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.

wow, up to 700 already....i remember when we were still in the single digits

Thinthinker – hey thanks for that info on the body glide. I’ll look into it. Where could I find Tawny, is that her handle name? I’d like to talk to her about this stuff. Appreciate it Thanks!

Sue…

Thin asked: When are you leaving for Carolina? Was it North or South? Business or pleasure?

I'm off to a dog show in Norwood,NC, near Albemarle. It's all Pointers .... all week, our national specialty show. Field trials, aglity, obedience and conformation. I've only got the youngster entered in Agility (she's not really ready ... should be fun.) and Conformation but I want to watch the rest. I enjoy spending time w/friends that I'm lucky to see once a year. The show's held at a fancy equestrian center called The Forks, where they do a lot of horse trials and such. Downside is hotels are 20 miles away. I leave a week from tomorrow and I'll be gone about nine days.

I hope the guy puting in our new hot water heater is almost done. I want my dinner!

Hi everyone,

Just popped on to say "hey". Wow 700 threads. Do you do a new thread for each day?

Well, I did bad eating today. I splurged a little & had a piece of cake my Mom made. All in all it was an ok day. UNTIL I came home & my neighbor was an a$$ to me. I live out in the country & let my dogs outside to tinkle when I got home & my neighbors were makin' a bunch of noise in their front yard, the dogs ran across the road & my rottie (who gets a bad rap because of his breed) barked like crazy at him, because he started stompin' around yelling at the top of his lungs at my dog. Had he just let me get him, my boy would have been just fine. My dog is a huge baby, but my neighbor is a jerk so the dog reacted to him screaming like a banchi. This neighbor hates my bro & sil who live next door to them & accross the street from me. So, it's guilt by association because I'm related. But hey I don't like my bro & SIL either LOL Well, thank you for letting me vent. Because I want to eat when I'm ticked off or when someone shows me NO respect. Which is most the time.

Hello again.

Melissa: Hard to believe we're at 700, isn't it?

pebs: No, we don't start a new thread everyday, just every 30 posts. That makes it easier for us to figure out just how many posts we've been through. 700 threads x 30 posts = 21000 posts! *That's the pitts about the dog and the neighbors. [[[hugs]]] Hey, whereabouts in MI are you? I'm in Sterling Heights.

SueMarie: I used to get Tawny's newsletter years ago. I'm not exactly sure where to find her. When I have some extra time I'll try and google her or something. Her newsletter was called Making the Connection. If memory serves me right she followed Bob Greene's training program, but I could be mistaken. Her real name is Tawny and as far as I know, she does not post on this site.

Judy: I'm sure you are just going to have a marvelous time. NC should be beautiful this time of year. All the dogwoods and azaleas in bloom.

I'm happy to report that we may even have some flowers for Spring Fling. The magnolias are just starting to open up as well as some of the other flowering trees. Hopefully, if we don't get any rain this next week, we'll still have some blooms for next weekend. The trouble is most of the time the trees just start to sprout and then we get a downpour and lots of wind and then the blossoms are more on the ground than on the trees.

Oh well, heading off again. See you later.

Hi Everyone,

Wowza that's alot of posting. Awesome!

Thinthinker-Thank you for the air hug I live about 20 minutes from Michigan Speedway. Do you know where that is?

I can't wait to be able to plant flowers & I'm also planting an herb garden. It's supposed to be around 10 degrees warmer here tomorrow. YEAH!

I was wondering what you guys do when you have cravings?

pebs: Yes, I absolutely know where MI speedway is. My husband's boss leaves in the boonies near Chelsea and my husband used to go to the June Nascar race faithfully. Long story, but he misunderstood two years ago and lost his season tickets! As far as cravings: 1) grab a big glass of water first. and/or 2) wait 15 minutes to see if it passes, never give in at the first sign of a craving. 3) if you STILL want it, then have a tiny bite. The bottom line is if you have to go to #3, then nothing else you eat will satisfy you so you might just as well have a bite and be done with it. Just don't forget, the second and third bite will never taste any better than the first one did so the first one is ENOUGH!

Man, I'm worn out! But it feels good.

I finally got my Subway for lunch today (love that sweet onion chicken teryaki) and ate at the Panera bread place for dinner (a veggie sandwich and an oriental chicken salad). Which brings up the question, why do I eat out so much?

