WELCOME!!!!!

We are a group of individuals who weigh or have weighed 300+, or near there. This group was formed to provide a place for others like us to find support and hope. We are aware of the distinct problems that come with weighing over 300 lbs.

We want to invite everyone (roosters as well as chicks!) to join us in our journey. We share laughter and tears, heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations. We also share what works for us and what doesn't.

We know the thread can move very quickly, and that people often make "personal" remarks and keep a number of conversations going. Please feel free to contribute even if you can't make personal comments all the time.

Finally, we also have several extra threads going on simutaneously such as Monthly Challenges, Weekly Weigh-ins, Recipes, Bios, Photos, Exercise, Info for Getting Started and more. Many of these threads are stickied at the top of the page. Please feel free to check them all out.

We have found this thread to be more than just a support group... we have found it to become a home. We invite you to join us.

I know you'll all agree that we are really thankful for the free services here at 3FC. The sisters offer all of this support and information with no charges to us. There are a couple of ways though that we can help out.

If you are thinking about buying anything at Amazon, why not help out 3FC at the same time? You can do this by clicking on the button for the Amazon "store" in the upper right hand corner of the screen on the PURPLE tool bar. A portion of your purchase price will be given to 3FC by Amazon. It doesn't increase your price at all, but it does help out 3FC. You can use any of the Amazon.com links that you see on the site in order to help contribute to the site.

Also, BTW, in case you didn't know it, you can view the message boards "ad free" for a minimal charge. I think it's $15 for 6 months. A very small investment to be rid of the annoying ads and make your pages load quicker.

There have been some concerns expressed by the powers that be about copyright infringement. So please, if you are directly quoting someone else or printing an article in whole or in part, please give credit where credit is due!!!

Just wanted to say thank you for those of you who asked where I was/how I was doing. Things have been all over the place for the last several months, but I think they are mostly settling down at this point. We are waiting on some test results for my dad that may or may not change everything, but at this point, I know there are absolutely no guarantees and I am trying to stay positive rather than stew over it. Whatever happens will happen, ready or not.

My weight loss is still where it was a couple months ago - going nowhere. Still trying to get my synthroid dosage right, and have had to up it again. I feel a lot better most days, but there are still some days where I am just downright exhausted and not functioning well. Plus the winter really hurts me, and some days it literally brings me to tears when I try to get up and around. I'm not entirely sure what I did (or didn't do for that matter), but I have had a lot of pain in my left shoulder and in my tailbone, in addition to the pain in my ankle & my hips. I worry that I may have the same nerve disorder that my dad has, but at this point, I fear it is more a paranoia issue than a real consideration.

I started work again the 26th of November. I love it. The pay isn't that great, but it's a job and it's something I feel I am meant to do. I have to start somewhere, so this is as good of a place as any. I had to miss three days last week due to not being able to get up and around.. guess I am going to have to start doing more preventative treatments and see where that gets me.

Anyhow, hate to sound like such a downer because I'm really not feeling that down in the dumps. Despite the issues, I am still managing to hold it together, and that's all I can ask right now. One step at a time.. as long as I can take that step I will be okay. Hope everyone is well, and I will try to stop in more often. Take care.

Hello all, been a while since I have been on here, A lot has been going on and has happened. I see a handfull of you still remain, Heather, NottheCheat,Brandnewme,Dogpal,Zelma,and Sharon(voodoo)It seems as it took me around 6 months to lose 80 lbs, and it took 16 months to put it back on. Man do I love to eat. I have such and obsession with it, rather it be dieting or not. I quit smoking after 20yrs 2 months ago. Why can I qiut something like that , but I can not control my food intake of consumption?.. I am not depressed , nor disappointed, I need to find out what makes me do this and work on that. Doing some soul searching right now and thought I would hang here while doing so.. It is good to see some old faces here,, Where is Ammi? and Hello to the new ones... ( new to me...)

Hi everyone! Have a great day and get that Christmas shopping done this week!

Catherine - You're so funny! I always say I could eat a styrofoam ball if it was dipped in chocolate!

