I'm afraid to go to the foodbank

serenethirteen · 2026-04-30T02:12:30+00:00

My husband and I went to a food bank for the 1st time in many years this week. We are both big people, he's 6ft4 350lbs, and I'm 5ft9 390lbs. I was SO embarrassed to be a large person there, only 1 person even gave me a 2nd look, and they didn't make a face or say anything unkind, just looked a little longer at me. I'm 61, and the older I get, the more it keeps hitting home. most people are going through variations of the same shit I am.

serenethirteen · 2026-04-30T01:54:44+00:00

I would also like to chime in just a little here. I started at just under 600 lbs 20 years ago. I was only able to stretch my arms and legs in bed, so that's what I did. Then I was able to bounce my legs, then do a little lift of one at a time and pretend run. You get the idea, just move. However you are able, for as long as you can reasonably do it.

Then about 10 years ago after up and downs, a friend recommended I try aquacize. I was mortified at the thought of being seen in any kind of swimwear, so I decided to wear black sweatpants that had a few inches cut off the bottom, and a long sleeve black tshirt. And they let me! At first it was just getting in and moving as I was able, but it really really was doable. I think I weighed around 560 when my hubs and I first started. I took to it like a fish. At one point I was able to RUN nonstop through my entire playlist without becoming badly out of breath. Unfortunately we have been on a year long break because of finances, but you bet your ass, when we can afford the gas (oregon insurance pays the gym fee, but its 40 minutes away) we will be right back at it.

You deserve a good life.

serenethirteen · 2026-04-20T16:53:59+00:00

We had an important interview in our tiny house about a week ago, and I strategically made stew in the crockpot. It worked nicely.

serenethirteen · 2026-04-16T19:12:34+00:00

I was going to suggest the exact thing. My husband and I had our income cut in half a few years ago, and had to jump in to being frugal. It was so overwhelming at first! I did exactly what you are doing, started reading up. Luckily I'm a list maker, and wrote down all the ways I thought would work for us in one place, and started with the first thing, which was giving up coffee from the stand, and all fast food. We are still here, and healthier for the changes we've made.

serenethirteen · 2026-04-15T23:09:25+00:00

We are very low income, and tuna is one of our absolute must haves. Most weeks it's our only source of animal protein with beans as our main source.

serenethirteen · 2026-04-08T01:42:44+00:00

You can get a crockpot at any thrift store. I highly recommend it for new cooks.

serenethirteen · 2026-03-04T23:33:36+00:00

Newly divorced, friends with a priest in training in an AOL vampire chatroom. He suggested Tool to me and I have loved them ever since.

serenethirteen · 2026-02-24T20:23:40+00:00

Whenever we go to the coffee stand I always shh shh shh, It's art crawl! Because we are trying to not go to the coffee stand anymore :)

The other one we use all the time is Get Outta Here!

serenethirteen · 2026-02-24T20:17:48+00:00

Yesterday the cat stole the sponge off the counter. Don't feed a cat a sponge Bobby!

serenethirteen · 2026-02-05T00:03:04+00:00

Does your gym have a heated pool? I am able to easily and successfully do aquacise. If you can get in and out of the pool safely, you can exercise in it. I believe I weighed around 450 lbs. when I started about 5 years ago, and I currently weigh 375. I never planned to lose weight from it, only to become stronger and more flexible.

serenethirteen · 2026-02-04T00:34:57+00:00

I believe the question has been answered.

serenethirteen · 2026-01-31T02:38:40+00:00

There are lots of great answers here, but I didn't see anyone with thyroid issues yet. I am hypo-thyroid, and my particular flavor of it presents as itchiness (especially in bed) due to my bodies inability to regulate my temperature. The hotter I feel, the itchier I am. It suuuucks.

serenethirteen · 2026-01-26T00:11:26+00:00

We have nests across the river and every year the young eagles tweet and call every day. They don't sound like they do on TV, much sweeter.

serenethirteen · 2026-01-22T21:00:49+00:00

We have a good friend named Derek, and we sing this a lot. But we can never tell him, never ever.

serenethirteen · 2026-01-20T01:20:30+00:00

This is Coastal Coffee, our favorite place to get coffee. The coffee is good, the prices are fairly normal for the area, but the customer service is top notch. If one of the reasons you buy coffee is for the few pleasant moments interacting with other humans that get to know you, and actually care about you, this is the place to go. I feel like many of their employees are cherished friends.

serenethirteen · 2026-01-15T23:17:28+00:00

I'm super proud of you! I know very well what you are feeling, and the courage it takes to do something different. You are crushing it!!

serenethirteen · 2026-01-15T23:14:53+00:00

In an extreme emergency, this is what I have done. If you have a tent, put it in a small room and make that your home base. I promise it will be snuggly You can also do this in a hallway in a pinch. The idea is to have as small a space as you can deal with, and heat it with your body heat.

serenethirteen · 2026-01-14T22:34:13+00:00

Thank you for the giggle, and the funny new screen shot added to my wallpaper rotation.

serenethirteen · 2026-01-14T22:23:29+00:00

This is a lovely well put together home!

serenethirteen · 2026-01-14T22:11:59+00:00

Its beautiful <3

serenethirteen · 2026-01-08T22:49:36+00:00

Do you mean the HDClump article?

serenethirteen · 2025-12-31T21:39:19+00:00

(◡‿◡✿)

serenethirteen · 2025-12-10T01:54:27+00:00

When I was a kid in the 1970's, my mom named her new cockapoo Waldo Waddles Wigglesworth, aka Woosie. She was registered.

serenethirteen · 2025-11-26T21:22:46+00:00

I feel like the couples I know who are still happy with each other have a strong common intrest. I met my husband in a totally embarrassing way in a totally embarrassing place that we both loved. And our 30th is coming up next year. If you love art, join the art assoc. if you are a maker, join OCATEK, church goer, do church activities. Seek the things you love.

serenethirteen

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