300+ And Ready To Try Again...#698
 

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

We want to invite everyone to join us in our journey.
We share laughter and tears.
We share what works for us and what doesn't.
We often use a "Topic of the Day" for discussion.

Motivational Monday
Tuesday Tips
Wednesday Wish List .. and What you are doing to obtain it.
Thankful Thursday
FUN Friday ... don't wait until you lose your weight.
Sit-up Saturdays - any physical activity
Share your Success Sunday

These are not required topics ...just ideas to share. We often find them very helpful. We also share heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations.

We have several extra threads going on simutaneously such as Monthly Challenges, Weekly Weigh-ins, Recipes, Bios, and more. Please feel free to check them all out.

We have a bi-weekly 2x2 Challenge.
Our goal is to lose 2 lbs in 2 weeks.
We have a long term goal of losing 300+ lbs within our 300+ group in 2005.

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, I just joined today. I'm glad to find this list. I am over 300 lbs. , depressed and tired of being treated like I don't matter. It's been such a struggle and now I'm just wanting so bad to feel better about me. I know I matter and I need to prove that to myself. If anyone can give me any support or advice, I love to hear from you. I can be reached at [email protected] Thank you for this website!

Keri- I've so totally been there, even in this past week. You're in my thoughts. Hope you feel better soon! I don't really know much about your situation, but vent all you need to here. At least you're not looking to food for comfort. Something that helps me is getting into a hobby.

Wow, we're getting new people. Welcome!!! :D

I was actually more excited about the pound I've lost today than the two I found out about yesterday. I'm 319 now, so I've surpassed the 320 mark. That makes a grand total of 23 pounds lost. I seem to be going in the right direction, and I got excited when I realized that I've made it over halfway to the 300 mark! I had a healthy lunch and I'm figuring out dinner plans right now.

I vented a lot to my BF earlier today, and he was very supportive. It was more about the past than the present, though. How I gave up on trying the last time I lost a significant amount of weight (which was before I met him). And it was over silly things that somehow combined into something more. I don't want that to happen again.

Well, I'm off! I'm gettin' hungry. . .

Take care, and thanks for all your support!

Congrats on losing 23 pounds. That is awesome!



Ladies, tell me, how do you work thru the cravings? Especially when you're first getting on a plan. I've felt hungry all day today, though I have not over ate - but I sure want to ;) What do you do when the cravings hit?

Good Evening Gang !! My day has finally come to an end. It has been busy busy... just the way I like them. I am still not following a plan.. what are the rest of you doing.. Weight Watchers ? Calorie Counting ? others ?? I think my biggest thing right now is trying to fit in the exercise. Working full time and going to school does not leave a lot of extra time for me. I will be glad when school is done in a couple weeks and I have a few weeks off and I can get back to my walking.

Karen ~ congratulations on your loss, well done !! I know it is so hard to find the positive when we spend so much time concentrating on the negative. I am glad that you have a supportive BF.. it is great to have someone to talk to.

Pebs40 ~ welcome aboard ! Lots of new members over the past few days. We are all here to support one another and offer any help we can. Welcome to the journey and best of luck.

Keri ~ thanks for the hugs and words of encouragement to us all, especially when it sounds like you need a big hug back :)

Kel41 ~ Cravings have to be the worst when you are first trying to get on a plan. I always try the 10 minute rule. I drink a glass of water and then wait for 10 minutes to see if the cravings were because I am truely hungry or just a fleeting thought about food !! If you are hungry then have a snack.. there are lots of healthy ones to choose from and it may in fact help you from overeating at your next meal.

Well I am off to watch Amazing Race.. have a great evening.. and keep on keeping on!

StageBabe / Karen ... WELCOME !!!! Always love to have new people join our group.

Kel ... I too can't do much in exercise due to my feet and legs. Especially my knees !!!
I have several videos you can do sitting down. I was surprised what a sweat you can work up. But my favorite exercise is Water workouts. I prefer the deep water over the normal water aerobics. I remember years ago ... Richard Simmons went to the home of a gentleman who weighed about 1,200 lbs. He started off doing arm dancing from bed.
Any movement above what is "normal" movement is a form of exercise. Another form of exercise you could do is hand weights or stretch bands.
Remember ... Progress not perfection.

Melissa ... those cute tops were not hanging in my WalMart. they were folded.
Mine id not have a loopy collar... it was a loopy neckline. It had no collar.
I am still a 300++ gal and I did not have to buy the largest size. LOL
I have a longgggg apron to hide ... but to be honest ... it still shows no matter what length shirt I am wearing. :(

laneclara and pebs410 ... Another big WELCOME to you too. :wave: Tell us all about yourselves.

I am falling asleep again as I type. I am soooo tired.
See everyone tomorrow.

Thank you!!! :D

As for cravings. . .

I don't really count calories, so I don't need to limit myself on how much I eat, I'm just careful about the types of foods I choose to "indulge" on. So when it comes to working through cravings, I pick something healthy to snack on that I won't have to worry about eating too much of.

Keep easy and healthy snacks handy so you'll be less tempted for fatty convenience food.

