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, inspiration, and hope. We are aware of the distinct problems that come with weighing over 300 lbs.

We want to invite everyone (roosters as well as chicks!) to join us in our journey. We share laughter and tears, heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations. We also share what works for us and what doesn't.

We know the thread can move very quickly, and that people often make "personal" remarks and keep a number of conversations going. Please feel free to contribute even if you can't make personal comments all the time.

Finally, we also have several extra threads going on simutaneously such as Monthly Challenges, Weekly Weigh-ins, Recipes, Bios, Photos, Exercise, Info for Getting Started and more. Many of these threads are stickied at the top of the page. 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.

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 $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!!

Hey, I just wanted to congratulate ALL the May exercisers -- we exercised OVER 22,000 minutes for May and are on pace to beat our 2007 record!!!

But we can't relax -- we tend to do more in the summer and by November and December we don't do so much!

ALL ARE WELCOME TO CONTRIBUTE! It's easy-- just exercise and record the minutes! Check out the exercise sticky at the top of the page!

Hi everybody

Wow, we really cranked it up those last few days of May! Let's keep it up!

Sharon... bummer that you can't exercise! Have you thought about swimming, and do you have access to a pool? I was able to do that when I could not do anything else. Just a thought.

LOL Heather I should have listened to you... I gained ANOTHER pound this morning.... I don't see how it is possible. I just now stuck the scale into the pantry though so it is not so visible and I have to think and intentionally get it out. LOL I gained a pound for every hour of exercise I did this weekend! What is wrong with this picture? Oh well... not to give up.

Hope everyone has a good Monday.

Crystal, just saw your last post in the exercise thread... good for you for pushing through and breaking your goal even though were sick! It would have been a bummer to fall 7 minutes short, ha. Hope you are feeling better.

I did so much yesterday and was already over my goal I was really wishing it was June 1, ha. But I set my goal low enough that I think I can make it... in the past I always set it outrageously high but with my hip problems I decided I have to tone things down. But perhaps not so much now that I know I can ride my bike LOL.

Go for it everybody! Let's blast those goals!!!

Well...I've had it. I've waited for two months, now the third, for this BC pilled Trinessa to get better and it is not. I was so ill yesterday and surprise surprise...I started taking the stupid white pills in the pack. I loathe them...so yes sick as a dog all day. So, switching to the non-generic to see if that does any god, if not then a visit to my doc begging her to help me get a new pill because I'm done feeling ill!!!

I mean I count the days I was ill last month and I wasn't even able to exercise because of it. So, i didn't even meet my goal or close to it. So, I've totally underestimated how medication can make you feel. It totally screws with your system and it makes me wonder, is this really good for me?? Right now I'm hungry...but I know as soon as I put something in my stomach the nausea will start. *sighs*

So, I'll be at the pharmacist later. I'm starting a juice feast once I get this all sorted. I actually wanted to start yesterday, but I broke my juicer lol. A carrot took the side right off. Luckily we had gotten the extended warranty a year ago so we just replaced it for a new one. Sweews! I'll be hopefully starting my feast tomorrow. It should be interesting as just drinking a bit of the juice I managed to make brought back memories of how much I hate green juice lol. Yet, I want to simplify so I can get a handle on things, learn how to cope, new goals for this feast.

I don't think it will be as long as the last one, but who knows. It should be an adventure! Nothing, but juice...lol. This juice feast my main goal is to get 4 quarts of fresh juice, mostly green, in me. I need to get over my not eating enough routine. I need to eat, especially if I am to go completely raw. Eat eat eat!

I'm ready to throw my scale out the window. It is stuck on a bloated weight...so really I don't know how much I weigh again. The bloating and crap from the pills is just weighing me down. So, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. lol.

I hope everyone is well! I've been MIA dealing with things and blah blah. *HUGS*

Heather, I started off really well posting my exercise minutes, but then slacked off. I went over my May Exercise goal of 1600 minutes by 60 minutes!!

