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!
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Okay all, I should NOT be here...I'm at work - at 6:45 on Saturday Night! All because I spend too much time on-line and not enough working. But I had to drop in!
I've had a fattening day today and know I now have no flex points left...but I had Indian food for the first time today. LOVED IT! (Like there's ever been a type of food I don't! ) On the up side...no dinner for me, 'cause I'm at work!
I did 11+ minutes on the eliptical last night. A personal best!
Garnet: I really am only posting to tell you I LOVED the Bay City Rollers as a kid! I had all their albums - even the imports! I even went to a concert when I was 15. (Derek was my favorite! ) I didn't think that anyone else would admit to liking them! Boy, are we showing our age!
There's been so many posts since yesterday I only skimmed the reading...hope no one minds, but I doubt I'll catch up. If anyone asked me anything important...PM me - otherwise I'll assume no one care's what I think! HA!
Got to run. It's CREEPY all alone in an office building at night! (They make scary movies that start like this - don't they? Brrrr!)
I just want to quickly post this message before getting back to my Word document of replies. I have the address for the pic copied and want to get it on here before I copy something else. I posted the pic and message on the Maintainers board, thinking they may have had some experience with the problem. I also wondered if some of you wonderful ladies may have some input here as well.
OK... I had hubby take this photo of me yesterday (poor baby is often asked to do this now),
... and I was wondering why I still can't 'see' myself as this picture shows me. If I saw this body with a different head I would think "Hey, this person looks quite slim." But all I see of myself (especially when undressed - AAAHHH!!) is the flabby bits and parts of me spreading out when I sit down. Now, I know that this type of thing just happens as we get older (44th birthday is approaching very soon), but I think I perhaps see MORE of it than could actually be there. I really don't know, but it seems weird that I wouldn't consider myself anywhere NEAR 'slim' at the moment, but that body in the photo looks OK to me.
I'm not sure what I am thinking about this really (you know me... it could simply be my hormones messing with my mind again) but it just seems weird. I know something similar has been mentioned before about seeing yourself still as the big person you used to be, so perhaps that is the problem. Not sure really, as usual.
I am wondering whether I still have it in my subconscious mind that I have to reach my original weight goal to actually be 'slim'. I thought I had come to grips with that and was happy with where I was at. Oh well... I will keep pondering the situation. Keeps me on my toes I suppose.
Lilion - I liked Derek and Woody...loved the hair! S A T U R D A Y NIGHT!
Luan - you are so pretty! and the makeup is nice too.
Zelma - you look marvelous! Maybe you could look into some body image counselling if it is really bothering you.
I am 43 and was in the 300s for about 6 years and I was wondering if you have much loose skin. I am especially concerned about my upper arms and my belly flap and under my chin. It looks like under your chin it is smooth and firm, it looks great. How long did you take to lose your weight? Did you do much strength training or toning?
I know you only recently got a home gym type thing, right? is that when you began the toning???
Please forgive me my invasive questions but you are a role model to me on this weight loss trip and I really want to know something of what to expect. As it is I am worried about needing plastic surgery to firm up the flesh. Also, what about your breasts?? Do they shrink up as you lose????
Thanks!!
YOu look just great and so happy too.
The rest of this was a post I accidently made after the last thread closed I cut and pasted it here in case everyone missed it because I did not want the people who had said things to me to think I did not respond.
Kayley and Valerie - NO FAIR!
I am 271 and still wearing 3x. How tall are you all???I am 5'2". Totally unfair<stomps feet and pouts>
But I am very happy for both of you !!!
Okay, I just dug out a pair of 22 pants my mom got me by mistake at an estate sale.
THEY FIT!! I am SITTING down in them!! it is a MIRACLE! Thanks for making me try them on!!
Amy - I am glad you are amused! I will let my son know about the Echinacea and Vit. C. We both believe in supplements. I had not thought about it but I bet he doesnt have any vitamins because he is not working he is going to school. I dont know if his wife is into supplements or not but I doubt it. I will have to check into that.
It was a bit worse I have been having cokes again. Ive had two today and Had one yesterday....but I think I am about over that too. congratulations on not taking the whole weekend off to eat a "bunch of crap" and just using some flex points at the BK. That is a really good thing, Im proud of ya!
Valerie - Thanks. I did not see 20/20 but I appreciate he information for sure! Mom and I made a special trip to Applebees to eat (I had never been to one and was curious) just to eat off their WW menu. So much for
that! I had the tilapia with mixed vegetables instead of rice and apparantly their vegetables were not mixing that day because I got a double serving of steamed broccoli tips. It was good but I never ate so much broccoli in my life! It was the prettiest color green.
