300 Pounds Chat

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Would anyone 300 pounds plus like to join a thread to chat about our special challenges?

If you weigh more than 300, you know what I mean. It's not the same as trying to lose 20 or even 50 pounds.

It means changing perhaps a lifetime of bad eating habits. It means we cannot participate in the exercise challenges to the same degree as those half our weight. It means drinking more water than others.

Anyone want to join in this chat? What are your special challenges, weighing over 300?

[Richt]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Thats exactly what the Century Club forum is for. So take it away people...........

[Momtofour]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I'm some ways I agree with you that it is a different challenge but then again it's not. We all have carb addictions and that is what got us here. It will probably take longer to get the weight off, but you still do it the same way.

I didn't exercise in the beginning. It was hard going up the stairs in my house, that was enough for me. Once I lost some weight and felt bettter I naturally wanted to exercise more because I had the energy to do it.

Make your dietary changes and once you get that under control then start thinking about what activity changes you can handle. You will be amazed at what you will be able to do a year from now.

[2big4mysize]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I added free exercise like walking more doing normal stuff like shopping trips became walks inside the store and getting a pedometer so I could challenge myself to take more steps each day as I built up to the fitness level needed to get to 10K aday.

Exercise machines are a challenge as many don't have motors to handle folk over 300 pounds and buying one that does can be very expensive. I remember when I started treadmilling I would smack my hands on the rails cause I was so wide. when I hit 190 the gym moved the layout of the treadmills and I didn't realize I was on one of the long handled ones till I finished. That was when I realized I had been smaking them cause I was so wide when I was bigger.

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I wouldn't want to break the Century Club up into sections of weight -
While those of us who weigh over 300 pounds might face slightly different challenges, as long as I've been posting here there has always been someone who understands what I am going through and if not - they sure offer support and try to understand. I think anyone who has 100 pounds to lose face's the same challenges - in different degree's of tightness for airline seats or theater seats -
I like just being able to open a thread and have everyone who wants to offer a reply respond.
I love that a person with 20 pounds to lose is welcome here and that the Century Club is one big family that offers support and understanding to all.
Maybe I don't understand what you ment by your post Helena and if thats the case I do apologize - I just enjoy the "family" attitude here.

[cleochatra]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Is it ok if I've weighed over 300 pounds to join in?

Because, honey, when small kids look at you in fear because they think you're going to eat their candy, it's bad.

Let's talk special challenges:

1. Not being able to use a regular bathroom stall without needing the jaws of life afterwards for extraction.

2. All your shirts have at least one "X" on them. And not just to mark the spot. Because we mark a whooole lotta spots.

3. Sitting at a restaurant doesn't include booth happiness. Because there is no fitting in a booth.

4. They found Osama binLaden under one of my buttflaps. While he was being carted off in to custody, the suspect was said to be dazed and confused.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I wouldn't want to break the Century Club up into sections of weight

Who said anything about breaking up any clubs? All the other forums have sub-groups within groups or clubs. In fact, this whole ADBB is made up of sub-groups of people who are at different places on the same diet.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

[QUOTE=cleochatra]Is it ok if I've weighed over 300 pounds to join in?
/QUOTE]

OF COURSE! Been there, done that, got the bad memories.

Cleo, your writings are so funny and true, you ought to write for publication. If you'd care to write the musings of a 100 pound loser, I promise you that I will publish them (I own a publishing company).

Welcome back to the board, by the way. Your weight loss is an inspiration to us who are 320+ pounds. Got any photos?

Helena

[LC_Dave]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Helena,

I appreciate this thread!

I am still over 300 pounds. It makes me very depressed at the moment.

I think Self Esteem is still the biggest challenge.

I've had weight issues since I was a little child - so it is hard-wired into me psyche.

Obesity and being overweight is terrible for everyone!

When you are over 300 pounds there are so many things that you reluctant to do. If they wasn't the case, then we wouldn't be trying to lose the weight!

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Welcome Dave. You knock me out with your 141 lb loss.

People who are what is called morbidly obese aren't like people who are just chubby.

We have really serious issues with mobility and are very restricted as to what exercise we can do. This is why I took up swimming: it was the ONLY thing I could do at my weight.

We have issues about the way people see us, and treat us. We get a totally different reaction from people than someone who is, say, 200 pounds. People are often disgusted and appalled at us, and of course this affects our self esteem.

We have terrible day-to-day problems with personal cleanliness, with tying shoelaces, putting on socks, getting dried, getting dressed, bending over to pick something up, fitting into chairs, oh the list is endless.

