300+ Club - 300+ And Ready To Try Again....1086

WELCOME


We are a group of individuals who weigh or have weighed 300+, or near there. This group was formed to provide a place for others like us to find support and hope. We are aware of the distinct problems that come with weighing over 300 lbs.

We want to invite everyone to join us in our journey.
We share laughter and tears .
We share what works for us and what doesn't.
We often use a "Topic of the Day" for discussion.

Motivational Monday
Tuesday Tips
Wednesday Wish List .. and What you are doing to obtain it.
Thankful Thursday
FUN Friday ... don't wait until you lose your weight.
Sit-up Saturdays - any physical activity
Share your Success Sunday

These are not required topics ...just ideas to share. We often find them very helpful. We also share heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations.

We have several extra threads going on simutaneously such as Monthly Challenges, Weekly Weigh-ins, Recipes, Bios, and more. Please feel free to check them all out.

We have found this thread to be more than just a support group...
we have found it to become a home. We invite you to join us.

WELCOME!

I know you'll all agree that we are really thankful for the free services here at 3FC. The sisters offer all of this support and information with no charges to us. There are a couple of ways though that we can help out.

If you are thinking about buying anything at Amazon, why not help out 3FC at the same time? You can do this by clicking on the button for the Amazon "store" in the upper right hand corner of the screen on the PURPLE tool bar. A portion of your purchase price will be given to 3FC by Amazon. It doesn't increase your price at all, but it does help out 3FC. You can use any of the Amazon.com links that you see on the site in order to help contribute to the site.

Also, BTW, in case you didn't know it, you can view the message boards "ad free" for a minimal charge. I think it's like $15 for 6 months. A very small investment to be rid of the annoying ads and make your pages load quicker.

There have been some concerns expressed by the powers that be about copyright infringement. So please, if you are directly quoting someone else or printing an article in whole or in part, please give credit where credit is due!!!!

Zelma, You are in my thoughts!

Hiya Russian Doll - your pics are amazing!! Well done on all your hard work :) You look great!

Nancy - I can only speak from my own experience of splitting up from long term relationships and I always feel ambivalent about it - I mean, its so hard to break up from someone you loved very much and I would think its quite rare for people to be completely single minded, we all become aware about how much we might lose. BUT also u might gain so much if you decide its the right thing to do. My husband and I split up before we were married and in the end after 2 months got back together and ended up married, but at least we felt we had tried to live without each other. For us the result was we missed each other so much and realised how much we meant to each other. Its a confusing time for sure, try to listen to yourself and give it time. xx

Zelma - sorry to hear of your sad news, hope you are surrounded by the support you need.

Dogpal - come on get back on that wagon madam!! You can do it, I am impressed by all your cleaning!! Go girl!!


I've had another OP day, that makes 4 and wrote another essay towards by registered nurse qualification, only 7 months to go now (2.5 years done!), did some tidying at my mums house as she has a broken bone in foot AND a DVT poor lady, and got some exercise in, pleased with myself today :)

Off to bed now, tired but oh so pleased with my progress, you know tonite the very idea of sitting around eating crisps (chips) and chocolate does NOTHING for me - whereas normally thats my idea of heaven, it just does not appeal, can't imagine anything more depressing, so I am hoping this frame of mind lasts me a long time!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend - every single one of you including all those I haven't got to know yet :)

Hello! I'm new here and wanted to introduce myself, my name is Casey, I'm 27 and living in New York where mother nature is under the mistaken impression that springtime has come early (in the 60's today). I look forward to getting to know you all and hope that together we can spend 2007 getting healthy - good luck to everyone! :)

Hi Emily May (that's my granddaughter's name!!)

Nice to meet another Brit - and thanks for the kind comments re-photos. Are you on any kind of diet plan or just healthy eating?

I'm about to switch plans to complete my journey as I'm beginning to feel 'jaded' and feel I need a new kick-start into 2007 to get rid of the last 4 stones (55lb) I've decided to start Rosemary Conley on Thurs - fingers crossed!

Well done on the Nursing course - are you on the degree course or advanced diploma? I'm in my first year at Chichester University studying for a BA Hons in English and History - it's tough but I'm loving it!

Anyway, nice to meet you.

Also welcome to Casey - I'm also a newbie so Hi!

