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 simultaneously 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've been home from the beach since the weekend, but it's taken me a while to post. I'm afraid it was a bitter-sweet Tday week. The good stuff is that BikerMa and I got to ride a couple 14 mile rides together in the beautiful weather there! The sunsets were amazing, as per normal. Old TOM reared his head at the end of the week and I was trying not to envision hiding bodies at some point. The food was good and I did fabulous staying away from wheat products (that give me painful gas and bloating). The temptations were there. All the wrong foods were out all the time!
The bitter part has been hard to tell anyone, so I wrote it in story form. As some of you know, I write short stories for release. Get out the tissues.
ANOTHER THANKSGIVING AT THE BEACH
It's been a family tradition for over two decades. Once a year my parents and my three siblings all get together with spouses and children, in-laws, nieces and nephews at the beach in one large rental house. On an average, there are 13 to 15 people there at any given time. Our favorite beach is at the Outer Banks of NC and our favorite time of year for this get-together has been Thanksgiving week. The fishing folks go surf fishing, bicycle riders have the run of the empty neighborhoods and every night there are board games or an ongoing puzzle laid out to keep everyone occupied. Add in the football games or children's movies blaring on the TV in the background and multiple people cooking various things in the kitchen. Stir in a little family bickering and unpredictable weather and the week-long chaos is nearly complete. There's never a dull moment with all that energy around. Even the year the nor'easter took out the power on the island for several days and the big entertainment was watching cars trying to navigate through a two foot puddle that formed in front of the neighborhood. The "swamp house" rental has its own set of stories to go with the name. Each year and each house has its stories.
This year was going to be the last time in the big blue rental house. Our family has diminished in size and the recession has made us all seek cheaper alternatives for lodging. We'd spent the last three Thanksgivings in the blue house and I was sorta sad to bid it goodbye.
My three sisters and I each cook a special meal one night during the week and everyone helps put together Thanksgiving dinner. All other meals are deemed "every man for himself". The two dishwashers in the kitchen are constantly in use. Being hungry is something that never happens during beach week! There is an overabundance of food, cakes, pies and various other snacks. Everyone cooks their most favorite recipes so gaining weight is par for the course.
The first night I pulled up and started unloading coolers and boxes full of food, my bicycle and its accessories, multiple games, etc; it's amazing all the things that can be loaded in a little Rav4. Out of the darkness, I heard the loudest meowing since I adopted Bossman kitty (he's a talker). At first, it seemed there were kitties all around meowing for food. Turns out it was one little gray girl kitty about four months old. She was fast and savvy, never being close enough to touch, but knowing that coolers had food (or fish bait). I tossed her some pre-cooked bacon from my cooler which she ate on the run while I ducked and weaved around parked cars to try to get a good look at her in the dark. She was just dark gray with a wary, yet sweet little face. I sighed and tried not to think of Bossman and the rest of my fuzzykids at home with the pet sitter. I idly wondered how Bossman would react to a little sister. I know that feral cats are not welcome at the national seashore and are usually hunted by game wardens. I secretly hoped to get closer to her during the week.
Every night around 8pm she would be outside in the dark, meowing. She was well fed that week. I never could get close to her. She tolerated my presence as long as I sat still on the picnic table bench, but she was never within arm's reach. A couple of nights the wind was bitter cold and the family had games going, so I heated her little morsels in the microwave and left out a bowl for her. After the games, I'd go back outside and the bowl was empty. Thanksgiving day, she got fed twice with the boiled giblets and leftover turkey juices. I saw her waddle happily away with a little buddha belly into the sound-side marsh. I didn't see her Friday night, but the bowl was empty again. While Mom was out bicycle riding, she saw the little gray kitty across the street wandering around. Seems the kitty had a large prowling area. I waited for her Saturday night, but never saw her. Her bowl lay untouched Sunday morning. The week was over and I was never able to approach the little gray feral kitty. At least she was well-fed this week. I meowed a sad goodbye to her and quietly prayed well-wishes to her as I pulled out of the driveway.
I wasn't prepared the sight after pulling out of the neighborhood onto the only road that leaves the island. I saw the shattered body of the feral little gray kitty on the side of the road about three blocks from the big blue house's neighborhood. I felt as if I was slapped silly. The pain in my gut expanded to my heart. It was all I could do to just pull over the side of the road and sob. I wanted to turn back, but didn't think I could deal with the sight again. I was shaking all over. Every scenario ran through my mind; when? how could someone? what happened? could I have done something different? I finally resumed my journey home. I was devastated and continually wiped tears for hours as I battled traffic back into the DC metro area.
My furkids enthusiastically greeted me and covered me in fur, puppy kisses and kitty meows. The parrot screamed happily for 45 minutes while I unloaded. Exhausted and tired, I called family members to let them know I was safely home. Each one saw the little gray kitty as they left the beach. Mom and I cried together and gave up trying to make sense of it all. I think we all gave extra hugs and kisses to our furkids that night.
