300+ Chat Thread: October 2013
 

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 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!

Hi Everyone!
Betsy, I like the idea of having a list of foods that can be as bad as drugs, ciggarettes,... I try not to rule out any foods but, I do have a handful I hope to never eat again. There are others I can have only in limited amounts that I must eat in a clean enviorment so there are only a certain amount to eat and none around to "have just another". In the book Thin Commandments I learned that for me one cookie has 35,000 calories because if I eat just one it may set me off on such a binge that 2 weeks later I will have gained 10 pounds.
Have a good day!

Ubee, I love the idea of thinking of a cookie as 35,000 calories. I had to go to the grocery store to get stuff to take camping this weekend. We're taking the grands for the weekend, and then Sunday celebrating three family events. So, it will be a food dangerous weekend. Since I have to get on a plane next Tuesday, I'm hoping that I won't have a 35,000 calorie weekend!

That is a brilliant way of thinking about it!!!! One cookie is 35000 calories. Also the comment about having a clean environment. I have just been thinking I need to clean my kitchen...it is not really full of junk, but stuff I don't use and won't for a long time maybe just does not need to be there.

I'm back, lol doubt anyone remembers me. I'm trying hard this time, honestly I keep joining in and then I fade out. It happens with most forums, but I felt like checking once again. I wanted a safe space to lament. I have a LOT of support in the offline world but as much as I love, adore, and cherish all my supporters offline none of them have ever been 300+. And here I am back over the 300+ threshold. I regained the weight a WHILE ago, but stopped at around 330 and have pretty much gained and lost the same 10lbs between 320 and 330 for the past few years.

I have a texting accountability with one friend who is exactly 100lbs lighter than me but I feel like I need people who understand what its like to be crazier heavy.

The thing is most people assume that because you are 300+ that you know next to nothing about nutrition, and/or that you are a couch potatoe.

I intent to mind blow. I have food issues I KNOW when something is bad for me I just ignore the logical part of my brain. It's pretty sad really how easily I tune out the voices and just listen to the inner 3 year old who is having a tantrum and wants me to sooth her with chocolate/chips/whatever I can get my hands on.

I'm working on it. This week has been a 'good' week so far, of course its only wednesday. I am really striving for portion control.

And getting back into the swing of things. Even at my 320 size I regularily participate in aerobics, I walked a half marathon (that was exhausting) and I keep pretty active for someone who has a sedentary office job. It's nothing for me to fit in 12000 steps a day (<3 my pedometer... <3 it... no seriously). I am going through some personal health issues NOT related to my weight.

However the reality check when I realised hey, i might sadly need surgery and if I do, its killer scary to be under anesthesia period to be under anesthisia when you are 330lbs? Even more scary. So I'm working on doing my best to get this under control.

I'm also sick and tired of being the least attractive person in the room without question. I know that there ARE plenty of beautiful overweight/obese people. I'm just not one of them. I feel like my face will look a heckuva lot better when I drop afew lbs.

This week I've sorta been extreme with the food intake. I know I need to loosen up the reigns eventually because its not sustainable in a "forever" sense... but I'm trying to remember this is what hunger feels like, this is what Self control really is.

xoxo to all my 300lb sisters and brothers!

Greetings to all.

I am back to stay this time....

I know my weight is around the 380 mark (first time I've written that down anywhere)... just waiting for my next shopping trip to find a scale...


You know I had one of those days where I looked good and felt good until I caught a glimpse of my side view.....

I must change.....

@silentarctic, I feel my inner child must be the cousin of yours....for I too all too easily indulge that voice for whatever....even if I'm not 'hungry'....

Hi Everyone!

:welcome3: Zictory 75, Silentarctic, and time4me2change!

Betsy, you sure have a busy/tempting schedule coming up! Stay strong and focused. I want to see where that whoosh from the other day takes you!