I dont understand why everyone puts so much sodium in everything???!! I hate it. I never add any to my food. I think my mom uses too much salt when she cooks too but I cant do anything about that either. Although
lately I have not been eating her cooking. I have been zapping a frozen mesquite grilled chicken breast (big package from sam's club) and eating that with some salad or vegetables. Of course it is probably full of sodium too. Cant get away from it.
Resistance is futile!
Amber - sounds like you are really doing great on your eating, keep it up!
I hear you on the beach. Carolyn and I are supposed to go sometime before school lets out. If we can manage to both have a little money at the same time it would help!
nuthinfanci - Another Curves woman...there are quite a few of y'all on here.
Catharine - as usual you are right on the money. I like your boxing analogy. It seems like I eat off about one day a week or so. Maybe it does kick up the metabolism...hope so, I would hate to think I could have lost an extra pound except for that one off day. ha ha Very glad you had a good birthday and got an intrigueing secret cant say online birthday gift...that sounds super cool!
Crock - when do you get your grade on your paper you did?
Kayley - ive been doing the magazine thing too. There are SO MANY magazines on health and fitness, it is unreal and they are expensive (to me). But I get one here and there anyway. Ive taken some diet books out of the library too. Before I order a book or bid on one I always check the local library catalogue online to see if I can get it from the library for free to read.
Ammi - thanks for the carrot...I guess I am doing better than I think I am.
yeah, I grew up with Barry Manilow and Leif Garrett and Shawn Cassidy and the Bay City Rollers...remember them?? I dont think anyone admits to liking any of them anymore.
Dogpal - I agree you and kayley are going to break thru into the next phase very soon, I can feel it. Kayley will hit the 200s with a bang and you will hit the 300s running! There will be no stopping you two!
Ive been wondering if Kayley had a big off program day if it would kickstart her metabolism and get her moving down again. I have a book about carb cycling, I think I will read that one next.
Shawn is the only June baby we have in our family to my knowlege...Lets see count nine months backwards...must be sports season or something everyone otherwise occupied. ha ha
__________________
Exercise Goal for March: 800 minutes (495 done)
01/01/06=306 #lost=20
02/01/06=286 #lost=0
03/01/06=286 #lost=10 so far
One Hundred Pounds in a Year 65# left to go
306/271/135 136# left to go
No individuals tonight, except for Zelma...hun, you look fantastic! But no matter HOW slim we get, I think that we're always going to see those imperfections! You are doing great, and you look FAB...I think I'm repeating myself here.
Tonight was horrid. I got spit on, punched, pinched, yelled at, and I'm just TIRED OF IT! And the kicker? They didn't even schedule me ANY hours the entire month of April!
Tonight was horrid. I got spit on, punched, pinched, yelled at, and I'm just TIRED OF IT! And the kicker? They didn't even schedule me ANY hours the entire month of April!
Kayley -- taken out of context, it sounds like you're upset you won't get abused in April, though I know that's not what you mean. I hope you manage to get some hours for April!!
Garnetfairy -- I know what you mean about feeling like other people are much smaller than you at your weight. I'm 5'5" and currently weight 223 -- I'm in 20s mostly (and now a few 18s, mostly tops). We really are all different!
Luan - I'm still waiting to hear from my sis about my Ghana niece, but I haven't forgotten. ** You look great in that photo! And the makeup really does look beautifully natural. I like your "runway" look, too!
Poor Lilion, working on the weekend! I don't know about Indian food, but I'm TOTALLY into Thai food & Mongolian grills on the rare occasion I can get them. I loved the Thai curry I had, but I think Indian curry is much hotter??
Dear Zelma, you look absolutely lovely to me! (Where's the whistle smiley?) I'm still at a stage where every time I see myself in the mirror I can't believe I'm that FAT, so I can understand that we see what we expect to see and don't judge ourselves fairly. I'm glad you can at least imagine what you'd think of your body if you saw it on someone else, so to speak. Recall the best reactions of your friends and students who haven't seen you for a while. Please be assured that others see you as slim and lovely! I wish I knew what to say to make you feel that way too, but perhaps you still just need a little more time to get used to your new body. NONE of us will ever be a hard-bodied 16 year old nymph again... but look at the bright side, we get to keep our hardearned wisdom! Garnet & I probably aren't alone in our concern about extra skin, but you look so great you give me hope! Personally I'd like to have a neck again - but the double D's could vanish ANY time! I'd hate to have to duct tape 'em down to go horseback riding without flopping!
