Why did you come to the conclusion to lose weight?

RakRonda

When I turned 39 and gained 10 lbs. in a month, of no apparent reason! It still took a year for me to get motivated enough to do something about it. But now I have started running everyday or doing a video if I can't, eating better, and taking Juice Plus. I feel great and am almost halfway to my goal weight.

Sunsinern

When the scale said 180# and my clothes were so tight I was too uncomfortable to sit very long. My energy level was nonexistent too. Have lost 6# so far but I do have more energy and my clothes fit again. I would like to lose another 10 pounds this summer but my motivation is waning. Hoping if I join more groups that I will find encouragement through the common struggles we all face. Sweets are my biggest enemy.

Blackwing1002

When I was medically discharged from the Army I was in the best shape of my life. 189 lbs of pure muscle but that didn't last. I slipped into a deep depression due to the injury that got me discharged along with the fact I lost my dream job. All I wanted since I was a kid was to be a soldier. That was 2008 and I was 18. Fastward to 2016 and I was 276 lbs. I became wheelchair bound due to my injury never healing properly and I'm speaking to my doctor at the VA. He told me that though I'm healthy I won't be for long as I am considered obese. I never once considered myself obese. It crushed me and I felt terrible. When I got home I sat on the couch and started watching Dragon ball Z with my daughter and as we watched out cartoon it sort of just clicked. I have my daughter a hug and told my wife that if I wanna live long enough to see our girl one day graduate college then stuff needs to change. I'm gonna lose the weight and get better. My legs will never heal but that isn't an excuse to let the rest of my body rot. Soooo that's it. My doctor called me fat and I watched cartoons with my daughter.

lezhonka

Two years ago I bought expensive tailored Armani suits. I can barely fit into them. Need to loose 15-20 lbs to be comfortable in my skin

kdmariexo

My husband took a photo of me and I thought I looked awful. I knew it was time for a change. So that is what I am here to do!

BrightonChick

It was the summer chub rub for me.....get rid...I am NOT having another summer in pain/sweaty spanks!

Tikeonnabike

Several months being ill with what turned out to be gastritis. And awaiting a possible coelic diagnosis - so I knew I was about to have to do something drastic with my diet anyway (go gluten free). So whilst I'm at it...

That endoscopy was the worst 5 minutes of my life and I've had a pretty horrific life. I will do anything never to be having that test done ever again.

smantha32

Tikeonnabike wrote: »

Several months being ill with what turned out to be gastritis. And awaiting a possible coelic diagnosis - so I knew I was about to have to do something drastic with my diet anyway (go gluten free). So whilst I'm at it...

That endoscopy was the worst 5 minutes of my life and I've had a pretty horrific life. I will do anything never to be having that test done ever again.

wow, I got an endoscopy and they knocked me out for it!

patrickmarsh8019

Because tying my shoes makes me work up a sweat, having to buy XXL and it barely fits, getting winded really easily.... I had a talk with my doctor, started a weight management program, and I'm working on getting healthier.

bfischer406

my reason was that i'm still young and i already have a belly and i decided it's time i go to the 6 pack look so when i go to the beach i'm not embarrassed by how i look

healthypelican

I'm back up to the weight I was before I started personal training, and most of my clothes don't fit. Tragic.

NadNight

For me it was less that I NEEDED to lose weight and more that I felt cr*p and something needed change. My weight was slowly creeping up and whilst I wasn't fat I recognised if I continued the way I was going (8 french fancies and 3 creme eggs in one sitting....) I was going to end up with problems down the line so I wanted to stop those habits before they became too difficult to stop. My clothes were starting to get tight and I couldn't afford a new wardrobe!

I was also sick of feeling stodgy and greasy from junk food and weird eating patterns, I wanted to feel good. Overall I guess it's about wanting to develop habits that allow me to nourish and take care of myself, feel proud of my body (body acceptance is a big thing at the moment obviously and whilst I agree that everyone should be proud and accept their body, when did it become a crime to want to be the best you can be?) and habits.

I'm doing pretty well at managing a more balanced diet so far and feel so much better for it, I'm working on converting my family now I'm home for Summer!

kristikitter

Photograph of me at a works function... oh my God. I have two stomach rolls and a flabby/droopy face. I don't look 27, I look 57. The company is sport/fitness-centred, and I am double the size of most people there.

I had a clearout of my wardrobe... I have about five dresses left that fit. Five. Out of a whole wardrobe. Maybe two of those look good.

I have no energy and I nap a lot, given the chance. It shouldn't be this way.

gcoder10

I hit 250 lbs recently and my blood pressure has been through the roof. Suffering from anxiety and depression since a few years so have gained over 50 lbs in the last 4+ years

amyteacake

Realising that I had gained half a stone over Christmas while I was at college. My anxiety, depression and BDD were all over the place and I need to try and sort myself out. I wasn't confident in myself whatsoever and couldn't/refused to do some of the things that I wanted to do.

I just got sick and tired of feeling sorry myself and decided to change it.

ssouth1966

My Ha-Ha moment was when I busted out of 3 pairs of pants and 2 shirts. Along with my doctor telling me to loose some weight. So, I stop making excuses and started doing the DAMM thing.

