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

There is no weight requirement to belong.
We can all learn from each other.
We want to invite everyone to join us in our journey.
We share laughter and tears.
We share what works for us and what doesn't.
We often use a "Topic of the Day" for discussion.

Motivational Monday
Tuesday Tips
Wednesday Wish List .. and What you are doing to obtain it.
Thankful Thursday
FUN Friday ... don't wait until you lose your weight.
Sit-up Saturdays - any physical activity
Share your Success Sunday

These are not required topics ...just ideas to share. We often find them very helpful. We also share heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations.

We have several extra threads going on simutaneously such as Monthly Challenges, Weekly Weigh-ins, Recipes, Bios, and more. Please feel free to check them all out.

We have a bi-weekly 2x2 Challenge.
Our goal is to lose 2 lbs in 2 weeks.
We have a long term goal of losing 300+ lbs within our 300+ group in 2005.

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.

WELCOME!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIN!!!!!!I hope you have/had a great one

Leanne

Just a few minutes till I MAKE myself get ready and go exercise.

I just wanted to comment on the green tea. The "plan" we have been following since the first of the year is very strong on green tea. I've replaced my morning coffee witha cup of green tea and I'm finally becoming used to it. Also I sometimes drink a cup at night. I have been having 1 cup of coffee at work though. Since I have started drinking it, I am down 8 pounds, but I have changed so many things in my eating since the first of the year,I don't know what to attribuite what to. But anyway, you can get used to it. And 2Cute, yes youcan drink it cold, but since i don't like regular iced tea, I can't commit on how it compares.

Green tea is also an antioxidant (an iNOS inhibitor) which makes it a chemopreventor. SO....green tea may keep you from getting cancer. : )

I learned that in my Cancer Biology class.

Barbg... Love your new signature name. Cool Love the dancer, the pacifier, the color best. It just makes me smile and I love to smile.

Thanks for the info on the tea. now that you mention it Marcie... they did mention that info about cancer but I forgot it... all I remembered is Lose weight.

Hope everyone has a great day. I am running errands today before bad weather due here tomorrow.

Hi everyone! Just got back from my walk this morning. I love the feeling of reaching the top of the hill and stopping to turn around and look over the valley. I might as well be on top of Mount Everest! I have such a feeling of accomplishment! That's what gets me out there to do it 4 times a week. Looking down the looooong hill and knowing that I made it up by my own volition, even though it was hard and I had to stop a few times to catch my breath! That's the juice for me!

kari_berry - I must have missed what happened to your mouth, but it sounds painful. Hope it gets better soon. Re: your brother... I've noticed that people who are 'farther along' in fitness really want to 'push' a certain program or techniques on other people. I have no idea why this is. But maybe that's what he's doing. It works so well for him that he wants you to do it too? I'm a firm believer that we each need to find our own way. I mean I'm sure we would all benefit physically from 5 days a week at the gym, but making your own plan will be something you can stick with. Siblings can be a pain. I know...

kerri - I also went with 'the nice guy' 14 years ago after picking the bad guy every time previous. Best decision of my life! And we're both still head over heels!

thinthinker - Happy Birthday!

hippygoddess - Glad you're home and hope you're feeling better. Good on your kids! I love to hear about kids being responsible. I don't hear enough good kid stories these days.

bobsgal - Hi

Wednesday Wish List - I've been thinking heavily about a horse lately. I don't know that I want the responsibility and daily care of owning one, although we live on a horse property with the barn and pasture, but I sure love to ride and I haven't for many years. I wish to ride a horse again. I'm sticking to my plan and upping the exercise (4 weight days and 4 cardio days per week) in hopes of riding again this Summer/Fall.

Does anybody know how much weight a horse can comfortably carry?

Later!

Edit: Oh, and I don't care how my name is spelled, I'll still answer. Or you can call me Carla.

Happy Birthday Thin!

Barbg-
Where/How do you create those signatures???

Ok I'm back here now I've had some sleep, and I seem to be finally on the mend a little. I''m still having some symptoms and I'm deadly tired but I can think straight at least. And the kids are still being reasonable! Actually, I think I have great kids all the time!

You might remember I bought some scales a while ago, but they haven't weighed me so far. When I got them I had about 30 lbs to go before they would weigh me. I don't know whether to trust these now, and whether they are the same as the dietician's scales, so this is not an 'official' weighin but I got on them about 5 minutes ago just to see if they would weigh me. My last official weighin (on 4th Jan) was 340.6 lbs and these scales say 329.2 lbs now - which would be a loss of 11.4 lbs. To me its a bonus that they are weighing me at all.
Considering I havent eaten anything for 6 days with this bug, I wouldn't be surprised if that's right. I know its not a healthy way to lose weight but I didn't have a choice! And the dietician's scales may say something completely different.
I just hope that I can use the fact that my tummy has now shrunken, to help me stay on plan. And I have also given up caffeine (again) because I couldn't tolerate it over the last week, and I'm past the initial withdrawal period so I wont be going back to it
So even though its been a horrible week, at least there are some positives out of it.

I'm going to have to go shower and start on some things around the house that have been neglected over the last week, so I only have time for a couple of replies.

