Ok, so I'm currently on WW, yet again, trying my best to struggle through and hoping to one day make the 300's a distant memory. However in the meantime, I got a real problem, my bed.

I'm a struggling student with very little cash but a little over a year ago I decided to treat myself to a new bed. My old queen size one was a wreck, the mattress springs were ruined, I could hear the frame cracking beneath me, I mean literally splintering. I would wake up every day achy, my back hurting, my legs screaming, springs actually started poking through the mattress and I still have the scratch mark scars on my legs and thighs to prove it. A comfortable nights sleep was an impossibility. So I took advantage of a mattress sale, and got a new queen size mattress and box spring. I was happy, for awhile, it was soft and study and comfortable and I felt instantly better.

But a few months later I started having the same problems, it would creak when I got on it, then I heard something break, then the springs went. So I flipped the mattress, that was ok for awhile. Then I had to switch the direction I slept, head at the foot of the bed, feet at the top. That was ok for a few months, then I got relegated to one corner of the bed that was still alright. But last week, that went too...there is no place on the bed that is alright anymore and I'm seriously thinking about sleeping on the floor.

So, after all this, here is my question for the 350 pound plus crowd. What bed do you guys use? Where did you get them? What brand is your mattress and box spring? How much did you pay? Maybe when I get this surplus tax rebate in May I can get myself a new bed but I don't want to make the same mistake again.

I've seen all these shows about obesity on TLC and I see these people who weigh even more than I do, they spend most of their days in bed, they don't seem to use much care when sitting on their bed (I creep onto mine like its made of crystal for fear I'll end up on the floor) and where they sleep still looks more comfortable than the ridiculous thing I'm stuck with.

A few more details, it is just me in the bed, I'm single (so no extra weight), about 6 feet tall and somewhere in the 350's or 360's and I live in a suburb of Chicago Illinois.

Can someone suggest a brand of bed? (not a hospital one or a memory foam or water bed). I know I can't go cheap again but nearly all of my cash now goes for tuition and rent. Is it possible to get something that won't break underneath me for like 5 or 600 dollars.

Thanks in advance.

Teresa

Hi Theresa,

I hear your pain!! I feel your pain!! I've been in your pain!!

Even after 10 years, a good mattress/box springs will be broken down and need to be replaced. I waited until 15 years. I wanted to make sure I got my monies worth.. bah!

I ended up going to a mattress store called Sleepy's (http://www.sleepys.com/) that was local. It wasn't busy, and the sales guy wasn't pushy. He gave me the stats on all the beds and I told him I was on a budget. He gave me the options for the money. Prices on the beds are not FIXED. They can be negociated down a couple hundred dollars. *Always* get a decent mattress pad to protect the mattress from spills. The new mattresses don't need to be flipped, but do need to be turned. Also, the newer mattresses need better support than the old days. Those old frame beds weren't supported enough to prevent sagging.

I got a traditional bed with no mattress top. You'll have to be careful with getting mattress tops because you'll find your sheets not fitting! I will tell you that my budget was twice yours ($1000) and put on a credit card (who keeps that type of dough around, eh?). I know it was worth it. There seems to be a big difference between a $500 and a $1000 mattress set in comfort and durability (I checked out both price ends.. didn't pay attention to the middle prices).

I hope some of this info helps. I know others will have more information.

Luv,
Ratkitten

Edit: sorry, forgot to say it was a queen sized bed!

My husband and I have a Sterns & Foster. It's really nice and comfortable, but expensive. We paid about $2000 for the mattress and box springs - queen size. It does have the pillow top and realistically is too big - about 18" deep and we have to buy special sheets. Still, if you can catch a sale and not go with all the bells and wistles - you might find something that suits you and Sterns & Foster are a very sturdy, well-made, bed.

I don't know if it's just me~I HATE MEMORY FOAM!! At first I didn't mind it at all. But after a couple of months we were both having an uncomfortable sleep, so we decided it was time to turn the mattress. Well, the memory foam did just that, it stayed in the same grooves and did not spring back. So, we had to turn back to the way it was. It is a sealy and we paid over $1000 for it. Sturdy boxspring, but the mattress is not worth it!

Also, on the bottom of you bedframe...there should be room for a third bar and room in the middle of it for an extra wheel/foot. We did that and worked nice.
And before we bought this bed we put a layer of plywood between the matrress and boxspring to make it more firm. And on top of the mattress we put a thick quilt to make the mattress softer and more comfy (then we would make the bed as usual). this is a temp. fix but worked for us for a few years.

Most of the box springs they make these days are not as sturdy as they used to be. I am a student as well, so buying a new set is out of the question. Last summer my box spring died, but luckily my mattress was still OK (low on the OK scale, but still OK). I thought about it and decided I could live with a used box spring but not a used mattress. Anyway, I got on craigslist and found someone giving away a box spring. I went to look at it, not expecting much, but it was awesome. This thing is probably 20 years old and its gotta weigh 50 pounds or more. It is solid and has these thick steel springs in it. My friend and I sprayed it down with Lysol and put it on the bed. It has made such a difference. If I can, I am hanging onto this box spring forever. If you don't mind a pre-owned box spring you may can save some cash by finding something like this and get a higher end mattress.

