Dogpal- Honey, you can hop back on anytime. The hurricane went south and then west of us. We just got these feeder bands of off and on rain and wind. I lost some plaster over my tub from a leak, but I don't pay for maintenance, so no big deal. I remember taking this test one time where it talked about the biggest stressers in life. Changing jobs, selling a home, and dealing with disability, and that is what extreme obesity can feel like, are right in the top 5. Just be gentle with yourself, and be grateful to survive all this with your mind and marriage intact. Try to minimize the damage, get in as much movement as you can, and just relax as much as you can. Remember, we are here when you need us.

Lori
Early Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby!!

Great news on no surgery for your knee!

I hear ya about depression! I am there too!

Here is to a healthier us!
PJ

HI PJ!!

So you have 4 kids? How old are they?? CONGRATS on your 9 pound loss! That's GREAT! I'm on meds for my depression and with that and God's help I'm hanging in there - I'm just glad I've not been as bad as I was when I had my breakdown -

Thanks for the anniversary wishes! He's a gem!!

You take Care!!

I've been lurking lately..sorry. I posted a 2.4+ gain last night but I know it's period weight. On the other hand, for the first time I didn't cry when I saw that...I'm so hard on myself and when I have a gain I tend to freak...I don't mean to. But I am still under 250 and happy. My rings are all falling off..my boobs look nicer and less draggy, I just bought a hot pair of jeans and I really have no complaints. My BP is down to 112/80 and although my cholesterol was all borderline high...I know that it is a work in progress. I need to get back to exercising again..my own fault for slacking too much and making excuses every day. But my blood sugar was fine and the dr and I are both happy.

Off to rescuse dinner from the oven before I ruin it...

HEY JULEE!!!

AWESOME WEIGHT LOSS!! I can't weight until I'm under 250!! WOW!!

CONGRATS!!!

Once again, welcome to all the new ladies. Congrats to all those who have lost, and all those who have stuck by their goals whether they've lost or not.

Dogpal, don't feel bad for falling off the wagon. You're going through a lot, and it's understandable. Just remember, we're all here to help pull you right back up on the wagon, whenever you need it! I firmly believe things happen for a reason. You may not understand now, but there is definitely a reason things are being shaken up in your life. It's up to you what you do with it!

Catherine, I'm glad you're okay. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone going through that **** right now. I had wondered how you were doing, so it's a relief to see that you're fine!

I find that I lurk quite a bit more lately. I don't know the reason really - I just don't have a lot to say when I actually get a chance to post. Chris moved in and we're adjusting to being with each other all the time. Work is a madhouse and will only be getting worse. My family life is.. hectic. At some point in the next couple months, I'll be going to court for my parents - against my aunt and uncle. It's just a mess, and sometimes I'd like to run as far away as possible without looking back.

My journey has been.. outstanding, compared to past attempts at a lifestyle change. I've lost more weight this time around than I ever have before, and I'm keeping it off for the most part. I am making a very conscious decision about what I eat and when I eat (which is a HUGE accomplishment for me!), and I am also making an effort to get my big butt moving (which is even bigger - I'm lazy!). Sometimes, I don't think this is enough. Other times, I become complacent and stop trying for a few days. But, overall, I believe I'm doing exactly what I set out to do - changing my life, one step at a time.

I wish everyone else the feeling of accomplishment I have right now. I wish everyone the ability to say, "Hey, I may not have lost weight, or I may have messed up a few times, but I'm better off right now than I was x amount of days/weeks/months ago, and that's okay. I'll get right back up and start truckin' again tomorrow!" Above all else, I send everyone good vibes, positive thoughts, and massive amounts of support. None of us is alone in this, and sometimes it just helps to be reminded of that.

Ammi, you desrve a big hug, looking on the positive side, I try to, but theres always something to stop me, i should be glad tha having ibs at least I don't have worse bowel probs. My beautiful long curly hair is falling out in handfuls, the docs done loads of tests & says its stress, at least I'll save on haircare products! We ought to play the (Ann of Green Gables?) GLAD GAME I'm glad that I have such a lovely bunch of women to read my probs and offer support, I'm glad that the weight is finally coming off again, over to you gals- what are you glad about?

regards
sharon

Ahh, so great to see some past regulars returning (Dogpal, Julee, brandnewme...)--I've missed you!

