What was the moment? When did you decide to take back control?

SaintGiff

When she ignored my safe word

ShatteredLady

...When I fell down at an optician's office and couldn't get up off the floor. They had to close the office, call EMS and they stood me up. I sat down to get my bearings before leaving the office, but because of my feeling mortified that I had gotten this bad, I hurried out... and- Fell again this time on the pavement and hit my head against the curb. The EMS guys had to come back- stand me back up and asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I said no. My partner came to get me.
The next morning, I tried to stand up to go to the bathroom and fell again. Couldn't get back up. Had to have EMS come back over to get me... and this time, I asked to go to the hospital. They ran test after test, finding that I have several issues with metabolism including both hypothyroidism and polycystic ovarian syndrome. I also have severe depression (no kidding, right?) -- people have always made fun of me. I stopped looking in mirrors years and years ago...so I didn't really know how bad it really was.
And I wouldn't have accepted it in my mind if I had been directly confronted by a mirror or picture of myself.

I weighed 555 lbs that day in the hospital. I was admitted and stayed in the hospital for 4 days. Then released. It was that moment at home that I decided that I had to do something about it. I searched online and found MFP and decided it would help me be realistic about what I was eating and find a way to lower the amount of food I took in.

Since that day back in May of 2017- I have lost 272 lbs with no skin removal yet. No bariatric surgery although my doctor keeps recommending it to me and referring me to surgeons.. I know it might help, intially. But I am in this for the long haul. It might take me longer to reach my final goal, but I haven't seen this side of 300lbs since I was in middle school. So, although I am not yet at my goal weight (which for me personally is 200-220lbs...) I am getting there slowly, but surely.

And, even though my knees still are messed up, severe arthritis in both of them and my hips and back, I CAN WALK WITHOUT MY WALKER now. Yay! I will keep working on this. I will not give in again to the food- because the pain I lived in all my life has been a hell of my own making. I will keep on doing what I am doing until I reach a more reasonable weight. My doctor says to me all the time: "You are amazing. You are my inspiration and I hope will inspire others. You are at a "manageable" weight now." I feel proud talking with him. Not embarrassed. And even though I have hanging skin that is unsightly, it is healthier than the weight I carried around for my entire life.

MaggieGirl135

@hrbulmer As I was reading your post, I was thinking, you are amazing, and read a few more sentences down that your doctor voices this, as well. Just had to tell you..you are amazing!

themommie

We had had the kids and grandkids over for a birthday barbque for my husband and I realized I didnt enjoy myself because of my health. I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and hypothyroidism, bulging discs, bone spurs, mild scolosis.. I decided that I needed to get healthy and do what I could to improve my health and to enjoy life again. I lost 135 lbs since that day 10 yrs ago and have kept it off until covid. I have gained 10lbs back in the last year so i am back on here again, before my weight gets out of hand again. I have lost 2 lbs in the last 2 weeks, it's a start.......

wunderkindking

I have been overweight for a good 20 years and fine with it. Then covid hit, and life lost all meaning and I ate a lot. The turn around point was three fold:
I felt my double chin against my neck when I was laying down to read (ick)
that prompted me to get a scale.
THAT showed me I was officially obese.

And, okay, 4. The studies about obesity being a risk factor for severe covid were all over the news.

I am now NINE pounds from healthy weight (though more from ideal) and much happier (and less panicky) in general.

kristelp2

My husband and I both decided when we both noticed we were constantly feeling bad, .clothes looked bad on us and we just were "fed up!:" We started last January. Subsequently, he has lost over 100 lbs and I over 30 lbs (I didn't have as much to lose) and we both feel much better! He did almost no exercise at the start, then we adopted a dog and walk him daily. It really helps motivate us to help him get his steps in!

Sand_TIger

I've posted here before and realized there is one other "moment" that really had an impact on me. It was a news article about how a weightlifting grandmother beat up an intruder in her New York apartment. She was 82, currently a competitive powerlifter, and could deadlift 235 at a fairly small physical size.

