Why are you doing it!

2

Replies

  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    fragilefleur wrote: »
    What's keeping me going now is what I've already been through as an overweight person and the fact that I bottomed out getting cancer from being obese last year. I am ok now but there are so many things that being obese has affected in my life to the negative and I want to tackle them one bit at a time. Some things I can't change now but maybe I can eliminate some of the things that will happen to me more immediately if I don't lose the weight.

    Also my partner is diabetic and not eating well around her makes me feel guilty and ashamed for not being a good partner.

    Also I just got diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

    Also I feel better as I lose weight. So far lost 23 lbs and what I first noticed was fitting more easily into my seat in my car and that I don't take up as much space that makes me uncomfortable. I am moving towards taking the space that I was made to take, and not taking space that feels like I'm spilling into the world and it's not made for me as an obese person.

    Also I have arthritis in my knee that is as a result of my weight (partly) and I want to be able to hike around here and enjoy the area's incredible small natural spaces taht I cannot access if I'm too overweight and my knees are killing me.

    Also I had spine surgery in 1998 and resulting scars on the nerve covering. This means any weight pressing is causing more pain I'm sure. I have chronic pain and hoping that the weight loss will reduce this pain.

    Also, I don't travel b/c I am overweight b/c it's too hard to do. I am missing out on time with family and friends, i've given up a trip of a lifetime to see a friend in Switzerland and gave up meeting a friend years ago in Holland due to being overweight.

    Also just the really simple ability to fit into smaller and more fashionable clothing will be a cherry on top of it all. I used to dream of being able to do this and have spent a lifetime not being able to. I'm 50 and would like to have some chance at looking good despite my age and the impact my weight has had on my appearance. I want my youth back a little bit longer.

    AND b/c being fat just sucks for me. I respect people who feel proud and happy in their plus sized bodies and wish I were the same but I don't. At all.

    I want to reclaim my body and life.

    Thanks for asking. I appreciate this b/c it's motivation after a tough week of struggling with my nutrition.

    :)

    Thats an amazing reason, people get into shape well after their 50s as well, you still have plenty of time to regain and hold on to your youth! You should get pictures of all the place you want to travel and hike, post them up everywhere, your car, your fridge, your doors, above your bed. Keep reminding yourself what your working for and that you WILL get there. I believe in you. Im going to add you as a friend if thats ok with you.
  • Akkael
    Akkael Posts: 36 Member
    Why am I doing this? I would like to feel good in my own skin. To not feel like a disappointment. I'd like to not get those looks from family members. I want to be healthy. I would like to not be in pain.
  • cenafan
    cenafan Posts: 398 Member
    I'm starting again. I lost almost 90lbs 2 1/2 years ago. I felt amazing. Happy. Comfortable in my skin for the first time. Then suffered a serious back injury. Couldn't do anything. Fell into a bad depression. And tried to soothe with food. Put back on 85lbs. Finally coming out of my funk. Finally have to ok to try yoga again. I want to feel happy again. I want to feel comfortable again. Down 18.6lbs since starting. Very determined.
  • WanderingRivers
    WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
    For me it's the fact I let myself get this fat and how absolutely gross I look. I miss being skinny. My goal is to get skinny again.
  • imeuge
    imeuge Posts: 29 Member
    My wife left me for another man so turned to make myself a better person. Lost 10kg in a year and on a 260 day streak
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    There's no real alternative to "keep going". Well, there are alternatives to "keep going", such as suicide. However, even quitting one activity just gives one opportunity to do another. Now, to quit all activities and remain in bed all day is something I can't even tolerate on my vacations. I don't see at all how my wife manages to stay in bed 18 hours a day.
  • mamma_adventure
    mamma_adventure Posts: 235 Member
    edited August 2017
    Soooo , I've started so many times, and got to goal once. I've around 28lbs to lose, my motivations this time...
    I'm a mum of 3 (twin girls and a boy), I don't want any of my babbas to have body hang-ups or any inclination that MAMMA has hang-ups!
    I have a family wedding on the 31st December, this gives me a time specific goal.
    I'm newly single, so feel I need to lose my mummy tummy to help with my confidence and start feeling good about myself after years of not feeling that great!
    I want to run a half marathon, so need to improve my fitness.
    I like the accountability of MFP <3
    Oh....and I have a wardrobe full of clothes I'd like to feel good in :D
  • L0Lnikki
    L0Lnikki Posts: 41 Member
    kdb2bfit wrote: »
    This may sound selfish but I'm doing this for myself. I hate the girl I see in the mirror. I hate my weight gain and my belly flab. I'm disgusted with myself. But slowly getting over that.

