Sharon - I follow the WW plan and I find that in the early weeks the best way to not end up hungry on the points plan is that you need to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. I mean you can have something delicious like a chicken breast with cheese in the middle and wrapped in bacon, with a huge plate of vegetables and it's only 8 points. The longer you are on WW the easier it is to go to smaller meals and perhaps enjoy a high point meal, but a small portion of it and not end up being hungry.

Good luck with the confidence course. I know exactly how you feel. I have been a stay at home mum, then a single mum who had to stay at home, to being a sick mum, and I have been at home for 8 years now. The last three years I have been suffering from depression too, and rarely go out. So when the time comes that I do have to face the world maybe I will look for a confidence building course. I'll need something. Can I just say you may be overweight, but you aren't useless or worthless, and I hope that your course will help you to realise that.

Big hugs,

Ammi

Hello, newbie here!
 

Hiya gals ...

I am jumping on here because it is definitely one of the places I belong on "3 Fat Chicks" ...

... at 325 (ish) ounds (I just weighed a couple of days ago and that was the weight, though it could've gone up a pound or two since then), I need to lose oh, I guess about 175 lbs. Scared to death about it, though -- I've been "living large" for so long (about half of my 39 years on the planet).

I'm an in and out of OA retreat, failure at Weight Watchers (weighing and measuring makes me want to run screaming from the kitchen), vegetarian (with some recent carnivorous lapses, I think meat is a binge food for me ... essentially, anything but vegetables are binge food, which makes being veggie a tad difficult!)

So I'm just here to say "hi" and also ask ... how are people doing this? Getting down below the 300 (or higher) mark, how are their bodies adjusting to the weight loss (meaning -- after you've stretched to accommodate those friendly fat cells, and by "friendly" I mean those guys are loyal and true ;-), fitting in exercise, etc.? I am feeling ready to do this -- to go below 300 for the first time in a couple of years (and it's been even longer since I was below 200 -- probably 15 or so years) ... so much time has gone by living (or not living, I ought to say) in this body. I am ready to release it, but slooooowly please.

This is a scary but exciting place to be. I welcome all replies and look forward to conversations!!

Cheers,

PandaBean66 (I love pandas, I'm a bean eater, I was born in '66) :)

Thanks Ammi, I have an honours degree in Eng. lit. :lol: and teaching qualifications :yikes: , BUT as you've said size and staying at home don't help you feel better, :( quite the reverse.

Just having tea, low-cal lentil soup and a cob, with low cal muller corner (my fave).

Having to face the world? it needs more people like you in it, out and about! Good, genuine, kind people! :grouphug:

best wishes,
sharon

For all the new ladies, I haven't been below 300 in over 10 years, and have never been below 200 since I was 16 years old, but I have now lost 244 lbs.,20" each in my waist and hips, 12" in my bust, and 13" off my thighs. And I wonder why my clothes don't fit. I did Atkins in the '70's, vegetarian in the 80's, and Nutrisystem in the '90's. This is the only time I haven't given up or given in. It feels completely differently. I've been doing it for several years now, and it does get easier. Sometimes the weight doesn't come off so easy, but sticking to the lifestyle change does become habit and easier with time. You just have to give yourself that time. The two things that I am doing this time, is I am writing everything down that I eat so that I have to accept responsibility for my decisions, and I am being completely honest with myself. Sometimes I feel like I have finally grown up. I was always so undisciplined, lazy, and eating because "I deserved to." I have finally learned to tell my inner child "NO." Just remember that you can't fail unless you give up. That's the only real failure. You deserve to be healthy, and a healthy mom is the best gift you can give your kids.

Hi Ladies:

Voodoo and PJ, Ammiuk: Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. Ammiuk, yes my mouth is pretty well healed now. Thank you for asking.

Valerie: Yes, I agree with you, Idaho is beautiful. I haven't yet been to Utah but I'm sure it is nice as well. I love all of the animals and country here. I am so happy for you to get a new horse. Congrats on getting your blood preassure down and being able to clean the stalls yourself. That is hard work. I can't wait to ride my horses again too. I wouldn't kill them with my big ole butt sitting on them right now but my husband is learning to ride with the assistance of my dad and he loves it. So, they are getting their workouts.

