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 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.
WELCOME!
I know you'll all agree that we are really thankful for the free services here at 3FC. The sisters offer all of this support and information with no charges to us. There are a couple of ways though that we can help out.
If you are thinking about buying anything at Amazon, why not help out 3FC at the same time? You can do this by clicking on the button for Amazon on any page in the forum, or by clicking on the button on the main 3FC page at www.3fatchicks.com . A portion of your purchase price will be given to 3FC by Amazon. It doesn't increase your price at all, but it does help out 3FC. You can use any of the Amazon.com links that you see on the site in order to help contribute to the site.
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There have been some concerns expressed by the powers that be about copyright infringement. So please, if you are directly quoting someone else or printing an article in whole or in part, please give credit where credit is due!!!!
Thank you guys so much for supporting me and being angry and sad on my behalf. I didn't want to upset you guys too, but it was just too much for me to bear alone and still is.
I have filed complaints about doctors in the past and done everything you are supposed to do to combat these problems and no one (including the insurance companies) does anything about it. I am totally powerless and I recognize that. The industry is stronger than I am.
It took a lot for me to even approach this guy for help with my weight (I've never been open to discussing that with any doctors so it took a lot of effort on my part to even open up that can of worms). I cried for about 10 hours yesterday and last night. My eyes are so swollen that I had a hard time putting on make-up this morning so I could go to work.
The worse thing is that I already suffer from depression and this just took me completely under -- I was already teetering on the edge of a bad run with depression when I went there.
I will change doctors as soon as I can (I have to go through the insurance company, red tape, etc.), but I have to say that I do not see myself going to see another doctor for a long time, even if I'm dying. The thought of it makes me want to throw up.
I have called a psychiatrist to see if I can get help with adjusting depression medicines, but that's about all I can handle right now. I'm going to have to let this go and see if time can heal it at all. At this point, I just cannot get past these feelings.
Tasha -- I am so sorry to hear about your crappy dr. experience! :hugs:
I wish you could even tell this craphole what effect his words have on you, but that might also give him too much power. I hope that after a few days have passed, you start to be able to reconsider seeing another dr...
Vicki -- 101 pounds !!! happy day, chickie!!!! I can't emphasize it with enough dancing carrots!!!
Catherine -- Great to hear from you! I hope you can continue to settle in well. Before you got married you said that you might have to go back to FL for a while -- is that not an issue anymore? Will you and your husband get to stay together now?? I certainly hope so!!
Ammi -- Welcome back, hon! great to see you posting again... now, get your buns over to the exercise thread and let us know if you've been moving the past few days!!
I have an NSV to report... I've been "shopping" in my closet since I started losing weight, but I'm getting to the point where I will not have clothes if I go down another size. So, last night we went to the mall and I tried a few things on... and I FIT into 20s!!!!! They're a bit tight, but they definitely fit!! I was so excited, given that I started all of this NOT fitting into 28s!!! (btw, I keep being amazed at how different sizes people of the same weight fit into! I hear a lot of you fit into 22s at my starting weight...)
Anyway, initially I was really excited, as you can imagine. But as we wandered around the mall (something I have not really done for a while... why bother when NO ONE sold clothes I could fit into)... but then I started getting a little depressed. I've lost nearly 65 pounds, and still cannot fit into any clothes at most stores (who only go up to 16)... criminy, I let myself get SOOOOO fat to begin with! I think like many of you, I never *really* saw how fat I *really* was... And while I have been very successful losing, it's very sobering to realize that I am still nearly MORBIDLY obese.
I'm not really depressed about it, as I choose to focus on the SUCCESS aspect of it, but it definitely tinged the experience...
