I joined a few months ago and posted a little. But then dropped away because life got in the way.

So here I am ready to take charge of my life. The last 6 years I have just been going through the motions of life. I WANT TO LIVE again. I mean REALLY LIVE! I am sick of sitting on the side lines for the last 6 years. I don't know why or how it happend, it just did.

I had never let my weight get in my way, but I in recent years I have. I have hidden from life. How did that happen and why? And while doing this, I put on another 60 lbs and now weigh 307lbs. I have lost a couple of lbs. but need to lose more.

MORE IMPORTANT, I want to be active and do stuff and I want to feel good! I have a serious injury in my ankle and foot called Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) It is a grade 2 almost 3. I really DO NOT want to do surgery because the down time is 3-4 months. If I can get some of this weight off, it will help immensley. I am looking into a research study that just started as well, non the less, because of the injury, lower body work is very difficult.

Anyway, I do have a plan. I need to do some big time head work, which I have started. I am counting calories which works best for me. I also am starting a cardio program at the gym and will do as much lower body strength training with weights as my injury will allow. I will be doing upper body as well. My calories will be set at 1400, and I will use a food journal every day.

I have set a 20lb. goal. so right now my goal is 287. Once I hit that I am going to buy a Disneyland pass (LOVE DISNEY). For every 20 lbs. there will be a set reward. My long term goal weight is 140. I am almost 5'8.

I really need support and maybe a buddy to do this with! Anyone up for it?
Thanks guys and good luck to all of us on our journey!

wow 39 views and not one you can do it or anything.

guess i came to the wrong board.

Good luck with getting started over - I know exactly what you mean about sitting on the sidelines. I've just been here a week, and I'm just getting going too.
It looks as though you have a plan - and that's awesome.

There are lots of folks here who have been here for a while, and while it SEEMS like a lot of people looked and didn't even bother to drop a word of encouragement, don't let it get you down - support comes in all kinds of ways, and I'm sure you'll get what you need here.

Not to be rude, but you wrote this thread at 5:04 p.m. on a Saturday night. Most people actually do things with their families on a Saturday night and they can't answer any of the posts but they like to read to stay caught up. I know that I do that a lot because I don't have the time to make a decent post. I would much rather read the thread and go back and comment on it at a later date when I have the time than just to say "Hi" and that's it.

Hi! I'm new here too. I'm sorry about your ankle. I like your idea of rewarding yourself though. It gives you just an added extra to work for. With your plan of action, you can definitely do it!

Welcome back!! Consider joining us on the Weekly threads! There's a lot of action and support there.

I think it's great you've set goals and rewards. You may even want to give yourself mini-rewards for other goals -- either weight goals (losing 10 pounds) or something like staying on plan for a week, or exercise!

You may find that 1400 calories is a bit low for your starting weight. We need more calories the more we weigh. Although we're all different, I started calorie counting when I weight 285 and I ate 2000/day and lost very steadily on that (averaging over 2 pounds/week to start). While many people can eat really low cal for a while, many find that it's too hard to sustain. They just get too hungry, binge one day and don't go back. Think about how to keep this whole plan sustainable.

As for 39 views and no responses, I think there are a lot of explanations other than people aren't being supportive. Many "guests" (who can't post) and lurkers (who don't post) view posts. Also, others may have read your post not realizing it was in the 300+ area and not felt they could provide any advice to you after they read your post.

Hiya and welcome. We all can do this!

I know you can't do what you want right now because of your injury, but you can make other changes in your life! One thing at a time, don't push yourself too much. The important thing is for your injury to heal up.

I don't think anyone meant anything by lurking or not having time to post. Sometimes you have to be patient and understand that people come and go at their own schedules. Some people, like me and another poster, tend to read things and if we have time post, if not then we come back later and reply when we can formulate our thoughts.

Patience! Which I lack...usually. :P Well that is what my boyfriend says. HA!

I did NOT write this thread at 5:04 I wrote it at around 12 this afternoon pacific time.

And because of your rudeness I WILL NOT be back thanks!

Forgot to add, thanks to the rest of you that did respond so kindly. I appreciate it. I wish you all the best in your journey to health!

Good luck to you. I hope you find what you're looking for. At the very least I hope you give people a chance to support you.

Not wanting to add to the fire, but I don't think dolfingirl was being rude. I think she was trying to point out, as a few of us did, that people have schedules and things they do and there are lurkers. One could say that "wow 39 views and not one you can do it or anything. guess i came to the wrong board" was rude. I don't think it was meant as a rude comment as I found your comment based in frustration as you felt you were being ignored.

I'm trying to point out that maybe there was a quick judgment call...or however you wish to put it. That there wasn't an intention to hurt or be rude to you and I think that goes both ways!

Anyhow, good luck to you! Should you decide to stay though, you must know you're more than welcome to and I think everyone would agree with that.

Salamroya, I'm sorry you didn't find what you wanted here, and that you perceived one person to not be supportive. I think the point dolphingirl was trying to make was that there were only 3 hours between your posts (remember that the time stamp on the posts are matched to our local times, so what is noon for you might be 5 pm for someone else.) It can be difficult to assess intent and meaning on the internet and I don't think she meant to be rude. I don't think you did, either.

I'm going to go ahead and close this thread, as I'm not sure it's headed in a positive direction and Salamroya has indicated she isn't coming back.

Salamroya, If you do want to post again, you are, of course, welcome to start another thread.