What was YOUR final straw to finally make a change?

JenniferAndres

Having to go sit in the car and wait for my husband to finish a zip line course while we were on vacation together- because I exceeded the weight limit for the zipline. I cried while he was out because I was so disappointed and Jealous that I couldn’t do it too.

toki33

I had a spinal injury last summer and was immobile for several months. My weight made it very difficult to do anything for myself, and I was stuck on the couch unable to move at all. I was in some of the worst pain, physically and emotionally, I’ve ever been in and had to go to the hospital in a wheelchair. While I was waiting to use the bathroom in one of the labs, a lady came out of the restroom also in a wheelchair. She was slightly bigger than I was, much older, but what struck me were her legs. They were dark purple and close to amputation. She looked at me in my chair and said “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. I warmed the seat up for ya.” It was my “scared straight” moment. I was tired of actively killing myself and being unable to do anything for myself. I still have days where it’s difficult to get out of bed, but I’m now able to walk and even lift some weights on my own after less than a year.

springlering62

Doctor gave me a prescription for thyroid meds at my physical last September, along with the usual food group/weight loss handout she gives me every visit. Read the warnings that came with the pills, and it scared the bejesus out of me. Pulled that handout back out of the trash and got down to business. I just lost a quarter of my starting weight as of last week. MFP has been a godsend. The actual app, and the community’s advice, debates, success stories, all of it. I would not be here without MFP. Four more pounds to “normal” BMI. Then I guess I’ll revisit the goals.

iRyanS

I had gone to a sporting event back in November 2017. Though the walk from the parking lot to the stadium was just a couple blocks away, it took the wind out of me. I was in constant pain the moment I had to walk or stand for a period of time longer than 5 minutes. It was embarrassing.

Here I am now, March 2019, sitting 198 pounds lighter since November 2017. It was a wake up call I'll never forget.

JaiRocket

I went to urgent care because my neck and back locked up (happens occasionally after a car accident). I went in hoping for relief. I had just had a physical and had tipped the scales at the highest weight yet. When I got there my heart was racing, presumably from pain. But given my weight and symptoms they started to do some extra tests... The doctor looked at me and said, " You know why we are doing this?" And I did. They thought I was having a heart attack. I wasn't, thank God. The next week I started working out and tracking calories. That was a year ago and I'm 40lbs almost 50lbs down... I may have slow progress, but it is progress. And I'll NEVER go back.

BonnieHosk85

These stories are heart-breaking, but also so inspiring!! My breaking point was this past November. Not sure I can name one specific thing but waking up every morning with guilt and shame for how I treated myself the day before finally got to me and on November 30th, after a conversation with my sister, I decided to join MFP and get my act together. On December 1st, my friend took this photo of me with the instructor at our carry class. She's actually in the photo but cropped herself out. LOL! Anyway, been going strong since December 1st and have lost 18 pounds so far. It's taking longer than I'd like, but I'm in it to win it, so however long it takes. It's killing me to post this photo, but here goes. And, I no longer wake up feeling like a failure. I'm exercising at least 20 minutes every single day and I feel great about myself now.

jaybirdaz79

After fancying myself as the "thin one" in my family for decades, two things happened to get my attention that things had indeed changed. 1) I commented at a family dinner that my jeans must have shrunk again, and darn that dryer....one of my cousins said "Nah, you're just getting old." 2) At a family reunion at the beach, I was wearing some white capris. I was playing with the kids in the waves, and got soaked. When I got back home, the same cousin sent a photo of me from behind in the waves. My butt looked as big as the freakin' Grand Canyon, and for the first time, I felt fat and old. I had to accept that I was not the thin one anymore, having gained 30 pounds in 2 years. Could I blame menopause? Sure, but that's a cop out to me and doesn't help me.

So, I got an old photo of me at the Grand Canyon at my trim weight, stuck it on my fridge, joined MFP and started seriously going to my local gym. I'm down 12 pounds so far, moving in the right direction.

BonnieHosk85

@pjayperrin, I don't know about that cousin of yours!! Congrats on your loss so far! That's awesome!

