What was your turning point?

tsw413

Did you have a moment when something inside you just clicked? Like...TODAY is the day I'm turning it around. Just looking for some motivating stories.

fiddletime

Two years ago we had a house fire and had to go to a hotel for two months. That meant lots of eating out, on the insurance company, and that was lots of fun. I usually kept my weight around 125 and am 5'2". I joined a gym and kept jogging daily, and ate, and ate, and ate. One night I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn't believe it. My rolls of fat went side to side, not up and down. I suspect I was close to 150, and gained about 25 pounds in less than 2 months. It was very easy to do. My joints were killing me. My ankles hurt and my throbbing knee kept me up at night.

That was my turning point that night, as I knew there was no end in sight and I could eat my way to 250 in a very short time. At 58 I really didn't want to be obese. I joined MFP and have gone up and down since then but never as high as I was. It's a lifestyle change that is hard, but there's no point in putting it off and having to deal with painful joints, diabetes, high blood pressure, or many other side effects to being over weight. I'm 132 now, aiming for 120, and realizing that this is s lifelong process. I got to 120 last year but gained most of it back. I went too fast and had no idea how to maintain. So, the time is now for you to start your journey.

cwolfman13

my doctor pretty much telling me that if i didn't get it together i'd likely be very sick, if not dead by my early 60s.

Unknown

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lauraleefaith

I was backed into a corner and forced to really examine my values and who I wanted to be as a person. Things got real, real quick.

boricua3177

My turning point happened when it hit me how incredibly depressed I was. I was drinking at night a lot in an attempt to numb myself down. With that drinking came the empty calories & within a couple of years, I had gained 80lbs!! When I accepted that I was depressed and had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, that's when it clicked in my head that I need to act NOW.

I still have some weight to lose, I'm about half way towards my goal now. I have accepted that this is a lifestyle & not some kind of diet. Now, I am in a much better place emotionally & I also give exercise credit for helping me kick depression's *kitten*. ;-)

for_ever_young66

I was just getting over a divorce about 10 years ago and my blood pressure was through the roof. Ate fast food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and was in poor shape. Doctor told me that I needed to make some lifestyle changes or I wasn't going to live to see 50. I'm in the best shape of my life now. I'll turn 50 years old in approximately 14 months and never felt better. I'm stronger, leaner and full of lots of energy.

goldthistime

Let me tell you instead about my non-turning point return to MFP. I had regained my weight, I was tired and lacking motivation. I had no time and no energy to do the "Yay, let's DO this!" stuff again. I closed my diary and turned off all my notifications. I set my calorie levels sky high, ate whatever I wanted, and just logged. Somehow, just the act of logging helped me make better food choices and after a while I started feeling better. After about two weeks I set my calorie level for .5 lb/week. I added exercise not long after because I found myself ready for it. You don't always need a turning point.

for_ever_young66

goldthistime wrote: »

Let me tell you instead about my non-turning point return to MFP. I had regained my weight, I was tired and lacking motivation. I had no time and no energy to do the "Yay, let's DO this!" stuff again. I closed my diary and turned off all my notifications. I set my calorie levels sky high, ate whatever I wanted, and just logged. Somehow, just the act of logging helped me make better food choices and after a while I started feeling better. After about two weeks I set my calorie level for .5 lb/week. I added exercise not long after because I found myself ready for it. You don't always need a turning point.

I say, whatever it takes. Sometimes doing it "by the book" doesn't work for everyone but as long as you took corrective measures. Congrats.

BethAnnieT

Yes! It was maybe 8 years ago. My daughter was about 10 months old, so the "baby weight" had come off and left 40 extra pounds behind that wouldn't just fall off. I went out for lunch with some ladies from work, and they were all big ladies. We went to a Chinese buffet, maybe 6 of us, and I felt us get some stares from other people there. And I realized, "I am one of the fat ladies." and it made me feel so bad. I was full of shame and horror that I had become so unhealthy. That night I researched some things online... WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig, Atkins, etc. I picked WeightWatchers and started the next day. I lost 38 pounds in the next 8 months, and loved every second of it. I have kept all that weight off (aside from maybe 5 pounds) for the past 7 years, just knowing I do NOT want to go back to that sad fat lady at the Chinese restaurant. Today I am on MFP to get rid of the last 10-15 pounds.

JessicaJFries

These were all great! Please feel free to add me too! Im looking for support also

ald783

goldthistime wrote: »

Let me tell you instead about my non-turning point return to MFP. I had regained my weight, I was tired and lacking motivation. I had no time and no energy to do the "Yay, let's DO this!" stuff again. I closed my diary and turned off all my notifications. I set my calorie levels sky high, ate whatever I wanted, and just logged. Somehow, just the act of logging helped me make better food choices and after a while I started feeling better. After about two weeks I set my calorie level for .5 lb/week. I added exercise not long after because I found myself ready for it. You don't always need a turning point.

