What was the final straw for you?

MotherShabubu

What pushed you over the edge and made you start this journey?

For me, it was my university graduation. I had almost dropped out of this degree twice, but I persisted and managed to make it through to the end, so my graduation was a really big deal for me. I was really proud of myself and I enjoyed the ceremony, until I saw my photos afterwards.

I look like a beached whale in every single photo. I have a double chin in *every* photo and, even in my black graduation robes, I looked huge! I can't even bear to look at them. I'm only keeping them as "before" pictures.

I'm starting my Masters next month. It's an 18-month degree, and things will be different next time. I want to look good in my photos! I want to be able to look at them and smile. There are many reasons why I'm doing this, but that's the main reason.

What about everyone else?

YoYoMamaNoMore

For me, it was also the photos. Realizing I didn't want to be in photos for the last 5 or so years! I finally just allowed myself to be in them, but I want to be happy with the way I look again.

zoeysasha37

I really didn't have just one thing like the photos. It happened differently for me.
I remember being out places and hating the women who had nice figures. I was so jealous that I would cry thinking about it
I would get depressed about my weight and then eat more. Then get depressed because I over ate. It was a vicious cycle and I was sick of it
I tried every fad diet and gimmick possible. Finally when I learned that people didn't need to go low carb or spend tons of money on fancy gadgets and products, I realized that it just came down to calories.
All I had to do was eat less then i burned. Calories in calories out
For weight loss, you need a calorie deficit.
Once I figured that out, there was no stopping me!
Now I'm lean and tight and have maintained my loss for three years now

JeromeBarry1

A report from my Dr. about my cholesterol having turned much worse is what got my attention. A subsequent report said it was moving nicely in the right direction.

jvanessa89

After some really sad circumstances in my life I decided to change the way I had been treating myself and get healthier.

SugarySweetheart

Health ... having been diagnosed with high blood pressure *meds*, diabetes *meds*, and now high cholesterol (dr wants me on meds) I decided weight loss is more beneficial to lose these side effects of obesity and putting years back onto my lifetime.

BillMcKay1

It was a couple of things. New suits that were already the biggest i had ever bought were almost to small. Then Wanting to go zip lining and finding out I was to heavy to safely go.

sueelaineparker

Our wedding blessing to look good in my dress. Now I realise I want to look good but also feel good for years to come

NAbramovich

For me it was ending up in the ER last October with a horrible pain in my back. I thought it was appendicitis only to learn I was experiencing the pain of a kidney stone. Research revealed that being overweight can contribute to kidney stones. Never wanting to experience another again made me finally serious about weight loss.

ayrivera889

Being an overweight army veteran. After some introspection I decided I needed to stop slacking and get back in shape. I couldn't even keep up with my kids. So when I hit an all time high of 269 ( I'm 5'4"), I reached out to a trainer.

DeficitDuchess

Actually there wasn't ever a final straw, for me because I've been "dieting"; since I began gaining weight. All my previous efforts did, was prevent me from gaining without losing. Meaning that, all I've ever accomplished was losing the same pounds that I've gained; over & over again. Some'd consider that a failure but I don't because I assume that I've gained & lost possibly 100 pounds, over that course of that time & without my previous loses, I'd be 100 more pounds overweight currently & all at once. My constant "failed" diets, have ensured that I've never been more than 4 pounds into obesity (which was water weight because a week later, I lost 5 pounds; without changing my diet).

So if there was a final straw for me, I'd have to say that it was my 1st straw because especially since I've been disabled, since I began gaining weight; I knew that if I ever became obese that'd be the point of no return for me. I knew that it just be impossible for me to lose that much weight, so I had to do my best; to prevent that from happening. I didn't know anything about water weight gain, when the scale said that I was 4 pounds obese, so it was devastating/defeating. At that moment I cried & accepted that I'd just keep gaining. I also didn't care to ever use a scale again but as the week progressed, I physically began; to feel lighter. So I chose to weigh myself again & was just overweight again, so I began my "dieting" again.

Unfortunately even though I currently know what to do exactly/successfully to lose & keep off this weight. My declining health, has made it as though; I am just "dieting" again. So I'm back to gaining & losing again, as though I am just winging it; like when I was uneducated. So I fear that unless I can get rid of all of this excess weight, before I turn 40 (in approximately 4 years); that I'll be too unhealthy to try.

I know that what works best for me, is to have home cooked meals because I make them voluminous, filling & less calorie dense but shopping/cooking enough, to sustain this; is becoming increasingly impossible. So I am considering hiring someone once a month (that's all I'd be able to afford), to shop for/batch cook (not everything I buy, can be ordered online & delivered/hopefully a month's worth, of food) for/with me & help with some other tedious chores, at least until I've gotten rid of this excess weight; so that I can just focus on becoming as healthy as possible. My hope is that I gain some energy, by being healthier; to then not need help to maintain whatever I've lost.

LisaKay91

My endo offered to give me phen and diet pills for my weight. The next day, on a Saturday, I started my journey and I am not looking back. I do not believe in diet pills or weight loss surgery for myself. That is not something I would ever want to do because I know I have the strength and courage to face it by myself.

ElizabethOakes2

My doctor started talking meds for my cholesterol and high blood pressure. He actually looked at my chart and said, "Well, you haven't GAINED anymore weight since last year, so that's something." I suddenly realized that he'd given up on me turning my health around. Nobody gets to give up on me except me. Nobody!

NorthCascades

MotherShabubu wrote: »

What pushed you over the edge and made you start this journey?

We have a garden, it's southwest facing so it gets plenty of sun. We were eating a lot of convenience foods, frozen mac n cheese, stuff like that. We'd sit in the garden and eat dinner together. Last summer was very hot, there were a lot of days I just couldn't eat with the sun beating down on me. That opened up a caloric deficit, I started seeing progress, and decided to "make it a thing." I'm down about 85 lbs since last June.

robs_ready

I was 300lbs, uncomfortable, depressed. I'd never go back to that again

Jacob86r

I was 295 lbs and 300 scared me.

