300 Pounds Chat

[Lyssie]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I would be in the group with Cleo and Bizzle - not over 300 anymore, but still wanna respond.

It is a very scary thing when you see a small child clutching to their candy because they think you're going to swipe it out of their little paws. As if you could get to it, they may be young, but they're spry little buggers.

I think some really good points have been made with this - I think there are different issues that affect people from being normal weight and trying to lose a couple pounds, to being overweight, to being obese. While I guess I was lucky in not having a lot of the issues (height compensates to some extent apparently).

I know that I will always have the self-image issues of thinking that I still look like I did then, or that I wear the same clothes, or that when people look at me, they still see what I used to look like.

When I started exercising, I did the treadmill to start with because I just *couldn't* do the elliptical, I would get like, diaper rash from my thighs rubbing together, and there's nothing worse than using your son's diaper ointment on you to make you able to function and walk.

Oh, and I do think that Atkins is the most effective, healthiest WOE that anybody could ever ask for.

I don't think that this thread is separating people out, or trying to break the bonds, but there's a difference between needing to lose like, 200 lbs vs. 100 lbs vs. 10 lbs. yanno?

Just my 2 cents, thanks for the thread.

[LovingMeAgain]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Hey guys, I am here for the long run! I am currently 340 on my way to 180 hopefully!

[choeve]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I am slightly under 300 now but have been over also. I too had and still have some of the problems of being that size. My highest size was a 30 in jeans and 28 dresses, slacks, and blouses. When I was pregnant you could not find maternity clothes in 3x and 4x!!! I had to order them online. I cannot exercise like smaller people because my knees are shot and literally I can hear them creek when I walk up stairs which I avoid as often as I can because it hurts. I do not fit in restaurant booths and always ask for a table. I think my size has held me back from at work. People seem to think fat means lazy even though I am highly skilled at what I do I keep getting laid off every few years. I'm always one of the first to go, and it is very hard, even though I am highly skilled and have over 15 years experience, to get another job. I have literally had a man come out once shake my hand, say someone will be with you in a minute, he left and another lady came out and told me the job only paid $10 an hour when they had told me much much higher on the phone the day before and she asked me if I was still interested. I of course said no nd left without even getting an interveiw or anything. Did they really think I was so stupid that I didn't see that he had asked her to blow me off because he didn't like the way I looked??????

Does anybody else have the problem of wearing out the inner thigh of you sweat pants first???? LOL

[2big4mysize]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

oh I used to wear out the inner thighs on everything and the rest of the pants would look fine. I often thought if somebody invented thigh patches like those elbow things they would make a fortune.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

THANKS EVERYONE FOR CONTRIBUING TO THIS THREAD.
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE LOST 100 POUNDS ARE MY HEROES AND I THINK ABOUT YOU A LOT! THANKS FOR INSPIRING ME AND FOR BEING WONDERFUL!
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Rubbing thighs is a huge problem for me. Walking around on holiday in Copenhagen I was in so much pain I bought a bottle of massage oil, went into a public toilet and doused my inner thighs with it from crotch to knees - yes, mine rub all the way to the knee.

This kind of activity set you apart from other people. It's your shameful secret, one so embarrassing you can only mention it to other superheavyweights. Even the man I was with had no idea what I was doing.

I've bought two pairs of black stretchy leggings which come above the knee. I wear these under long skirts and can walk easily as they stop the chafing. I intend to wear these to the gym, too. They fit like a pair of tights so help to hold the tummy in and everything!

Yes all my trousers wear out at the inner thigh first. And all gym trousers go bobbly there on first wearing!

Another HUGE problem I've had for years is my extra-super-wide feet. It is 30 years since I could buy a pair of women's shoes off the rack in a shoe shop. I've worn men's trainers and men's sandals for all that time. The last pair of ladies shoes I bought had to be specially-made for me (to a size 7EEEE.) I find this embarrassing.

When I travelled on a train last year I was unable to get into the toilet and had to "hold it" for 45 minutes of agony. The toilet door would not open far enough for me to get inside (the door hit the pan, leaving only about 15 inches to get through). All the people standing in the corridor watched me and I just knew what they were thinking.

When I was buying a new office chair I had to "try on" 30 chairs in Staples before I found one comfortable enough. Sometimes if I sit in a club-chair it comes up with me when I stand up.

[Curveegrrl]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

I've had chairs come up with me. I've had chairs collapse under me. Neither is a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Thigh rub is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. It is truly terrible. I used to smear vasiline on my inner thighs. That used to stop the chafing. And I wore shorts under everything. I haven't been on a bicycle since 1997, but I have half a dozen pair of bicycle shorts.

I've actually discovered that since I've lost weight, I don't need the shorts all the time. Sure, if I'm going to be doing a lot of walking in a day, I want them. But if I'm just going to work, or meeting friends for coffee and a movie, I don't need them. My legs still rub, but don't create enough friction for me to combust quite so quickly. This makes things much cooler in the summer.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Your posts are most interesting. I didn't know what to reply when you said you don't feel any slimmer, but I wanted you to know I did read it.