Garnet, That is SO WAY COOL that you got into those 22's and didn't expect to! You've gotta feel fantastic about that. What a great surprise. I'm only 5'3" and I'm still in a 2X most of the time. I already bought a pair of 20's, so I better get into them before I wear out my only pair of 22's!
The pups have been squeezed & it's an early day tomorrow, so I'm off for that much needed beauty rest. Nighty-night my friends!
First of all… please don’t all feel obliged to answer these messages. I am over my ‘sensitivity’ and will not mind one little bit. I don’t feel anywhere NEAR as ‘blah’ as I did during the week, so hopefully things are settling down… just in time for TOM at the end of the week. Great huh?????lol
Catherine – Happy Belated Birthday!!!!!! Sorry I didn’t post earlier, but I have just had enough time to read posts, but not enough to answer them. Although that is a pretty pathetic excuse for not wishing you a quick happy birthday I suppose. It is wonderful that your hubby was able to buy you some clothing for your birthday. I’m not sure my hubby would be game enough to do that. I am a little too fussy I think. Although, he has been in enough clothing stores to know what I like by now I would imagine. Poor baby.
Kayley – Congratulations on fitting into the 20 pants!!!!! That feeling of being able to do up pants that would hardly go up the legs earlier is simply wonderful. I have been very lucky to have a few pairs of jeans and other pants passed down to me, as I have nothing of the next size down, and some of them I can JUST do up, but I wouldn’t want to even TRY sitting, and perhaps breathing would have to be kept to a minimum as well.
I was looking at your tracker and seeing that 50lbs… isn’t that a wonderful achievement? Well done!!!
Do you find that having no butt gets uncomfortable at times? I am definitely not used to not having a butt and I find that some seats get very uncomfortable with a boney butt. I also have to buy a mat for doing sit-ups as I don’t have enough padding to do it on the carpet.
Thank you for the compliment about the picture. You are right about us always seeing imperfections that others don’t.
Sorry you had such a rough time at work. How will you go with no hours in April? Don’t you have a minimum amount of time that they have to have you working, or is it just at their discretion? That isn’t too good. I know that the money is needed.
Nancy – It is great that you were able to see the definition in your calves. I remember the first time I noticed my calf muscles I actually thought it was ‘flab’, and had to actually feel it to believe it was the muscle definition showing through. You’ll have to check out other places to look for more changes now.
Luan – I wish I was on the East coast! Then I could plan to meet you. I kinda mentioned to hubby that we could try to get over to Sydney or Melbourne just before Christmas, but I don’t think we could afford it. It is more expensive to fly interstate than internationally at times.
I also can’t help you much with the concerts as we don’t go to any concerts and we often have different people over here to the eastern states. I know you can often get tickets through something called BOCS office, but I’m not sure if they have a site where you can find out about concerts as well. If I can find out anything I’ll let you know. And if you and your friend decide to add Western Australia to your itinerary we have beds here! I would love to show you around. We don’t have much to look at compared to Sydney and Melbourne, but I love it over here. Perth is kinda like a large country town still although our population is about 1.2 million.
Ammi – Australia has the same drinking ages as the UK obviously, but sometimes I wish that they would make them a little higher, so that ‘kids’ got their driver’s licenses at 17, then had a few years to get used to being behind the wheel before they could drink.
I managed to watch some of the diving at the Commonwealth Games yesterday. I do enjoy that event. They are just so amazing, when they make such a little splash. I saw the young Australian girl who looks and sounds about 9! Not a bad little diver huh?
Oh, and you are SO right about the only way being UP when you are so down. I didn't think I would get out of my 'slump' but I am almost totally out of it now and feeling SO much better.
Garnetfairy – You are doing SO well with your workouts at the gym! I sometimes wish I was a gym person, but I like having my equipment at home as well, so I can’t really complain.
I don’t have much positive to tell you about loose skin I’m afraid. I have quite a bit of it on the tops of my arms and thighs and my stomach. I was VERY lucky and my face/neck area has ‘recovered’ very well. I am happy about that because that is the hardest to hide. I tend to look on the rest as my ‘badges of honour’ and I don’t intend having anything done about them at the moment. If they ever become a medical problem I may have to look at surgery, but for now I’ll just keep it all covered up. Mind you, I think I have lots more than many people as I was obese for close on 30 years (getting bigger and bigger over that time), and didn’t lose the weight until my early 40s, which means that my skin wasn’t as elastic as someone younger. Many people won’t have quite the same problem I don’t believe. I have only been doing weight training quite recently (I wish I’d started earlier) and am hoping that things will tighten up a little, but I think I’ll be OK with it if it doesn’t. Oh… and the boobs???? Well, I heard someone describe theirs as ‘socks’ and that seems quite an apt description I think. Luckily a good bra can disguise that and hubby says he doesn’t mind in the least and still finds me ‘sexy’, so I can live with that as well.
