Hi, just joined an ounce ago.
 

Hi:

For the past few years that I have been searching for online support, I would occasionally see this forum and skip past it worried it was meant to be some joke on being a fat chick, and the one thing that always entered my head was that hideous sign I thankfully haven't seen in several years now that said, "No fat chicks allowed." It robbed me of my dignity and I took it personally. I have to come out and be honest here. I just cannot take any jokes at my or any heavy person's expense. Nothing has damaged me more and I am sure I'm not alone. I have spent many years suffering in isolation. I have tried every diet and have lost weight, but regained it all. I am also hypothyroid. I have read every Geneen Roth book (and several other authors as well) and am trying to figure out what it is that has kept me in this endless loop.

I do not watch any commercial TV, but I do watch PBS; shows that focus on and exploit people with weight to lose are revolting to me. I am a musician and it is what sustains me. All I want to accomplish is a healthy lifestyle and to lose no more than 45 lbs. I have no wish to be skinny. Thanks for reading my first post. Best to all of you.

glad you investigated a little more! I'm with you - i can't stand the fat 'jokes' or exploitation.

weight management is a journey, not a race, and there are a lot of lessons waiting to be learned. welcome aboard!

Welcome! Glad you came in, lots of nice people here who understand the difficulties of dealing with being overweight.

Can't stand the fat-bashing culture we live in. There's alot of general woman-bashing in our culture, too, and I swear it seems like the worst thing the world thinks a person can be is a fat woman. So hurtful!

But you won't find any of that in here, we are all really nice! I hope you jump in and start posting -- the way to feel a sense of community is to begin sharing and chatting! Don't hold back! :)

Thanks so much for the welcome Jiffypop and Mrs Snark! I have been trying to find a great site that would actually fit me without my having to go into a dressing room. However, I do worry that such a great site would actually have me as a member. I am sooo glad I found this place! I had been getting a bit too cynical!

Welcome to the forum and best wishes on your WOE.

I'm glad you reconsidered this site, as it has nothing to do with fat bashing. It's all about support and information. That said, it's not a perfect place....like anything else. There are some ruffled feathers occasionally, but overall, it's great. I hope that when you said that you're worried that such a great site would have you as a member as a joke, right? :wel3fc:

Groucho Marx lives on!

we don't have a lot of rules around here - play nice, be respectful, report spam [because the mods can't be here all the time], and don't advertise pretty much cover it.

if you have an issue, report it to the moderators [use the little egg with the explanation point in it to report a post] and SOMETHING will happen.

Hi, Oh, yes, yes, I was quoting Groucho -- he-he. It is wonderful I found this site just when I needed inspiration and a sense of belonging the most. I am blown away at the weight loss I have seen here. I am trying to begin by being mindful and aware of what I am eating and if I am truly hungry or not. I am looking forward to spending much more time here!