I tipped the scales at 272 today

[Droopy]

You guys may recall my weight-loss thread here from earlier this year. It is still on the front page here if you'd like to check it out. I think I got down to 237 and then decided to quit smoking. Well, I have successfully quit smoking. It will be 7 months on 11/8/08. The problem is that it cost me 35 pounds to do it. But I am jumping back on the wagon again. Maybe it was good to lose all that weight and then put on some pounds. If I would have quit smoking before I lost that weight I would be up around 325 pounds right now.

I've been looking for a girlfriend and I am a member of a dating site. I see a lot of women on there who match up good with me as far as my personality and beliefs go. I've written to a bunch of them, but none of them respond. It's a cold, hard fact that a lot people, no matter how kind or open minded they are, will not give us fatties the time of day. I write big women on there, too, and I've gotten a couple of them to talk to me, at least, by e-mail. But there's nothing doing there, either.

So I bought a membership to the YMCA today and vowed to start eating right and exercising. The goal is once again 200 pounds. I didn't make it the first time, but I've probably added 5 years to my life by quitting smoking. Now I'm going to add another 5 years by getting this weight off of me and keeping it off. I'm going to have to be turning women down left and right. There will be a waiting list a year long to get a date with me.

I wish you all good health and let's get this done. :thumbsup:

[Longhorn]

1. You have an amazing attitude!

I'm afraid you're right about some people's attitude about weight. My husband says he loves me just fine at my large size but I'm sure it would have had an effect when we first met 34 years ago and I can't guarantee that I would have been attracted to a larger man back then.

I have no doubt that you will achieve your goals and soon find yourself in a relationship! Congratulations on quitting smoking! :yourock:

[Droopy]

3. Thanks, Longhorn

I've struggled with my weight my whole life. I'm just going to have to come to terms with the fact that I need to exercise every day. My body just likes to store fat more than other folks' does. I'm also seeing a psychologist now days and she thinks my weight is a big issue with how I feel about myself. She told me to write down everything that I eat for 2 weeks and then bring it to her. To her surprise it wasn't as much food as she suspected. I'm just going to start eating more veggies and fruits and get my ass on the treadmill. It's the only way I'll be able to stay thin when I reach my goal. It's just the way I'm made.

[auntAgonist]

5. It always surprises people just how little we eat.

Drink lots of water, sip sip sip. Stay away from carbonated drinks, coke, etc.

Did you know you burn up 800 calories just drinking a glass of water? .. Something to do with the stomach bringing the water up to body temp .. or something .. I forget where I read that.


hmmmm

[auntAgonist]

2. hey Droopy!

I'm so happy you've kept off of the cigs. Your resolve to lose the weight and to lose it the right way is awesome. I KNOW you can do it. The Y is a great place to start. They've got all you need for exercise. Swimming is a fantastic low/no impact form of exercise. Maybe they offer water aerobics? I used to LOVE exercising in the pool. I never ached afterward a good workout.

It's true what you say about the dismissive attitudes of people towards others who are overweight. I can't get over how much smarter, cuter and worthy I am of other people's attention now that I'm "skinny"<insert sarcasm here>
Makes me so angry ! ! !

You'll do well my friend. Even in the truckstops you'll be able to find good food choices. It's harder there I know, but with your determination, you'll do it.

Got your email btw and will reply soon. Are you busy all of thanksgiving wknd? We need to get together:)

kesha.

[Droopy]

4. Hi aA

Yes, the Y in my neighborhood has water aerobics. I'm just going to start with the treadmill, though. I could have just walked around the neighborhood to get exercise, but I figure this way I won't be able to cop out of it when the weather gets bad. I'll have a nice, secure, climate-controlled place to exercise year round.

Yeah, I'm doing the family thing on Thanksgiving weekend and I have to work that Friday. I do have some vacation time left for this year, so maybe we can get together some other time before Christmas or maybe over New Year's Eve or Day.

[crazy_vanilla]

6. congrats on quitting smoking

yes, without a doubt you have the right attitude to achieve your goals


i need to lose weight and yet I have failed so many times throughout the years, i am scared to try

[Droopy]

7. Thanks, cv

I was going to give you some advice on getting into the weight loss groove, but then I thought, "I'm 80 pounds overweight. Who am I to talk?"

I'll tell you what. I'll check in here at least once a week and tell you guys about my progress or lack of progress. Why don't you check in and see how I'm doing from time to time? You can help by encouraging me and maybe gain some courage as well in the process.

[crazy_vanilla]

8. please feel free to give me advice, it will be much appreciated

I'd rather get it from someone who has been in the trenches than from some life-long skinny B who thinks it's just soo easy to lose weight.

[Systematic Chaos]

9. Pardon me for jumping into this thread, but to get an idea what I'm trying to do...

... please feel free to read through some of my threads. I am actually starting to lose an appreciable amount of weight this year, and it's all happening because of diet changes and portion sizes. I'm having too many issues to walk more than very short distances right now, so everything has to come from sheer willpower and control. But, I'm doing it anyway, and I consider myself living proof that a very morbidly obese person can get it under control. If that is true for me at over 500 pounds at one point (480 now and dropping faster as time goes on!), that is certainly true for somebody who needs to lose 100 lbs. or less.

Any questions you have, please feel free to PM me or ask them in my own most recent thread. I'd be happy to help! :hi:

[auntAgonist]

10. good to see you jumping in!

I think you are a wealth of information and support Kirk and I'm happy you jumped in to this thread too. I'm thrilled that you are doing as well as you are. It's hard, hard work! Just yesterday I was told again that I don't know what hard work is because I took the easy way out .. bah. :shrug: watcha gunna do ...

:hug: for you Kirk, I'm always in your corner.

kesha

[Longhorn]

11. If only we could eliminate idiots from our lives!

:eyes:

What you did was -- and is -- courageous and inspiring! :yourock:

[Systematic Chaos]

12. You really did the right thing quitting smoking. Congratulations!!

Stick with eating right, and going to the Y and having fun, and I'm sure you'll be fine.

As for the whole dating thing, I know what a mess that all is. I could tell you some stories that would make your hair stand on end. I got very lucky when I met my wife, but that only convinces me that if I could strike gold the way I did, anybody can. And it's not a matter of weight as much as you might think. I was firmly in the 400s when I met Jeanette online, and not only that but the week before I came to visit her for the first time was when the first serious problems started with my legs. She was aware of all of this before I made that first trip to Arizona, but because of the way she felt about me there was no way any of that stuff was going to stop her from seeing me. I actually ended up calling her from the doctor's office as they were checking out my wounds and nearly died when she said she still wanted me to come down to Phoenix anyway. What I'm really trying to say is that when you find the right person it won't matter whether you weigh 272, 172 or even 372, and anyone who would judge you based on that is a superficial twit and not worth your time.

Keep your chin up, and stay involved with us here. I can't wait to hear about your progress! :)

[AZBlue]

13. Oh, I haven't even considered dating for a while - and won't until I lose at least 100#.

I know no one would look at me and you're right - it's awful the way we are judged solely on our appearance. I'm the same person I was when I was thin and I'll be the same person I am now when I lose the weight - but that doesn't matter.

Sorry, didn't mean to get off on a rant - it's GREAT that you gave up smoking! Not only have you added years to your life but just think how much easier exercise will be now too! And, you've just doubled the list of women you'll be turning away by being a non-smoker! :D

[Catshrink]

14. Best of luck to you, Droopy!

You've got such a positive attitude! I hate exercise and that's my downfall. I joined Curves and went regularly for 2 months now I can't get my ass down there. It's boring.