When was your last straw that made you want to change?

my3starsofthesea

I was in so much pain from developing plantar fasciitis and a heel spur, plus I was just tired of feeling sick, tired, and short of breath doing the simplest things. My pants were all tight and uncomfortable. My bp was staying up at every dr visit. At the end of 2012, I was eating healthy and running 3x a week. Lifestyle, work and stress over 2013 caused me to backslide into old habits. During the holidays, I knew my New Year's resolution would be to lose weight and start running again. I felt so yucky during the month of December that I started right after Christmas. I am looking for other ways to get fit besides walking/running for now because my plantar fasciitis is not completely healed yet. I am hoping that losing weight will help with that also.

djjd26

I had simply slipped into completely bad habits and wanted a change. I'm 32 and not getting any younger. I figured now is the best time to get going now that my little girls are 10 and 5 and I have no babies keeping me busy constantly. I have no real excuses and just need to do it already!
Also, I saw myself in some pictures lately and was really unhappy about it and wanted to just erase them. I don't want to be so upset when I see myself in pictures anymore.

djjd26

Well that rocks!

kenzietate

This may be TMI but you asked lol

I'm diabetic...I have been diabetic since I was 15...Not fair because I was very active and not overweight at the time of my diagnosis. I got kinda depressed and turned a blind eye to it, eating and drinking like a normal 23 year old but then it happened...Yeast infections.

If you're not familiar with diabetes, if your blood sugars are horribly out of range, you have more sugar than your kidneys can handle and what do you know? You urinate the sugar and get YEAST INFECTIONS.

In summary, I got tired of yeast infections, I got tired of weighing sixty pounds more than my fiance, I got tired of blurry vision, I got tired of feeling bad about myself, and I got tired of being a ghost of the happy, confident woman that I used to be.


THAT was my last straw.

I feel you on the unfair diabetes. I haven't fully developed it but I am pre-diabetic and have been probably since I went through puberty but got diagnosed at 18 finally after a ton of health issues. When I was diagnosed I was 5'4" 135 lbs and extremely active in softball. I was put on BC for hormonal issues that were related to the pre-diabetes and gained weight from that. Last year, I decided that I didn't want to be on medication for the rest of my life so I started to make the changes I needed to start losing weight. I did great for 3 months and then got pregnant so had to switch gears to preventing gestational diabetes. As soon as I give birth though I know I will be ready to keep going with the weight loss and control.

HoverKitteh

I'd been unemployed for nearly a year--eating to sooth my damaged psyche and adding to the 30 pounds I'd gained since quitting smoking in 2010. I got a job and went clothes shopping--and found that I had gained even more weight and had to go up yet another size in clothing. Plus, watching yourself struggle to get into clothing in the dressing room's three way mirror is quite the motivator. Yesterday was my first day of work and this morning I got up at 4:30 to go work out because I found last night that I get home so late that I'm not motivated to go.

dswolverine

I planned to wear this gorgeous banana republic dress to a family friend's wedding (which fit just 3-4 months before) and I couldn't move in it! I had to wear a considerably less flattering dress that fit, then when I saw the photos I wanted to cry. Also, a couple nice (expensive) pairs of suit pants I purchased had also started to get very tight, to the point where I wasn't comfortable wearing them out of fear I would rip them. This was my wake up call. I have lost 14lbs so far and now the dress AND the pants are too big!

happieharpie

The vile effect of medicines that I had to take because because of health problems caused because I was so heavy! I COULD NOT STAND taking them, feeling rotten, and knowing that I could do something that would help me avoid taking them.

So one day I stopped doing what I'd been doing and started making sure that every single thing that went into my mouth had a job to do and was doing its job.

