300+ Weekly Thread #1259
 

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.

Wow, I forgot it was Monday and we start a new thread! It's been a crazy busy day.

I tried to walk around the parking lot at work to get outside and get some exercise. I forgot to time it. I did put a new battery in my pedometer. I lost the last pedometer I had gotten from Johns Hopkins. No clue where it went. Oh well.

Annie! I was just thinking of you. I'm glad you are healing (albeit slowly). Don't be such a stranger, ok?

Hugs,
Ratkity

Rat: Hi there sweetie pie. I am sorry for leaving you wondering how I am. Just having one issue after another and hoping to stop all the health issues. :)

I will try to continue to check in here more often. I sure miss you all.

blessings,
Annie

Annie: I am glad your back..take it slow. everyone thinks galbladder surgey is a piece of cake. For me it was not the case. (HUGS)

For me: just packing and hopefully moving the 28th. That is the plan anyhow

Happy Monday Heather, Ratkity, Annie, Cyn and all others :) Hope everyone is having a great start to their week!

Annie - Hope you feel better and are back to 100% soon :hug:

Ratkity - What's this "pedometer" you speak of? Is that one of those things that tracks how many steps you take? Sounds like a good idea! How many steps should one try to get in in the course of a day? Sorry for all the questions, just curious :D

Things are pretty good here. I got my satellite cable moved today so I was able to rearrange my living room! I have to have some change every now and then although I'm wishing our couch was still in MS where it came from. We bought it from a friend and it's just not working out but it will have to do until we can do better :) Looking forward to getting our taxes back this week hopefully! Got big plans for that money :D Anyway, that's about all the big news from NC! :) Have a great week!

Annie-I was in the hospital for an entire week after having my gallbladder out. Then I went back 3 days after that for a few more days. Of course that was for a nose bleed, but it was related. You take as long as you take. It's not a race.

Cyn: I hope that your move is a good one and not something you ar sad about :)

Stella: Hi there, nice to meet you. I laughed when I read about you moving your furniture around. Our current living room is super tiny and it makes it hard to move the furniture around but I manage every few months :) Hope your taxes money comes very soon!

Catherine: Thanks sweetie. I hope you are doing fabulous in school and at the pool. I am hoping to make myself go back this week to the pool even if it is to walk around the water. I love the water so much and I have been super afraid and having panic attacks everytime I go near it. I haven't been it any "swimming" water since my heart attack and now I think I have a mental blockage about it. Pray for me that I can be brave and get back on the horse so to speak.

Blessings to you all,
Annie

Greetings Peeps!

Thin, yup a pedometer is a cheap thingie that measures your steps and your distance. It can measure calories used. Depends on how fancy you want it. Of course, it doesn't help when you drop it in the toilet. Now I need to find the other one I lost! lol.

I got my protein to 132g yesterday. So hard to do and keep carbs low!

Annie, glad to see you again. Ut oh about the pool and potential water phobia. I'm afraid I was a marine animal of some sort in another life and can't fathom (pun) why anyone would be afraid of water. Now I'm sitting here thinking of water puns! "Just knock me over with a wave" or um, "Don't cry over washed away sand castles". I think I'm getting metaphors mixed up. Get back on that water horse! :)

Hugs,
Ratkity

I posted this in the previous weekly thread... then the tread got closed in the next post, so I am going to repost it here...

I am new here, but wanted to say hello and reading some of your stories already I have found VERY inspiring... so far since the beginning of the year I have lost 41#, but with a toddler in the house and a full time job, it is hard to get time to workout. I generally try to get 45 minutes a night in on the elliptical we have. Diet has fallen squarely on my shoulders as I am the only one who cooks and does the grocery shopping. My husband is also trying to lose weight, but holds me accountable for how many calories he is getting. Stress is about killing me and I have no time to do the things I enjoy if I want to get my workout in. So I am hoping to get continued motivation from all the wonderful posters here.

I hope to get to know you all!