Take care everyone and keep your eyes on the prize! ;)

I am having a lazy day. I think I pushed myself a little too hard the last couple of days, and my feet and knees are letting me know it. I’ve been inventing today. We have to take a plane on Monday, and my husband hates going through the metal detector because he wears suspenders that always sets it off. I’m making a belt with a composite buckle and slide on suspenders without metal so that he won’t worry about getting strip searched. I’ve got a couple of his dress shirts to press too, but that can wait until the last minute. Other than that, I’m in cruise control mode until the trip. I don’t know how I’m going to handle the food at this place. It’s some kind of Scottish castle in the Rockies. They do a serious afternoon high tea. I’ve basically told myself that since I’m not paying for the food, that I shouldn’t worry about not eating it. In the past I’d eat too much because I had paid for it, or I’d eat too much because someone else was paying for it. I can come up with a million reasons to eat too much, only one not too—I want to live.

Sandy-Yeah, kids are hard to convince about things in their best interest. My youngest foster son didn’t want to wear high-top cleats to play baseball, so I told him wear them or stay home. He decided to wear them, and he’s 18 now with a 96 MPH fastball, and refuses to wear anything but high-tops. I think it helped that I bought him the same cleats that Mark MacGuire was wearing in the poster over his bed. You could try that. Get a poster of a female pro basketball player with high tops and then ask her if she would like a pair just like them. If she’d too stubborn, try ankle braces. The elastic ones are worthless. I used one that was more rigid and had Velcro. I guess I’m kind of religious about ankles because I tore my first ligament at the age of 11.

Michelle-Well, I hope that you’re not moving by US Post. That’s how I moved to Canada. I mailed 33 rather large boxes. I found it interesting that the surface packages of ordinary stuff got here faster than the air packages of important stuff. The Air mail stuff got opened at the border, so that slowed it down.

Mona-Your son is lucky to have you filling out the paperwork for him. I ended up having to do all the applications and grant stuff myself. I think I saw that show with the 1000 pound guy. I also so this show that interviewed people who had regained all their weight after having gastric bypass surgery. That would have to just be disheartening. The penny thing sounds like a great idea.

Sara-You’re right that you can’t tell anyone else about losing weight. I only discuss it with people who ask me what I’m doing. Until then, I always feel like I’ll do more harm than good.

Annie-When I was at my biggest, I would vacuum sitting down in a rolling office chair. My back was so screwed up that I could bend over while sitting down, but not while standing up. Don’t be too hard on yourself about not being completely OP, progress not perfection. It’s perfectionism that got a lot of us into this mess in the first place.

Valerie-You’re right about how hard it is. I have found that everytime I stumble and bloody my nose, it is harder and harder to get back OP. I swear I go through some kind of withdrawal like a heroin addict.

Jen-Feel free to send some of your global warming temps my way.

Brenda-Thanks for the compliments about the picture. I don’t know why I didn’t do that before. It’s from the wedding, and my hair is way longer now. I had ditched the veil, but that is still my “Lord of the Rings” wedding gown. The sleeves were so full, I kept sitting on them.

Jill-Wow, someone who actually put out a healthy buffet. I wish every caterer and host could learn to do that.

Russiandoll-We’ve got members from everywhere. This time last year I was living 3 blocks from the beach in St. Pete Florida, and now I’m near the North Pole. Welcome.

Casey-Welcome, feel free to join right in.

Russiandoll -- WELCOME! You already know we have people from everywhere. It's nice to see someone else here in Onederland! I've lost 115 pounds myself. I haven't seen if you posted your story anywhere, but I'm sure we'd all love to hear it!

Casey -- Welcome to you too! This is a great place!

For all the new people. Don't forget to check out the threads stickied at the top of the page. I'd also love to invite you to join our exercise thread if you're interested -- we set goals for the number of minutes to exercise each month (what you do is up to you). Not only do we post individual progress, but as a group we tally our minutes to see how much we can do! Last year we exercised nearly 200,000 minutes!!!!!

WELCOME RUSSIAN DOLL! WELCOME CASEY! Heavens no, this isn't an "American Site." This is THE site for people with FOREsight to challange their weight, consider their health, and who are willing to join the gang and jump in the fight for all our futures. (Yes, I'm picking up my lance again - metaphorically speaking - CHAAAAAAARGE!)

