Starting at morbidly obese--what made you finally stick with it?

Sweet_Misery_

I have been heavy my whole life but lately worse than ever and gaining 30-40 pounds a year. I will try to start on a plan to get healthy just to give up. If I try baby steps so I don't get discouraged, then after I don't see results I give up. If I try something drastic, I get too deprived and give it up completely. I have awful eating habits and feel I am on my way to a young death and killing myself by choosing eating over a future with my kids. But yet I just never ever stick with a routine for healthier habits for diet and exercise. I need to kick myself into gear. I have actually logged into this app and logged my food daily just to GAIN weight in the past 2 months. Im so frustrated and upset with myself.

For those who started out very overweight, what was your catalyst to finally start living better?

RaeBeeBaby

I had a very serious health scare and diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. When you start thinking that you may die and you won't see your grandchildren grow up it totally changes your perspective.

Living to spend time with my family is more important than a stupid cookie or a bag of chips. That's my "why".

If you are truly serious about making a change, then fully embrace this site. Read all you can about nutrition and start making it a challenge to yourself to see how well you can do (meal planning, healthy cooking, exercise). I joined a bunch of exercise challenges here and they totally keep me accountable, plus they are super fun!

Imagine yourself as you wish to be. You have the power to make it reality.

PaulaWallaDingDong

Realizing the simplicity of it all. Calories. Not carbs, not processed food, not a diet lacking in pistachios or blueberries or kale, but simply calories. Started tracking them and the weight started coming off. I knew the secret and I had no more excuses.

lemonychild

It's soooo simple. It's all calories in and calories out. Start slow. Start with 1 lbs weight loss a week. That is a 500 calories deficit daily from your current maintenance calories. It's very doable and NOT aggressive and depriving. Also, I have to bring this up; the ONLY reason you should give up is if you're happy being the weight you are. basically, You're happy with being obese- If you're not happy, you then should do something about it and continue eating in deficit (and excerise if u want) UNTIL you reach your goal.

Gallowmere1984

Reading this (http://chaosandpain.blogspot.com/2012/06/your-fat-is-unequivocally-your-fault.html) realizing he was right, and that I had been two things my whole life:

1) a disgusting excuse for a person
2) lied to about genetics, hormones, nutrition, etc.

evangelistjcmayo

I am currently working at my ripe age to be consistent with loving me. I think that is key to success. All my life my weight lost goals have not been about me. Hopefully this time I can manage to stay focused on me. I hope to learn from this board how others have accomplished it.

MontyMuttland

In January 2016 (just last year) my BMI was over 40. I'd been overweight for a good 20+ years and for at least 15 of those I was obese. Tried and failed dieting in various forms over the years.
The one thing that turned things around was the decision my wife and I made the third week in January 2016 which was to lay off the booze.
At the time we didn't specifically plan on stopping drinking forever, but it's turned out to be the best decision we ever made.
I noticed within a few days of not drinking that I wasn't snacking anymore. The evenings of sipping wine and feeding myself with all kinds of junk food were over.
Started to notice weight was coming off all by itself, that huge amount of excess calories from the wine and snacking no longer making me get fatter.
It was May before we finally bought a scales to start measuring the weight-loss and another couple of months before discovering MFP and getting a food scales as well, but even in that time I had dropped several trouser sizes.
Now I do everything: Prepare food from basic ingredients to ensure good nutritional value, accurately weigh and record everything I eat, ensure my food is balanced for all nutrition groups (though always protein-heavy to maintain my lean muscle and keep hunger at bay), stick to daily calorie goals, drink plenty of water and take regular exercise (walking, walking and more walking with a bit of walking on the side!).
During 2016 I dropped nearly half my body weight. My BMI is now around 21 and I've maintained a normal weight for over a month (I haven't stopped doing all of the above, just increased my daily calories to maintain).
I've gone from having to buy clothes in "fat people's" shops to having to buy clothes in "skinny people's shops", my trouser size is typically one size lower than the smallest size on the racks in Asda and places like that!
I'm teetotal now, never want to drink alcohol again, don't miss it, don't miss the lack of control it gives you.
I know plenty of people who don't think they drink enough for it to make any difference to successfully losing weight, but I also know a lot of people aren't entirely honest about the amount they actually drink, probably not even to themselves.
So my one thing to pass on to anyone struggling with weight-loss is to quit drinking. Everything else has a far better chance of working out if you do that.
Good luck.

kommodevaran

You have to decide that you're not going to be obese anymore, and willing to do the things you have to do to not be obese.

