Loretta Thomas Age:  45 Occupation:  Health Care Starting weight:  257 Goal weight:  150 "I’m determined to reach my goal."

A latecomer to the contest, Loretta Thomas has a goal of losing 100 pounds. Only three weeks into the Optilean program, Loretta has already knocked off six pounds. “I think that’s really good, especially considering the fact that, well, to tell you the truth I’ve been cheating!”

An unexpected audit at work sent Loretta’s stress meter off the charts. In a familiar pattern, that stress helped overwhelm her resolve and she gave in a few times.

“But I still managed to lose weight and now thank goodness the audit is over and I can get back to normal!”

Loretta says she is bound and determined to drop the 100 pounds and win the Broadway Clinic’s Biggest Loser Contest.