What is your WHY?

Elektrolyfe

-To relieve stress
-To be in the zone
-To Become strong
-To prove others wrong (Had an ex that made the comment that Asians can't get a muscular bod, I hope she is eating her words)
-To be an inspiration to my friends who think that their "Ethnicity" will limit their full potential and most of all for them to STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND JUST LIFT or do something healthy.

Yoshirio

I am a 41 one year mom to two disabled kids. They will probably never be able to live on their own and will need me for many years to come. I have family history of strokes,heart disease,obesity etc..All the females in my family have either died in their late 40's/early 50's or had a debilitating stroke by then. Unfortunately, it took me nineteen years to realize I did not want to end up like them and needed to stay healthy for my sons.Hopefully it is not too late to turn it around. :flowerforyou:

MikePXstream

It's never to late. Every moment you take to make yourself better, that is a moment you gain on being around for your sons. We never truly know when our time is up here in this world, and we only have one body to live in so we have to make the best of what we got and take care of it the best we can. Were not like a car or piece of electrical equipment where we can just go to the shop and get a part upgraded or repaired and have it running at 100% from the start. So we have to rebuild and repair it from the inside out, then maintain it. Keep up the good work. I have faith in you.

I am a 41 one year mom to two disabled kids. They will probably never be able to live on their own and will need me for many years to come. I have family history of strokes,heart disease,obesity etc..All the females in my family have either died in their late 40's/early 50's or had a debilitating stroke by then. Unfortunately, it took me nineteen years to realize I did not want to end up like them and needed to stay healthy for my sons.Hopefully it is not too late to turn it around. :flowerforyou:

MikePXstream

Has your WHY changed?

About 1 1/2 months ago I typed up this post and have received some AMAZING responses. Some of you really took the time to think about why you are ding this for yourself. Many common denominators. What I really appreciated was how honest you were. Not just with us reading this, but with yourself. When you are honest with yourself, you have a better connection with your goals and desires.

So here is the next question. Has your WHY CHANGED? Has it changed from when you first replied to this game changing, mind altering question? Did it change when you first read it, thought about it, and realized your why wasn't as strong as you thought.? Maybe your reason was a little more vain than you realized and that disturbed you. Or maybe vanity was your reason and that is what truly drives you. Whatever motivates you, hold on to it tightly.

I can honestly tell you that my why changed. Maybe not in the past month. My deeper why will always be to avoid health complications in the years to come. But it has changed from many years ago. I just turned 37 yesterday, but still feel like I am in my late 20's. I went to the doctor about 2 months ago for what I thought was a sinus infection. Turned out to be just some kind of mild virus. But, when I went, the nurse had to ask me if I had been there before, because they could not find any consistent info on me. At first I was a little upset because I had been going there for 7 years. But then I realized, in the past 3-4 years, I have only gone maybe one to two times a year, and in the past 2 years, only once a year. They had changed their computer system at least twice in that time frame, so some data was lost or located somewhere else. So then I was happy, because that helped me realize that yes, I am making positive changes in my life. I am healthier, and therefore reaching my goals. My blood pressure was fine, they still use that crazy BMI to justify if I am under or overweight, which I still don' t understand why they use that, considering that I am at 16% Body Fat, but according to that I am mildly obese, and show no signs of any other issues. Years ago, Yeah, I wanted to look good, build big muscles, run faster and jump higher. I didn't care much for the other benefits. But now, I still want all that, but as a side effect of bettering myself health wise. I may not have 22" biceps, or 34" quads, or be the fastest 37 year old out there, but I am healthy. Everything else is just a bonus! :happy:

cbarrett64

I just turned 50 a few months ago, and my why has to do mostly with my health. I suffer from degenerative disc disease and arthritis in my neck, which has been debilitating at times, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. My mom has high cholesterol, type II diabetes and high blood pressure, so I could see where I was headed.

