What was your "Ah-ha" moment?

seabrzjo

Loved the title of this thread so came for motivation, then realized that I had to come to terms with my OWN ah-ha moment. OMG, that was so painful and I ended up in tears today, but here goes my confession. Hopefully, it inspires someone else.

As I've posted elsewhere on the board, for all my life I was a yo-yo gainer/loser -- 10/15 lbs up and down -- but over the past two to three years I gained 60 pounds and it seemed like overnight. I was buying bigger clothes once a month, but still in denial. I saw photos of myself, but promptly deleted them. In Oct 2014, I had to fly to a client site and had to extend the seat belt completely to the end. I am sure that I would have to ask for the dreaded extender belt if I flew now. However, the BIGGEST turning point for me was people not recognizing me. Since June, three different longtime friends, that I had not seen in over a year, did not recognize me until I spoke to them. They could not contain their shock and I was horribly embarrassed. I had two choices -- face this and do something about it, or just eat myself to death as a recluse. Luckily, I've have chosen Option #1.

Steve__McD

My "ah ha" was learning that I have ADHD (a month or so ago). My sugar addiction was driven by my brain's hunger for dopamine. Once I understood that (and treated the ADHD) my interest in sugar vanished. Haven't had a bite of it in 34 or 35 days. No sweets, and almost nothing with added sugar. 20 pounds vanished in a month. Now, to get fit and strong with the advantage I have. I already gained the clarity of mind and focus I'd been lacking.

MacHaloC

I had a lot of moments that should have been ah-ha moments. I lost my dad very unexpectedly at 57. I was turned away 2x from donating blood because my heart rate was too high. I had shooting pains in my feet when I rolled out of bed in the morning. I found myself sweaty and out of breath walking from my car to my office. But it clicked for me one day at the hair salon. My stylist turned me to the mirror after a cut and I thought, great hair, but who is that? Then I realized I was seeing not myself, but my dad. Not the vibrant and healthy dad I choose to remember, but the bloated one who was sick and unhappy. I bought a scale on the way home and was shocked when I weighed in at 247 lbs. I thought that's it, I'm done! If I don't start fighting for my life, I will go down the same path he did. I bought a cardio machine and a Fitbit, started logging here as well. That was almost a year ago. 70 lbs later, I'm not done and I'm not looking back.

PoundChaser2

My ah-ha moment was receiving a wedding photo of me sitting at a table I realized I needed to change that was 7yrs ago and 120 pounds later. What still gets me Is the fact that I have seen thousands of pictures of me but, this wedding photo is the one that threw me on the road to health.

Tubbs216

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pootle1972

My passport photo

WindyCityGal160

My aha moment came when one of my teenage daughters made a passing comment- the backstory is that I was an avid athlete all of childhood. I played multiple sports in high school, was a collegiate athlete and loved to go to daily aerobics on campus. After college, I stopped training hard, continued playing sports casually and ate a horrible diet. I stopped playing sports and working out altogether when pregnant with my first child. Four more kids and fifteen years and I had packed on a lot of extra weight- think 80lbs.. In my mind, I still identified as that athlete that I once was but obviously that is not what people who met me as an adult were seeing (including my children). One day, in the car I made a comment about how I remembered going to "two a day practices" preseason. My daughter, said casually- "Yeah, it is so hard to picture you doing that." She didn't mean anything bad but I think it struck me because of the contrast of how I still perceived myself as this athlete but in truth had completely let my fitness go. I have only been back at this a few months but am really trying to reconcile my old self with my current life by getting back in shape and eating healthier.

hiccuping

For me, it was a lifestyle change: Going to college. I live on a walking campus in a state where I (at least at first) knew NO one. This meant no rides..anywhere. This made me walk a LOT more, and having to buy my own meals over eating whatever was around my mom's house helped me make healthier choices. I suppose I'm blessed with never liking soda or fries that much, so cutting out the super bad food wasn't that hard. I have lost almost 60 pounds so far.

workin_onit

Love this thread!

I had a few a-ha moments: First, I made the mistake of watching the fat shaming video (by a nameless Canadian comedienne). I realized that instead of being offended for obese people, I was offended for myself.

The next a-ha moment was finally stepping on the scale after a year. I was expecting 230, but what I got was 248.5. That was 2 months ago. I've lost 21 pounds and really feel a difference!

The really good a-ha moment was when I realized that what I tell myself really, really matters. If I tell myself I'm a piece of $*** that Will. Not. Help.

Instead, as corny as it sounds, I tell myself out loud: "You can do this. Do not give up."

I'm beginning to actually look in mirrors again and am not so shy about walking around in our bedroom in underwear.

I have a long way to go but I'm on the way!!!!!

riffraff2112

When I jumped on the Wii-Fit a few years back and it said "one at a time please".

arditarose

I've always been pear shaped and even at high weights, didn't have much of a belly. One day in the shower I noticed it REALLY sticking out like never before, and it wasn't soft anymore...it was just big, and hard. That, and my butt and back of thigh cellulite starting creeping to the front/knees. Nope.

opalsqueak007

My "aha" moment was in Autumn last year.

I had very bad back pain and my doctor told me there was nothing he could do. My feet hurt all the time. I am over 50. Every day felt like terrible hard work. I couldn't get up the stairs some days. When telling my father this, he said, "You know, you might feel a little better if you lost a bit of weight". I was so taken aback because my Dad was the most kind and positive person, so I knew for him to say that, it must be true. I weighed myself for the first time in years, and found out I was 194lb and clinically obese.

I have lost over 54lb and got fit and lift weights. I was a UK size 22 and now a UK size 8. My father was my inspiration in every way, and towards the end of his life, I became strong enough to lift him whereas before, I could not do it without my husband's help. My Dad died 3 weeks ago, and I am so grateful that he inspired me to change. I was also a drinker and a smoker too, and I stopped both last year.

Good luck to everyone. My advice is, never, ever give up.

Forty6and2

I went to a wedding with my boyfriend and afterwards, I was tagged in this picture. I was at my highest weight of 220lbs on a 5'1 frame.



This is me at 165, although I'm currently around 159.

Heather_Nichole15

I'm still waiting for mine....

Iwilldothis4myself

A picture of me on Facebook... it was my mother-in-laws birthday. Everyone looked so nice and happy and I looked sad. I dressed sad. There are lots of pic of me where I am overweight but in this pic... the heaviest I have ever been. I don't recognize myself. I had my aha moment and even though it was just a week ago and I lost 2 lbs I have never been more motivated in my life. Here is to week two and a new me.

Iwilldothis4myself

riffraff2112 wrote: »

When I jumped on the Wii-Fit a few years back and it said "one at a time please".

Awww that must have felt awful. But whatever it takes to get us going! Congrats on taking the step instead of feeling sorry for yourself. Good job!