Introducing myself

Hello:
I have had a weight problem for about 20 yrs, quitting smoking 9 yrs. ago added more weight & different stresses in my life added more again.
I have tried a few times to lose weight but only added more weight on.  I think maybe I needed more motivation, to stick with it.
 So, my asthma had been hard to control for a while. Then, twice last year I had pnemonia, once I was hospitalized in ICU, then I found out later that I was pre-diabetic & my cholesterol was high.
Our 4 grandchildren have all been born in the last 2&1/2 yrs. & they have been a huge motivation since then. Keeping my health as a priority will mean being around with my grandkids for longer.
So, in Sept. of last year I joined a gym & started recording what I ate & how much I exercised etc. & I managed to lose 12lb. My starting weight then was 231 lb. Over Christmas I gained 5lb. which brought me up to 224 lb.  I'm definitely ready to start again, otherwise I know my weight will creep back up & probably more.
 Recently I found about the x-weighted national challenge. The challenge starts on Sat. Jan. 15 & goes for 6 months until Jul.15/11
There are lots of prizes & lots of support on the site. They have set my goal at losing 58 lb. I'm so hoping I can lose that much in that time frame!! I want to eventually get down to 150 lb. which will mean a total loss of 81 lb.
I have decided to go low carb to get the weight off. I want to make healthy choices & do things I can sustain for the rest of my life.
Wish me luck