Hi everyone. I'm new here and feeling kinda depressed. I had no idea I was over 300lbs until this morning at my doctor's appointment. The last time I was weighed was back in January at the obgyn's office and then I was 284lbs. Let me tell you it was a HUGE shock getting on the scale and seeing the nurse keep pushing that little marker up and up. I actually said to her "no that can't be right".
I just can't believe I let myself get this big! I don't even really know where to start but i'm just going to try and eat healthy and cut out the soda ( I drink a lot of it). Right now I get winded just walking up the stairs, so I'm going to start off slow on the exercize.
I really just wanted to say hi and any encouragement would be most welcome.
You are in the right place! Lots of help, inspiration and support given by these ladies. I was also where you are now. I was scared to get on the scale, but I was also in SOOOO much pain I couldn't stand it. Every morning I could hardly get out of bed or walk down a flight of stairs. Work? OMG...I thought I was going to die half way through my shift, my feet, ankles and knees hurt so bad. I was popping ibuprofin like it was candy. I had to do something.
Good place to start on that soda. That's exactly what I did. For the first 2 weeks I couldn't think about changing anything but the soda. I started drinking about a gallon of water a day and still do. I firmly believe it helps me flush my system.
I would like to make a suggestion. It's something that I actually saw given by someone else to another new member. We are always so hard on ourselves and the mental battle is probably the hardest part, we don't need any more negative messages going into our brains. Your ID seems to give the impression that you are defeated before you begin. Maybe something a bit more positive/optimistic would help. Something relating more toward the goals you have in mind, the life that you are working for?
Glad you joined the site! This is a great support group!
I have been trying for months to get on track with losing weight. I have had a lot of medical issues and colds throw everything off. But I guess whats different this time for me is I won't give up! I usually go for a couple of weeks then just give up completly. I think joining in the daily thread really will help you stay motivated and on track!
Also about the soda...yeah I lost my first 10 pounds by cutting out soda alone! That stuff is so bad for us!
About the exercise. I still have not been able to get in a regular exercise routine. And I have a realy hard time working out. My suggestions are start out slow. For example I dance to a 4-5 mintue song. Give it all ya got! You will be amazed how much you work out just from moving 5 mintues straight. My last suggestion is if you can wear tennis shoes when you work out wear them! At first I had horrible ankle and leg pain and it was from all the pressure was on my legs and feet. The tennis shoes really help take some pressure off.
Glad you joined! Hang in there and you can do this!
I just wanted to jump on the wagon. Start slow. I started with the walk away the pound 1 mile and had trouble about 5 min. THat was march, Now I am up being able to to 3 miles. I'm 356. It took me about me from March till October to find a eating plan I could deal with and stick with. I would say take baby steps and when you feel like you can't do it or the scale isn't moving or you just want to vent, post and I am sure we'll be here to perk ya up. It takes time, so be patient
I am really sorry you had such a shock at the doctors. I know seeing yourself over 300 lbs IS a real shocker I felt the same way when I got to 329 lbs. I was used to being 294 lbs or less, so when I got on the scales and saw I was 329 I nearly cried. Like you I couldn't help but wonder how I had let myself get so big. I guess it answered my question about why I was having such a hard time doing anything, and couldn't even put my own shoes and socks on
I think in the beginning it's easiest to just take things one day at a time, and follow babysteps. So for a few days just try to get extra water in, mabye the next few days see if you can eat a few more veges or a bit less junk food. You get the idea. Don't go cold turkey, just do it gradually and before you know it you will be ready to be 100% committed to both dieting and exercise.
I hope you will post often so we can see how you are getting on.
hi and welcome! i'm glad you found this site! it is great! i agree with what others said about babysteps and cutting out soda. i would also add that if you are near a gym with a pool to try some water exercise. i get pains in my knees when i do walk away the pounds or "land" aerobics, but doing stuff in the water feels so much better! i do water aerobics at least 3 days a week, and i know other people on here do water running and swimming. i think taking class in the water is just more fun too! whatever you decide, just do the best you can. we're all here if you need us! hope to see you on the numbered threads! lori
This has been a great site and let me tell you cutting out the soda will be a major deal. It was one of the hardest things for me to do but I did it. I pretty much strictly drink water now. I will have an occassional diet or when I want more flavor I will use about 1/2 of a crystal light lemonade on the go packet. They have other flavors too that is just what I like.
Your next big hurdle will be to cut out any extra sugar. Since I have always been a chocolate fanatic that was tough too. Some how I managed it and now the sweets don't really appeal to me. Once in a while I will eat something and will find that a few bites will curb the craving and that most of it now is so sweet and I don't want it.
Start slow with your excercise program, that isn't spelled right. Do a few minutes at a time and then just try to stretch it out a minute or two more every couple of days. Just remember that you have to get up and do. You have got to pull more activity so that you can burn more calories.
I'm new here too and it took a major upheavel in my life to get me going. I almost lost my marriage and we have been together 16 years. My weight comes from my self esteem and at the same time it drives down my self esteem. Figure out why you do what you do. I know that I am an emotional eater. So for me depression and weight have been a catch 22. I started seeing a counsler this week to help deal with those issues and also started on a new antidepressant. the counsoler is a psychiatrist so he deals with the medications all the time instead of just my family doctor. We chose welbuttrin xl because of the low risk of weight gain.