I just went back and saw that I had reported 330 minutes on the thread. Can you add the additional 1330 minutes? I sure want to help push it over the top!!

Jacquie... If you show me where your trash pile is for your scale, I will throw mine in there right along with it!

I could not be happier about sticking to my first ever exercise goal. Like you said Misti, I certainly did not was and to 7 minutes short. It would have driven me nuts! Since I came in in the middle of the month I set my goal to what I thought was moderate, so this month I'm stepping it up a notch, especially since I am going to start the gym.

Unfortunately though, that is being put on hold. I am always feeling the need to put myself after others, but this one I really cannot help. My BF's mother is coming in for a surprise visit. We got the call from her this morning, she is arriving Wednesday.. Wednesday! Who does that?! This woman lives in another state, trips are always well planned out, but apparently she got a great deal on a last minute flight. I will be getting my exercise by working my butt off to get the house up to pair for a MIL inspection.

Jacquie- Is this a new kind of BC for you? All of the different kinds have different levels of hormone, this one may just be an overdose to your system. That was what happened to me when they switched mine to Desogen, it was supposed to be better, but I was always so sick. I would be happy when it was the week of the placebos. When that happens, you know there is an issue! haha. Definitely talk to your doctor and try a different combination. Best of luck.

Hello my Peeps!

Today I am doing something for myself. Totally ME... something I really really enjoy. For those who have been around for a while, yes, I am still taking guitar lessons in blues and bluegrass. For the new people, I learned guitar (self-taught) when I was 10-12 yrs old and everything I play sounds like Peter, Paul and Mary.. hehe. Since picking up the guitar again last year, I've bought myself a couple of cool guitars that I'm totally in love with! The manufacturer (Breedlove) is my favorite guitar brand. They have a tour bus that is on the east coast with some of their high end favs and I get to see them TODAY!!! They are here TODAY! *jumps for joy* They have a converted bus that has a bunch of high end guitars to play and drool over. *hides empty credit card*.

I am taking 4 hours off work to go see the bus and schmooze, play a variety of instruments and take pictures for my fellow GASsers on the guitar forum I frequent (GAS = guitar acquisition syndrome).

I've been dampening feelings so much for the past 6 months, I'm actually having to tell my brain "it's ok to be excited!!!!" and "Happy feelings like this are GOOD!".

BTW, Breedlove used to make the custom guitars for Taylor and became their own unique company in 2001? (not sure date). Awesome sounding instruments for decent prices. Customer service is high as well.

Off to burn a couple hours doing actual work before I meet up with the bus.. w00h00!

Hugs,
Ratkitten

Hi all,

I'm back. I was on vacation last week - visiting my mom and family in my native Canada. Unfortunately, as much as I did fairly well in eating, I didn't get much exercise in and I gained back 2.5 pounds of the 5 I lost the week before but my goal is 1 pound a week so I'm still ahead and am not going to fret about it now and drive me crazy. Tis a new week so time to get cracking on schedule again.

Jacquie, I take Trinessa and have never had any problems like you describe but I understand that they all act differently so I hope you find osmething that works for you and doesn't make you sick.

Crystal - I'm with you...last minute arrivals drive me nuts. Thankfully I live 400 miles from the nearest relative so I know they don't want to come and visit. lol! Congrats on reaching and breaking your goal.

Heather, thanks for the post about the exercise minutes. I read people talking about them but didn't understand. Still trying to navigate my way around here - so I don't see an exercise sticky at the top of the page but I'll keep looking!

Misti - sorry about the pound gain. Shake it off and like you said, don't give up.

I hope everyone has a great Monday. So far, mine sucks but moving forward!

