That AHA moment: What made you start?

Uandi328

I might post this on the general board but was hoping to hear from those who have had some success with this journey.

So this is pretty straight forward. Please share the following:
1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

2. When did you start this journey?

3. Where are you now?

4. What keeps you going?

I can start:
1. I realised while shopping for lingerie for valentines day to surprise my husband that I kept looking for coveralls. Coveralls!!! For sexy lingerie. While I knew my DH wouldn't mind, I just knew that I would never be comfortable in my skin unless I took action. That did it for me.

2. Start date 2.13.17

3. Down 11.3 pounds in 7 weeks on the dot

4. Feeling lighter, looking healthier, feeling sexier and more confident and knowing that I'm investing in my future health. Each day I stick with this lifestyle is an extra day to hug and kiss my loved ones.



Looking forward to hearing from the rest of you.

Geocitiesuser

Down 120+lbs, and I will share, but... you won't like the answers.

1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

I realized how extreme social rejection is for overweight men. I was losing my sanity "screaming in the solitude".

2. When did you start this journey?

Most recent reboot was May 26th 2016. Getting ready for that one year anni!

3. Where are you now?

Just 15 or so pounds away from my goal weight (BMI of 23.5)


4. What keeps you going?

I don't think there's any other option. It hasn't solved my social problems, I'm still invisible, but that's even more the reason. There will never be anyone "there" to take care of me but myself. I owe it to myself to maintain the best health and best quality of life possible. What started as a harsh reality of loneliness has kind of morphed into a sense of personal responsibility.

Uandi328

Geocitiesuser wrote: »

Down 120+lbs, and I will share, but... you won't like the answers.

1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

I realized how extreme social rejection is for overweight men. I was losing my sanity "screaming in the solitude".

2. When did you start this journey?

Most recent reboot was May 26th 2016. Getting ready for that one year anni!

3. Where are you now?

Just 15 or so pounds away from my goal weight (BMI of 23.5)


4. What keeps you going?

I don't think there's any other option. It hasn't solved my social problems, I'm still invisible, but that's even more the reason. There will never be anyone "there" to take care of me but myself. I owe it to myself to maintain the best health and best quality of life possible. What started as a harsh reality of loneliness has kind of morphed into a sense of personal responsibility.

You are amazing!

Keep up the strong work dear.

georgeous66

Turning Point: Being diagnosed with idiopathic intercranial hypertention (to much fluid on the brain due to slowed absorbtion rate -cause...drumroll.....being overweight). In addition to a series of uncontrolled health issues from and accident; I had to try and fix something I could change....and accept what I could not.

Started : March 26th 2015

Where I am now: down 80+ lbs and 40-50lbs to go.

What keeps me going: feeling better, hypertention is going away/gone, my beautiful children and amazing hubby....and just overall improvement in different areas. Life still isnt what it used to be but Im going to take the best of what ever I can and roll with the punches.

cwolfman13

Uandi328 wrote: »

I might post this on the general board but was hoping to hear from those who have had some success with this journey.

So this is pretty straight forward. Please share the following:
1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

2. When did you start this journey?

3. Where are you now?

4. What keeps you going?

1. Some really bad blood work at my 38 year physical...I was basically heading down the same path as my dad which basically meant that if I stayed on that path I would be very sick, if not dead at a pretty young age. At the time I had a 1 and 3 year old...so no option really other than to get my *kitten* together.

2. Sept/Oct 2012

3. I lost 40 Lbs over the course of about 9 months...I've been more or less maintaining going on about 4 years in May. My overall diet is substantially improved from what it was when I started...I exercise on the regular and my fitness has improved by leaps and bounds over the years.

4. Nothing...it's not really anything I think about. I enjoy cooking and eating well and getting on my bike or hitting the weight room is about as fundamentally a part of my everyday life as brushing my teeth. I'm also not a diet Nazi and don't try to live by all or nothing standards...I don't freak the *kitten* out if I miss a workout and I enjoy regular indulgences like Friday pizza nights for pleasure.

smantha32

1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

A really horrible photo. I knew I was fat but I thought I carried it well. That photo was all it took to see I was lying to myself.

2. When did you start this journey?

January 2012.

3. Where are you now?

About halfway to goal. And I struggle with it. I go up and down a lot.


