I'm 35 years old and married to an amazing girl from South Africa that is my greatest champion and friend. We have our first baby on the way and just found out it is going to be a boy! I'm currently at 315 lbs and would like to lose about 100 lbs initially. Once upon a time I was an athlete but poor eating habits combined with an exceptionally sedentary profession (software development) and a certain amount of laziness outside of work have turned what used to be muscle into jello. I guess learning that I'm going to be a father was the catalyst for a change that has needed to happen for a very long time now. I realized that if I continue on my current path I might not get to see him graduate and get married and all those little things I wouldn't want to miss. Besides that I also realized that with all the extra weight I'm not setting a very good example for him. Lately the extra weight has started to take a toll on my self esteem and it is just a miserable feeling not being happy with yourself. So it is time for a change and I am excited about it. I don't have a magical formula in mind and I don't really want to follow anything trendy or gimmicky for a diet...I'm on a "common-sense" diet...I think deep down inside we all know what is good and what isn't and I don't believe there is a magical combination that optimizes weight loss tough I think there are many combinations that are detrimental to it. My great-grandmother lived to 106 years old and she taught me the best diet ever...all things in moderation...and that is the path I am following...for now.