Gentle Giant and petersond,

[Longhorn]

your discussions are enlightening and inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing with us! I look forward to reading about your continued success and hope to emulate your persistence and positive thinking! :yourock:

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Thanks, Longhorn, from the bottom of my heart.

I need a lot of strength right now because the moment of truth is approaching. I either get this done, and soon, or I will have to resort to drastic measures before I have no quality of life left. I don't want to be an invalid at 40. I'm better than that, and I can't bear the thought of leaving my wife with a drooling, useless POS in the corner to care for. This has to change.

Thank you again for the support and encouragement. :hug:

[Longhorn]

2. I can't imagine that you won't be successful because you don't sound

like a quitter. Temporary setbacks are not the same as quitting! If I've learned anything in my 51 years, it is to be patient and don't give up just because things are moving slowly or not at all. If all we did was stop gaining, we would be making progress.

You have plenty of motivation now especially because it sounds like you have learned to love yourself, maybe because you have found the love of your life. And what a wonderful woman Jeanette must be -- she clearly loves you for YOU and will love the thinner you, too.

I don't always have the time to post but your discussions have been so compelling that I had to let you know that there are some of us who are reading your comments and rooting for you as we work on many of the same issues ourselves.

My mantra comes from "Finding Nemo" -- Keep Swimming! :)

[Systematic Chaos]

3. You tryin' to make a grown man cry??

But seriously, the encouragement that so many of you offer means more than I can possibly say.

And yes, Jeanette is an absolute angel. She was a million to one longshot after I had been emotionally trashed to the brink of suicide by three women in the couple of years before I met her. She and I still laugh about how paranoid I was when I first drove from Vegas to Phoenix to see her the first time. I thought for sure she was just going to steal my brand new (well, it was a '97 Honda Accord but it LOOKED new and ran like a peach... damn I miss that car) Honda and credit cards that first night we spent together. Sometimes, great things in life prove NOT too good to be true. :D

[auntAgonist]

4. Let me 2nd that!!

I am truly inspired when I read their posts. They've both come so far in their personal journeys. It almost seems like we're a small family all rooting for one another.

best wishes and good health to GG and Petersond!!!

and thanks Longhorn for this thread :)


:grouphug:

aA

[Longhorn]

5. I don't always get a chance to comment

but the same goes for you, aA! I'm actually the one who started this group but you and lavenderdiva and a few others (I hate to leave anyone out but I'm going on feeble memory here. ;)) have really kept it going. I can't tell you how much I have appreciated the input of everyone here who has had the courage and generosity to share their feelings and successes and setbacks. It really keeps me going even when I'm at an impasse. Thanks! :hi:

:grouphug:

[Broken_Hero]

6. No problem

:) I don't mind at all, its more a journal entry of sorts for me...at least thats how it feels...:) Its a good feeling being around others, who know what it feels like, who knows how it is...being fat/obese.