But before you eat anything, drink a glass or two of water first to see if that'll help ward your craving off.

Want ice cream? Substitute a frozen banana. I'm known to peel and mash bananas in containers (one serving per container) and stick them in the freezer for whenever I "need" them. They're really good!

Want some candy? I eat a few pitted dates instead. I also like to slice grapes in half and keep some in the freezer since I really enjoy eating them frozen.

I also keep my frozen burritos handy since they're a snap to nuke in the microwave for a quick snack. You can find my recipe for them in our recipe thread: Karen's veggie burritos.

Fat-free no sugar added yogurt makes a great snack.

A small amount of almonds is surprisingly filling.

Of course, you also have the good old stand-bys, like fresh veggies and fruit. I try to have more veggies than fruit because of the sugar.

You know, sometimes I find that I'm not really hungry, but I'm bored and my mouth is looking for something to do. So I try to find something to keep my mind off of food.

Lately I've been buying sugar free peppermints. Because peppermint is such a strong flavor, it stays with me for a while and helps ward off cravings as well, plus it keeps my mouth busy for a while!

Something else I try to do when I can is have several small meals instead of a few big ones. I find I'm less tempted to snack if I know there's a meal right around the corner.

Well, that's pretty much what I do. Hope this helps! :)

Good morning to all of you chicks! :coffee: I am much too lazy this morning to respond to all of the posts! ;)

Esmaraude, good suggestions for warding off cravings. I grab the bottle of water when I feel a snack attack coming on. Then I grab a book or come to the computer to distract myself. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Welcome Deb410, and any other newbies I have not welcomed yet. I count calories. There are a lot of different plans being followed on here, but I think any plan will work if you follow it! :)

My scale finally decided to move again :cb: I have to admit that it is my fault that it hasn't been moving downward. Those off program weekends haven't helped! :o I am feeling strong right now ladies, and I can do this! :strong: I plan to think in terms of five lbs at a time, because looking at the overall amount is just enough to send you into hysteria, or it is me! I need to lose 150 lbs!!!!!! :dizzy: Oh well, it will take a while, but what else have I got to do? :lol:

Terri, are we not doing the 2x2 challenge anymore? I know a lot of us failed to make it this time, like me! :( Have we lost 300 lbs for the year already?

I am outta here for now. Ta! Iwillbe :wave:

'Morning all
 

Thanks for the welcomes!

To those who mentioned "Good in Bed", I'll let you know when I'm done. I have a habit of having a dozen or so books started all at once in different places around the house. Generally one snags me and I end up carting it with me everywhere eventually!

As for cravings, I'm finding it is all in the timing. There are certain times of day (early afternoon) when I'm most likely to reach for stuff - and sometimes without even thinking. Worse yet, sometimes I *do* think and push it off. "Heck, what's a few more points".

Catch you later!

Hello ladies...just a quick update. I got my car back yesterday, good as new :)
I've been staying pretty on plan, but just haven't been exercising like I should be. Bad, bad Jen. It's been a pretty crazy week. I have a women's/Goddess spirituality retreat this weekend and I am leading a workshop and ritual. So I have been fine tuning that. Making costumes and all kinds of other stuff. So if sewing is considered exercise then I have been doing great :) The retreat is just for the weekend, but I am making sure to pack all kinds of healthy things. That way if I get bad and snack, at least Im not grazing on the not so good stuff that I know will be there. Every kind of chocolate drizzled pastry goodness known to man...sighhh.

Iwillbe- 5 lbs is a great goal. I'm glad that the scale is moving in the right direction again.

esmaraude-woohoo!!! way to go on the loss...I am right there at 24 down and I feel 1000% percent better than I did at 330. My whole outlook and attitude has definitely improved. Thank you for the snack suggestions they sound like a good plan.

ClipClop- my plan is easy...getting off my butt to exercise and eating less...of course easier said than done, but I am retraining myself and so far so good. I try to sneak in about 30min of exercise in the time that I get home and before DH gets home.

Kel41- I know that esmaraude gave some awesome tips...but I thought that I would share too. Eating several small meals helps me...it always looks like I am eating but I rarely go over 1800.

synn1977- I know just how you feel sweety...and I am here for ya. I am so happy for you and your Beltane Challenge...I can't believe that Beltane is nearly here. Wasn't it just Ostara? :D I got 9 more to go...I don't think that I will make it, but any loss is a good loss.

pebs410- Welcome!!! Just reading here and getting to know the fabulous people here has been a great encouragement to keep going on this battle.

Wanted to jump in quick before I leave to hit the pool. Welcome to all the new members. We get as much from you as you get from us.