Still at 307-308lbs. Sigh. :(

Annie my recommendations for getting back in the water include a new bathing suit, and some type of new water toy. I love the throw sticks. I might be making a trip down to Idaho either this summer or next. If necessary, I can drive down and throw you in. We could play drowner/rescuer.

Welcome Amy!!!

Catherine, Annie isn't a golden retriever. lol... that's the first thing I thought of when you mentioned throw sticks. I think we should all drive to Annie's and have a massive game of Marco-Polo!!

Hugs,
Ratkity

Well I've come back as I hadn't been convinced that I was doing well, I started back on the calorie counting and have decided to concentrate on that and leave the exercise for later, it's certainly seems to be working I'm down 5lbs from last time. Definitely does up the self esteem!

Swimming! I would love to go swimming but it's closing in on Winter now :(

Have a great day all!!

Welcome to the group Amy!!! Jump right in and chat a way!

Annie: I hope you find the strength to get back into water. I LOVE the pool! I think you have to to live in arizona lol.

As for me: Trying to get packing done. We are down to the "can't pack yet cause we still need it" stuff. ;(

I weighed in today and......................I am under 300 for the 1st time in at least 5 years!!!!!!!! woohoooooo

congratulations :) that is awesome! :)

'Morning everyone! I think I may have posted my Monday update on the old thread. Oh well! lol

Just wanted to share that although I had a small gain this week - 1#, last week's eating was awful as usual whenever I get back on the wagon - I feel amazing this morning. Last night we went to the YMCA and treaded water for 45 minutes. My knees feel great, both the moderately arthritic one and the newly replaced one. I can feel it today in my upper back muscles but otherwise its good. My energy level is good, my eating has been good and on-plan for two days straight, and we're going back to the gym tonight for strength/cardio. I feel really in the groove right now and its such a gooood feeling :)

Did I share my motivation? We're getting married August 28th! Also, three weeks before that my FBIL is getting married in LA and I'm feeling the fitting in the airplane seat thing - very stressful to think about!

Have a lovely day everyone :)

WTG Go MEL!!!! Isnt that an amazing feeling to reach such a milestone!!!

Cyn - I hope it works out for your boy. It is too bad the parents of the girl are so controlling, that will come to bite them later on. They'll, hopefully learn, that they can't control everything in their daughter's life.

Annie - *HUGS* Hope you are healing and doing okay.

Mel - WOOHOO! Awesome news!

Amy - WELCOME! :D

Angela - Congrats on the getting married soon! WOO! :D

*******
Hey all...:D Just getting over some family visit stress...goodness...I don't look forward to these visits and apparently I'm not the only one. There are two people who stress everyone out, the grandparents. I really don't get them, but anyhow they caused a lot of trouble this year with my BF and I. I finally said something before this visit when we were told "not to bother that much with gifts for the nephews because they got the birthday boy a lot of gifts." Kind of a long story, but to make it short, these people like to control everything, even gift giving and they do not like it when our nephews like our gifts. The boys' had their birthdays and we missed out on one, actually we were EXCLUDED by my BF's parents because they basically went behind our backs and celebrated without us. Fast forwarding to yesterday, we celebrated BOTH our nephews birthdays (since we missed the younger one we did both yesterday) and they basically tried to control how many gifts, if any, we gave them! So, we were a bit upset!

Anyhow, we got the boys a gift each and then a party game (magnetic darts) for all three kids to play. I also made them little treat bags, all three kids, and decorated while their mom went out and got a cake for the celebration. Then I had drawn up some illustrations, monsters and dinosaurs, and all three kids sat with me while they colored and I taught them how to draw, well I taught two of the kids, one is too small and she just colored. So, the kids were very happy and proudly showed everyone their coloring and drawings.

It was a stressful visit though...god...it makes me so upset at times. My BF's Dad is so controlling with every aspect. He tries to control the friggin' OVEN even though us WOMEN are busy COOKING for everyone. "The oven is on! THE OVEN IS ON! *opens the oven* NOTHING IS IN IT! NOTHING IS IN IT!" It goes on and on and on and on...goodness. EVERY SINGLE VISIT! "SOMETHING'S IN THE OVEN! SOMETHING'S IN THE OVEN!!!!" You would think there was a war going on in there with how much of a fuss this man makes!

