What prompted you to make a change?

gradchica27

Talking with a dr last night who is rather discouraged with patients who complain about symptoms that would be alleviated with weight loss (or who are increasing their already high risk of certain diseases bc of obesity), but who come back visit after visit with no change. He said he counsels them to get a handle on their intake by weighing and logging their food (actually tells them about mfp) and to incorporate some exercise, but no go.

Has anyone been spurred on by medical news or by their dr to lose weight? Just wondering if there was a common dx/ way the dr phrased things that helped light a fire.

xvolution

An extended stay in the hospital did it for me. It wasn't so much the "doctor talk" that prompted the change, but the painful procedures I had to go through to become stabilized. Not wanting to ever have to do procedures like that again is a very strong motivator.

stephenearllucas

My doctor wanted to put me on some medical packaged high-protein no exercise program, with coaching, etc. He also was somewhat discouraging about my ability to lose weight on my own. That kind of ticked me off, and so far this year, I've lost 50 pounds--want to lose 26 more--so that when I go back for my one-year check I can say--"Ha!"

And all I've done is (a) regular exercise (cardio, strength, stretching) and have held my calorie intake to a "sedentary" level (about 20% above BMR, which I calculate on a daily basis to correspond to weight change). I've averaged about a 800 calorie per day deficit so far.

And, of course, weighing and logging EVERYTHING before it gets it my mouth...

SuzySunshine99

Instead of telling me that I was overweight and needed to lose, my doctor asked me, "What do you think your goal weight should be?" When I gave her a reasonable figure, she asked "What do you think you should do to reach that goal?" Asking me the questions instead of her just telling me what to do made it easier to start the conversation.

Pawsforme

The only reason I gained weight is because of a doctor's incompetence. Instead of thoroughly checking my thyroid as I requested he insisted my fatigue, weight gain despite a low calorie intake and quite a few other glaring symptoms were due to (1) my age/menopause, (2) anxiety and/or (3) that I obviously didn't know enough about dieting and nutrition to have any idea what I was talking about regarding eating low calorie.

When I was finally diagnosed with and properly medicated for hypothyroidism the weight came off relatively easily--I was able to eat just as many calories and lose as I had been eating and gaining on prior to diagnosis.

Moral of that story -- It's not always the patient who is lazy, incompetent or doing less than a stellar job. Sometimes it's the doctor.

cariduttry

it was because of a doctor, but not because of my weight per se. my doctor basically told me that, because of my family history, being on cholesterol/heart meds is in my future. however, she said it's up to me to decide whether that is next year or in a couple of decades. i think that feeling like i was in the driver's seat really helped me put it into perspective and realize i had to take control of my life if i wanted a quality future.

LazSommer

Some nerd called me scrawny.

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meghanttu08

I suffered from a bad relationship and turned to food. I wanted a fresh start so I started to workout to loose weight and build my confidence in myself. Now I'm probably in the best shape I've been all my life, and I'm more happy and confident in who I am and what I can do!

Francl27

A panic attack sending me to the ER. My doctor ordering an EKG after that because I was obese and at risk for heart disease. Not being able to bend over without my fat compressing my lungs and me losing my breath. Horrible reflux. Two asthma attacks (more ER. Was hospitalized one week once). Mostly though, the scale finally moving up after maintaining 200 pounds for 8 years (in restrospect it was probably because of the steroids I took for my asthma attack!).

gradchica27

SuzySunshine99 wrote: »

Instead of telling me that I was overweight and needed to lose, my doctor asked me, "What do you think your goal weight should be?" When I gave her a reasonable figure, she asked "What do you think you should do to reach that goal?" Asking me the questions instead of her just telling me what to do made it easier to start the conversation.

Ooh, good approach! Thank you!

Gena575

Oddly, even with 2 recent visits for back issues and subsequent PT, no doctor ever said a word about my weight. At 5'5" and 250+, clearly I was obese.

My "moment" came when I got sick of coming home and taking a nap every night after work. I knew I was fat, knew that hauling around all those lbs and fueling my body with Mt Dew and McDonald's was crap. But I had to hit my own moment. And just shy of 30lbs down, that nap need is less than once a week now.

Amazon_Who

My orthopedist (and family friend) told me the best thing I could do to avoid back surgery and reduce the mind numbing pain was to lose weight.

NorthCascades

You know what's really crazy?

I was eating lots of convenience foods, like frozen crap. Made a habit out of having it in the garden, which faces west. In the heat of the summer, it got hard to eat this stuff right out of the oven, with the sun blazing down on me. So I'd eat half of dinner and be done. After a couple weeks, I saw the change in the mirror, and then later on the scale, and decided to make an effort to keep it up. It's been more than a year now and at this point I'm down about 90 lbs.

cebreisch

I went to see an allergist once who complained that I needed to have Bariatric surgery done to lose weight and that it would help my allergies for me to lose weight. I was really ticked because, while I realize he's a healthcare professional, he's an allergist....not my primary internist or family doctor, or whatever. He said that if I could have lost the weight on my own I would have already. At that time, I wasn't ready to hear all of that - so it really ticked me off.

