Hi all. I have been here at 3fc for 3 1/2 years now. Wow time sure flys. To all you new folks, stick with it. It's well worth the effort.

I have always been overweight and my highest weight was 490. I dieted back in the early 90s with a pretty good success at losing 190 lbs. I then got married and put a few pounds back on and then fell at work and broke my back which gave be a great excuse to gain most of it back.

So fast forward to 2003 and weighing in at 421 with a bad back. I could hardly make it to the rest room at work without being out of breath and breaking into a sweat. I declared it's time to do something and in doing that found this site. This place has been a wonderful source of information and support for me.

So with many ups and downs over the last 3 years I have managed to lose 176 lbs. Last December I made it to 245 which is half the man I used to be. A total loss of 245 lbs. I also realized that a lot of the reason I felt so lousy and out of breath was not just my weight but the curve in my back getting worse from my accident. So last January I had corrective surgery on my back. They put in rods and straightened me up. I gained 2 inches in height. I with the back surgery and weight loss combined I feel so much better. I did gain 30 lbs back over the past year but I've already got a good start at getting that back off. It's a constant struggle but well worth the effort.

I love my life the way it is right now. God has truly blessed me. I am able to walk to work now I can buy clothes in a normal store and I just feel so much better. A big part of getting to where I am is this site. I don't always spend the time on here that I used too but I'm still popping in and reading and posting from time to time.

So to all those who are just starting out. Stick to it and come here often for support. You can do this. It just takes time and determination.

Great idea. I have been a member for about a year and a half. I was pretty regular in the summer of 2005, fell off and have been mostly lurking the last couple of months. I have been a variety of shapes and sizes over my almost 41 years. Some of them pretty great! At 25 I entered into a bad marriage and gained 80 lbs in 1 year. 3 years after that and about another 25 or so pounds the marriage ended. I surfaced and 90 pounds fell off (not really, but I looked after myself for the first time in years. Ran, lifted weights, danced, and thought about things other than filling the void with food). Then I met my DH, had 2 beautiful babies 14 months apart and gained about 100 lbs due in some part to postpartum depression. In 2003 I became pregnant again but had gestational diabetes this time. I was actually 15 lbs lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight when she was born. The health of my unborn baby was a powerful motivator. For some reason though I didn't sustain the healthy lifestyle changes. I have gained and lost the same 10-15 lbs for months now. I am now my heaviest ever - 281. I just had a check up and have an appt for blood work in Feb. I'm worried that I've developed diabetes (weight and GD = RISK).

I'm not sure what happens next. The "YOU" approach makes sense to me. My motivation fluctuates daily. I start each day with the best of intentions, a plan in place, and .... I realize I need to put myself first again like I did 11 years ago. If I don't, my kids may not have me at all so a little selfishness in the short term for a long term healthy mom makes sense to my head, just not my heart. I'm also a senior manager for Public Health so my head intellectually knows what to do. I just can't get the rest of me to follow suit. My best advice? Love yourself, no matter what your size, shape, or whether or not you were "on program". Have a great year everyone.

Hey, great idea...although, I see many oldies are missing!

I'm going to try and keep this short-ish Edited at the end of writing this to add: YEAH, RIIIIGHT!

My name is Linda, and I have been a member here since April 2005.

I just turned 29, and am a SAHM to Liam (9) and Talia (5). I have been married to Rudy for 10.5 years and with him for 12...since I was 16 years old!!!! It has not been easy, by any stretch of the inmgination....but nobody ever said it would be easy, did they?

In October 2003, my husband informed me that he was not sexually attracted to me (and was using the computer to replace me in that department).
I immediately lost 40 pounds for all the wrong reasons.

Gained all of it back over the next couple of years.

Fast forward through all kinds of therapy, self discovery and marital problems.
I have set many boundaries in my marriage that I will not have crossed. There is no longer things going on in my home that break my heart and make me feel worthless. There was a point when Rudes said he was leaving, but well...he never left! Through therapy..I realized that I could be loved and happy without him..and somehow, I think that triggered in him, the knowledge that he really did want me...don't ask me how...he's not a great communicator.