Not to mention he won't, well both of them at times, won't let me like take care of the kids. I was standing in the kitchen doing some things and my younger nephew wanted more apple juice. NO BIG DEAL! I'm not a MORON...I CAN DO THIS! So, I go to get him more and my BF's dad RUSHES into the kitchen to W A T C H me...and then CRITIQUE me...oh my god! *sighs*

So yeah...I need some downtime today. The kids had a blast though...that is all that matters. I made a raw food tart, veggie casserole, mango salsa, guacamole, roasted garlic...it went over well. We brought back very little.

I hope everyone is well. I'm eating okay, but need to get my butt moving. Today though...I'm very sore and tired and need a downtime day.

*HUGS*

Hi everyone..new here. Well I joined a while ago but didn't last very long the first time lol This time I am doing Weight Watchers online and I am a lot more determined to keep it up. I started Monday and so far so good.

I am soooo freaking sick of being fat. I have been fat since age 5. I turned 26 in December and it really freaked me out that I am on the downward slope to 30 and have not gotten to do most of the fun stuff you do in your 20's. I hardly have any friends anymore because I stopped wanting to go out in public and do anything with them. My only child is in kindergarten and wants me to come to class parties and things and I have not stepped one foot in his school all year except for an after school parent teacher conference because kids are mean and I don't want to hear them call me fat or tease my son about having a fat mom.

Maybe that sounds silly but I have been depressed for a long time about my weight and it turned into anxiety after I had my son and gained a lot more weight. I drive an extra 20 minutes away from town to grocery shop to lessen the chance of seeing anyone I know. It's gotten pretty bad.

I am really a VERY social person so I am just sick sick sick of staying home alone hiding lol

Hello, I'm new here also and wanted to just put my toe in and say Hi tonight. :D

It's late and my head hurts and for some reason I am feeling shy this go around. The hows of weight loss are no mystery, but the actual doing it and sticking with it have been the biggest challenge for me. I just need a place where I can talk...and feel safe to share. I hope this is IT! It's time. :carrot:

I'm married with 4 kids...3 of which are teenagers in high school...and the youngest is in 4th grade. My oldest is our only daughter and she is a couple months from graduating. The lack of work for both myself and my husband has been so stressful and I think you can guess what that means...stress eating...yes. I am just feeling so out of control right now...thus the stress headache.

I hope this is the beginning of a new start and of new friendships.

Welcome back and welcome!!! I think you'll find this is a supportive environment!!! We understand the issues you're going through, for sure!!

Morning Ladies!!

Hope everyone's week is great or gettin better :)

Gotta get ready to go workout and take care of grams so I thought I would share a quick NSV......My "bloomers" have started to get a little saggy so I bought some yesterday. I got brave and bought 2 sizes smaller than what I have been wearing and when I tried them this morning, they fit PERFECTLY!!! I was so excited! It does take much to excite me anymore :D

Hope you all have a great day!

Stress has been getting the better of me all week... my husband's job has been in limbo and even though I am the primary bread-winner, we desperately need his income. So he goes in to talk to his boss in 45 minutes. The union lawers assure him that it shouldn't be a big deal, but until it is all swept under the rug... I can't help but be stressed to no end. Keep your fingers crossed for us. I could really use a run right now to burn off some of my nervous energy, but alas I must work.

ETA... and just to add insult to injury it is TOM

All is good... he still has a job. *sigh of relief*

*phew* Yay Amy!!!

Welcome to the new folks. I'm glad you are here and I am looking forward to getting to know you.

Remember, we are here for all support - the good and the bad. If you are having a bad day, don't isolate!! (um, that would be a "do as I say, not as I do" hehe).

Hugs,
Ratkity

Happy Thrusday all,

Rat: You are soo funny.