Well, Thanks (perhaps) to one little Metabolife pill, I'm having a wonderfully OP day, and I'm not feeling anywhere NEAR as tempted as I have been lately. OK, so I had lasagna for breakfast, the restaurant kind - and a bit too much of it. But the rest of the day has been great. I still need to get my exercise in, and drink more water, but the eating thing has been my biggest challenge in getting back on track. That bottle of Metabos is I dunno how old, and it's still full, so I decided to give one a try. If it helps me stay away from the sugar for a few days until I can get that poison out of my system, then it's worth taking, for me anyway. Like you said, CATHERINE, I feel like an addict. Basically, that's what I am.

NANCY, I'm little bit in touch with how you might be feeling, since I was to the point of leaving Bill at Thanksgiving. When it dawned on him I was gone, he made the effort and I'm giving us both that chance. But I've had breakups in the past, and I've shed so many tears in the last few years over this relationship. I admire you for doing something SO hard, and I'm so sorry that your hurting so much. I think you're very wise to give yourself this distance, and to recognise what you need and deserve in life and a relationship. But I know this isn't easy for you. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy, as well as my respect and encouragement. I know that however it ends up, a few months from now, you'll be a stronger woman, and better off. :hug:

Well, after that other lasagna, I decided to make some myself - with baby spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, whole grain pasta, marinara sauce & low-fat ricotta. There's still some sausage in there and I won't pretend it's super-skinny food, but it's a healthier alternative by far. Oh, and NO garlic bread, because I CAN live without it! :D

Live well, hug a puppy, and don't do anything I shouldn't do, K?

Welcome to all the new folks!

Valerie ~ I know what you mean when you say how a small amount of weight gain can impact your mobility. I have been overweight the majority of my life, but I notice when I get around 260, I really start to feel it. I actually lose my sexy switch and start waddling. And I am not trying to be funny!

I've lost around 6 pounds and I can feel the difference just with that small amount.

Xena ~ what a lovely idea about the beads. You could find some really pretty ones to make a necklace. In fact, I will probably use this idea and have my son make me a necklace with beads representing the total amount that I've lost (he wants to be a jeweler) once I reach goal weight. What a way to have something near to keep you mindful of how you live your life.

Catherine ~ I was going to say the same thing about your picture. It is so lovely.

Actually when I look at all of the pictures, there sure are some really pretty, pretty ladies here!
_______________

I did really well in regards to what I brought to work to eat. I had to bring enough for lunch and dinner because I worked 12 hours. But I did stuggle with stuffing myself when I wasn't hungry. I didn't go over my calories, but this is a bad habit nonetheless. So I finally just set the food aside and made myself leave it alone.

I am craving junk food though. Really badly. Chocolate covered peanuts, vanilla swiss almond ice cream. This is really difficult. So I guess I'll through myself in the bed and let the "little person" inside me have a tantrum. :mad: Anything is better than the other option. I just keep reminding myself that I will set myself back if I eat these things.

Well everyone, have a wonderful evening!

:wel3fc: Casey! glad to have you here :)

Hey everyone-

Having a sort of frustrated day. I have talked a lot about this in past...hope I don't sound like a broken record. As most of you know I have no equipment or gym up here. (town of 4500)Of course its way to cold outside! -45 today! And I have having a VERY hard time exercising. I know ANY movement helps. But I am even having a hard time walking in the house. I am really scared of how out of shape I am. I mean walking back and forth in the house seems really hard. I guess its because I haven't really been very active this past year. And I of course get in the vicious cycle of feeling frustrated and stop...therefore I never build up stamina. I guess I have got to keep trying. Its just like I can never stick to working out. Just needed to vent about it I guess.

:welcome: Casey and Russian doll! Russiandoll WTG on your sucess! Your pics are great!

NANCY~I am sorry you are having such a hard time hun. Hang in there.:hug:

ZELMA~:hug: :hug: I am sorry for your loss. Praying for you hun.

CAtherine~Our stuff is going Air mail we have no roads out and the ocean is frozen. When I moved here from Louisiana it took 6 weeks to even get our stuff to here in Barrow,AK. We had many boxes that just got lost. I am hoping it won't take as long this time!