We are now in a place of comfort (I feel). By no means perfect, but we have the basic foundation of true love. Sometimes if you have the roots...the tree can appear dead, but flourish again, with care and attention.

In April 2005, I had an epiphany, and this time it was ALL about ME...which is the right way to think about it I lost the 40 pounds again. I felt wonderful and happy, sexy and proud!!!

In January of last year...we had a huge windstorm. My children were having their usual weekly sleepover at my Mom's house. In the middle of the night a huge tree fell on the house, destroying my childhood home...and turning all of our lives upside down. I THANK GOD EVERY DAY THAT MY MOM AND CHILDREN WERE NOT HURT. And at that point , my life needed to revolve around my Mom and getting her comfortable again. I went into full blown fundraiser mode because although my Mom had insurance, it would not cover full replacement..and there was no way we were going to lose the property we had all grown up on (My siblings and I, and our own children in a way).
So I, along with my husband and sister got to planning a benefit concert for her. It turned out wonderfully, and in the end we raised $11,000 toward the new house. Things are finally settled (mostly) My Mom has a brand new home which we just celebrated the very first Christmas in And life can begin to return to normal.

Unfortunately, during this year of focusing solely on other things, I am now at my highest weight ever...I've gained back the 40 I lost plus 8-10 more. I'm completely torn over the whole thing. I'm proud of what I did for my Mom....and utterly ashamed that I've done this to myself AGAIN.

I will be thirty next December 30th. I'd like 2007 to be the year about ME. I'd like to reclaim my life and my health...but on the other hand I am terrified of failing yet again.

I deeply hope to overcome that...very soon.

Welcome newbies...this is a place where, if you want it...you will find true friends, not just cyber-acquaintances!!! I truly love the friends I have here. It is the best place for support on earth.

xoxox

Linda

I have to say even though I have been around for over a year as a poster and lurker I never knew some of the things about you regulars you posted here. I found it inspriational and once realized what a terrific group of women and men you all are!!

Ok so here is my story....I am Darlene and I grew up with an Italian American Father who knew a lot of poverty in his youth and swore his family would never go hungry. He did the job let me tell you...my Mom was and still is an awesome cook and cooked mounds and vats of food for us instead of those palm sized portions you hear about from the FDA and whoever else. I still to this day have the "clean your plate syndrome". I also like the big portion but after living overseas for several years now I see how much bigger our portions are!

As for living overseas as you can tell from my Avatar I live in Seoul, South Korea. I work here as a teacher and truly enjoy my life and network of friends I have made here. I have had many opportunities for travel and am definitely living the life I was meant to live. (My 40's ROCK!)

I have a skinny boyfriend who eats like a bird. Almost one year ago he made the mistake of telling me he was embarassed to be seen with me outside the house and obviously as you folks here can see it still bothers me some. He has never made any comments since then when he realized it might actually be over. He was scared to death. I think he figured what he was said would not be a deal breaker but it almost was. Now he tries to encourage me but like most skinnies he has no clue what it is like to be chubby. He loves me very much and I positive of it.

My weight?? Well I have been heavy for almost all my life with a skinny family. No one else except my21 year old nephew has a weight problem in my family except my German grandmother who was definitely a robust gal. I was skinny until the age of 7 and then I am not sure what happened. I lost a lot of self esteem in my childhood and have just gained it back in the past 5 years. In child just gained and gained weight. I did however experience moments of a thinner self....senior year in high school, my 23rd year and 28-29....after that my weight has been hovering around 230 to 260..... I saw the 230 mark because I was on the scary phen-fen plan for three weeks and thought I was going to keel over. My weight went up over 255 when I partially tore my achilles and had to be side lined from any activity for a long time.

I have not had a whole lot of success in the past year and get discouraged quite often but I think it makes me realize that I need a totally different approach to dieting and fitness. I have made some progress in some areas. I am going with the baby steps approach and am working on my calories intake. I am reading "You on a Diet" and have made some recent steps towards a healthier me.

Recent accomplishments:
I have cured my scale addiction by not replacing the battery in my scale so I can't weigh everyday and actually don'tmiss it.
I have stopped caffiene by going through a scary withdrawal period of two days.
I have also started walking and using the subway to get to places in the city rather than hopping a cab outside my house.
I have started a 1600 calorie plan of just counting calories. I have made it through a whole day which for me is a MAJOR TASK!!!