It's been a weird day. I returned to the Y at lunchtime to pick up my friend, and that darn scale was calling to me again. . . I caved in and started to make my way through the Y to see if there was any signs of those four pounds I gained. I figured there was a chance that I had too much sodium yesterday and that was probably the cause, especially since I had been going to the bathroom all morning. And so I prompty tripped over a new rug and landed flat on my face with eight or so other employees watching me! And I'd have been fine if anyone hadn't asked me if I was ok. . . I'm weird like that. I immediately picked myself up and started crying. And I really was okay, just a little shook up. I don't seem to have a sense of balance anymore and I really need to work on it.

Anyway, I subjected myself to further punishment and stepped on the scale. Those four pounds are gone! Whew! Amazing how they were gone just four hours later! But like I said, I'm sure it had somethng to do with all the extra sodium I had yesterday and I probably retained some water because of it.

I was still lamenting over my boss being angry at me last week when one of the teachers of my afternoon school took me aside. She told me that someone commented on how great I am with the kids in my after school program, that I keep it running smoothly and that I handle situations well. It really made my day! Or week, or month. . . I winked at her and told her to tell my boss that; she's only checked on me twice all year and made a poor judgement on me last week over a complaint that was just hearsay. I fully defended myself, but she did not apologize. Oh well, why would I expect her to change?

I went shopping with my friend after work and found a really neat oriental place setting. I also picked up a new shirt (from the men's section, LOL) and a DVD. Shopping is the most fun exercise, right?

I've been running around quite a bit today and I'm beat. I think I'll head of to bed soon. . .

G'night!

P.S.- Pebs- I wrote a little bit about what I do for cravings here. Hope it helps!

Esmaraude: I'm sorry you fell. I sure hope you don't "feel it" in the morning. [[[hugs]]] Congrats on losing those four pounds. I'm betting sodium WAS the culprit. Isn't it too bad that that darn scale is so addicting and we just HAVE TO jump on it all the time. I've gotten back into that nasty habit and have been doing it every morning this week. To my surprise so far I've been down a little more each day. Nothing Earth shattering, but a 10th or two of a pound every day so it adds up. But I also have to say that I'm working back into my apple every morning and at least one salad every day. Adding the fruit and veggie servings has always done me well and that's proving to be true again this week. Now just to keep up the new old habit. I'm glad you got a nice compliment from the teacher today. Hopefully that will make up some for the way the boss made you feel last week. Ok, soapbox time, but does it make you crazy that the education system seems to stress so much "feel good" stuff for students these days yet the teachers can be made to feel like crap? I'm so sick of the emphasis being on the kids self esteem and not on academics that I could spit! So many of our kids are graduating high school not being able to read or spell worth a darn, but damn, they feel good about themselves. Certainly seems like something is wrong with this picture. Ok, off my soapbox.

Time to hit the bed. See you all later.

Thinthinker – ahhh okie, I was thinking she was a member on another forum group on 3FC. No worries then. I will see if I have access to a dermatologist or someone that is in the “know” about this stuff and see what they think and recommend. Thanks though

Esmaraude – Ugg… I did that too today. I missed the ground or something. The sidewalk was uneven and it dipped down and I caught air and went *SPLAT* sigh… and I work with middle schoolers. I won’t be living that down for a while. For sure. At least it was a Friday and I get the weekend to gain some of my dignity back heh. Congrats on the 4lbs tho

Sue…

Good morning, and thanks for the welcome. I hope everyone has a great weekend, im off to gatlinburg for a quick weekend trip. Hopefully no food will be too tempting. Has anyone tried the diet dr pepper cherry vanilla? It is really good! i try not to drink much soda, but this is a nice change from crystal light. Have a great weekend everyone

Good morning!

Its Sit up Saturday! Time for activity of all kinds and burn those calories!

I'm going to do some housework before we head out for the weekend.

Last night was cookout night at the barn again. That might become a Friday night regular. I'll have to get in the habit of having healthy food as hotdogs and chips every Friday just isn't going to do. It was a much warmer night. And it was fun to sit around and talk. I especially loved sitting on the back of the truck and just hanging out. I am so from the farm and dislike city life. I told DH that is what I'd rather do than hanging out in an expensive restuarant or smokey bar with a bunch of pretentious people.

Cherie (barn manager and new friend) and I are going to get the horse boys ready to be shown in halter class. That means we walk and possibly trot them around the arena. We worked on that last night for a while. We have a lot of work to do. I also got Tanyah out and rode her in the arena last night. I got my exercise in last night.