Amy – It is interesting to hear you talk about ‘naps’. I thought that once I lost a lot of weight that I wouldn’t be wanting my naps, but I still love taking an afternoon nap when I can. I’m not sure I NEED them as much anymore, but I definitely enjoy them. Some afternoons after work I definitely need them!
I know we probably won’t see you for a couple of days as you spend time with Nat, but I look forward to hearing how your weekend went… without TOO many details… as I’m sure you will have a wonderful time.
Valerie – I’m glad you explained to Ammi what a ‘jumper’ is over there, because ours here is a knitted long-sleeved top, like I would presume Ammi’s is. I always wondered what you guys called a jumper as I didn’t think it was the same as ours. Oh, and I agree wholeheartedly about drink-driving being attempted murder. We have a problem over here where too many drink-drivers get off with a slap on the wrist, then kill someone a little while later under the same offence. I don’t think our laws are as tough as the eastern states. You do lose points off your license, but it takes a while for that to happen, so you can drive around until the points are taken off your license. We have had people who should have had their license revoked, but drive around for months until the last points are removed. It kind of defeats the purpose I think. It makes me SO angry. I didn’t realize that your ages for drinking vary from state to state. Over here, you can drink ANYTHING at 18 years. You can get your driver’s license at 17.
Thank you for the lovely comments about the picture. You are right! I didn’t really think about it at the time, but I need to remember what I actually said about the picture – “If that was someone else’s body I would think it was slim” – and perhaps keep repeating that to myself. It is weird, but I made that statement and didn’t really let it sink in thoroughly. I suppose that basically I am saying that I am ‘slim’. Weird… but something for me to think about.
MsCrockett – It sounds as though your winter is lasting a little longer than you would like. We are having some very cold weather here at the moment. Well… it feels very cold to me because I have lost my ‘insulation’. I am still getting used to actually feeling the cold a lot more than I used to. I was SO looking forward to summer, but we had a very cold summer, then we had a couple of weeks where it actually looked as though it might be warming up, and it is now cold again. It was just teasing us! So, if that is summer, it was the coldest I have ever been through. Not good! I hope your warmer weather gets to you soon.
Nancy - I really should look into the hormone/weight loss concept a little more closely, as I am sure that is the cause of my 'weird' emotions these past few months. I truly feel that my body is trying to catch up in some way. I just wish I knew what it was doing and what to expect. It might make life a little easier.
Wyllen – Thank you for the lovely compliment. I love hearing that sort of thing. I’m hoping that I will believe it 100% soon, instead of looking at what’s ‘wrong’ with my body.
Teahoney – Thank you for the terrific boost! It is always great to hear and after a lot of deep thinking after reading what you guys have to say I truly think I may actually end up believing that. I feel better already and I think I am going to wear that outfit to school tomorrow and ‘knock some socks off!’
As for me, I have had a lovely weekend. It is Sunday afternoon and the only plans I have are to get this post finished, look around the site a little more, then do some exercise. Then dinner, a little TV, reading and maybe a little school work. Not sure about that. I have been getting a little ‘slack’ with school work on a Sunday because I have THREE planning periods on Monday and I leave a lot for then. I should do more on a Sunday though. Perhaps I should do housework instead.
Yesterday we went shopping then wandered around the local festival. We walked to and from the festival for the first time ever and it was a great feeling to be able to do that so easily. We even walked up the ‘hilly’ route and I didn’t have any problems. I got another early birthday present yesterday (we are SO naughty with money) which was a heart monitor. It is the kind where you strap a monitor across your chest and read the results on a watch. It does SO much and we are only a little way through the book so far. We know how to get it to tell the time and let me know my heart rate. I also got it to tell me the calories burned while I was on the treadmill which was great to know. I plan on wearing it all day for a while to see how I go. So I wore it for the first time on our walk to the festival.
Today we got out early for hubby to have a practice hit of golf, then off to the markets. Then I had a problem with my ‘bladder’ and had to go to the bathroom HEAPS, so we didn’t know if we would be able to do anything else for the day. It got better though, so we went into the city this afternoon for a wander. It is a beautiful sunny day, although it was FREEZING while hubby was hitting his little white balls at 6:45 this morning.