That's about it. Advice for new people....stick with the folks here! They will bring you up when you need it, support you and encourgage you. 3FC is awesome!

Hi Everyone;

This is a bit long, but that's me . . .

This is such a great idea; I am actually glad as I need to get a couple things off my chest. I feel guilty coming here sometimes. I don’t need to lose over 100 lbs, but I am over 40 and that is what I saw when I started posting. . . . Guess I should have lurked a bit longer.

I’m 47, (that numbers still doesn’t seem real), I have never been on a diet nor have I struggled with my weight (this one of the reasons I feel guilty). I graduated from high school at 5’2” and about 105 lbs. I grew three more inches in the next two years, I know not normal, but I’ve found I am anything but “normal” which is fine with me. When I delivered my son I was 139 lbs. and wore my blue jeans home from the hospital. I have always eaten whatever I wanted but I was always exercising, riding bikes, aerobics classes, running . . . Something and I think that is why I was able to maintain, and I ate whatever I wanted. When I was 29 I became a firefighter, the first female firefighter in the department (that’s another story) I weighed about 130 lbs, at 5’5”. Then one night we were on a call and the fire truck rolled over my leg and pinned me under the truck, chains and all (there was 7-8” of new snow)(this is another story also). Needless to say this was a major pivotal point in my life. I was “grounded” couldn’t exercise, nothing . . . Drove me nuts. I then proceeded to gain 60 lbs in 6 months, then the worst thing happened. The doctor said I couldn’t return as a firefighter . . . For the next 7-8 years I’ve been trying to get my life together figuring out what I want to be when I grow up . . . Until now my idea of a diet was to cut out a few sodas and pizza, maybe exercise a bit more (sorry) but that’s what it was.

Most recently (3 ˝ years ago) I became a restaurant manager (can you say soup, salad and breadsticks. I really love my job, but did not like the company I was working for. Now don’t get me wrong, they’re a good company, but I needed something . . . Less restrictive. I think I will be starting my new job on Monday . . . They have a restaurant with a set menu, but they also do weddings, catering etc. You can develop your own menu it you want . . . So exciting.

OK, I’m rambling and off the subject; In Dec I realized I looked “fat” I had never thought of myself as “fat” I still saw the fit firefighter in the mirror, ohhhhhhhhh what an eye opener. I didn’t know what to do . . . I’d never been on a diet and had no idea which direction to go. Then I found all of you and although I may not be posting in the correct place, I think you all are an inspiration to me EVERYDAY and I want to THANK YOU, one and all.

I think things happen for a reason and people come in and out of your lives for a reason. Fate, I guess. All I know is that I am so glad you all have come into my life and made me feel so welcome. Subconsciously I guess I've been waiting for someone to tell me to go somewhere else because I don't have 100 lbs to lose.

All I know is I am hoping that in time my body and my mind will remember how I did things for so many years and just submit to that . . .

either way I am so glad you all are here to keep me on track

Hi I have been meaning to post on this thread for awhile but haven’t done it.

I am 23 and my life changed when I went to the doctor for PCOS and stepped on the scale and weight 300 pounds. What a shocker!? How did I get that big!? Well after 5 years of living in college dorms and having 1 or 2 hour dinners sitting and talking with friends (and of course eating). And of course the tall latte’s with shots of flavor and full fat milk didn’t help either. Oh yeah lets not forget about drinking I’m sure that packed on a few pounds. Oh wait lets not forget the fact that I drank 5-10 cokes everyday and next to no water.

So that is the first step to weight loss figure out what you were doing wrong. I cut out coke, and sugar, and those lattes I at least started to get them with skim milk instead of whole. I started making better food choices, skipping desert, and eating less. Well that help me loose a lot of my weight. Then in August after lurking around here for months I decided to join and now I’m on 3fc everyday.

I am still in school. (I already have 2 BA now I’m working on my law degree). I’m finally out of the dorms, living on my own, and cooking all of my own meals. I have become very strict calorie counter. If it goes in my mouth it goes on my fitday. I very rarely go out to eat now because you don’t know what you are getting.

