Your 'Ah-Ha' Moment
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Mine was last summer realizing I was going to have to wear some skating dresses and have enough stamina to hold my partner up. I accomplished it and think I looked pretty good in the dress in my picture3
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Mine was when I got ready for my brothers wedding and my dad looked at me and said "Wow, you got chubby. Go change, you can't wear that"
I will NEVER forget that moment.11 -
I went to the doc a couple of weeks ago and found out I had high blood pressure. Then, when my blood results came back, I found out I was diabetic. I've been on MFP for a couple of years. I would stop then start again. This time, it's for good. It's for health. I want to see my kids graduate high school, make lives for themselves, give me grandbabies, and enjoy more time with my husband. I still need to write that book, too.5
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I obviously have far too much time on my hands as another question out of sheer curiosity has been nagging away at me ... so here goes.
- When was your 'AH-HA' moment that made you decide, 'ahhhm okay it's time to do something about this weight?'
- What made a difference this time which differed from previous attempts to lose weight &/or get healthy? (motivation)
- How much impact do you feel that a correct mindset has on the level of achievement?
Well, my a-ha moment (this time) was just being tired of trying to squeeze into my clothes. I rarely bought new clothes so in my mind up (until that point) was if I can still fit into them (albeit with muffin tops in multiple places) then the weight must not be that bad. Of course having clothes that stretch definitely contributed to my conclusion of being able to fit into them. Finally got on the scale at the end of June and saw the number and realized that was the same weight I was when I lost weight 8 years ago.
What's different this time? Probably not relying on a drastically different diet to lose the weight. As many has said, this is something you have to do for the long haul. It wasn't that I was restricting what I was eating but rather limiting myself in food selection and eating something different from the rest of the family. So I decided to research and find recipes that would not only help me but also something that my family would eat as well. I also focused on creating a organizational system to make it easier to keep me on track - cutting up vegetables and fruit ahead of time, pre-portioning out snacks into bags or containers,etc.
Having a correct mindset is definitely a huge part. But also understanding what made you "fall of the wagon" in the past and modifying your habits to account for that is important as well. On my past weight loss attempt, I didn't count calories or weighed my food and was able to lose about 30 lbs. But I eventually gained it all back because I didn't address those two areas once I went into maintenance. Now I use MFP as well as a food scale which I hope will allow me to maintain the weight loss once I hit goal and transition to maintenance this time.
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For me, it was when I saw a picture my husband took of my daughter and me. I couldn't believe how frumpy I looked. I'm usually the one behind the camera so I had no idea. Pictures speak 1,000 words.
Also, my clothes were not fitting correctly. It was hard to find the right size, especially in pants. It killed me having a muffin top spilling over my jeans.
I can't say it's different than other attempts because I knew counting calories would work as it was the solution for losing weight between having my daughter and son. I simply said I'd do it, and I did. I only had to lose about15 pounds, but on my small 4'11" frame, it's an enormous amount. If you add me as a friend, you can see how different my face pics are.
I'm at goal weight now, and this morning I realized my "girls" have gone down a size. I'm not disappointed, but I hope my husband doesn't notice
Time for bra shopping 
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For me it was when my mom had a debilitating stroke. That day I got off my fat bum and changed my life forever.5
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It didn't feel like an a-ha moment at the time, but I went in for my annual checkup (which was the only time I stepped on a scale) and was up from the prior year weighing in at 265#. That didn't really shock me or even make much of an impression, but my doctor commented on it and simply told me that if I could maintain a 500 calorie a day deficit, I could lose a pound a week. It sounded easy - I bought a fitbit, found MFP and discovered it *was* easy.4
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My Aha moment came in May of this year. My 3yo daughter and I were on a horseback ride together and the company we used took a picture of us on the horse. I knew I had eaten my way through our very harsh winter...but was blown away by how overweight/out of shape I looked.