Always before I had though "I'm too old to really become strong, I need to focus on other things" and then I found out that she started her lifting when she was in her sixties or seventies. Not when she was young! And that made a light switch flip inside... "if she can do that, then it's not too later for me." Then the weight loss challenge started at work and I decided to give it my all and the rest is history.

86 pounds gone - 20-30 to go!

NecessaryChange

WELL.. I had the moment hundreds of times in my 29 years of being obese and morbidly obese, and MORBIDLY morbidly obese. But the one that sparked my current weight loss was a video I stumbled across while browsing youtube, downing a 2 liter of diet coke and a plate of torino's pizza rolls to distract myself until I could fall asleep (depressing, I know). I watched a success story on a guy named wettyb from bodybuilding.com.. he was fairly similar to me but with a much more difficult situation financial situation and some health issues that made things much harder.. watching him struggle and work his *kitten* off shedding the pounds and being able to re-enter society just.. spoke to me. It's what I always wanted.. I wanted to live, go out, drive, have a job, hang out with friends. But I had given up and hid away from the world for 13yrs after dropping out of high school. So I cut soda from day 1, downloaded mfp and just watched what I ate while researching and slowly adapting little changes and small walks with my pups around the yard.. and here I am 🙂. I honestly never expected it to work. I assumed I'd just be a sad sack for a few more years and pass in my sleep or from a heart attack. I was in a bad place. I hope your journey is going well! And my sad little story can motivate you in some way 😜. Have a great weekend!

lilchubbymama

Honestly? Hearing about otherwise healthy but overweight people that I know die of Covid. I have 3 young children and I will do absolutely EVERYTHING within my power to be here for as long as possible for them. The pandemic feels so out of my control but THIS is within my control.

Janatki

MaggieGirl135 wrote: »

@hrbulmer As I was reading your post, I was thinking, you are amazing, and read a few more sentences down that your doctor voices this, as well. Just had to tell you..you are amazing!

I could’nt agree @MaggieGirl - @hrblmer, reading your post I was just going wow, wow after each obstacle you’ve come across. I am in total awe & inspired to do this after a bumpy weekend Thanks for sharing ❤️

rawrxamberx

I was aimlessly scrolling on tik tok and I heard this quote and it just made something click in my head like my lightbulb turned on! I was tired of feeling miserable and ready for me to be happy again!

The quote was “You control your mind, don’t let your mind control you.”

It’s something so simple yet so true. I had given up so badly that I just didn’t care what I ate and did whatever. Not only did I gain weight, but my body would constantly hurt and feel so uncomfortable.

Ever since I started getting serious, all I’ve felt is happiness and I feel amazing again! You truly have to do things for you if you expect results!

FABRICWOMAN

FABRICWOMAN wrote: »

My wake up moment was when I went to the orthopedic surgeon July 2020 ready to commit to double knee replacement surgery, and he told me he would not operate until I lost 100 lbs. I am currently down 50+ lbs. Needless to say at the time I was disappointed. I had started eating 2 to 3 pints of Ben and Jerry a week when COVID-19 hit back in March. My logic was if I was going to catch it and die, I would at least be happy for a while. Well I am still here, and hoping to reach the goal by April of 2021. My greatest wish is that the Dr. will tell me with the weight loss I will no longer need the surgery. Wish me luck!

UPDATE: As of today I have lost a total of 95 lbs. I think I'm going to make that goal of 100 lbs. to lose by 4/14/21.

rosiekin

When I could hardly get out of bed or go down the stairs easily first thing in the morning because I was SO stiff, coupled with the GP telling me I had dangerously high cholesterol. Both were the final straw, after spending the majority of the past 30 years as obese, and I told myself enough is enough. I’m now over 6 stone lighter and have maintained that weight loss since 2015.

RetiredAndLovingIt

@FABRICWOMAN A plant based blogger I follow had been told to lose 70# in order to get both knees replaced. Lost the weight (&more) and knees no longer hurt & didn’t need the surgery. There’s always hope!

FABRICWOMAN

RetiredAndLovingIt wrote: »

@FABRICWOMAN A plant based blogger I follow had been told to lose 70# in order to get both knees replaced. Lost the weight (&more) and knees no longer hurt & didn’t need the surgery. There’s always hope!

