Why do you want to lose weight?
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There are SO many reasons for me but here are my top 3:
1. My husband
2. My kids
3. So I feel more comfortable being in a group and look cute in clothes again4 -
For me, it's a lot of what's been said. Vanity, for sure. The clothes that I miss, too. My husband and I used to be called Barbie and Ken. Now... we're just nice people. :-)
But, I love doing yoga, and I used to be pretty good at it. Then I got into pizza, netflix, and drinking every night after work. Now, as I'm working to get back into my yoga routine, I can't bend as far, not because a lack of flexibility, but because I have too much flesh in the way (around my waist, in particular). It brings to mind the reasons to get healthy to age healthy - to avoid the self inflicted health issues that my parents are going through. To avoid needing to be medicated...
I have two coworkers about the same age who each had hip replacements at about the same time. One lady loves hiking. Even though her hip was hurting, she kept up her hiking right until the day of her surgery (even lost a couple extra pounds in advance), and came back to work shortly thereafter with barely a limp, and she's recovered beautifully! The other coworker is overweight, and he had to walk very slowly with a cane before his surgery. Because of his weight and lifestyle, after his surgery his limp has gotten much worse, and he can barely get around with a walker. I know which of those two people I would like to be if one of my joints ever decides to give out on me!3 -
My why is cause I'm not attractive beint fat. No guys will look at me being obese. I have 0 confindene. I hate going out in public. Already on a few meds. Hoping if I drop all my weight I'm able to get off of them. I'm almost 31 and I don't want to die at a young age soo I'm on a diet and exercising to get healthy.3
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Pain reduction and vanity. When I'm lighter it is physically easier for me to live my life. I have fewer migraines and moving doesn't feel like such a chore. I also want to keep being able to see my cheekbones, look great naked, and have my boyfriend lift me easily.3
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In 2012 I was 38 and had a 3 y.o. and an infant...I went in for my annual checkup and my blood work came out really bad and the doctor told me that at this rate I'd be lucky to see 60 (my dad made it to 62)...that seemed unacceptable to me and decided I wanted to get healthy and live for my kids.
I wasn't really necessarily setting out to lose weight...initially it just kind of happened with a change in dietary habits and getting out and walking every day. Then I started using MFP because I became more interested in learning about nutrition and fitness and just kind of turned into a nutrition and fitness junkie.
I ended up losing about 40 Lbs and have more or less maintained that for 4 years now though I do tend to put on about 10 Lbs every winter with a decrease in activity...it comes off in the spring and early summer when I get back into my regular riding groove. I'm still a nutrition and fitness junkie...7 -
I have a million reasons why I want to lose weight but just to name a few. First, I don't want to be the "fat mom" at the playground and school events. Secondly, I want to have more energy to play and spend time with my daughter. And I want to find me again. I think I lost sight of who I was after becoming a wife and mom and just put myself last. Its time to find a balance
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So I needed knee replacement surgery (I'm 61), and the doc says, you could lose 20 lbs - do that first and then see me again. I think he was testing me, to see what my committment was. So I lost 30lbs by the time I had my next appointment with him and so we were good to go for the surgery.
By the time I had the operation, I was down over 100lbs, which made a huge difference in my recovery. I didnt suffer at all, and was back to work in just 6 weeks, no cane, no walker, and even in heels again!!
My friend, who was very overweight, also was having knee replacement surgery. She asked me all about it and I told her about my experience and how it would be a good idea to moderate her eating habits to maximize her recovery. But I told her she would be fine, and that shortly we would be getting together with another friend of ours and comparing scars!
She didnt lose weight. She had the surgery and had complications with the stitches pulling apart and an infection set in. She was admitted to hospital to deal with the infection and everytime I saw her, she commented on my weight loss and how she was going to do it this time. I told her about MFP and how it really made a difference in my life, and how I would work with her on it.
She died from necrotizing fasciitis about two months after the surgery.
I cant help thinking that if only she had taken her surgeons advice (and mine) to shed a few pounds, she would still be at the other end of the phone. I am sure there were other considerations but her weight was certainly a factor. I miss her every. single. day.
Lose weight for your health. Ultimately, its the only thing that counts.
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Full, absolute, literal, non-PC honesty?
Well all right then.
Because I'm getting old, I feel very ugly and like I no longer look cute at all, so I am hoping to at least have a smokin' body to compensate.
Lest anyone argue that that is shallow: yes. It's shallow. It's also not the only concern I have in my life, or the only way I gauge my worth, and it's far from the only thing I do or ever think about. HTH. 5 -
I've just turned 45 and I've been overweight or obese since my mid twenties I would guess. In the run up to my separation 4 years ago I'd lost 42lbs through WW and exercise, I felt my confidence growing as I lost the weight. Following the separation, amongst the chaos of suddenly becoming a full time working single parent to two small children, then 5 and 2, with an abusive ex in the background, I managed to keep the weight off for a while, however all effort at self care had gone. Everyone kept telling me I had to look after myself but I couldn't see the wood for the trees, I was barely surviving and keeping my children safe, happy and healthy took priority over any of my needs, I gained back around 18lbs.
Fast forward to last summer, work pressures are mounting and the ex is still raising his ugly head just to keep me on my toes, I start to eat erratically, often not eating anything until 3pm, the weight falls off, I lose the 18lbs unsurprisingly, people start to tell me I'm looking good...but underneath the weight loss my body isn't happy, I start to experience pain under my ribs after eating and suffer with wind badly. This doesn't prompt any change in behaviour from me until 13th Jan 2017 when I end up in ED in excruciating abdominal pain. Yup...gallstones...multiple gallstones, requiring surgery. That was my light bulb moment really, I reactivated MFP and haven't looked back, I'm down 30lbs since that hospital attendance and still awaiting surgery, could be another 6 months before it happens (NHS cuts = long waiting lists for non-emergency surgery) but I am now firmly in the overweight category and 12lbs from healthy BMI, other than a grumpy gallbladder I feel great, full of energy and exercising daily, can't wait to get to goal to experience 'me' at a weight I haven't seen since I was around 16 years of age.
