Welcome to the new over 100 to lose club!

Howdy guys and gals!  I'm taking over this club, not because i think i have all the answers (i so know i don't) but because i'm super pumped up right now and motivated to help those people out there who have a lot of weight to lose.  we need a place that's more than a "can i join" place.. we need a place to talk about issues related to being this overweight.. 

Who here needs to lose over 100 pounds? Who needs to lose over 150 pounds? Or more?

I did! I did! And yes.. i did!

A small amount of background on me for those of you who don't know: i am a binge eater. I have had a problem with emotional eating, hidden eating, over eating, eating with a hang nail, eating because i have split ends.. you name it i stuffed my emotions down with the greasiest, nastiest food i could find!

Why did i do that (you might ask)? Because of many many different reasons.. frankly i think it was because this is how i was taught from a young age, this is how we handle stress and emotions. I learned that it's not proper to talk about your feelings.. or god forbid, express your emotions! You have to shove them down with a piece of cake and a smile!

Anyway.. onto the reason for this post.

If you are out there and need to lose a lot of weight.. just like i've got to.. i think we need to have a place where we can discuss these issues with each other and try and work through them together. Because, let's face it, people who are morbidly obese (yes.. i hate that word too) have uniquely different issues to work through and deal with than the average person.

Losing weight, for people who have this much to lose, have to deal with so much more than the formulas to figure out how much to eat.. and exercising. It's more complex than that. We have to deal with years and years of poor eating habits that have to be unlearned, we have to deal with the emotional torment of just being this size, we have to deal with the harsh looks and comments from strangers or from loved ones, we have to deal with our emotions for the first time in our life because we aren't shoving them down our throats anymore..

this is the hardest thing ANYONE has to deal with.. but, from my experience, things are different for us bigguns. :)

also, for those of you who don't know me very well.. (because i've kinda been in hiding and not posting much and there are so many new people out there) i started out in january weighing 324 pounds. I now weigh 232.5.. i have lost 91.5 pounds so far. I am not telling you guys this to get kudos.. i got those yesterday. I'm telling you guys this because i want anyone out there who is struggling with knowing they have, what seems to be, an insurmountable amount of weight to lose, that there is hope.. it IS possible.. you CAN do it.. but it's hard.. and you will hurt.. i know this because i've been there.. i've done it.. and i'm still dealing with it.

so.. come on in and share your stories.. i want to hear them and i want us to support each other until we are all at our goal weight!

Hey, all!  I just ran home to change my clothes and go to a funeral and saw this thread and had to make it my one quick post . . .

Like Obs and Hk, I had over 100 pounds to lose when I started--134, to be exact, so I'd like to join!!  :-D

Now I only have 91.5 left to go!  I'm almost 1/3 of the way there!!  Whoo hoo!  Under 200 would be fantastic, too, and I am pumped up to get there, so . . . .

please count me in!  I promise I'll post more later!  Gotta run . . .

Hey obs - I'm just using the program windows has (Microsoft Photo Editor) and clicking on resize, changing the units to pixels, andmaking the biggest one the 576.  But they come out all grainy & ucky looking :(

Good job so far writestuff!

yaaaaaay! writestuff!  woohoo!

huh.. i've never used photo editor.. are they clear before you resize them?  maybe someone who's used that program can help.. :) 

ohhh.. heya write!  of course you're a member of this club!  :)  can't wait to hear what you have to say later.. :) 

