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, inspiration, 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.


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!!

Toni - LOVELY! I was in awe of your quilts and loved all of them teehee! TY for sharing!

****
Happy Monday everyone.

I'm waking up, got up late, couldn't sleep last night. I'm hoping to get back to my normal grind tomorrow, walk in the early morning, etc. Today I'm going to focus on getting back on the exercise routine. I so easily slip off of it that it is bothering me now. I need to do it. I wonder why I struggle so much with the exercise. It is like I struggle to get myself to do it, but once I do I love it. That doesn't make sense.

I wish I was more active. I hate staying inside my apartment all day. I'm missing the sun and things.

Hope everyone is well! *HUGS*

Hey, are we really going to end June with less than 15,000 exercise minutes?? Say it ain't so!!!!

EVERYONE is invited to participate!! Just track your minutes and post them on the stickied thread!!

morning all...

Toni: Love your quilts!!

Realist: $9 gym..oh man that is awesome.

Heather: I wish I had minutes to add

As for me: Yesterday hubby and I had a bit of a fight..and we hardley ever fight anymore. Basically my cousin came over, the one that we use to take care of. Anyhow, I "thought" my hubby said that he would take him to my brothers. I guess I misunderstood. He said he would take him over there if he was picking up our oldest son from his gf, which he wasnt because he had a ride. So about 9:30 I get a text on my phone. It was from hubby. I thought hubby was in his room folding laundry, but he was in there laying down after taking a sleeping pill. So I went in there and we had words. Then he proceeds to tell me that I never listen to him. I said I misunderstood him. I told him that I would leave early to work and take him home. I also got the "your family" talk. It seems like such a stupid pidley argument, and it is. But soemtimes he drags the "your family" part in it and that really upsets me. His family is not so wonderful either.lol. The reason my cousin can't stay here is because hubby and I both don't trust him all that well. LONG story.

BUT after the argument..at 10 pm at night..I went straight to the kitchen and had a bowl of cereal without even paying attention to what I was doing!!! Sooo the "stress" eating is back, and i gotta find a way to STOp it.

Ladies, thanks for all the compliments on my quilts! If anyone else is a quilter and has links, I'd love to see them.
Today is my second day back on the "writing it all down" mode. It is what worked for me so well last year so I am getting back into it.

Here's the results ladies!!
Congrats to all who went to the bitter end!!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the MIA, thanks for noticing Ang.

I had my job interview and it went well they told me 130 people applied and they called in 25 for interviews. I felt blessed to be one of the 25. They told me I wouldn't be hearing from them unless I got the job and they weren't making any decisions until July 10th. I came home and worked late into the night to get ready for my yard sale. On Thursday I got a call in the morning from the lady I interviewd with. I was so surprised but they called 10 of us in for 2nd interviews and some testing. I had to go there on Thursday at 3 p.m. They gave us 25 minutes for our test and I got it done in 12. I went over it again to make sure I wasn't making any obvious mistakes and I couldn't find any so they were impressed that I finished so quickly. They called me in to another panel interview with their supervisors. So, 3 supervisors for the Child support division state of Idaho. I did the interview and again they said I won't hear from them unless I am chosen on the 10th of July. On Friday I had the yard sale, pretty successful, and I got a phone call from 2 of the supervisors that I had interviewed with. They offered me whichever opening I wanted. They all paid the same but the one I chose was no customer contact except mail and phone. That works better for me. The supervisors I spoke with on Friday said they were so impressed with me and they liked me so much that they wanted to hire me right on the spot but utnil they tested me they couldn't. They said they have never seen anyone do the test so quickly before with such precision. I was so proud of myself and frankly very surprised that they chose me. They said because they were so impressed with me they decided not to wait until the 10th to make up their minds. They said that their supervisor who was also in the interview told them to snag me up. lol. I start work on the 13th. It is not a saleried position which is something I am looking forward to. I have been saleried for soooo long in all my jobs and had to work until it is done basically and on weekends. This job is the highest paying job I have ever had and it is hourly. They are sticklers about taking breaks and lunches and not working any overtime.

They have been cutting back like most states so who knows how long it will last but at least I will have a paycheck again for a while. Such a blessings.

After our yardsale was over on Saturday we took the rest of the stuff to the thrift store. We made $312 and put the whole thing in our savings account. That felt wonderful to do that. I started feeling very sick on Saturday night and by Sunday morning I was running a fever. I had the flu like some 24 or 48 hour bug. I am feeling so much better now though.

I haven't had a chance to read much of anyone's posts but wanted to say welcome back to Beth and Toni. Glad to see you.

Thanks everyone for keeping me in their prayers and thoughts when I was going for this job.

Blessings all,
Annie

Hi all,

I didn't completely waste the day today. I so need structure though. I went for a walk at 9am and I was soaking wet with sweat by the time I was done. I am just not ready for summer time. I then reserved a hotel for DH and my anniversary down in Albuquerque for October (to see the balloon festival). The best part of that is it is a 3 day free stay since I was able to use Hyatt points I have obtained through work travel. Yay! I did get my steps in (10,133 so far today) and my activity goal (1:23 so far). The bodybugg tracks your activity, which is awesome. It doesn't count activity for me while just leisurely walking about and such, but I still take the total of the day and then subtract 15 minutes as "fluff" time. Hopefully I will get my steps and time in tomorrow as well. I am feeling pretty unmotivated.

Annie - congrats on the job!!

That's about it for me for now.

Later taters,
Angie

Annie,
I am so happy to hear about your glowing report on the job! Sounds like they are seeing your worth. It is strange but we rarely see our own, it takes someone else to point it out.

