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 just started my journey to being healthy yesterday. It is kind of comforting to know that there are other 300+ people out there facing the same concerns. I am dedicating my energies to losing this weight....for my health, my heart and my soul. It may be a long journey but I took the first steps already ...closer to my goals. Thank everyone for their support.

G'morning my Peeps, *yawn* Bah Monday

Welcome Dap!

I had a great time camping with the dogs. The dogs were pretty good, but the girl dog has a hard time when I leave her to use the restroom - I even had my sister there and Buffy still got upset. A great time was had by all! I probably didn't drink enough fluids, but I tried. I think I might have a UTI and will be going by the doc's office to be checked out.

Lindy, please get well soon!

Hugs to all,
Ratkity

Welcome Dap!

Lindy, feel better soon! *hugs*

Rat - WOOO Camping with dogs...awesome! Hope nothing is wrong and hope your check up goes well.

***************
Right now I'm icing my shin..i have one of those shin splints...whatever that is. However, I refuse to let it slow me down anymore, so I took the weekend off from moving my butt to exercise dvds and today I did my workout, almost got through the cario section lol i'm so weak, but didn't do any hops or blah blah. Woo..icey.

I'm not very hungry today...which is weird...you would expect a person of my size to be hungry all the time, but I'm not today. Well...now that I'm thinking of it I'm hungry...(hmmmmmm) lol.

I hope everyone is well! Miss you all. *HUGS*

Howdy Monday..

Lindy: Still sending HUGS to you!!

Dap: WELCOME!!! You are not alone here...we are here for you!

Rat: I had a UTI once and OMG it was horrible!

Jacquie:Glad to see you post..we miss ya!

As for me: Interesting thing at work. They have decided to post a cordinator position to be filled before aug 6th. They are combining 2 depts. We are all in the same room, but will now be under the same person. We are encouraged to apply. I know one other person in the room will apply and she has a good chance. I think I might apply as well. I gotta see how much the pay is. See if it is worth my while.

My results for the stomach emptying test were normal! SO NOW WHAT!!!! Ugh the Dr is suppose to call em tomorrow. I really have no clue what is going on.

Is it from my galbladder removal?
My hypothyroidism?
Being Obese?
Cancer?

Who knows...all I know is I eat and I get full REALLY quick! And I feel yucko most days.

Well I am off here to go to my aunts..be good all

Where is everyone? I've been feeling down so I stayed away for a bit from posting; I'm still irritated, angry (for no real reason) and fed up but thought I ought to pop on.
We took the boys to Alton Towers on Saturday, walking for 7+ hours, my poor feet! It is a bit like Disneyland but smaller, I only went on two rides coz I hate heights, being upside down or spun around, the boys had a great time except Aiden cried coz he was too small for a lot of the scarier rides.
I'm Op & exercising but SO fed up wit the one pound GAIN I had last week, no idea how or why it happened.
Dink I TRULY hope your health improves REALLY quickly, we don't want you on dialysis (sp?) or in hospital but we want you on here telling us how great you're doing! xxxxxxxxxxxx
Pink where are you? Neon, ditto! Valerie are you lurking? Has anyone heard from any of them?
BTW I'm on facebook & if anyone wants to add me send a message & I'll confirm you, at the moment I need (& will give) all the support I can.xxxxxxx
xxxxxx sharon
ps Has anyone seen biggest Loser, that poor woman who lost her husband, little daughter & TWO WEEK OLD BABY in a car crash, I cried for her. No wonder she gained weight, I would have killed myself in that position.

Lindy - sends healing thoughts - keep us posted!

cyn- I promise I went thru the exact same thing you are going thru after having my gallbladder removed. I had all the tests, all the scans and they ruled it IBS. IT went on for years and now is sooooooooo much better and all I did was start taking fiberchoice tablets daily. I truly can not tell you how much better I feel.I also avoid softdrinks( even diet). I hardly ever have an issue anymore and when i do I can relate it back to eating some grease or a softdrink. I have a presciption that they gave me to calm my insides and stop the spasms but you know what I havent gotten it filled in over a yr now. Please try fiberchoice or another type of fiber daily.

Im still struggling with eating...not sure why its such a battle right now. Hope everyone has an OP day!!

Cyn - BF had the same issues as well. It is a common problem as dgramie has mentioned. He still has IBS related problems, but I think it is because of his dietary choices as he doesn't eat right. When he does eat right, meaning no soft drinks or fake sugars and such he feels better. I believe he has done fiberchoice or something like that as well! It is hard to find a balance, especially with the weight loss as your body is constantly changing. :/ I still haven't found my balance. *hugs*

Voodoo - I get really mad with weight gain, so with my recent loads of weight gain I was pissy pissy pissy. It can get you down for sure... yet you rock so yay!

******
Well had a family visit last night, which was kind of a rough day as I was in a "mood" and such. Cooked and prepared food in the morning, made a new recipe basil vinaigrette potato salad (served a bit warm) and that went over really well. Did my cabbage soy/ginger salad and that was the fav apparently. I barely have leftovers...and my artichoke dip which seems to also be a fav, even the kids like it. Well two of the kids...the other one has veggie phobia lol.

I've been eating really well and getting up and moving despite my shin issue. It is funny because I was talking to my BF's Dad and I said I had a shin splint and he said "runners usually get that" and I said "hmmm...I'm not sure how I got one" and he said "did you change your routine?" i said "yes, i wasn't exercising then I started doing Walk Away the Pounds" and he goes "OH! Yeah okay, yeah that is how you got it" lol. So, that was interesting as I had NO Idea he would know what that was and furthering that didn't think that could have caused it. I guess with my not being very active for so long and jumping into things I sort of irritated the area. So, I'm going to just do Walk Away the Pounds (I try to do the 3 mile, but can only make it 1 and a half miles in) a few times a week then and rotate my workout. Bah...me and exercise...we don't get along! lol.