Christina2189

Hating how fat I am and how fat i look in photos and dreading a future vacation because it will be filled with me hating how I look in every photo. It's just sad and not a good life to live like that. I want to take a million photos of the memories and not worry about a double chin ruining it.

serendipity22

I have many sensible reasons. However, I also have a silly reason. I have always wanted to fly on a trapeze but I need stronger arms and to weigh less to do it.

jenn1190

When we got our wedding photos I realised I just look terrible in every one. I wallowed with that for a while, then decided to go for it and start losing weight. I also want to get my swim time back up. I used to be fast, and would do 100 laps every session! Now I'm back up to 40 laps and aiming for the 100.

TorStar80

For me honestly... I hate to admit, but I think it was my jealousy of my formerly fat friend who got the stomach band and is now tiny. She's got so much energy and confidence, I want to be in the club

smantha32

bump

oolou

Like many here, I've been struggling with my weight for all my adult life. I've lost weight, gained it back, lost again and regained with extra. And so it goes on.

I thought I had my aha moment when I saw photos of a holiday in Venice for my 40th b'day. At the time, walking through the crowd of tourists, I thought I looked fine. Then the pics ... and ugh. I have in the past tended to look in the mirror and see my face and neck and collar bones and cleavage and think - ooh looking good. I don't see the enormous backside and belly or thick legs and general fattiness of it all. So photos shake me up when I get to see what others see. So yes, at 40 - I thought that was my aha moment.

But it couldn't have been my aha moment because even though at the time I managed to slim down about 30 pounds, I then let those pounds return with reinforcements. And I no longer think 'looking good!' when I check the mirror.

Am I worried about my physical health? Yes. But as I'm able to get around reasonably well and do everything I need to do ... well, I know I can manage for now. Does it affect my mental health? Probably. I do get regular dips of depression, and if clothes aren't fitting and you know you have to see people while looking awful, that never helps. I was happier, mentally, when I lost those 30 pounds. I did feel like I wanted to greet the world and enjoy life. But even though I know this, that I truly know I felt better mentally back then, it hasn't been the thing that's made me go - okay now I must lose the weight and keep it off. Because if it was, then why was I snacking just a week ago, knowing I was going over my calorie goal, knowing I wasn't hungry, knowing I would regret it as soon as the last mouthful was swallowed.

I'm not sure if I'll ever have an 'aha' moment. I'm worried that I'm going to be a forever dieter, always yoyoing, always giving up after a few months of solid effort, always regaining. I've seen people say that it's not about motivation, but about wanting it enough. It may be on some level that I'm sabotaging myself, although I don't know why I would do that.

Anyway - been back for over a month now. Hoping to last longer than my usual few months of trying and then wandering away again. And doing a lot of thinking because in the end I believe for me it's going to take an intellectual argument to get me to do this properly and for life, rather than an emotional argument.

Oh, and I have really, really appreciated reading this whole thread and learning what has been the tipping point for others here at MFP - thanks to all for sharing their stories.

laurenlmt

Mine was when I realized I would avoid taking family/friend pictures. I realized how much I gained after my divorce. I feel in order to ever feel truely sexy and feel like I am ready to date again I need to feel comfortable in my own body and love myself. So here I am taking it day by day learning to love myself again and fuel my body with healthy foods. You are what you eat!

Ashley1986x

My work clothes not fitting any longer! And also seeing photos of myself I felt so disgusted

itworks_mama5

I wanted to become healthier not only for myself, but my family. I'm a stay a home wife/mom & I have 3 boys ,1 girl. They always keep me on the go and I'm not in the best of shape. I did really good after my last 2 pregnancies working out and starting losing weight and I just slowly slacked off, but I'm determined to stay with it this time!

cshankes

I decided to lose my extra weight due to having a closet full of clothes too small to wear. They have currently been put away and I have a year to lose the weight or the clothes go.

brockhampton

Honestly it's a combination of things:

1. I stopped fitting into 1/3 of my closet

2. I was soaked in sweat after walking to the market and back (30 min walk)

3. My new group of girlfriends are the super healthy type (hike every Sunday, gym/running twice a week, etc.) and even tho they're absolutely lovely and never once made a negative remark regarding my weight and level of health, I realized that I wanted to be more like them (they're all size 00s - size 2s)

4. I used to be approached by random guys incessantly when I was in middle school thru 2nd year of college, esp cos my booty (apparently a** is a bad word?!) was foiinnnneeee back then. Even tho I still get plenty nowadays, I saw my booty in the mirror one day and realized that it was no longer the good fat but just plain droopy sad fat

KrazyKrissyy

Was bullied in school for being overweight, developed reactive hypoglycemia, ex-boyfriend left me, and my mother was starting to give me a hard time about being overweight (she used to do modeling when she was around my age). Much uncalled for but I'm actually glad that they did lol. Took 3 years to lose though. A very slow weight loss. Am at maintenance now.

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gers1976

Mines is serious health issues I turned 40 last year and 2 months later had a heart attack still trying to deal with all the tablets I now have to take but they keep telling me I must lose weight to help myself so it seems to have now registered in my brain and I'm determined to lose this 70lb