Kel41-When I started this, I was almost 600 pounds. I left my house maybe once a month, and left my bed only to got to the kitchen or bathroom. Since I live in an efficiency, that didn't take much. I had a mantra in the beginning that any movement is good. I started by rolling over on my stomach and doing flutter kicks. I used a stop watch and did a few minutes at a time. I also did scissor kicks laying on my back. I got up to doing 30 minutes of flutter and 60 of scissor at a time. Then I started doing situps. You can also do exercise videos laying down. I used hand weights and exercise bands. In November, I was finally able to start walking. At first I was so unsteady on my feet I walked like Frankenstein with out bending my knees, ankles or feet. I toddled like a baby for weeks. Eventually, it got easier. Now I walk so fast, my roommate has trouble keeping up with me. I just started hitting the pool two weeks ago. When I get down to 350, which is the max weight for the bike I want, I'm going to start riding. One of my mini goals is to be able to ride the 4 miles to the YMCA to swim, and to the farmer's market for my produce.

As for cravings, all the suggestions have been great. I would add that smelling banana, peppermint, or green apple can quell a craving. Try a scented candle. Try to floss with mint floss, that can help. If you are craving chocolate, take a magnesium supplement of 400mgs a day for at least a week. If you are craving sugar and bad carbs, eat tryptophan rich foods like oats, almonds, warm milk, or turkey. You can also try an acupressure trick. The little triangle of cartilage where the ear meets the cheek is called the appetite control point. Each time a craving hits, pinch the area with your thumb and index finger for 30 seconds.

Everyone be gentle with yourselves today.

Hello all! :wave: And a very warm WELCOME to the several new folks who have dropped by lately.

I'm on my way to pull a couple of bank jobs and then off to lunch with a friend (also a job). I'm looking forward to it as I haven't seen her in a few weeks. Those of you who have been around awhile, this is the friend whose mother was Miss Doris that I used to watch. She is getting on pretty well since her mother passed, which is a blessing being that Miss Doris lived with them for 14 years. I think that makes things even rougher.

I don't have time to stay, but since someone asked, I thought I would start the new 2X2 sign up. Use the weight you were on Monday when the last one ended to calculate your losses in the end for this one. I was actually only down 1.8 so I didn't quite make it this last time. Hoping to do better on this one.

For those of you who are new, we run what we call a 2X2 Challenge. It runs from one Monday, to two weeks from then Monday. The goal is to lose 2 pounds in the 2 weeks. Terri started them last summer and they are designed to be an attainable, short-term goal.

In order to join in, just copy/paste the following list into your next post and add your name to the bottom. Then in 2 weeks, PM your results to Terri (determined to succeed) as she is the one keeping the tally for the challenges and group goal of 300 pounds lost this year. We are so close to our goal already that we may have to increase it. :D

2X2 Challenge - April 11th through April 25th
Thinthinker

Ok, ladies, gotta run. Let's see this list really grow with out commitment to healthiness! Love :love: ya bunches.

Well, it's an interesting morning...my left calf is really sore...I think I pulled a muscle there...that's what I get for not stretching properly after my walks :( Now I have to take it easy or I'll REALLY injure myself, but I don't WANT to take it easy I wanted to do ten miles this week, but I'm gonna bring it down to seven now. I've already done two, so I have five to go..yay.

Jen - I am glad you got your car back! If I remember correctly, it was brand new, right? I recently got a new Ford Focus XZ5 (those cute euro looking ones with the hatchback...)Sangria Red. I LOVE it...it's not roomy and spacious like an SUV would be, but my payments are low, and I get GREAT gas mileage.

Keri - Good luck in court, for whatever that is about :lol:...I don't think I caught what it was all about...but it sounds like it's pretty minor :D

Karen - Congrats on your weight loss...yay!! I can't wait to hit the 20 pound mark either, I'm still lingering in around 15 :)

Kel - I totally wish I had advice on the craving issue, I am still trying to battle with mine...I hit my three/four week mark on my diet and I always wanna go back to munching at night. Actually I'm not sure that's a craving per se, cause it's not one foodstuff that I want to eat, it's anything I can get my hands on, really. My weakness is cereal...and cereal plus the milk can be really loaded with those calories. I LOVE Cheerios.

ClipClop - I am counting calories..the good old fashioned way I try to keep it between 1600-1800 calories. When you weigh as much as some of us do, you need to be a bit more mindful about the calories you put in yourself, I think...I love WW and the core plan, but I need to count. I need the structure to keep in line. Also WW isn't necessarily designed for really overweight people, and we literally require more calories to lose weight....I'm also trying to work out five days a week and eat whole grains...no white bread no white pasta. At first I was trying to count calories and use WW flex points for my non core foods every week...but that got to be REALLY time consuming.

2Cute - I checked Wal-Mart.com and I think I spotted the shirts you guys are talking about...they are cute, and I know they'd fit me, but I like baggy shirts, and also shirts that hide my arms, lol...so I'm a fan of 3/4 sleeves. Those shirts look a bit too arm revealing for me :o

IWill - Congratulations on your weight loss...yay!!

Ok, I'm totally gonna do it this time, like Thin, I wasn't quite down two pounds yet...so I want to make REALLY sure I'm down two before I SAY I am down two....it's hard to tell with my scale, it doesnt read well when it's a small loss like that...but a five pound loss should be really visible.

2X2 Challenge - April 11th through April 25th
Thinthinker
MissMeliss

I also would like to join in on the challenge

2X2 Challenge - April 11th through April 25th
Thinthinker
MissMeliss
theotherjen