• Then you have to understand that if you are morbidly obese, you will be obese for a long while even after you have changed your habits from obese habits to non-obese habits.
• Then you have to create a plan that you are able and willing to stick to through all that time and beyond.
• It's easier when you understand that weight management is all about calories in vs calories out. To lose weight, you need a consistent calorie deficit. If you have a consistent calorie deficit, you lose weight. Everything else is fluff.
• But it's also necessary to understand that what you eat and how you move will impact how easy it is to stick to a consistent calorie deficit.
• It can help a lot to make losing weight as easy as possible, and not as hard as possible.
• Work on your mindset (think like a normal weight person) and your environment (only foods that are on your meal plan in your cabinets).
• Get in good habits - sit down to eat regular meals at regular intervals.
• Don't deprive yourself. Choose foods you want to eat.
• Don't choose foods you can't eat in moderate amounts. But don't demonize foods. These foods aren't evil, and you aren't bad, they are just "too tasty", made like that to make you eat more.
• It's important to know that even if you make it as easy as possible, it's still going to be hard from time to time.
• You want to focus your effort on the big things that bring the results, and at the same time avoid the small things that make you stumble. Learning what is what, is important.
• It's important to know what you are doing. Set an appropriate calorie goal, log food intake correctly and measure your weight correctly.
• Then do the other important stuff - get enough sleep and rest, some moderate exercise, balance fun and work, manage emotions and relationships, get professional help if necessary.

mangrothian

I chose losing weight over a life of chronic pain and slowly losing my ability to walk. I, at 160kg / 350lbs, decided to specifically put my body first instead of everything else around me for once.

I knew how it all worked, yet had chosen to do nothing for so long because it was hard. I enjoyed food, and didn't want to give up on that. Once I realised how simple it actually was to do, I hit the ground running.

missh1967

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amusedmonkey

My priorities changed. The inconveniences brought on by being obese were not annoying enough to justify a change. I was fully aware I was obese and why I was obese, I just didn't have that push. Then I got diagnosed with prediabetes, on the very top of the prediabetic range, almost diabetic. The fear of having to drastically change my diet lead me want to un-drastically change my diet and see if it helped. It did. I stuck with it so far because I don't want to reach a point where I will have to drastically change my diet, or at least to delay that point as much as possible. I know if I let go and gain weight I will become diabetic again, so that's not an option.

Anna_137

I been on lots of diets. Really restrictive diets such as Atkins / Juice diet, didn't work for me as they were too restrictive to maintain and the weight came back when I stopped. Trying to eat 'clean' had no impact because I was still over eating. Tried the 5:2 diet but again didn't track calories on my 'normal' days so was still over eating and didn't lose any weight.

I think the biggest catalyst for me was that I started having to travel a lot around Europe for work. Every trip was full of anxiety about fitting into the seat and doing the seat belt up. I started dieting about 6 weeks before a trip which obviously wasn't enough time to have a real impact, but it introduced me to MFP and calorie counting. I fell off the wagon after the trip due to life getting stressful. But I didn't put back on the initial 10lbs that I'd lost. I came back in January to start again in 2017 and this time I know I can stick to it.

The biggest difference for me is that I'm eating all the same food I did before, just in lower quantities. If want to have lasagne, or fries, or bread then I'll have it - just not all together in the same meal anymore! I measure out sensible portions of pasta instead of just throwing handfuls into the pan. I have desert every day. Eat fast food now and then... I don't feel like I'm suffering to lose weight. I feel like I'm learning how to eat properly, finally.

-18lbs down since Jan 1st

KDar1988

My blood pressure was beginning to rise. My mom was going through health issues of her own and I decided I didn't want to end up with the issues she was having. I started by going to the gym every other day. Now, almost 3 years later I've lost 113lbs, go to the gym minimum 5 days a week and I absolutely love lifting weights. I can't get enough Good luck! You can do it!

SarahMacphail1

Being diagnosed with diabetes gave me the kick up the backside I needed to start eating better. I was hospitalized with a blood sugar of 34 (should be under 7!) and on insulin for a while. Managed to get my sugars under control and lost about 30lbs, got off insulin and onto tablets instead. It all went out the window again when I had my son but now my blood sugar is back on the rise so I need to get back on track. I'm not here for the weight loss so much as getting my blood sugar under control. But the two do go hand in hand to an extent.

I haven't drastically changed my diet. I've attempted to cut down on the carbs most days, cut out sugary drinks, cut out most of the cake, biscuits etc and am watching my portion size. But I'm eating the same things I've always eaten, just perhaps in smaller (or in some cases larger) quantities. I don't feel restricted, I enjoy my meals and if I want a biscuit or a bar of chocolate I can have one.

Madwife2009

Sweet_Misery_ wrote: »

For those who started out very overweight, what was your catalyst to finally start living better?

The realisation that the scales were only going in one direction unless I got off my backside and did something about it. No-one else was going to do it for me and no-one else really cared apart from me, so it was all down to me to deal with it.

I also decided that I did not want to be at higher risk of a heart attack, diabetes, cancer, stroke etc etc. I want to live for a long time and see my children develop into the adults they want to be.