Zictory, I hope you clean your kitchen. I started out shedding my stuff and it carried over to my weight. I decided I did not want any more junk in my house. As I learned to say no to the junk in my house it carried over to not so much junk in my mouth/body.

Silentartic, good job not having a full regain +. :congrat: I had to give my inner brat/monster boundaries. A red line not to cross over for weight and the credit card must be paid in full every month. She still can throw a mean temper tantrum once in a while! Hopefully you will not need surgery. That is scary. We are here to support you. Last of all... this is not a lie. Before I read your post I looked at your picture and thought oh no not another pretty face! (I have a turkey neck and look older then I am.) I think we are all beautiful and we need to stop that stinkin thinkin!

time4me2change, coming back here is a great first step. I am enjoying your other thread.

Have a good day Everyone! I am off to conquer another pound!:sumo:

@ubee - You are sweet, I had a lot of professional help the day I took that, and played with camera angles. And just lucked out, I have never looked so good since! LOL :)


@time4me they're very persistant aren't they!

So I overdid it yesterday with the restriction by the afternoon and I didn't have anymore food with me I was feeling dizziesh at work so I ended up having pizza after work. Oh well... I still came in way under my cal limit. And lesson learned... I still am at that place where I need to eat a little more for now while my body readjusts.

Hi Everyone!
Yesterday I had a NSV. I had on a pair of pants that were snug this summer and I was able to slide them off without unbuttoning them! GO ME!
Today is lunch out with a friend. We go to a place that serves the best power food so it is always a loss on the scale after!
Silent, do we ever adjust?
Have a good day Everyone!

Ubee - Congrats ! :-D We do readjust to eating less, at least I use to maybe I won't now that I am "old" (my roomate had a mini freakout realizing her birthday is coming up and we will soon be... *omg* 35 lol) . It's SO easy to readjust to eating more then. I do have to keep myself in check and find that it is a concious effort to eat like a 'normal' person. But the longer I do it for the less unnatural it feels. It will never be a thoughtless habit for me t hough.

I'm feeling good, the sun is out, we did our initial weigh in for work biggest loser club and I'm @326.

I'm dressed up and wearing my new boots (Canadian girls, Penningtons/Additionelle sells boots online that fit us big-gals) they fit me perfectly. I haven't had a pair of cute boots since Jr. High! I feel stylin... LOL :) the elastic in my leggings that I'm wearing under my dress is worn out though so that was annoying walking to work trying to subtly hold them up, without looking like I was doing that through my dress. ~L~

Hi Everyone!
How is everyone doing? I had a stressful Friday & Sat. but I managed to keep my head above the water. No loss this week but, I did maintain!
My latest motivation comes from watching Extreme Weight Loss Makeover on You Tube. I know it is extreme but, I love how they learn to push themselves beyond their comfort zones. I am so guilty of throwing the diet and especially exercise out the window because it is too hard and I can not do it. Call me a whambulance! If they can do that in one year I can do it in 3!
Have a good day !

Ubee - congrats on maintaining thats a good thing. I'm all about sustaining changes, for me THE biggest part of weight loss is maintaining. If i can resist backsliding into old habbits and can keep whatever I do manage to lose off I consider it a victory.

Personally feeling exhausted, had an unexpected late night and it already led to the bad choice of sugar and creamer in my coffee (i'm usualy steadfast about drinking it black!) . The whole exhaustion making you crave sugar is super annoying.

Gotta go get groceries over lunch hour. Am out of lunchables. Hopefully I can make some somewhat smart chocies.

I was up 2lbs over the weekend but I shouldn't be according to my cals (i should be maintaining...) so I must have been extra salty yesterday but, I wasn't really.

The late night + an evening meeting and I don't think I'll make up for the lack of sleep well. I feel like I'm going to be expected to stay up late again too...

:( It's not even half way through monday and I'm already longing for the weekend.

Hi Everyone!
Silent, I hope you were able to get a good nights rest. I am such a sleep baby. Do you mind if I ask what kind of plan you are following?
This thread is way too quiet! Is it the time of the year?
Have a good day!