4. What keeps you going?

I don't think there's any other option. I'm at the age where I'm going to develop health issues if I don't keep working on it.

fit_knitter

1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

My weight suddenly jumped 10lbs in a month. It freaked me out that I was closer to 300lbs than 200 and I got depressed. I made an appointment with my GP but he wouldn't be able to see me for a few months. So I joined a gym to see if that would help my mood and with the weight. I didn't lose any weight despite working out several times a week (it really is true, the whole diet is for weight loss and working out is for fitness). I saw my GP and had gained even more weight. He referred me to a specialist in weight loss and I saw her in Dec. I officially started with the diet part in January and started tracking on MFP.

2. When did you start this journey? Jan 2nd is when I started tracking my food.

3. Where are you now? I'm down 21lbs from my heaviest weight.

4. What keeps you going? I'm finally in a good place mentally and I actually look forward to my workouts, not just as a break from my kids but because of how I feel after working out. I push myself harder each time I go and I always want to say I did a little more. I want to be an active person and someone my kids can look up to.

jenjen3052

My turning point... so tired of feeling sick all the time, no energy, stomach and bowel issues. I hate pictures of myself.

I started my journey on March 20, 2017. Yes I'm still new to eating right. But I refuse to turn back now. I feel too good.

I started 2 Mondays ago and I'm down 14 pounds already. I've cut out gluten. I've cut way back on sugar and hardly eat dairy. I would like to lose 50 more pounds.

Knowing how much better I feel is what keeps me going. Plus I'm 41 with 3 grandkids to keep up with. If I turn back now, my stomach issues come back, I stay in bed all weekend, and I'm uncomfortable in my own skin.

furiousmunchkin

1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

I've had a lot of turning points. I have been overweight my entire adult life, and have lost and gained back the same 50lbs three times now. I hated what I looked like in some vacation photos from January, and decided to try again. I guess you only really fail if you don't get back up and try again.

2. When did you start this journey?

3/22/17

3. Where are you now?

I've lost 8lbs. It's nice to feel like I'm going in the right direction, even if I still have moments of guilt - that I got down so low a couple years ago and gained it all back to the exact pound.

4. What keeps you going?

My husband. He always thinks I'm beautiful no matter what my weight is, but never stops encouraging me to reach for my goals. We are doing it together this time and it helps tremendously. He has lost about 8lbs as well so far.

brookielaw

1. My turning point the first time was losing 15 friends and colleagues in 2012. (They died, not friendships ending). I managed to get down about 175 lbs from my highest before getting into a new relationship with my best friend in 2014, and having our daughter in 2015. My turning point in 2016 was the realization that my daughter was going to turn 1 and I hadn't lost the baby weight, which was a large portion of the weight I had lost in 2013 and 2014. The amount of regain I had in my pregnancy in 2015 was staggering.

2. I started this journey in 2013, fell off the wagon in 2015 when I had a very complicated pregnancy, and got my *kitten* back together (I totally just pre-sensored my answer for you!) in 2016.

3. I am 211.2 lbs from my highest, well over 50% less of me to love.

4. My daughters keeps me going. The one I gave birth to is just under 21 months old. I am responsible for a tiny human. I have to be the healthiest I can be to take care of her and her sister and live a long life. I have to lead by example so they don't have the same issues I had growing up. Nobody wants their kids to have health issues. I keep going for myself, and for my husband too. He deserves a smokin' hot wife (although he will love me at any size, and clearly has), and one that is physically capable of pulling her share. I have adventuring left to do! I love my life now so it's pretty easy to keep going.

SiegfriedXXL

1. In October of 2015, I lost my job, lost my partner, and was hospitalized with a BP of 203/105. That and additional blood work showed that I was going down a very bad road. I was 35.

2. October 16th, 2015

3. I am down 114 pounds from my highest weight. I've had a couple of breaks in between but overall, I feel so much better and know I have the tools to keep going. Just this week, I've really tightened my logging and jumped back into things and the losses have picked up again.

4. Not wanting to die young. A new partner who is supportive of my health goals. The sense that I don't want to miss out on any more things because I'm obese and can't do them. I want to parachute and hang glide and go cliff diving.

Uandi328

georgeous66 wrote: »

Turning Point: Being diagnosed with idiopathic intercranial hypertention (to much fluid on the brain due to slowed absorbtion rate -cause...drumroll.....being overweight). In addition to a series of uncontrolled health issues from and accident; I had to try and fix something I could change....and accept what I could not.

Started : March 26th 2015

Where I am now: down 80+ lbs and 40-50lbs to go.