Thanksgiving week is never "just another week at the beach". Each house and year has its own stories. I'm not sad about bidding the big blue house goodbye anymore. Next year's Thanksgiving week will be in a new smaller rental in a town a bit down the road. That one will have stories associated with it as well. Tonight, I raise a glass to another holiday week gone and scratch the purring lap kitty behind his ears. Here's to another Thanksgiving at the beach.
i am a new member to this site. i don't understand how it all works. read the faq's and just confused me more. i basically was looking for some help for my wife but could use some of my own. i don't know if we should have seperate accounts but i'm guessing we should as i'm sure this is set up for indivuals and not couples. we both weigh over 300#s. so many questions to get the help we need ans dupport. any suggestions will be greatly appriciated. thank you. hopefully i can find your reply on here.
welcome texascritter! Basically, this is a place to come for support, inspiration and ideas for weight loss. If your wife decides to join, it is probably better for you to have separate accounts.
i figured out how to reply to post on here but have no idea what i'm really doing. could someone please explain in plain english how the system of posting/answering/finding replys to my questions. does it always come in e-mails from everyone, i don't understand how to get as involved in this as i want to be. it seems everyone has their own thread . at least i think that's what they are called. does everyone go through everyones post and just comment. i need advise on a number of issues and don't know how to get it from this site. you all have seemed to have figured it out so i must just be dumb to how it works. general answers won;t help. i need step be step instructions on what i need to do. thank you all.
hi everyone...i'm back from some time ago...to try loing weight again...and i remember one thing...last time i just ran out of creative ideas on what to have for breakfast, lunch or dinner or even healthy snacks...i get in a rut...in cooking...does anyone else do that?? can some of you please send your favorite suggestions....on just what to eat....that leaves you satisfied and on track?? that would really help me as i am starting again! thanks ever so kindly.
i figured out how to reply to post on here but have no idea what i'm really doing. could someone please explain in plain english how the system of posting/answering/finding replys to my questions. does it always come in e-mails from everyone, i don't understand how to get as involved in this as i want to be. it seems everyone has their own thread . at least i think that's what they are called. does everyone go through everyones post and just comment. i need advise on a number of issues and don't know how to get it from this site. you all have seemed to have figured it out so i must just be dumb to how it works. general answers won;t help. i need step be step instructions on what i need to do. thank you all.
Well, let's keep it simple to start. When you come to the site if you click the button marked "user cp" that will show you all the threads you've posted to.
You are receiving emails from the threads you subscribe to/post in, but can turn that off in user cp. Click "edit options" and then scroll to "Default Thread Subscription Mode".
As for the threads, sometimes we comment on others' posts, sometimes we don't.
WeLCOME BACK Rainbowsmiles! I remember you & your caring comments from before! xxxxxx
Ratkitty I hoped it had a happy ending but at least she had a full belly & knew love from you.xxxxxx
Texascritter just ask anything you like really, someone will know or know how to access your answers. Welcome to both of you from the great white England, lol! (We've had about a foot of snow which is growing & been here for a week-a record from what I can remember)xxxxx
I'm due TOM and feeling sweet cravings, ratty, fed up and bloated BUT it ian't derailing my eating plan, hoping for a good weigh-in Friday as I lost nothing last week even though I exercised and was VERY good.
xxxxx sharon
hi voodoo1....wow YOU LOOK AMAZING!! are you enjoying the rare englands snow?? mum and dad said they got about 2 inches in brighton!! wish i was there. i saw the brighton pier in pictures...how lovely it looks all dusted in fluffy snow!! shades of last year...although coming a bit early this time!! most snow in what?? 10 years?? how is your part of the country?? got those fires glowing?? looks like the white christmas came early!!
Rainbow I have a coal fire going when it gets cold, it's GREAT! I live between Derby and Nottingham, semi rural, and I can't remember so much snow since I was a kid, at least snow that's still HERE and still FALLING! Thanks about the pic, took a lot of pics before I got one that looked ok lol I gained most of the weight back to depression/family stuff but I'm back on the 'diet waggon' again! What plan are you following?
xxxx sharon
Rainbow I have a coal fire going when it gets cold, it's GREAT! I live between Derby and Nottingham, semi rural, and I can't remember so much snow since I was a kid, at least snow that's still HERE and still FALLING! Thanks about the pic, took a lot of pics before I got one that looked ok lol I gained most of the weight back to depression/family stuff but I'm back on the 'diet waggon' again! What plan are you following?
xxxx sharon
dad just rang and said they have nearly a foot of snow now!!
i'm not on any specific plan of sorts...just keeping track of everything i eat. i have a spreadsheet and i track everything, and keep an accurate record of the calories, fat grams, carbs, fiber, sugar and protien...i am trying to stay under 1700 calories per day, mostly i stay around 1400. this worked for me last time...but it is difficult for me to find good foods i like that are good for me! heehee i love my carbs but have limited them again.
i just went to the mayo clinic online and looked up what is the recommended daily allowance, which is 2000 calories, fat should be no more than 20-30%, carbs 45-65%, fiber 21-25 Grams, sugar 30-50%, and protein 20-35%. So I just try to follow those same percentages, only in compliance with 1400-1700 calories. It works for me. Its a bit of work, but once I tally the amount in one item, I can always copy and paste it into another days menu easily. it sounds complicated but its not really. my husband helped me set it up on an excel spreadsheet that calculates the totals...so i can plan the days menu and make changes as i need to...if what i was planning to have puts me too far over on carbs....i will switch out a choice for a better choice..hope that makes sense.
anyway....i am just maing it up as i go! haha
have a beautiful day...susan
Oh I guess I should tell about me. I'm 30, married, 3 kids (3,5,7yrs), fat, stay at home mom. I drive a mini van and I like it. I have a dog, a cat, a house, and I like to go scuba diving. Only problem is my gear doesn't fit me right now. I have not gone in 3 years because of that.
I am not doing a particular plan. Tracking calories on TDP at livestrong bceause I like their database, it has everything. Trying to stay between 1,000 and 1,500. Also trying to get to the gym or walk more.
I am 17.5 lbs in, and 3 lbs away from making it under 300.
I knit (but I suck at it), quilt, make soap, and juggle. I teach computers and science to 4 year olds at a local preschool on a volunteer basis. I also volunteer in my 7 year old's class. I lead my daughter's girl scout troop and my son's cub scout den.
300+ MONTHLY thread #1281
Txcritter!!!
lol I gained most of the weight back to depression/family stuff but I'm back on the 'diet waggon' again! What plan are you following?
