I was born in 1971 in upstate New York. (NOT the City.) I lived there for most of my first 17 years; all except the 3.5 years that we lived in Pontiac, MI, while my dad went to college.

I graduated high school in 1988 (I was homeschooled) and went to Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, MI, for one year. After spending the summer there, I moved to South Carolina with my parents and lived there 10 months before going to Oklahoma Baptist College & Institute in Oklahoma City, OK. I attended there for two years, but left 6 credits short of graduating.

The first Saturday after I arrived at OBC&I, I met Robert, who I married 11 months later. We have been married since August 1991. Our first "official" date was to a Spanish Church luncheon, where I ate unusual things which I have not eaten since (because of lack of opportunity, not because they were unpleasant).

After the birth of each of my first three children, I gained weight. Finally, in July 1998, I decided I was ready to lose. I joined TOPS ("Taking Off Pounds Sensibly") chapter AR5, and in the following three months, I lost 22 pounds. In December 1998, we moved to Alabama, and I transferred to chapter AL43. I maintained the loss for a few months, then in April 1999 I conceived my fourth child and after I had him, I began to gain again. I lost again from October 2001 - March 2002 but again lost my motivation. I'm currently near my original start weight and wanting to lose again.