This thread has proved of value already, to me at least. I cannot express how comforting it is to know that there are other women out there who have to wear shorts to stop their thighs chafing. I don't feel such a freak any more!

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

CHOEVE

There is no doubt whatsoever that, once you go over a certain size, there is discrimination in the workplace. People do indeed think a lot of unkind and unfair things about us.

In my previous job, everyone called me "Thunderthighs" behind my back, AND wrote graffitti about me, using that term. I was absolutely mortified when I found out. My uniform had to be specially made, while everyone else's came from stock.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Curveegirl - what are you doing in Japan? And what do you mean by you are a blip?

[Curveegrrl]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

@ Waterbabe Helena -- I'm an English teacher. I work at a junior high school and several elementary schools. I also teach a few adult classes in the evening.

At Fitday.com they have a section to track your weight loss. But the highest weight they have on their chart is 250lbs. If you are above that, there is just a little arrow pointing off the chart as if to say, "girl is just too darned fat!" I think is interesting as the low side of their chart starts at 50lbs. How many people do you see who weigh 50lbs?

So now that I am 250lbs, I show up on the chart as a little blue circle. I'm a blip. I assume that as I lose, a line will follow my blip to track my progress. Until I am 50lbs!

[2big4mysize]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

just think waterbabe Helena you will have a great post coming in your future when you can fit in the train restroom and we superheavyweights current and former will all understand your joy.

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

here's one I've never seen mentioned.
I've slept on the couch since 1994 for the extra back support - in late 2002 I moved to sleeping in a chair with a ottoman for my legs.
I have back trouble - if I sleep flat my back hurts for days and I walk crooked. So I avoid that pain at all costs. I know my weight has alot to do with it.....boy do I look forward to stretching out in a nice cozy bed again!

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

Ladyhawke - I feel for you. It's another of those things that sets us apart from other people. I hope you will get to lie in a bed one day!

[pipee_pl]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

after reading your posts- i feel the need to comment.
you guys and ladies are such an inspiration. i need to lose about 35 lbs and i struggle with it. i can't imagine having to lose more. i envy your dedication and your honesty and hope that all of you have great success in this way of life. congrats so far on your loses, congrats on your healthy decisions and i look forward to reading in the future of how you met your goals.

[G-Mom]

Re: 300 Pounds Chat

My oh my, where do I begin? I had the inner thigh rash that was so painful. It was highly embarrassing lifting my hefty belly out of the way to properly wash and shave, ugh.

When I was, get this, 8 months pregnant, a special agent at the FBI (where I worked) overheard someone talk about my pregnancy, and he had the gall to ask "Oh, you're pregnant?" ***. I retorted, "Yeah, I'm not just fat, assh**e" (ok, didn't say the a-word).

It was tough having my little son see me as a big hefty mama. I NEVER wanted to be the giant mom, and be the reason my son was made fun of. Thankfully, I lost a bulk of the weight before he entered school.

There is a chair at my father-in-law's house that is made for tiny ppl apparently. I knew never to attempt to sit in it for fear that family would watch me smush my fat tush down in there. I knew I would fit because my forever overweight aunt-in-law smushes herself in there, but her hips overflow out the sides through the armrests..yikes.

The worst personal horror for me (besides being with my hubby then) was before I would get dressed and sit on the bed naked in front of the mirror. Fat is so ugly. I would sit and cry as I looked at this giant woman that just WAS NOT who I was. I mean DAMN, when I was 25 I was a force to be reckoned with. My hubby has had a crush on me since high school, and still does! So, to look at that mass of human, I just couldn't believe I had gotten that huge, especially when I was so thin once. Now, I kick myself over and over because had I not got so out of control, I wouldn't have all these stretch marks and a saggy skin belly that is so FAR away from the beautiful, taut tummy I had at 25 (when I ONLY wore bikinis and never even owned a one piece).

Gosh, not to say I am not thankful to have lost all this weight, and darn if I don't have THE MOST wonderful hubby who lavishes me with love and he is actually massively attracted to me! This astonishes me, but we are so hard on ourselves.

Some tips for success are to exercise your butt off, don't eat a lot. I think it is super easy to eat too much on this plan because everything actually tastes good! Stay positive and look to the future. There is NOT ONE human being who can't lose weight. I truly believe that. I think folks who go under the knife, just won't do what needs to be done.

To help staying positive, go to sites like the Biggest Loser and read stories (watch the show), write down all the little things you will be able to do (bend down and tie your shoes in a chair without your boobs and belly getting in the way) and not have to do anymore (rub neosporin on your burning inner thighs).

Anyway, to be fair, I wasn't over 300 lbs for very long, but I do know that it is complete misery. I have a tape of myself that heavy and I watch it with my head cocked when that woman talks. I think, who IS that giant woman? Someday, all of you folks will look at the current person you are and wonder who that was, because you will be so much smaller and the person you are supposed to be.