There was nothing that made a huge difference. I haven't really struggled with weight in my life...but I'm over 40 now and I guess my months of over indulging added up faster! I definitely was motivated by the fact that I want to be able to play sports with my 2 kids long into the future.
Using MFP truly made this almost mindless for me. I was determined to lose the weight and get back into shape. The MFP app allowed me to easily see when I needed to stop eating:). Once the pounds started to come off, I was so much more comfortable in my clothes and felt so much better, that I wanted to keep going.
Thanks for your post.4 -
cheslightsey wrote: »My Aha moment came in May of this year. My 3yo daughter and I were on a horseback ride together and the company we used took a picture of us on the horse. I knew I had eaten my way through our very harsh winter...but was blown away by how overweight/out of shape I looked.
There was nothing that made a huge difference. I haven't really struggled with weight in my life...but I'm over 40 now and I guess my months of over indulging added up faster! I definitely was motivated by the fact that I want to be able to play sports with my 2 kids long into the future.
Using MFP truly made this almost mindless for me. I was determined to lose the weight and get back into shape. The MFP app allowed me to easily see when I needed to stop eating:). Once the pounds started to come off, I was so much more comfortable in my clothes and felt so much better, that I wanted to keep going.
Thanks for your post.
YVW!
It's REALLY interesting how something as simple as a photo can wake us up to a good dose of reality. I guess all the whippersnappers may be really on to something with the whole 'selfie' trend aye?
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It was as simple as seeing the number on the scale and realizing I had gained 20 lbs in the year and a half since my wedding. I didn't have a lot to lose at that point, but I knew that if I continued on the way I was going the weight would just continue to pack on.3
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my Ah Ha moment was on January 8th.... went to the Dr about a terrible cough I had kept for 2 years, that was keeping me form being able to hunt. He said I had a hiatal hernia that was causing reflux and the constant heartburn I had had for years, and that if I wanted surgery to fix it, I needed to lose weight. I was NOT willing to give up hunting for the rest of my life and I wanted the heartburn GONE. So I started that day and didn't look back.
What's different this time... MFP and How I feel about myself... In past attempts to lose weight on my own, I always saw myself as being fat and ugly no matter how much I lost because I didn't have support. I focused on all of my flaws and what I thought was wrong with me instead of celebrating my success. This time, with MFP, I get support and encouragement from people who are on the same journey as I am. I get daily affirmations that I'm worthy of being healthy and feeling good about myself.
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When my cholestoral numbers (especially 'good' one) looked lousy. I was gaining weight for what seemed 'no reason' and I had two very little kids and I'm not young. Realizing its my Health I need to take care of, for THEM, so I can be here as long as possible for THEM that I needed to change.
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I obviously have far too much time on my hands as another question out of sheer curiosity has been nagging away at me ... so here goes.
- When was your 'AH-HA' moment that made you decide, 'ahhhm okay it's time to do something about this weight?'
- What made a difference this time which differed from previous attempts to lose weight &/or get healthy? (motivation)
- How much impact do you feel that a correct mindset has on the level of achievement?
My "AH-HA" moment came after I had started logging on MFP. I wasn't happy with my weight but I had absolutely no clue about calorie counting and deficits. A friend of mine told me about MFP and how it was working for her so I decided to give it a go and see what happened. After a week or two I was down 3 pounds and that's when I realized that I could do it and I needed to do it. Around this time I started looking more closely at pictures of myself and I realized that this had to change.
My past attempts involved little to no knowledge of anything really. I ran on a treadmill and tried to eat next to nothing. Now I know that I can eat ice cream every day and still lose provided that I keep my deficit intact.
The correct mindset has been huge. I actually KNOW what to do now and that's huge. I also KNOW that I can do it simply because I have been doing it already.