I totally agree with this. I think I spent a lot of time waiting for something to just click, or to have some epiphany, or waiting to be ultra-motivated, and that stuff just isn't real or long-lasting. Sure, I've had those moments and turning points and rock bottoms etc. in the past but I found I ended up trying to coast on the initial high and then fading out. Sometimes you need to just start doing it now rather than waiting for something worse to happen or hoping for some burst of motivation because most days, you won't be that motivated but you do it anyway. I don't mean that to sound depressing, but I think turning points make for better stories than actualities.

mrsaldrich13

My father in law was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and quit smoking after a 50 year habit! My husband and I both agree if he can do THAT we can take care of ourselves better too. And in almost 40 and heart disease is pretty prevalent in my family! Time to grow up I guess!

Azuriaz

goldthistime wrote: »

Let me tell you instead about my non-turning point return to MFP. I had regained my weight, I was tired and lacking motivation. I had no time and no energy to do the "Yay, let's DO this!" stuff again. I closed my diary and turned off all my notifications. I set my calorie levels sky high, ate whatever I wanted, and just logged. Somehow, just the act of logging helped me make better food choices and after a while I started feeling better. After about two weeks I set my calorie level for .5 lb/week. I added exercise not long after because I found myself ready for it. You don't always need a turning point.

I'm going to do this if I go off that proverbial wagon. Might bring me round faster to keep logging it!

As for a 'turning point', not sure there was one, I just got tired of being hopelessly unhappy. My weight was the one thing I could do something about. I was still mostly unhappy, but I had a little hope. And now I'm much happier than I was.

TakingBackForever

I don't know what happened. But on May 22nd...I just decided it was time to start logging. And I just haven't stopped. Now I'm 35 pounds down and halfway to my goal weight...just keep going.

SamanthaPeake

Realising I didn't have to be fat. It was absolutely my choice! Oh and suddenly realising my Guinea pigs were eating a more nutritious diet than me!!

libby328

When I realized that I genuinely did not like myself. I was covering up on hot days and always bought only baggy clothing. I didn't feel good because I wasn't happy with myself. I just woke up one day and said "screw this". I wanted to love who I was. And I wanted to appreciate my body. I wanted a healthy relationship with myself and I knew the only way to get that was to work. So I changed.

pfgaytriot

I was happy, in love and had recently quit smoking. My wife (then girlfriend) cooked amazingly delicious, yet incredibly unhealthy food. While neither of us were small when we started dating, we both gained a significant amount of weight. We had tried a few feeble attempts at losing weight, but when I started to get stretch marks on either side of my belly-button, I knew something had to give. This was back when the Xbox Kinect was new and we started doing a bit of research. We heard about EA Sports Active II and, since we couldn't afford a long-term gym membership at the time, we decided to make the purchase. We lost a total of 25+ lbs each using the game and would later move on to Zumba, weight lifting, and finally CrossFit.

trophywife24

I went from a job where I wore scrubs every day to a job that I had to wear nicer office clothes. Oh my, what scrubs can hide. That was my total snapping point.

tallmamaoftwo

I had gone up and down in the scales over the last 10 years and 2 babies. My final 'it' was unfortunately health issues - a herniated disc in my neck and 2 months later a herniated disc in my lower back. I have to have the surgery in my neck, but if I strengthen my core and lose weight I am hoping to avoid the lower back surgery and reduce the sciatic pain down my leg. I have lost 15 pounds so far, dr's say with my MRI's I should barely be able to move ... Yet I do, between 10,000 and 20,000 steps a day. Not able to run or lift over 5 pounds, but I have become committed to getting back my health so I can live many more years (39 right now). My weight loss journey in the past focused on just looking better, I have learned that it is much more than that.

shaunroberts

Hi,
Never realised I was getting fat until a friend of my sisters pointed out 'your brothers put loads of weight on'. Up until that point I just thought I was well built lol

Started excercising on and off in September 2014 but didn't change my eating habits so actually put more weight on! Come January and after a talk with my friend (ex royal marine) I decided enough was enough. I changed my diet and started on Insanity. 3 months later I was 24lbs down.

Just recently i've had my security pass renewed which is required every 2 years with a new photo. Its amazing how much weight I've lost off my face lol

Shaun.