I ended up seeing a Bariatric doctor in 2011. He said before he'd do the surgery he wanted me to lose 90 pounds. I ended up losing the 90 pounds on my own - actually up to about 140 pounds - then gained back 100.

Anyway - during the weight loss process - people would ask me how I did it. When I would tell them, their eyes would glaze over and they'd look at me like I was speaking Greek. It was because the things I was doing that were helpful to me were things they weren't willing to do or wanted to do. That really frustrated me a lot. Don't ask me what I'm doing then act like I'm an alien for doing what works for me.

I think that's a big issue - most people don't want to do what it takes to lose weight. Don't get me wrong - I know a lot of people will complain they have medical things that complicate it - and trust me...I have medical things that complicate my weight loss efforts too. But with help from a nutritionist and a therapist, I've found things that help me lose weight that work for me because I was willing to make changes in that direction.

You gotta want it bad enough to put forth the effort.

Bearbo27

My constant being in pain in my hips and knees.

My husband having a concerned conversation about my weight and how my health was being affected.

Me being disgusted about how I looked in the mirror.

My PCOS was out of control and I started missing periods for 3+ months at a time.

Me being one year away from 30 years old and scared to death of entering my 30s in the obese category.

I could go on and on, but those are some of my reasons. I know that MFP works and I've lost weight in the past here. Something about this time is different. I've been doing great and seeing the success I've had so far (down 23 lbs in a month and a half) had been super motivating.

Fursian

gradchica27 wrote: »

Talking with a dr last night who is rather discouraged with patients who complain about symptoms that would be alleviated with weight loss (or who are increasing their already high risk of certain diseases bc of obesity), but who come back visit after visit with no change. He said he counsels them to get a handle on their intake by weighing and logging their food (actually tells them about mfp) and to incorporate some exercise, but no go.

Has anyone been spurred on by medical news or by their dr to lose weight? Just wondering if there was a common dx/ way the dr phrased things that helped light a fire.

I wasn't prompted by a doctor. I lead a very hazy few years, for various reasons, and suddenly? I woke up. It sounds abrupt, but it's how I experienced this 'change'. This change also occurred after I moved away from living with parents. I feel very fortunate. Things seem to have fallen into place, stars lining up (or whatever you wish to call it), things..just clicked. There is still a fear of 'falling asleep', though..

clicketykeys

gradchica27 wrote: »

Has anyone been spurred on by medical news or by their dr to lose weight? Just wondering if there was a common dx/ way the dr phrased things that helped light a fire.

Clearly some have, but not me. Mine is entirely based on appearance - both because I want to look different myself, and because people are nicer to you if you're thin.

I've had health issues, but they've been unrelated to weight (as far as anyone can tell).

reddwarf63

having a former work colleague telling me that i looked "fat" in those clothes. Prompted me to lose 35kgs in about 9 months. Still going, hoping to lose another 25kg by christmas

wagnerpe123

gradchica27 wrote: »

Has anyone been spurred on by medical news or by their dr to lose weight? Just wondering if there was a common dx/ way the dr phrased things that helped light a fire.

Not by a doctor, no. None of my doctors every really said much to me. I was pushed when I saw my weight affect my life in a practical way. I have no co-morbidities (cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar are fine). I went on vacation for the first time in about a year and I could barely buckly the seatbelt in the plane and I was almost kicked off of an amusement park ride due to not getting the right number of clicks of the safety harness. We went on a cruise and even the dining room chairs (with arms) were tight. That couple of weeks was a real eye opener and my rock bottom so to speak.

Went on a very similar vacation a year later - theme parks followed by a cruise basically 100lbs lighter and the difference was night and day.

I think, even if I was VERY overweight, if I hadn't been physically uncomfortable on that vacation, I wouldn't have made the changes I have.

alyssa0061

I came home from being out of town for Christmas with my family and realized I had a sore in the fat roll on my thigh. I swore I would never, ever be so fat that I'd get a sore in a fold. But there I was. It broke me down. I went to the doctor in January and weighed 397 pounds. February 1st, I changed and I've lost 100 pounds. That roll on my thigh that started it all doesn't even exist anymore.

Machka9

For me, it was a cycling jacket that had become too small and the fact that we had moved to a hilly area and I couldn't cycle up hills. That made me sad.

At the same time, my Dr told me that for the first time in my life my cholesterol level was just a tiny bit high. It's always been low. I've had heart issues since I was 4 years old, so the last thing I needed was a high cholesterol level.

So I lost the weight I had gained in recent years ... and then went on to drop down to near the bottom of my normal BMI range, a weight last seen in 2004. Also my high school weight.

I can fit in the jacket. I can climb the hills. And my cholesterol level is normal again.

gradchica27

Thanks, everyone. So interesting to see what everyone 's catalyst was. I see conflicting opinions on Drs and weight loss--it's getting fashionable for people to say their dr "fat/body shamed" them if they suggest weight loss, or they complain their dr didn't say anything when she should have. My friend sincerely wants people to be healthier, but is so discouraged that few to none actually make a change.

