received a Heart trans plant. I watch Dr. Ian on tv alot and thought this program could help me with this challenge so off i go! Please keep me in your prays.

I happy to hear everyone that is really trying to lose weight. I am glad to say that I have lost a total of 5 pounds and it has been 1 week. though I thing it is water weight. I am cheating a little by taking diet pills to curve my appetite they are precribed by my doctor but they really work. My goal is to lose at least 55 pounds. I am currently 231 at 5'7. I know by reading everyones comments and there stories every day will keep me motivatied. I have no one to help with my diet at home or work so I rely on the success of you guys. Good luck to everyone.

Hello to everyone! I am excited to say I have lost 14 pounds in the last two weeks. I look forward to reaching and surpassing my current goals.

Hello Family,

Happy New Years to everyone. I have bee battling with my weight of 200+lbs for years. i am finally ready to make the commitment of changing my eating habits and incorporate excerise in my family's life. it's not a diet it's a lifestyle. i'm going on 40 and this is another chapter to add to my book of life. i cannot give up. i will not give up. please help me to stay strong.

peace and many blessings jae

I just want to say that I had the wonderful opportunty to be a part of the 50 Million Pounds Challenge 2k walk held today in Tampa, FL at the Black Heritage Festival. Although it was raining, it was a great event and just seeing Dr. Smith and what he is doing to help people to help themselves is an inspiration.

I completed my walk,in the rain, and will continue to push myself to live a healthier lifestyle which includes losing at least the last 30 lbs that I gained while pregnant in 06.

Good Luck to everyone and Thanks to Dr. Ian.

As a newly married woman (July 7, 2007) and mother to three beautiful little girls, I find the extra weight I've let my body gain is taking its toll. But I don't want to focus on the weight just the goal of changing my mind, spirit, soul & body to live a happy, healthy lifestyle.

Currently, I am 5'7" weighing in at 201lbs and my BMI states I am considered obese by 31.5.

Ladies & Gentlemen I encourage you all to know you are great & awesome and you can reach your ideal weight goal. Just stay focus on the goal & not the weight. Yeah you may fall down but you haven't failed just get back up.

Allow the knowledge from this website & wisdom from Dr. Ian help you make the change for a better you.

I look forward to winning that treadmill....smile

I am 28 years old 5"4, always been heavy. I am at 220pounds and at a point in my life that i no longer want to be this big. I have decided to join the gym and start my goal in loosing 80 pounds.

I work for Helen Ballard, State Farm Agent her in Greenville. I currently weigh in at 216. I am only 5'2". I have severly medical problems that will be greatly helped if I can loose down to about 135. I am so sick of being obese. I need all the encouragement I can get. I have given out the Challenge Kits, I have even kept one for myself.
I am going to get serious about the weight problem.
You will be hearing from me everytime I loose some weight. I too would love to win the treadmill. Winning one is the only way I will get one for sure.

Good Morning Challenge Family,

Please pray my strength. I can't count the times I've said "this is it" I'm going to lose weight. I start the year out by saying o.k. by Mardi Gras I'm going to lose 10 lbs, well Mardi Gras comes and goes and guess what no weight loss.

Well then I say o.k. by the start of the summer I'm going to lose 10 lbs, well the start of the summer comes & goes guess what no weight loss. So you see where I'm going with this, I'm a great procrastinator and I've grown weary of this cycle. I started the challenge last March and just started getting serious.

I've lost about 10lbs. I really want to do better One would think after having my mom pass
away at 47y.o. from complications of diabetes and having a father who is currently a double amputee from complicaitons of diabetes I would get my act together. I do believe in breaking generational curses. I thank God that none of my siblings nor I have diabetes.

I'm a happily married, beautiful 38y.o. lady who stands 5ft 6" tall and I currently weigh 219lbs. My husband is wonderful and he thinks I'm too hard on myself. Of course, people are constantly telling me " you wear your weight well, you don't look like you weigh that much" so I guess start to think well heck if I don't look like I bad then why am I giving myself such a hard time. Honestly, I know I need to lose weight for me. I'm always saying " I don't want to die from something I can prevent".

I don't want my kids to lose their mom b/c I'm making unhealthy choices. So this year for real, I've decided I'm going to lose weight, look & feel great in 08.

I am a 32 year old female, I have been struggling with my weight for quite some time and I am now ready to make a change. I have started and stopped SO MANY times in the past, but I realize that if I want to be around here for a long time losing weight is a must for me. I officially started on Jan 7 weighing 274lbs I am 5'6. I have been watching what I eat and drink and exercising. I was so excited to see that I got on the scale today and it read 268lbs. THANK YOU JESUS, TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!!!!!!

