If you're new...
 

Some of us have been around this place for years. Every January, we see the an influx of people who make a post, start a journal, post menu's, join discussions -- and then drop out of sight.

I'm here to tell you that if you let it, this place can be of enormous help on your journey. If you use its resources and community, it will be more helpful to you than you could ever imagine. I think this is partly because obese people like me tend to want community. There are things we need to say that we can't say much of anywhere else. There are discussions we need to have that a person half our size has no way to empathize with. We like to talk about these issues with people who are facing them, not with people who cannot fathom why we just don't "eat less, move more."

You can vent here, especially in TDC, to people who have walked a mile in your shoes. You don't have to explain to them the fear of humiliation when you want to sit in a folding chair, but are afraid to. When I began, I found it to be one of the most cathartic things I have ever done. For me, these were discussions that I couldn't or wouldn't have in person.

That's not to say this ought to be a "woe is me" whine center. It is also a way to help make yourself accountable. Talk about what you have done and why. I loathe to change my weight up, when I backslide, but I do it. I somehow feel accountable to the others here when I fail. That is a good thing. This place is not good just for cathartic discussion and accountability, it's good for victory celebrations and congratulations.

I recommend a journal. I don't update mine daily anymore, but for the first year or so I was here, that was my crutch and my source of strength. It helped me hash out an understanding of my state of thought when I was much fatter, and how I got to be that way. That is self-discovery worth doing.

It is also extremely good place for information. Read the Media & Discussions area. There are some extremely sharp people who can break down the latest study to help you understand why foods or diet react certain ways. If you want to know more about the metabolic reason you got fat (and you should) then that is invaluable. I'm not scientific, but I can follow it the way some of our fellow members here explain it.

As a guy, I never was much interested in cooking. I didn't know beyond some very basics how to cook anything that I couldn't grill. If you think about it, investing the time to learn to cook can also make this thing work for you. Food is a vital piece of life and food really needs to occupy part of your time and creativity if you really plan to succeed.

Finally, my biggest piece of advice is that you should find a guiding principle to what you are doing and why. My first was that I was doing this so I could be a better father. But that wasn't true. It was something I needed to do for me, so I could live longer, be healthier, and enjoy life better. Those things let me be a better father. But this belongs to me, not my girl. It wasn't fair to project that on her. If you project it onto someone else, or some extrenal thing, I think you will fail. It has to be for you.

My guiding principle is that life as a fat person is the hardest thing I've ever done. I didn't realize how hard it was until I lost a lot of weight. It is much harder than sticking to any way of eating. So that has been my guideline, when I want to stray. I know how hard it is sometimes to pass up certain foods. But I also know how hellishly hard life was at 350 pounds.

This thing is hard. You have to be willing to learn about nutrition, about food, about yourself, about cooking, about some self-denial.

But it ain't nothing compared to being fat.

Good luck in your efforts. Most of you, like most dieters, will not be able to make the jump. Most diets, even low carb ones, fail. That's just reality. I don't say that from arrogance, being 60 pounds overweight myself. The jury is still out on me. But at least it hasn't come back with a conviction yet, and that's all I can ask.

Now, get yourself in the game. :)

I could not have said it better and I am glad you wrote this.

I had to stop thinking of quick weight loss and concentrate on daily living, this forum helps but most of all the journals help. I did not want to write but I wanted to make sure your post stay visible on the board.

At 5’2” I was told that I had lost a lots of weight and how happy I must be but you know, I was still stuck on what I still have to drop.

What brought it home to me is that I would have a hard time picking up my lost pounds and carrying them around.

Now I know I did well.

I am hanging around this place and it keeps me focus, which, is an enormous help because I still have a way to go.

kyrasdad - THANK YOU!! You should post this in the newbie section also! It was very helpful to me.

Even though I am not new to this forum, I find the advice there excellent and from time to time, need to be reminded of it myself. I hope there are many new people out there who take those words to heart.

Thanks for taking the time to write that. It's inspiring.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Excellent post Scott! :thup:

Thanks for the advice :wave: and hi! :wave:

If you think his post is inspirational you should click on his gallery. Man, you are looking great!

Excellent Post!! Thanks for sharing.

The whole post was wonderful, but I loved this sentiment especially:



Very inspirational!

I've been here a year now.. and still consider myself a newb, compared to some of the veterans I have come to find here. I lurk in their journals, reading some entirely. I don't post much, but what Kyrasdad posted above is 100% true. I do better when I read and spend time here. It keeps me focused.

Thanks for writing this!

Hi, Scott. I arrived at your post via somebody else's journal reference, and I'm glad I got a chance to read it. Really...I'm touched.