WELCOME BACK CROCK!!!!!!xxxxxxx I missed you! Ammi peeks in but has had some health probs though I'm sure she'll be back posting soon.xxxxxx
I'm having some confidence issues again, I don't want to leave the house but I have to take Aiden to nursery the rest of this week. It is his last week at nursery, he starts 'big' school (infants 4-7yrs) after Christmas. I'm eating for no reason other than I can, I keep telling myself 'why bother Christmas is nearly here' not a good train of thought. I have to go & get ready to take him but hugs to everyone.
Brandnewme CONGRATS on the job.xxxxx
Annie WTG on the scales, lol, was it great fun?xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxsharon

I tried something different and added some of the posts from last night/this morning to this week's thread...

Hope everyone has a good day!

OOh Heather you are so organised! Thanks.xxxx
xxxsharon

Good Morning!!

Well seeing John Edward was fun. He didn't read any of us , but he was really interesting to watch. It was very similar to his show on TV. He is so cute, I could watch him all day!!! Very entertaining and he read one man in the audience that I thought was going to have a heart attack because he was so dead-on. (no pun intended!) I don't know if I would spend the money again, though. But it was good to go one time.

"Fake Christmas" went well...at least I didn't get the usual "ugly shirt" this year!! I have so much food left over, I don't have to cook for a week!! And I am not worried because my SIL made baked ziti and I thought it was pretty gross, so I won't be tempted at all!!! I am not saying that my eating was under control at all, but at least the leftovers won't be calling me!!!


Heather: I read your letter to "your future self" and it was so enlightening! You could be looking over my shoulder right now!! Thank you for posting it and I just might hang a copy on the fridge for some well needed inspiration!

Annie: I love, love, love your scale breaking pics!! You look so happy!! I can't wait until you hit your 200 lb goal!!!

Catherine: You consistantly know how to crack me up!! I have a galley kitchen also, so I know exactly what you mean!!

Sharon: One day and one step at a time. You can do this!

Brandnewme: I hope things go well for your dad. I am glad you are enjoying work, and hope your aches and pains feel better soon. I am sure the change in weather is not helping.

Crock: back.



Not much time for more personals...gotta get to Tar-jay for more shopping ...at least it is for duvet covers and not presents!!!!

Have a Great Day!!!

Oh yeah...I donated blood a few weeks ago and got a letter telling me my cholesterol count was 172!!! The last check up I had (about 3 years ago) it was 219. Yay me!! LOL!

Crock -- Wanted to welcome you back!!!!

Sharon -- I think if I were organized I'd have figured out how to copy posts LONG ago! It is actually kind of a pain as the posts come up chronologically, and you all posted before I started the new thread. I kind of "cheated" to make it work!!

Donna -- Glad you liked the letter and YAY! on the cholesterol!!

Quiet day for me. Only one meeting. I am hoping to get both of my classes for winter term prepped this week. Classes start Jan 2nd and I want to take next week off guilt-free!

Meta-I met the magnificent primate I’m married to online too. It was a very safe site where you have to go through a bunch of screening and it’s seriously monitored. I think it gives you the opportunity to get to know people without stuff getting in the way first. I don’t make good first impressions, never have, even when I was skinny. Don’t know why, but accepting it and learning to deal with it has helped.

Annie-Ooo, maybe we should get into a swimathon. He’s got to go check the pool to make sure it has a boat ramp since I can’t use a ladder, and if it is suitable, I should be good to go right after Christmas. He’s trying to talk me out of going to Christmas services. He’s afraid it will be too much too soon, and I’ll have a re-injury. I guess we are going to get to see who’s the most stubborn come next week. As for the scale smashing, doesn’t that just feel so freaking good. I almost wanted to go buy some more to smash.

Rat-I’m not rewinding the motor on my machine myself. I leave those things to the guys at the sewing machine place. It is just something I recognize when it happens. If I had my way, I’d hook it up to an old treadle so I never had to mess with the motor again. Except for the part that broke when I mailed it from Florida to Canada, the motor is the only thing that has ever broken on it.

Nancy-At least skirts are pretty easy to take up. When I started having to take up my pants, I could get the waists right, but the crotches started ending up near my knees. The Ali Baba look is just not for me.