Amy: Welcome and congrats on the -41 so far.

Million: Hang in there that ole scale will eventually budge or your pants will get bigger.

Catherine: Oh I hope you do have to come to Idaho and we can meet up!

Casey: Woo hoo and congrats on -5. WElcome.


Cyn: I am such a water baby. I think that is why it is freaking me out so much that I haven't been back. I grew up in CA surfing daily and water sking etc. So it is a big deal for me to not be in the water. TOM showed up but soon enough I will head back to the pool.

Mel: wooo hoo on being under 300 pounds! way to go.

Angela: sounds like you have some plans and you are doing fantastic to get to goal for those plans. Great job.

Jacquie: Ugh family! Hugs.

Newself: Welcome

Pinky: WElcome!

Stella: lol hold on to your bloomers. lol.

WEll, things are going okay here. TOM is horrid but I think a lot of that has to do with the Blood thinners I am on (sorry if TMI) I have been super tired but I have done my 2 miles of walking every day and I am so happy about that.

Bible study tonight and we are the "snack bringers" I need to get going and make some right now.

Hugs and blessings to you all,
Annie

Had a great work out in the pool today. The Thursday instructor is fantastic. Himself was wobbly after. He's doing the sleep clinic tonight to see if he has apnea, so he should be sleepy enough.

Thanks for the Welcomes everyone :)
Congrats to Mel, such a big milestone! WTG!
Amy, "PHEW!" is right. That's a big stresser off your shoulders now...i know how that feels.

I've done really good today, Day 1 babysteps happening. Went and got myself some cheap little notepads that I can keep in my purse or pocket and keep track of calories. I've done the WW points many times (with varied success), but never really just counted calories. It's a good changed up. And, at the same time I'm trying to eat what's good for me. lol

I've been surfing the web for a good diet program that keeps track of calories and weight tracking. I found several candidates (Fitday, Weight Commander, and Weight-by-Date), but I think I'm just going to stick with paper and pen for now. It all seems like double work at this point and I don't need extra stuff on my plate. HA! Unintentional pun ;) But, any input on these programs is welcome! The main thing I'd like to have is something that saves your home recipes calorie/nutritional count so I don't always have to look up each ingredient when I eat something (for instance my tuna salad).

Last thing on my mind tonight is this broken foot I've got. I am such a clutz...even more-so with so much extra weight and double even more-so whenever I start a new workout program. You can pretty much guarentee that life is gonna throw me an injury challenge (as I like to call them) to derail me from my new exercise routine. This one is a doosie. I don't know quite how to workout with a broken foot. It's been 6 or 7 weeks and I am doing much better, but still limping a bit when I walk. Ugh...I'm sorry to go on and on about it...its just be a huge frustration for me. My mind is so amped up to get going, but my body doesn't want to let me. I could work through the pain, but I worry I will do more damage.
If I must confess, I DO have a swimming pool and I could be swimming. It's a bit cold even though I live in FL. I guess I should just do it! eeek

Thought I would stop in and check in. Im back on track and have been all month.Im feeling good again. Now I just need to relose the lbs I gained back.It is happening and I will be back to the 90lb mark in no time...got to get back to 80 first though...lol

Pinky,

A couple of things that have worked so far for me. First TheDailyPlate is a great site for keeping track of calories! And as far as calories in things you make at home, what I have been doing is I add up ALL the ingredients as I put them in. Then I total the calories for the entire thing (in your case the tune salad)... then decide how many calories I am willing to spend on whatever it is and divide the dish accordingly (zip lock bags are awesome for this). Say I total something as 1000 calories but I am only wanting to spend 250 on it... I will seperate it out into 1/4ths (approximately) and zip lock bag up each portion and use a sharpie on the bag and write down how many calories are in that bag. takes about 5 mintues more to do this, and then I have several meals I can count on! Just an idea.

Also, as important as exercise is, keep in mind (I have heard this time and time again) that diet is 90% of weight loss. So hang in there while your foot is healing and go to town on the water... the more you can flush out your system the better!

