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!!!!
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!
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.
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.
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!
Live well, hug a puppy, and don't do anything I shouldn't do, K?
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!
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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. Anything is better than the other option. I just keep reminding myself that I will set myself back if I eat these things.
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.
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.
ZELMA~ 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! 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...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!
300+ And Ready To Try Again....1086
You look great!
Anything is better than the other option. I just keep reminding myself that I will set myself back if I eat these things. 
Casey! glad to have you here 
Casey and Russian doll! Russiandoll WTG on your sucess! Your pics are great!
I hope all of you are having a good weekend!
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!