We're headed to Springfield for the night in a couple of hours. I want to get the house clean and then leave. My sister has decided to join the church and get baptized. This is so great. We're going down for the baptism.

My sister and her DH have joined the gym at the hospital where she works. If you knew my sister, this is really big. I'm all about exercise and she's has never had a muscle in her life. So I'm jealous that she's going to the gym but I also know I have the stuff at home anyway and also know that I don't have time to go to a gym with all the other stuff I have going on. We're going to see her gym this afternoon and I hope we use it. I'll take my stuff and make her do something with me.

Kymberly - Welcome to the group. I like diet DP so I'll have to try that flavor. Have fun in Gatlinburg.

SueMarie - That sucks when you so **splat** Hope you're not feeling it today.

Thin - One week to Fling time! I can't wait as I've never been up in that area.

Esmaraude - Congrats on those pounds being gone! Ditto what I said to Sue about the **splat**. Shopping is good fun. I'm trying not to shop these days to ease up on the budget.

Pebs - Welcome to the group also. The herb garden sounds like fun. I've always wanted an herb garden. What do you plant? I might try that this year on the deck.

Judy - on reaching the 20 pound milestone. Your trip sounds like a blast. I used to want to show Bear but he's such a butthead we couldn't pass Good Dog certification because he wouldn't stay. You'll be doing dog shows and I hope to be doing horse shows! Keep up the good work!!

BarbPA - How are you holding up? How's the IVF cycle going? I miss having you around! Hope you're doing well!

I think that's it for this thread. I need to go get the laundry started and started with the activity.

Have a good weekend!

Good morning ladies. It got down into the 60's here last night, and I am embarrassed to admit that I slept in sweat clothes under 3 blankets. I know after a couple of years in Florida your blood thins, but this is silly. I guess that extra 100 pounds I had last winter really did keep me warmer.

Last night was a nightmare. I spent about 8 hours in the ER with my roommate. After almost 4 years of sobriety, she went on a bender (if you can call two drinks a bender). She is a mean drunk. An ambulance picked her up after she fell down a flight of stairs in front on the church downtown. She flipped off a priest and nun who came out to help her. I don't even know how many hail mary's that is going to cost her. When I put koolaid in the rectory shower head as a teenager, they made me murphy's oil soap all the pews. Anyway after 8 hours there her BAL went down to .19 only twice the legal limit, and she had calmed down enough to be brought home. I have got to figure out some way to change my living situation. At least it didn't make me want to eat bad.

Esmaraude-I also have balance problems now. The doctor said as you lose weight, your center of gravity changes. It's like a teenage boy who grows 6 inches in a month, and keeps tripping. I live where the streets are 95 year old cobblestone. It hasn't been level since FDR was president. I have to watch my feet with every step. I'm never tempted by the scale at my YMCA. Of course it only goes up to 350lbs. I lose another 35 pounds, and I may also get tempted by it.

Thinthinker-Don't get me started on education. We have one of those statewide tests almost each year for the kids. You can't even get a diploma if you don't pass it. The teacher's salaries are tied to it in such a way, that none of them teach the subject anymore, they just teach to the test. It's that "Dumbing Down" book come to life. And the guidance counselors try to get everyone to go to college because their % of college acceptance is critical to the school because we have school choice here too. My oldest foster son was so not college material. He just didn't like to use his brain too much. He was content with C's, and preferred to spend his time reading. We used to say we needed to stick some dynamite up his butt just to see if he was breathing. Don't get me wrong, he is a great kid. He is polite, clean, doesn't mind hard work, and really quite spiritual. He made Eagle Scout because that was something he was interested in. His guidance counselor tried to get him to take German so he could get into college, and he wanted to sign-up for the culinary classes at the votech. We actually had to make a stink and go to the school principal to get him the class he wanted. He is now a Culinary Specialist Seaman 1st class at the Naval hospital in Portsmouth. We are going to end up as a society of pizza delivery guys and computer programers, who can't find a plumber or electrician. I remember when guys with Phd's in Philosophy drove cabs. In ten years it will be the MBA's driving them.

Everyone be good to yourselves today.

Catherine what is becoming of you, living down there...hee hee.

Well, before I get ready for the day and shower and stuff (we're going to see Amityville Horror...)

BUT..I just wanted to pop in and say the scale is FINALLY tipping again, and it appears as if i've lost somewhere between 3-5 pounds, I cant be sure..so i'm gonna play it safe and say three...yay!!