I did a fitness test with my heart monitor this morning and I am VERY pleased with the result. I was a little worried about my resting heart rate, but this tells me that I am at a VERY GOOD level of fitness, which is very nice to know. I am only one point off ELITE. I don’t know if I’ll ever reach that, but it is something to aim for I suppose. My resting heart rate is still very low 40s but when I am standing or moving even slowly it moves up to the 60/70s, so that is fine.
Well, that is probably all my ‘gossip’ for the moment. We have less than 3 weeks left of term 1 left before we get two weeks off, which will be VERY nice. I may catch up with some family that I have seen for a couple of years over the holidays and it will be lovely to ‘surprise’ them with the new me. I never get tired of that.
Sorry if I missed people, but I only went back a couple of threads or it would have confused my poor already addled brain.
I hope you are all having wonderful weekends. I know that I am feeling SO much better than I was during the week. Like I mentioned somewhere earlier, I am feeling better just in time for TOM later this week. Good timing huh???
Take care all,
Zelma
OH!!! Just remembered a little news! We are getting a Borders here!!!!!!! I loved shopping there while we were in the US and have always wanted one here and when we were in the city this afternoon we saw that one is opening. Not sure when, but the sooner the better. You can NEVER have too many books! I think that is another reason why I like that picture I posted. I am in front of two of my favourite things – books and teddies! Oh… and of course I am in front my absolute favourite person holding the camera… but you can’t see him.
Happy Mothers day to all the ladies celebrating it today. I am, and I have had a lovely breakfast in bed, some lovely cards and gifts. My fave gift being the DVD of The Sound of music, it's a sing a long version, you can watch the film, or you can just watch the songs with subtitles lol. I have loved the film and it's music since I was about 7
Right now I am watching the closing of the Commonwealth Games. I am going to miss watching all the sports, oh well, I can catch up on lots of missed sleep this week.
Julee - I suspected it might be Leo's baby, how sad that he is engaged and she hasn't told him about the baby. He didn't take long to get over her did he! Thanks for letting me know.
Annie - wow that is so cool that your niece is in some classes and the same choir as Lisa (thank you for reminding me of her name). It's a shame that you niece won't audition for American Idol. She shouldn't let Simon put her off, like I said, I think he secretly LOVES the bigger woman. That guy you like, his name is Elliot, he can sing brillantly especially as he is partially deaf.
Valerie - I am glad to hear you like Neil Diamond too. He has so many songs that I love, it's hard to pick a favourite.
Garnetfairy - oh wasn't Leif Garret just gorgeous, I can't even tell you a song he sang, but I remember how gorgeous I thought he was. Yes I remember the Bay City Rollers, but I wasn't into them.
Luan - I loved the photos of the make up you did. I remember reading once that it is far more difficult doing a face of the 'natural' look rather than doing some full on make up. Is that true?
I am glad you told your friend about Katoomba, I hope she fits it into your Australian itinerary.
Lilion - You had me in stitches when you said about being in the office after hours and how they make scary movies starting like that. I sure do hope you got home safely
Zelma - You look PERFECT in that photo. I can understand that you aren't happy with yourself undressed, I don't think anybody, not even super models are happy in the nuddy. Would you consider having a tummy tuck etc, that would probably go a long way towards making you feel as great as you look in that photo.
I am glad you got to see some of the diving, and that you know the little Aussie girl diver I mentioned. There was also a little Malaysian boy diver. They start so young don't they? My fave of the diving is the synchronised dives from the 3 metre board. The closing ceremony just finished, John Farnham stuffed up singing You're The Voice. Oh well, it was still great. It's a shame Kath and Kim didn't take part in the ceremony, I think they are great
Oh and yes, a jumper here is the same as a jumper there, a long sleeved knitted top.
I am feeling a bit under the weather, I have had a sore throat for a while, and now I am feeling bunged up. I think a cold is well and truly taking hold. Rats. But good news, a night of resting up has helped my back and it's not too bad today. Well time to get some emails written and then I might have a sleep, I was up watching the games late again last night. No more though, sob, early night tonight then. Bye for now,
300+ And Ready To Try Again.. #868
) On the up side...no dinner for me, 'cause I'm at work! 
eliptical last night. A personal best! 
I hope you manage to get some hours for April!!
Garnet & I probably aren't alone in our concern about extra skin, but you look so great you give me hope! Personally I'd like to have a neck again - but the double D's could vanish ANY time! I'd hate to have to duct tape 'em down to go horseback riding without flopping! 
