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 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!

I know you'll all agree that we are really thankful for the free services here at 3FC. The sisters offer all of this support and information with no charges to us. There are a couple of ways though that we can help out.

If you are thinking about buying anything at Amazon, why not help out 3FC at the same time? You can do this by clicking on the button for the Amazon "store" in the upper right hand corner of the screen on the PURPLE tool bar. A portion of your purchase price will be given to 3FC by Amazon. It doesn't increase your price at all, but it does help out 3FC. You can use any of the Amazon.com links that you see on the site in order to help contribute to the site.

Also, BTW, in case you didn't know it, you can view the message boards "ad free" for a minimal charge. I think it's like $15 for 6 months. A very small investment to be rid of the annoying ads and make your pages load quicker.

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!!!!

Good morning, everyone. Well, you will very soon be able to count me as one of the "Gazelle Girls". I just ordered mine this morning!!! I have been thinking about it for over a week and then this morning I flipped on the home shopping channel and there was Tony Little and his Gazelle! Now that is what I call a sign! So I decided to by myself an early birthday/Christmas present and I ordered it. The shipping and handling was free and it comes with 4 of Tony's workout DVD's so I feel like I got a good deal. It may take up to 2 weeks to arrive and I can't wait. Seeing Ammi's success on it and now how enthusiastic Misti feels about hers makes me think I will really enjoy it too!

I think I am going to cancel my membership to the YMCA now. I never go and it is a waste of money. When I do exercise it is the occasional walk with the dog or a workout DVD. I will keep doing those things but add the Gazelle to it. Since I watch entirely too much TV in the evenings I look forward to being able to get my Gazelle out and get some activity in rather than being a complete couch potato! Thanks, Ammi, for turning me on to the Gazelle!!!!


Rayne - I do understand what you are talking about with your fiance maybe being a little too pushy with his encouragement because he doesn't understand how difficult working out at a high weight can be. I think I actually do that to myself since it wasn't that long ago I was in really good shape and could easily do 45 - 60 minutes on the elliptical or ride my bike 30 miles. I think of what I could do then compared to what I can do now and beat myself up a bit. I also some how mentally belittle what exercise I can do and end up talking myself out of it. If I want to do my 1 mile WATP which is 20 minutes sometimes I will feel like "Oh, why bother, it's only 20 minutes." But if 20 minutes is all I can do then that is better than nothing. Anyway, I hope the exercising with your fiance works out for you.


Katy - I have not heard of the Flylady system. What is it? I am intrigued. Anything that helps me get my housework done more efficiently is something I am definitely interested in!


Katt - Going down a clothing size is awesome!!! Keep up the good work!!!

Vilandra - to you to for being in 22's. I look forward to the day my 24's are sliding off me like yours are! What an awesome feeling!


Ammi - Sorry your back is still hurting. That sounds like no fun at all. But how wonderful is it that you are actually missing your exercise routine?!?!?!? I'd say that's a pretty good NSV!!!


Sharon - Thanks for your encouraging words. You are right, we do deserve this. I am so glad to hear you are feeling better after your walk at the pond. That sounds like a lovely time.


Misti - I love to hear how much you are enjoying your Gazelle! Tell me more about this President's challenge. I need all the help I can get to be motivated to exercise.


Nancy - Sorry to hear about your rough day. You are so lucky to have a stepmom that you can talk to to help you work things out. I don't blame you for wanting to keep things private. So let me just say that I hope things work out the way you want them to and work our for the best.



OK, I am going to go do an exercise DVD right now. Then I want to get out and do some shopping this afternoon. Take care, everyone!

Ammi well i had a blowout weekend.. i had pizza! oh well monday its back to the old grind i am not gonna beat myself up about it! hope you are feeling better.

I still can't get over how quick these threads go .. lol .. but its Awesome!
Well, it is really pouring down rainy today! Which is not helping my mood. Rain always makes me feel sleepy and blah.

Katt & Wyllen: Thanks for the calorie sites. I am going to check them out today. I used to do "Chose to Lose" program where they provided a check book style booklet to keep track of your intake,etc. But I never kept up with it because well, in today's computer age , I'm on the computer alot and it just makes it easier to do online. Not to mention I type waaayyy faster than I can write. Wow, am I lazy or what! LOL

Melissa & Katt: GREAT NSV!!! I can't wait until I can get back into those sizes again. It must be a great feeling!

