Why do you want to lose weight?

elleaitch11

I don't just mean "because I'm fat." But what is the "why" that will keep you on track even when the break room at work is full of food, or the leftover Easter candy is calling your name at the drug store (my issue...) or you are too tired to haul out the scale and log your food?
I think sometimes remembering why we committed to do something in the first place can help us even when we are lacking in motivation.
I'm 5'9" and currently weigh 188 (down 4 pounds so far). My initial goal is 175. In my younger days I was 150, but 175 seems doable.

For me, I want to lose weight because -
- I love to hike, and having less weight to haul up the mountain makes everything easier,
- I am getting older (just turned 45) and don't want to need new hips or knees when I'm old.

How about you?

Chadxx

When you look around and see people in their 80's and 90's still enjoying life, there are 2 groups you don't see, smokers and obese. Also, being healthy just feels so much better. I don't have to be ashamed of taking my shirt off at the lake or feel ashamed because my beautiful wife is stuck with some fat guy who didn't care enough to take care of himself, or be the grandparent who can't get around and do things with his grandkids or even be alive to be around for them at all. Now that I am healthy and fit, it is simply greed that keeps me going. I feel great. I think I look good and so does my wife. I want more though. Why the heck not?

JeromeBarry1

I didn't want to go on prescription statin drugs to manage my fat boy cholesterol. If the alternative to drugs was weight loss, I choose to lose weight.

ruqayyahsmum

Because at 387lb with several undiagnosed autoimmune diseases i was dying. I wasnt going to get to see my daughter grow up

Losing 13 stone made my son possible, cant imagine life without him

I want to be active for my children, i want them to live healthy lives

I live in constant pain but its a lower pain, i can hike, run and enjoy life now

zyxst

When I started, it was so I didn't have to wear the same pair of pants for 40 years.

Now, I'm trying to get down to 125 so when I have a blow-out day, the weight gain from the food/sodium doesn't toss me back up into "overweight" on BMI.

I kept going because tracking became a habit. I don't eat free food mostly because I only get told there's free food after I've eaten and used up 95% of my daily calories.

YalithKBK

I love Asian clothing styles. Asian people have smaller frames, so the clothes run smaller than American sizes. IF I am the proper weight, I can fit into Asian clothes just fine as I am a tiny person. So, losing weight to fit into the clothes that I want to wear.

2wise4u

I want to be around a long time for my daughter and have a good quality of life as I age. I've made working out a habit and love the gym and would like to start running but need to lose more weight before attempting that because I don't want my knees to retaliate. lol

Mycophilia

elleaitch11 wrote: »

I don't just mean "because I'm fat."

Because I don't want to be fat.

CCreinvented

As I've gotten heavier, I've started isolating myself from friends and family because I'm ashamed and embarrassed that I've let my weight get so out of control. I was once outgoing and social but now I'm that friend that makes endless excuses for turning down invitations.

I want my confidence back.

I want to again be able to enjoy the simple things in life with the people I love. I miss them and I miss the old me.

smotheredincheese

I want to look hot in a bikini.
I'm shallow.

AngryViking1970

smotheredincheese wrote: »

I want to look hot in a bikini.
I'm shallow.

I think my profile says something about skinny jeans being my inspiration, so yeah. I feel you.

Morgaen73

Because we live a lifestyle where being sexy is advantageous lol

ent3rsandman

So I can play a sport again. It didn't keep me from doing it before, but it really held me back.

ladyreva78

In 2014, at 33 years old, weighing 115kg:
I wasn't ready to check blood sugar after every meal to see if I need insulin. I'm terrified of needles.
I wasn't ready to add yet another daily medication (statin) which incidentally would have made point 1 even more likely.
I wasn't ready to see that my BMI was higher than my age.
I wasn't ready to divorce from my liver. Another 10 year and that would have been my sad reality.
I wasn't ready to whimper in pain from going up 1 single flight of stairs. Let's not even talk about going down those stairs... My knees would have needed replacement in maybe 15 years (doctor's generous estimate. In reality it was probably closer to 5-10 years).
I wasn't ready to look like my cousin's twin sister (she's 20 years older than me). That blow my ego just plain refused to take.
I wasn't ready to buy yet another size larger. I kept on making excuses to avoid the grill parties by the lake (and the therewith associated wardrobe requirements: swim wear)

Now, since losing 32kg (another 18kg to go until I'm where I should be):
- my blood sugar moved out of the prediabetic range. I am no longer at an immediate risk of developing type II diabetes.
- my LDL is low enough not to warrant further action (perfect! in my doctor's own words). Now I just need to get my HDL higher (it's too low) so the ratio between the two is where my doctor would like it. Simple enough with proper nutrition.
- my BMI is now lower than my age (currently it's at 28ish). I plan to get it down to 22.5 to be safely in a healthy weight range.
- my liver is doing just peachy. We've gone through counseling and the divorce is off the table. I agreed to avoid alcohol, extremely fatty meals (well... we compromised on 2-3 fondues or raclettes a year) and over eating; in return it agreed to stop providing me with off the scale pain at random moments (doubled over in pain is not a good look on anyone) and to stay where it's supposed to.
- my knees still sometimes bother me, but with increased activity and increasing variety in said activities (started with an elliptical 3x a week; added weight-lifting, jogging and swimming. Will add bicycling starting next week), the possible need for knee replacement have been moved to the so distant future as to not being currently a worry. (I will probably still need the surgery in 30 odd years, the damage caused by being cat II obese since my teenage years is done, but the less I weigh, the better those poor buggers are.)
- my ego's doing just fine again. Instead of looking like my cousin's twin... I look like her fit young daughter. (Her ego took a blow from that one )
- my wardrobe as shrunk. I can't seem to replace the clothes I'm outgrowing as quickly as I shrink out of them. I don't mind being seen in a bathing suit anymore. In fact, my goal has gone from controlling my health (which I've obviously done a good job at) to looking hot at the pool!