You are a true inspiration in every way. Thanks for caring enough to write so eloquently about the journey of a lifetime.

*Pokes head into the TDC*

What they said. :clap: I'm sure I've tried a hundred times (or more) to explain the difference between another crash diet and permanant change, and you've explained it better than I ever have. Bravo!

Thank you for that post Scott.

This post should be enshrined somewhere - at least, made required reading for all who enter. Come to think of it, it's pretty good reading for anyone on this site, no matter how long they have been here. Thanks. And cheers to you and all that you have accomplished.

I am just bumping this up.

Its stickied and does not need to be bumped. :idea:

I hope that its getting read by everyone!! :agree:

That really is a tremendous, true post. Nice.

Newbies, take every word to heart.

-j.

Thank you so much I really like the saying "its easier to diet than to be fat" Iam new to this forum and really enjoyed reading your thread. I really hope I dont let myself down and I see this through to the end. Reading threads like yours inspire me to reach for the sky. Thank you once again.

"DITTO" :agree: :agree: :agree:

I'm new here and this is the first post I've read in the Triple Digits section. I have to say it's down to earth and real....no magic bullets or promises just facts. Thanks for being straight forward and honest, it helps.

Have any of you considered gastric bypass surgery. I have tried all the diets and nothing works. I need guidance about signing on for this surgery. Tell me if any of your friends have had the surgery also.

What an awesome post - THANK YOU!!!

thanks
 

great post...........thank you. Well, since I am new here, it's time to go over to the "Introductions" area and introduce myself.
:thup:

Thanks for the upbeat welcome
 

:agree: After losing my way and finding some weight I had lost. I'm back in the saddle again. This is my first time here. I'm glad I'm back on my journey to living a healthy physical and mental life. Thanks for sharing all your stories and information. :wave:

Hi Danielleau,
First let me say Hi and welcome to the forum!

How about going over to the Introduction section or just over to the TDC and start a new thread to post your introduction. I don't think many people are going to see your post in this thread.
Best wishes for you on your journey and I hope to see you around the forum!

Nice Post Scott
 

Thanks for the insight and inspiration Scott

Hi, I'm new to the forum and not sure what to do. Did not see any recent replies. Am I doing this right? Anybody out there to help me?

Hi, I'm new too. Started about a week and a half ago. About the time you did, but didn't find this site until last week. On one of the other threads "TheBetty" was very helpful. My problem is learning my way around this site,but it's starting to make sense.
Betty suggested I try over here. I just was in tears as I read the introductory entry. Yes, I know how it feels to be afraid of a lawn chair. What got me going was just at the end of school last year, in front of all the parents and children in the whole elementary school, I fell as I was going up the steps on the stage. That was bad enough, but mind you, I was already on the stage, my name had been called, all eyes were on me--the principal (very thin) immediately came over to give me a hand up--but she couldn't--the other administrator (also very large) had to come and help her--so it took TWO people to pull me up! I just wanted to run and hide, but somehow I kept my composure. I went to the mic and said, "Sorry about that, I raced barrels when I was younger and one clipped me in the knee and every once in a while that knee just goes out on me." That may have explained why I fell (actually I tripped over the hem of the skirt I was wearing, having forgotten by not having worn an enormous piece of material around my waist and down to my legs for years, that you have to lift it up in front to go up a step). That explained the fall, but not why it took TWO adults to pull me up! It HAD to happen with everyone in the whole school community watching! I am so grateful my son is in the high school and didn't see it, but he has probably heard about it.
Any way, seems like it might just be the two of us. I don't even know if you will find this again. I'll check back everyday and see if you do or if there are any other triple digits out there.
I used to try to Somersize, but with school (my excuse?) just couldn't keep up with the cooking and separating of foods. I tried Dr. Atkins for a couple of weeks on his Induction phase, but was getting light-headed and dizzy. So I re-read the Dr.Swarzbein books and decided it may take longer, but makes more sense and with what I already know about low carb, most recipes would already fit. I still have to supply carbs for my son, so with Dr.S's plan I can fix for me and just have a tiny bit of his regular carbs to be my regular carbs and we will both be eating better. I just need to get him off refined carbs and if I can cook good enough meals and stay planned ahead, this just might work! I am Type 2 diabetic so I still have to be careful. My reg. Dr. isn't a fan of either, "Just take your meds and quit reading!" I started at 298 at the beginning of July, went to 290 on the Atkins 2 weeks and haven't lost since, but feel better with Dr. S little bit of added carb. It's going to be a long road. Anyone out there want to travel with me? I'd love to have some company.