Raven: WTG on your 3lb loss! And congrats on your new position at work! I hope it works out well for you, even if it is more work.

Ammi: I am glad you're in better spirits today! It's too bad your back is still in pain. I hope your pain killers do the job for you today! I haven't been the gym yet, but I will let you know how it goes.

I am really behind on things today. It has been pouring down rain here and I slept in late this morning. Something I don't get to do very often, so I will cherish that! lol .. I still have to go grocery shopping too. I hope the rain lets up for a bit. Nothing like trying to load and unload your groceries in the rain. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to buy so much but I hate to admit that I let my grocery shopping go for so long now that I literally have bare cupboards and an empty fridge at this point. I have been doing fast food for so long now and I am finally fed up with how it makes me feel and how much weight I have gained from it. Which is why I decided to rejoin the boards and get back on track before it got too out of control! I plan on stocking up today and getting things that I can prepare ahead of time or that can easily be made, so that I can avoid the Fast food chains altogether!! I fell into the pitch of it being "fast" because of all the long hours I have had to put in at work. It was just too quick and easy to just pull in there and grab something on the way home. But all of that is over for me now! Anyway, I have to go get my "other half" to get in gear so we can get things done today. I hope you all have a Great Day!

I absolutely am addicted to Pogo!! I love Jungle Gin, Pogo bowl, and a few others...my favorites list is looong! I'm on there just bout every chance i get...I got the avatar from there....When my Mom found out that i was talking to a guy that I met from the Internet, I absolutely thought she was going to kill me! She didn't talk to me for a week....it took her about 4 months to finally meet my husband and finally after she did...she was fine about the whole thing. As a matter of fact, the two of them get along great now. Now as far as a superman cape.....lol.... that would be to funny to see on christmas morning

I too fell off the wagon yesterday, my hubby and i went antique shopping and ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant for lunch...i had a Ham and Provolone foccacia.....it was sooo good.....and then for dinner last night we ordered pizza...

Well i need to get motivated and dressed...my nephew and I are going to be outside today picking up Pecans from our tree.....Have a good one all...

Patti - Pizza kicked my butt too this weekend. That's OK, we can get back on track now.

Just finish a portion of my workout DVD - maybe 15 minutes or so. It's one I haven't done before. I had gotten it free from WW a long time ago and had never used it. It wasn't that strenuous but I had to stop after 15 minutes. My calves get really tired doing certain movements. I know it's because of all the extra weight I am trying to carry on them.

OK,off to cook a Core-friendly lunch and then to do my shopping.

Hey everyone.

I was a member of this board about 2 years ago and made a brief appearance earlier this year for about 2 weeks but then faded out again. I'm recommiting myself to weight loss and hope that I can join your group. Your threads go really fast and I'm not sure I can stay caught up and it will take me a while to get to know you all but I'm hoping I can join your group because I can really use the support.

Just a little bio. info. on me. I turned 40 this past July and have a 4 1/2 year old son. I'm a single mom and work full time. I live in Washington state (as I see several others do as well!). I've recently been to the dr to get a kick in the butt to get started losing weight again. It worked because she called with my cholesterol levels and they were worse than last time I weighed this much and started weight loss efforts in 2004. (I lost 96 lbs in 10 months then but have put it all + 2 more lbs back on). My cholesterol levels aren't the worst ever but at 40 I'm making my health one of my top priorities. I already have high blood pressure that I'm medicated for so I don't need to add anything else to my list. lol.

You seem like a great and very supportive group of ladies and I look forward to getting to know you all and giving and receiving support.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Ammi and Xena... i have to admit i am looking forward to my healty food again i really do feel better physically and mentally when i stay on program! Yes Ammi we do have a deal/// 100 per cent til thanksgivng. lol you ought to see all the tangerines and grapes i bought lol!

ingrid--welcome back! i wasn't here when you were on last, but i'm glad you're posting again.

katt--the lambs are adorable!!! i wish we all lived closer cuz i'd be over all the time to see them!