Brandnew-I have a lot of pain in my left shoulder. It comes from the extra pressure on it to get me in and out of chairs. The crutches haven’t help any either. We put some much extras weight on our joints and such. I’m hoping mine will get better when I can swim again. I actually put some extra pillows under the cushion on my chair to make it sit a bit higher, so it is easier for me to get up, and that has helped some.

Donna-Good for you giving blood. When I was 10, one of my brothers needed a bunch after getting his throat slashed trying to stop someone from beating their wife. When we got to the hospital, my folks were trying to get people on the phone to donate. Neither of them could donate because of health trouble, and my cousins in Kansas were going to donate. I was in a panic that they wouldn’t get there in time to save my brother, and asked them to take my blood for him. My dad calmed me down telling me that he had already gotten the blood he needed, that someone had come in yesterday to donate for him. Then I asked if they knew he was going to get hurt, why didn’t they just stop it from happening. He said they didn’t know he was going to get hurt, just that someone might. That was back in the days that they didn’t let kids visit in the hospital. I didn’t get to see him for a couple of weeks, and when I did I promised him that I would be a blood donor as soon as I was old enough. That’s what I did on my 17 birthday, and have done ever since until I came to Canada. Every time I try to donate here, they don’t have anyone there to take it. We’ve got a bad labor shortage.

I’m off to start my Christmas house cleaning. God only knows how many are going to show up this year. He actually printed invitations and has been handing them out all over.

I just have a few minutes at the end of my lunch before I have to get back to my audit.

Crock – It’s so good to “see” you again! Welcome back!

Annie – I LOVED the pictures of you bashing up that scale. You have this fantastic grin on your face. That must have felt wonderful!

I had a funny NSV this morning that I had to share. I got a part delivered for a computer, but shortly after the delivery guy left I realized it was the wrong part. So, I RAN after him and caught him in the hallway. I actually ran pretty fast (well, at least for me) and wasn’t anywhere as winded as I would have thought. The only problem was I had to hold my stomach down to keep it from making those lovely fat slapping noises. I guess if I decide to actually run I will need some really good compression pants.

Ack! Gotta run!

Hi everyone,

No time for personals today.

I am suffering with a cold. It's not the worst, it's just enough to make me miserable and want to stay in bed and do nothing.

This weekend's eating was really, really bad, and I know why. I was feeling sick and miserable, and tried to comfort myself with food.

My network of friends, which is like my family only they're there and supportive, is in flux. One of my best friends, who lives 5 minutes from me, is moving back to Europe. Several other very close friends are considering moves as well. Yet others, a couple I'm close with, are going away on sabbatical for 6 months.

So I ate.

I'm back on plan today and that's all I can do.

Have a good OP day everyone.

Donna - I had to comment that I only just realized you haven't been talking about John Edwards the presidential candidate all this time. When you said, "He didn't read any of us" I was like What? Then it hit me. Red hair or not, I really am still a natural blonde under here!

Battle - Sorry to here your friends are in flux. As a single person I do realize how important that network is. I moved about 4 years ago to the Dallas side of the Metroplex from the Ft. Worth side. I didn't think it would make a big difference since it's all basically the same metro area. But it did. I hope that some of your pals decide to stay put.

Nancy - WTG chasing down the delivery guy! It's fun to notice improved fitness at more than just the gym!

Brandnewme: Congrats on the job! I hope you continue to enjoy it. I also hope that your Dad is okay and that you feel better very soon. Hugs.

Crock: Hey girl. Welcome back. I have wondered where you went off to. Glad to see you back again. Don't be such a stranger.

Sharon: Hugs to you sweetie. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Donna: Glad your "fake Christmas" was good. Congrats on the good cholestoral too. Way to go.

Catherine: I am game about the swim a thon if you are. lol. I know that 40 laps of my pool is 1 mile. Or if you want to do minutes. Or, if you just want to swim without the swim a thon that is fine too. I did have fun smashing the scale. I tried to focus on the feelings that I had when I was standing on 2 scales trying not to move so I could get a decent weight for myself. I did take it out on those scales. lol.

Nancy: Congrats on the run! I don't think I would want to hear myself run or even attempt it without a good STRONG girdle. lol.

I'm off to be early tonight. My body is fighting trying to keep away from this darn cold that is hounding me to catch. Hopefully I won't give in.

Blessings all,
annie