Well, the TOPS scales were not quite on with my home scale. According to the TOPS scale last night, I stayed the same. I HATE that my scale says I lost 2.5 pounds when I weigh in the morning but that the TOPS scale says I maintained--I'm not complaining since I am happy I didn't gain, but it just bothers me that it's so inconsistent to weigh-in at 6:30pm after eating and drinking and working all day--much different from weighing in first thing in the morning, after I pee, before breakfast But, what are you going to do--I'm pretty sure no one else will go with me to a TOPS meeting at 4:30am, so I'll just have to sigh and deal with it. I KNOW I lost those 2 pounds, even if the TOPS scale doesn't show it

But anyway, even according to the TOPS scales, only 3 more pounds till I have lost a total of 30 since joining them (my starting weight there is 306 since I had already lost a few pounds before I officially joined), so maybe I can do that by next week. Then I need to find some way to speed up my weight loss, as it's getting quite sluggish again (maybe actually GO to the gym again? ). If I watch my foods next Thursday, then I should easily be able to have my 2.5-pound loss reflected even on their scales!

Alrighty, time to get crackin', since I have been in the office for half an hour now and have done NOTHING! Hope everyone has a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!!

I am glad that I found this website with so many wonderful people on it. I am glad that I have a husband who has been my rock through all my illness and surgeries. I am glad that I am back on track with my diet.

There you go Sharon, just a few things I am glad about Thanks for the hugs, can never have too many of them. Sorry to hear about your hair, what's stressing you out so much that it's happening? My hair started to fall out after I had Beth, but not enough for me to have bald patches or anything. I had long hair and I was just fed up of finding it all over the house, so I got it cut short, and have kept it short ever since. I hope you will be ok.

Hugs,

Ammi

Sharon, I also dealt with my hair falling out. It did so for several years, and then I was tested for thyroid. Mine was still in the normal range, but at the low end, so they started me on a low dose of thyroid medicine. They were surprised that my level stayed low. They increased the dose, and my level came up some, but was still on the low side of normal. Now my hair has grown back in, and I am actually letting it grow out to see if it will stay that way. My doctor said that in someone who basically ate all the time, your metabolism gets stoked by a constant supply of food, and your thyroid can get, well, lazy. It is kind of like what happens to your pancreas if you get insulin resistance. I still deal with being cold a lot of the time, especially in the pool, and my skin is still real dry and itchy, but I feel a lot better. Having a low thyroid can also cause depression and low energy. Sometimes you have to find a doctor who is willing to take a chance. Just because my level was in the "normal" range didn't mean that I had enough for me.

Thanks, my hair is down to my bra strap when dry, longer when wet, It started after I had my youngest and stopped after I went on the pill when he stopped breast feeding, when I went off the pill my hubby had the 'snipI' it fell out again the doc says pill won't do that. I was tested for thyroid function, amongst other things but not told what my levels were. It's the stress of having an older son,18 yrs, who no longer lives at home because he's violent (but still manages to make me upset on his visits, I'm a bad mother, it's my fault he's this way, even though we had family therapy, he had a privte therapist too), a middle son who's autistic and a youngest son who's in the 'terrible twos'. BUT I am GLAD I had the younger two, they are both very loving, oh and my hubby (most of the time lol)

thanks for the support,
sharon

Forgot, can't bear to have my hair cut short, I have had it at shoulder length or longer since i was five, it looks silly at shoulder length, it bushes out, what there is of it!


sharon

Hi Sharon,

I am really sorry you are having such a hard time of it with your eldest son. My daughter is 14 and although I am sure she isn't giving me half the trouble your eldest is, she is becoming quite a handful. I fear it will only be a matter of time before she becomes uncontrollable Anyway, I do hope that you won't lose too much more hair, would anti depressants perhaps calm your stress levels?

Hugs,

Ammi

Yes I have 4 kids. My oldest turned 5 two weeks ago and then the others are 2. They are triplets, 2 boys and 1 girl.

9 pounds, not so much......turns out my scale is broken.....grrrrrr. I got a new one and I can't get 2 read out sthe smae so I think that one is broken as well!! I should really change that. I will re weigh again on Monday and we will hopefully be close to that 9 pound loss! LOL

As for depression, I suffer as well and have since I was about 11 years old. I went on meds about 7 years ago and really can't be without it now. Thank God for prozac. I still haev some really rough days, but every day is a new day.

Hope everyone enjoys the last bit of summer and has a great weekend!!