I am finally at a point where I feel like I can post regularly. I finally got the wireless up and running where I can sit on the couch with my laptop, and himself can surf at his desk. I am not going to have to go back to Florida afterall. They changed the rules last February, and it took a while for all of the forms to get changed. Basically when Canada started recognizing gay marriages, they had to start letting people stay. If a guy from Egypt or Pakistan married a male Canadian, and then had to go home to do immigration stuff, he might get killed, so they had to let people stay. If the gay "wives" get to stay, they had to let the straight ones stay too. They are letting people stay who aren't even here legally now. The biggest hurdle was insurance, but they let me go right on the state insurance just by showing our marriage license. They had a Japanese student married to a canadian who got pregnant and had complications and couldn't get treated even though she was carrying a canadian citizen inside so to speak, and they changed the rules because of those kinds of situations. The basic insurance started right away, the supplement that pays for medicines starts May 1st, but I have enough meds saved up to last until then.
As for my book, I have started working again on it. I know I can't market it until I reach my goal weight, but my husband is a small book publisher, and is chomping at the bit to print it. I don't have the heart to tell him yet that if I ever reach my goal weight, my before and after photos will sell the book to a much bigger publisher.
He's my clipping for today. This is from Family Circle Magazine on six ways that you can become a stronger, happier and more compassionate person. #1 is to Get Happy - Smile, Dedicate 15 minutes a day to play, When you feel great, let it show, and if someone asks how your day is going, say "Terrific!" even if it's just so-so. Faking a smile can actually improve your mood. #2 is to Accentuate the Positive - Choose to be cheerful not because the world is a great place all the time but because it's better when you embrace it with a positive spirit. Once a day tell a joke or give someone a compliment. Replace one negative phrase from your vocabulary with a positive one. Practice saying to yourself, "Right now I have enough." #3 Learn to be Resilient - The more flexible you are, the easier it is to deal with life stresses. Offer to assist a friend in trouble. By helping someone through hard times, you develop skills you can use when facing your own challenges. Wride down your biggest personal crisis and the five ways in which you became stronger by dealing with it. #4 Discover your compassionate self - Mother Teresa once said, "We cannnot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love." Be an organ donor. If you shop at garage sales or thrift stores buy extra warm coats or sweaters to donate to a homeless shelter. Teaching a child or illiterate adult to read is a gift that lasts forever. #5 Reveal your authentic self - You don't have to do any work to maintain your most natural state. Every few months, choose one way that you're no longer going to try to impress someone such as pretending to like football just to fit in with your husband's friends. Speak up for yourself. If someone tells a joke you find offensive, tell them. Start keeping a journal. Sometimes it is easier being yourself on paper than it is to say out loud who you are and what you believe in. #6 Accept others for who they are - Criticizing yourself has a way of making you less tolerant of others. Learning to accept and even celebrate differences reduces stress and conflict. Talk to people you don't usually converse with but see often like janitors or security guards. Get to know other people as people and not just as stereotypes. Ban "normal" from your vocabulary as it doesn't exist. When you stop judging peoiple, you become more open-minded.
Sorry for such a long post, but I have found that the internal changes I have made in myself, have been every bit as important as the outward physical changes. I am convinced that the internal change is the reason that I have been able to be successful at losing weight for the first time after so many past failures.
I'm been in a crappy frame of mind lately (I blame the impending TOM). It's throuroughly irritating to me that I have supposedly lost 100 pounds but nobody can tell, and I can only wear 2 size smaller in pants! Good Grief, you would think that after 100 pounds, that there would be some dramatic differences but noooooo.
My mom gave me a bunch of her fat clothes.. mostly 26/28 3x tops, etc and I have to admit that out of all the things, I can only wear 3 things comfortably. The problwm with most tops is that my top half is not too big but my stomach is huge and I only wear shirts that cover that up. If I could just shrink that tummy some more, I would have a ton of cute shirts. How discouraging is that?
It's like the scale numbers tell me one thing but I look at myself and am like "all the fat is still here? Where did 100 pounds come from?" Hubby thinks I am crazy and he says he thinks I just am shrinking pretty evenly everywhere and that may be why I can't tell so much and why the size drop has not been as dramatic as I would like.
Just a quickie this morning...have way too much to do.