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My Aha moment was watching a TV programme about a woman that was obese - walls had to broken in her home to get her out etc., I was horrified and then reflected on the fact that I weighed just 4 stones less than she did. Time to take action. I think there is something about being in the right frame of mind - so many times I had started on a Mon and stopped by Wed. Joined yet another weight loss plan and after 2 weeks given up. Somehow it was different this time and I managed to stay with the plan for well over year to
reach GW. I gained back a bit of weight and earlier this year got back on track and reached GW again.13 -
1. I can't say that I really had an "ah-ha" moment when I decided to lose weight in 2011. I had gained quite a few pounds over the last few years from a stressful job and stress eating. I knew I had to change course. I was solidly middle age and being 50 pounds overweight and getting older isn't a good combination. Plus, I realized that as I got older I would likely be putting an unfair burden on my only child, my daughter. It isn't fair to ask her to take care of me in my later years because I failed to take care of myself. So I made some changes. I knew it was going to take me some time to lose 50 pounds but I also knew I would be successful. I ate about 1500 to 1700 cal daily, logged and measured all my food, and stuck with a modest exercise routine. A year later, 50 pounds were gone.
2. What was different this time from the few other times that I lost weight (I had yo-yoed a few times but not as often as some women) is that I VOWED that this time would be the last time I would need to lose weight. I made a promise to myself, a commitment that I simply would not break. I wasn't deterred by the fact that most people regain the weight that they lost. I was determined to be in that successful minority. I decided I needed a maintenance plan and I developed one that would work for me (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/themedalist/view/what-s-your-maintenance-plan-624676). That's been the game changer for me. I've stuck with my maintenance plan for over two years now and not a single pound has returned.
3. Mindset is everything! You have to believe that you will be successful. I think it helps to visualize your life once you've lost the weight. Recognize that losing weight isn't the panacea for every challenge in your life, but it certainly helps considerably. Greater mobility, a lot less joint pain, much greater energy levels, a much brighter health future (at least statistically speaking), and the confidence that comes with knowing you achieved something that's really challenging and difficult. And fitting into smaller clothes is terrific! Regarding mindset, however, I wish more folks understood that motivation isn't everything. Motivation will ebb and flow, kind of like the tide. And motivation isn't essential to losing weight. Are any of us motivated about brushing and flossing our teeth every day? Probably not, but we do it anyway because we want to keep our teeth. You don't have to be motivated to eat a modest caloric deficit and exercise. You just have to do it. A commitment and decision is needed, no motivation required. My favorite blog post on the subject: http://www.vicmagary.com/blog/fitness-motivation/
A great question, OP! Thanks for asking!7 -
Great Idea for a Thread!
•My "AH-HA" moment that made me decide to take control of my health and weight was seeing the pictures of my granddaughter's christening. There I was: over 200# standing beside my perpetually slim husband, and let me tell you that it is hard to hide behind an 8 lb. baby. That picture followed hard on the heels of not getting a job because of high BP.
•This time was different from my hundreds of previous attempts to lose weight because 1) I got active and I didn't go on a diet; instead, I joined Curves and vowed to workout 3 times a week and I used all the nutritional information I had gathered through those previous attempts to control portions and 2) my sister and I did it together - this made those 3 workouts per week a treat.
•I think the correct mindset is certainly important; this time, I was concentrating on taking care of my health, but most important, I was determined to "just do it" whether I lost weight or not. I lost weight.
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Looking at photos and not being happy was my Aha moment. What has been different is that I'm not on a diet so much. I've been following the Eat More 2 Weigh Less philosophy and that's been amazing. I'm lifting weights, being active and eating (just a bit less). I feel good and healthy, versus just skinny. I like it. And it's doable for life!1
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My Ah-Ha moment came at the beginning of 2013. I was going to turn 65 during the year and did not want to be a fat old lady. I went on the Shred Diet for 6 weeks and lost 13 pounds. My brother ran into a co-worker he had not seen in a while that had lost 42 pounds. The friend told him about MFP. I had gotten a Smart phone that week and downloaded the app. It has been 602 days now, and 36 pounds down.