It worked!

veggiemama81

Squeeeeeeezing into my "fat" pants and feeling absolutely defeated every time I'd get dressed in the morning. Feeling winded walking across campus was a wake up call too.

highflyer88

For me honestly it's been a combination of things...first I was diagnosed two years ago with diabetes and told to lose weight. Well two years later I haven't lost weight. Also the last two summers I haven't been able to do as much as I like due to stupid injuries...one of which is most likely weight related (stress fracture in my foot that took a while to heal) plus little muscles pulls, knee issues, back issues...you name it they are made worse by the extra weight. This time for me it's different because I am doing this for myself and not anyone else. I want to be here for my kids and husband but more than that I want to do everything I can to keep the diabetes from progressing to be anything worse than being on oral medication. I want to make sure that all my test results keep coming back better each time they are done. I have blood work and weigh ins every six months and in March is my next appointment and my goal is to be below 200 for the first time since I was diagnosed!
I wish everyone good luck on this journey!

becky10rp

Like so many other posts, it was a clothes-thing.........

In August, I tried on my 'nice' dresses to see what I was going to wear for the High Holidays (Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah - Jewish Holidays in early September this year) - and NOTHING FIT!

I was disgusted with myself - I had to go out and buy a few new outfits - BUT I promised myself I would get back down to where I was when I could fit in my 'nice' stuff......

And - I did it!

And now - maintenance...........!

sue_stef

being told on Dec 2 2013 that my blood pressure is dangerously high and so is my blood sugars and that I would need to go on meds right away.
I have an autistic 6yr old, my youngest out of 5 boys, that gets into everything even keeping meds under lock and key would be no problem for him to get into those kinds of meds would kill him
so I cut out sugar decreased salt and started exercising
losing 1lbs so far is a bonus to that
I monitor my blood pressure at home so far that is much better
I do not have a glucometer so I have no idea how my blood sugars are hopefully they are better too

blackwarrior

Just to rub my hubbies nose in it after some comments he made I am more determined to do it now

fairtradefan

I lost ~20 lbs. on the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet (and vastly improved my mood, eliminated uncontrollable carb craving) but had plateaued (didn't regain, but didn't lose more). Last summer, I checked out Johnny Bowden's comparison of different low carb eating systems (I'm looking for lifelong weight control, not rapid weight loss). The one I liked best was the WomensHealth Perfect Body Diet, but it requires tracking carbs, fat, and protein. I found an app that could help with that, but I have a stupid phone which couldn't use the app. I was thrilled to find a FREE food diary and exercise log which I can access from my wifi tablet (NOOK, which also has limited apps), as well as my laptop. So I joined not so much because of a last straw as finding a great tool.

Dch2272

In addition to being a wife and mother (which should have been reason enough), I hold down a full time job and for the better part of 2 years was the caregiver of my mother who passed in June of completely health related illnesses. So now, anytime I feel down or want to just give up, I think of her and what a nightmare she lived through due to her poor health choices. That is motivation enough to get my rear end to the gym every day at 5am and to make healthier choices in my life. I will not do to my boys what my mother did to me.

Wishing you all the greatest of success and a fabulous day!

happieharpie

being told on Dec 2 2013 that my blood pressure is dangerously high and so is my blood sugars and that I would need to go on meds right away.
I have an autistic 6yr old, my youngest out of 5 boys, that gets into everything even keeping meds under lock and key would be no problem for him to get into those kinds of meds would kill him
so I cut out sugar decreased salt and started exercising
losing 1lbs so far is a bonus to that
I monitor my blood pressure at home so far that is much better
I do not have a glucometer so I have no idea how my blood sugars are hopefully they are better too

I LOVE your post! It is as though your son has given you the gift of motivation and you are givng him the gift of health and safety.

Powerful! I wish you great success!

k8mcminn

I weigh now more than I did when I was pregnant 20 years ago. I have muffin top. I am afraid to put on my jeans. None of my little black dresses fit. I just refuse to buy the next size larger

NCYYC

I didn't want to get up and go out for months... which was VERY unlike me!

I stopped took a look at why and realised I don't like dressing up cause I don't feel comfortable in my clothes. I became sluggish and felt about 50 years older than I was!