Qadira, a lady on a list I used to be on was similar size to me or a bit heavier (she was around 370 lbs from memory) and used to ride a horse regularly - I'm not sure how big the horse was but when you think about it a large horse could carry two grown men which would weigh more than you or I. I often let my weight stop me doing things - like I thought the exercise bike at the gym would break if I got on it. It took the trainer laughing at me about that one for me to get on it, and once I did I realised I had let my fears get in the way of a lot of things that would have made me much more active over the years.

Angela - so good to see you back - I missed you!

I wish I had time to go back to the previous thread and make some replies, but I'm nearing the end of my energy burst. Thanks again to everyone who has been wishing me well through my illness {{{hugs}}} I really appreciate this group.

Just popping in to say: Happy Birthday Thin!!!

Hello ladies - I hope you are all doing well today!

Thin - Hope your day is wonderful!

ageoldie - Glad to hear that you like the green tea. I hear that green tea is really good for you - but I have not even tried it yet. Guess I'll have to go to the store, and pick some up.

Qadira - That must feel GREAT to reach the top of that hill! I know if I could do that - I would feel wonderful! As far as how much weight a horse can carry - I have no idea. I remember when I was younger (and about 200 lbs) my aunt and uncle who live in the south told me that I could not ride their horses until I "lost weight". Nice eh?

hippygoddess - Wow! What an amazing weight loss! It may not be the right way to lose it right now - but it's gone - right??? That's the same for me with my wisdom tooth removal. I'm sure I lost weight (atleast I hope) because I haven't been able to eat much until today.

Friday I get to go and weigh in and I am looking forward to it. Today my aunt and I walked around the mall twice. She was telling me about her "low carb diet". She was saying how she was reading in the atkins book about how the "low fat/low calorie" plans will set you up for failure. I just listened to what she had to say and didn't say anything. I figure everyone chooses their own plan for a reason. Usually because it's something that they can stick to. If she can live with a low carb plan, than that's fine. But I know that I can't. I guess we'll see the results on Friday.

I've decided that I am going to get back to the gym starting this weekend. I am going to try and go three times a week. I don't want to throw myself into the gym, without getting used to it again. I would be soooore if I went 5 days a week right away. Plus I cannot see going after work EVERY day. With my commute to and from work, plus being at work totals over 10 hours. I am tired when I get home from work.

Food was good today. This morning I had a boiled egg for breakfast. For lunch I had a chicken salad sandwich w/light miraclewhip, 5 Baby dill pickles, 1 cup sliced peaches, and 1/2 cup sugar free strawberry jello. For dinner I will be having chicken breast simmered in low fat Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, & broccoli. (Yum!) And probably some more sugar free jello for dessert. I am really looking forward to the weekend! Saturday will be a little bit of a "splurge" day as I am having breakfast with my father. Can't wait!

Well - have to get goign. I hope all you ladies are having a wonderful Wednesday (Hump Day)
More tomorrow!
~ Kari Berry ~

I ate dinner and went for a long walk with my dog...well...long to me, maybe a mile and a half. The weather is beautiful and I though we should enjoy it! I had a perfectly on plan day...with the exeception of 2 peanuts. I am very proud of myself after yesterdays pound cake incident! I have a chance at 2 more POP days before weigh in!!! WOOHOO

Qadira - I had to jump in here real quick and answer your questions about horses. I have two mares. I LOVE to ride! I got back into riding a few years ago and probably weighed around 280. I figured if I was too much, she'd unload me! One of them has foot issues and I was worried about my weight this summer and her ability to carry me. DH thought I was ridiculous. I even asked the vet if there was any reason why my riding her would be an issue. He looked at me funny and then said that no she was strong enough. DH about died when he realized that I was asking if I was too fat. His point was that there are many a big cowboy out there riding. So I understand completely about your concerns!

I found out on the web an article that discusses for the "heavier" rider. It mentioned that rider and gear should not weigh more than 30% of the horse and that was for competitive riding. The bigger the horse, the better. No, not a Clydesdale! My two are around 15 hands high and probably 1100-1200 pounds. Pics of mine are over on the picture thread.

Okay, I'm off to do a whole bunch of exercise. Pilates, walk the dog before it gets frigid and snowy again; stability ball workout and some other form of aerobics. I haven't had time to do much this week because of work and personal stress. DH just left for a school bus trip and won't be back for a few hours. Just me and Bear for the evening.

We bought Bear a new bed. Its an orthopedic bed. Sucker had to be 54 inches long. It came today. I think he's thrilled because he's curled up in the middle of it. I had thought he was wanting more cushion than his blanket because he's been pulling it up into a mound then laying down. Beds for his size are not cheap!

Later chicks! I'm not ignoring everyone else. Just so excited to talk about animals!

Just had to stop in today and wish my friend Thin a very happy birthday. You are a wonderful person and I am so fortunate to count you as my friend. Hope your day was/is wonderful and that all your birthday wishes come true.


Now as for me, food is terrible, exercise is non-existent and heartburn and TOM are in the house. How much fun am I having?!?!? Oh yeah, and I just found out that my husband's and my pay will be cut by 10%. I am partying now (she says sarcastically...).

On the bright side, we leave for Florida in less than 3 days and God willing, we will have a very uneventful drive there, stay there, and drive back. I am looking forward to relaxation and a time to renew myself.

Well, I still am not packed and I want to at least attempt to clean some of the piles of stuff in my office, so I am out of here.

Susie