Hey ladies *hugs*

Bazz - I think your reasons sound wonderful and you can do this. I was one of those people who gained their way during the 20s. I have to say that depresses me, but you know now that I'm 30 I'm choosing to start over and live again. Part of my living is taking a trip, I have a very close friend in London I would like to visit. We have been planning to finally meet for awhile now...

Annie - WOOHOOO! CONGRATS!!!! You rock!

Toni - I thought your colors for your quilts were so pretty. I love the darker ones, the ones that I felt reminded me of a misty night, and the lighter pink ones were so happy and full of life!

***
Well, I didn't get up at the crack of dawn, but did get up about half an hour ago. Going to jump into working soon and get my personal stuff FINALLY done this week or over the next two weeks; I have a lot to do including putting my blog back up and online. Been awhile...

I went to the bookstore yesterday and purchased a book about emotional eating...looked interesting so I'm gong to give it a go. I'm also going to start writing down my meals, things I eat, and then plotting out how I felt about it. So, if I'm emotional and I eat something bad, perhaps I can find a way to cope without using food. I dunno, seems like something to try.

I'm currently stuck at my weight, but getting back into activity. I got a fab book on juicing and smoothies and I'm going to plan this into my diet more. Then perhaps I'll go full speed into a juice feast, but some of the recipes look so good and I wouldn't have thought of them otherwise.

Hope everyone is well. I'm wanting to get back outside, perhaps I will this afternoon for a walk or something.

*HUGS*

Just a quickie, I'm off to my parent's house for a few days (tues night-Sunday) for our 10th wedding anniversary. We will get built in babysitters (woohoo!!!) so we get to go out for a few drinks and a meal at night, sans the boys. Oldest son is still here, he's staying at home so we're locking our room as he's being such a TOTAL swine.
Annie WOOHOOO!!!!!!! SO PLEASED you got the job!xxxxxxx
Beth, GREAT SEEING YOU AGAIN!!! (I take it your mum won't be selling me the Gazelle then, lol!!!) Are you following W/W again or another plan? Give your Mum a big hug from me, tell her I REALLY miss our chats.xxxxxxxxx
Well gotta finish of the packing ...
xxxxxxsharon

morning ladies...

Annie: WTG on the NEW job lady!! That is so awesome that they "chased" you for the job!!!!

Beth: Great list!!

Jacquie: What is the name of the book? I am such an emotional eater..would love to check it out.

As for me: Didn't sleep well last night. I was tossing and turning. Don't know what that was all about. Talked to my brother more about us moving in with him in that house. I guess it is almost a for sure thing. So maybe in September we will be moving. I am glad this is only a 4 day work week for us. So friday..I think I am taking the kids and going swimming. It will be HOT enough! I will try and post some pics of the pieces that I am doing for my star quilt. We put that in the pictures section right????

HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!

Alone time doesn't really agree with me. Today (my second work day off mind you) I have accomplished nothing (except eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's, a piece of cake, and a Reese's Peanut Butter cup). I feel like I am struggling with depression, although that doesn't really compute. Brian is merely at work, but I find myself bored. I should be doing something, but just not really doing anything. Today seems like a loss. It's hot outside, so...not really planning on walking. Tomorrow I get my hair done, so hopefully I will do something else as well. Not sure what else.

That's about it from me.

Later all,
Angie

Hey all,

I know I'm barely around lately, but I still do lurk now and then. Probably not enough to keep up with how everyone is doing though. I was chatting with a friend of mine this morning (long story but she was dropping something off as I finished my walk, but she was just stopping by to say she forgot what she was bringing), and I admitted that I'm really just a little bored. The weather has been on again / off again good, but I think it's more about not having school (or work) to go to.

Oh well, in a couple of weeks I'll start with some of the canning. I made apricot jam (from frozen fruit) about a week ago, and cherry season will be upon us soon. It was funny, but my mother and I were talking casually about how much fruit we'll likely get... and decided it would definitely have to be two trips! Last year I did 20lbs of sweet cherries (into pint jars) and 60lbs of sour cherries (into quart jars) and close to 40lbs of peaches (into quart jars), and I have to admit - we ran out a while back. That sounds unbelievable for two people, doesn't it? However, considering I just had a 5oz nectarine and 7oz of cherries with my lunch... probably not all that unbelievable.

A few quickie personals before I sign off:

Annie - congrats on the job! I'm not surprised that they were so impressed. We all know how fantastic you are.

Debi - I'm sorry to read about hubby's problems. I hope you get some results (good ones) soon.

Catherine - I used to love giving big parties, but now I'm not as sure I'm into it. What I do remember is that leftovers were dangerous. Last time we had a big group in (Christmas) I made everyone up a plate of cookies to take home. We made a lot and I didn't want them left here.

Angie - as far as I've come, I honestly can't trust myself with things like ice cream, cake, etc. They are even things I didn't eat all that often, but I can't start a pint without finishing it. I know when you live with other people it's not possible, but I just don't buy them anymore.

Julia - don't you just love this summer we're having? Not! I hope life is treating you well.

Carol - sounds like you're doing the big projects there. I think I did most of mine last summer, so in theory I should just relax this summer and enjoy myself.

Debbie - I was thinking about you today - I bought Washington State cherries (yum). They always beat ours here by a couple of weeks.

Cyn - I'm so not a morning person with the walking, but I'm quite proud of myself that I haven't given up on it. I got rained on Friday morning, and a few drops of rain today, but I've pretty much been at it non-stop (5 days a week) since late April. There was one week I don't think I went more than once, but other than that I've been pretty good. I'm sure your walks are warmer that mine, so best of luck!

Well, I've gone well past my self-imposed limit at the keyboard, so I'll stop there and wish everyone else a good week. Tomorrow here is Canada Day, although all it meant for me this year is that I had to go to Costco today as it will be closed tomorrow.