When I was at my largest, I slept on an institutional mattress. Not really hotel, but more like prison. It was the sturdiest thing. Our box is also breaking down. With 750 lbs. on it, no wonder. This summer, when I can actually use my patio after the snow melt, I'm going to make a platform bed so that I only have to deal with mattresses. I've made many sun decks over the years, and I'm just going to make one the height and dimensions of a queen mattress. We'll see. I live with someone who likes to bounce on the bed. I feel very sorry for it at times.

I have a double pillow top mattress and I love it. When one side gets seems to have a dent I just flip it over and it's like new again. My sister has one big pillowtop on her bed and it feels like you're on a cloud. Very comfortable.

I can recommend a Sealy Posturpedic matress. You can get a good deal on one at Costco.

Teresa,

did you buy your mattress new? if so, it SHOULD have a warranty. You can call for a service from the place you bought it, and if deemed defective (which it honestly sounds like it should be) you get either a replacement or you can usually use the credit from the cost of the mattress and foundation and upgrade into something else. The only problem with that is that you do need all of your paperwork from buying the bed - but the retailer you purchased from should be able to make copies for you. Even if it isn't defective, often if you make enough of a fuss, they will warranty replace the purchase anyhow. The mattress has to have no stains or tears (it's the law and often voids the warranty unless the tears are related to the defect) You could use your credit + the money from the government to upgrade into something nicer.
I have a queen sized serta, cushion firm, and it has held up very well over the years - it's about 8 years old and has some minor body impressions but it held me at my HW plus my bf (approx 450lbs total) nightly for most of that time, plus it has seen lots of, um, activity. Sealys can be good if you go for the higher end, but for the same price you can get a lower end stearns and foster - also made by sealy, but i worked for years in the furniture/mattress buisness and i saw a lot less stearns coming back for defects than i did sealys, even when you consider the fact that due to price, we sold a lot more sealys. (i'm making up this percentage because i don't remember the real one, but say 20% of all sealys would come back, versus 5% of stearns, and that includes a 30 day comfort guarantee.)

I really appreciate everyones suggestion. At the moment I have removed the bed frame completely and have the box spring and the mattress on the floor. Its not very glamourous and I'm still in a lot of achy pain but its the best I can do for now.

I've sort of quit WW. So I think I'm back where I started a few weeks ago. I just don't seem to have the willpower to keep something like this up. Maybe I should just invest in a hospital bed and call it a day.

I literally cannot imagine not getting on a bed and having it creak and splinter beneath me, not waking up with a sore back, not wanting to head back to sleep as soon as I wake up. I can't imagine not being fat and being too heavy to sleep on a bed has really sort of broken my spirits and my will.

I don't know... I think I give up.

Theresa!!! Don't give up. Trust me I know it's hard. Everyday is such a struggle for me also! Everytime I've given up~I've gained more weight. I suffer from a bad back. So, I'm hoping that losing weight will help to strengthen it.

Since I've started reading, and posting on this forum (and ofcourse the members) have given me sooo much support and help I needed to continue on this long, hard weight-loss journey!!! I know it's only been a month but if it wasn't for 3fc's I would've quit!!!!!!

Good Luck!!!

Please please don't give up! I've been doing WW for about.. 18 weeks.. and the first couple of months I kept going up and down because I just didn't get it.. Talk to your leader, tell them you're frustrated, do your eight (eight?) healthy habits and get active! Track track track!! I'm only 5 pounds from my first 10% and I couldn't be more excited.. If you need help or someone to talk to about WW or anything just drop me a line.. hang in there hon!

I'm sorry that you are feeling depressed. Don't give up!!
You could try looking into a Tempurpedic (wrong spelling?) or a Posturpedic (also wrong spelling?). I have no clue how expensive they might be, but I have heard that the Tempupedic is supposed to be a good choice for overweight people.
I will warn you that years and years ago my parents bought a Posturpedic that was very expensive at the time and it was the worst mattress ever. I'm sure there are different ones though.
I agree with other people who said that things just aren't as well made. Not even mattresses. I grew up in a "hand me down" family and I had to use a mattress that my sister had been using for years (that was used when she got it!!). I kept that mattress all through middle school, high school, college and up until about two years ago when I finally threw it away and I tell you I miss it all the time. It was so comfortable and well made. It was the grossest thing ever and it was was even in that crazy, gross orange color that was so popular in the 70's, but it was waaay better than what I replaced it with.
The mattress we have now is a $300 no namer and it is ok, I guess. I will NOT pay $1000 for a mattress.
Have you tried looking at Ikea? Their mattresses are not very expensive and while I have never owned one I have had people tell me that if you pick the right one they're very nice.

Hi, Theresa.

I have a sleep number bed. It is an air bed so you don't get all that caving in. If the bed starts to feel too soft, you just adjust the number on the remote and it pumps up to where it is most comfortable for you. I have had the bed almost 10 years and I wouldn't trade it for any foam or regular mattress ever again. It comes with a 25 year warranty so if you have a problem or anything happens, you can replace it. The mattress is not heavy and easy to move around and the frame is solid, not slats. It has a nice pillowtop covering so you don't feel like you are sleeping on a camping bed. Only way to go especially if you are very heavy like me.

I am on a very low carb diet and have found that I don't have all those cravings for something every hour or so. I was always famished and could never find enough to eat, but now I am satisfied with my 3 meals. I am not losing very much weight yet, but am losing inches, and it feels so good to feel good. My blood sugars aren't going up and down like carbs make it do.

Just thought I'd pass all this on. Good luck with your bed and everything.