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

janicemlove

When I weighed myself and realized I was over 200 lbs, the heaviest I've ever been, and felt and looked disgusting. I have a medical condition that makes it harder to lose weight and puts me at risk for diabetes. My blood work has always been normal but I still need to get back into shape. Heart disease and high blood pressure runs in the family and while I don't have that yet, I don't want to in the future either.

NatCat210

When I had a CT scan for a suspected hernia and my doctor called me and told me she's concerned about the fat in my liver and the possibility of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It's the first time in my life I've realized my weight is impacting my health. I have always considered myself fairly healthy with no pre-existing conditions and I take no medications. It was absolutely a wake up call that I need to get my act together for my health and for my family.

besaro

First time around, I quit playing Final Fantasy and had to do something with those extra 7 hours, decided to start walking and was googling apps that would keep me motivated out there, ran into this and said, hmmm doesnt seem too hard. Walked 2 miles a day and logged food for a week and lost 9 lbs. Was like whaaaa? over the next year lost 100 lbs.

Cut to several years later and a regain of 50 efing pounds with no excuse but, divorce, couch surfing while building a new home, (ie no stable place to cook etc) and several false restarts, including the biggest 2 week-long covid pity-party i return to what works. 13 solid pounds down now.

Still play video games btw, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most amazingly beautiful video ever. Storyline, scenery, attention to details, just dreamy.

Ke22yB

Today This is the 12 year anniversary of my "Journey to Health" I lost over 166 pounds changed my diet and stopped drinking completely. I have drifted thru the last few years maintaining within 10 or 12 pounds and have felt good. I am in NJ right in the center of the Virus and it lead me to feel sorry for myself my pool closed my running friends and I stayed apart and I gained another 10 pounds over the last 10 weeks because all my plans for how I would spend this time went out the window Canceled two vacations and one trip to see my daughters family which translates to my Grandson generally " Woe is me"
I realize how lucky I am to be healthy most of my friends and neighbors know someone who contracted the virus some recovered some died and its a terrible illness to undergo and die from.
I am 72 still run and my Drs have told me my conditioning and running would help if I contract the virus and I am neglecting that conditioning because the situation has been depressing me.
So Today to honor my 12th year Anniversary of returning to a healthy life style I am recommitting to logging everything being less casual about food choices and upping my fitness program again..
I am going to focus on how lucky I have been instead of feeling sorry for myself
Today is the first day of the rest of my life

NC_Girl

Ke22yB wrote: »

Today This is the 12 year anniversary of my "Journey to Health" I lost over 166 pounds changed my diet and stopped drinking completely. I have drifted thru the last few years maintaining within 10 or 12 pounds and have felt good. I am in NJ right in the center of the Virus and it lead me to feel sorry for myself my pool closed my running friends and I stayed apart and I gained another 10 pounds over the last 10 weeks because all my plans for how I would spend this time went out the window Canceled two vacations and one trip to see my daughters family which translates to my Grandson generally " Woe is me"
I realize how lucky I am to be healthy most of my friends and neighbors know someone who contracted the virus some recovered some died and its a terrible illness to undergo and die from.
I am 72 still run and my Drs have told me my conditioning and running would help if I contract the virus and I am neglecting that conditioning because the situation has been depressing me.
So Today to honor my 12th year Anniversary of returning to a healthy life style I am recommitting to logging everything being less casual about food choices and upping my fitness program again..
I am going to focus on how lucky I have been instead of feeling sorry for myself
Today is the first day of the rest of my life

You are a true inspiration!!!!

becca_rup23

Had a moment this morning where I saw someone else's post about onederland and realized I haven't been there in a while, and when I was under 200lbs I'd told myself I wouldn't go back over. I'm 35lbs over right now after a mix of stress, meds, and overeating and it's time to get back down!

asathefatty

I started dating this guy, who essentially told me what I needed to hear. Not that I was fat, or ugly or horrible. But I was beautiful and he wants a future with me and he wants both of us to be the best we can possibly be. He said he's been struggling with his weight too and we can motivate each other in all aspects of life. That's when I thought, you know what? I don't need another cheeseburger. I need this man in my life and I want to be the best I can be, because we both deserve it.

MichelleWithMoxie

I am really searching for that moment for me. I feel a bit lost down an unhealthy rabbit hole.

Kekibird

It was Tuesday of this week. I'm a teacher so I'm on the computer having class by conference video calls and I could see it in my face. I looked puffy and unwell. I'd gained back half of what I'd lost before the current situation we're in. So I decided to get back on the horse and start over.

ehleeda

When i realized that my 40lbs has been holding me back from dating, because of my lack of confidence. I think i was hiding behind the weight and lying to myself. Believing that i had time, that its ok to have a down year, that the right man would like how i was, that i should rock what i got. Except that i didn't rock the plush look. Instead....i became a hermit all of last year, while i grieved for my mother. So,Wednesday i decided that that was it. I need to get a grip of this.... despite friggen covd19.

