Calling all BBW.

Welcome!

Some advice, if I'm not overstepping: The best thing you can do for your success is to not give into shame. Shame doesn't care about your long term goals and is entirely dependent on short-term successes, so shame will eventually derail you.

You can't change your past, but you're on your way to a better future. Be proud of the choice you've made and let yourself be so proud of every good choice you make from now on! You're amazing and you can do it!

Robin Girl, you are not alone. There's so many of us in the exact same boat here on MFP. I'll start with myself. This is my 3rd time in life being more than 400lbs. As a matter of fact, I was 499lbs on March 14th...just 11 weeks ago. I went in the hospital for a pacemaker after 4 years of fighting AFIB through ablations, heart shocks, and heart meds that just did not work. It left me suffering with severe side effects from the heart meds. Horrendous bone pain and the fact that my weight DOUBLED over that 4 year period. Anyways, I was emotionally and physically just ready to say goodbye. But my doctor said you've tried everything, so now let's finally put in a pacemaker. OMG, it was my saving grace! I immediately felt so much better as far as breathing and energy level...at least for a 499lb woman. Within 3 weeks I had already lost 40lbs. I decided, through some great advice on here, to strive for higher proteins every day. I don't really eat pasta at all, no real sugar (stevia for me), and I carefully watch and limit myself on desserts or snacks. May allow myself a glass of diet gingerale with lemon every once in a while, but WATER is definitely my drink of choice all day long. Bread only once in a blue moon, and when it is eaten I choose wheat bread. I changed my condiments (which we really use more than we even know) to fat free or light at least. And I make sure to eat 3 meals a day. Surprisingly, many of us big people actually eat only 1 or 2 meals regularly. But what we eat happens to be really high calorie, fat, and carbs. Let me tell you, I've been losing pretty good doing these and a few more things. Bone pain still has me limited on exercise, but I do try to walk even 5 mins down my driveway and up the street a bit nearly every day. I also make great efforts to get up out of my chair and move about the house every 20mins or so. Once you get used to that, your body will ache less. And then you'll be deliberately thinking of things to get up to do. I planted some tomato plants, which I hadn't done in years, and now I know that every morning and afternoon I will go outside to water them. Brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment. You will find your ways to get movement and maybe even pleasure into your day again. It's been 11 weeks since my surgery date (weighing 499lbs) and today I am weighing 422.4lbs. Nearly 77lbs down, and I'm feeling so renewed and excited about life again. So very far still to go, so I am on that same very hard and long path with you, Robin. I hope you will find comfort and support in a friendship with me. I'm sending you a friend request. Let's do this together...us big girls