The difference this time is that my brother, 2 best friends and nephew have been doing it together. We have lost 171 lbs.
I do have to say, Maintenance is not easy!!!! Losing the weight was not bad, but keeping it off is work!!!3 -
My Aha moment came around my 29th birthday. It hit me that I had spent my entire 20's unhealthy, out of shape and a smoker to boot. I was so afraid that I would turn 30 and then I would be depressed about getting 'older' and still not be able to really take care of myself the way I would like. I saw my friends having kids and having difficulty losing pregnancy weight, and I thought if I get pregnant at the weight I'm at now, it would be insurmountable harder for me to lose the weight afterward. It was enough to push me forward.
Just over a year later and I feel amazing!! When I turned 30 I didn't feel depressed. Just excited to live another decade where I felt great rather than letting unhealthy habits run my life!3 -
I got Achilles tendonitis early in the year, and was having difficulty walking downstairs. That didn't do it but when I started having hip pain when I got out of a chair and walking up stairs I thought "aha". Starting on my weight loss journey, even the first 10 pounds feel much better, but still have a ways to go. I am NOT going back there.1
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When I hit 180, when I couldn't walk to the car without getting winded, when I saw a sac hanging instead of a stomach, when size 18W pants started to get tight....I knew if I kept gaining it would be all over and possibly no coming back.2
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Hitting 201# naked. I thought 185 was sorta normal for my 6 feet, and the BMI said it was sorta high instead.0
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TY TheMedalist & 77Tes!
I feel so inspired & hopeful to witness all the long term maintainers.
And I agree WeaFrank I think sometimes losing weight seem like child's play in comparison to maintaining.
A BIG thank you to everyone who responded.
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The day I realized my eyeglasses had to bow out ever so slightly to fit on my face now... when I bought them two years ago, they fit my 25-pounds-lighter face just fine.3
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Mine wasn't 'a-ha' but 'ENOUGH!'. My closet was full of clothes that didn't fit, my feet and knees hurt if I stood for any amount of time, I didn't want to see my friends because they remember me from when I was thin, my shoes were starting to be too small. I just threw up my hands and yelled, "Enough! I'm done! This is not me!"
I started drinking gallons of tea instead of turning to carbs for a snack. Mostly, my eating was just pecking away at things until they were gone, so I stopped that. Started writing down everything. I started moving a little bit more even though it hurt. I started cooking at home and stopped going out to eat for a while - until I had a new way of figuring out my new way of BE-ing. I just started living consciously and conscientiously. And I found MFP to help me along the way. I'm so glad I did. 2 -
RaspberryTickleChicken wrote: »
- When was your 'AH-HA' moment that made you decide, 'ahhhm okay it's time to do something about this weight?'
- What made a difference this time which differed from previous attempts to lose weight &/or get healthy? (motivation)
- How much impact do you feel that a correct mindset has on the level of achievement?
Fun questions!
I'm not sure I really did have an A-HA moment. My goals evolved over time. I started in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ~3.5 years ago, because I'd moved to a new city, had no friends in the area, and was quickly falling into a pattern of work, go home, drink and watch TV. Not a healthy lifestyle!
After losing 15 lbs by accident (due to less drinking, more exercise), I started to clean up my diet; Started reading more about nutrition, which lead to MFP/calorie counting; Attempts to gain muscle (still ongoing :P)
My weight was all over the place in the decade before BJJ, but mostly because I was a "victim" of my own circumstances. I worked night shifts at a restaurant, which was boring, so I'd eat all the time - gained a ton of weight. Lived in China for a while - lost of a ton of weight. Came back to Canada - gained a ton of weight.
BJJ has been the only thing to make me focus on my health and diet. I never did it for its own sake, but once I started training, I became much healthier and ate better all as a goal of improving my jiu jitsu. Being healthy, skinnier, more muscular are just happy side effects 1
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