I'm a 37 year old locomotive mechanic that lives on the beautiful north coast of Ohio. I haven't been big all of my life even though it seems that way. I didn't tip the 200 pound mark until I was eighteen. I slowly gained weight over the next few years until I was introduced to marijuana. Those who know it's effects know what it does to your appetite. After I smoked it, there was no refrigerator that was safe. This is when the weight really began to pile on. I quit smoking that crap when I met my wife and my life has improved greatly...except my weight. When i graduated from high school 16 years ago, I weighted 185. When I began this diet, I weighed 367 pounds. To say that I am miserable is an understatement. I am only 5 foot 10 inches tall. I find myself avoiding social and family functions, have little energy to play with my three beautiful children and I'm in pain everyday at work. I do heavy work and stand on concrete 8 to 12 hours a day. I realize that if I'm going to do anything about this, now is the time. I'm reaching a tipping point with my age and realize the longer I wait to do this, the more difficult it will become. My wife deserves better, my children deserves better, but also I deserve better. I'm glad I found this site, because it provides focus and encouragement, things I desperately need to make this work.