Esmaraude: Glad to see you back. Hope your computer gets fixed real soon. Sorry, I don't know how to get rid of mice without killing them. You do want to get them out of there soon though before they have babies!

Sickntired: I agree about the Lane Bryant panties. As big as I am, the 30/32 size fits me so well and they are soooo comfy. They are soft and don't ride up. Give them a try.

Pandabean66: Welcome. I'm sure you will enjoy this site. Come often and chat much. We are looking forward to sharing our weight loss journey with you.

Well, I have to go help finish staining the fence in our back yard. I also have a turkey in the oven to check on.

Blessings,
Dogpal

Catherine - I have said it before and I will say it again, you are an inspiration. You certainly know what you are talking about, and you share your experience so beautifully. Thank you.

Sharon - wow, I am impressed, an honours degree in English Lit. and a qualified teacher. I guess it must be harder for you to lose your confidence when you worked so hard to do something you must be so proud of. Me, well I actually always wanted to be a stay at home mum. But I never thought I would be too ashamed of myself to want my kids to bring their friends home, or to be seen out in public. It's worse now because I have stress induced acne (at 37) all over my face and scalp. So now I'm fat, have a stupid ostomy, have numerous scars, horrendous acne, a bad hair cut, and am fat. Sorry for the pity party there, think it's time for my meds. Actually it is lol. Anyway Sharon, like I said, good luck with building that confidence back up again!

Pandabean66 - welcome, this is a wonderful forum and I am glad you found us. I am following the WW plan, and contrary to the days of old, unless you are a stickler for right amounts, you really don't need to weigh stuff anymore. WW realised people hate that so they started saying small, medium or large portion and show you how you can use your fist or hand to measure out sizes. Personally I prefer to weigh things, but WW can be done either way. This is the end of my third week of dieting, and I will weigh in a weeks time to see how I have been doing. My biggest tip to anybody dieting who might stray off the diet if the scales show a gain, or not a loss, is DON'T weigh weekly. I have gone off many a diet thanks to the scales, so they are not going to beat me this time. Good luck with losing the weight slowly. We are all in the same boat, fed up of living life in these fat bodies, so we can share the journey towards life in our slimmer, fitter, and let's face it, maybe sexy :) bodies. It'll be quite a journey but with wonderful results all along the way.

Dogpal - so glad your mouth has healed now. I had terrible abscesses in a couple of my teeth recently, and wow, doesn't anything to do with pain in the mouth really effect life. I couldn't eat for days, though didn't capitalise on that when I could lol, I pigged out as soon as I could and gained all the weight I had lost. But anyway, I am glad you are ok now.

I hope everybody has had a great weekend, and here's wishing we all have a great week OP.

Hugs,

Ammi

Ammi, you ever thought of doing an on-line course? YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORTH IT! :angel: I bet that you could do something, I always notice spelling and grammar mistakes, I don't think I've seen any in your stuff, anyway it's time you had a moan, you always support everyone else, I hope you feel a bit better for it.

Has the doctor given you anything for the spots? I still get them, I use Avon's peeling pads, which remove a small amount of skin, dry up spots, even huge ones and fade scars and dark patches, I have loads of them too! I know that there are some contraceptive pills which are supposed to help, Dianette, I think they're called. There are days when I can't face going out, I only leave my home to go shopping once a week and once to get weighed, I cover my spots in yves st lauerent touche eclat and hope no one notices my scars, dark patches, blotches and spots.

Can you have a mobile hairdresser come to sort out your hair if it really is bad, they can be quite a bit cheaper than salons, I have mine done at home.