50ishy

I've been 304-306 lbs for 2 years now. I lose 3, I gain 5, and stay around the same...First 6 weeks of quarantine I ate whatever and still stayed the same, then one day I got on the scale and I was 309? Then a few days later after Mother's day, it was 314! 4 pounds from my highest ever and that came from a lot of trauma. It's been 4 years since then...What was I doing to myself? I thought I was eating ok, not great but not tons of food. So I logged 5 full days in a row without looking at the totals. Every bite, every chip, every calorie I put in my mouth. Well, damn! I was 2 to 3 times my 1600 calories each day, fat was insanely high, carbs were high and sodium was up to 6000 mg in a day. I have pre-diabetes and high blood pressure. My fiber and protein were low. It was the same all 5 days. I was truly shocked. So I've been on track since...

mjglantz

Two moments: first was the morning after a night of overdoing it and I realized that my weight and drinking too much was going to kill me and I had to do something or I would soon be fatter and fatter and not able to do the things I wanted to do. Decided to not diet and take it slowly as this was for life. Set a goal on the low end of "overweight"
Second thing: Got there and had a heart attack. Committed to getting my weight in the "normal" BMI and to exercise and continue with the healthy eating and to keep my heart healthy! have been at or under that goal for over 7 years!

sunshine12303

when my husband served me a half bag of ravioli because he told me he knew I would eat it. he does this all the time.

dianastepheny

I have had more than a few "aha" moments over the decades. However, I think this is the final one. I was tired of feeling like I've worked out when all I did was hold my breath to tie my shoes. I was tired of going up the stairs at work and having the phone have the horrible timing to ring as I enter my office. Nothing causes panic like trying not to sound like an obscene phone caller to a client, and speaking in an unnatural stilted way between gasps for air.. wonderful....But, the best one ( and final straw) was when my overflowing belly just couldn't be contained in my jeans, not even as a muffintop. Instead, by the end of the workday, the button had carved a hole into my flab. A very sensitive, painful sore that required a band-aid on it for over a week. Meanwhile, it caused nonstop pain and frustration. It hurt all day long ( no matter what I wore, the button or waistline rubbed and pressed against it) Even a skirt has a waist, so does underwear. Pretty sure you can't go to work bottomless....last I checked. So, since I didn't have the money for new clothes or the desire to invest in larger clothes, weight loss was the answer. I have over a hundred pounds to get rid of. Message delivered, and point made, by a little metal button.I plan on cutting that button off of those jeans, and placing it in a prominent place in my house where it can act as a reminder that excessive weight will affect your physical well being ( obviously in greater ways...diabetes, heart issues, etc) and overall comfort level. That was just my wake up call.

doutri2

The day I stepped on the scale and saw a number I haven't had since being pregnant 14 years ago. Also, when I went to put on a pair of shorts for summer and I couldn't button the button. I knew I had to get back to tracking. I am active, but I need to be more intentional about choosing metabolism revving activities.

siremidor

I broke 300 pounds. My previous high was 292 pounds and I swore I would never get heavier. Then 5 years later, after up and down and up and down ... I broke 300. So now it is time to start working seriously and making a permanent lifestyle change.

gauravsp7

I gained 10lbs since covid shelter in place and the sedentary lifestyle was not helping.. I decided to take back control.. A little too late but better late then never.. Was not happy looking in the mirror and all my clothes were not fitting as well as they used to.. wake up call..

AnnPT77

It was a two-phase thing:

First, I had just reached the end of my rope with denial: I'd been convincing myself that my being very active/pretty fit (which I was) was more important than the fact that I was still just over the line into obese BMI.

I tried various dietary changes, but still couldn't bring down my high cholesterol/triglycerides. (I also had high blood pressure, and severe but well-medicated hypothyroidism - context.) My doctor was pressing harder for me to take statins, and I didn't want to do it - I figured I'd already given up enough cognitive bandwith to chemotherapy (for stage III breast cancer) around 12 years earlier, and couldn't afford to lose more smarts (common side effect of statins, too). So, I started losing weight.

That might not have stuck long-term, but then I suddenly started having bad heartburn and serious reflux for the first time in my life. After various diagnostic dead ends, I was was diagnosed with gallbladder adenomyomatosis. That's not the normal stones/sludge, but rather an inflammatory/cholesterol-related thing that can be associated with gallbladder cancer. When they took it out, the pathology report was horrifying: Happily no malignancy, but it had numerous holes in it, and was basically just a cholesterolized, mucked-up hunk of damaged tissue.

That sealed the deal on my commitment, and MFP made the process so simple: Like a fun science-fair project for grown-ups!

So, bottom line: Back in 2015, at age 59-60, I lost from obese (BMI 30.4) to a healthy weight (below BMI 20 at lowest). I've noodled up and down within a healthy range since (BMI 19.3-23 at extremes of ups/downs) for the 4+ years since, currently BMI 21.5 (5'5", 129.4 pounds this morning) at age 64 - same weight range as in my 20s, lightest of my adult life.