Alright well I need to go sort and clean out my stuff in my closet. FUN!:lol: I hope all of you are having a good weekend!

Mark this on your calendar girls. January 6, in Canada and we are having a thunder and lightening storm like you wouldnt believe *L* darn global warming!!!!!!!

We should have 3 feet of snow on the ground and -20 temps!!!!

I wanted to post a quick reply about relationships. I learned this from driving a friend who had lost her license to AA meetings and therapy seminars. You can imagine why she lost her license. Anyway, when you lose weight your partners go through some serious stuff. Our first instinct is to expect them to be thrilled for us. When sometimes you don't get that, it hurts. Some people will be afraid that if you get thinner that you will leave them for someone else. Some will actually think that you are losing weight specifically to attract someone else you are interested in. They may try to sabotage you subconsciously.

Don't forget that when you change your diet, you also change the blood chemistry of your brain. There are times that I have blood sugar lows that are almost homicidal. My husband has to keep me from running to the bar on the corner just to get into a fight. With the 200 lbs I have lost, I have experienced some actual personality changes. I used to go through life sedated by food.

When I began to lose weight, I had to learn to deal with feelings again that I hadn't had in decades. That's alot of maintenance for a relationship. We work through it by talking and talking about how each of us is feeling. For example, he wanted to blame himself and the marriage for my gaining weight this year. It would have been so easy to have someone or something else to blame.

Accepting responsibility for it myself was what allowed me to start again before I regained all the weight I lost. I had to sit him down and explain that I have to lose this weight by myself, for myself, and nothing he does can sabotage it unless I allow it. When things are different, our partners get scared of the changes. We need to remember to give them extra attention when we can, so I think I will go give mine some attention right now.

Hello all I am new here and just wanted to jump in. My name is Renee and I live in NW Georgia. I am 350+ and want to lose the weight, most of all I want to get healthy. I had thought about trying to get the lap band surgery but I think I will try this first. So please be a praying. I too find it hard to walk very far in the house but I am trying to move around more and I have started drinking my water. Any suggestions on how to eat healthy in a household that can just get the groceries they can get and not the expensive stuff? Take care and God bless.

Renee/Cluckcluck

:welcome3: Renee...congrats on taking the first steps to a healthier lifestyle...You've come to the right place for support and advice. I don't buy into any of the carb free diet foods...I just try to eat 3 square meals a day and get some exercise...which for me is mostly walking...but thats just me... Good Luck with everything!

Ziggy

I'm seeing a lot of new faces!! If you aren't new, maybe I just haven't seen you before so welcome!!

Ziggy
Casey
Renee
Hippie
RussianDoll

Well girls, me and Amanda spent the week bouncing from ER to ER. No one could tell her what was wrong. She finally got an answer tonight!! She has what is called lipomas (http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic242.htm). She has to go and see a surgeon on Monday. I'm hoping that it doesn't require surgery, but it may. *PLEASE* keep her in your thoughts!!

Zelma -- I don't know if you will see this, but I am keeping you in my thoughts!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Nancy -- I am keeping you in my thoughts too!! I really hope that things can work out. Amanda and I have had our issues. We almost split once before in our other apartment. I really think that for us we were both stressed with no money and the small and icky apartment. Now that we are both working and living in a bigger apartment, we don't fight half as much. Other things in life ;) are going good too!!

Has anyone seen Kayle? ( I know I spelled that wrong...but gah I can't remember how!!) I miss that girl!

So here is me wishing that things are going better for everyone!

Erika Leigh

Welcome: Rusian Doll, Casey and Renee.

Emily: Thanks. I am back on the wagon.

Catherine: Thanks for helping me feel normal and not like a freak.

Nancy: Hugs to you. Hang in there.

Michele: Hugs. Things will be so much better for you real soon. Just try to pack up, eat right and concentrate on all the exercises you will be doing in your new apartment with the cool exercise room.

Erika: Sure hope Amanda is okay and doesn't have to have surgery.

Zelma: Huge Hugs to you sweetie. So, so very sorry about your Father. My prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.

Everyone else big hugs and take care.

Blessings all,
Annie

Welcome, Renee! I wrote this above, but will say it again...