Ubee - I'm just trying to eat less, and keep my calories "reasonable" , cut down on salt becuase of my blood pressure issues. And just "eat like a normal person" which is something I have trouble with.

I did okay-ish, I caved and had turkey jerky (bad on the salt) and a babybel I just did not have time to cook and was hungry to get to sleep. Still better than having chips or something... :-|

Tonight is a potluck, I'm bringing a salad full of spinach hopefully that will keep me away from the rest of too much of the yummies. My friend is making her yummy meatballs and, cheesebread (yikers) another friend is making a chickpea dish, and yeah, that's only what I know about so far I just need to eat a plate of my green salad before I'm allowed to touch anything anyone else makes. And maybe bring a measuring cup over and be wierd like that...

Hi guys. I've been really busy the last few weeks, and haven't been here as much as I should. Welcome to all our newbies!

It's looking like the first month of my valentine's challenge is going to show a miniscule loss for me. It's not the stall any more though, it's me. I've slacked on my exercise and I'm retaining water from stress. Not good. I'm going to try and get back into the groove now that things are calmer.

The good (sort of) news is that my boyfriend is gone for pretty much the last two weeks of the month and the first week of November, so I'll be able to build my schedule around me and maybe give myself those three weeks to do some mini exercise challenges. I know the weight part is mostly diet, but I really don't want to sacrifice the strength gains I've made in the past year.

Oh - funny thing: I fainted last night. I got up to go to the bathroom and brush my teeth, and I felt dizzy, so I went to sit on the toilet. Next thing I know, I'm on the floor by the bathtub (with my electric tooth brush trapped under me and running), and I felt like I woke up from a weird dream. I've never fainted before. It was odd. I'm not worried about it, I think it was from the cold formula I'd taken, but what a bizarre feeling.

Hi Everyone!
Silent, I like your thinking about eating like a healthy person. I do not want to be counting calories and obsessing about everything. I want to be mindful and have some food peace.
Jane, are you all right? I hope your "boyfriend vacation" gives you a big boost!
Where is Betsy? I miss Pam and everyone else.
As for me, my sweet tooth is going crazy today! I think it may be because I have been watching TV lately and all they have on there is tempting food.
Have a good day.

Hey all

I actually own a scale now! and I even stepped on it today, hence my shiny new tickers...

can't say I like the number...but one day I will.

Coming up on a 1 week vacation from work with very little planned..... hoping to catch up on some reading and shed some weight...

radiojane - Hope you are feeling okay, that fainting sounds scary :(

Ubee - Ahh the teasing tube, you'll make it through. :)

time4me - I love having a scale its not always kind but #'s seem to keep more more accountable, I'm too good at 'forgetting' what my clothes felt like and slowly gaining or at least not losing weight. At least numbers on the scale... are... numbers on the scale.

Ate a lot last night, brushing it off and moving forward today. I hope... just keep chugging at least I'm definitely not gaining right now.

Today I went to the Darkside. I enjoyed it. I do not feel guilty. I am more curious then anything. Was I tired, scared, sad, lonely...? I feel just kind of dull, and full.
Good Night.

Hello everyone,

I am Larry and I am back for another try after a 9 month binge.
I gained back most but not all that I had lost. This was a small victory for me as my history has been to regain all weight lost PLUS SOME. Glad I got off the elevator before the top floor.

Howdy everyone, I'm Fiona, and I'm new here. I don't have a lot to say tonight except that I'm looking for support. Several years ago I did Jenny Craig and went from 320 to 225, but then I got sick, and my husband got depressed, and I gained it all back and more so. In case my ticker doesn't show up in this posting: I hit a high of 351 in January 2012, and am now down to 307. I'm doing it on my own now, on a low-carb plan because that's the one my body best responds to.

