I'm 40, married 20+ years with 2 sons and a daughter-in-love. I love chocolate, caramel, and coffee (preferably together), reading, music, walking, crocheting, and living in Texas.

My long term goal is to lose 70 pounds and live a healthier, more active life. I'm not into fad diets as I know they don't work for me. I have to make a conscious effort to change my eating and exercise habits or any weight loss I achieve won't last. I have support through work and my friends, but I don't think anyone making major lifestyle changes can ever have too much support or accountability.

I'm allergic to soy, beef, and wheat, which makes almost all diet-related supplements and/or replacement options not an option for me. Believe me, unless you have a soy allergy you have NO IDEA how much of it is in everything we eat. One positive thing about being allergic to wheat is that although I haven't completely cut out pasta, bread, or sweets, I've drastically cut back. Now I stop and think about whether -insert forbidden food here- is really worth being sick over later. Usually it's not. :)

In addition to the allergies, I'm also a rather picky eater. I don't eat seafood, pork, mushrooms, and yogurt, and I won't eat anything deemed "weird", "gross", or "unidentifiable". I am working to be less picky, but it's proving to be harder than giving up my pasta.

I'm looking forward to making some great new friends on this site over the months/years to come.