I had to change the way I thought, my routine and therefore my whole being!

PtheronJr

Got dumped, was getting sick every other week, bipolar was taking control of my life again, was sick of my job and needed something active in my life. I was also an incredible athlete in highschool and used to box and wrestle, and I wanted to feel the same sort of strength and power in my body that I did back then.
I was also blessed with some good genetics and decided that it was pointless to sit around with broad shoulders and be fat, and would be better off sitting around with broad shoulders and be buff as hell.

maria_tm1978

Hi!

Great question to think about. For me, I've been wanting to lose the extra weight for over a year, but some awful life things happened and I turned to food for comfort. I mean, I turned to cigarettes, weed, and alcohol first, but ditched all those because a piece of chocolate cake took the edge off like no drug out there, which is probably a good thing really.

My BF was no help in that he is a chef by profession and loves to cook and pretty much scoffed my efforts at weightloss. He's not into large women, but I guess I'm not at that point yet and he enjoys feeding me. That made me a little too comfortable in my own fat skin for a while.

Then, I starting snoring. Loudly. And that for some reason I just cannot abide. I've always had a very hard time sleeping in a room with snorers, so now that I've become one I feel so much disgust toward myself.

I got on the scale today (the second day of this journey) and it was 180, which is the highest I've ever weighed.

So basically today was THE last straw and I'm more determined than ever to get back to where I was (145-150 and toned).

Good luck to us all!

Miss_KA

My friend had a stroke due to high blood pressure, we were all checking our blood pressure and i couldnt be checked because the cuff wouldnt fit around my fat arms *blush*

TracyJespersen

I have struggled most of my life with my weight. I have always been heavy. I have tried every diet scheme out there and have always fallen off the wagon.I am sick of wishing and thinking about changing my health and then I descovered that if I make a goal that is obtainable and tangable I will succeed. In the past (most of my life) I have set the goal of loosing all the weight I need to loose to be at a healthy weight and that alwasy failed becasue It was a long term goal that I was trying to make happen QUICKLY. Instead, this time I am setting short goals that will ultimately resolt in weight loss. I have decided to train to run a 5k sometime this summer. I am following a 12 week regimine to work up to be able to run for 20 minutes non stop. It litteraly starts the first week with no running at all and the second week only running for one minute at a time. I can do that! After the 12 weeks I will set another goal to run for 40 minutes non stop and then work on the goal of decreasing my time. I believe this is what is going to make the difference for me. This way Im not focusing on the scale and determining my "success" by how much Im loosing. Instead, I am basing my success on the completion of each small goal. Hopefully, the weight will just decrease because of what Im doing. Also, I have realized that I have to write down a plan of action complete with naming my possible barriors to succeeding and what I can do to prevent it. Its about being proactive this time. I also am realy relying on prayer to stay focused and MFP's message boards for inspiration. Someone on here said in a post that it takes six weeks to form a new habit and that during that time it will be the hardest. So, I marked on my calander the six weeks and set a goal to push thru during that time as well as be aware of my tendency to want to quit during that time. So, thank you everyone for sharing your stories. It helps me succeed! God bless!

socunpato

Last summer I didn’t have enough strenght to pull myself out of the swimming pool. I felt so embarrassed and disappointed with myself because I used to be a swimmer and a karate enthusiast in high school, so I was very strong back then. However, instead of motivating me it made me feel so awful that my self-confidence decreased even more and I spent 3 months eating until I felt sick.