So far, so good, but the future of my weight loss project just looks like an endless desert. Heck, it has already been an endless desert, and I'm not even down under 300 yet. So even though I'm not on the verge of running out to get cookies (I'm a serious cookie monster), I feel pretty blah. It sure is hard to stay positive when the project drags on for so darn long!

Hey there, I'm back again. I want to extend my greetings and supportive vibes to the folks on this thread: Heather, Ubee, silentarctic, time4me2change, Radiojane, and Larry H. (Apologies if I left anyone out.)

I've been slipping just a wee bit on my super-low-carb plan: I bought a jar of peanut butter and have been eating 3 or 4 heaping teaspoons about once a day. What makes this a problem is not so much the carbs in the PB, although they can screw up my diet for the day, as the fact that when I do that, I skip a meal. That's my old, old pattern—eating snacks instead of regular meals. I shouldn't have even bought the PB, but I've been having bad insomnia lately and I thought the carbs in it would help me get to sleep. So much for that notion: my insomnia is unchanged.

Anyway, I feel kind of out in the wilderness so far as support is concerned. I know that weight loss is supposed to be easier if you tell other people about your project and your goals, but somehow I tend to be reclusive, and not tell anyone (except for my husband, of course) about what I'm up to. Most of the people I'm close to either live far away, or I only know them online (I've been online since the late 1980s), so it's easy for me to hide. And I'm retired, so I don't have colleagues or co-workers around me anymore. =sigh=

I'm also in a rut so far as exercise is concerned. I do an extended set of non-weight-bearing leg exercises every day, a habit I began when I had a knee injury, but other than that I'm a couch potato. I really need to get myself out walking during the nice cool fall weather (although lately it's been raining all the time), but I have a hard time getting started on doing that, since at first I don't enjoy it very much. My problem with exercise is that I get easily bored, anxious to get back to my reading, writing, and making art. I know you're supposed to vary what you do to combat boredom, but I get bored on the very first day, no matter what the exercise is. Maybe I should listen to audio books while I'm walking, but it's a hassle to figure out where to get them, to retrieve my portable CD player, and so on. I get easily discouraged by logistical details that seem easy to other people.

Any tips for getting started when you're in a rut, exercise-wise? I just can't seem to make myself put on my shoes and get out the door...

Fiona W

Welcome and good luck on your journey!!

I know partly what it's like to feel out in the wilderness... I haven't told anyone but my mum that I am planning on losing weight... I tend to be fairly private and this is something I don't want people in my life to know about.

as for exercise I too hate it, especially working out alone.

So I've improvised... I dance around my kitchen to music while I cook dinner, I have downloaded Disney sing a long videos and dance/march on spot while watching them... and I just try to move more all day long instead of making a solid exercise block....

I know I can't do this forever, but I am building in my head a positive feel good attitude towards moving....

I do think you coming here is a good step because it is an outlet to talk about the successes, struggles and overall entity of weightloss. here we celebrate with eachother and don't let anyone feel down about any changes...

I hope you find a happy medium with exercise :)

:welcome3:Larry & Fiona!

Larry, so happy to hear you jumped back on the wagon before you had a full regain +!

Fiona, good job with your weight loss! I also am doing low carb. The last 2 weeks peanut butter has been my temptation. I always think a little won't hurt. If I only stopped at a little...

The last two days have been out of control for me. Tomorrow is a family gathering and I will allow myself some indulgences. I am doing this the rest of my life and have to find that balance. Every little thing I use as an excuse lately.

Have a good day Everyone!

New here... first time doing anything like this.
 

Hello, my name is Stephanie I'm 22 and I'd like to talk to women around my age (mid 20's) who are going through the same struggles as myself... I'm 353 lbs and beginning the struggle of losing the weight. I'd love to talk to my fellow ladies about what worked for you, what your struggles were and overall the entire experience.