While we do share certain aspects of slimming with people who wish to lose 50 pounds, their weight does not make every day a struggle to do even simple, normal things.

For myself, I've seen how over the last few months it has become more and more difficult to get out of the bath: I've had to turn over onto my knees and haul myself up. I've flooded the floor a few times while turning myself about in the bath. I've not been able to reach forward and pull out the plug or turn the taps (I got pretty good at doing this with my toes!) I've been through all kinds of contortions to er, "see to my personal hygiene".

This last problem was probably the final straw that made me start again on Atkins on 12 September. I was really scared of what would happen if one day all my contortions were to no avail.

After just 28 days I can do all the above easily and revel in turning the taps on and off while I am in the bath! Whooopppeeee!

[Curveegrrl]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

One of the biggest challenges I face now is seeing the difference I've made in myself. I've come a long way from my highest weight. I don't exactly know what my highest weight was. My scale only goes up to 145kg (320lbs). It took me about 5 months to get to that point. So who knows where I was??

I've changed from a size 32 to a size 20. But I don't feel any smaller. I know I fit into theatre seats, and plane seats and restaurant booths now. But...I'm always worried that I don't. What if this time I need a seat belt extender again? What if I squash the person next to me? What if I get stuck?

I still get lots of little kids jumping back from me going "Wow! Big!" But I know they could mean "tall" just as much as they mean "fat." But it still stings. *stomps on rude little Japanese kids* *stomps even harder on rude little Japanese salary men when they say it*

There are still moments when I feel like a shouldn't be seen. I should not force myself on the public. When I take my walks, I really have to ignore the voice in my head that is saying, "You look ridiculous! No one wants to see a fat person hustling up the street."

There is still so much weight to lose before I could be considered healthy. Reaching my goal would still have me qualified as overweight. But I cannot, CANNOT imagine myself being a healthy weight. That is just not possible. I am a fat person. I will always be fat. Why kid myself about it? This also makes it harder to convince myself to go up the rungs of OWL and find my CCL. Why would I need to find it? I'll never be on maintanece, because I'll never EVER be done losing weight.

So yeah...I don't have a perfectly clear understanding of where I started from. I'm not always realistic about where I am now. I can't fathom what it will look like to be done. this can make it difficult to stay focused on motivated on the program.

[cleochatra]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

{{{{Helena}}}}} That is such an amazing compliment. I think I just schmutzed my beverage.

Here are a couple of pictures, but they are older. I'll take some new ones sometime soon. I still have a good lot of weight to lose, but I'm working on it! I'm running two weight loss challenges right now, so aside from keeping up with slightly more than 110 people and homeschooling my daughter and the new puppy, I don't have a whole lot of time right now. I hear the cupcake calling my name, but it's Miss Jackson if they're nasty.

Nice to meet you!

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Who said anything about breaking up any clubs? All the other forums have sub-groups within groups or clubs. In fact, this whole ADBB is made up of sub-groups of people who are at different places on the same diet.

From my original post:
Maybe I don't understand what you ment by your post Helena and if thats the case I do apologize - I just enjoy the "family" attitude here.

Obviously I didn't understand your post I hope I'm forgiven and that I can join ya'll here.......

[bizzlekitty]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Having been over 300, I agree there are special challenges for those with a significant amount of weight to lose.

Finding a scale for your weight was one of my first challenges. I resorted to buying one that weighed up to 330 and made it my first goal to be able to weigh accurately on that scale.

Exercising can be another, as it's really hard to get moving when you haven't and things are harder and hurt more. But it's really important to do something, even if you take it slow to get started.

Hygeine, clothes that fit, seatbelts, chairs, the way people treat you and many other things in the world make you realize how big you are, and that alone should be good motivation to finally change your life. Trust me, nothing helps your confidence more than losing a bunch of weight.

But I will tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel if you keep doing the right things. You might not always get there as fast as you'd like, but Atkins works, probably better than any other diet out there, if you have a significant amount of weight to lose.

My advice: stay on extended induction or the low rungs of OWL for a while until you curb all cravings and totally change your eating habits. Go cheat free as long as possible. And exercise no matter how little or how hard it is. And don't forget to give yourself mini rewards for reaching goals.

Good topic, as I was once there. It's been a long road for me, and I still have a long way to go, but I don't ever plan on going back there. Ever. You can get there too!

[2big4mysize]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I remember we had a whole list of ways to judge your weight loss accomplishments and wiping your butt without being a contortionist was on it. that is something only superheavyweights can know and understand.
just this week there was a post about seatbelt clicking as a joy of weight loss.