Don't forget to check out the threads stickied at the top of the page. I'd also love to invite you to join our exercise thread if you're interested -- we set goals for the number of minutes to exercise each month (what you do is up to you). Not only do we post individual progress, but as a group we tally our minutes to see how much we can do! Last year we exercised nearly 200,000 minutes!!!!! You can start with a tiny goal of exercise -- the point is to learn to make it a habit!

It sounds like you're getting started with what I would call "baby steps" -- make a commitment to this process -- add other steps as you can and you CAN make it!

I'm not sure about your food question. What's going on in your house? Can you say more?

<pant> <groan>
I'm taking a workout break. I bought the biggest loser workout #2. I really like it cause it is customizable. Only thing is that my back is killing me today (the way I slept?) and the second part is done with a ball and is hard to do today. Thought I would take a mini break and say hello to renee :) and everyone else. I am back on track as of this morning with NO cheating!!!

I MUST EXERCISE!!

I'll be back later!!
Brenda :wave:

Hi - I need to ask if guys are allowed on 3 Fat Chicks? I couldn't find anything in the stickys or FAQs but if it would make you uncomfortable, I would rather not post. So, let me know. I stepped on the scale for the first time in 4 months and had gained 20 lbs. more topping me out at 298. I have to do something and do it now. My insurance will cover stomach "stapling" which is a joke - they actually cut your stomach. I really would prefer to find a better way. On New Year's Day I watched a marathon of The Biggest Loser (had never seen it before) and when they showed Marty after he had been home and was down to 140, I started to cry because I realized it isn't impossible to lose weight - that maybe I could actually reach a weight that seems so out of reach. Well, let me know if guys are allowed here and I'll stay around - if not, I'm sure there is a place for someone like me. Thanks!

Not so jolly- You certainly are welcome here at 3FC! We are here for support!! We are all in the same boat here :) :welcome:

Brenda :wave:

Not so jolly -- you are certainly WELCOME! We don't have many roosters, but you certainly can join!

I know what you mean about not believing you can do it -- that was one of the biggest impediments to weight loss for me. I finally committed to doing something about it. I wasn't sure I could, really, but figured I had to try.

However, on The Biggest Loser they lose more quickly than we would in the real world for the most part -- I don't exercise that much!

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

As you can see by my ticker, I've already lost a fair bit of my excess weight but still have a way to go. I lost most of it on the Cambridge diet (VLCD meal replacement) which I started on March 24th 2006.

Now I have 55lb left to go, I'm about to switch plans to a more conventional method and do the final stretch more slowly, learning good eating practices along the way.

I'm starting a Rosemary Conley diet and fitness class on Thurs 11th (I don't think you guys have this in the US - it seems to be a UK thing). It's based on low fat / low GI and incorporates a fitness class alongside the weigh-in and motivational diet chat.

Another positive thing I've done is to sell all my big clothes on Ebay (I'm not ever going to wear them again - that's a promise!) and with the proceeds I paid for a year's subscription to my University gym. How's that for poetic justice? lol

Hope you're all well and 'in the zone' :)

hi everybody! i've been missing in action since the holidays, but just wanted to get on and say hi to everyone! :welcome2: to all the new faces i saw as i skimmed this post and i hope everyone is enjoying the site as much as i do!

not so jolly, it's cool to have a guy on the site now! hope you stick around!

catherine--your weight loss so far is amazing! way to go!!!:cp:

zelma--i don't know if you'll see this, but i gather from the other posts i've seen to you, that your father passed away. my heart really goes out to you. my father passed away right before thanksgiving last year. i understand what you're going through. i hope that you have lots of family and friends and love at this time. take care of yourself! :hug:

so, i'm so far behind on posts, i'm not even going to try to catch up. i'll just jump in from here and keep going. i hope everyone else had a great holiday and fun new years! i don't have too much to say right now. i haven't really been exercising that much, but since the last time i posted, i haven't gained any. i'm still at 292, even after all the holiday parties and food--yeah! :carrot:

hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend and i look forward to catching up with everyone! take care, lori

Catherine, You truly are an inspiring woman. I really appreciate what you shared about
relationships. I'm married to a wonderful, wonderful man, who like me, has food for his "drug of choice." He's not currently doing anything about his weight. And he's diabetic.
I worry like mad of course, but I can't nag him into taking care of himself. Once in a while, I ask him why he's trying to kill himself and leave me and dd alone, or something else just as dramatic. I had not considered that my losing weight might add to his insecurities. I certainly will from now on though. He, like all of us, has enough issues to deal with without me adding to it. (it also explains why he'll bring naughty stuff into the house sometimes too, things like reese cups, chocolate kisses, ice cream)
So, thanks again for sharing. It'll help all of us be better partners.

