Well . . . I'm back. Disappointed, but back. I need to recommit to this weight loss thing. The plan was to get the CPAP machine to help me sleep, which would help with my energy level, then I'd be more inclined to exercise, etc. The medical equipment store said I'd need to pay them the remainder of my deductible to get the machine. (Pay it then and there - no making payments or anything was offered.) Well, I can't just still down and write a check for a few hundred dollars out of the blue and I didn't want to put it on the credit cards I'm trying to pay off, so I walked out. I do know that 90% of the people who have sleep apnea are overweight, so I'll have to take care of the problem the hard way - by losing weight instead of the other way around. Even with all of this I still feel unmotivated. Hmph! Well, anyway, it's a nice day out and if it doesn't rain tonight, I may force myself to go for a walk after work.

lookin' better and WW Queen: Welcome!! Actually, WW Queen isn't "new", she's been around in other groups. (I didn't know we were supposed to stick to one. I guess I tend to jump in uninvited at times in the hopes that I'm helping someone.) Glad to see her here.

Kim in NJ: Yep, only been to "THE beach" once. (I tend to be a workaholic and don't get out much.) Michigan does have nice beaches. It's just the ocean seems SO powerful, makes a different sound, smells different. Still love Michigan. A swim suit? LOL Geez, I don't even wear shorts!

No Clue: Love the yoga story. You are to be commended for trying. Keep up the good work. It'll happen. And keep laughing. I'm so happy that hubby went too - nice to have that extra support, isn't it?

The sun is shining (for now) and I'm lovin' every minute of it.

2oM (Annie)

Kim, I do post my exercise routine on the journal page of my web site. I list the activity and time on a calendar for the month. Hang in there and focus each day on staying within the points. Find your anchor or thought that will keep you going. For me it's a trip to Hawaii in December - I don't want to go to a place with a beach and watch from the sidelines again like I did in Australia .

Jody, I think it's so great that you are doing yoga. I feel I need to lose a few more pounds before I attempt that. Your story is encouraging. Italy is on place DH and I have yet to get to, I really want to go to Amalfi. The southern coast looks so beautiful when I see it on tv or in pictures. And no, I've never done Jazzercise here or in Cheyenne, sorry! Our next trip will be over Memorial Day weekend in Amsterdam, where I may get a little naughty .

Annie, certainly you can post anywhere you want, and I'll still be checking in with my old group, but it's kind of like a goal for me, getting to go down in these countdown numbers. I've been reading your posts on the sleep apnea thing, sorry about all the trouble you are having getting that taken care of. Deductibles suck. I used to have that problem, according to my husband. I guess I would stop breathing sometimes and then make a loud noise trying to force air out or something. He said it made him feel sad listening to me struggle to breathe. But he hasn't heard that in quite a while, not since I started losing weight and exercising. I think exercise helps a lot with that - I noticed I was sleeping better about a week after I started doing it regularly, felt more rested. Another one of those Catch-22s, huh?

It's a beautiful day so I need to get out and walk. Just wanted to check in with you guys and say "hello".

WW Queen: It's a good thought to move to the next group to help keep you focused. I hope that you don't think that I meant something was "wrong" with it. Hey, "Whatever works", is what I say. I just hope that no one thinks I was butting in somewhere. (Is there a "posting ediquette"? LOL)

Do you have any suggestions for motivation? I'm going to go on a search (once again) to find a website for motivational weightloss. Maybe I can find motivational stories or whatever. SOMEthing has to make my head click pretty soon. If my appearance, health, sleeplessness, and family history doesn't motivate me, what will? I feel like a slug - a big slug, but a slug none the less.

I'm glad that you mentioned that your sleeping is better since losing weight. That gives me something to think about and gives me hope that I can do it - and take full credit for it even. I know that I will have more energy once I really get going with exercising, but I was just hoping for help in the energy department first. I'll stop complaining now (and start thanking my lucky stars that that is my only problem).

2oM (Annie)

Boy, Annie, you said what I've been thinking...thank my lucky stars that that's my only problem! One of my close friends just died from a long, tough fight with breast cancer. Mo has treated this disease since 1993 and was on a winning track. About a month before the magic 5 years, she had a recurrence and the last 3 years have been really hard. But I know she lost interest in the struggle when her husband got sick with congestive heart failure and died a year ago. They were soooo devoted to each other. And Modesta was only 3 years older than I am. Why do I abuse my body like this...I'm extremely healthy but I'm pushing the edge of the envelope in a perverse way! I am going to her funeral tomorrow and will dedicate my pursuit of fitness to her. I HAVE GOT TO GIVE MY BODY A BREAK. I'm getting too old for this (54), n'est-ce pas?

