Three men, three women, one resolution: Lose weight in 2008. Could public motivation, i.e. humiliation, give them an edge, make them eat smaller portions, exercise more and go easy on the alcohol and sweets? We'll follow them over the next six months or so and find out, because we all know that resolutions can easily crumble long before Valentine's Day.

But they can also last a lifetime. ''Any type of event that will help someone focus on what's important to them, I'm all for it,'' says Terrence Thomas, owner of Expert Fitness Solutions in Hallandale Beach, which takes a holistic approach to fitness. ``They have to be consistent about what they are doing and pay attention to their diet. That will set the tone for everything else.''

Residence: Coconut Grove

Occupation: Elementary school art teacher

Height: 6 feet 1

Weight: 223

Goal weight: 203

Action plan: I had this idea to put two jars by each door and put 20 pounds of fat in one jar. Then, as I lose weight I would transfer the fat to the other jar, a constant reminder of the dilemma. I could go to a butcher and say, 'Give me 20 pounds of fat,' but it would decompose and be disgusting. I told my wife I wanted 20 pounds of fake fat for Christmas. I thought a pound would be the size of a tennis ball, but it's more like a grapefruit, a yellowish urine color with red splotches. Look at it and you don't want it inside of you. I could sit it in front of me when I eat a meal. . . . I joined a gym three years ago, but it has not turned me into Charles Atlas. . . . I plan to eat less, not taking a second helping, not sneaking into the kitchen after dinner to see what's left.

Motivation: To see my grandchildren grow up. I don't have any yet.

Residence: Aventura

Occupation: He's a real estate broker; she manages investments.

Height: He's 5 feet 10; she's 5 feet 4

Weight: He's 260; she's 180

Goal weight: 200 for him; 145 for her

Action plan:His -- WeightWatchers or Body for Life, which is exercising and diet on your own, or Jenny Craig. I think it'll be WeightWatchers. We try to do something together so it's easier. No excuse not to follow it. . . . I've tried every diet in the book. The rice diet worked, but it was all rice. Nonsense. And the jungle diet -- eat like an animal. I ate everything. I'm getting off that diet. . . . The baby, he's an excuse to stay home and not do much exercise. We know we need to exercise. Hers -- Weight- Watchers. I tried Body for Life and I ended up putting on weight. Jenny Craig sends you food, but I'd prefer something more flexible. My husband didn't like WeightWatchers, but with me maybe he'll like it. He said he felt out of place with all the older women in the group.

Motivation:His -- To be healthy for my wife, for me, for my child. I have high blood pressure. Hers -- To be healthy, and my brother is getting married in early April. I don't want to ruin the wedding pictures. I went up to 200 in my pregnancy. I get so hungry after breast-feeding.

Residence: Sunrise

Occupation: Nurse

Height: 5 feet 5

Weight: 184

Goal weight: At least 160

Action plan: I've already started portion control and I walk every day. I said, ''If I can't start now (before the holidays), I won't start in January.'' I'm reducing carbs drastically and I'm reducing protein from beef. No more rice, no more sugar, no more alcohol, at least until I get my weight under control. I use Splenda in my coffee. I'm not a soda pop person, so I don't have to worry about that. I haven't tried any crazy diets. I'm scared of all those things.

Motivation: My mother is diabetic, my grandmother died from complications and hypertension runs in my family. That's not a path I want to travel. My doctor said I need to lose 20 pounds. I told him I can lose 20, but I'm going to lose 30.

Residence: Weston

Occupation: Retired Miami-Dade County park manager

Height: 5 feet 10

Weight: 205

Goal weight: 180

Action plan: More than three years ago I had quadruple bypass surgery. I didn't need rehab because I was in good shape. I went to college on a basketball scholarship and I boxed as an amateur for one year, had nine wins and two losses. Over 14 years I had 142 professional fights, 122 wins, 13 losses and seven draws. I had brain damage before I started. Check out my grades and you'll believe me. . . . My wife and I walk a couple miles in the morning but we haven't been very energetic about it. I picked up about seven pounds. I don't want to just lose it, because when I had bypass I went from 198 to 181 and in my face I looked like death eating a cheese cracker. I want to build muscle by working out three days a week using boxing techniques, stretching exercises and a jump rope. This workout is with high intensity, not just going through the motions one minute and socializing for two minutes, while looking around for admiring glances. . . . I'm cutting soft drinks, sweets and nighttime snacks.

Motivation: I don't want my cholesterol to build back up.

Residence: El Portal

Occupation: Owner of Idealogy Creative advertising company

Height: 5 feet 5 ¾

Weight: 166

Goal weight: 150

Action plan: I'm in the gym doing cardio three times a week and weights three times a week. I do ballet twice a week at lunchtime with a bunch of 40-something women and a really nice teacher. I used to spin, but I developed sciatica, so I do the elliptical. It doesn't burn as many calories as spinning. I did a marathon six years ago, went down in size but not on the scale. . . . I need to cut back a great deal on the wine. That's my husband's hobby. I eat organic, fish three times a week, beef or lamb once a week or every 10 days, non-wheat grains, quinoa and vegetables. Before age 20 I tried the canned shakes diets and the one where you cut all carbs and load yourself with bacon. That was stupid.

Motivation: I have a spare tire. When I was young and gained weight it'd go to my thighs. Now it goes to my midsection. I want that to go away. In the Latin community I'm curvy. In the American community, a few more pounds and I'm fat.

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