Living the Lifestyle: Wednesday, 08/28/2024

misterhub

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.

Monday - crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday – Wildcard
Wednesday-misterhub (Greg)
Thursday -imastar2 (Derrick)
Friday - Wildcard

Today's Topic: How long......has this been going on?

How long have you been consciously working to improve your weight and overall health? What was the motivation that started you down this path? How successful would you say you've been?

Brian_19

I'm coming up on 17 years since I first started WW and found my way to GoaD. (On a side note, the food scale I bought at that time and have used ever since was melted this week in a horrible sitting-too-close-to-the-stove incident). I've always been interested in fitness (especially running), and I had other periods of self-guided weight loss before then, but nothing sustained or truly following a plan before 2007.

My motivation for starting was pretty much appearance. I *hate* putting on a t-shirt and feeling like I'm stuffed into a sausage skin. I recognize other benefits, but personal appearance has always been my leading motivator for starting and (kinda) sticking to it.

With a long-term view, I'd say I've succeeded at not letting my weight get terribly out of control. I can also say I've largely failed at maintaining a healthy weight (but I haven't given up!). I'm sitting now at about ten pounds less than I weighed when I started WW in 2007. I would need to lose about 30 pounds to be in the healthy range for BMI.

crewahl

I can hear the music, Greg. 😉

The honest answer would be “most of my adult life”, although it was generally less of a priority between my 20's and early 50's. Over that period, it was the classic “lose some, gain more, lose some, gain more” dance that I suspect we’ve all experienced.

I started WW in 2008 at age 52, and finally felt I’d found something I could stick with. I was at goal from 2010 through August of 2014. At that point, I wandered off the reservation and did NOT quickly find my way back. I succeeded in regaining 89# of the 135# I’d lost. In February 2020 I got serious again, and by November 2022 was back at goal.

What got me started?

The first time, a little public humiliation. I was sitting across from my boss at his desk in one of those spring-form S-curve chairs. When I stood up, the chair came with me because my butt was wider than the arms of the chairs. Not a graceful moment.

The second time, when I entered the revolving door portal, was at the start of Covid. It quickly became apparent that the plague was taking the elderly, the infirm, and the overweight. I couldn’t do anything about the first, but I darn sure could do something about the last two - and I did. I honestly think I’m one of the few who can say that Covid saved my life. 🤷🏻‍♂️

So I’ve been doing this with some success since January of 2008, albeit with a brief sabbatical between 8/2014 and 2/2020 - about sixteen years.

misterhub

crewahl wrote: »

I can hear the music, Greg. 😉

Flintwinch

I started WW in 2015, wanting to lose weight, but unable to figure out how. In 2019, the issue became losing weight for health. Still on the journey

cakeman21k

Since 2006 when I had a heart attack at the age of 55, Joined WW 2 days after getting out of the hospital.

Philtex

I took a sales job in the late 1990's that put me on the road a lot. I promised my wife that I wouldn't gain weight like we had seen happen to others in similiar situations. Well, between taking clients to lunch, restaurant dinners and frequent six-packs in the hotel room at night I packed on a good 40 or 50 pounds. Once back in an office job, I was extremely lucky that in 2010 my employer offered to pay 100% of the WW cost, and even hosted the meetings. They couldn't have made it any easier.

My weight had peaked at just over 250. I knew that I would never get below 200 again - it just wasn't possible. With much support from my amazing wife, and help from all my new friends on GOAD, I reached my WW goal of 185 in 6 months. I maintained there until 2021 when I went through a serious medical situation (a whole other story). I got back in the game 6 months ago by reconnecting here on GOAD, plus more support from my still amazing wife. I'm now maintaining around 180/ 181. The question is "How successful would you say you've been?" I call that more success than I ever could have expected or even hoped for.

88olds

Closing in on the day that changed my life 30 yrs ago. Motivation- fear.

I was going to die or worse. Worse would have been a debilitating stroke. In the end I’ve done pretty well. Took significantly longer than I expected. But ended up a lot better than I expected. I weigh just a couple of lbs more than I did when I graduated high school in 1968.