My name is Joy. I have posted some before. I started several months ago and lost weight then depression took over. I gained back all the weight I lost and added weight to it. I started CC again on july 11th I was 292 I lost 7.8 pounds so far and am currently at 284.8 I have 155 pounds to lose (that is so overwhelming at times). I feel strong and commited. My daughter is also overweight and is eating healthy now. We weigh once a week (sundays).I am so excited! I feel better in just the few weeks I have been doing this...also the depression hasn't been an issue for me.-------Growing up I was a member of the "clean your plate club". My mom would serve me extra helpings of the veggies...which I hated at the time and I would get very small portions of the rest of the food. She told me I was fat and needed the "extra guidence". Well I did need guidence..just not like that. I would have the chore of cleaning the table and doing dishes while my sister and the rest of them would eat dessert. I would go in the kitchen and binge while no one was around because I was so hungry...This taught me to be embarassed about eating in front of people. As a teen and even in adult years I would never eat in front of people. All my "friends" could never figure out why I was so large cuz I never ate..little did they know I was a "closet eater". I got so self concious! I even hated to shop for food. I was conveinced people are looking in my cart and saying "Look at that food no wonder she is huge" OR If I had good foods in the cart I felt like they were thinking "Why does she bother with fruits and veggies she doesn't have a chance, she is so big. I have been working on ME alot lately..not just the outside me but the inside me. I am realizing I am worth sooo much more. I need to focus on myself and my own accountability. I can't make other peoples problems My problems....for so long I have done this. When I was a kid I thought my parents got a divorce because of me--My mom drank because of me--later when I got married the 1st time and was beaten I thought it was because of me---and all these times I would medicate myself with food! Food was my best friend. I have been a victim my whole life in one way or another...always internalizing things...always blaming things on myself..things that were not my fault ...things out of my control. I choose not to be a victim now. I am determined to take control of my life...and eating healthy is part of the plan. I have enjoyed this website so much. Late at night when I am awake and lonely and maybe wanting food I come on here and read the posts... Sometimes I find myself nodding my head in agreement with what I'm reading other times laughing or crying over something someone has posted and other times mad as heck! But I love it!I have gotten great advice here. Thanks for listening and including me in your group!----JOY

hey joys!  welcome.. thank you for sharing your story.. you're proof too that you have to work on yourself in order to get over the hurdle and do something!  you seem like a very strong person. :)

Hi Joy (and everyone else!!)!  *waving*

I just wanted to thank Joy and everyone else for sharing stories!  I know about food being a "best friend" and a "worst enemy."  You are so right, Joy!  It does get better, though, and it is fantastic that your daughter is eating healthy, too!  Good for her!

Here's my story (sorry it's long):

I'm 34.  When I started, I had 134 pounds to lose, and didn't really think I could do it but I hoped.  Honestly, if my boyfriend hadn't found out he had congestive heart failure (at 42) and we hadn't had to 1) immediately reduce calories, sodium, caffeine, and fat, and 2) increase water and fiber to keep him alive, I probably would've eaten my way even higher, all the while getting more depressed about my weight.  But, instead, I figured that if he could make overnight lifestyle changes, so could I. 

Over the course of these past 3 months, I've added exercise a little at a time.  I didn't like any exercise when I started, and now I only like a little, but that's an improvement and, as they say, "every little bit counts."  Some days, I even look forward to walking . . .

Over the course of 3 months, I've had to deal with emotions about food I didn't even realize where there, some control and number issues, and on occasion, hunger.  I don't think when I ate before, I was ever really physically hungry--rarely, maybe.  I think I was emotionally hungry or maybe drowning my emotions in food . . .

I'm learning a lot about myself and feeling better, stronger, and more motivated with every little victory.  And trust me, eating better, having "A" days, doing 100 wall push ups (I love those!), walking regularly, and following my "plans" every day to the best of my ability leads to a lot of little victories.  If I eat more one day, it is now an exception to the rule, and I don't let it control me.  It's amazing how my relationship with food is totally changing (and it's not done yet, I suspect! ;D).

Anyhow, I love CC and this post.  People here do help to motivate, inspire, educate, and coach me.  They help me to stay accountable AND optimistic.  They've helped me to lose 42.5 pounds. 

I never thought I could lose 134 pounds.  Now, I'm almost 1/3 of the way there, and heck yes, I'm going to lose those 134 pounds! :)  When I go under 200 for the first time in 8 years, you WILL hear me celebrating, regardless of where you are on the planet!  haha!