I continue to be quite active, as I was when obese. I haven't really changed what I eat, over the whole process, just changed portion size and relative proportions, mostly. (I was already eating a lot of healthy foods, been vegetarian for 45 years.)

I wish I'd been smart enough to do this decades ago: So. Much. Better!

tehash276

Seeing a picture of me holding my niece. I got on the scale and I was 20 lbs heavier! I was like NOPE! Now I am back on here to finally lose the 60 lbs I have been putting off. I have to lose this weight!

chatnel

When I realised I weigh the same as I did when I was 9 months pregnant

Quasita

I had this quiet moment after cooking what was a planned self-sabotage binge, which I used to do often... I would buy a lot of stuff to eat in order to eat until it hurt because I thought I was unlovable. I was already fat, I was always going to be fat in the eyes of others, and I was always told that I would not be wanted because of it. I had a moment of clarity where I realized that it wasn't about food addiction or any of the classic stuff people would blame, but rather about hating myself and a manifestation of a long-standing eating disorder pattern.

Realizing I was participating in self-harm was the first moment. The second phase was about knowing that I would live until I died, and that certain things make living more miserable than others. One of those things was being bigger than any clothing store could clothe. I decided that I might as well make the time between now and the day I die the least miserable.

I can't say that had I know ahead of time just how much it would cost me to chase this goal aggressively that I would still have chosen to lose the weight in this way... but I can say that discovering the root as being self-harm and not an addiction to food or compulsion to eat (as soooo many people assume you have to have in order to get as fat as I was) really opened up a whole new wave of repair in my life, including a pathway to being more mentally healthy overall. Losing the weight I have lost is one of the few things I can point to in my life as a tangible and obvious representation of the change in my self-esteem and value.

elisa123gal

I give myself and every person reading this thread a hall pass for gaming weight during the quarantine. I bet almost every American will be 10 to 30 pounds heavier when this crisis ends.

I did a lot of nervous drinking and eating those first two months. It is ridiculous that the collective health of all of us could be more damaged from weight gain than from the threat of getting the virus.

Anyway.. I hit a wall last week..and since then I've had the eye of the tiger. I getting my fit body back and willing to do the work. We all get a do over on this one.

xionitamiakuma

Lost control over my weight over 7 years ago. I had my daughter 2 and half years ago and since then been a stay at home mom.I was a security guard before... Doing 12h walking around all day. I want to be healthy for her... I weighted myself... I was heavier than when I was 9 months pregnant. I was 250 Lbs for 5 foot 8(172cm)... I felt horrible.On February 2020 I started gym sessions 2-4 times a week (30 minutes cardio and 30 minutes muscles). It closed down due to Corona on march 13th. I decided to take walks. I have bad knees (most of my family have their knee replace at 50 years old). Two of my friends who have been struggling with weight loss asked to join them on their journey of them eating better on april 4th. I found this app. My boyfriend (he's 232 he has a belly but otherwise pretty in shape) started working out from home (30 minute session squats, plank ...) I started that as well 4-5 times a week for almost 2 months. I'm down 237 Lbs and I have no intention of going back up!

robinhager3998

When my doctor, that never has discussed my weight, came in and started talking about weight loss surgery! When I said "hell no" he suggested diet pills. He knows I have a history of atrial fibrillation and insomnia, yet he prescribes me a stimulant. I was appalled. I am going to show everyone what I can do for myself without using artificial measures. I may find a new doctor!

kodakslim

The moment for me was when I was a few months postpartum and I was still wearing maternity clothes because nothing would fit me anymore. I couldn’t get my usual jeans past my knees, my body repulsed me and I just felt horrible with no confidence at all.

motivatedmoi

My moment is today! I knew I had gained weight but today, the scale told me I weigh more than I did when I was 9 mths pregnant with my second. Shocked. Horrified! Determined!! This is happening, I can't live like this. Please add me if you would like!

craicrai715

The moment for me was when I looked in the mirror and didn’t like the way that I looked and stepping on the scale and seeing that I had gained even more weight. I always carry my weight mostly in my abs and it shows in my back and face. I usually will start exercising and give up because the weight isn’t dropping off as fast as I would like. My goal is to not have high blood pressure anymore and have flat abs with no back rolls or muffin tops. It has been very difficult but I know that I can do this and the MyFitnessPal app is helping me stay on track with my nutritional goals.

briankch

being dumped by long distance ex-girlfriend and realized i have gained 10lbs for unlimited and uncontrolled snacks and beers..i have to be good and make she regrets!

torih941

I had a regular check-up appointment and was told that my cholesterol was something that I should start monitoring. I drove home crying, I'm 24 years old and possibly looking being put on medication because of my diet. A lot of health risks run in my family, but I would rather know that I did everything I could on my end to prevent it instead of not trying at all.

So, I signed up for an introductory weight-lifting class at my college to get the ball rolling and have been going on ever since!

AquaMeow

I took back my life and controlled my eating habits when it was a struggle to go up the stairs after having a whole pizza.