Eliana you are doing so Great! You are an Inspiration to me. I just need to do better with planning and feeling sorry for myself.

Eliana: are you the one doing the biggest loser style workouts this summer? If so, hows it going? Still got stamina?

Congrats on your loss! I know I will be feeling the way you do someday (way off in the distance). lol

You've done so well! I do hope you'll stick around! I plan to, even after goal. Matter of fact, that's one of my long term goals! Stick around 3FC and continue to post to 1- help maintain and 2- NEVER forget where I came from while encouraging others that it IS possible.

You're an inspiration for so many.

Now, on the other issue... I can totally relate to reading some posts and feeling frustration towards people who never have been obese (lets be honest here, there is a HUGE difference between "oh, I'm fat and could stand to lose a few" and "omg- if I sit there I may break this chair, or how will I ever get back up?!") :hug:

To remain a member in good standing, no matter what your weight, all you have to do, Eliana, is occasionally show us your scars. You know, the tiny little scars left by the constant small personal humiliations one experiences when one is fat & is made to feel ungainly & out of place. And we'll recognize you for one of our own. Having been fat changes a person. It gives us a dual perspective on life that the naturally thin don't have. We can report back on both sides.

I think our posts can be kind of like very old New England graveyard poetry for those reading them:

Reader, pause as you pass by
As you are now, so once was I;
As I am now, so shall ye be.

I'm making that poetry a lot more upbeat than the original, but what I'm saying is there ought to be a moment of self-recognition that goes both ways for the fat & the formerly fat.

Don't leave us! Many folks at goal/maintianing/close to their goal post here regularly. You know how we feel...and we know how you have suceeded at what we are working for. It is helpful for everyone.

You are doing GREAT!

Oh gosh, dopey me, never even felt that I would not be *welcome* here. Oy.

Although I will say, there are certain things I post strictly on the Maintainer's forum as I believe they may be more appropriate there.

I agree with Nelie though, there ARE different issues with those that need to lose over 100 lbs and those that have LOST over 100 lbs.

Well, I'm sorry, you folks are just stuck with me. But by all means, feel free to skip my posts. Really. :)

I love this forum; it's still my favorite.

Please don't ever think you're unwelcome here. I've been on this forum off and on for over ten years... and it's this last time that I've noticed the great number of "formerly fat" members who stay around to encourage us and to keep themselves on the straight and narrow.

It's a huge change from even five years ago here. It makes this struggle seem almost-dare-I-say-it... "do-able"!

I can't thank you enough for your posts -- the good, the bad, the frustrated, the revelations, the crowing, the sobbing. You, and all the women who post here, whether just starting (again!), ten pounds down, 100 pounds down, or maintaining, make this forum the amazing support network it is.

Never forget it!

Ha! As if. Silly girl. ;)

I'm not going anywhere. :D I'm just musing and discussing that little issue that we all understand so well...about how awkward it can be to lose weight and the thought processes we go through and the many changes, mental and physical. It's weird switching sides. :rofl:

Yep, that's me! :D And today was no exception. I put in two and half hours at the gym this morning, went swimming with my boys this afternoon, and took a one hour spin cycle class with my husband this evening. :dizzy: And I feel great!! LOL! I've gotten used to it. It was rough going at the start. AND half way through the month I've already lost six pounds, when here lately I've been averaging four per month. I'm pretty happy with my rate right now.