    Hey you're not the only one. I have many reasons why I need to lose weight, this is one of them. Looking good in clothes would help self love, ya know? We want to love our healthy selves & gosh darn it we'll get there!
  • mom2pne
    mom2pne Posts: 215 Member
    I am doing it for my 5 boys and my grandson and the hopes of trying one more time for a girl. I also want to be fit for when I become a teacher in 2 years.
  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    eugedaman wrote: »
    My wife left me for another man so turned to make myself a better person. Lost 10kg in a year and on a 260 day streak

    Hell yeah man! Keep it up, if she cant handle you at your worst she definitely doesnt deserve you at your best. Glad to see your taking the pain and becoming stronger because of it!
  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    cenafan wrote: »
    I'm starting again. I lost almost 90lbs 2 1/2 years ago. I felt amazing. Happy. Comfortable in my skin for the first time. Then suffered a serious back injury. Couldn't do anything. Fell into a bad depression. And tried to soothe with food. Put back on 85lbs. Finally coming out of my funk. Finally have to ok to try yoga again. I want to feel happy again. I want to feel comfortable again. Down 18.6lbs since starting. Very determined.

    Great thing about doing something once, you know you can do it again! Keep it up!!!
  • imeuge
    imeuge Posts: 29 Member
    David_Marquiss wrote: »
    eugedaman wrote: »
    My wife left me for another man so turned to make myself a better person. Lost 10kg in a year and on a 260 day streak

    Hell yeah man! Keep it up, if she cant handle you at your worst she definitely doesnt deserve you at your best. Glad to see your taking the pain and becoming stronger because of it!

    Thank you David! Really appreciate your kind words, only yesterday I learnt she was having an affair since the start of this year. I've lost 10kg and no intention to stop now!
  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    Ultio70 wrote: »
    I remember being a beast. I ran 6 min miles, could easily lift more than my body weight. I was a soldier in the 101st Airborne and felt like it. One long day at work changed everything. I ended up with an open compound fracture of my right femur just above my knee, my right elbow dislocated, all the bones on my right hand broken and a penetrating brain injury. I was told by everyone I was done, didn't matter what I was doing I was done. The VA doesn't even offer me physical therapy just long-term pain management. On June 7th this year I snapped. I told people with college degrees who think they're pretty important that they were wrong. I started working out at home doing push-ups sit-ups squats and planking every day. Now I'm working out in training martial arts and conditioning twice a day 3 times a week and once a day 3 days a week. I've lost 18 pounds who knows how much muscle I've gained never mind the mental clarity.

    I am not done

    Thank you for serving and your sacrifice man. Really inspiring. Your destiny is in your hands and your story will be how YOU write it. People need leaders like you in this world
  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    mamma_adventure wrote: »
    Soooo , I've started so many times, and got to goal once. I've around 28lbs to lose, my motivations this time...
    I'm a mum of 3 (twin girls and a boy), I don't want any of my babbas to have body hang-ups or any inclination that MAMMA has hang-ups!
    I have a family wedding on the 31st December, this gives me a time specific goal.
    I'm newly single, so feel I need to lose my mummy tummy to help with my confidence and start feeling good about myself after years of not feeling that great!
    I want to run a half marathon, so need to improve my fitness.
    I like the accountability of MFP <3
    Oh....and I have a wardrobe full of clothes I'd like to feel good in :D

    My wife and I just bad our baby this past Easter, shes just now starting to fit back into her whole wardrobe and shes loving it! I believe in you!!
  • daneejela
    daneejela Posts: 461 Member
    There are many reasons that I have written on my profile page, some are selfish, some are selfless. I think they all can merge into one singe cause - to get the most of this (Earth) ride while it lasts. To feel, move, look and experience the best I can.
  • WilmaValley
    WilmaValley Posts: 1,092 Member
    For my health, plain and simple!
  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    daneejela wrote: »
    There are many reasons that I have written on my profile page, some are selfish, some are selfless. I think they all can merge into one singe cause - to get the most of this (Earth) ride while it lasts. To feel, move, look and experience the best I can.

    For everyone who says they are being selfish.... YOU'RE NOT! Focusing on yourself is a good thing, you have to learn to be happy with yourself, proud and love who you are to then truly love someone else. You will be able to give more, you will think of others more, you wont care about what people around you think and realize that the people who do matter wont mind and the people that mind dont matter. So no, your not selfish, your just focused on growing so you will be able to share and give more. Your bettering yourself.
  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    hthrm3 wrote: »
    Great thread. I was always very fit and healthy. Five years ago my husband was diagnosed with leukemia, and at that point it was all about him. It needed to be as he needed around the clock care. I totally neglected myself and gained about 70 pounds. I lost him about 18 months ago. In May I decided that it was time to re invent myself, and let it be about me. Trying to get myself back. I am 17 pounds down and going strong. This community is so inspiring and when I want to quit I just get on these boards for motivation. I wish everyone the best of luck, and positive energy. Never quit!

