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 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.

Scooter ... I loved your picture of you and your new bike. I came soooo close to buying a pair of his and her NEW bikes at a garage sale last weekend. A grown son bought them for his parents but they never rode them. I think it sounds soooo fun. I just fear it won't hold this much weight.

Julee ... loved your photo too. I loved what you wrote your friend.

There were several others who posted pictures too in the picture page.
THANK YOU !!! I loved them all !!! Keep them coming.

While writing this short little bit... I have been knocked off line 4 times!!!
There are severe storms all around me... but fortunately not hit my house .. yet. LOL
I think I will get off line and turn off my computer.

Thin: I do neither, I'm a kept pet. Spoiled rotten. No wonder I'm fat.
__________________

oops, i posted on the wrong thread...i'll just paste it forward here.

Well I'm feeling a teensy bit sick to my stomach, I did my exercises even though I was tired...I probably pushed myself a bit harder than I should have cause I have that nauseated feeling now...grrr. Thin, Subway sounds liek a good idea...they do that two for one deal here too!

2cute - Hey nice to see you come out from hiding!! ...of course by "hiding" I mean i didn't "see" you yesterday..heh heh.


Julee -
I totally understand how that feels. I've put on some weight since I've seen some of my good friends from high school too (like a hundred pounds...LOL). I worry about what they'll think of me...and I won't lie...I always will. I have no advice to give you, orther than don't think that just because she is contacting you, that she's changed. I'm with Thin on this one, and I hate to sound cynical but just be careful, people rarely change that drastically.

Brandnewme - I hope things get better for you and yours..it makes losing weight so hard when you have emotional trauma to concentrate on. Even though we always know our physical health should be the most important, I think the emotional trauma always puts our physical well being to the back burner. Good luck and keep us posted.

Terri - Thanks for the 2X2 reminder...I'm not sure if i'll be able to tell how much weight i've lost, it's hard to tell if i've only lost a few pounds on my analog scale.

esmaraude - good girl for coming back, that's the hardest thing to do...to come back after you've broken away...trust me i know! those veggie burrito things you posted on recipes look really good by the way! i love mexican food so i'll have to give them a try.

Hey everyone.. thanks for the confedince boost and supporting words.....

wanna know the damage that I did????????


4 pounds lost.

Maybe i was just being to hard on myself..... I am gonna be extra good this week.

Glad to see evryone is doing great.

esmaraude. Welcome Back...

Omg, so I was moving the air conditioner from one room to another... it's one on wheels that uses water to cool the air...and...I stepped down and sharp pains through my whole leg! I had huge plans for spring cleaning today and I can't even stand. It hurts so bad. I guess I'll be going to the doctor this week.

Thanks to all for your support through this friend issue. Just to clarify, we last saw each other when I was about 24...she judged me for being heavy then and now I am heavier still. Of course, she was always the thin and pretty one and still is. I can't bring myself to unconditionally let it all go. Something just doesn't ring right with me and I know that nobody changes that much. She sort of views herself as a martyr and a fixer. She used to love to FIX my hair and makeup when we were younger. I didn't always think I needed to be FIXED but I played along.

In any case...Shop...I hope everything is OK. It sounds a LOT like when I first was diagnosed with sciatica which can be very VERY painful and comes with stabbing and shooting leg pains. Mine still flares up from time to time but in sneakier ways. All of a sudden my right upper leg will just go numb. See your doctor. If that is what it is, they will want to put you on muscle relaxants, pain meds and physical therapy. Sciatica is an inflammation of the muscles around your sciatic nerve which runs from your lower back to your toes and when it gets irritated, you know it. Keep us posted...

I'm really wishing I could be Flinging with you guys...but my schedule just wouldn't allow it this year....keep me posted for next year.

Anyways...back to work. I have a meeting with a bunch of the kids tonight and I had to go get munchies..so I got pita and Hummus and carrots and salsa...no pizza, no junk. I'm tired of watching people eat!

Have a good night...I may pop in later.

Hi everyone, Rosie here. not the best of first days but not the worst either. At least I am THINKING about what I am putting in my mouth for a change. That is an improvement. Hang in there everyone.

Hey Rachel -
I've had sciatica too...gah...it comes and goes...there are periods of my life where i simply CAN NOT stand still for prolonged periods of time. I'm ok if I'm moving or constantly in motion, but standing still is just not an option. THis can be troublesome, seeing how I often find myself in retail atmospheres having to wait for service for some lame reason or other.

