Hello All,

I am new and I think my story is likely similar to many of you here...I was once fit and in great shape, and along the way LIFE happened and I stopped taking care of myself, due to injury, illness, sadness, anger, YOU name it!

I am scared. I weighed myself for the first time in months the other day and was saddened to find out that I now weigh 308. That's right! I weigh TWICE of what I did when I was in GREAT shape. How depressing!

I just visited my doctor and had the blood work did. He thinks my thyroid is off because my weight climb has been steady even when I am a balanced vegetarian diet and doing some exercise (not enough though, I know).

I need support and that is why I am here...I need to take charge of my health and fitness and don't want to focus on the number on the scale (I don't own one). I have to admit that, psychologically, knowing I weigh over 300 pounds terrifies me.

I am a very busy mom to one teen girl, I am a full time student, expanding my career options by seeking an advanced degree in nursing.

I have decided to simplify and make myself the priority (again).

I sense I have come to the right place!

I have been scared into action, and am now seeking balance, bliss and friendship!

and congrats on taking the first step to losing weight by getting support... and 3FC is the perfect place to come for motivation and support

We have a great forum Dieting with Obstacles

Welcome and congratulations on your decision to get healthy and fit. Good luck.

Welcome!!! this is a great place to find help, I eat fish, but not meat and poultry and people always think that I should be thinner, lol. I have alot to loose to and there are some sites here that can help . There is the 100 club , people there are very friendly. You can do this!!! What did the doctor say about the thyroid? I know I am this weight because I over eat, instead of eating one potato chip, I will eat the whole bag, so I calorie count( using an online food diary), and exercise 45 minutes a day. When I began a few weeks ago I couldn't exercise more than 15 minutes, now I am doing better, you can do it to!!! I try and have more fruits in the house, no junk food, no fried food, water! water ! water!, that works for me, but may not work for you. You need to find what works for you and I am sure it will be great!! good luck and like I said come check out the 100Lb club in the support forums. cheryl

Hiya Mzzz Bliss! Or, are we on a first-name basis, and should I call you Soul?

Of COURSE you've come to the right place! Everybody here has, at one time or another, stepped on that miserable scale and stepped off it feeling lower than low. And, we've all decided to DO something about it instead of wallowing in all our ampleness. So, join the crowd!

Poke around the website, check out the forums, see where you feel you fit in the best, and then post away! We chit-chat about more than our diets fersure, but if you go to user CP up there in the left hand corner of the toolbar, you'll be able to put your weight ticker at the bottom of your posts (only if you WANT to) but I find that doing it really does keep me on track, and I LOVE it when I can move it down a pound. Folks here share recipes, share their ups & downs, and holler when things don't work the way they want them to. They also get the opportunity to hoot a bit when things DO go well with their diet - and with their life. There are lots of folks here who will hug you when you need a hug and cheer you on when you have a triumph.

Here we all do healthy weight loss. And, unless we can't because of some physical problem. most of us have incorporated exercise into our daily regime.

Mzzz Bliss, I must tell you that a little over three months ago, I smoked - and was huffing & puffing just getting up the three or four steps into my house with a little old bag of groceries. I weighed 194 pounds, and those few steps were the most exercise I got in the course of a day.

NOW, I am 19 pounds lighter , I don't huff & puff anymore (stopped smoking on Jan. 7) AND miracles of all miracles, I got a ten-speed mountain bike for my birthday on April 19, and haven't missed riding it for 30 minutes a day since I got it. On weekends, I take TWO rides - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I LOVE it! If anybody had told me I'd be back on a bike after 25 years three and a half months ago, I would've laughed in their face!

I'm 61 years old, Mzzz Bliss. If I can do it, so can you!

Welcome aboard!

Ella

WOW! Thanks for the responses (I like it, I like it! ) it makes me feel so supported already!

I am waiting to hear back about the thyroid and know that even if that is an issue, calories in versus calories out is something only I can control.

I will check out the two areas y'all suggested. (Thanks! )

More water, more movement and less bread would help me for sure!