Scale isn't being nice to me this week... I was down .5 earlier this week and was up the next two days... I am sure stress from earlier this week (as well as TOM) is a major factor, so I am trying to hang in there. My mom is doing the relay for life tonight at one of the local high school stadiums, I think I might go tonight and run/walk with her. I am not sure how much she will be able to do since she just had chemo on Tuesday, maybe I can take her place and do the walking for her if she isn't up for it.

Everyone have a great weekend!

I would just like to say that we aren't really klutzes. It's just as we gain or lose weight, our center of gravity changes. That can mess you up. I've found that I'm a bigger klutz when losing weight than gaining weight. I guess because I move more on the way down than on the way up.

Amy - I totally agree, I've had great luck with TheDailyPlate. I love the idea of adding up the total dish and then dividing it into approximate portions. Great way to make use of the tool :) I also set up "meals" for myself on it, things that I eat all the time, so I don't always have to reenter it. Enjoy the relay for life tonight, it's such a great event.

Hello everyone - My name is Barb and I am a newby. Yes, I too have lots of weight to lose - I was on Atkins for 3 weeks and lost 15 lbs. I did not think it was enough variety and not really healthy.....so I've switch to WW points system. I was on that several years ago so still have old books. I have forgotten many things and it is a challange to keep going. I hope to hear from all of you and help me stay motivated - Thanks :carrot:

Welcome itstime2.... I am a newby too... Something to be wary of... when you go off of a low carb diet like atkins you can tend to gaina few pounds very quickly. WW is a great program, but give your body a few weeks to level off after exiting the low-carb diet. I am personally just making healthy food and watching my calories (WW for the lazy and time-strapped!)

Look forward to getting to know you.

Thanks for the tips Amy! I love the idea of dividing up the meal into portions and labeling the bags. I am the zippie bag queen around here! LOL I do this for so many other things, this will work nicely.
Enjoy the Relay for Life and seeing your Mom. I'll cheer for you from here!

Catherine, Ok I will stop saying I'm a clutz....but I really was never that coordinated when I was young and slim either. OY!

Speaking of...my 10 year old twisted his ankle at soccer practice last night (as I have done a million times) and now he's on crutches! It is always something around here. Poor kiddo.

Today I woke up with a fever, so I'm moving in slow motion. Everyone else in the family has had it, so I guess it was my turn. I'm taking my daughter to prom dress shop tonight...we have an appt. at a bridal boutique out of town. I am praying they have something in her size that she likes. She's gotten larger than me :( ...but that is another story I am sure I will talk about later.

Have a great Friday night everyone :)

Most bridal shops will have larger sizes. If the one you go to does not try David's bridal if you have one around they have a TON of stuff you can buy off the rack is larger sizes.

AmyMW-great to hear your tips - I have gained a couple of pounds this week and was pretty discouraged.
Pinky - When it rains, it pours - I know how that goes - how long is your son going to be on crutches? Bad time for a 10 year old.

Hi I'm back....had a 'difficult' week. TOM came early..hubby at my parent's house... I need to see my Dr coz the HRT doesn't seem to be working properly. I should have weighed in on Friday but ate a few potato cakes (I'm on low carb) coz of TOM cravings so I didn't weigh in. BUT I'm back! I must start exercising again and now it's warmer I'll find drinking water MUCH easier too. My Dad was released from hospital yesterday (x4 bypass) and my hubby is staying til Sunday to help my Mum out with him. The Jeep is costing ANOTHER £500, it cost £400 to get through the MOT ( a yearly test-Ministry of Transport- to test roadworthiness) so we are tightening our belts financially.....
Anyway WELCOME newbies...... I will try to catch up on you all soon.
xxxxxxsharon

welcome to all the new members,
Annie good to see you hon have been praying for you. I was born under the fish sign and I guess it was meant to be I love the water.

I am proud of you all. We have been having storms here in Missouri thus my absence for two days and looks like another one is rolling in so I better log out and unplug the comp have a good week all.