Thanks for your kind words, time4me2change and Ubee. I know what you mean, Ubee, that there are times you have to cut yourself some slack, since it is a lifelong project. All the same, I'm looking forward to reaching the stage where I feel more mobile and have more energy. And to eventually wearing some cuter clothes! But above all I'm looking forward to liking my body better. I know that you have to be self-accepting at whatever weight you are, but I didn't get this heavy until I was in my 40s, so my self-image is that I should be a different shape than I am now.

Welcome, Stephanie—I'm more than 35 years older than you, but I don't think that age makes that much of a difference. You start when you start, and good for you that you've embarked on this journey! Just stay here and keep posting, because social support is very important. Keeping a journal is also helpful: I've been writing in mine ever since I began, some 40+ pounds ago. It doesn't necessarily have to be a food diary. I've found that journal writing is especially helpful for analyzing what went wrong when I broke my diet—what were the triggers and how I could make different choices the next time.

I stayed on the low-carb plan for yet another day, and didn't have any peanut butter today. I'm wearing a T-shirt that used to be snug on me, and now it fits me perfectly. I think that now I'm down from 5X to 4X—a small step, perhaps, but one I can feel good about.

Hi guys. I'm fine. Haven't fainted again. No idea what was up.

Did my kettlebells again today, and I can sure feel it! Eating is still a little off; in my defence though, I'm emptying my freezer and pantry. I cleaned the other day and realized that I didn't want to waste money by letting food spoil, so there have been more carbs than usual, but it's worth it to save cash and start over with a truly paleo pantry!

Time4me: making the effort to just move more throughout the day is a great idea. Love your new tickers!

I stayed under my calorie goal today. My calories were 1325 and my goal is 1650.

My sodium intake is too high and I have to work on that.
My goal is 2500 mg and I had 3996 mg :(

I tend to be sodium sensitive and I really put on a lot of water weight with too much sodium.

It was a great day for me

I am down 3 pounds today to 276

I stayed on plan 10/13/2013 - 1,126 Calories today my daily goal goal is 1,650

Fiona: you are absolutely right, age doesn't matter i just thought i might be able to relate more with someone near my age. However, that's not true either. So i change my initial statement... Id like to talk with anyone going through the same journey that I'm embarking on.

I racked up another day on low-carb. Did my leg exercises. Still haven't started walking, but I did locate my walking shoes. That's something, isn't it? =laugh= Drank too much coffee and got over-caffeinated for a while. I'll cut back on caffeine some day, but not during the long hard push of big-time weight loss. Ditto with the diet soda: I'd be lost without my diet ginger ale.

I hope the rest of y'all are hangin' in there OK.

I sure am looking forward to finishing my first 20 postings, so I can have my ticker!

So tell us more, Stephanie: what are your plans, hopes, fears, etc.?

My hopes are be comfortable and loving of my body, to be active, not afraid to go to theme parks in fear that i won't fit and feel like I'm going to die of embarrassment, i want to be healthy and fit. I want someone to look at me and say damn she looks good without the "for a big girl" following.

My fears are that this is unattainable, that I'll be fat forever, that nobody will truly love me in my current state, that I'll be fat and won't be able to provide the childhood my future children deserve because I'm too out of shape to play with them like they deserve... My biggest fear right now is that I'm not getting hired because I'm fat

As far as a plan, i haven't really established one yet.

Welcome Stephanie. I feel many of us have those fears. One thing I notice about people who lose the weight and keep it off is that they learn to push through the fear. They face it and decide that fear is what is between them and their dreams. I always used to back down. I was afraid it was going to be to hard. Duh! It is. I am strong. I can push past my fear. I've done many hard things in my life.
Fiona, good job on another low carb day. I hope to join you today.
Larry, nice loss.
Fiona and time4me, I understand the not letting others know. Now, that I have lost enough for others to notice I do not like all the attention about my body shape and size.
How are you doing Jane?
Betsy are you out there?
Silent, care to join us?
I have had way too much food the last few days. I figured out why and am moving forward and down!

