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, 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

I've been doing a lot of emotional eating since our apartment got flooded. I'm sleeping too much. Right now we are in a holding pattern waiting for the estimate for repairs. I'm worried they won't do it right. I'm worried that it will take months instead of weeks. I'm worried that we will be out of pocket a bunch. Just moving our stuff out and removing the damaged dry wall and carpet and drying everything out cost $15,000. You don't think about that kind of thing when trying to figure out how much coverage to have. I can't sew, or do much of anything except look around at an empty apartment. Way too much time to think. My water aerobics class is canceled for the summer so the kids can have swim lessons. My blood pressure is up and I'm swelled. I know this is hard to go through, and it will eventually be over, but I'm just trying to survive in the meantime.

Catherine - *Hugs* I'm so sorry stuff is so tough right now! These are the kind of situations that my mom always tells me "if it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger" in, but that's small comfort I'm sure. All you can do is, like you said, know it's not forever and try to survive in the meantime. Can you go to open swim sessions at the pool so you can at least get in the water and get moving? Hang in there!

I'm almost done packing for the move tomorrow, and I managed to get Wednesday off work, so I'll be doing that and then heading home. Also taking the ex his box of stuff that was left here... not the usual stuff you'd think after a breakup... not old t-shirts, photos, cds and dvds, toothbrush, etc. It's a computer, a couple video/sound cards, two external harddrives, a gaming mouse, and a headset with microphone. As emotional as I was yesterday today I'm just angry... can't wait to drop it on his doorstep and walk away for the last time. It's harder saying goodbye to my beautiful Empire Red KitchenAid mixer for a year than it is saying goodbye to him, lol. So wish me luck with the move, I'll let you all know how it goes!

Catherine, I will be praying that you and your dear husband have an extra dose of peace. I can only imagine how overwhelming and frustrating this situation must be. These suggestions may sound trite, but when I find myself in a situation where I have not control (which is frequently), I take a 3 prong approach. I start with my favorite: I have a 'hissy fit' for a set amount of time (usually 20 minutes on a timer) and I let myself yell or cry or throw socks at the wall as hard as I can. Next, I make a list of all the good things about my situation and all the things I can still do that are within my control and I give the rest to God. Finally, I start doing the first thing on my list of things I can do and then the next thing and the next. You might want to give dear husband some warning if you go the 'hissy fit' route. Blessings, Lindy

Lol, Lindy... I kinda do the same thing when things are just totally overwhelming. Or I try to. When I realise it's too much I give myself 15 minutes to cry, wallow, panic, scream, whatever I need to do. Usually I time this by putting on 5 songs and when they're over I get up and do something. Anything productive that reminds me there are things in my life I have control over. It doesn't always work, but most of the time it helps a bit. Great minds think alike?

Lindy what a good idea! I don't believe in god but just 'leaving' it to see what happens & the timed tantrum ROCKS!!!! How are you doing now, getting a few steps in & managing to make good food choices? I can't believe how much you've lost already! WTG!!! xxxxxxxx
Catherine I have no idea what to say, can you borrow a sewing machine from someone so you can do something to keep busy? xxxxxxxx
I rubbed my hip this morning & it felt weird, moved my hand to my bottom & I'm sure it's shrunk a bit, lol! Not that I go around feeling my bottom!!!! LOL!!!
Gotta take the boys to school,
xxxxxxxsharon

morning all...

Torister..thanks for the butt kicking you are soo right!

Catherine: I would go bonkers without something crafty to do!

I go for my gastric emptying test this morning..and I am so hungry! Atleast they will give me a boiled egg lol

Catherine, **hugs** I totally understand how overwhelmed you are. It feels like nothing is going right and you can't catch a break. But don't let it derail you! You've made outstanding progress with your weight loss, this is not a reason to let it get out of control. It feels like it, but stay strong and hang in there. It won't be forever. Look for the silver lining and focus on that.

I am so glad you took it the right way. Its hard to *see* what people mean on these boards....especially from me who lurks more than posts.

Catherine...hang in there...you will get through this. Don't throw in the towel just yet!! I like the following quote...

"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. "

~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

Catherine - times like the one you are going through are tough. You will get to the other side - you just need to be strong. Try to make the right choices and get to the end of this difficult stage.
Voodoo - love it - I do this every night, stroking my hip thinking "what the **** is that?"....... I have just realised it is actually my hip bone !!! (lol)
x

LOL..must be a hipbone kinda week..I finally felt my right one the other night..I was seriously in shock!

I went to my stomach test today..I only last 1 hr before I had to get up and pee and have a bowel movement. They gave me radioactive oatmeal Yummy!

He let me go to the bathroom and then came back to finish the rest.

SHould hear something in a few days

Helloooo...I'm so lagged today...woosh.

I'm working on my site and projects and haven't had time for much else. I have been exercising and just peaking my head in to say helloooo and *HUGS*

I hope everyone is well! I'll be catching up with emails and such today/tomorrow as well.

Sharon - I say why not go around feeling your bum?! Lol. Glad to hear it's shrinking and you're feeling good though

Cyn - Sounds like the stomach emptying test was rough... how you feeling?

Jacquie - It's awesome when you can really throw yourself into work! Way to keep up with exercising. Good to see your face around here again!

Moving day went well yesterday, though I lost my composure at the end of it and started getting really grumpy, really jealous of my sister and her boyfriend moving into their new place while I put all my stuff into storage, jealous of my mom and step-dad and their little family who get to go home together at the end of every night, jealous of everything... and of course jealousy can only really exist when you're not satisfied in your own life, which I'm really not. I'm really insecure and unsure about where I'm going this year (personally and geographically, lol!) and on top of that the prospect of coming back to a mostly empty apartment all by myself... well, I'm still feeling really down now that I'm back. *Sigh* Don't really have much more to say than that, unfortunately. I know I shouldn't complain, things aren't that bad, but honestly I just feel mopey right now.

To all of the beautiful people on 3FC:

"Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty.
They merely move it from their faces into their hearts"
Martin Buxbaum

Lindy - beautiful (you and the quote). Thanks for sharing (you and the quote).