Renee', Ziggy, Casey, Hippee, Russiandoll, Not so Jolly :welcome:
You'll get lots of support here. Glad to meet you. Yes, guys are allowed. I'm trying to get my husband to join us too. Hopefully he will.


Erika, I'm so sorry about Amanda. Please keep me posted and feel free to pm any time.
The two of you are in my thoughts! :hug: It is so scary when you first hear tumor.
My dh had one removed from his neck. It took all of about 20 minutes. They did it in the out patient surgery room of the dr's office. The dr just shot him up with stuff like Novocaine, made the incision, removed the little bugger, put in about 3 stitches and off we went. I even got to be in the room. I just couldn't touch anything in the sterile field. It was pretty cool actually. The pesty little thing was smaller than an eraser on the end of a pencil, but made a big lump on his neck about the size between a quarter and half dollar.
:hug:

Michelle, You poor thing. Hang in there Honey. You're healthier and more fit NOW than you were even 3 months ago. And my word, -45 degrees! :fr: :yikes: I would not survive ONE day.
I gotta have the sun, I mean GOTTA have it. As for the cold, :eek: I hate the cold. I can handle it down in the teens and twenty's with NO wind, but I certainly prefer it in the 80's.
:lol:


Not so Jolly, It's so nice to hear of another man besides my hubby who's not afraid of emotions. We have another guy, Nathan, who posts here too. Please, feel free to post. We all need support. Besides, like I said before, with you and Nathan here, maybe I can get my dh to join.


Russiandoll; What a great idea. Using the $ to pay for a gym membership. That's cool! And congrats on your great progress!!


Well, I wasn't op yesterday. :kickbutt: :frypan:
I know exactly what set me off, so I know now what to avoid. I went over my calories by 220. I know that in itself isn't terrible, but since I'm an all or nothing personality, it's not good. It was completely impulsive. I'm NOT going to let it drag me down and ruin today.
DD wanted pancakes for breakfast this morning too. We had them, and I COUNTED them. It means I have to be careful for the rest of the day, but I'm GOING to do it. And she helped make them so they were especially delicious. :lol:
Happily, I did buy healthy snacks this week. GUESS WHAT I FOUND!!!!!I found the 100 calorie packs of Sun Chips. :yes: :dancer: :woo:
I LOVE those things. I feel good about those 100 calorie packs. I know they're more expensive than buying a big bag, but, let me tell ya, I can't buy a big bag and portion it out myself......not yet anyway. I'd eat the whole flippin' bag. :nono: So it's the 100 calorie packs for me. It's weird how I can eat just one bag as a treat once in a while, but if there's a big bag in the house, I'm doomed. :crazy:
Well, now that I confessed about blowing it yesterday, I feel better and more responsible.
It's time to work on the laundry I blew off. My NY Giants managed to make the play offs :sp: ...and are playing today so I gotta get the laundry done NOW.
I'll catch up with y'all later. :hug: to all Today IS an OP day!!!

sandy i had a bad day yesterday too but i am back on program today. not exercising but doing better on my eating today. legs are still not acting right but i am hoping tomorrow to get back on my treadmill

Sandy -- look at it this way, in the past "blowing it" might have meant eating an extra 2000 calories (at least it was for me). 200 is, like, 90% better than that and THAT'S progress!!

I am working on a couple of 3fc related projects right now, but my dogs are making it difficult. They are adorable, but needy sometimes... sometimes? who am I kidding... :)

well its been a while (gave up again) but i'm back :dizzy: and this time i'm a bit more hopeful, i have a friend thats doing it with me, she has about 30lbs more to lose than i do, but is really kicking my butt, and dragging me out to exercise :hug: just what i need.

tomorrows the first official weigh in so i guess we will see how it go's.

kate

Wyllenn, Thanks, you're right about the 2000 calorie splurges.

Patti, Glad you're back OP too.