Something interesting I've noticed.  At first, when nobody noticed my weight dropping--you know how it is for us "bigger" folks--I got mad, hurt, pouty, etc.  Then, when somebody did notice, I got happy, excited, validated.  NOW, and here's a BIG shocker, I TELL people who ask what I've been up to this summer (I'm a teacher) that I've been getting healthier and losing weight.  I'm not doing this to get a response but to show that it isn't about them noticing me or validating me any more.  It is about ME taking responsibility, being proud of myself, proving I can make healthier choices, and not being embarrassed to say, "Yes, my health and weight were not so good, but NOW they are getting better!!!!"

I came from a funeral right before posting this, and the deceased was a year older than I am.  He had a heart attack.  What a waste of a wonderful mind, caring soul, kind friend.  I don't want that to be me.  I don't want that to be my boyfriend.  I don't have control over lots of things, but I can improve my odds for a longer, healthier life by doing this, so here I am.

Thanks to all who shared, or will share, their stories.  I think it's brave and wonderful you did!

Thanks to folks like Obs and Hk and nomoreexcuses and people like them for re-starting this thread, for keeping me motivated and honest on a daily basis, and for being CC friends. 

It makes all the difference.

*waves back at writestuff* hey I know you! well, not really, but sorta, my new friend :)

*waves to Joy* welcome Joy!

All my "friends" could never figure out why I was so large cuz I never ate..little did they know I was a "closet eater". I got so self concious! I even hated to shop for food. I was conveinced people are looking in my cart and saying "Look at that food no wonder she is huge" I gotta say, that is SO me! We (my mom and I when I was younger, my husband and I when I was older) would walk up to the cash register and I'd try to make myself scarce cause I didn't want to see the looks of judgement on the checkers face when she rang up 12 bottles 2L of pop and half a dozen bags of chips.

Good for you for being an example your daughter can follow! I'm still struggling with food and my son (4). I'm paranoid about him getting chubby. He's naturally active though and I feed him healthy foods (he is still a kid and does enjoy an occasionaly sugary treat though). I kinda want him to be a member of 'the clean plate club' but I don't want that to be the start of food/eating issues for him. Some days he won't stop eating, other days it's a chore to get him to eat at all. Still trying to find the happy medium *sigh*  :D

*pops back in*

Hey J!

I've been (((HUG)))ing so much lately I figured .. what's one more? so (((HUG)))

*starts thinking up ideas for a 7 month non-smoking patch*

YAY.. i was wondering when you'd come around here united!  w00t!  :)  and write.. thanks for sharing.. :) 

love you all!  and together we can do this!  i know i sound like a corny cheerleader.. but i don't care!  i have a pom uniform from when i was in HS.. i will put it on!  well.. i'll hold it over my clothes now.. because i can't fit into it anymore.. BUT I WILL darn it!  :) 

of course i will! :)  i told adam last night that that is one of my goals.. now.. have you ever told your man that your goal is to fit into a skimpy cheer leader uniform?  heh.. ;)

i CAN'T WAIT to ride roller coasters again!  :)  it's good to dream!

*passes J her purple sparkly magic wand*

it's on the fritz so I'm sorry you can't use it to make things better but you can dance around like a pretty purple fairy if ya wanna :)

 even when I know I can eat whenever and whatever within my calorie range...

this is what I do. I eat whatever and whenever, just so long as I keep within range. Not good, not healthy but still a helluva lot better than I was doing. It's how I keep sane, slowly over time, I expect this will change, but for now, I like my hair (it's looong) and I like it in my head :)

heh, I wanna know if you told DH that you wanna wear a pink cat suit with pink stilettos??! >:)

yeah united!  so did you tell your DH of your catwoman plans?  mwahhaha.. i can tell you that you'll have one happy hubby.. heh.. :)