Thank you for posting back to me. I do appreciate your helpful information. What is the name of the plant based blogger. I am not 100% plant base eating, but I am doing more now. I feel that it is helping me to continue losing weight. (319 to 223 lbs. so far). My knees do feel much better. I have been doing knee strengthening exercises, and hopefully when I see my orthopedic surgeon in two weeks he will tell me surgery is not necessary now. Thanks for your reply.

BeccaTheWanderer

When I was driving and realized I could feel my side fat squishing against my hip fat

applcorp

Renaissance faire - I've been susceptible to heat exhaustion for most of my adult life, but the ren faire just about did me in. Working in direct sunlight in late June is bad enough, but the extra weight was not doing me any favors. I blamed it on my past experiences until I saw one of the many, many pictures from faire that year. Yeah, it wasn't just that. I decided I wasn't going to get sick anymore, and I definitely needed to get rid of that "over-inflated tired" look I had going on around my waist. The first year back after losing some of that weight was so much easier. I have more to go, but it's already been an improvement.

sclady21

Germank106 wrote: »

In November of last year I sat on the Computer and, without warning, started sweating profusely and getting incredible dizzy. Every time I so much as blinked it felt like the floor was rushing at me. DH called an Ambulance and several hours later I was released without a diagnosis.
The doctor told me that he thought at first that I had a stroke, but now was not sure. My systolic blood pressure (the top number) was sky high (196) and he thought I needed to be treated at least for that. He also thought I have some heart issues and kindly gave me a script for a beta blocker (Metropolol).
I have no insurance so following up with a regular doctor is out of the question. The clinic here is asking for $200 just to walk in the door and there is only one low-income clinic 20 miles away and they are not accepting new patients. The medicine took care of the dizziness and I let this go for a few months.
Then something finally clicked in my brain and I knew I needed to do something other than to feel sorry for myself and complain about all the things I CAN'T do. Instead I started focusing on the things I CAN do.
I started talking to friends and family to build a support system and then did a lot of research into different eating plans. One of our friends had bariatric surgery last year and he became my mentor. I can't have the surgery, but there is no way that I cannot eat as if I couldn't have it.
I started with a clear liquid diet for three days, progressed to regular liquids for three and soft foods for two. That alone made me feel better, no more liver pain for me. It also made me much more aware of portion size. I'm continuing the bariatric diet with very high protein and small portions and lots of liquids. For the first month that means not much calories, but lots of nutrients. I don't get much exercise yet because it is still super painful to do, so I keep Calories low.
It seems to be working for me. I am not hungry; I learned to drink first when I feel "empty", chances are the empty feeling goes away. I have regular meal times now instead of cooking/eating willy-nilly throughout the day. DH has been super supportive. Previously when I was on a "diet" he would bring home Pizza, Burgers, Tacos. Now he picks out recipes for me and with me and told me he was proud of me for doing this. I'm truly blessed. I'm down to six pounds (280 from 286) after 2 weeks and see no reason why my goal of losing 110 pounds by Christmas of 2021 is not attainable.

I hope you are feeling better. I had those symptoms when I had afib.

RetiredAndLovingIt

@FABRICWOMAN It is “Esther’s Nutritional Journey” on Facebook. She asks you to answer 2 questions & then you are in her group where she does a motivational word video each day & also shows pictures of exactly what she eats each day. My sis & bil are totally plant based, no oil, but I am not yet. Esther is very encouraging. She is totally WFPBNO.

meredithschmidt4

when I got my first continuous glucose meter for my diabetes

Toria718

I am adopted, my biological mom told me in December that muscular dystrophy runs in her family.That clicked a little bit, but not 100%. I lost about 5 lbs in 2 months.

What was the final nail in the coffin as far, as holding back goes, is when I got sick in February. I could not eat without being sick ( turned out to be a lady hormone issue ) my boyfriend recommended that I eat within my food allergy restrictions and not divulge for a week and see how that turns out. I felt better and better as the days went on.