well.....this day is stinky! i got up feeling very lazy and it's been blah ever since. i finished up the laundry i started last night, planned our meals for the week and made a grocery list, then thought i was really doing good getting things done and laid down on the couch with the dog and turned on the tv and wasted a lot of time. then i started a 45 minute WATP tape and after 20 minutes my husband called. he works a regular 40 hour a week job and also has his own janitorial business cleaning offices. his schedule at work got changed and he needed me to help him finish cleaning. so i was all bent out of shape about not getting to finish the WATP and my weights tape, but went to help. when i got there, rich said he'd gotten me some lunch and handed me a bacon cheeseburger. i was feeling so out of sorts, that i inhaled it! i don't even think i chewed it. we finished up and came home and now i feel like a slug. i should do my workout, i should go to the grocery store, i should finish cleaning up the house, i should bake my muffins for breakfast this week, but all i want to do is take a nap or lay back down on the couch and put in a movie. it's such a nice day out, and after yesterday's cold, that's not even motivating me to take a walk or something. after having such a great surprise yesterday with my exercise minutes, i'm still not motivated to finish my workout. i wish i could start today over!

well, i think during all this typing, i've convinced myself to at least go to the store. there's no better time during the week for me to do it and i really want to bake some muffins today, so......i'm off. hopefully the rest of today and tomorrow will be better. and, hopefully my wi on tuesday will be good even though i'm not getting in much exercise today. i'm worried that it won't be good, mostly cuz TOM is coming. i guess i'll just have to see what tuesday brings. bye, lori

Hi everyone!

Oh Xena... I am so happy that you are going to be a Gazelle girl. I hope you like as much as I do! Wow I just did 30 minutes and was glad when the timer went off; we need an icon that shows someone sweating hard but this will have to do!

I know what you mean about the YMCA. It is SO much easier to work out when you have something you can do at home! I really feel that with all my walking, water aerobics once a week or so, Danskin fitness balls, resistance bands and now the Gazelle, I have a pretty good variety of workout tools. Oh and the exercise bike on my deck. I hope someone emails soon for the HealthRider. I put it on Freecycle but if it isn't taken soon I will list on Craigslist.

And I LOVE the president's challenge thing! just go to www.presidentschallenge.org and you can sign up. You get points for all the exercise you do and at 20,000 points you actually win a bronze medallion (of course you have to pay for it but only $5 or $8 for a set, etc.). Then you can go for the silver and gold. Oh and you can first do the Active Lifestyle Award but I skipped that one and am working toward the bronze medallion. You can log in up to 14 days exercise before you signed up. They automatically calculate the points when you enter in (from a list) what you did. It's definitely a motivator for me!

Hi Ingrid... so glad you decided to come back. And Greetings from "up the road" a bit!!

Patti glad you are missing your healthy food! Sometimes I think it is almost good for us to mess up a bit just to be reminded that it isn't worth it and we really don't WANT all that junk any longer!

Hugs to all. Now that I have done my 45 minutes today total on the Gazelle it is time for lunch and crashing a bit!!

Wow! So many new posts since I last read/posted! I had a good week -- I lost 7 pounds (well, a lot of that was water weight) and am now just below 260. I also got to the gym at work 3x last week -- I was going to go on Friday also, but I was pretty darn sore & stiff so I thought I should give my body a break.

Seattlegrrl, I travel a lot too. For eating well, I pack some Luna or Clif bars and have those for breakfast -- I'm not much into breakfast anyway. Also, I might have one for dinner if I've had a heavy lunch and don't have a business dinner. For strength training on the road, you can get a set of bands that pack very easily in the luggage. It's hard though -- I get off track very easily when I travel and it was my travel that got me off track this summer.

Quiggs -- I use calorie counting -- I like it the best cause I can eat whatever I want as long as I count calories. One thing I learned when I started my journey last fall was that in my previous attempts, I had way under ate in the past & I was starving hungry all the time. Right now, I'm aiming for around 2000 calories/day. I used a thing at 24 Hour Fitness called "BodyGem" to figure out how many calories a day I needed. I was surprised at the number -- I think it was 2500/day just to maintain my weight -- course I weighed a lot more then.

Ammi--Sorry to hear about your back pain. I have really had some bad times with back pain over the years. One thing I have found is that strengthening my "core" -- the tummy and back -- helps with the back pain. I have to go slow because I don't want the muscles to spasm, but crunches for the tummy and planking for the back are very good. I think it was you that posted on the plank exercise -- the way I do it is to get up on my forearms -- with my elbow to wrist on the floor parallel to my body -- and on my toes and hold that as many seconds as I can (15 to start with working up to 30-60). I think doing it on your hands is for the advanced chicks or the skinnier ones .

Erika--Congrats on the apt and Amanda's job!