A few months ago I asked my husband if I ever stop breathing while I'm sleeping. (He'd never heard of sleep apnea.) He said, "No, I wish you would. You snore like a lumberjack!" I know snoring is aggravated by obesity so that's another item on MY list of reasons to lose. He bought me strips and drops from my nose but nothing will work like the weight loss. Annie, is that CPAP something you could get on eBay?

WWQ: I absolutely love Hawaii but I've never been to Amsterdam. There sure are wild tale about that city. Will you be there more than a weekend? The countryside is supposed to be perfect for bicycling...nice and flat .

Lookin better and Kim in NJ--How're you doing? I am going to drink one more glass of water a day---starting tomorrow. Kim, how do you handle the water drinking with that long commute you do? Carry an empty bottle in the car? Do you car pool or drive it alone?

Chow for now,
Jody

Hi Jody - just a quick reply because I MUST get downstairs to ride the exercise bike for 30 min. I posted on the WW board last night that I've been having trouble with water rention bad... my legs are so swollen like when I was pregnant! They suggested drinking more H20. Yesterday I had 54 oz all day - but I did not move around enough at work. I was doing some self study at my desk and I really only got up about 10 times all day. But your post made me laugh because I wore a pair of 3 inch heels yesterday and I drank about 20 oz of H20 in the car on my ride in. I ALWAYS pee JUST BEFORE walking out the door. Yesterday I had to go SO BAD when I got to the office. I was considering parking near the curb running in and then going back out to really park the car in a spot. SInce I go in later my spot is always about .25 miles from the door (literally)! WHen I finally made it to the ladies room I thought I was going to lose it.... I was struggling to get my panytyhose off as quick as possible. That is the first time that has happened in a long time! Today if I feel like that in the car I've already decided I will pull over at a rest area - no matter how stupid that sounds on a "ride to work".
Have a Great Day everyone.... I got back OP good yesterday. Hopefully I can at least stay the same this week.
Kim
239/233/140 ....3/24/2001

Good Morning

Well, I think my mind may be heading in the right direction. It's a bit scary not knowing how my own mind works - not knowing when the motivation starts to kick in or what makes it click together. Anyway, it's been getting progressively warmer here, so people are wearing their summer clothes and I've been noticing different body shapes and ages of some of those bodies. I keep hearing my head telling me I want to look like that again. (And for longer than a week. LOL) At about 10 pm I went for a short walk in a well lit area. Nothing big. No miles logged. Just a walk. The breeze was great and cool. The sleep specialist had said that my oxygen was 85% and shouldn't be less than 90%, so as I walked I took huge deep breaths and exhales. It was a little difficult getting to sleep after actually using my heart and lungs, but once I got to sleep, I think I slept well. Maybe I still stopped breathing at times, but I do feel good this morning. Better than previous mornings. Gosh, maybe I'll make a habit out of all of this!!! Could it be???

No Clue: Sorry to hear of your friend's passing. I've mentioned this before but a family friend of ours passed away last fall of breast cancer. She was 38. That seemed to help me motivate at the time, but it soon fizzled out. The idea of getting the CPAP machine on EBay crossed my mind, but I never looked into it. Thanks for reminding me to do that. I, too, am starting to drink more water and that really helps. I find that I'm not as interested in sweets. Maybe it's true that when you think you're hungry, you're actually thirsty.

Kim in NJ: The scariest part of your story wasn't the pee emergency, but the pantihose. LOL I still haven't found a comfortable brand for overweight women. I just avoid them. I never minded them when I was thin. I drink most of my water after I get to work. I live in a rural area, so there aren't any convenient places to stop!

Have an OP day,

2oM (Annie)

Annie, the beauty of the 3fc site is that any thread is open to anyone! I don't know if you were on a few years ago, but one group wanted to keep their thread intimate - allow only about 10 people to post. Suzanne pointed out that this is an open board and will always remain so. YEAH!!