Catherine: Your posts are always great to read and inspirational...again, I also can't wait for that book! You have such a wonderful writing style! I think you'll have a best seller on your hands - and we can all say we knew you when!
Wyllen: I love closet shopping! I've also been struck by how different the sizes are for folks the same weight. I know that a big part is height, but it still never ceases to amaze me. I started at 328 and wore a 24. That was in Just My Size jeans. The 24 was the smallest I was getting into...in some other clothes a 26 was more like it. Now I can get in a 18 Just My Size jean. I ACTUALLY wear a 20 in everything else...including regular - non-stretchy jeans. I have a very old pair (10 years or so) of size 18 Just My Size jeans - from the days before lycra - and they can go on and zip...but I can't breathe! But as I sit here in my 7 year old non-lycra size 20 jeans I remeber when they didn't fit either and now they are loose. Makes me feel really good and like I can get into those 18's soon - (which are the same as a 16 in the stretchy ones!) Don't you let those stores who think everyone is under a 16 get you down! You'll get there - and be too classy to shop in them!
Tasha: I don't know what else to say. I hope that a few days and a visit with the psychiatrist will help you with your adversion to going back to the doctor. Please, please, please, tell your psychiatrist about the whole awful incident! I'm sure they can help...maybe even refer you to a good, understanding physician.
Vicki: 101!!!! You GO girl!
Gosh, I KNOW there were other people I wanted to say something to but it was from the last thread and I don't have time to go back right now...in fact...I don't have time at all...Must run!
Heather: I'm sure that you have a noticable loss...some folks just lose differently that others. I've lost 80 and only gone from a 24 to a 20...which is really 2 sizes when you think about it. As for the tummy...you have seen a doctor to be sure it's just fat, right? I always ask, because I know when I was young I had a really big tummy and it turned out to be a 20 lb ovarian cyst! Not fat! I just always thought I was a woman who carried my weight in my stomach. Turns out I actually carry it in my butt! I met a woman yesterday with the same thing...only hers was 10 lbs. She said she kept losing weight and couldn't figure why her stomach wasn't shrinking!
Not that there's probably anything wrong...but just another example of why doctors should examine every possiblity!
Robwen, just join in with any comments on other posts and/or a bit about your day, life, struggle with weight, whatever you like. We are all here to help and support each other whether good or bad times, losses and gains, don't feel obliged to reply to EVERYONE as you would get nothing done except a post!!!
I managed 60 mins fast walking today the sun was shining and it picked my spirits up a bit as well as working off some fat!!!
I'm putting a sprinkle for myself & anyone else who needs it
xxsharon
Good afternoon, ladies. Just a quick post as I have some phone calls to make. It was 59 degrees and rainy yesterday...then we had thunderstorms last night. And today, it's 20 degrees and snowing. Gotta love that weather, huh? I'm hoping for an early spring. I wanna get outside, and dump this plump!!! I'll be back after a while...
Well, I knew I had gained back some weight but, I have gained back 25 pounds since Christmas! I am sooooo depressed and feel like throwing in the towel. I don't know what is wrong with me. I am like an eating machine. I talked to my husband and told him how depressed I am and I am really almost just wanting to stay in bed. I have been so sick since I moved up to Northern Idaho with one bronchial infection and then a sinus infection. I just feel horrid all the time now and I know that my weight it doing it to me more. I suffer from panic disorder and agoraphobia and was doing well but now, I haven't been out of the house since my job interviews. I didn't get either of those. I know it is because of my weight. Luckily I don't have to get a job right now but it sure would have been nice. I'm sorry to bring such a down post to you all. I probably won't post again for a while cause I don't want to be such a downer. I am going to try with all my heart to get back on my program today. Please pray for me.
Vicki -- I'm SOOO excited for you and SOO proud of you on your 101!!! I can't WAIT to be able to say the same thing.
HEather---I can imagine your frustration
-- 100 is SOOOO great I would want to be having people turn and stare at me I thought is was good advise to just check to make SURE all is well. BUt even if there are no strange circumstances, please hang in there--- 100 pound loss is SUCH a reason for celebration!