I didn't know what to tell him, since my issues aren't impacting my health. I grew up chubby and my parents are obese, so a few months after every pregnancy I look in the mirror and go, "ugh. I will not be the fat mom!" And so far I've always lost the weight before baby's first bday. It's mostly vanity on my part, so far I have good health numbers.

callsitlikeiseeit

i was tired of being fat.

my hips were starting to bother me. my knees were starting to bother me. I didnt have any energy. I hated how EVERYTHING looked on me.

I got fed up of it all.

shinycrazy

I had to do the walk of shame off a roller coaster that my son wanted to ride. Multiple convos with the doctor and t2 diabetes dx did nothing for my mindset. It was that roller coaster. I'm 112lbs down, off my blood pressure meds, and down to 1 diabetes med.

minniestar55

Fursian wrote: »

I wasn't prompted by a doctor. I lead a very hazy few years, for various reasons, and suddenly? I woke up. It sounds abrupt, but it's how I experienced this 'change'. This change also occurred after I moved away from living with parents. I feel very fortunate. Things seem to have fallen into place, stars lining up (or whatever you wish to call it), things..just clicked. There is still a fear of 'falling asleep', though..

This is similar to what happened with me. I was always fit & good weight, but when I retired from USAF, & no longer had to meet strict weight & fitness standards, I had about 2 years of pigging out & not working out. Got married, moved to different country, ate junk...then went "Whoa!!" Took a good look in the mirror & said...I hate this. Did several things to lose weight, including a VLCD, then found WW & got in habit of tracking food. Lost the weight but got tired of paying, plus WW changes program annually. So came over to MFP; since I was already used to measuring & tracking food, found it much easier than WW; have lost an additional 20 lbs so slimmer now than I've been for many years.

I'm happy with my size, & that I am back to working out 6 days week with combo of cardio & strength; I see other women younger than me who are obese, disabled from excessive weight or general lack of fitness, I hear loads of excuses. Here (UK) there is a thing about not mentioning obesity, not offending, etc...& I think it extends to a lot of doctors. I took my husband to cardiac dept of local hospital last week for a checkup (all ok), the nurses were hugely obese! I was in shock. I have friends who are really overweight or obese, some with various medical & mobility issues, & there are always excuses, justifications, rationalising. I'm so grateful that I dug my self-discipline out of the drawer where I misplaced it.

runshellersrun123

My sister posted a picture of us. When I saw it, I completely freaked out, because I looked so big. At first I thought, why would she post such a bad picture of me? Then I realized it wasn't a bad picture of me, it was just how I look.

icemom011

I have a doctor story. I was seeing neurologist for hand numbness, and got diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. He said i needed surgery to fix it , before the nerve damage is permanent. I hated the mere idea of surgery, so i asked him what's my alternatives, what else i can try. He suggested that i can try to lose weight, since it might just create a bit of extra space for the nerve. We talked for a while, and he told me his weight loss story, which was i think with weight watchers and his biggest emphasis was on importance of buying their food. I thought that wasn't going to work for me, since we eat organic as mach as possible and i didn't think that that was an option with prepackaged food from them, or it will be outrageously priced. Bu that got me to think, and to start doing something different. He talked about how one can restart metabolism by eating small portions every three hours. I tried that to start my weight loss, and oh miracle, it freed me from my life long sigar addiction. And weight started coming off. I found mfp, and it help me to learn what the portion size really is. Sadly, it all did nothing for my carpal tunnel. I went to see a hand surgeon, he said that that didn't have a chance to work. So i still need a surgery, wich is coming up. Just couple of days after i take my youngest to college and come back home, I'm scheduled to have it done. Scared, but don't want to end up with permanent loss of feeling in my hand.

lthames0810

At my annual physical, my labs showed that I was headed for some problems and I also had high blood pressure. Dr gave me bp med and mentioned very politely that I could use to lose some weight. Then she set up an appointment to recheck me in 6 months. I'm determined to show her real progress by my next visit.

But the big thing was pain in my feet. Walking while on a short vacation caused some real discomfort and stiffness in my feet. I'm determined to get some of this freight unloaded just for relief of pain. The sad thing is though, my feet hurt worse than ever because of the walking I do now. I'm just tolerating it, but it renews my desire to lose weight every day.

YvetteK2015

I've wanted to lose weight for a while now. The last time I saw my headache specialist (I see him every 3 months) he told me that he was going to take me off of one of my migraine preventative medications because my weight has been increasing every since he put me on it. The medicine really, really helps me, and I just can't afford to be off of it, so I just need to do whatever I have to do to drop the weight.
And, I'll be 40 in March. I'd LOVE to be close to the size I used to be the majority of my adult life. I'm so tired of starring back at a fat reflection in the mirror.

ashcky

For the last year I had been having a lot of trouble with my digestive system. Back in the spring it got worse and every time I ate a meal I would get sick to my stomach and sometimes I would even lay in a ball in bed because I was in pain. My doctor advised that I try going gluten free and I haven't looked back. I've learned that I have a sensitivity to dairy as well which is sometimes hard to not eat but I feel so much better. With such a drastic change to my diet I lost weight so then I decided to keep going. I've always been overweight and I don't want to be anymore.