As an obese person, life was a struggle. Walking up a flight of stairs was a struggle. The only exercise I got was walking to the car, or to the duck pond over the road. I was a mess. My BMI was 46+. It was a scary place to be, really.

I had a choice. Either carry on as usual and increase my risk of dying prematurely or start doing something about it. I knew this and still didn't do anything. For years I did nothing about it. Maybe I perceived it as too much effort?

I don't know what happened, or what made me do it but I woke up one day and decided that today was the day to sort myself out. And I got on with it. I am still getting on with it as although I am now a "healthy" weight, I have plenty of fat to get rid of before I am happy with how I am and how I look. Having said that, my life is completely different to my formerly-obese self - I can walk miles, cycle miles, I go to the gym, I do strength training, I eat healthily and with the right portion sizes. I feel so much better in myself and about myself and I have tons of energy. I can't sit still for long these days. The best thing about all this is that my improved habits are rubbing off onto my family as well so they all eat better, exercise more and are becoming healthier. This is the ultimate satisfaction as I want THEM to live long and healthily as well.

The only thing I have in common with my formerly obese self is difficulty in buying clothes - I used to struggle to find clothes when I was UK size 28/30 and I struggle to find clothes now I'm size 8/10! A bit annoying but I'd rather be a healthy weight than obese.

You have to find the determination to do this from within yourself. It's there, it's just a case of finding it. Once you find that determination, it's not as hard as you think, it's more a case of consistency than anything else. You have to do it day after day consistently and that's where the determination comes in.

Start now. In a year's time you'll be pleased that you did. I certainly was.

Good luck

Ming1951

What this poster said "kommodevaran" I found the comment right on and very insightful. Pretty much what I am doing. And I also think that you have to come to think that this will be your "normal" way of eating, of course you won't always be in deficit but you will always need to make yourself accountable by logging and counting the calories you eat. Thats just my opinion and what I plan to do once I reach my goal. I know myself I've been obese for a long time and its because of how I eat without thinking. So I made a decision to think about what goes into my body. I'll eat what I want but I will stay within a certain amount of calories. I've yo-yo'd too many times over my life by not staying accountable.

Tacklewasher

I still can't really point to what started me losing weight. I July/Aug of last year I had to fix some drainage issues around the house, which meant digging a gig hole in the front yard(talking grave sized) and it was hard work. Took 2 months of weekends to do, but while doing it I got a fitness tracker to make sure my HR wasn't going higher than I was comfortable with. It was downhill from there. ~330 - 261.5 this morning downhill.

No doctors visit, no big scare, nothing really that was keeping me from doing things. Finding this place through the tracker software helped. Figuring out it was all about calories and actually simple to lose weight (not easy, but simple) helped and now that I get it, there's no more excuse to be morbidly obese. Have not hit 180 days of tracking yet, and am not close to my goal of just being overweight, but keeping at it.

Setting small goals is key. If I thought about losing 110 lbs, it was too much. So 10 lbs here and down from one obese class to another there. I passed 20% lost, next goal is to be under 35 BMI, and that's 4 lbs away. Then 25% gone.

JeromeBarry1

It's a neuron in my brain that toggled on. Which neuron, I'm not sure, but there's no going back. The proximate cause was another in a long string of quarterly doctor visits where my dr. in another in a long string of admonitions that I eat less and lose weight revealed results of a recent blood test which showed a dramatic decline in the goodness of my cholesterol numbers. That got my attention. The choice was mine: Drugs, or lose weight. I hate drugs.

Ejcejcejc

For me, being in ketosis has been a life changer....feel great...lost 100 in six months without working out...and don't feel deprived (very often). So very much of this is all in our heads. All my labs are now great. I am off hb meds. I am following the Ideal Protein protocol and it is really working for me. Have lots fat and water, not muscle. I added exercise back in three weeks ago and feel great but going to calculate what impact it had on my weight loss at the end of the fourth week. I have another 75-94 to lose.

genpopadopolous

For me, it was a couple things- that I was going to look back in every picture of my children growing up and I was going to be embarrassed and that I was setting them up for a life with a crappy relationship with food and they deserve better.

Plus it's simple. It isn't easy but it's simple. I have no good reason not to other than I didn't want to stop overeating and I didn't want to get off the couch. That's not a good enough reason to stay fat.

It's still not totally easy. I'm maintaining at the moment because I'm hungry and I rather hang here than gain back. I'm never going back, though. What I have learned going from obese to just 10 pounds from a healthy BMI is that I'm worth it, too. Not just my kids.

Sara1791

I was at the border of obese and extremely obese and beginning to feel the effects when I began in earnest to lose weight - though I'd been gathering information and working on mental health for years prior.

What causes me to stick with it, the motivation in the forefront of my mind, changes.

