What was your "last straw"???

lisabinco

I saw my reflection in a store window and was shocked at the unhealthy, matronly-looking woman who stared back at me.

I was almost 60 pounds overweight then (2 years ago), stressed out, recovering from a bad case of pneumonia and some knee surgery, with high blood pressure (+ meds), a chronic facial rash, aching joints, swollen ankles and feeling older than my age. That matronly woman looking back at me was a shocker! (It didn't help that I'd decided to stop coloring my hair by then.) I already knew what I needed to do. I made the commitment and, like the Nike commercial, I just did it. One day at a time.
Today I am 10 pounds from my goal weight, with no rash, no joint pain, no medications -- feeling and looking so much better!
P.S. I still don't color my hair. Want a sure-fire way to look younger? Get back to a normal weight. It will take years off you, guaranteed!

recriger

You asked for a "last straw". But I have always felt that my "last" was actually the third in a trifecta. Just a tad spread out in time:) I was so tired from reason #2 that the whole year is visualized as basically "1" experience in my memory. An odd sensation to say the least.

1: Developed Plantar fasciitis--got angry

2: Developed Sleep apnea and had to use a C-PAP (which was never comfortable) -got tired.

3: The last was the day my daughter was born. Not only did I look like an over inflated tick in the temporary scrubs (not really scrubs, but a 1 piece sterile thing) I was given for the C-section, but back in the room I was wearing what I thought was a nice polo shirt. It suddenly struck me that I couldn't lift my arms at all without the shirt lifting and exposing my belly to the world. I said something inapropriate and stepped on the scale in the corner of the room; mentally staggered as a flowing feeling of shock wash over me as the number stabolized at 100lbs greater than when I left the service. --ignored it momentarilly and got a baby girl.

(It was a very momentary shock within a 3 day birthing experience, I don't want to give the impression that it consumed me:) I realized it, then went back to the party with the new baby. I saved the reflection on the shock for later)

webg

Coming to MFP was triggered by a stall in weight loss and a suggestion on another forum. I'd already lost at least 50 before coming here.

My last straw before the journey started was randomly getting on a scale at my parents house, it read 315 lbs and I instantly knew the next stop (400 lbs) was inevitable. It immediately became a personal crisis.

leebesstoad

I do community theatre and have been in quite a few productions, but I kept getting cast in the 'matronly' roles because of my...er...jolly appearance. A role I really wanted was coming up and I was talking to the director (who probably weighs 260 pounds - so she was a good 50 pounds more than me) and she said that if I wanted to be seriously considered for the role I would need to lose...um...5 or 10 pounds - not for HER, but for the AUDIENCE to buy me in the role.

Auditions are in a month and I am down almost 50 pounds now. Fingers crossed!

Don't leave us hanging like that? What show, what part?

ReneeAusten

I came back from vacation and saw a picture of myself. I could not get over how heavy I looked! I thought, "Alright! That's it! I have to find a plan that's realistic and works for me, because this is for life."

So, I'm re-losing the same 5 lbs, BUT I feel so much better about myself already!

gabbygirl78

I fell in my kitchen and sprained my knee and my foot a couple weeks ago. My 13 year old daughter was there with 2 of her friends and I couldn't get up out of the floor. She had to call someone to come help get me up out of the floor. Before that, she has been having to put my socks on for the past 2 years because I have osteoarthritis and bone spurs in my hip socket. I have to have help getting up off the couch, off the toilet, out of the bed, into the bed, in and out of the car etc.... I just turned 35 and I am in need of a total hip replacement and at least one knee replacement (really need both done) . My child is 13 and waiting on me hand and foot like I belong in a nursing home.. maybe I do. Anyway, My last straw was seeing the hurt in my daughters eyes when I fell in front of her friends and she couldn't help me. No an embarrassed hurt, but a feeling of helplessness. I was the one embarrassed, even after she told me it was okay and not to be embarrassed. My kids deserve a healthy mom that can interact with them and keep up with them, not a mom that is a burden to them. I lost my daddy April 29th of this year and he was my heart and soul. I was the definition of a "daddy's girl". I made him promises that I have to keep. I promised to stop smoking, which I did Easter of this year. I also promised that I would get myself healthy and lose this weight and live a happy life. My daddy went to his grave worried about me. I know he is watching over me now smiling at the determination I have to do this! It's going to be long tough journey but, I have a good support team and best of all, my sweet, sweet daddy smiling down on me cheering me on! :bigsmile: :happy:

winsorsmom

I was 40 pounds over my heaviest and I saw a pic of myself at a memorial service for a family member and literrally wanted to cry! I knew I was way overweight and felt like I was sufficating... I am now 22 pounds down and even though I have 45 more to go, I feel so much better... I work out everyday at lunch (we have a gym at work) and I go to the gym by my house on weekends to workout!! I will never go back to being the fat girl who was too tired to do anything and felt like crap all the time!!!

I have asked my best friend why she didn't say anything to me!? She said that she didn't want to hurt my feelings, I have advised her by all means my feelings may have been hurt for a day but I would have gotten over it and appreciated her honesty...we are now on a "How are you doing on MFP" weekly conversation and she is helping me out!

mitchiejo

I couldn't fit in my pants any more. Plus someone told me not to gain too much weight, ouch.

jynxxxed

All of the above (except sky diving - how did I miss THAT?), and not being able to breathe when putting on my shoes or giving myself a pedicure, the disgust I felt every time I saw my reflection in a window or mirror, and knowing full well that I was avoiding social events due to my shame...I could go on but won't. My thoughts on weight loss consumed me and I'd just eat more. Obviously, the weight didn't come on overnight, but I just kept thinking I'd deal with it "tomorrow." Finally, I realized that tomorrow never came, so I decided to deal with it "today."

Skydiving can always be your weight loss celebration

ColetteM6

Needed a new shirt for my little brother's infantry graduation. Went to Walmart and had to buy an XL for the first time in my life. A WALMART extra large.

griffith5150

My health was getting worse at the age of 34 years old...that was the really clincher. However when I started losing weight, to use motivation was a picture of my fiancé and I together when we first started dating..omg I look horrible. I know I am older than him already but the picture made it look like I was far older than I was and I just look so unhappy and unhealthy the way I looked.

casmithis

My son made a slight jecture about my weight and I said "give me a break, I've had 3 kids". His response to that was "Mom, I'm 14!!! Ouch and HELLO!!!

missymakayla

My husband and I woke up on 1/14/13 and both said it wad time for a change. We have both lost a total of 102.5 lbs together. I have lost 60.5 and he, 42 lbs. We were so tired all the time, looked fat in our tight clothes, we were just overweight. We look wonderful and feel great now. He has reached his goal, and I have about 39 lbs to go....

floop1207

the 'fat' jeans and shorts i bought for last summer were tight this year. time for action.

IrritatedDoro

My sister took pictures of me holding my one year old. I've always held my weight well and always looked much lighter than I am - BUT my arms in that picture. Wiggly, Jiggly, cellulite sticks. I immediately signed up for MFP and have lost 17 lbs of my 30 lb goal. My arms are still an issue. I am working on some distance goals this month - and contemplating my next month's goals. I expect to be including certain weightlifting goals to work on the arm issue.

highervibes

It's a silly thing really, there were other way more important wake up calls but for some reason it was the fact that I couldn't do up a 38D bra I had purchased in a pack of 2 at Costco lol. Coscto sells stuff that the "average" person would usually be able to wear and I knew I was always in the higher end of average, but now I was even too big for that. The next day I started running and a few days after that my friend told me about MFP app and here I am lol. Now the bra is too big

mahanaibu

Strange to say, the final straw wasn't many of the things it should have been--ongoing back and hip pain, inability to hike up hills (I love hiking), the fact that the snap kept popping open on even my fattie pants or that I didn't ant to make any appearances because of shame over how I looked.