I seem to have missed the updates of the latest fling. Too bad I never have extra money....I know a ton of us live in the new england/new york/jersey area, so it's not such a long shot to plan something for around there. I'll have to go back and reread some posts.

ttfn you all,
Melissa

Well... the bad weather missed my house.
There were tennis ball size hail... but mostly golf ball size all around me.
I am just happy it all missed us.

Julee... I got a good laugh from your post... After I got a huge smile ... I thought ... "WAY TO GO JULEE !!!!" I am proud of you for getting foods you could eat guilt free too. Plus.. I think you will find that people actually "like" those good foods.

Melissa ... the Spring Fling is just around the corner. I am getting excited.
You know... you can always plan a get together on East Coast anytime.
Everyone will never be able to make it all at the same time... but you could still do a mini fling. Several of the gals here have gotten just 2-3 together.

Rosie... sounds like you are taking the first step to changing your life. Way to go !!
Never downgrade yourself ... pat yourself on the back for taking those first steps.

Shopaholic ... I hope your leg gets better soon. It sounds like you may need to have it checked out.

Esmauraude... I want to welcome you back too. Sorry it has taken me so long. I have been busy busy busy .. but no excuse. Glad to see you again.

Huggy... 4 lbs lost !!!! I have missed so many threads lately I am so far behind on replys. Hope you know I am still rootting for you.

Think that is everyone on this thread. I know I owe soooo many more but there is no way I can catch up to everyone.
I am heading for bed. Trying to get myself on a better sleep pattern.

Just a quick post to say:

Good Morning Ladies!

Hope you're doing well today! I had a bad, bad food night, with mac & cheese and cheesecake! It was DS's birthday...I couldn't really not have a piece of my son's b-day cake after all. What 10-year-old kid asks for a cheesecake for his b-day cake? Mine! But we bought a really little cake and cut it into eight small servings. There are only 2 left and the boy can have them both. I brought the fresh strawberries w/ splenda for my yummy today!

But, today is a new day and I'm more or less back on track. I forgot my lunch today though and need to figure out what I can get close by that won't be too bad. Maybe Subway.

Thin: Once again I didn't get my water in last night ...but I'm trying. I can't vow that water will be the only thing I drink in the a.m., 'cause it makes me kinda sick to drink too much water in the morning. But I do vow to drink water and nothing else - AFTER my morning caffine fix. (A single diet coke - the only caffine I get all day.)

We leave for Vegas Monday the 11th! I can't wait and yet I STILL HAVE SO MUCH TO DO!!! But not least is office work...which I better get to...they're announcing the lay-offs today!

Later ladies!

The hopefully still employed

Do you ever feel like you keep walking into walls? I currently feel like I am walking into walls and beating my head against it over and over and over.

I have been so unmotivated to exercise so I gained 2lbs. I ate okay but not my best. Last night was the first night I was the leader at TOPS and boy did I step on some toes but if they don't like it they should have run for leader.

My best friend's dad is having to have a second heart cath because he is still having Chest Pains. She is so scared. Neither of us have ever had to deal with our parents not being invincible.

My other friend's trailer caught on fire and she lost everything. She is okay. She turned the wrong eye on the stove and there was something on there. She didn't even get out with any shoes. Could you imagine losing everything? Having no clothes, no toothbrush, no hair, no purse. She even lost her car keys to the fire! All I can do is hug her. She is also a member of TOPS. So last night we took up an offering for her and raised $202 for her. That will at least get her started on some new clothes.

My boss is still ill and the doctors are idiots. She is trying to get admitted to Vanderbilt in Nashville. My boss has cancer and one of the times she has been admitted they admitted her with having the flu. and put her in a room with someone with the flu. I know that she will not be around forever because of her cancer but geez do they have to be idiots about it.

Sorry to be a downer but this is my stress. I just needed to get it out so it didn't fester inside my head if that makes any sense.

Thanks for the compliments on my hair. I actually just got 4 inches cut off before that picture. I used to be able to twirl behind my back at my waist. I have had my hair this long time.

Julee: WTG on talking to your friend. I knew that took alot of courage to write her back. Words always seem to get befuddled in those times.

Shop: I love you pictures, too. You should definitely be a model.