Good morning all. I'm back from both a camping trip that was immediately followed by a trip to visit with friends in Arizona. Great trips, lots of eating and drinking and mysteriously I ended up losing 2 pounds. I'll definitely take it. Now I'm rushing around trying to get things back in order after being gone. This weekend I'm driving over the mountains to pick up my new puppy. So excited about this. I had to have my Golden put down about a year ago due to cancer. I'm getting a Golden Doodle puppy -- same personality traits but with less hair/shedding and lower chance of cancer risk.

Off to the gym. I may have to use the GPS to find it again!

I have a recommendation for those of you on low-carb diets: macadamia nuts. They have very few carbs, much less than other nuts, and just a handful of them makes for a filling treat. And they're not as expensive as they used to be: my grocery store in Maryland sells a generic brand.

I wish I could say I were going to walk today, but I doubt it. Oh well. At least I'm doing my leg lifts every day: they make my muscles strong enough that it's way easier to climb the stairs than it used to be.

Hi Everyone!
Betsy, I googled Golden Doodle they are so cute! I'm glad you are back and had a nice vacation.
Fiona, thanks for the macadamia nut idea. I love them, unfortunately all my life I have been loving them in cookies.
I am feeling like I may have a little more will power today.
Have a good day!

Stephanie - These gals are good if you stick around they are great to vent to, to motivate, to share successes with. :)

Ubee - Trying to get back on track!

Fiona doing fab!

betsy congrats on doing well while camping! :)

I need to kick it back to low carb again had spaghetti for supper at a friends. awesome but... not good for my self control. I need to cook for myself for the next little while. All these dinners out and non measured portions are not good for this gal.

Fiona -- thanks for the hint on macadamia nuts. I LOVE them......wish I could use getting them as an excuse to go to Hawaii!

Ubee -- laughed over loving your macadamia nuts in cookies. A girl after my own heart.

Kind of struggling to get back on track, but tonight is the last of the birthday meals out and then I'm determined to get back to it tomorrow. I am pleasantly surprised that after two weeks of just eating what was presented, I've kind of missed my salads and veggies. I even passed up having cheesecake for my birthday cake this year. And I want cheesecake put in my coffin with me just in case it's a long trip. :D

Peek a boo! Guess who?

I haven't checked in a very long time. I've been off track, and feeling hopeless. Today, I finally decided to pick myself up by the boot straps and get it together. So, here I am. I've walked today, tracked my calories (well I'm about to do that now!) and so I decided to check in and see how everyone was doing! So, how are you all?

Hey all

Loving reading your updates... and love the idea of Macademia nuts, just wish I could find some here that taste good (ones I bought before tasted stale)

So I am kicking my behind everyday to stay on plan....dealing with TOM at the moment, and not sure if it's just me but sometimes during TOM I get starving.... and other days so nauseous I barely eat.....well yesterday I was 'starving' and almost ordered in take out (not the worst food, grilled chicken, rice and veg) but I would have also included 1 or more desserts.... but I canceled the order and forced myself to stick with what was here.

I ate... and then I snacked on pop corn (made on the stove with just a bit of |EVOO so it won't stick) and a hot chocolate (instant made with water).... today was a much better day, I DID order take out and have meals for tomorrow from it but I ordered healthier options (in Egypt almost all restaurants deliver) and NO cakes!

Feeling so motivated after a 2 hour chat with my mum....... and she is losing weight too, we are both glad to be starting while away from eachother though (we so enabled each other).... and are making good plans for when I am home at Christmas...

Not depriving, but making choices... I plan on doing a lot of cooking, but we will also pick a couple of restaurants to eat out at... and a couple of desserts to enjoy over the holidays.

I am also giving up McDonalds... I haven't had it since August and last year I probably orderd it once a week (insert embarrassed face here).... I am trying NOT to think of anything as banned, but I really am trying to give up fast food chains. And pizza (well pizza at least for the next 9 weeks)