I think I'm one of those people who would rather have a machine and just hop on that. Yup.

Anyhow, busy day today. *HUGS* Hope everyone is well.

Greetings my Peeps!

Well, I spent the morning at the doctor's office. I am not drinking my 64oz of fluids and got myself a nice UTI. I'm on 7 days of cipro. Meanwhile, one of my vitamin labs came back late and I didn't get the result. My vitamin K is low. I had a feeling it was because of some bruising I was getting. I ordered extra vitamin K and will start getting that beefed up. The doc was really impressed at my 60 point drop in cholesterol after 3 months and weight loss.

Jac, I hope the shin splint goes away. I hate those things. Sounds like your food was a hit! Despite your wacky family, I know you are appreciated for how you cook and prepare cool foods. I was in a mood yesterday and ate most anything not nailed down. I think I am better today though.

Sharon, hang in there. I get disgusted too at weight gain. I gained 3 lbs during TOM and it's still not going away.

Lindy, how are you doing? Please update us!!

GGG, how's the pool and the pooches? You are doing awesome with your POP days. Buffy got a heat rash and I had to cut all the fur off her tummy. I need to check her tummy again tonight since it's been rainy out today. Charley's ears probably need another treatment too. I have a new kitty - he's 3 years old and his name is Boss. He is a wee too interested in Buford, the parrot LOL. Charley growls at Boss, and Boss hisses back. Boss likes Buffy because she came over to him and licked his feet when he was sitting on my stool. It's nice having a sweet kitty in the house.

Deb, I have concluded that food will always be a battle. Yesterday, while I did well with my fat intake (I have to keep it 50% of calories or I get constipated), my protein and carbs gram intake were reversed.. ugh. Hang in there!!! I understand the struggles, but you are doing so so well.

Cyn, did you start that probiotic? The extra fiber people have suggested is wonderful as well. I hope you get that sorted soon. I think I mentioned this, but I had chronic runs (still have gallbladder) prior to surgery, but since I've been off wheat - I run on the constipated side. Go figure?!

Catherine, how's the repairs going on the apt? Are you taking any classes this summer?

Annie, I am thinking about you and sending prayers your way.

Where are all our new people? I see you, lurkers!! I know you are there. Special hugs to you.

Hugs,
Ratkity

PRAISES AND PROGRESS....

I have so much to be thankful for - and that includes all of your kind thoughts.

My kidney doctor said my kidneys have been making small improvements for the past 48 hours. We've dropped from a 4.9 creatine to 3.5. When I came to the hospital my creatine was .9! Anyway, he is cancelling dialysis to see if my kindeys will continue to recover on their own. I still feel really sick and we are tweaking blood pressure and other meds i had to go off of due to kidneys, but I feel so blessed.

I got to go to a regular room tonight instead of the ICU where I lived for 5 days.

I have met some really nice people here. It has been my goal to bring a smile or encourage as many people as I can each day even when I feel nauseated or ill. One nurse told me it is okay for me to just be sick and let others take care of me....hmmmm....... something to think about.

I hope all of your challenges and illnesses and weight plateaus will be of short duration.

RAT - congrats on the new furr baby.

OOps, I just bent my arm and made my IV bleed - ut oh.

Love to all,
Lindy

Lindy: glad things are improving..keep us posted

Thanks all for the advice.

I bet in the end it will be IBS..although that SUCKS atleast I will have some sort of an answer.

For so many years I abused my body..just taking it for granted..now I gotta get healthy again.

Found out the hospital NEVER did an abdominal CT scan..only a chest one.! My GI Dr was pissed. She said they should have done that before anything. So I go on Tuesday to have one done.

I started reading a book by Joyce Meyer..about weight loss. I am not a bible thumping person...not that that is bad..but I really enjoy listening to her. This book is really good!!! If you want something to inspire you,...get it. I got mine from the library. I love her stories and how she talks plain simple to you.

Well It is FRIGGIN hot here in arizona...gotta go get a shower before bed.

Everyone be good...stay motivated

proud to report a POP day yesterday! I can do this!!!

Debbie WTG!!!! SO pleased for you, it does get easier (apart from the 'bad' days when everything goes wrong! lol)xxxxxxx
Dink SO glad things are getting better AND that you're keeping your and others' spirits up. xxxxxxxx
Ratkitty, a NICE cat? I bet Buford & the pups are in *SHOCK* lol! I hope you're enjoying your new pet & not feeling bad abot Rakittyxxxxx Hope your 'water' problems get better soon, vitamin K, is that a clotting thingy? I know babies have to have it given to them shortly after birth. Stay well! xxxxx
Cyn I agree with Ratkitty, try cutting out ALL wheat, just for a week, or try low carb & see how you feel,TMI I find, like Ratkitty, that my 'runs' turn to 'normal' or a bit constipated when I cut bread & pasta out. You don't have to give up completely, I have a 'carb-fest' on Fridays but stay away the rest of the week. xxxxxxx
Well I'm exercising like crazy, last week I had a GAIN of 1lb, this week there WILL be a loss! I've been Op food & do8ing AT LEAT 30 or even 70 mins of exercise each day, weights, Gazelle, ball exercises AND aerobics (with wrist weights). I feel better, not so many aches in my joints and a bit 'buzzy' from the endorphins, just hope I can keep it up.
xxxxx sharon

Right back atcha RK!!