Katt--Congrats on the new job and on getting engaged! My partner of 5 years and I got married last month on October 30 -- one of the best days of my life .

Terry--Hope your migraine is better -- I have had those before and they are awful. Glad you're here!

Melissa--Good for you for doing strength training. Everything I've read says that strength training is important to add to cardio if you want to lose weight. Don't worry about the amount you lift -- just keep your form good and do the right # of reps. (6 or 8 if you want to lift heavy, 12-15 if you want to lift light, 2-3 sets with 15-45 seconds rest in between -- the rest is important but you can keep your heart rate up by doing something else in between -- like if you are working legs, rest the legs and work your arms during your rest period and then go back to legs).

Andie-- Your post about buying men's pants when you were 13 brought me a flashback from my teenage years -- a party game where you had to put men's clothes over your own in some sort of race -- none of the clothes would fit over mine -- I was so embarassed.

Sharon--I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling with depression -- you're not alone. Hang in there!

Jill--I hope you get to see the penguins in Australia -- my first ever international business trip was to Australia -- I was in Brisbane for 1 week and Melbourne for another week -- my work colleague and I went to the penguin colony -- what a hoot!

Katy--I hope your mom recovers from her surgery & I know what you mean about it being a motivator. Last summer, my mom had a knee replacement and my dad had a quad bypass. Both are doing fine, but it made me realize that I wasn't going to live forever. At the time, I weighed 310 pounds, was sore and tired all the time, and just felt like I was waiting to keel over from a heart attack. I honestly felt like the only way I could ever lose weight was to have bypass surgery, but the 1% mortality rate scared me. I decided to go to 24 Hour Fitness (cause it was close to work) and sign up to work with a trainer. I learned so much working with her -- from what to eat to how to exercise. She eventually quit training because she got pregnant and didn't have good "numbers" (selling stuff) -- I never really "clicked" with the 2 trainers I had since and am now doing things on my own -- but I am so grateful that I ran into her and learned what I learned from her. Life is too short to be miserable all the time!

Luan--Sorry that you had such a rough week with your kitty, grandpa, and mom. Hang in there!

Rayne--Hope you and your fiance are able to come to an agreement about how you work out together. My partner used to be kind of a wuss when it comes to exercise -- she didn't want to sweat , so when she wanted to start working out again, I suggested strongly that she hire a trainer. Now that she's had someone else push her for a while, it works well for us to work out together -- she knows how it is supposed to feel when she lifts weights and I can show her workouts I learned from my trainer or from the net. She even gets competitive with me now .

Ingrid--Welcome!

Misti--Congratulations on your 70 pound loss!

Lilion--95 pounds! You go girl!

Junonia swimsuits--I have ordered stuff from them and also from Lands' End. I've found that for me, the simpler the better -- simple straps last longer than hook & buckle closures. I like scuba diving & snorkeling (although haven't been in a while) & you need at least 2 suits if you're doing that (one to wear, one to dry ).

Internet romance--I did one and what a disaster! Glad it has worked well for so many of you. I think that the big problem was that it is so easy to only see/show the parts of them/you that you want to see. My partner and I met in real life and were friends for 2 years before we started dating. We took it slow at first and also got couple's counseling early -- that worked really well for us and now it has been 5 years and we're an old married couple .

MBA program--I can't remember who asked me about this, but if you are interested in business, I'd highly recommend it! I think the program is 1/2 about what you learn & getting the degree and 1/2 about building your professional network. I have come to believe that "job security" is a thing of the past -- it's about "career security" -- who you know and what you've done. I hope I retire from my current employer, but I know that things change and that may not happen. I was not going to take off work for 2 years to get a degree (I'm the primary breadwinner in our family), so I researched online and part time programs. There are more & more options now that allow you to work full time while you get your degree. I ended up choosing the Babson College Fast Track program -- they just started a cohert in Portland, Oregon which is where I live. It is a lot of work -- I am doing school work 2-3 nights per week and 1/2 day on the weekend at least. But, I am impressed with the quality of instruction. PM me if you would like more info. My only regret is that I didn't do this years ago (I tell my classmates.. I'm 25.. in base 20 ) -- but I wasn't interested in business until my late 30s.

Whew! That was a long post -- sorry that I didn't reply to more personally...

misti i think you are so right about messing up now and then i do tend to miss my healthy food and get right back on track the next day!glad you are enjoying your gazelle rider!