Sounds like the exercise will really help you, didn't know about the oxygen part so that makes lots of sense. You don't have to go gung-ho, just enough to get you breathing deeply.

As far as pantyhose, I've always worn Just My Size without any problems. I have gone up one size according to the chart so that they don't "roll down".

Motivation wise, that is so hard and so personal. I've had so many reasons in the past to lose weight but none ever took. I have an uncle with diabetes that could lose a foot but he still hasn't really changed his ways - if that doesn't motivate you to live healthier than what can???? I've never really looked outside for motivation - always gone in. Long talks with myself have helped this time. Really focusing on what I want out of life and being honest with myself about what I need to do to achieve it. Not lookig at WW as the enemy that wants to keep me from my pleasure but as a friend that wants to give me better and longer lasting pleasures. It's kind of hard to put my finger on it really.

Kim, man oh man have I been there. It's like you know you won't get the clothes down in time . And once your body knows there's a bathroom nearby it just gets a mind of its own!!

Jody, DH and I do more like strikes when we go to Europe. We'll be leaving on a Thursday and coming back on Monday, but we do plan to get out to Harlaam. It's supposed to have some beautiful architecture. The whole country is flat, but it looks darn scary to be riding a bike on those canal streets. Those people on bikes don't even look when they get to an intersection and there are tall buildings so you would have no idea a car is coming until you actually got there. I couldn't believe we never saw an accident the last time we went.

Yuck, off to the doc to see about this upper back pain. I've been able to walk but that's about it. The weather is cruddy today anyway, so it looks like a trip to the gym for me.

Hi everyone... I just posted on the 100+ off to the races thread so please check there to see how I redeemed myself this weekend and ended up losing 2 lbs. I am so excited because the week started off with a 52 pt Saturday after weigh in and then followed by 38 and 43 on Sun & Mon. But I started DRINKING WATER - like 80 oz. each day from Tues on. I weighed myself on that Monday and it said 235 - I almost died..... On Sat. at weigh-in I was 231 so I am VERY grateful!!!!

Since you all were laughing at my pantihose story ..... I need to make you laugh even more. I was driving my 4 year old home from dance class on Saturday and she calls from the backseat... "Mommy, stop the car - my hosie posies are falling down" .... I almost DID have to stop the car I was laughing so much.

Chat with you more later.
Kim
239/231/140 .....3/24/2001

I'm really feeling chipper today, maybe because we have blue sky again! Normally I don't post early in the day but I have a couple of minutes before I have to run off to work.

It's a beautiful morning. I've done my swimming thing and am determined to have a better week. Not that last week was so bad but I weighed this a.m. and maintained. But we had Chinese food for supper last night and my rings actually slipped on my fingers this morning with less resistance than normal. Didn't expect that after the msg dose!

This week I want to do it all...better journaling, more water and more exercise. I might even try walking to work tomorrow. Not that it's so far (2 miles) but I just don't seem to have the time it takes since I'm not a very fast walker.

I hope everyone else feels the promise of spring and has a great new beginning this week!

Chow,
Jody

Hi,

I just rejoined WW a couple of weeks ago after a VERY long departure. At one point, a couple of years a go, I was down to 203.2. But, when I weighed in I was at 242.6. So, I had gained back everything I had lost, and then some! Not a good day. But, after two weeks back on the prgram, I have lost 5 pounds, and am feeling like I can do this again.

Do you have room for another?

Kathi
242.6/237.6/140

kathi: WELCOME!! This such a wonderful site that you'll make friends very easily.

Just look at NoClue's last post. Now, that is inspiring. Just reading it makes me want to try harder.

I was actually thinking that I should start getting in the habit of journalling every day again. (Kinda slipped out of it for a while.) Then I read that post. Hmmm. . . today IS Monday. And is there any better day to start out fresh? So . . . here it goes. (Oh, by the way, wish me luck.)

Have a good afternoon.

2oM (Annie)

Well I am new to this thread...as of tonights weigh in I am down 3.6 lbs which puts me at 248.6!!! I am a graduate of the 250 group!!!
My name is Angie and I am 24, a full time college student, a Stay at Home Mom to my beautiful 2 year old, Hannah, and wife to Emil!!
I look forward to getting to know all of you! I already know WW Queen!!! Hey I made it!!