I had my gallbladder removed two months ago (not a pleasant experience at all). As a result I have had to start really watching my fat intake. That has also helped my weight loss.

Of everything I have done I think 3fc is the most helpful. Everyone here is wonderful. I have learned a lot about weight loss. It keeps me on track. I can find advice about anything and most of all I know that I am not in this alone.

Oh just a random fact my username is a reference to my favorite song.

This is the most inspirational set of personals I've ever read, lol! I've been lurking for a while, so I will introduce myself.

I'm Dee, short for Danita, and I'm a 29 year old mostly stay at home mom to 3 wonderful munchkins and a crazy dog. My kids are 3, 5, and 7, and my yellow Lab is 1.5. I found 3fc when I hit my high weight of around 285. I stayed on track for a while, then lost my gym partner to a falling out, and hit a plateau at 250. I've since been up and down, but always staying within 10lbs of that, but this year I've decided that the weight has to go before I turn 30, as that is when most of the people in my family started showing ill effects from the weight as they aged. Right now, I'm about the healthiest fatty around, with great blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc... I'm flexible and most people don't know how I can weigh as much as I do with all the kid chasing I do. But I LOVE to eat. I started 3 weeks ago to try running, and I am slowly but surely working up to being able to run without taking walk breaks, and am running my first 5k next month. So far, the weight is not really going down, but I know it will have to as I increase my activity and watch what I eat, so I'm good. I have also finally given up the soda, and started eating mostly healthy, and actually having only one serving if I have something naughty. Good luck to everyone new, and thanks so much to the "oldbies" for all your help and inspiration. THIS PLACE ROCKS!!!!!

Wow - living in Key West - what a cool place to call home!! (I can't wait to visit there again!)

I figured I would jump in here too. I am a 46 year old mother of 3 girls (31, 26, and 18) Grandma to Ian (7). I've been married 30 years to my school sweetheart. We used to raise English Bulldogs, but now have a rescue Pit mix who is without a doubt the best dog we've ever owned! (Hope) and also a 22 pound cat (Sig). I ended up at my all time highest of 270 pounds.

I never had any weight issues growing up, I steadily put on thr pounds over the years. We had a couple very traumatic years in 1990 - 91 (we lost 2 sons in 2 years) and the weight just STACKED on since then. I was always a SAHM who was always in the kitchen. I now teach cake decorating! I am an avid ATV rider (that is me in my avitar) and my hubby and I enjoy traveling. My weight is now getting in the way of my life. We went to Glacier Nat'l Park last year, and I couldn't ride the horses because I weighed too much. Flying in an airplane? Forget it. Too uncomfortable for me.

I have always been the caretaker for everyone else, and I have made the decision that I need to take care of ME now. This is the first time in 46 years that I have done that - and I have to say, it is empowering! I am looking forward to this journey - and I appreciate having all of you here as a support system. You are all an inspiration to me.

Mrs. Quadcrew,

Thank you for sharing your story. You're one of the ones I always look for on the threads and its nice to get to know you better. One of our plans is to travel also. This is why we don't use credit cards, drive older paid-off vehicles and still live in our "starter" home. Where all have you and hubby visited?

On one of our recent trips to Disneyworld (Yes, we are there a lot! Its only 45 mins away!) we camped at Fort Wilderness. There was horseback riding, but the limit was 250lbs. My hubby and I couldnt go. It was sad. We'd like to go camping there again next year. This time, we can ride!

Hi All!!

Wow.. I've been here since April of 2001 and I've gained about 30 lbs... LOL.. wow, that diet didnt' work.. hehe.

It's great to read about us oldies...
We've been together through weddings, babies, graduations, boyfriends.. etc. How cool!! I feel like I know some of you really well. I think that if I ever met you in person I could never call you by your real name.

I have struggled and been in denil for a loooooong time. During that time I had another baby. The support I received here during that pregnancy was... well I couldn't of asked for more. It was minding blowing. Don't ever leave this board if you get pregnant. You guys never gave me an excuse to big out. My son, Elijah, will be 2 soon - can you believe it? He turns 2 on Feb 8th. For a while on this board, the water was very dangerous to drink, if some of you recall,

As of today.. I'm on plan.. and right now that's good enough. I'm using fitday.com (see link on the side)
Feel free to also read my blog to my son. (link below)

I'm a stay at home mom to my 2 kids.. Sara and Elijah. I homeschool Sara - she is in grade 1 It can be a challenge.. especially with an almost 2 year old.