In the first few months it was an accumulation of my own successes that inspired me to keep going. It wasn't, and isn't, perfection, but progress. Five pounds down? Progress. Walked a mile? Progress. Stayed faithful for a whole week? Progress. Didn't get sidelined by a day of overeating? Progress.

And now - Sometimes it's looking at old pictures. Sometimes it's a beach vacation. Sometimes I just want to see what it's like to be super fit. Sometimes it's the way my husband can't keep his hands off me. Sometimes it's reviewing the year and seeing how much my physical and mental health are intertwined. Sometimes it's the joy I get at realizing that I easily hit 8000 steps without intentional exercise and without trying. It's realizing that if I keep it up, I WILL be able to hike the Appalachian Trail when my kids are older. Sometimes it's wanting to prove people wrong. And sometimes it's wanting to justify their confidence in me. It's knowing that I can do hard things and being proud of myself. I could keep going, but I think you get the idea.

When I first started, there were only a few reasons to do it and as time has gone on, I've found more and more reasons.

red99ryder

Im not sure living better is the way to look at it . i love food but have to learn to eat what by body needs and not more than that . Right now its a little bit less because im trying to lose weight . I think we all have some kind of light bulb that goes off that says im ready ,, like i want to be able to wipe my butt lol Or i weigh xxx number of pounds , I do think having some success helps keep me motivated , sure i have bad scale weeks and overeat sometimes , but over all its still a step in the right direction . It takes awhile depending on where you start and most likely will be a life long journey ,,i will still eat the foods i want but will be counting the calories

Living better ??? Not sure its better , Just different

Good luck

bwhitty67

It's your life, your worth it. Be ready to commit to your lifestyle for life and don't let food control you, you control it. Find what works for your body i.e. CICO/LC/IF.... heck learn to eat when your hungry not what a clock says has been a game changer for me! It's not going to be easy and it's going to take time. You'll feel like giving up but just start out changing one or two habits at a time. Maybe journal, drink more water if you don't. If you drink a lot of soda give up one a day then in a couple weeks give up two

I'm no expert but have started and stopped many times, I've restarted and have a whole new way of thinking about this journey. Good luck girl!

earlnabby

Sweet_Misery_ wrote: »

For those who started out very overweight, what was your catalyst to finally start living better?

For me, it was a trip to the hospital for severe anemia caused by stomach erosion (not uncommon for people with lots of belly fat like I had). Not only did I need transfusions and testing, the blood work showed I was just over the line so was technically T2 diabetic. It really hit me that this was just the beginning of all kinds of potential health issues if I didn't get my act together and eat better, move more, and lose weight.

Rocknut53

Coming to the realization that at 62 I was probably going to my grave early and fat with a few years of declining health in between. How did I do it? As @JeromeBarry1 said: "It's a neuron in my brain that toggled on. Which neuron, I'm not sure, but there's no going back." OP, you are young, do this now so you can enjoy a good long healthy life.

RoteBook

I think everyone's stumbling blocks are different, and figuring out what's holding you back will really help. For me, I've always been the "bad" kind of perfectionist. If I can't do it right the first time, why bother? I'll never be as good as somebody else, so I should just stop, etc. This is going to sound super hokey, but what finally got through to me was the growth mindset philosophy at my kid's school.

It took about a year of teachers and the principal sending out information about teaching the value of hard work, making progress, learning from mistakes, and trying another way instead of giving up when frustrated before it finally sank in for me.

I've slowly learned to stop seeing a binge snack as a huge failure, and now my binge snacks have (mostly) stopped turning into binge days. And when I do have a binge day, I've been able to stop and figure out why I wanted to binge. For me, it's usually hormones or stress.

For me, slowing down my expectations has also made a huge difference. I'm only aiming for .5 pound per week, even though I started with 62 pounds to lose (I'm 5'3", so at 202 pounds I had a bmi over 35). I like food, and I had always gotten too obsessive about my food when I went under 1500 calories/day.

My only consistent exercise has been walking, because that's what I'm willing to make time for right now. On days when I fit in more exercise I sometimes have a bigger deficit and lose more that week (yey) or if I'm hungry I eat more (also yey). I lost 30 pounds in 2016, and I'm planning to lose about another 26 pounds this year. At this rate I'll still be overweight going into 2018. That sounds excruciatingly slow, and wouldn't work for lots of people. But I know that if I had tried to go faster I would have given up by now.

ds41980

I am 5'1" and started at 259 lbs, you can look at my diary. Morbidly obese. I got mad in July 2016 after a break up and decided to change. The only thing I did was count calories, no exercise, no food exclusions, just count calories. MFP made it easier by letting me input how much I wanted to lose per week. I am losing on average 1 lb per week. I have lost 33 pounds. I accept this is going to take a long time. I am not perfect and some days I go over calories but I know that overall I am losing weight and that's good enough right now.