Jilly-- LOVE you, dude! yes, I am going to TAKE that 1.5 loss and count it and be proud of my little victories! Thanks
Welcome Robwyn! I'm still new here too.... it's great.
Z--LOVE that you're looking at competition---you have SO much to be proud of and to celebrate. You are such an inspiration!
Hi to everyone.... Hope you all have great things to celebrate.
Have a great....
2LosinIt -- confidently down 19 pounds as of yesterday.... lol
Dogpal.... Please dont' stop posting here...... now, more than ever, I think you should stick with coming here. I mean---if WE can't understand the frustration, the setbacks, the self-anger, who can? Here is exactly where you should stay connected---you have support.
Most of us know that feeling of "what's the use????". We know that feeling of self recrimination.
This isn't a group that will make you feel guilty. Or bad. Or shamed. But it IS a group, or so it would seem to me, from whom you can draw just that little bit of strength and support and connection to get you ready to take that step -----even if it's a step you've taken many times before.
Hang in there.... give yourself some space... and, when your'e ready...let us cheer you on and support you. that's what it's all about.
Well, I knew I had gained back some weight but, I have gained back 25 pounds since Christmas! I am sooooo depressed and feel like throwing in the towel. I don't know what is wrong with me. I am like an eating machine. I talked to my husband and told him how depressed I am and I am really almost just wanting to stay in bed. I have been so sick since I moved up to Northern Idaho with one bronchial infection and then a sinus infection. I just feel horrid all the time now and I know that my weight it doing it to me more. I suffer from panic disorder and agoraphobia and was doing well but now, I haven't been out of the house since my job interviews. I didn't get either of those. I know it is because of my weight. Luckily I don't have to get a job right now but it sure would have been nice. I'm sorry to bring such a down post to you all. I probably won't post again for a while cause I don't want to be such a downer. I am going to try with all my heart to get back on my program today. Please pray for me.
Blessings,
Dogpal
I used to suffer BADLY with panic attacks and agoraphobia, so badly that i couldnt even go to the doc to find out what it really was that was happening to me...I dont know if your on any meds for it, but ive found Paxil (not taking it now, im on zoloft now, which works well too) saved me from a horrible life of panic attack after panic attack, i had them severly for years and years, i still get one every so often, but not so much now (Thank God) also valium and/or Klonapin (sp?) help alot too if taken when you know youll need them...Im not saying you should or shouldnt get on meds, im not pro med although im on a ton of diff things for diff health issues....just wanted to tell you what helped me...will most DEFF keep you in my thoughts and prayers...
DOGPAL!!!! You have been so kind to many of us, so ACCEPT SOME BACK!!!! I am happy to hear your problems/upsets BUT of course it would be better to have good things to 'talk' about, but friends are for better for worse, just like a good hubby. SO moan, cry, whimper, whatever you want, I'll be here for you, just as many others here will be too.
We all have bad days or weeks so tell me/us.
xxxsharon
here's something for you, a 'virtual' girly treat. these 'virtual' chocs are NOT fattening!!!!
300+ And Ready To Try Again....#837
But as I sit here in my 7 year old non-lycra size 20 jeans I remeber when they didn't fit either and now they are loose. Makes me feel really good and like I can get into those 18's soon - (which are the same as a 16 in the stretchy ones!) Don't you let those stores who think everyone is under a 16 get you down! You'll get there - and be too classy to shop in them! 
I don't know what else to say. I hope that a few days and a visit with the psychiatrist will help you with your adversion to going back to the doctor. Please, please, please, tell your psychiatrist about the whole awful incident! I'm sure they can help...maybe even refer you to a good, understanding physician. 
101!!!! 
You GO girl!
We are all here to help and support each other whether good or bad times, losses and gains, don't feel obliged to reply to EVERYONE as you would get nothing done except a post!!!
I am happy to hear your problems/upsets BUT of course it would be better to have good things to 'talk' about, but friends are for better for worse, just like a good hubby. 