My dh is Jim.. we've been married for amost 8 years. We met online back in late 97 / early 98. I'm from Canada - but moved state side after we met.

I love to bake - even when I'm dieting.. I just bring the whole pan to church. I hate to clean. I love to shop and scrapbook!!

Welcome to all!!

Dana

Rhonda - I will try to see if I can remember all the places we have been! We haven't been out of the U.S. that much - only to Canada. (New Brunswick, Northern Ontario (we rode our ATV's up there), Alberta, and British Columbia. Here in the U.S. We have been to Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Mass., Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida (multiple times inlcuding the Keys and the Dry Tortugas) Indiana, Illinois, Michigan (including all of the U.P. and Mackinac Island, and Drummond Island) Wisconson, Missouri, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington state (3 X there), Texas, Oklahoma.

We have tried to visit the National Parks in each of the states we visit. Our favorite places to go are Washington State - Mt. Rainer (we stay at the Paradise Inn up there) and Cape Flattery (the most north wester point of the U.S. - looks out over the Pacific ocean and is breathtaking) Montana (Glacier national park and all the wide open spaces out there!) and then Florida (I Love the ocean - we go to Panama City Beach and stay at the same Mom & pop motel every time we go there) We want to go to the Keys again too.

We drive most of the places we have been (we did fly to Washington though) We want to do a road trip to Alaska in the next couple of years....and the southern route out west too. This August we are going back to Utah and taking our ATV's - we're going to ride to Bryce Canyon on them!

I am looking forward to loosing this weight so I can hike and enjoy myself again! We love to travel around, and I know I will love it even more without this extra poundage I am lugging around!!

We are like you - we have been in the same house for 26 years and that is one of the reasons we have been able to afford to travel. I like my little old house - I have no reason to keep up with the Joneses! they can have their big fancy house, I like being able to travel and have fun and not go broke!

Hi There,

this is a great thread!
My name is Tracy, I am 37 married no children. In 2004 I got married, finished a degree and opened my own business. In the time before the wedding I managed to take off 45 lbs using atkins, rather painlessly, so when I put it all back on and couldn't seem to commit, I was confused by my own lack of commitment. (I finally realized last week that the goal I had set up for myself back then was to only do the program until the wedding...DUH)

The past 2 years has been spent nurturing the business, and barely staying afloat in the other areas of my life. Time for "me" was hard to get and food was the quickest way to get pleasure. In the past few months I've been doing the mental, and emotional ground work to get ready to do this for good.
I had someone point out that most of my life has been trauma and the weight has been there since I was very young. Dieting, and harping on the fat started when I was eight, and thinking about it and hating myself for it has been the biggest part of who I am that I can remember.

I lost my dad in November and this made me finally look at the held onto pain of losing my 2 month old daughter 10 years ago. These events amongst others like them are only important here in that there is a layer of fat for each event and I'm sooooooo ready to peel them off!

oh yeah, I am a VERY long time lurker and timid poster. But love coming here and am working at jumping in more.

thanks for listening!
Tracy

Where do you get the "tickers" that are showing on the bottom of your posts? I would love to have one to show my progress, just as soon as I have some!!

Tracy - There is nothing more traumatic than the loss of a child. I am sorry to hear that you lost your daughter. I think a lot of us that have survived the death of a child just go on automatic pilot for a while afterwards - it's the only way to get through it. I hope you have been able to grieve for not only your baby girl, but for your Dad also.

I have come to the conclusion that that pain never goes away, it is always tucked into a corner of our hearts - but WE get stronger so the pain seems to dissipate. Hugs to you.

This place is a wonderful place to get rid of a lot of baggage - and to be inspired, that is for sure!

Thanks Mrs. Quad. hugs to you too
My heart ached when I read your story, and the strength you must have could hold up the world.
This is a great place to come to remember that you're not the center of the universe and that difficult things happen to lots of people, it dissipates self pity pretty damn quick!
you people are awesome!
Tracy