I have a nsv I MUST share. I was on the gazelle for 10 minutes and decided it was just too easy. I asked dh if he was ready to add resistance to it and he is too. So, I did. It's the first level of resistance, but I felt it EVERYWHERE! I was only on 10 more minutes, but I felt the burn. It was awesome! :cb:
Just had to share. Let's keep it movin', my Friends.

Someone said they were gonna put a penny or a bead in a container for every pound they lost. I want to put a dollar a special container and not get into it til I get to goal. Then, I can use the money for some cool NEW SMALL clothes. I'll buy only stuff to get me through til I'm at goal.
Thanks for the idea! Now, I need to craft up a special container!

Yesterday I went to Target to use a gift certificate that my sister-in-law gave me for Christmas. I knew that I needed a 2007 planner and I planned to pick up some basic staple items. But I wanted Goobers so badly, so when I passed the candy isle, I picked them up with a scowl on my face daring my inner angel to make me not buy them.

Then something inside me said, "You've already proven that you can purchase them. You've done that before. But can you prove that you can walk out the store without purchasing them. Now that would really be doing something."

When that inner voice said that to me, I didn't feel the need to fight for my right to have the candy anymore. So I dropped the box off in the produce area.

I also thought about everyone here. I really enjoy the camaraderie. Everyone is so supportive of each other. But I understand that the support has a purpose. It is to motivate me to continue to meet my weight loss goal. And I have to utilize it for the reason that it exists and not waste the opportunity.

Here's wishing everyone a great day!

Then something inside me said, "You've already proven that you can purchase them. You've done that before. But can you prove that you can walk out the store without purchasing them. Now that would really be doing something."

When that inner voice said that to me, I didn't feel the need to fight for my right to have the candy anymore. So I dropped the box off in the produce area.

Oh man, I love reading NSVs like that. I remember when I started to do things like that last year. It is SO empowering!!! It's making those little choices day in and day out that make the difference. Not that you have to say no to goobers every single time... I find myself not really craving most of the candy any more!! It's gotten very easy to say no! (most of the time!)

Thanks for sharing that!

Greetings everyone!

Sandy and Mona Lisa, congrats on the NSVs! Outstanding!

Go Brenda, Go Brenda, Go Brenda...(repeat as necessary). I hope you got your exercise in.

Zelma, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in my thoughts.

Michelle, just yesterday I was talking about how I would prefer to be in your territory, as I miss the winter. But -45 degrees? Um, yeah, nevermind. I would consider it a NSV just to get out from under the covers, let alone attempt exercise. You'll be in Spokane soon and Barrow will be a distant, unpleasant memory. :)

RussianDoll, your progress pics are amazing. You have achieved so much. Congratulations!

Welcome to Casey, Renee, and Not so Jolly! I hope you find this place as motivating as I do.

Ammi? Misti? Melissa? Nelie? I hope you all have been doing well and have just stayed away because you've been busy.

I've had a great day. My food choices have been so-so, but that is always the case on the weekend. I did make a KILLER good soup...my own version of Italian Wedding soup. Yummy stuff. But the real reason I'm so happy is the hike I took this morning. I've hiked on this piece of conservation land many, many times, but usually stay to the same three trails. They have many other trails, but since I don't have a map of the land, I'm always afraid of where I'll end up. However, so many people were there today enjoying the weather, that I decided to be brave and explore a new trail, one that most people do not use. Wowza. A very excellent workout and a trail I will be back on again.

I've decided to join the Biggest Loser competition that my school is having. I believe there will be 20 teachers competing, with weigh-in day tomorrow. I've had a lot of internal debate about this decision, as I really don't want my co-workers to know my weight. But, I'm taking the leap, as I hope it will keep my motivation going. Wish me luck!

I hope everyone has an wonderful OP day tomorrow!

My biggest hurdle is coming up tomorrow. We are going to a fancy resort in Banff in the Rockies, and all the food is paid for. It will be hard to be able to measure anything since I won’t be cooking for myself. I’m afraid that if I go nuts, that I will gain 10 pounds in the three days that we will be there. I am actually going to try to stick with the buffets and try to eat only fruit and vegetables. I will also be away from my computer until Wednesday night, so I hope everyone will be praying for me to pass this huge test. I want it to be a nice trip, and if I overeat and start beating myself up about it, it might ruin the trip for both of us, and I don’t want that.

