why are we doing this?

icck

I've always been an avid walker and enjoyed having a certain level of fitness, even when overweight. I don't drive so would be walking miles each day and loved it... then I slipped on ice and injured my back, and found out that I was in the early stages of pregnancy to boot. Other health issues arose during pregnancy too and by the time I had my baby I needed two sticks to walk and was often housebound. I spent her first year of life mostly unable to leave our flat. Gradually thanks to physiotherapy I began to move around more, and go outside, but by then I was really unfit and got tired easily.
It wasn't until she was 3 1/2 years old that I felt that I could really start to push to get back to the level of fitness I had before, joined a gym and eventually started lifting. That was a year ago now and I haven't looked back. I feel amazing, and very rarely have any issues with my back or tendonitis now due to increased strength and flexibility. I never want to feel trapped by my own body again, and love knowing that I'm healthy and strong enough to play with my daughter. I love that she's growing up seeing me enjoying exercise and often wants to join in.

dearmrsowl

I was tired of standing in front of the mirror with tears in my eyes because I didn't like what I saw. I was (am) unhappy in general with a lot of anxiety and depression. I realized that taking care of myself helps with all of this and so even when I have days when I just can't leave the house I can at least work out at home, cook a healthy meal and feel like I accomplished something.

rebbajay

I've tried so many times before. Turning 40 this summer has been the best motivation!

2BaNewMe2

I am doing this to get healthy, have more energy (to keep up with hubby), and stop "having" to shop at specialty stores for my clothes because regular retail stores don't carry ones that will fit.

I need to lose half of me, so I know this is going to be a long journey, but I can and will do this.

girlschmoopie

I never allow myself to gain more than 10# (outside of pregnancy). I am back here because I wasn't careful about my eating when an injury sidelined my exercise and I gained 10#. It is my point of action. I don't mind a small fluctuation of weight depending on the time of year (holidays, birthdays, training for athletic events, etc.) but I feel like I can control my healthy weight better long term, if I take serious action (logging food, or getting more active if my schedule has caused me to skip working out) when I reach that 10# gain.

dinobomp

I want to be able to play with my Grandchildren, and to see them grow up. I have heart and kidney issues that need help. And like everyone else, I hate being fat. Period.

Michellelynn219

I am getting in shape mainly for health reasons. Also at age 47 with two small children I want to have energy for them and live a long & healthy life. I know that sounds cliche but I keep telling my husband that if he wants to be around to see grandchildren he better start thinking about his health too, it is a real concern to me. I want to live the best life I can.

shrinkingletters

Losing weight is sort of an accessory to my actual goal, which is to feel as close as I can to when I was at the top of my game. About six years ago I was running 40-50mpw and strength training 3-4 times per week. I'm 5'4 and was about 132lbs but 20% bf and I felt KILLER.

I lost my confidence after a few deaths in the family, a family member's drug addiction, sudden unemployment and an abusive relationship with a chef (of all things, right? a chef?).

Anyway, I've only gained about 15lbs but my fitness was totally shot and my confidence was definitely out the window, and then I found a pair of tiny running shorts I wore to my last half-marathon while doing some spring cleaning. Seeing those and knowing I couldn't get myself into those without being extremely uncomfortable was the last straw.

FWIW, I'm about a month in, and while I don't know if I've lost any considerable amount of weight (I haven't weighed myself in about three weeks), my clothes is fitting better and my energy is up.

cwolfman13

I didn't start out trying to lose weight...I started out just wanting to be healthier and using nutrition and exercise to reverse some health issues and bad blood work. Losing 40 Lbs was just an awesome bi-product of living a healthier lifestyle, but it wasn't really my overarching goal.

Knowing I'm treating my body right and doing everything I can to ensure I'm around to watch my boys become men is all the motivation I need.

ginny92802

The initial reason was that I have some medical issues not related to weight that require me to go to a doctor every 6 months and I just got tired of hearing it every time. But now I'm in it for overall health, looking and feeling better, and just the sense of accomplishment.

quintoespada

there's been a lot of reason behind my motivation to lose weight. i don't know if i could list everything - but i can tell you at my highest, i weighed 265 lbs., and i was miserable. i didn't enjoy binge eating because it made me physically sick. it started affecting my health - i developed a few mental disorders, horrible acne, pcos, had pre-diabetes (my big toes had gone numb at their tips and the rest would tingle), the pins in my back from scoliosis at the age of 18 and the nerves around them were being pinched (more than likely) and i had sciatica from it, and i had to have my gall bladder removed at the age of 18. my liver is still messed up from having been overweight so long. its lipids are abnormally high.

all that said, here are a few other reasons:

• my self-esteem had reached an all time low; i became the butt of jokes among friends and strangers
• it embarrassed people to be seen eating with me in public
• i became bitter and reclusive
• watching members from both sides of my family die from complications being overweight was depressing
• i wanted to defeat my high weight like my little sister had defeated hers
• i wanted to feel good about myself again

people like tony horton and jillian michaels and certain users over tumblr have given me enough inspiration to continue my journey despite certain odds having been set against me.

it's been seven months and i've lost 75-80 lbs.

i say approximately that because recently, i did suffer from another binge, but managed to confine it to one day and i'm now putting it behind me. i'm two days back on track from it and waiting for 5 lbs. of water weight to slowly drop off - it'll take time, but i'm by no means discouraged.

i'm currently teaching myself to love my body and to realize that you should never call a small indulgence 'cheating' and you should avoid a binge at all costs. you should enjoy things in moderation. most importantly, never give up on yourself. what's rewarding is looking into your mirror and seeing a new version of yourself you quite possibly haven't seen in many years. you'll feel better with each workout knowing you've made progress, no matter how small, and you'll reap the benefits - in appearance and health.

good luck to you.

ironhajee

Winning

ElizabethKalmbach

I have autoimmune diseases with pesky, nebulous symptoms, that the doctors LOVE to brush off with "well if you lose some weight..."

I don't want to waste 6 months on that excuse. I want attention IMMEDIATELY when I feel poorly, because half the time, I end up putting on weight BECAUSE I feel poorly. It's sad that this is what needs to be done to get immediate attention, but I've found that it helps to have shown that I am aware of my body daily. It helps to have records of my mindfulness. So here I am.