Since doing that I have dropped 14 lb since mid February and still cry sometimes when I think about that food I can't eat because it makes me sick...

I am allergic to all fruits I have access to including tomato, allergic to soy, lactose intolerant, do not have a gallbladder anymore so fats are an issue, and too much breads or pasta make me sick ( gluten intolerance not allergy) and can not have nuts...yeah lol

All of that being said I lost too quickly at first. I am quickly finding more foods that I can eat am I am also finally leveling off to be more healthy rate of loss.

I love this new version of my life. I am ready to finally take control of my life. It helps this time around to have someone who loves me and is the support I need... because sometimes you need someone to hold you when you get tipsy and cry about the honey bbq flavor twist Fritos you can't have because of the tomato lol

natishachauhan

My last physical about three weeks ago -- my doctor put me on diabetic medication, I gained a good 15 lbs, my cholesterol level worsened... and not being able to wear the clothes I wore before and feel pretty... my self-confidence plummeted, I felt like a loser and I felt very unattractive... enough is enough!

skafka74

I thought I'd reached that moment when my doctor had to prescribe medication to slow down my heart rate because I was obese with a mitral valve prolapse. That wasn't it though. What finally did it for me was the day I got out of breath and started sweating from carrying groceries up my stairs. I'm 4 weeks in and I've lost just over 9 pounds.

SabrinaJL

When I stepped on the scale and I was at 245 lbs. I just couldn't let myself hit 250 lbs. I started paying attention to my calories and took up running and got down to 173. That was about 10 years ago and I've gained a little bit back (14 lbs up from my lowest after my initial weight loss, but I'm getting back to it now).

NC_Girl

danipatt1216 wrote: »

I........ because sometimes you need someone to hold you when you get tipsy and cry about the honey bbq flavor twist Fritos you can't have because of the tomato lol

Crack me up! Hahaha.... I can't eat just one... That's why I can't eat them and it makes me want to cry too!

JustJenn68

My doctor told me if I don't get my weight under control she was going to put me blood pressure pills and diabetes medication.
It was going to cost me $65.00 a month. Quick math proved it would cost me $780.00 year and after 20 years, I'm looking at almost $20 000.
Frankly I'll lose the weight and keep the money.

riffraff2112

When I realized I hadn't weighed myself in nearly three years for fear of actually having solid evidence that I let things slip. It was time to face the issue and deal with it.

sarahlouell11

Off the back of a long breakup from my controlling narcissistic ex... I'd been unhappy in the relationship for a while and turned to comfort food and started to hate everything about myself, but I was determined to change that and now; three lockdowns, a whole load of willpower and determination and a journey inspired by an amazing personal trainer later I've learnt to love myself and be super confident about the person that I am!

PepeLPew

bear2303 wrote: »

Maybe it wasn't one exact moment for you but what were the things that led you to finally say enough is enough and to get serious about your health and try to lose the weight?

For me, I was driving aimlessly looking for something to pick up for lunch.

I thought mexican? Nah. I just had that the other day, Cheeseburgers nah, I had that last night, chicken nuggets? Nah going to have those for dinner. I realized in that moment that the even if I gave myself ZERO restrictions about what i could eat that still nothing sounded good because I ate all of those things with way too much regularity.

Going out to lunch wasn't special, it was just what I did every day and I realized how unhealthy and how much of a pattern it had become. After that, I restarted using MFP and started to make better choices.

What was your moment?

The lockdown. I was crushing work daily in front of a computer teaching, then I realized my 15k steps was being reduced to 2-3k a day.

I ordered a peloton, and once I actually turned it on and configured it, I've been on it daily.

My biggest fear throughout this entire year of lockdown has been emerging from it later, looking back and realizing how much time elapsed and how little I've done.

ladyoftherocks

After learning my BMI after my doctor's appointment just about 2 weeks ago.

I'd thought about losing weight for a long time and hated most photos of myself because I thought I looked too fat but I never actually thought I AM fat. I guess I thought either I'd be a little overweight or the high end of norm so I was shocked and embarrassed when my BMI was 28.2