In November I got tired of it. Enough is enough, I want to feel powerful again! I'm taking it easy, one step at a time, but I already feel much better

qtgonewild

Ive mentioned this before on another post, but mine was going in to get a PAP and weighing in at 278 pounds. I had no idea, I had gotten that bad. The gown was like a size extra small it didnt even cover half of my body. My breasts and tummy were out for the entire exam, of course so was my EVERYTHING ELSE. that was on july 19th 2013. a friday. i didnt think too much about it on the weekend. but something clicked. snapped. monday i woke up july 22nd 2013 and started doing something about it. I have never looked back since or thought of giving up.

mcm5106

Mine was that I worked hard and lost 18 pounds before the holidays down from 190 to 172, and then decided to take a month and a half off just to enjoy the holidays and not stress about weight. Then of course today I get back on the scale and I gained all but 2 of the pounds back. Now I have to start all over, and am realizing that I need to stop the yo-yo weight loss or I will always be in this same pattern.

judyamk

ha ha busted out of pants, me to my stomach looks like an over hung mushroom on a tree!!! I started over 12/31/13 I weighed in 01/06/14 lost 2.2 pounds. I am measuring & weighing food. I am also a night time eater even when I am not hungry. I will now eat string cheese & some Boars head low sodium turkey, or have apple with peanut butter, or a caramel rice cake fit & Active with a smear of peanut butter, At night when I snack I make sure I have a protein and a fat because it takes longer to digest & i stay full longer so it is so much working for me. plus i invested in a Fitbit & a Nutri Blast from Amazon. I have had enough of this old way of eating and being to lazy to walk.
you can do it !!!!
take care
Judy

csmullins78

High blood pressure... didn't motivate me.

High cholesterol... didn't motivate me.

Chest pains... didn't motivate me.

Wearing a size 20... didn't motivate me.

Huffing and puffing going up one flight of stairs... didn't motivate me.

The two things that DID motivate me happened at the same time... a lupus diagnosis and being dumped by someone I was madly in love with. He had the audacity to tell me he had never been attracted to me. OUCH! But those two things together caused me to completely change my life and I'm happier and healthier for it. (And a size 12 - yay - with a goal of being a size 6/8)

Mayzee42

My Brother-in-law called me Fata**....sorry. Granted he was already mad at me and we were arguing, but just tired of whenever there is conflict, he has to go there. To be honest it doesn't even hurt anymore, I'm like oh yea, duh!!! However, I would like to remove the temptation for the personal attacks.

I have many reasons to want to lose weight, but mainly it's confidence. I have let myself go over the past 4 years since meeting my now husband (gaining over 50 pounds, yikes!!) and it is beginning to affect my marriage. He isn't cruel to me like his Brother is, but I am not comfortable and not only do I have trouble with intimacy, I can be quite short and stand offish. I want to be a better person physically and emotionally.

davadoto

My first doctor warning din't do it for me, the second one either. Neither my back, knee, cholesterol problems. I started to seriously think about it when my blood pressure went up and refused to go back down. Lost a couple of pounds, but that was it. I had always been overweight, so what was new?

Scale at 200 for the first time in 20 years...scary, but not quite there yet.

Clothes couldn't fit? just order a bigger size: 10, 12, 14, 16W...uh, wait 16W?? when did that happen? Oh well...

Pics? what pics, I stopped posting or looking at those for years. Somehow, for some "unknown" reason, I was becoming less and less photogenic, so why bother.

And then, one day, going to Facebook, "chillin" a friend tagged me on a pic. OH! how dare he post a picture of me! worst outfit? nope. worst hair day? nope. Anyway , the worst picture ever, for some reason. No wait a minute...that's the worst, fattest "me" ever. And all the doctor warnings, the scale, the clothes that wouldn't fit, the back pain swooshed over me into a sea of thought and realization...that was the scariest moment ever- not sad, but o so scary.

Anyways, I got myself into this position, I WILL get out of it, one day, one milestone at a time.
Thanks for the question, brings back memories and extra boost of motivation.

jjennyb4

Trying on wedding dresses and none of them would close. Felt like a fat *kitten*!!!! That was my last straw, vowed to lose weight and have succeded. I have lost a total of 70lbs and currently have 10lbs to go til I get to my goal weight.

sisterlilbunny

Buying a 2x cause an XL was tight. Yeah, I'm back.