I was constantly hungry and always felt awful (tired, sluggish, no energy) and guilt ridden every time I went on a binge. I finally said enough is enough. I don't want to be on a zip log baggie full of pills, so I set out to change my eating and exercise habits. I still struggle with upper body exercises because of the neck issues, but I am determined to do what my body will allow.

I started my journey in January and I am currently off all medications, my BP is normal, my cholesterol is normal and I am managing my pain through more holistic methods.

The feeling of fantastic keeps me going, along with those size 6 Miss Me jeans I want to fit into.

Linda_wright75

THIS!!!! • I want to feel comfortable in my own skin

nj_roxybikini

Great question Linda!

Only I can control my own fate and it's about time that I took control of my health

~ Nadine

smithcentral

I felt myself dying and decided I wanted to live.

tgraves9875

Great post. My thinking has kind of been aligned to that "What is your Why?" lately. I'm almost 40 & have never really been that overweight. I've accepted what I look like but realized my new M.O. was to come home from work, pour a glass of wine, make dinner & then pretty much couch it till bed time. I just cared for my 67 yr. old uncle till he passed from smoking related cancer. My kids were so close to him and I think about how much longer he could have been with us had it not been for bad habits. Not only that, but now I don't have that wine & I take my kids to the pool or for a walk at night instead. While I'm trying to improve that part of my life, I figured it wouldn't kill me to lose those last 15 lbs. as a secondary goal

lanthiriel

I am only 26, so it freaks me out that my "why" is medical. I went in for a routine eye exam and discovered that my optic nerves were swollen. I had no other symptoms, no headaches or loss of vision, but he optometrist wanted me to see a neurologist immediately. I was switching jobs and put it off. When I finally made it in, he ran me through a group of tests and basically said, "I'm 99% sure that it's pseudotumor cerebri." And of course all I heard was "tumor." Turns out, not a tumor. Rather, my fat is stopping my body from being able to absorb excess spinal fluid. Doesn't seem like a big deal right? Except that left untreated, it could make me go blind.

The neurologist wanted me to get an MRI and a lumbar puncture just in case it was something in the 1%, then I'd have to be on medication that could leave me with a numb/tingling feeling in my limbs. I started crying and he said, "You probably wouldn't need to lose that much weight. If I could give you a pill to make you lose 15 pounds, I would." So I made a deal with him. I would start a weight loss program and come back in three months.

I started exercising and taking a hard look at my eating and I realized something: I was fat. I knew that the number on the scale and inside my jeans had been going up steadily for the last few years, but it never really registered that I'd gotten fat. I moved to Alaska last and was up for adventure, but I couldn't keep up with the local hiking clubs and never bought those cross country skis I swore I would get. All of the signs that I wasn't healthy were there, but I'd been ignoring them. The real kicker came when I was talking to my husband about all of this and he basically told me I'd gotten past the point where I was physically attractive (trust me, he's not a mean guy. We're just very honest with each other!).

So now even though I started losing weight because I'm too cheap to get an MRI and too terrified of needles to get a lumbar puncture, I have a new set of WHYs. They still include naturally resolving my pseudotumor cerebri, but also:

- Being able to walk up the stairs at work without having to catch my breath
- Not being embarrassed to put on a swimsuit
- Being able to engage with the outdoors however I desire (hiking, skiing, kayaking, you name it!)

It all boils down to that I don't want to have to live my life as a fat person. I'm tired of my poor eating habits and lack of fitness stopping me from being who I want to be. Like a lot of people have said, I want the inside to match the outside.

Sorry for the novel, but it feels good to get it out!

rosehips60

My why is that at 53 years old I'm not getting any younger and I want to spend the time I have left healthier and more active. At my heaviest I was 268 pounds, I lost most of this through fits and starts (and regains) over the last 16 years. I started MFP because it is time to get serious and get the last of it off. I have 3 children and they are all overweight, if I can be an inspiration to them so much the better, but I am doing this for me

muphin73

My why: An endometriosis diagnosis on top of my pcos, on top of insulin resistance, on top of the whole "metabolic syndrome" package, and some panic disorder thrown in for good measure. I'm tired of feeling like crap.

