Sandi, I think you are a wonderful person and I know that someday you're going to be the person you want to be. I know you are super busy person, with work and your family and I've noticed you don't post as much as you used to post. I don't know if that is a result of being too busy at work or being upset that you aren't losing weight. All I know is that when I am here often and posting then I lose weight and I suspect it is the same for you. I see a lot of posts from you that are just a couple of lines and I've had no sense of how you've been doing. I guess it hasn't been going too good and you haven't wanted to talk about it. Well that is what this forum is for, not just for posting when things are going good. If you are like me you get tired of coming here and feeling like a fraud because you aren't losing weight yet try to be supportive of others. I try not to let that bother me. The 2 of us have been here for over 5 years and maybe it hasn't helped us lose weight, maybe now is the time that we are finally at the right point and we are going to start losing weight. I'm with you Sandi! I saw a bootcamp program at the gym that is starting on Friday and I was kind of so-so about joining it but now I"m gonna do it. It's time that we took charge! You need to post Sandi and often. Tell us how you are doing, what you are eating, what you are doing for exercise and we'll be here to cheer you on and give you kicks in the butt when you need it. Okay? Is that a deal?!?
I am really moved by the honesty of your post, and the courage it must have taken to write it. You have so much knowledge and understanding of how to do it, and what it might take, and you give all of that away to support the rest of it - so maybe now you will be able to find the time and space to nurture and support yourself?
I am just picking up speed on this journey, after a minor deviation down a wrong turning......some tough love from my partner made me face the fact that if I carried on the way I was going, I was headed for diabetes, high blood pressure etc etc, and that I was doing this to myself. Sometimes, like Jill and Beverly are saying, the tough love is more use to us than the sugar-coated support! If it helps anyway, since being back on track, I have gained some much needed self-respect back, and realised that whatever other stressful stuff in my life I can't control, I can choose what I put in my mouth and my body, and I can choose to exercise.
You know, you really can do this. And there are a huge number of people here ready to cheer you on, all the way!
Oh, Sandi, I think nearly all of us can really sympathize with the pain and frustration of that post -- it brought tears to my eyes because I REMEMBER.
Everyone has already given you such good advice, and frankly I'm not that great at giving it. But I will say this: we all care about you very much and will do anything it takes to help you out. I'm with Beverly, if you ever want to check in, please let me know. The only thing I would suggest is that you make a detailed *plan* very soon and make us hold you accountable to it. I wasted a lot of years fretting, longing, and hating myself, and somehow thinking those three things would make me lose weight. Now I only regret all those years I wasted. I'm a little bit shocked and embarrassed that it's much less complicated (emotionally draining, yes, but complicated? nah) than I thought all that time... the key is just doing it.
Sandibaby, you know I loves ya. I AM going to wish you luck, b/c I know how hard it is to get on the right track. How easy it is once you've backslid to just keep sliding. But I also know how necessary it is that we both think about our health & commit to fighting the good fight. I think your positivity will help you immensely. You just have to put Sandi first every once in awhile!!! If you would like to try being diet buddies again, I say we make a pact to seek the other out when she disappears. *another hug* We can do this!
You were one of the first people to reach out to me on this forum. I have seen you offer guidance and support time and time again. I do know how you feel. I'm sorry that you have had such a rough time. Just don't beat yourself up. Give yourself time and slack, I believe half this journey isn't about our weight, it's about how to feed our souls without food. Try to do something that makes you feel good.
Wow! You guys are amazing. Your support is beyond compare!! I can't even believe how awesome you guys all are!!!
I appreciate the tough love. Bring it on baby!!! Maybe that's what I need right now too. (Gently, please).
I copied my post and sent it to my husband, my brother, my mom and my best friend. I needed the other people in my life to know that I was done. Their support was pretty amazing too.
It was nice to see so many of you say "yep, been there, that's what did it for me". Makes me think that there is hope, even for me. I dream about being thin so much, as if it will happen all on it's own.
Yesterday was a good day. I ate just my points and lots of water. My plan is to stick to Weight Watchers Points 100% - allow myself to use flex points but not activity points. Diet Pop when I need a treat and movement daily. Right now I don't even care what I eat, just as long as I am within my points. I know eventually I will need to eat healthier, but right now I am going with the thought that I need to get with the program and limit my consumption. I know the switch to healthier choices will follow. Howie, I saw that happen for you.
I am also going to commit to putting what I eat on the "public" journal thread that Jill created for one month. Why one month? Because I usually get going for a week or two and then start to stray.
I will continue to weigh in at WW weekly, but will look at my progress more on a monthly basis. I think it's great to weigh in once a week, but your true progress shows more over a period of time. Maybe if I look at it that way, I won;t get discouraged when the scale doesn't equal my efforts.
Darlene mentioned my Letter to Jacob. You may notice that I don't have a link to it anymore. I took it off earlier this year. In June it will have been 2 years since I wrote that and my progress was nill. It was now a shameful thing instead of motivating and inspiring (for me). When I get some of this weight off and I feel like I am finally being true to myself, I will put the link back up.
For all of you who said that my post has motivated you to get back on track, nothing could make me happier. As much as I want success for myself, I also want it for all of you.
To those of you who want to be buddies in this whole thing. I welcome all of you. I think the more PM's and E-mails one can get the better. Even if It's just a "How is today?"
Good for you on doing the journal Sandi. I always hated doing a journal but after the first month I got used to it and now I count on it. It really helps me to be able to look back at a week or month and see how I'm doing. I am 100% honest even though I don't always want to be. That really helps too. I can look back at a week and see that is why I gained or lost.