The final straw was that I got carpal tunnel syndrome and wanted to avoid surgery, even though two hand specialists told me I would need it. The worker comp administrator said over the phone, "I don't know you so I don't know your weight,, but if that could be an issue for you, I could tell you that my experience is that it makes a huge difference for people." That was it. I started physical therapy and my weight loss program, changed my work station and astonished both my doctors by beating the carpal tunnel issue with no medical or surgical intervention.

crisb2

I REFUSED to buy size 16 jeans.

And this picture:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/crisb2/view/fitspiration-board-566309
The one that says 215lbs. that was in April 2013.

str8bowbabe

My ex installed mirrored closet doors directly across from the shower!!!! UGH!!!

mike_usmc

I've had about 10 last straws. Then I'll stop again...Start again. Then finally I just said, "this isnt me". This isn't who everyone knows me as, or what I grew up as. Now I know I'll never have the age of 17, or even in my 20's anymore. But...That dont stop me from being fit at 33 either. Not to mention the fact Im a U.S Marine.. lol. Then I would look at things like, "you are what you eat". Oh really, so I'm a cheeseburger and a bag of Doritos, mixed in with some coke's. This made me also change. I didnt want to put myself through it anymore. I'm not much of a depressed person, I'll still take my shirt off at the beach and flex. At the same time though I want more, and I want my body to look better. This site helps big. It dont take you to the gym, and it dont tell you to push play on the dvd player, but the community and everyone here is a great support!


And for my biggest decision. I want to be an a before and after story, without the fake tan and dyed hair.

lharri0209

My youngest is 8 months old. So, for months that was my main focus...not my weight. I had a couple of things that led up to my "last straw".

1.) My husband had begun losing weight while I continued to gain. He is 6'2", I am 5'2" and we were almost at the same weight. I weighed in at 202 lbs.
2.) My husband had a ceremony which I bought a new outfit for. However, the process was painful as I hated the way that everything fit me and that I was confined to a certain style of attire. I knew that this is not me and that under all of the flab was a nice figure. I just need the will to do something about it.
3.) I over heard a boy call me a " big b***h". Yes, his language was horrible. However, at that moment everything just clicked. The next day my diet began.

preciousme150

Type 2 Diabetes, 43lbs later I'm insulin free...

Maris_Swan

My last straw was when I had to ask for a seat belt extender on an airplane. Oh, and when my size 28w jeans were tight and I was considering just buying a size up. I knew things had to change!

jollyjoe321

Woke up one day and decided enough was enough is the only way I can describe it

vickish76

One day at work a co-worker asked if there was anything "under that belly" I wanted to tell her about... Never in my life did I think I would ever be heavy enough to be mistaken for pregnant. To shrug off the comment I replied, "Nope, just beer and cheese". She was mortified, I wanted to crawl under a rock and die. When did I just stop caring about myself?

arifawn

My doctor told me that I was pre diabetic. All four of my grandparents and both parents are diabetic. Two of my grandparents died from complications with diabetes. I don't want to die.

MissMaryMac33

I had developed Type II Diabetes and was shooting insulin in my stomach a few times a day.
I went to the doctor and had a heart test as was told my heart was 73 years old.. I was only 45 at the time.
I went home, quit smoking cold turkey and changed my life, my diet, my exercise... I was killing myself.

bethfartman

I saw a picture of myself that a friend posted on Facebook. I'm not a vain person and typically truly don't care how bad/silly/whatever look in photos, but I was so horrified by the way I looked I had to ask her to take it down. Then I stepped on the scale and realized I was over 200 lbs. Yikes. I started counting calories and exercising regularly that same day and haven't really stopped since.

WDEvy

My wedding pictures.

barnzey901

Well I was slightly motivated and was going to the gym every now and again - but then I saw a photo of myself with a few friends and was disgusted! I had to make a change and that's what kick started me to change my lifestyle for the better!