Amanda1217Taylor

My turning point was feeling the same physically as someone twice my age, and not being able to keep up with my friends.

angelexperiment

My original goal was to know skinny before 30. Well that didn't happen! Every year it would be my goal. Well last year I made a goal to walk every day from my bday to myn ext bday. And to lose something! Well goal 1 was not very realistic but I walk as often as possible still. I hace lost 30 lbs. I could barely walk a half mile. I can walk up to 13 miles at one time. My turning point? That I was not going to give up this time when it got hard, I was not going to let my husband be my excuse to quit (bc he is negative and does not like my foods or exercise and its a fight every time) I was doing it for me! And I have! I have completed slim in 6. I have completed a 5k race. I have attempted to complete p90x 2 x both at 6 weeks mark. I have done c25k. I have done chris powels the workout. I have run up hill (the hill from hell) without stopping. I have cried during walks and runs and working out bc I feel pride! I feel wow look what I can do! I am no longer the fattest mom at the bus stop huffing and puffing to get there! I can do run club with my daughter and walk her to school. I can outrun my eldest in a footrace. I can crawl on the floor to play and chase my 18 mo old. I am now very active with my kids and I have more energy and get up n gothan my whole family! Saturday the 3rd marks my 1 year fitversary of a goal I set out to achieve. I have lost a total of 50 lbs post baby 18 months in the making!

trbrmc

I've been fat since jr high school, but hitting over 400lbs was mine I guess. Just tired of being sick of looking at myself, it was getting hard to even tie my shoes. Plus, I smoked; which made things worse. I tried a bunch of things before really settling on a low carb diet a little over year ago (plus quit smoking may 2014). I've lost over 100lbs so far and have been stuck for months at 303 lbs, so I figured I'd try this mfp. So far, so good and I'm not stopping. I want to weigh 200 lbs, so I've got a little farther to travel!

Whitezombiegirl

I knew I'd gained a few pounds, but I didn't weigh myself so I wasn't sure how much. I was wearing lots of floaty skirts so I didn't really feel it in my clothes. One day I wore my skinny black jeans and they were so tight I had to rush out and buy a skirt and tights to change into. I realised that my usual size was now too small and I didn't want to buy the next size up. I got on the scales and I was now 126lbs! I had to do something about it then!

ciaraharris1521

I'm not sure if I had a turning point necessarily, but I was tired of not doing what I said I was gonna do. I've been heavy for most of my childhood and high school years, that being said I'm only 19 and I knew I had to change something. I had to first address internal problems as to why I was eating the way I was and for what. I had to finally deal with my emotions that I had bottled up or I repressed. Mind you they weren't too bad but having three brothers and a father, I kind of acted like them when it came to stuff like that. Anyway after I took a couple months to deal with that, I started to think about everything I wanted to do and why I hadn't done them. I started to get a little upset because I thought about all the stuff I let my weight stop me from doing whether it was joining drum core or basketball, I was embarrassed, a quitter and out of shape. I've always been active but heavy set. I had a couple turning points but one of them was when I went to the movies and walked up like 3 flights of stairs and started sweating in front of my friends. Also I made a goody video with my sister and it was in slow motion lol so you could imagine. Something else which was a turning point for me was when I was having a conversation with my friend who hates her body but just eats junk food all time, I realized that I acted just like this. I blamed other people for my eating chooses, to an extent I was right because my family had bad eating habits but they didn't force me to eat badly. I had be praying for and pushing myself to be more ambitious and motivated. One day I was on my coach(go figure lol) and then boom it hit me, I said today is the day I'm gonna start this journey the right way and for the right reasons. Every since then, I've been eating much healthier and I actually enjoy it! In the past I used to go cold turkey and cut out everything. I mean that works for some things but not for me. I found substitutes to all the stuff I was eating especially juice, I love juice and candy lol I am 19 for goodness sake. I've tried the chicken breast diet, nutrisystem, all of them but they weren't working because I was just trying to quickly lose weight to look good "more attractive", yes that was stupid thinking. I'm more motivated to do the things I said I would and I am slowly but surely. Without sounding cliché or anything, you can do it! I still struggle sometimes because I have to keep engraving in my mind that your not just changing your body but your lifestyle and mentality. I also notice I have way more energy. I'm new to this whole app haha but I love it, feel free to add me. Also very important side note for me, everyone is different but what I also do is give myself a cheat day usually a Saturday or Sunday so I can kind of eat what I want but still not as much as I used to. I know I just wrote a whole book, but I love all the good vibes and motivation here. & remeber don't force yourself to do anything, when your ready and on your own pace you will succeed in your goals.

mwyvr

tsw413 wrote: »

Did you have a moment when something inside you just clicked?

