Welcome

"Welcome.  There are many ways of using this site.  First, you can just read it, taking sheer solace in the fact that there are other people out there struggling with the same problems.  You can follow the current threads at the top of this page, or you can go to the "Forum" page and find the discussion topic most congenial to your own needs.  If you are interested in following the history of one particular story, you can also go to the "Gallery" and click on "People"--which will allow you to follow the history of one person's postings.

But why just read?  Why not contribute?  And you can do that in a number of ways.  You can reply to an individual posting.  Or you can start a new thread and ask a question... we're happy to read all responses offered in good faith, happy to listen and offer thoughts.   Or, if you prefer, by clicking on "Other" and dropping down to "Reply to author," you can send a private email directly to the person to whose post you are replying.  Be aware, however, that your email address will be visible, so if you want to be careful of preserving your anonymity (which we all respect), get yourself an anonymous email address from a free server and use it when you log in to the blog.

You can also browse the archives that are contained on the "Newspaper" page, which contain threads from an earlier version of this site before it crashed once--and they offer a wealth of informative, useful, sometimes funny, sometimes heart-breaking threads that will help you become more thoughtful about your own situation.

But please know that this site is about mutual respect.  You're encouraged to vent, but not to abuse others.  You're encouraged to be honest, but mindful of being civil, too.  It can be a fine line.  Occasionally, trollers intrude and offer rudeness in order to get attention.  We roll our eyes.  Don't be one of them.

Instead, seize the chance to read through the words of like-minded (and sometimes not-so-like-minded!) people all struggling with the problems of weight and marriage.  You will find postings from thin spouses and fat spouses.  You will find successes and failures.  Taken together, they will let you become more thoughtful about your own situation--what you can do, what you can't do, and how to tell the difference.

So come on in.  Put up your feet.  Stay a while. Feel supported.  And, again, welcome."