Valerie-I do feel like an addict. I would like to be like some people who can go off one day a week. If I do that, I have such a hard time getting back on the horse.

Mona-We just bought our first digital camera, so I’m hoping to have a new picture soon. I’m making this new outfit. It’s for a big function, and it’s a long jacket with frog closures, mandarin collar, and pants underneath. It will come down to almost my ankles. It is practically a gown, but I hate wearing dresses, so we compromised on this. I just have to sew it now. My pictures always look good if they are above the waist. I’m a not just a pear, I’m a Christmas tree. I think I’m 4 sizes larger on bottom than on top. I have to get patterns in between and take up the top, and let out the bottom.

Brenda-I’m going to Banff tomorrow, and I’ll see if I can send you any extra snow they have. I’ve been wandering around most of the week in just a sweatshirt, and I’m from Florida.

Renee-I’m in that boat as well. Salmon costs a lot more than cheap ground beef. We use the city food bank, and things we can’t eat, like peanut butter (drool), go in a sack to take to the food bank at our church. I buy in bulk, make everything from scratch that I can, and we don’t eat out. I found my food bill about the same when I cut out eating out. We still eat things like pasta and rice and beans which are cheap, but with portion control. The amount of spaghetti that I used to use for one meal lasts for a half a dozen. The thing that we do spend more money on is chicken breasts. I buy the pre-frozen, boneless and skinless because I can do portion control so much easier that way. Everything is about choices, and doing the best you can.

Annie-If you are a freak, then you’re my kind of freak. I’ve treated myself like I wasn’t good enough to be a part of society. Now I refuse to act that way anymore. If someone doesn’t like me being in their store or restaurant or gym, I will tell them if they don’t want me, they can find someone to carry me out, or rent a fork lift. I am a human being. I have a visible illness/disability depending on how you look at it. Most people can hide their insecurities or shortcomings. No one can tell a gambler or a porn addict by looking at them, but we wear our shortcoming like a sandwich board around our neck. The first step to kill the beast is to look it in the eye. I have to learn to love myself in order to care enough to take care of myself. I am worth taking care of, and so are you.

Sandy-What I found worked with my former roommate was to just cook decent meals. I always made 2 meals. If she chose to eat it fine, if not, then I had it for lunch the next day. I never preached. She was only 100 lbs. overweight, so who was I to tell her anything. She also was on lipitor for high blood pressure and was putting off protein in her urine, so diabetes or kidney problems were fast approaching. I just went about losing weight, and about a year in, she had started eating with me everyday, going to the Y with me, etc. She ended up losing 90lbs., had cholesterol of 138 without the lipitor, and her glucose, etc was very normal. I did all the grocery shopping, so there was nothing in the house that I couldn’t eat. When she needed an ice cream, she went out for a cone. Tell your husband that he can eat whatever he wants to, but he can’t bring it home. You love him, and won’t tell him stuff anymore, but you are going to get healthy for yourself, and so that you’ll be around for your grandkids. You hope he will be too. Then drop it and just set a quiet example for your family, and the other people in your lives.

Most people can hide their insecurities or shortcomings. No one can tell a gambler or a porn addict by looking at them, but we wear our shortcoming like a sandwich board around our neck.

Catherine -- I haven't said this as well as you just did, but I've said things like this many times before. Just about everyone has an issue, a weakness, etc. Our issue just happens to be visible.

But I like how you said it better.

As for eating out, bring your own food to nibble on in your room before the main meals and then also after if need be. Stick to the foods you think look the safest and don't go back for seconds. That's how I dealt with situations like that the first year.

I'm at a point now where if I go off plan for a few days I think I can bring it back, but if I am ever in a situation again where I don't know if I can trust myself I will bring my own stuff as much as possible. I bring my own food just about everywhere still.

GOOD LUCK!!

Hi ladies,

A few replies.

Notsojolly: Welcome. We love to have anyone here that needs the support and encouragement and maybe along the way you have some to give too. Welcome again.

Sandy: Great NSV on the Gazelle.

MonaLisa: Great NSV getting rid of those treats in the store.

Catherine: As always you help me to feel normal. Thank you my friend. Please have a wonderful trip and drink lots of water, water and more water before you eat. Maybe that will help. Hugs.

Everyone be blessed,
Annie

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