    So sorry for your loss, I can not imagine going through that. Just know hes looking down on you and he is proud of the person you are becoming, think of how he would want you to feel, I guarantee he wants you to be happy, do it for him as well, he is watching you overcome your struggles, watching you become stronger, hes cheering you on. Bless you, excited to see you grow.
  • Panda8ach
    Panda8ach Posts: 518 Member
    My motivation is my health, my mental health :) Emotional intensity disorder or BPD has me struggling with emotions and the thoughts that go with them. Hate is such a harsh emotion to feel when I look at myself and I don't think I deserve it....
  • silverstarrlyte
    silverstarrlyte Posts: 83 Member
    Well, when I was young, I was very fit. I loved working out, and had a natural lean body, that with a little work, i was able to keep well into my late 30's (I had a 6 pack, and cut arms and legs from lifting weights). Then the 40's happened, along with lots of life issues. Divorce, I lost a bunch of weight and was running alll the time, then I ripped my calf muscle almost in half. Now I am 45, and gained all the weight I lost back, and a little more. SO. I am trying to figure all this out again, that was easy for me when I was younger. I just want to be able to fit into pretty clothes, be able to bend over my legs without feeling like I cant breathe, and be healthy again!!!
  • Dovely40
    Dovely40 Posts: 32 Member
    I want to age gracefully, be the fun Grandma that is active and up to try anything the children and grandchildren suggest. I want to live a long and healthy life.
  • amyteacake
    amyteacake Posts: 768 Member
    I mainly started because I didn't love myself. I wasn't happy in my body and had found it really difficult to love myself or feel positive about myself. I want to feel good about myself for once and going on this fitness journey has really helped me gain some more love and respect for myself.
  • Brabo_Grip
    Brabo_Grip Posts: 285 Member
    Ultio70 wrote: »
    I remember being a beast. I ran 6 min miles, could easily lift more than my body weight. I was a soldier in the 101st Airborne and felt like it. One long day at work changed everything. I ended up with an open compound fracture of my right femur just above my knee, my right elbow dislocated, all the bones on my right hand broken and a penetrating brain injury. I was told by everyone I was done, didn't matter what I was doing I was done. The VA doesn't even offer me physical therapy just long-term pain management. On June 7th this year I snapped. I told people with college degrees who think they're pretty important that they were wrong. I started working out at home doing push-ups sit-ups squats and planking every day. Now I'm working out in training martial arts and conditioning twice a day 3 times a week and once a day 3 days a week. I've lost 18 pounds who knows how much muscle I've gained never mind the mental clarity.

    I am not done

    No sir, I don't believe you are done. Not by a long shot.

    Do it!

  • Sthsidirish
    Sthsidirish Posts: 22 Member
    I honestly didn't start for myself. Show of hands, who else spent years taking care of others at the expense of yourself? While I had known for a long time that I needed to lose weight and get healthy I honestly just didn't care enough to try. Too many serious issues to go into so we'll leave it at not caring. Then back at the beginning of May my wife of nearly 20 years decided she wanted to shed some extra pounds. A week into it I asked her if it would be easier for her if she had a partner. She said yes so I joined her. Fast forward 3 1/2 months and as of last Friday's "scale check" I'm down 44 pounds and a little over 1/3 of the way to my goal. I'm feeling great and for the first time, in probably forever, I believe I can do this and will be successful. As for the reasons... initially it was to be supportive and a cheerleader for my wife. It's still that reason but I'd have to say about the time I dropped that third pant size it became about me too.

    P.S. For anyone new to this journey. If you are doing it with your wife as I am.....be careful about sharing your successes with her. The unfairness of the male versus female/muscle mass/weight loss thing is real and if she isn't losing as fast as you...and you bring up your loses...well, I hope you have a comfy couch, lol.
  • David_Marquiss
    David_Marquiss Posts: 86 Member
    Sthsidirish wrote: »
    I honestly didn't start for myself. Show of hands, who else spent years taking care of others at the expense of yourself? While I had known for a long time that I needed to lose weight and get healthy I honestly just didn't care enough to try. Too many serious issues to go into so we'll leave it at not caring. Then back at the beginning of May my wife of nearly 20 years decided she wanted to shed some extra pounds. A week into it I asked her if it would be easier for her if she had a partner. She said yes so I joined her. Fast forward 3 1/2 months and as of last Friday's "scale check" I'm down 44 pounds and a little over 1/3 of the way to my goal. I'm feeling great and for the first time, in probably forever, I believe I can do this and will be successful. As for the reasons... initially it was to be supportive and a cheerleader for my wife. It's still that reason but I'd have to say about the time I dropped that third pant size it became about me too.

    P.S. For anyone new to this journey. If you are doing it with your wife as I am.....be careful about sharing your successes with her. The unfairness of the male versus female/muscle mass/weight loss thing is real and if she isn't losing as fast as you...and you bring up your loses...well, I hope you have a comfy couch, lol.

    You are an amazing life partner man, there needs to be more men who step up with love and respect for thier wifes!! You are an awesome example!

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