Angie
267.6/248.6/241.6 10%

Kathi and Angie, so glad to hear from you. I hope you will get as motivated from the dynamic folks on this site as I have. The scale doesn't measure the increase in self-esteem that I'm experiencing here and that is THE BIG PLUS for me.

Kathi, I just read an article in my AAA magazine about the wonderful lake vacations in MN, and now more glamorous than ever with fancy resorts. Is Lakeville one of those places we would all want to visit?

Angie, CONGRATULATIONS on one graduation from the 250 group. If you are away from school during the summer, fellow students will be so impressed with your summer achievements - in the weight loss category. You've done so well already. What is your major and how long till you're done with that? I admire anyone who can be a full time student while being a full time mom of a toddler!

Annie, did you journal today yet? I have to do a good job on mine tonight because we still have leftover Chinese! I did drink an extra 24 oz glass of water at work and walked to my yoga class. Will have water with my dinner (unless it turns into wine -I should be so lucky) and another glass while I'm paying bills. But I better get the rear in gear because it's already 7:30!!

And the Av's will win tonight!

Have a good evening/night/morning. Catch ya later.
Jody

I am actually not new to the 3FC site. I logged on YEARS ago after they were featured in People magazine. At that time, they did not even have message boards, yet. But, once they got the message boards going, I was here all the time. I can't even count how many address changes they have had (at least 3 or 4). When I started WW for the first time (2 1/2 years ago) I was on the boards ALL THE TIME! And had really made some great friendships. (Does anyone know Susannah from GA? I have been looking for her.) But, when my motivation took a downward slide, I posted less and less, until I stopped. I felt ashamed to come her and see all the stories of success when I was gaining all my weight back. In fact, it was on the "Countdown to 225 and 200" boards that I developed such strong relationships. It is hard for me to face the fact that I am at this place AGAIN, having to lose all that weight all over. But, I know that coming back to 3FC was a step in the right direction. I love the fact that I can come here and find women in the exact same place as me. At my WW meeting there are so many people that I would consider "skinny" (not lifetimers) trying to lose 10 lbs or so. I understand that those 10 lbs may seem as impossible as my 100, but I can't really relate to them! Do you know that this site is the ONLY place I have ever told my weight freely? My husband does not know, my Best Friend does not know, but here I feel safe. Whenever I have had a bad points day (like yesterday) I can come here and read people's posts and get inspired to make the next day count. I had started a thread on the "BUddy Up" boards and had someone posting, but then she stopped and I felt I needed to go searching. So, I came back to the "countdown" boards. I can tell that you guys have a strong supportive thread going here, and that was what I was looking for. So, Thank You for welcoming me!

Jody: Lakeville is a suburb of the Twin Cities. Although we have many lakes and it is a nice area, it is not a resort city. Most of the resort lakes are in out state MN. But, Lakeville is a nice place to visit. Only 20 minutes from the Mall of America, 30 from downtown Minneapolis, and 25 from dowtown St. Paul. Not a bad place to be at all!

Angie: Congrats on the "step down", I know how awesome that feels!

Annie (that's my Best Friend's name): Journaling is the biggest struggle for me. I just do not take it seriously enough. I know that the people who journal are the ones that succeed, so I am trying to be better about it.

Well, I should go take a shower and start my day! Have a good one!

Kathi

Good Morning. Only three more days 'til Friday.

hannahntigger: I read the 250 posts first this morning and saw that you had moved down. Glad to "see" you here now, too.

No Clue: I did journal yesterday, but went over in points. Got home at little late last night and ended up eating what everyone else was eating (macaroni and cheese). The elegance just never ends at our house. I have made a real effort to drink more water lately and I'm drinking even more last night and today. I have a sore throat that just won't give up, along with a headache. Don't know where I caught that from, as I don't share drinks or food with others.

kathi: Don't beat yourself over losing then gaining. I think you could count on one hand the number of people hear that that HASN'T happened to. 11 years ago I weighed 114 pounds - only for a few weeks, but hey, I was there. Then I got depressed, stopped walking 4 miles a day, which made me even more depressed, and the weight piled on. I put on 100 pounds. I know I'll never see 114 again. To be honest, that wasn't a very happy time anyway. I just want to feel good. So, don't ever let your weight hold you back from posting. There are times when I'm in a slump, but I still try to post and hope I can help someone else and at the same time get some motivation built up.

Hope you post often.

2oM (Annie)