What keeps me going: feeling better, hypertention is going away/gone, my beautiful children and amazing hubby....and just overall improvement in different areas. Life still isnt what it used to be but Im going to take the best of what ever I can and roll with the punches.

Wow!!! Truly inspiring.

If you don't mind my asking...how did they diagnose you? Is this the condition where they do a lumbar puncture to improve it? Are you all better now?

Sorry. I'm in a science nerd.

Btw...80 pounds!!! Rockstar.

Uandi328

MeganAM89 wrote: »

Uandi328 wrote: »

I might post this on the general board but was hoping to hear from those who have had some success with this journey.

So this is pretty straight forward. Please share the following:
1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

2. When did you start this journey?

3. Where are you now?

4. What keeps you going?

1. I was getting married in December of 2016 and I saw a photo of me taken in August 2016 and I didn't like what I saw.

2. September 2016

3. I've lost 10 pounds. All I wanted to do was lose vanity weight and "tone" up and I'm well on my way there. I'm looking forward to having a summer of the best body of my life.

4. My husband and I would like to be pregnant by this time next year. So I want to keep going and stay healthy and I hope that we can achieve that.

I wish you the hottest body ever AND a beautiful baby or babies in 1-2 years.

Uandi328

brookielaw wrote: »

1. My turning point the first time was losing 15 friends and colleagues in 2012. (They died, not friendships ending). I managed to get down about 175 lbs from my highest before getting into a new relationship with my best friend in 2014, and having our daughter in 2015. My turning point in 2016 was the realization that my daughter was going to turn 1 and I hadn't lost the baby weight, which was a large portion of the weight I had lost in 2013 and 2014. The amount of regain I had in my pregnancy in 2015 was staggering.

2. I started this journey in 2013, fell off the wagon in 2015 when I had a very complicated pregnancy, and got my *kitten* back together (I totally just pre-sensored my answer for you!) in 2016.

3. I am 211.2 lbs from my highest, well over 50% less of me to love.

4. My daughters keeps me going. The one I gave birth to is just under 21 months old. I am responsible for a tiny human. I have to be the healthiest I can be to take care of her and her sister and live a long life. I have to lead by example so they don't have the same issues I had growing up. Nobody wants their kids to have health issues. I keep going for myself, and for my husband too. He deserves a smokin' hot wife (although he will love me at any size, and clearly has), and one that is physically capable of pulling her share. I have adventuring left to do! I love my life now so it's pretty easy to keep going.

Wait...just be sure...did you say you have lost 211+ pounds???? Omg!!!!!!

Wooow. You are my hero!

lilawolf

So this is pretty straight forward. Please share the following:
1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events
I was underweight without trying until around 17. Started gaining 10lbs a year. I needed the first 20...Didn't need the 30 after that. My pants had gotten tight, but I was still pretending it wasn't an issue. One day, I saw two large ladies waiting in front of the elevator to go up one floor, and the thought came to me, "If I don't change, that's me in 5-10 years" Took a walk that afternoon, started logging the following monday, and never looked back.

2. When did you start this journey?
5ish years ago now. 30ish weeks to lose 30ish pounds

3. Where are you now?
Maintained for several years, but gained 10lbs in the last year. Divorce, promotion, 6 months of traveling, drinking too much and not being active enough... Now I'm back home, restarting my life, etc. I have 5ish pounds left to lose.

4. What keeps you going?
Fitness and how it makes me feel. Fighting, running, lifting, eating all of the (well-earned) things

ttodd16

1. I've always been overweight since 6 years old, except for a few stints here and there where I controlled it. Grad school and an unhealthy relationship helped me gain back what I had lost before that relationship. (doctorates are brutal) I left the relationship at the heaviest I had ever been, found someone who is perfect for me, married, and had two kids. Lost weight with each pregnancy (nausea, migraines, heartburn, ugh!), BUT ate like a linebacker while nursing each time and gained 10 pounds with each. I've tried MFP a couple of times, and every diet known to man, but kept falling off the food trough (or into the food trough? lol). The last straw was a beloved professor and mentor of mine dying suddenly at age 58, leaving a husband, high-schooler and a freshman in college, and scores of mentees way too soon. She'd been overweight as long as I had known her, and whether it was related or not, I have two young kids (6,4) and I cannot imagine leaving my girls in 12 years because I was not strong enough to learn how to fight this food monster. So, I signed up for Nutrisystem (for portion sizing), and I have been on MFP for 15 days with no breaks. I'm logging everything and it will be a long journey. I'm doing lots of flex meals, because I need to get used to portion sizes and then continue with the idea of the food plan. I'm done with 'diets' and know that this has to be a permanent change. As someone once said " I can weight what I want or I can eat what I want. Not both."
2. Re-started 2 weeks ago.
3. I'm down 6 pounds from my highest in 2 weeks. I have 60 ish to go and will re-evaluate.
4. I want to get up in the morning and have the energy to run again. I want to look good in clothing and not embarrass my kids as they grow up. We live in an area of town where very few moms are overweight. I want to go to normal stores to buy those clothes- not plus size stores. I want to play with my kids. I want to beat this horrible weight albatross and get my priorities straight. I want to welcome pictures taken with my kids instead of hiding in the back.