Meliss: Keep walking away the pounds!

2cute: Golf ball size hail great googley moogley

Lilion: Hope everything goes okay at work today. I know it will be hard.

Loki: How is your new TOPS chapter going?

Well I have ranted and raved so I should go back to work.

Later

Scooter

Awww scooter - I just wanted to reply to your post. I know how you feel, although I have been exercising good, my food has only been so so...and I know from enough dieting that this is usually the first sign of me going off my diet and gaining everything back.

However we all need to forge ahead and realize that failure is a part of our journey. Just remember you have to do this for yourself, YOUR health.

Good luck.

I love this time of year. I'm a big baseball fan. I am probably the only woman on my block who can explain the infield fly rule.

I didn't eat enough yesterday. I'm hoping I don't pay for it today. It's going to rain here tomorrow, so my knee is going insane today. It will actually feel better when it starts raining.

There was an article in our morning paper about the new enormous new breakfast sandwitch from Burger King. I just have to wonder what the **** is the point of it. I'm one of those who believe that if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. I very vividly remember the day that I had the realization that I was the stereotype of the "fat, lazy American." That's not who I want to be anymore.

I got just as angry when I read an article about teenagers getting gastric bypass surgery. I think the surgery should be last result for someone who is facing death, and has tried every other avenue. How can a 16 year old have given up on learning how to live their life the right way before they even have a life? If we are producing a generation of kids who always opt for the easy way out, what will happen if we have a real crisis in America. I marvel that my parents survived the Depression and World War II. I often think that I probably couldn't have done the same thing.

God help us when I get into a philosophical/political mood. I apoligize if I offend anyone with my views. I am burning to get to a place where I can be a good example to kids rather than an object of curiousity or scorn. It's taken me 4 1/2 years to lose the first 200 pounds, and will probably take at least that long to lose the rest, and sometimes I just get in a hurry to be done so that I can be part of the solution.

Trying to keep my patience and tongue.

Everyone- thank you for the welcome back! I'll try my hardest to stick around this time.

Julee-

I can totally relate to your #691 post. . .

I was unexpectedly contacted by my best friend from high school several weeks ago. Unless you count the time my father passed away, we haven't really talked in years. Not that I didn't try from my end. . .

I feel so awkward about her now. She began to find new friends and pretty much ignored me when I had needed her the most, when my mother was dying. I guess I still haven't completely forgiven her for that. So we never really had a major falling out. I almost wish we had though; even if it had gotten messy and hurtful and cruel I think I needed that closure.

Although there was a relatively big age difference between us (at least as it goes for high schoolers), we were the fat chicks that stuck together. But after things had changed we eventually went off in our different directions. And now she has had the gastric bypass surgery and is the thin person we've always wanted to be. I'll admit I'm jealous. . . she left her first husband and is planning to marry her boyfriend. She'll be having her first baby in a month. She just got a great-paying job and sounds very satisfied with her life now. She's four years younger than me and seems to have everything together, while I continue to feel so totally lost.

She was the first to do everything anyway, so I shouldn't be surprised.

But like I said, she called me just a few months ago to tell me she was with someone new and to tell me about the baby on the way. Afterward, I sent her a lengthy, heart-felt, gut wrenching email about the details of my current life and waited and waited for a reply.

I got that reply just a few days ago.

I'm having really mixed feelings about us. I mean, it's been almost ten years now since we stopped talking, and god, have I missed her. We went through a lot together, and losing her hurt like a million times worse than any boyfriend I might have had (not that I've dated much, mind you).

But our lives are so different now. I've moved off to another state and have basically started my life over with my boyfriend. And I've made an awesome, awesome friend up here. But to get back to my former friend, since she's been in my situation with her weight, I think she knows better than to judge me by my appearance. But I almost feel like she "cheated" by using her husband's insurance to have the surgery. Not that I want to have the surgery (I want to lose this weight on my own), but I can't even afford any type of health insurance. And I don't want to greet her with the bitterness and jealousy I feel toward her.

But you're right; I also believe that things happen for a reason, so I'm trying to be open. But I'm also being careful not to set myself up for yet another disappointment from her, I just can't do that to myself again.

So we're not in exactly the same situation, but I can relate. I understand the pain and I understand why it still bothers you, even if neither of us can really explain.

Good luck to you.