Yes, my birthday one year ago. Coincidentally I'd had a physical a 10 days earlier and got the blood work and other results and everything showed a U turn in my health that I could not deny any longer.

I was not unhealthy or overweight for most of my life and in fact was a lean distance runner and mountaineer right up to my 30's. I put on a few pounds, nothing serious, due to tons of business travel but the gain really started about 13 years prior when a sports injury sidelined me for some time. Quickly I put on 20 pounds before I figured out that I couldn't eat like an athlete any more, but I didn't take the next logical step to lose that weight. Other factors and my own blindness eventually saw me gain another 85 pounds over the subsequent years - slowly creeping up - maxing out at 255lbs at my heaviest last year.

I was still somewhat active through most of that weight gain period; walked a lot, still rode my bike; almost broke the weight gain cycle in 2013 but since I didn't perceive I had a real problem then, didn't give the issue the focus it deserved. Slow, long, weight gain is... insidious! I was lulled into complacency since my BP remained low for all those years, blood work showed nothing unusual, and I was still able to do *most*, but not all, things I enjoy doing.

The Turning Point

Until 2014. Very quickly I started feeling more poorly in the summer of 2014 and my health report showed me I could no longer coast. I also found myself making more and more excuses not to do things I love to do, like take that extra long walk or hike, ride up in the hills, taking the dog out for a better walk - you name it. My health was impacting my family's fun, not just mine.

Ultimately it was seeing a big and negative change in my health markers (aside from the obvious weight!) that drove me to declare enough is enough. That day was my birthday last year.

I've gone from being 105 pounds overweight (based on "ideal" weight estimates) and unfit to 80 pounds lighter and extremely fit and I know I'll get to my goal, no question. Quite honestly... it was EASY to drop the weight, all I had to do is decide to start and commit to it. I can't remember more than a few days of issues around calorie restriction when adapting to my vastly more active life.

Given how easy it was, you can imagine how stupid I feel for not starting years ago, or for letting my weight get out of control for as long as I did.

Motivation is fleeting; make a commitment. My commitment was to be healthy again, like I had been for most of my life, for myself and my family.

There's no chance I'll go back to the way I was, overweight and unfit and afraid, yes, afraid, to make the changes needed. What stopped me were BS excuses I told myself -- namely the fear that the work to lose would be too hard (it wasn't) and the the fear I'd fail (I hate failure even though I was living it).

I stopped buying my own BS last September and just got going. By the end of December I'd lost 30 pounds and most of my health markers had improved markedly. My very recent annual physical was a complete 180 of last years.

I'm thankful for the minor health scare in that it caused me to look seriously at myself, but I should have done that a long time ago.

Moral: Don't wait for life to deal you a reason to take your health and fitness seriously. Life is short. Don't waste it.

must_deflate

I've never been clinically overweight but I gain weight easily if I don't pay attention to it. (This can happen during holidays and times of stress and/or crazy work overload.)

My "stop" point is when all my pants are tight to the point I have nothing comfortable to wear. I won't allow myself to buy new ones so I have to lose weight.

holly_roman

My turning point was when I went to buy a pair of jeans and some work pants because my old ones were grungy(the old ones were all ties so i had room to tie it as loose or tight as i wanted). I tried on size 16, because lets face it I knew I gained some wieght (used to be a size 10-12), I couldn't even get them past my bottom thighs. So I tried 18...I couldn't button them. Even though I felt so horrible and embarrassed I tried on (and had to buy so i would have work pants) size 20 pants. SIZE 20!!!!!! I felt so miserable for the next couple days. I swore I would never reach that size. I have been on about 20 diets in my life and none of them lasted very long. Last week I decided I needed to change, I wanted to be able to paint my toenails again, go on a swing with my kid, eat in front of people and not feel like I was being judged. I had to look in the mirror and realize I was obese, no one and nothing could change that but me. As a result I am on week 2, dealing with a little bit of hunger pains but I WANT to do this! I NEED to do this! I CAN do this!

Lefty1290

I had to write a paper for a health class about how we see ourselves according to the six dimensions of wellness (emotional, occupational, spiritual, physical, social, and intellectual). I saw how unhealthy I was in so many areas of my life and decided to make the changes. Weight-wise, I'm still not where I want to be, but the habits and routines of being a more mindful eater and exercising are pretty firmly in place. I'm in a much better place than I was almost 13 months ago.

EmmalB2015

I simply didn't want to keep going up dress sizes. I lost weight prior to my wedding, all of which has now returned within 3 years. This is the most commited I have felt to improving 'me'. It has taken me some time to properly understand lifestyle changes and not just the quick fixes!