So my reasons were initially for health but are now also for vanity, who knows I might even venture back into the world of dating!!1 -
To feel good and not worry about feeling 'fat' in fitted clothes and for my man
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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.
You took the words right out of my thoughts @CCreinvented!!
It would be so great to be back to the person I was just five years ago who was social and outgoing and didn't hide in the house as far away from everyone as possible in shame. Thank you for that. Needed a reminder this morning.
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I have a 7 year old and he's an only child. Me and Wife are his main playmates. 6 months ago I could hardly play 5 minutes with him. I want to be able to play soccer and have sword battles with him and not be exhausted so quickly.
The other reason is I feel uncomfortable above a certain weight. Shirts fit too tight, I get self-conscious and it's a feeling that's always there when I'm out in public. I'm tired of that. I just want to shed enough fat to not have to buy XL clothing. 10% BF isn't my goal, just active and slim enough not to feel all that extra weight on me.2 -
To look good. I want to be fit to enjoy life, but fit looks better without a lot of fat over it0
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Why? When I am out walking I see people in their 80's walking, running and using outdoor Playfit equipment. That is how I inspire to be when I am that age.1
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Primarily vanity - I want to look better in my clothes & actually enjoy shopping for clothes.
Secondary is health. Always was active & fairly healthy but as I get older, I want to hang on to all of that.0 -
I've always been on the chubby side, ever since I was a kid.
I've never known the feeling of looking into the mirror and being satisfied with what I see.
I want to feel more confident, and in this process of losing weight, i've been feeling better than ever.
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Lots of reasons. Today its because I have a goal of going to Harry Potter world in a year or two and I want to fully enjoy it without having to constantly take a break. Sunday it was because I want to be more comfortable in my church's theater-like seats.1
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It can be painful to carry around extra pounds. When I was real heavy, I had plantar fasciitis in my feet, and a pain in my right side under my rib cage that was driving me insane. After losing 50-something pounds, both conditions are GONE. I've got about 15 pounds left to lose, and I feel healthy and energetic. I also don't mind looking good in smaller clothing! 1
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confidence, self esteem, getting more choices in clothing and fashion, more happiness and satisfaction with myself0
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amusedmonkey wrote: »I want to prevent diabetes or delay it as much as possible doing all the right things that are within my control.
This is my exact answer. My dad was diagnosed at 42. I'm 35 and don't want to hear those words early or at all.
Also to hopefully help my self-confidence.1 -
1. So I can do the cycling I used to do.
2. So I can cycle up hills.
3. Because, at 48 when I signed up with MFP, I didn't want to be the dumpy old person I saw in the mirror. I was too young to be that dumpy and old.
Happy to say that at 50, I'm right in the middle of my normal BMI range and I'm doing the cycling I used to do and I can cycle up hills ... and I don't think I look dumpy and old anymore. 2 -
Why? I started to look like Rasputia from Norbitt and I refused to be the fat frumpy wife. I got tired of people treating me like crap, but it's much better now.
I want to wear heels, makeup, and designer clothes now and well into old age. Yes I'm a little vain now, but I love looking good and dressing well. I want to live to be a healthy, independent, ripe old age.
I don't want to be dominated by fibromyalgia and arthritis. And even if it runs in my family, I am not doomed to a future of diabetes, dialysis, pressure pills, cardiac stents, and bypass surgery. I beat prediabetes once and I don't want it back. And no motorized scooters or walkers for me. I have relatives who are bedbound because of obesity. Not for me.
I just want a full healthy life of self respect and confidence, comfortable in my own skin, and looking damn good while doing it.5 -
It's cheaper in the long run to be healthy and I'm hella cheap...
Though, I should also admit that I'd like to feel better and my family has a lot of medical issues. Mostly diabetes.1 -
smotheredincheese wrote: »I want to look hot in a bikini.
I'm shallow.
To be honest, this is really also the reason why I want to lose weight. To look hot in a bikini, or to look hot, comfortable and confident in general on what I wear.
But the main reason is my family is known to have heart problems and diabetes, so as of now I want to eat and live healthy for my health.0 -
I want to be able to wear the awesome clothes that don't come in plus sizes.
I also want to be able to do fun activities without even having to think about what their weight limit probably is; far less explain to my friends/colleagues why I can't do the thing. Or pretend to them that I don't want to do the thing.1 -
I want to take pressure off my arthritic knee and not be a fattie.0
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Health. always health. Family has a history of beetus.0
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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.
Wow. It looks like your words spoke to many of us. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us are experiencing and feeling.2 -
I have a ton of reasons but one of them is just that I hate taking up so much space. I will be flying in 2 weeks and I am terrified that I won't fit or I will need a seatbelt extender. I have lost 22 lbs so far but I am still very large.0
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Short-term: I want to live the active life I've always wanted -- athletic, confident, happy. Comfortable in my own skin. Going on adventures with my husband. Modeling a healthy lifestyle for our 3 kids.
Long-term: Live a healthy life, all the way to the end. My fit grandmother was healthy and active until her last days at age 94. My fit father is still going strong at 75, riding his bike to work, swimming across the lake with me every summer. My obese and sedentary mother and two uncles (70-ish) are riddled with all sorts of health problems, and it's going to be a long, painful slide. I'd rather take the long-term health route.1
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