Its not a matter of pitting fat people against not so fat people. I was obese. I am not obese, weightwise, anymore. Does that mean that I have to give up the support groups that helped me? This is the support group that I chose because the conversations held here made sense to me, I feel that I can have a valid input, and gain insight and support. I also feel that I, by maintaining my presence here could possibly be perhaps an inspiration to someone who is struggling at a plateau, that eventually the plateaus end, and weightloss will continue. Am I obese mentally? Hell yeah. My self-esteem has not changed much since I have gone from a 24 to an 11. I look in the mirror and see the same damn person. We're all her looking for and giving support to everyone else in here. The amount of activity I have to do in an effort to lose is enormous!

I am sorry if some feel that I am not fat enough to be contributing to this message board, but those who chastise some of us because we are not fat enough need to look at their own bigotry, and know that you are perhaps just at a different point in your journey to health. I hope that as you guys do approach your goals, that you will not give up on encouraging others on this board.

Peace :)

I agree with you to a certain extent.
Im a size 18/20 and while I might not be
considered "obese" enough by alot of ppl
medically speaking some would consider me
morbidly obese.

I have had issues with wt and wt gain since I was 13 yrs. old and it has affected my life mainly because society tells me that i'm a failure and lack discipline because I can't or wont lose the "extra" weight by constant judgements that larger folks get in media magazines.etc.

I'm on here battling my own struggle and am not here to "compare" myself or my size to anyone else's i don't come on here patronizing or judging anyone-That is not my place nor should it be anyone else's no matter their size. I'm here because I struggle with my weight and food consumption or lack thereof on a daily basis and reading and conversing with other's gives me hope and strength.

But I hear your frustration and I agree with you to a certain extent the larger the person the more the weight loss and harder the journey.We don't know the reasons that ppl have weight issues it is a very personal issue that everyone deals with individually.
Just want you to know i'm a supporter not a judger and the post that I do reply to that may be deemed offensive or judgemental to some I answer speaking only for myself and my own experiences I also think honesty and breaking down barriers is very helpful as well-

I used to be truly obese, but am not anymore. I am here to offer support because I know what its like to live large in a small world.

I have stated before, I was obese, by medical standards...212. I hated the way I looked, I hated the way I felt and if someone had told me to hate myself because I was fat...like some people seem to want folks to do, i'd have likely never left the house. I knew what I needed to do, I was on mega doses of prednisone and I had no muscle strength at all. I was told not to work out at all. It sucked and I hated every minute of it. I'm not saying that at times, we don't make excuses for the lives we live, but I feel like I have a lot to offer someone who is looking to change their lifestyle, workout and lose some weight. Do I have to be obese to do this? And by all rights, who would take my advice if I were still heavy?

Well, I think that anyone that comes to this support group considers themselves obese now or at some point they were obese. I am just wondering what do you consider to be obese? I would love to loose 40 pounds, I know I need to probrably loose 50. I consider that obese and I am at risk of heart disease, etc. Someone else on here may need to loose 200 pounds and they may consider me to have only a small amount to loose and maybe I shouldn't be here? Who is to say? My point is that if you are on this site there is a reason for it. As long as you are getting the support you need then I say all are welcome. Big Hugs and interesting post. Denies

well, I weigh about 230. I am in a 14 16, I am obese.

Wow, is this a play on words. Do I consider myself "morbedly obeses"; no but if you base everything upon that good old BMI index, I am morbedly obese and fit the guidelines to have gastric by-pass done. Simply stated, anyone more than 150lbs overweight, and a BMI above 30.

I have been on both sides of this issue, currently I am at my highest weight 260lbs, and wear a size 20/22 but I'm only 5'2 I don't stand a chance.

I personally rely on this board to give encourgment as well as get it from others. I'm glad to hear about anyone's
accomplishments.

I agree that no-one should bash another for expressing their views; however those veiws should be positive and upbeat, if something negative wishes to be said it should be done in a private post.

I do not rally in someone else misery. Weight is a personal thing and all the support you can get...take it.

My thoughts

I am a morbid mother.

I am obese no way around that for me. I am 5'4 and last time I weighed in was at curves on 8-27-08 and their scale said I was 304lbs. A bit different then mine at home none the less it is obese.

As for support groups I think anyone should join that brings in fresh ideas, goals and suggestions. Makes no difference to me if a person is obese or not. Personally I think a lot of people can identify with similiar issues wether they are obese are not.

Sticking with goals, motivation, depression, feeling like you're the only one in the world who deals with these issues and sometimes feel all alone... well I think everyone relates to that and you don't even have to be obese to deal with all those things. Besides you just never know there could be someone out there that can offer one single statement or suggestion that may change another person's life in a positive way.

So I say the more who join and have something to say the better it is:)

http://dailystrength.org/c/Diets-Weight-Maintenance/support-group
Here is the link to the group that I think most of you are talking about. Maybe the discussions on why we are so obese and how to change it should go there instead of here.

And SigS, lately all I see is negative posts by you so from today on you will be ignored by me. Just to let you know! I am an obese person who felt nothing but insults and negativity from you. Good job on your accomplishment on trying to be encouraging! HA!

I am not trying to be negative so please don't think I am. I am just wondering what exactly you think the obesity site is for? I have been on here for over a year and we have always shared stories on how to help one another loose weight. I am just wondering what you think this support group should be for. I don't feel like I fit in with the people on diets and weight managment much and have always enjoyed the positive re-enforcement I have gotten on here. Hugs Denise

OMT, I am sorry I know that you think it is for support and encouragement for the emotional and physical part but where do you draw the line. I yoyo up and down do to emotional problems in my life and how to cope with them. I just think that anyone should feel welcome to come here is all. I don't think that we should discriminate against anyone. I certainly don't like to be discriminated against. If someone feels good coming here all the power to them. I enjoy this site and like getting helpful hints about diet, but I carry a lot of baggage as to why I am overweight. Just a thought. Denise

I know where everyone is coming from I myself am very obese and it seems no mater what i try i cannot get it down I have Afib, and CHF.So with these 2 problems I keep gaining Fluid I have put on 12 pounds in just 3 days so please send your prayers

caruth, im just tired of having to justify myself because all i feel is people coming down on me, saying i don't belong here because i dont weigh 215 pounds, anymore, nothing more.

I have, to the best of my knowledge, come down and made jokes about obesity, I am just trying to say it can be done, and tell people to be careful about diet pills, etc.

I tried some over the counter diet pills a couple of years ago, and 18 hours later, my left eye was twitching, my heart was beating out of my body, and i took half of what they said to take. just be careful.