holmesp603

In 2008 at a rather young age for it - I had to have my right knee replaced - After the painful surgery and rehab - on my last appt the Dr said well it would be great if I could lose a few pounds to help the replacement last longer and to go easier on my body especially because of my age - BUT very few are able to do it - so take care of yourself and I will see you next year!! I left there thinking REALLY?? I DID NOT just go thru all of this for NOT! From that day forward - I never said a word to anyone - I just started quietly counting calories and exercising - About a year in - my son told me one morning - Mom IDK who your friends are because your clothes are hanging off of you and you look a hot mess!! I got so upset with him - then I really really looked in the mirror and went and found a scale and had the shock of my life! I had lost over 40 pounds and had not noticed it - I went shopping and had dropped 2 dress sizes!!! WOW When I went to my Drs visit - he was speechless when I got on the scale! He was extremely impressed and wanted to know if I had surgery!!! HA!! No I said your words insulted me and I was determined to show you that I could lose it and also wanted to make the knee replacement last as long as possible!! I lost another 40 pounds in the next year before joining MFP 4 years aog.

2008 on my own - 2013 on MFP

Ive only lost about 18 more pounds since starting MFP - I was more focused on maintaining the weight I had lost determined not to gain it back - and now Im ready to reach my goal of 175 by the end of this year which would be 15 more pounds - certainly doable - I do believe!!!

After almost 8 years total - like "they" say - it has become a habit to MOSTLY eat right - I have come way too far to go back now - Im very aware of what Im putting in my mouth - even when its not healthy - I pretty much know what a serving of something is by looking - although I still measure and count and try and get 8 glasses of water in...

I will say I find it much harder to maintain than to lose - Although when I look in the mirror I still the same person I saw 8 years ago!!

If anyone is interested there is Weight Loss Challenge in the Community - its closed for April but will open again at the end of the month - we have to weigh in every week and keep each other motivated and challenged - although I dont really know my team members - having to step on that scale every week and post my weight really has kept me going!!!!

soufauxgirl

1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events

A persistent, nagging cough led me to a diabetes diagnosis. Sick of being tired, having sore feet and just being generally unwell.

2. When did you start this journey?
Took the situation seriously in December 2015.

3. Where are you now?
About 20-25 pounds from where I want to be have lost 70 pounds so far.


4. What keeps you going?

The fear of getting diabetes again (I reversed it) and not being a healthy energetic grandma in the very, very distant future lol

canadianlbs

a really good friend of mine with disabling depression started taking part in some study. the usual 'exercise fixes depression YAY!' thing. i'm a sceptic on that, but it gave him hope and i absolutely did not want to be any kind of impediment even indirectly. even accidentally. even subliminally. so i started biking to work again, just because.

that's it, basically.

brookielaw

Uandi328 wrote: »

Wait...just be sure...did you say you have lost 211+ pounds???? Omg!!!!!!

Wooow. You are my hero!

Yep. Thank you! I just want to be a hero to my 2 girls. At my doctor's appointment this morning it was 214.7. It was a very good appointment. I talk about it here because I want to show people that it CAN be done and not to give up because it feels like you have so much to lose or because you have suffered a setback. Everyone has their own limitations (I have severe osteoarthritis) but nothing is insurmountable.

Kim_TX

1.What was the turning point for you? It's ok if it was a series of events.

My weight was out of control and I was the at my heaviest. I knew I had to do something and quick

2. When did you start this journey?

March 2013

3. Where are you now?

25 pounds from my goal!!!

4. What keeps you going?

Being a role model to my 4 girls and I just want to look and feel good!!