Well hope everyone else is fine, I'm so jealous of those of you who have horses, I had a tb/Arab cross when I was 18 and 150lbs, had to sell him coz he was too frisky for me and he should have been competing (sp?). If I got on one now I would squash it unless it was a Shire or other draught horse! lol

regards,
sharon

Good Afternoon all. It's Monday now and I had a good exercise/cleaning session this morning :) I cleaned the bathroom AND the kitchen, including the stove and the fridge. I love it when things are nice and clean. I went back to bed afterwards and caught up on some much needed sleep. I don't know why, but I just couldn't sleep last night. And it didn't help that I kept having to get up to empty my bag :no: Anyway, the sun is shining and I am glad to say I am in a better mood than when I last posted.

Sharon - thank you so much for your reply, it really helped to lift my spirits. I have never thought of doing a course from home because I think I would just give it up when I got to a too difficult part. I need one on one support in person, not over the phone or PC. I like classes. I did a couple of sign language classes so that I could communicate with my daughter when we first found out she was deaf. I wouldn't mind doing another course because the older she gets the more signs she knows and I don't. But the college charges now, even for people on benefits. And of course I just don't want to go out, so I will have to maybe try to save and get this depression sorted out before I try to take another course.

As for the spots yes the doctor has given me some shampoo/body wash which is supposed to be for severe dermatitis, and other skin conditions. It doesn't mention spots, but it must be ok for getting rid of them or why did the doc give it to me. I swear, and this is not an exaggeration, every time I look in the mirror I have at least 2 more yellow spots. They are moving right up close to my eyes too. I have always had the occasional spot, but never like this, it's horrendous. I don't cover them if I do have to go out because I don't think it will make any difference. The lumps are big so I would just have a bumpy face :dizzy: I don't know how long I am supposed to wait for the shampoo stuff to work, but I hope it kicks in soon. I do like the sound of the Avon stuff you use, I might get some for when my skin goes back to it's normal break outs.

I have to go out on Friday to do the two weekly shop. I might try get an appt to have my hair cut while I am out. I think I deserve a treat after dieting so well for 3 weeks :cp: If I can't make myself do that though, I will definitely look up a mobile hair dresser, the price being cheaper is a big factor too. Thanks for the tip.

Ok well, I do believe I have rambled on long enough. I hope I don't break any rules here by such long posts some times. I hope everybody is having a lovely day, and for those that have had a WI, I hope you all had good losses. I am about to have my lunch now, an egg sandwich, mmmm :yes: Bye for now,

Hugs,

Ammi :comp:

Sharon

You make me laugh! I loved playing with the new smiles as well when I first discovered them! I am just as sad as you are my dear! LOL {{HUGS}}
PJ

Hi Ammi!
As for the subject of bras, I can't wear underwire. They dig into my fat rolls! I have Glamorise and Goddess. SOme of them they make with lace, but unless you have the time to do delicate washes, mine don't last very long and rip. The Glamorise are my favorite. I usually order them online, through Lane Bryant Catalog or Roamans or Catherines. They have some different colored ones now. I like them and have been using them for years, even when I was pregnant and pumping for triplets!
{{HUGS}}
PJ

Hey DogPal
How was that turkey??? YUMMY!
LOL
PJ

Just remember that you can't fail unless you give up. That's the only real failure. You deserve to be healthy, and a healthy mom is the best gift you can give your kids


Very well put Catherine! Thanks for keeping me in line! Again, I must say CONGRATS on those 244 pounds gone 4ever!! You make me see that it CAN be done! This battle will be won!! Thanks!! {{HUGE HUGS}}
PJ

Ammi
About the new thread, I just gave it a whirl. Not sure if I have to be a monitor or not, but it worked for me. I just copied and pasted the beginning intro and prayed that I put the right number! LOL
PJ

Sharon

Ok let me try this again.
Sharon
I am not following any plan per se, but very loosely following mostly a modified South Beach and WW. I too can not afford the meetings so that is why I am doing it solo.

Good for you taking that course! I think I could benefit from it as well! 5+ years at home with Elmo and the Wiggles, can make your brain turn to jelly! LOL

Sorry hubby is on nights all week! Mine is coming home on Wednesday. Sometimes that is good and others not so good! LOL
PJ