I really need to get my weight under control. I've started seeing a counler to help me get to the root of why I eat and to make changes. She said it's going to take a personal revolution to get it off. I'm a big woman 350+. I've always joked and said I may be fat but i'm fine. But I need to be healthy. In 2006 I was hospitalized for a blood clot. I started getting healthy in 2007 lost 40 gained it back. That's my routine lose and gain it back. So no more diets just slow lifestyle changes. I'm also a poet and want to start touring the nation. But I'm worried about planes. You know they make you buy 2 plane tickets when your fat! I think I would pass out if somebody was to say Mrs.Hunt either get off the plane or buy an extra ticket! Oh no no no I really gotta get this 2gether. So this is it. I'm always looking to meet new people. So you can hit me up on my youtube page
www.youtube.com/quietstorm9421
or my myspace page www.myspace.com/dedehuntakaquietstorm
or just email me ms.dedehunt@yahoo.com
We have to contact a statefarm agent for the kit? I thought we could get it online.

Congratulations to you all for your commitment. I had a kidney transplant almost 10 years ago and was put on prednisone to help my anti-rejection drug. I gained 80 pounds in 8 months (steroids will do that) and another 20 over the past 10 years. I'm ready to get it ALL off! My doctor told me at my last appt with him that I was pre-diabetic for almost a year and what would really help is to lose the weight. Well, I made up my mind. I DON'T want to be a diabetic, I'm tired of taking so many meds to regulate my body and I want to be around to see my kids get married and know my grandchildren. Sooooooo, here I am and I am grateful for this support network. I started a week ago and lost 7 pounds my first week, thanks to a better diet and adding exercise back to my life! 50 million? Heck, I say lets fo for double that! :)

I recently turned 38 on my bithday my niece took picture of me and I just dropped my head. I so ashame of how I look. I'm at 240 pounds I've never been this heavy. I want to be a health 150 pounds and I know I'm going to get there with the help from the 50 million challenge & Dr.Ian

Hi, I'm Karen. My goal is to lose 20 pounds so I can fit back into my size 8. I am currently @ 165 lbs. and wear a size twelve. I gained the 20 pounds over the past 3 1/2 years since my husband died. I just haven't been motivated to do anything. My wake up call came a couple of days ago when a colleague of mine offered me a pair of pants that were now too big for her because she lost weight. This same co-worker about 4 years ago was offering me her clothes that she were too tight for her!!! What a slap in the face, but I needed it. So in 2008, it is time for me to wake up and get back in shape and get back to living!!

Here I am at 50 years old and 272 lbs. I never imagined my weight could get this out of control. Over the last 9 years I've gained 100 pounds. Had a baby and several medical problems after that that limited my ability to complete daily tasks, let alone exercise. I have been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromylagia, and had to have a hysterectomy over the last 4 years. My family is concerned about my health because I'm a smoker and very overweight. I am concerned about me. I want to be around to see my child graduate college and start a life of his own. This year is my year to accept the challenge and change my life by quitting cigatettes and losing weight. Here's to a healthier and lighter me in 2008.

I recently stepped on the scale and was pleasantly suprised to see 181 instead of 187. That has gotten me motivated. I was recently diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and now am on medication for it. I think the meds has helped me lose those 6 pounds in a month. Now it's up to me to keep my mouth shut and stop eating so much! So far this past couple weeks I've been doing great. My long term goal is 130 but I'll take 160 for my b-day in march

I would like to lose about 20 pounds and I am about 150 right now. I want to lose this weight because I want to be healthy and fly. I am sick tired and sick of being sick and tired of people asking me if I am expecting. How rude!

I want to lose 30 pounds because I want to feel better and look better. I am currently over weight 29.9 lbs I may not look that I am over weight but I feel like I am. New Year new things, and it's time for a change.

I am a 27 year-old single mother. I have struggled with losing weight for a long time and I told myself no matter how hard it is, I wont give up trying.

Hello, I am Linda Ayers from Atlanta. I wish to loose a whole person off of my weight(160 lbs). I was 340 lbs in January of 2007. I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure in May of 07. Well after that bad news i went on a food change eating plan and a walking date with my kids. I lost weight down to 274lbs. I did have a set back and regains 10 lbs. I want to be a healthy 180 to 200 lbs. At least my doctor said this is a healthy weight for my height. Anyone in Lithonia want to walk? Walking dates are the best.

I WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT BECAUSE I AM 19 AND 220 POUNDS PLUS I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I CAN'T DO SOMETHING FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF MINUTES WITHOUT MY CHEST HURTING.

I work for Valerie Primas'State Farm office and signed up for the Challenge in April. I give out the Challenge Kits weekly (so far we have given out over 150 kits). I did not take it seriously; but have been looking at myself and do not like what I see. I decided that it is time to get back on track and show that I have to practice what YOU preach. I am on a new weight loss/exercise plan and have dropped 1 dress size. The new treadmill that I am going to win(:>)will help me reach my goal.Thanks for the reminders that I have not been posting my loss.