Idle_Moon

I got sick of myself and stopped making excuses. The only thing holding me back was myself.

amanda000002014

Not being able to fit in the jeans I bought after I gained some weight. Yeah, I am not buying any more clothes until I lose the weight, if there to tight there to tight, no excuse!!!!!

brenn24179

was not confident, feeling disrespected, I knew I needed to like myself. Lost the weight,, found another job, stood up for myself more, learned to love myself enough to take care of me

prktz

My clothes don't fit and have aches and pains in legs when I walk. Everything is an effort so now I have to change!

PBWaffleCakes

Laying in bed each night having anxiety about getting diabetes or dying of a heart attack.

momoftwins985

I got tired of feeling ugly all the time. Getting dressed to leave the house almost always ended in me sitting in a pile of clothes crying at how fat I was. I got tired of not being able to run and play with my twin toddlers. Got tired of making excuses. Got tired of seeing my future through my mothers declining health. Really just a bunch of things opened my eyes.

merissatexas

Two days or so ago I realized how close to 300 pounds I was and I don't look that close because of my height but some how over short periods of time I was putting ten or twenty more pounds on and each time I kept thinking well maybe its just a rough patch since me and my family have gone through a lot lately Ive never been "thin" but my weight has slowly just gotten worse and I don't want to be diabetic or have high blood pressure my clothes here recently got to the point I couldn't even wear them uncomfortably or at all I just decided that its time for me to do something about my health being that I'm only 18 I'm too young to feel this bad about myself so I guess you can say challenge accepted

mccokat

I was just kinda done with hating myself for how I looked. I realized I could do something about it, so I did.

rescuemom27

Being so uncomfortable that I didn't want to go out and do anything socially, pictures and forget clothes shopping!

aneladulan

I was constantly sick (flu,pneumonia,stomach ache etc) because i ate bad food and too much of it.I was never too overweight 75 kg (165 lb) at my height of 163 cm (5'3) was my highest weight,but i couldnt walk for 5 minutes without 'dying'.I'm not at my goal weight now,but I've made significant improvement on my health and fitness last year when i finally decided to change.I lost around 8 kg and 12 cm in my waist,and considering I'm still young (16 in 2 months) i hope that i can make health a habit,not a chore.

danielmoreirapt

Recently i moved away from my country, im alone and far from basically anyone i care, i started to get depressed and borderline suicidal( i was years ago) and i knew exercise and improving my body image helps so i signed up here and joined a gym

SashEdwards

Waking up and realizing none of my work pants fit me anymore...I had one pair of "fat pants" and those are the only ones that fit me. Not being able to afford buying a new wardrobe - and terrified of being overweight again, I knew I had to do something - I forced myself to squeeze into my clothes day in and day out, mostly out of principle, being stubborn and refusing to give in, but I knew the clock was ticking and was tired of being angry.

I quit smoking 4 months ago and packed on 14 pounds. I have a very small frame (5'0) so 14 pounds will make a huge difference. I was overweight my entire life until I had my child 12 years ago - for which miraculously I lost all my weight and then some. I now know, smoking was my diet - I smoked for over 20 years. Needless to say, I've been ignorant to food, calories and eating healthy. I've always relied on an unhealthy lifestyle so I had no idea what was going on. I did have periods of great health, exercise and being in decent shape, however I let that go a few years ago, and still relatively stayed the same weight. You always know you'll gain weight when you quit smoking, but this seemed a little much. I also started running 2 months ago, and eat relatively clean (or so my ignorant self thought) and was seeing no loss.
Needless to say, this myfitnesspal has been an exceptional eye opening and educational experience. I can clearly see now why I not only gained as much as I did, but also why I couldn't get it off. It's great that this is now creating a whole lot of accountability for me - and creating new habits and learning the do's and don'ts, but it is a real struggle. It's like teaching an old dog new tricks (k I'm 36, not that old, but still lol). They say ignorance is bliss - I'm proof of that.

Anyway, I guess we all have our stories, but at the end of the day, we all have the hearts in us too....sometimes the nail needs to get rusty enough and sharp enough to poke our backsides into action - and whatever that catalyst is, it's awesome to be able to come here and meet people who are on the same journey....it's exciting, motivating and inspirational. We CAN do it - no matter who says we can't, or even ourselves who may try to hold us back.
Congrats to us all

SashEdwards

P.S., feel free to add me - The more support we have, and the more we can give to others, the better off we'll be in the end

Wicked_Seraph

My boyfriend, quite sadly, pointed out a while back that we don't really have any pictures of the two of us together. There were things I used to wear - things he liked - that I no longer did... and it was humiliating to realize that it was because I'd gained so much weight. TMI but certain aspects of our relationship have suffered because of my lack of self-confidence and self-hatred.

I was 25 and plagued with self-loathing. I didn't enjoy shopping for clothes, didn't enjoy photos, and every single experience seemed to be dampened by the "but I'm fat" cloud. I realized that I'm wasting what are supposed to be the best years of my life hating myself and not fully experiencing things. I was like OKAY ENOUGH WITH THE EXCUSES and buckled down.

bekim123

A few things for me. Wearing size 40 pants and realizing I needed to move up to a 42 (I actually bought a couple pairs at my heaviest). As others have said, avoiding to be in pictures because of how I look. But the "final straw" was sitting at my doctor's office and having her bluntly say "you know, you're killing yourself". Nice news is that my size 40 pants won't stay up without a belt now, and with some time I'll soon be pulling out my size 38 pants that I have kept "just in case some day I lose some weight".