NCK96

I’ve been going to a naturopath for the past few months because I’ve been anxious, tired, and just feeling old. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, PCOS, and Epstein Barr. After several months of medication, replacement hormones and supplements that didn’t improve anything dramatically she finally looked me in the eye in January and told me nothing she did would really help me until I lost 50 lbs. I knew I was chunky, but hearing her say that was a huge kick in the pants. I changed my eating and exercise from that moment on.

sabinaholtby

I saw a picture of myself and I was wearing a jacket I wear often.... I liked like a cartoon character! Down 9 lbs!

That was this time. It's been a journey after every pregnancy.

opa1

Not looking the way I wanted to look. Got tired of starting a diet and quiting again with diets for years.

jaybirdaz79

@JaiRocket Wow! That is fabulous progress. More power to you!

saynventeen

Stretch marks that seriously took toll with my body. Its growing in my arms and super insecure about it. 😢

mymillsap

I need knee replacement surgery & the surgeon said I have to lose 45 lbs first.

jonniemomof9ak

Tierd of bodily aches & pains. I want my muscle tone to support my joints.

no1elseislikeme

I was always in the upper limits of a healthy and safe BMI for my height, 5’6 and 144 lbs, and I didn’t want that to tip over into an overweight BMI. I also have significant cardiovascular issues on both sides of my family and I really want to avoid developing a cardiovascular issue if I can. I was 24 at the time that I started and my thought process was basically, lose the weight now when I have the benefit of my 20 something metabolism. I’m now 26 and have I successfully kept most of it, with the exception of a recent 3 lb weight gain which has sent me back up to 122 and which I’m actively working to lose, off.

AbbieOffman

Seeing pictures of my face and realizing I don't look like me anymore. I went from heartshape to square - around my mouth looks so different now. I really want my belly gone, but i want my old face back even more.

shunggie

I had two of these epiphanies.
The first was in 2001/2002. I had been diagnosed with MS and felt helpless against what it was doing to my body. At the time I weighed 275/280 pounds at 5 ft 1 inch. I started to lose weight because I couldn't control MS but I could control my weight. At that time I lost 125 pounds and my symptoms lessened. Unfortunately I gained back around half of it. When I tell this story I used to give the excuse of my grandmother and mother's illnesses but those are just excuses.

The most recent was last year. My boyfriend had been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (cancer). He was fighting for his life and my fat *kitten* was sitting around feeling sorry for myself. I started to realize (thankfully) that my weight was going up again like it had done when my Mom got sick. I got off my butt and started working out and tracking again. It's funny the weight is not coming off as quickly as it did 18 years ago but I think I'm actually healthier because I'm focusing more on exercise and eating right instead of just keeping calories below a certain number.

ellebl

My Mom posted a photo of me and her I looked like a whale next to her. I was at the largest I had ever been at 180lb. When I told my coworkers they were shocked how much I weighed compared to how I looked but looking at photos from me 10 years ago to now its heart breaking to think back then I thought I was fat at my dream goal weight now.

julesdechaine

I recently went through a nasty divorce and put on about 40 lbs throughout the process; I am now in a healthy relationship but neither of us are very healthy physically. We recently traveled out of state and did a lot of walking, including some hills, and it hit me just how out of shape I was. I have body issues with my weight, and so I am less confident in our sexual relationship, thus encouraging me to lose this weight. Just started back up this week, had one slip up, and am down .5 lbs. About 10 years ago, I was able to successfully lose 60 lbs of baby weight without a fad diet - just portion control and exercise, and so I am sure I can do it again!

runnermom419

My doctor told me to either get weight loss surgery or go on prescription weight loss drugs. Decided I wanted to do neither and started watching what I ate.

RunStart34

My mom weight herself in front of me and i noticed i was only about 4 pounds less then her. I didn't even have kids or was married to blame it else where. Freaked me out and started losing weight. I am now 45lbs less with 20 more to go until i hit my goal weight.

coogar71

I woke up last Thursday night feeling like the room was pulsating. I decided to take my blood pressure; it was 189/110. Friday morning I started eating healthy, no sugar, salt, wine, caffeine. Blood tests also showed inflammation in my liver. Being thin, wanting to be healthy didn't motivate me to lose weight nearly as much as thinking I was going to die if I didn't.