Why Did You Decide to Change?

KellyGettingHealthy

I am curious to hear from folks about what lead to their decision to change their lifestyle and get healthy? Was it an "Ah ha" moment, a last straw, or a slow build up over time? Why did you decide to change?

ElvenToad

For me it was the fact that I just couldn't take feeling so miserable in my body any longer. After 20+ years of being morbidly obese, and using food as my best friend.. I was just desperate to break the cycle and stop feeling so depressed every day. Physical pain, being uncomfortable, not being able to walk around the house for 10 minutes without feeling exhausted. I just had enough of living my life that way. I got to a point where food was no longer more important to me than the way I felt. I knew nothing about calories, or nutrition in general so I had to educate myself and take control of my health. Stopped all my excuses and feeling sorry for myself. Found mfp and lost 135lbs by calorie counting. It's amazing what you can do when you WANT something bad enough and are determined to reach your goals

louisepaul16

A few reasons....I turned 30 a few weeks ago. I gave up smoking in September, and I think it was the realisation that I'm not a teenager any more, I can't keep putting this junk into my body, and 30 is a proper age where the things I do now are going to start affecting my health long term.

I have an old ankle injury that has flared up in the last few months, i also have plantar fasciitis in both feet, my knees hurt, and I had chronic reflux from November until about 2 weeks ago. My body is telling me it's enough.

I am not necessarily aiming for skinny, I'm aiming for healthy. I love travelling, backpacking, and am tired of being THAT person who snores in a hostel, THAT person who can't do the hike because I'm too unfit, THAT person who ends up falling in the river because I'm too chunky to balance properly on a wooden plank onto the river. You don't meet soooo many overweight people travelling (all inclusive holidays yes, but not out in Thailand with a backpack, or on a boat in Botswana!) so yeah. Another reason.

JeromeBarry1

For me it was just a single doctor report. "You HDL is low". The only solution is exercise and weight loss.

Carnhot

Too many people around me not living to draw their pensions and a significant family history of a condition exacerbated by excess weight.

chickwoo69

Well I've tried this before and was very successful but last year I had to have a major surgery that put my journey on hold. Now my diabetes is out of control and the Dr is on my case; so it's time for a change. Besides I want to live a long healthy life.

ldowdesw

I've had a nagging thought in my mind for a couple of years that if I was told I needed surgery to save my life, I'd probably be told I was high risk due to my weight. I've got 2 kiddies, and without me and hubby, there really isn't anyone else who'd look out for them or that I trust enough to have my babies. I want to show them that I'm mentally strong and that I'm changing myself for all of our sakes. Xx

Zombella

I just got sick of being sick and tired and feeling crappy all of the time. That plus low self esteem for as long as I can remember. It is hard at times but never give up.

TxTiffani

I've been on the weight loss roller coaster since I was 20 (13 yrs) and I'm just so sick of losing & gaining & losing and feeling like a failure because I don't stick with it. I was on the last pair of fitting jeans because i had thrown the bigger ones away the last time I lost. Saw a picture of myself and was bigger than I thought in my head...it was a lot of things I guess:)

Lesley2603

My son announced the date of his wedding. I didn't want to look awful in the wedding photos. Something "switched" on in my brain. The wedding is 3 months away but i now have a new lifestyle and will continue for the rest of my life

rldeclercq4

10 months ahead of my 30th bday and I learned I was almost 370lbs. It was a reality slap in the face as I knew I needed to make changes. I have a lot of things I want to do in life, get married, have kids, travel the world, enjoy a long career. So here I am now in May, six months before I turn 30 and I'm down almost 80 lbs already. Looking and feeling better than I have in a really long time and can't wait to turn 30 in November and be healthy

Dana_E

I was checking out after a physical at the doctor's office. The medical assistant was rattling off my diagnoses to a receptionist for my next blood work panel. It was then I realized that I was only one diagnosis away from full-blown metabolic syndrome. I knew that nearly all these problems were related to lifestyle. As an RN, I knew where I was headed if I didn't change how I lived. I kid you not, I worked with patients who would rather die long, slow, painful, expensive deaths than drink water or eat vegetables! But sometimes you have to hit a wall to find a door, so here I am. And I have reversed everything!

Sinistrous

Fancier clothing.

asgentr

A family history of diabetes and becoming a Mom at an older age. I want to be around as long as possible for my daughter. I kept rationalizing the weight gain as pregnancy related, but then it went up more in her second year. My goal is to be back down to my pre-pregnancy weight by her third birthday and then lose another 10 or so to be safely within a healthy BMI.

agzram

I married in my late 20's and spent the entirety of my 30's struggling with infertility and secondary infertility. After our first arrived after three long years of treatments and drugs and then 2 successful rounds of IVF...my 4th daughter was a 40th birthday miracle! Those years took a major physical toll on my body so I decided to do something about it once I was done breast feeding my surprise!!

My 40's are dedicated to me! So I can show my daughters a positive example and so I can live a nice long, active life watching my beauties grow up! Plus I wanted to look as young as my hubby does he was still looking as hot as the day we got married and l was looking old and haggard!!

Diana_GettingFit

I've been a type 2 diabetic since August 2008 and was on Metformin. In December 2014 I went for a check up and my A1C was 7.2 which was still high. The doctor wanted to put me on a second medication. This one is strongly linked with causing liver problems. I decided enough was enough. I started running, joined MFP and now here I am 1 year later 35 lbs lighter and off all medication! My last A1C in October last year was 5.5.

tomw86

rldeclercq4 wrote: »

10 months ahead of my 30th bday and I learned I was almost 370lbs. It was a reality slap in the face as I knew I needed to make changes. I have a lot of things I want to do in life, get married, have kids, travel the world, enjoy a long career. So here I am now in May, six months before I turn 30 and I'm down almost 80 lbs already. Looking and feeling better than I have in a really long time and can't wait to turn 30 in November and be healthy

This ^ almost exactly this, turning 29 at 308lb and realising that the next year would pass one way or another. Now down 77lb and the lightest I've been my entire adult life, lots more to go but I can't wait to start my 30's.

markrgeary1

Had tachycardia last May, scared the crap out of me. Doc thought weight loss would be a good idea. He was right, tachycardia gone, high blood pressure too!

LoveEpifanie

Last year I had worked really hard and lost almost 40 pounds. I was really proud of myself but I had a long way to go still. Something happened and I slowly got back into my old habits. I had regained 30 pounds. When I saw 200 pounds back on the scale again I was so sad with myself. So I started it back up and I will NOT let myself do that again. I am changing so I can have the confidence to do all the things that I want.

fidangul

Wanting to start a family and then wanting to be there for my family. I didn't want to be on the side lines and most importantly (for me) I want to be good/positive visual role model for my children not a person that's only preaching at them.

CandehMandeh

I was just unhappy with myself. I had always been overweight as a kid and as a teenager and thought that it was time for a change. I think I started at the end of February in 2014 at 196 pounds and now I'm exactly at 146. Somewhere in 2015 I gained back about 20 pounds but lost it again and am doing even better now XD Though I'm still trying to lose a few more pounds!