BusyB223

My WHY is because it's TIME!

I have been really lazy and nonchalant about my physical appearance for far too long.

I lost 40lbs in 2001 (down to 198) without trying and did nothing to keep it off. When I say "not trying" I mean, I wasn't on a plan or trying to make changes but I had fallen for a guy and was barely eating. My meal was soup and BBQ Lay's chips (my absolute fav). I met him in May and by December, I noticed that my thighs was not rubbing. It was a wonderful feeling/revolution. Then we actually got together and I gained it all back again over two years.

He and I ended in 2004 and I was up to 224. I hit the track every morning for an hour walk and got down to the low 200's but not under that. I stopped going regularly and of course gained. Over the years I would lose 5 - 10lbs but not stick to what I was doing so those and others would return.

January 2012, I started bootcamp for the first time. Did a 12 week transformation which I paid $400 to participate in. I lost 24lbs went from 225 to 201. Did I keep going? Of course not!!!! I CELEBRATED the whole spring and summer with bbq and cocktails. I did not go back to bootcamp nor did I even go on regular walks. Maybe a walk a week. Most times none.

So this past January, I started going to a 10 week weight loss support group at my health center. I didn't make any claims or promises to myself other than, attending every meeting whether I did anything to lose weight or not. I just committed to being there as my first step. It worked, I did it. There was some gain some loss but no real change until the last two weigh ins.

This past May I participated in a 30 day run/walk spring challenge which I had to do at least 2 miles everyday. I did it and loved it. I took the 31st off and started again June 1st by myself. I have been at it everyday. I also started reading in May "The Slight Edge" and that has really switched on the lights for me...

I am down 15lbs and going all the way to my goal of 180 and that might change once I get there. Those few times I did lose weight, I have never reached my goal.

I am starting bootcamp again in the morning. So off to bed soon... It starts at 5:30AM.

A few other Motivations are:
I have FALLEN for ME!
I will be 50 in less than 4 years.
My future grands will need me.
I have a useless spare tire around my middle.
I am starting courses to become a Health Coach.
This is not weight loss, it is a WEIGHT REMOVAL. I will NOT look for or be FOUND by them AGAIN!

DebSM2

At 315 lbs, I had no major health issues aside from morbid obesity. I had my third baby last October and had a blood pressure situation (averaging 140/105) that required medication. Freaked me out that it may become more and more of a problem so I started November 1 and didn't look back.

Blood pressure at time of blood donation on Monday...no medication for months... 112/72!

Just got out of the obese category and am now overweight only!

Less than 3 pounds from being out of the 200's.

My three amazing children are my "why", I am so lucky to have them and they are so worth taking care of myself so I can love on them long time!!

CindyMarcuzAdams

My why has been the same why for every diet I have failed in the past and the same why as now.

Pain

I have had pain throughout my body for as long as I can remember. Even as a young Child I can remember being in pain.
I had my first leg surgery at 3 years old and my latest was april 2013. There have been at least 11 surgeries on my legs in between.
I have been on a diet every Monday morning for years and failing usually by mid week to start again on Monday morning.

What has changed in me to be on a 35 day streak is my fitness pal. This program has been a god send for me. Its easy to use. It keeps me accountable for what ever I shove into my mouth. I have over 100 friends rooting for me. I have NEVER felt so motivated and in control of my life. I am walking every day , eating with in my limits. Life is good.

So...why...pain, I am hoping to get some relief from my pain...if not at least I know I gave it 110% .

michab108

I found this topic this morning and have been reading, re-reading, and thinking about it all day. The why is so important and I'm not sure I have any serious whys. There is definitely thinking to do. I'll be back.

michielyn

I want to be proud of myself.

melb_alex

once you have achieved your desired weight and fitness ability, you will forever use this as a catalyst to maintain and even better improve.

brismum10

my why is because I am sick of living this way and if things don't change soon I,m going to be dead within 5 years
I have a beautiful daughter who I want to see grow up and get married and to have grandchildren
because diabetes and heart disease and obesity runs in my family
because I have seen the effects of type two diabetes and have watched people die a very slow painful death and losing limbs before my eyes due to this disease
because I have type two insulin dependent diabetes, I am on a machine at night due to sleep apnoea, I hate my appearance, I have fatty liver disease
I am not living anymore I am just existing
I miss walking for fun now it hurts and I can barely do it
I want another baby
I don't want to embarrass my daughter at school
I think that's about all of them mostly I just don't want to let weight define what I can and cant do

OhReally42

I have so many whys. Ranging from big to small.