Dani

Misti - Hehe...yeah I should just chuck it. I have a bittersweet relationship with my scale. I love it when it says I'm thinner, yet I hate it when it mocks me with weights I disagree with! haha I argue with it! LOL

Gekster - I'm new to the whole BC thing. I was prescribed Ortho and they gave me Trinessa. At the time I didn't realize it was the generic. The moment I took the pills I started feeling ill, in fact that first month was ****. It seems like when I get to the white pills in the pack I get incredibly sick and then it seems to get a little better as the month goes on. What I'm wanting to try now is the non-generic as I read that there are a lot of women who have trouble with Trinessa, but not the Ortho. Of course it could be that neither of these pills are right for me. I'll be going back to my OBGYN in a month or two, probably more like August because I want to see about Ortho. I do like the fact that when my hormones start up, I'm not going through the PMDD stuff anymore. I get a little quiet, but not depressed. I just don't like the illness. I'll ask my OBGYN about the overdose of hormone. Perhaps that is it! Ty for the info!

Dani - I wish I was like you with it. I mean it is cheaper, but this is the start of the third month and it is back to me being ill in full swing. I just am hoping the Ortho (non-generic) is better. I won't know until next month though...I read that women have to find the pill that works for them.

****
Turns out I have to keep taking the Trinessa for this month and then switch for next month, cost of the meds and insurance. So, I'll do that then. I can cope one more month. Hopefully things will be better with the Ortho.

I said, "I'll just be in a bad mood this month" haha...

I see a possible end in sight, then a doctor's visit, so weeeee...

Sue: Come on now doll, You know that your body does funny things with weight. Maybe your body is trying to make some muscle and needs the extra water weight to produce it. Hugs.

Crystal: Have fun in the strength training class.

Sharon: Thanks sweetie for the comments about my photos. I think you should do what the Dr. ordered you to do but.... look for a physical therapy pool or something that you can do some water walking. It isn't hard on you and you can workout good. That is how I started when I first started exercising.

Heather: Wow, exciting news on the exercised thread. Pumps me up to try harder. I love it!

Jacquie: So sorry that your meds are making you so ill. Hugs.

Rat: Yipppppppeeeee! I hope you have a blast today looking/drooling on the guitars.

Dani: Welcome back. I hope today turns into a fantastic day.

Well, I had the worst headache, sinus type, yesterday so I spent much of the afternoon sleeping, laying on our bed. Today, my body is sore from that. lol. I am planning on starting a food diary again today. If it goes in my mouth it goes on the page! I am planning on exercising as much as possible and doing everything I can to get to my next goal! I'm tired of being stuck here. Joel thinks maybe my body is done losing weight. He says he can feel all my bones. I knkow there is stil some fat on my tummy area that I can get rid of. I truly don't think that anyone can have as much extra weight in skin as I do right now without some of it being fat that needs to go.

Hope you all have a wonderful week and stay op, drink your water and move your body.

Blessings,
Annie

Jacquie,

I was on Ortho and liked it but it was more money so I switched to Trinessa. I have been lucky to not have had a bad experience with either. I hope you find that Ortho works well for you. Good luck!

Dani

G'morning! I'm SO sorry I'm so short on time to post. I hate not having internet at home! I miss reading all the posts!

I've stayed well enough on track to have lost 9 pounds for the month of May, and I was thrilled enough about that. But it just struck me - I've been trying SO hard to get back OP since Christmas, and haven't been able to keep it together for more than a few days without losing my mind and binging. I just realized, this means that I've stayed focused for a month or more, and even when I've had something special or off plan, I've taken it in stride and kept my senses. This is especially meaningful to me because in May I had my 49th birthday, am going thru a change of bosses, and have had at least 4-5 parties and holiday temptations to survive. Good grief! I'm ecstatic! (Patting self frantically on the head.)

WI at TOPS is Wednesday, and I can hardly wait! Just feeling this successful keeps me planning my upcoming meals enthusiastically, and keeps me stronger when faced with temptations like.... waffle fries from Chic-fil-a! (Yes I enjoyed about 3, but then was able to stop.)

I know intimately that heart wrenching feeling where I WANT to lose wt, I WANT to get on track, but I just keep failing. I also know this feeling - invincable - that can evaporate in a flash, but feels SO good when I've earned it. I want to hang on to this feeling every minute of every day, but that takes effort and planning. Luck has little to do with it.