I've come late to this thread, but I, too, am impressed by your candor. I can only echo what other people have said, and let you know that I will be here when you falter or when you want to take that first bite.
I'm a firm believe in Dr. Phil's clean environment philosophy. So do you have a clean environment? Have you gotten rid of all the junk that tempts you? Do you know what it is that stops you from getting what you want? Let us know because between all of us, we can give you help and support whenever you need it.
Sandi,
since I have been back at 3fc I have seen you go through the same struggles as me. I could tell when you were doing well when the ticker was in your siggy and when you weren't it was gone. I know that you like WW and what it can do but have you thought of shopping around for something new to try? Stick with WW but try to find something else that might work better. I've used WW in the past and it did work for me. When I stopped putting myself first, it stopped working. When I started this last time to lose weight I went back to my trusty WW. It did work for a couple of months but I just didn't much care for it anymore. That's when I switched to counting calories. I'm about to switch again and give Body for Life a try.
Way to go Sandi for sticking to your plan yesterday and drinking lots of water. I saw too that your letter was gone. I know how that feels because I've made the same promises to myself with regards to my own son. I didn't want to be the 'fat' mommy or set bad examples and here I am in his formative years and I'm no better now than I was when he was born. I'm trying hard to limit treats for him (and me!), to cut back on his tv time (at one point I think he was probably watching about 5-6 hours a day, now he is at about 2 hours so we are slowly improving) and to get him to be more active and playing outside.
Anyway I'm really glad to see you posting what is going on and what you are doing, I'm certain that it will help immensely. Great idea too letting your family know how you are feeling and what you want to accomplish. They will be a wonderful support system. Take care and we want to see lots of posts!!!
I don't really know how to respond to posts sometimes, but I really can relate to what you're saying. And I want to reiterate that we're here for you whether or not you're losing weight, and I hope that you don't feel ashamed at slip ups, etc. We're not here to judge, we're here to support you! You're a good person and you deserve this for yourself.
Sandi, I know you're struggling right now, and I'm bumping this thread so you can read all these wonderful folks' comments again. You can do this! (((hugs)))
Wow.....that sounded like I was reading one of my own letters in my personal journal. Thank you for the kick in the pants.
I am always going to start tomorrow, I will do it tomorrow, I will start this diet, I will exercise....well here I am still way overweight and unhappy and most of all unhealthy.
My scare lately has been alot of chest pains which have me scared to death, I am going to see the DR tonight. I have had 2 friend pass away recently both in their 40's and I am 39.....wow it is just terrifying me.
I am very fortunate I have a DH who supports me to the end and will cook me my meals , go for walks with me even though he walks all day at work and I sit behind a desk. He wants me to use him as a personal chief and trainner and I think....NO I am going to take him up on that tonight. He is very concerned about my health as both my parents and most of my siblings have heart disease. I won't leave him and the kids without a mommy and wife cause I am too selfish to stay away from McDonalds and parking my a** on the couch when I get home.
Just wait and see, I will be showing weight loss on my signature from now on. Now I am realistic it won't be leaps and bounds, I have hypo thyroid to deal with but that is not why I am fat. I will lose weight, I will get healthier and I will make exercise an important part of my life.
Sorry for jumping in on your thread but wow, just reading all your stories have made me realise it isn't just me but only me who can do something about it.
I am new to 3fatchicks. This is my first post. Sandy, I know only too well how you felt. I started Jenny Craig on January 4, 2004, weighing 283 pounds. I had been watching Dr. Phil with the first Weight Loss Challenge, and I saw them lose 20, then 30, then 40 pounds while I just (if I was lucky) stayed the same (or gained). I made up my mind when I got some unexpected money that I was going to put it toward ME for a change.
Well, I knew I couldn't do it Dr. Phil's way - I needed accountability. I also knew I needed portion control, and I definitely knew I needed to MOVE Jenny Craig worked for me. I now weigh 166 on my way to 150.
Not everyone responds to things the same way, so JC may not be right for you. We have to understand what made us fat and what keeps us fat. For me, it was EXCESS . I wasn't an emotional eater as an opportunity eater! I had to learn to curb the triggers (celebrations, milestones, Friday, being alive - you name it!) and deal with things in non-food ways.
What I am saying basically is that only you can decide what will be the best route for you. And only you can decide when you are ready.
I wish you all the luck in the world. I will be lurking and posting. I recently hit a plateau and thought about stopping. I reasoned that I had lost enough weight and I could just not get by this one point. I shook things up in my exercise, and I've started losing again. Keep at it - we're here for you! LOVE, JILL
Sandi
My eyes are welling up... I am the same way. I am always saying how I need to do this for my kids and how I can't go on like this and how I want to be "hot" again some day. I am WITH YOU.. You and I are gonna do this girlfriend. I am 258. I HAVE TO lose about 125 (holy poop).
I have 3 amazing kids to live for and what example am I setting for them? Am I telling them life isn't worth living? Am I saying that only living till 54 (when my father died from not caring for his diabtes) is acceptable.
THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I WONT HAVE IT ANYMORE..NOT ONE MORE DAY!!
SANDI, THANK U FOR SAVING MY LIFE. YOU HAVE AT THIS MOMENT CHANGED IT FOR ME AND I LOVE YOUR QUOTE AT THE BOTTOM.
But I also know how necessary it is that we both think about our health & commit to fighting the good fight. 
I think your positivity will help you immensely. You just have to put Sandi first every once in awhile!!! If you would like to try being diet buddies again, I say we make a pact to seek the other out when she disappears. *another hug* We can do this! 
Jenny Craig worked for me. I now weigh 166 on my way to 150. 