So yeah... bring on the losses!

JaydedMiss

im only 23 and spent 2 years of my life dieing on bedrest with a bad heart being a depressed no friend loser. I want to be the fit sexy fun girl next door every 19-21 year old deserves to be. Go on dates. Wear sexy clothes. Its life experiences i want and got robbed of. Now i turn heads ;D

Vain, Maybe. Any less legitimate? Never.

HostageCat

When I started losing weight at 217lbs it was to get healthy, feel better about myself and look good. Now that i'm at a healthy weight (154lbs) i'm mostly doing it to look good

nmgu

I just turned 30 and I want to run a 5k. I want to go hiking and swimming. I'm 225 lbs with 35% body fat. I want to be strong. I want to be fit. I want energy.

And I don't want to struggle with depression. Eating right and exercise is great for depression.

amusedmonkey

I want to prevent diabetes or delay it as much as possible doing all the right things that are within my control.

Morgaen73

JaydedMiss wrote: »

im only 23 and spent 2 years of my life dieing on bedrest with a bad heart being a depressed no friend loser. I want to be the fit sexy fun girl next door every 19-21 year old deserves to be. Go on dates. Wear sexy clothes. Its life experiences i want and got robbed of. Now i turn heads ;D

Vain, Maybe. Any less legitimate? Never.

Not vain at all. Pretty inspiring actually.

Ming1951

I am 65..
I added weigh and more weight over the years, got to be 221 lbs more or less at times. Knees hurt, back hurt, not a lot of ambition, noticed cholesterol levels going up though still ok. Found out knee was bone on bone plus other leg has a bend to it. Decided that I see lots of people my age healthy doing things and enjoying life. So started logging, walking till I got up to 5 miles a day. Just got a total knee replacement that is going pretty well thanks to the weight loss. I feel so much better. funny thing is as you age your mind still thinks your young but your body doesn't..Unless you take care of it..which I now am doing and plan to keep doing..so life is endless and I enjoy each day.

GottaBurnEmAll

I've lost enough weight to achieve my main goal, which was to manage my psoriatic arthritis and high cholesterol.

Now I just want to lose some vanity weight. That goal, at my age, doesn't seem to be as motivating, but I keep plugging at it.

jmp463

Well there are many health reasons - but a lot of the reason is vanity.

Loug1983

CCreinvented wrote: »

As I've gotten heavier, I've started isolating myself from friends and family because I'm ashamed and embarrassed that I've let my weight get so out of control. I was once outgoing and social but now I'm that friend that makes endless excuses for turning down invitations.

I want my confidence back.

I want to again be able to enjoy the simple things in life with the people I love. I miss them and I miss the old me.

All of this!

JuneAnneB

I'm trying to lose weight because I'm tired of being being tired and lacking energy all the time. Dealing with aches and pains and other health issues at 41 is nuts and I need to get back to the healthy me, who loved long walks. I've been going on 4 mile walks with my sis and her parents and it's proved that I need to get healthier. At the end of a walk, I am totally exhausted and just want to shower and sleep now, while in the past walks always energized me to do so much more.
So I want to lose weight to be healthier naturally, but also to be able to do more outdoor stuff - hiking, swimming and other events, without feeling tired. The Bonus will be fitting into smaller clothing again and looking better.

Emily3907

Infertility - we are going to be doing IVF later this year and success is higher with a lower BMI.

Dazzler21

Vanity I want to be lean again.

SCoil123

When I gained some back my clothes stopped fitting (I worked hard dropping almost 90lb to get those clothes) and my knees hurt all the time. I've damaged both knees in the past. I missed wearing my favorite outfits, didn't want to spend $ on a new wardrobe again, and needed the constant pain to stop.

lil_lizt

I'm trying to lose my baby weight before starting to try for baby number 2

Gamliela

It wasn't so much the weight, it was that I got disgusted with how much I was eating and the way I was consuming it and it was consuming me too. Just wanted out of that rut.

MysteriousLeigh

Because I'd like to be able to date and be attractive to someone.

rainwife79

CCreinvented wrote: »

As I've gotten heavier, I've started isolating myself from friends and family because I'm ashamed and embarrassed that I've let my weight get so out of control. I was once outgoing and social but now I'm that friend that makes endless excuses for turning down invitations.

I want my confidence back.

I want to again be able to enjoy the simple things in life with the people I love. I miss them and I miss the old me.

This. So much of this