Hi - my name is Susan and I'm am here because I am tired of being tired and uncomfortable and fat. I'm 46 years old and am squeezing into size 18 clothes. I was a size 10 in high school. I gained weight with my first child (I was 29) and thought I was "huge" because I was wearing size 14's. I wish I could wear a 14 now! I lost some weight after a bad divorce - got back down to 12's and some 10's. Then had another baby at 39 and had to have an emergency c-section. I swear that totally changed my body. I gained the weight back and then some.

I went up and down for a few years and I swear it felt like "overnight" I grew this belly! I look like an apple. I do not recognize myself in the mirror. It is depressing. And I already have depression!

My last physical on May 6th I tipped the scales at 231. My triglycerides were 353. My cholesterol was 236. My doctor told me I HAD to get my triglycerides down.

So here I am. I've cut out sugar almost completely from my diet. TRY to eat low carbs. I usually bring a special k breakfast sandwich to work for breakfast, and a sandwich for lunch. But find I binge at night. When I started out - I almost immediately lost 5 pounds. Only to gain 2 back!

I'm just so hungry. It sux. I have always had a good, athletic body. And now I have this belly fat and my thighs rub together. I am out of breath doing simple things. I just need help and support! Thank you~!

*Oh - a little bit about myself - I am divorced (twice) and live with my (also overweight) boyfriend. We love to eat. It's just me and him and our pets - a little schnauzer and my ginger cat. We have started walking around the block as of this weekend. I just can't take it anymore!

Hi Susan, I'm Melissa and welcome to 3FC. I'm from Georgia and moved to Houston in October in order to find a job. I really miss GA; most of my family is there. However, a woman's got to work. It sounds like you're really moving forward with controlling your diet. I can identify with you about carbs and the sugar. My body doesn't like them, but unfortunately I do. Some days I'm in total control and some days I'm not. But due to necessity, we must continue to try and to stay encouraged. If you need anyone to offer your encouragement or you just need to commiserate with someone, I'm here, and the folk on this forum are very good at helping you to "come to your senses." God bless you.

Thanks Melissa! I really need a weight loss friend. And you are tall like me. People never believe me when I tell them what I weigh. And I honestly think that has somewhat "enabled" me to get bigger and bigger! Because I can "carry it". But I am miserable!

Alright thats great! That means your on the road to weight success!
Just keep posting on 3FC so we can see your progress

Also welcome to the party

Oh man, I can relate to this. I'm hourglass-shaped and lose/gain weight pretty proportionally. So 30 pounds up or down doesn't necessarily visually change much (which is frustrating to me). But it also means that my friends/family don't notice when I'm "in trouble" weight-gain wise. And I can fool myself into thinking it's "not that bad," when it is.

It's how I went from 150 pounds to 220 pounds in a year. Denial, denial, denial...

Yep, being tall can get you into trouble because you don't look as big as the scale indicates. However, ladies when you're approaching the 220lbs landmark, you begin to not only show it but also to feel it. Boy, do you feel it! Being tall can definitely encourage and even support denial. That is until your thighs start rubbing together and making musical sounds. I think we should form a group for tall ladies called "You Carry It Well." Yes, I'm being sarcastic. We all have heard this unhealthy lie before. We may be able to still look good as we are hiding our extra pounds due to our height and shape, but we're still unhealthy and we feel it. Ladies, please help me to reach the point where I don't have to "carry it well."

I'm not sure that having a group for tall ladies called "You Carry It Well" would necessarily be a bad thing. In any case, I think all of your statuesque sisters are here for you. <3

fellow Georgian! You are in the right spot! 3FC has been my life savior when it comes to weight loss. So many people, so much inspiration, it is hard to do anything but jump on as you see the men and women around you accomplish the impossible. You can do this!

hello to every i new member of this forum i will share with u best information i have

Hey Gingercat Warrior and Princess (Yes, I followed Jane Grey's transformation into the Phoenix as well. ;->), thanks for the encouragement and support. You know you've got me thinking, which is always a dangerous thing in my case. Maybe we could establish a statuesque sister group or something. Because quite frankly, being overweight is one thing, but being tall and overweight brings the situation into a whole other stratosphere.(clothing, public seating spaces, eating your knees while on a plane, the scale telling you that you're "man-size", and a plethora of other demoralizing things...). We need some moral support while we're on this journey called life.

Muwahaha! So stoked when people share my love of Xena (and badass comic chicks).

I'm up for a group (or thread) that's "sisterhood of the (long) pants" or something.

Hey,
In support of Xena (Lord, I miss the re-runs.) and Phoenix like ladies, we'll start a "Sisterhood of the Big and Tall Pants" thread. I'll set up the thread today. Hopefully, ladies who have been dealing with the issues that being big and tall can bring will find comfort and encouragement this.

You guys are awesome.

I think it's a great idea to start a group for us tall/big girls. Every time I complain about my weight to my family/friends they ALWAYS say "Well, you sure carry it well". Ugh. But I feel like crap! My back hurts, my thighs rub together, I have this belly, I can't catch my breath. Yuck.

Here's to feeling good about ourselves again when we look in the mirror!

Gingercat, I know just how you feel. I'm right there with you. I want to feel good in mind, body and spirit. And until I get to the point of having achieved optimum health, I really don't want to hear about how I'm "carrying something well." ;->

Ladies, the Sisterhood of the Big and Tall Pants thread is now operational. I placed it on the Weight Loss Support forum so that all 3FC's tall ladies can find and access it easily. Remember, you are all phenomenal women!

Hey Ladies, apparently placing the thread in the Weight Loss Support forum was inappropriate. Our thread has been moved to the Support Forum under "Support Groups." Oh well. as long as folk can find it and make good use of it, that's good enough. Already some really cool ladies have begun to post their thoughts. I'll see you over there my Sisters.