Layne Richardson, 30, is a project manager for an architecture firm in Toledo, Ohio. Six feet in height (1.83m), within a year Layne went from 367lbs (166kg) to 218.5 lbs (99kg), losing a total of 148.5 lbs (67kg). He's a member of Flickr groups Weighty Matters and Weight Loss Challenge.

When ten of us set up an email account and agreed to send our weights to the group each week I completely changed my lifestyle. I joined a gym and began going six times a week. I do cardio six times a week and strength training 2-3 times a week. I began counting calories and making better choices regarding fat, sodium, et al. I started eating breakfast, incorporating more fruit and vegetables into my diet, and stopped drinking pop.

I took pictures from the start and after I'd lost around 20/30lb [9 - 14 kg], posted some online. I immediately felt more obliged to lose more weight - I didn't want people to see me give up. Flickr users started to leave congratulatory comments and saying ‘Looking good!' You start feeding off that.

My goal when I started was to get below 300 lbs [136 kg] by the end of the first year - I did that in early May 2008. At the start of 2009, one year after starting all it, I was 148.5 lbs [67 kg] lighter! When we did the spreadsheet after a year, I made up about 75% of the 200 lbs. [90 kg] we lost collectively.

It's been hard work but most certainly worth it. I've become a totally different person. I actually sort of like shopping for clothes now. Before all I could buy was clothes from the Big and Tall section/stores. Now I can walk into any store and grab something. When I used to go to bars with friends I'd assume that everyone who looked at me would think ‘He's their fat friend'. Now I go out more. I'm also far more active in general. I've just been camping with friends and I'm going on a backpacking trip soon - I never would have been able to do that before. If I hadn't taken up the challenge I'd be a bigger man now than I was a year and a half ago."

Six months into the challenge and 120 lbs (55kg) lighter.

After 11 months - from a 50" waist to 35" (127cm to 90cm).

Morning workout (taken 15 July 2009).

Victoria Shephard, 38, is a behind-the-scenes radio station worker from San Francisco Bay, California. She's also a member of Flickr group Weighty Matters and writes the blog "Confessions of a Carbohydrate Addict". She lost 65 lbs during her programme and remains a US size 8 (European 42).

I used the Internet to help me lose weight by joining About.com's Weight Loss forum and using FitDay.com to track my food intake and exercise. The forum gave me support from other people who were losing weight, we were able to talk and exchange ideas, problems, slip-ups, etc. The FitDay online journal helped keep me honest about what I was eating - it tracks carbs, calories, protein, fat - and how many calories I burned in exercise, plus my weight. I don't think I could maintain without it!

I lost most of my weight is the first 18 months or so. That got me down to 152 lbs [69 kg].  The next 10 pounds [4.5 kg] were slow and agonising. I have been stable since 2006, with one exception, when I was told I wasn't eating enough by a fellow web user; some bad advice. I ate more and gained 17 pounds [8kg] before I put a stop to it. 

I eat veggies, meat and eggs instead of cereals, burgers, and fries. I eat about 1,200-1,300 calories most days, unless I allow myself a glass or two of wine. I allow myself one ‘cheat day' per week, but I try to eat fairly healthily that day (no pizza, burgers, cake, etc.). I get some form of exercise almost every day.  I don't drive and do a lot of walking. I go to the gym about twice a week, where I do weight training and cardio.

Getting fit has changed my life. I like that I can run much farther than before. I like that I wear a much smaller size and look better than ever before. I like that when I started the Atkins diet my adult acne went away and I now have clear skin. I also get sick a lot less and almost never get the flu now.  Eating healthily makes a big difference to your health!

My FitDay counter in March 2004.

My FitDay counter in July 2006. 

Before

Left: December 2001. Right: February 2004.

After