My major whys start with health reasons. My mom has always been underweight until recently but her poor health caused her to have problems getting pregnant. My boyfriends wants to have children in the future but I'm worried about even being able to conceive because I'm overweight. My family also has a high risk for cerebral palsy and other disabilities that I want to avoid as much as possible. I've had asthma my whole life and it both prohibits me from having fun but also has been an excuse when I've gone through lazy fits. I can't have any excuse anymore, I currently am wasting my life not being able to do so many things and it's unacceptable. I want to avoid problems like arthritis and diabetes, few family members have problems with those but I just can't risk it.

I've always been used as people's "chubby friend" predominantly with my own "Best Friend" who has always been thinner than me anyways. Instead of being thinner than her I want to make myself stronger,more confident, sexier, just all around more lively. I want to be able to rub it in her face that I'm healthy and even though she eats fast food and never gains a pound, I've EARNED the body I have.

I have never had good self confidence of my own either, let alone feeling like crap when my friend fat talks herself while I'm sitting here about 60 pounds heavier. I want to be able to believe I'm beautiful when I look in the mirror instead of being ashamed of letting myself go. I want to be able to make people jealous that my boyfriend has this sexy girl on his arm, especially his exes that cheated on him.

And then I have the small things like certain sizes of clothes that I want to fit in and the tattoos I want in certain places and piercings. Things that people can live with out but would make me personally feel awesome!

Idsuffolk

What an eloquent piece ... you really have made me consider my true WHY .. I did my MBA last year .. and wanted to complete that .. so i need to understand my WHY in this ... (might I friend you please) With thanks J

RiverMelSong

This may sound very arrogant, but it's honestly how I feel at the moment so sorry if I come across as self-centred..

My why is because I'm tired of hiding, tired of using my weight as a mask.
For 26 years I've been hiding behind my weight, using it as an excuse for everything: not going out with friends, not dressing up, not making an effort with my appearance at all because I thought I wasn't worth it.
Well now I have decided that I AM worth it, I want to stand out. I want to wear pretty dresses and high heels and have people pay me compliments.
I am good enough and I want everybody to see that.

This is also the reason why I'm going to succeed this time after failing so many times before.

yvonneangelgoh

my why was simply because i had been FAT all my life. Enough is enough. I am confident 6 months from now i will look better and feel better.

sabified

My why began with knowing that I was nearing 200lbs. I'm short-5'3, and all I could think was that I was getting as wide as I was tall.

After that stopped being so much of an issue, it was really just because I was actually seeing movement and the thought of actually making it to my goal weight... with all honesty, I didn't actually set my goal weight because I wanted to be there. I picked the ideal weight for my height. Frankly, when I started I really didn't think I'd make it... I was just running away (sometimes literally) from reaching 200lbs. That was my fear.

But now to think that I can actually make it to 125... I mean, I'm less than 15lbs away now...

That's crazy! And I like being crazy So just going with it now

ironanimal

Because being strong and fit is fun, and being a fat *kitten* isn't.

V0lver

bump

galprincess

My WHY is simple my dad is dying from cancer that a healthy person could cope with, my children are my everything and this is why im not giving up

MrsPorter72

My WHY's:
- feel better about myself
- to be fit and healthy
- to drop a dress size
- to feel good in a bikini

but above all - to be there for my daughters, to set a good example to my daughters - be a good role model for them

Mariachicat

I want to look better in my clothes
I want to look better out of my clothes

That's it, really.

Unknown

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