For a lot of us there are reasons we eat. Sometimes taking a good hard luck at ourselves will help us discover those reasons. Once we deal with them then we can start getting some where to handle the weight issues. Best of luck to you and I belive you are in the right place. Sometimes just reading on this board has helped me to get through a day. (I normally read it about 5 in the morning).
I think most of us got to be over 300 by being in quite a state of denial. My experience was similar, except that when I went to the doctor’s office they couldn’t even weigh me because their scale only went up to 350! Even that wasn’t enough to really get me going. What clicked for me was realizing that I could do something, even if it was only a small thing and that it didn’t matter how long it took. I could barely climb up the stairs to my house when I started – I had to take them one at a time. Now I can make it up, and while I am still slightly out of breath I don’t feel like I am going to die.
I agree with Karen that you might want to think about picking a more positive name. I have definitely found that my greatest strength comes from feeling positive about myself and hopeful for the future, not in feeling bad about the past.
Also, what part of NJ are you in? I am right on the boarder of NJ in Rockland County, NY.
Thank you all so much for the replies and support. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! I am going to take it slow, but I'm very proud that I have not had any soda yet today (which is a huge hurdle for me!).
I do know that I was in denial about how big I was getting. It's sorta like I didn't even look at myself in the mirror I just glanced over. And when I couldn't button my jeans anymore or my shirts "shrunk in the dryer", well I just stopped wearing them. I have to start holding myself accountable for what I eat and drink. And I need to get up off the couch and move around!
I think this morning was my absolute realization. When I got up I dug out my scale (which had been well hidden ) I was still somewhat harboring the thought that the scale at the doctor's WAS wrong (silly, I know). Apparently it wasn't because my scale is digital and goes up to 330lbs. Looking down and seeing a big blinking "error" is like a smack in the face. The other lovely thing I found out this morning is I now outweigh my husband by 14 lbs. I am definately determined.
Oh and I can see what you all mean about the name. I meant it as "I'm too fat and I'm tired of it!"
Again, thanks for the support. Oh and Not the Cheat, I'm from Middlesex County, NJ. Probably about 2 hrs from you
I'd like to add to the welcomes. I'm newly restarting, and found this forum especially helpful. There is something to "coming out" and stating your plan and your goals. Makes it harder to postpone things for "just one day" (as I nearly did twice this week.)
Good luck to you, FatandTired -- I think nearly everyone here has been where you've been and felt what you've felt, so we're all pulling for you.
Wow, I think most of us can relate to the shock you got when you were finally forced to face the scale and how much we weighed! But you are here and getting started, and that is the important thing. You CAN do this!
I too would like to encourage you to choose a more positive user ID. I do understand that you are tired of being fat... so are the rest of us and that's why we are here. But it helps a LOT to focus on the positive and where you are headed. As you start to see the pounds drop off and become more energetic, it will definitely help mentally. BTW if you do decide to change your User ID, you can do it by emailing a moderator. They did it for me.
And starting out slowly with what you can handle is a good way to do it. Don't focus on the larger amounts of exercise someone else may be able to do. Why not consider joining us in the exercise thread for December; we sure need everyone's minutes to help us reach our goal for the year! Just set yourself a manageable goal... not too big to start out with... one you feel you can achieve... post the goal and then work toward it with minutes all month.
Anyway, glad you are here and I can't wait to see your ticker start moving over to the right. Just go for it and you will be surprised how quickly you see it start moving!!!
A number of the ladies here have said what I would say: START, but you can start slow.
I would also encourage you to join us on the exercise thread-- you want motivation? How about the fact that a bunch of women who weighed near or above 300 pounds are working to put together 200,000 minutes of exercise this year? WE ARE ROCKING. And you can be part of it!
Set a small goal. Even 5 min a day 5 days a week. 100 minutes for the month. The exercise can be any intentional activity that gets you moving. Dance to a tune. Do some situps. Walk around the block.
No matter what you decide, my biggest piece of advice is to make a COMMITMENT to yourself and to this process. Don't worry about committing to a particular plan or anything like that at first. You may need to change and tweak your plans as you go. But make a COMMITMENT to yourself. To keep trying. To keep coming here.
3fc is an amazing place. And the women (yeah, we're just about all women) at the 300+ board will blow you away. Many of us are having amazing successes. And the thing is, there's no "miracle pill" and it is hard work. But I'll tell you a secret: the miracle is inside of you. The miracle is that every day we have a chance to make some good choices and bad choices. You don't have to make 100% good choices. Not by a long shot. All you have to do is trust yourself to LEARN to make good choices more than bad ones and you can get there. That's the secret!
New here and sad
I felt the same way when I got to 329 lbs. I was used to being 294 lbs or less, so when I got on the scales and saw I was 329 I nearly cried. Like you I couldn't help but wonder how I had let myself get so big. I guess it answered my question about why I was having such a hard time doing anything, and couldn't even put my own shoes and socks on 
whatever you decide, just do the best you can. we're all here if you need us! hope to see you on the numbered threads!
) I was still somewhat harboring the thought that the scale at the doctor's WAS wrong (silly, I know). Apparently it wasn't because my scale is digital and goes up to 330lbs. Looking down and seeing a big blinking "error" is like a smack in the face. The other lovely thing I found out this morning is I now outweigh my husband by 14 lbs. I am definately determined. 
