What is your WHY?

tnoble611

Love this post! Thank you so much for sharing.

My WHY(s)
1. Diabetes runs in my family (my 2 aunts and my cousin) as well as hypertension (my father). Not losing weight will put me at risk of getting those diseases. And I don't want that.

2. I started gaining weight when I turned 26 and I have kept it on for almost 5 years. I've always wanted to give myself my ideal body. I don't see a greater gift to give myself.

3. Working out and eating right is such a huge form of self-love. I want to show up for myself consistently in a way that I would want my future partner (when I find him! :-) ) to show up for me.

jhellwig828

My "why" started out with a dr telling me I had to make some lifestyle changes or I was going to need to take BP meds. At 32 I felt waaaay too young for that. And in succeeding with weight loss my "why" has changed a lot. I find now that all the thing I always said I couldn't do - I am doing. Not only am I doing them - but I enjoy them! I can watch what I eat and exercise. I can play with my kids when I get home from work instead of sitting on the couch and watching them. I can cope with the stresses of work without an entire bottle of wine - or most days even a glass. It's an amazing thing when you can overcome your own mind!

ValGogo

Why?

- Because I like to be active and not be out of breath when I'm doing things.
- Because I want to be strong enough to take care of myself when I'm older since I never expected anyone to take care of me.
- Because I like how I look and feel when I'm fit.
- Because I expect to be bicycling, roller skating, skiing and motorcycling well past my 60's.
- Because this excess weight is not part of my natural make-up. I'm not supposed to be carrying this weight and I can't believe I let
myself feel sorry enough for myself to let it get this far.
- Because it's part of my recovery, taking care of myself and not letting negative mind-sets take over again.
- Because I have a nice *kitten* and I miss it.

JakeNJ95

I have multiple reasons why, some are selfless, some are normal whys and several of them are very very very selfish and kind of stupid but they are my strongest I think.

10-1: 1 being the most important
10: Run a 5k then a 10k then a marathon.
9: I want to have a nice and beautiful girlfriend.
8: For several close friends that struggle to lose weight that need a nice friend to show them and help them along.
7: Clothes... I like to wear good clothes.
6: I want to look good with my shirt off.
5: Wear size 32 pants.
4: My mother, she started dialysis last year from her years of neglecting her health and not taking her diabetes seriously, I want to help her lose weight so she can see her grand kids.
3: I want girls to look at me and think that I am sexy
2: Family, I come from an obese family, my brother the worst of us all and I do not want to lose him, I love him and want to show him that it is possible to lose weight. My brother is my closest family member and I never want to lose him, ever.
1: I want a particular girl to find me attractive. (pathetic I know, but it has been working for me.)

allana1111

I know everyone's why is different dependent on the person, but I feel kind of vain since mine is really just to look good and not much of anything to do with health. Realizing I'm blessed to not have to worry about health issues yet........ prayers to you all for success and long lives!

libertychoury

My WHY started out as anger. I had let myself get to a point where I was looking for affirmation that I was attractive in some way from anywhere, even outside my marriage. Even though my husband told me all the time I was beautiful, I never believed it, because I never had ever felt like I was. I didn't love myself anymore, and so out of anger I decided to withhold all of the delicious food I loved from myself - all the things that brought me comfort foodwise were off limits to me. I ate, but only foods that I had previously seen as bland and boring, vegetables, hard boiled eggs, tuna. That was it. I was just angry. I had two little boys that I knew somehow in my heart I would not see to their 10th birthday if I didn't do something.
After I lost some weight, I started to feel happy, to feel some self worth, and my WHY changed. I had never gone that long before and been that successful at weight loss, so I kept it up, days turned into weeks, and into months, and now its almost been two years. My WHY is now because I am afraid to go back there, afraid to go back to that angry place. I face the fear and overcome it everyday. And now my WHY is sort of a kaleidoscope of being good at being healthy, loving myself, loving my family, fear to be the old me again, vanity, and the high I get when I realize how far I have come.

KaysKidz

I don't want to die. And that is where I was headed. Maybe not next week, or next month. But that was the path I was on. And damn it, I'm not going out like that!! My Dad passed away last year from heart disease. He was skinny, but the years of bad eating combined with genetics eventually did him in. I'm at high risk of developing it as well. But I have a head start at turning my eating around. I can't do anything about genetics, but I can make sure I eat better and get healthier. Pretty damn good incentive if you ask me. It just sucks that it took my Dad dying to get me going.

wendydove71

I want to see my daughter grow up. she will be two in June and I owe her that. I have lost 150 pounds before and I know how it feels. it feels GREAT!!! so my WHY is that I know how it feels and I want that feeling again.

thatjosiegirl

I wanted to feel alive again.
I wanted a piece of me back that I had long been missing.
I wanted to prove others wrong.
Most of all I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of pushing myself to experience new things and grow in the process.

mgermscheid

If anyone wants to read my first blog post that is my why! I hope I can inspire anyone with similar issues that I had to do better the healthier way!!

ZombieEarhart

My why was a why not- I counted calories for a few weeks, and it worked! Why would I stop? Success is a great motivation to continue, and now if I have a few weeks where I don't really lose, I don't give up because I know I'm doing the right thing.

Also, I want to lift heavy things until my thighs bust out of my jeans

gkauf744

My "why" for quitting smoking was my kids. Then my "why" for losing weight was because my workout pants were getting tight. Not quite in the ball park of some of the other posters, I know.

MikePXstream

I know everyone's why is different dependent on the person, but I feel kind of vain since mine is really just to look good and not much of anything to do with health. Realizing I'm blessed to not have to worry about health issues yet........ prayers to you all for success and long lives!

Yes, everyone's WHY will be different, and although yours may not be for some of the reasons already mentioned, it is what currently works for you. The advantage you have is that you are young enough to make the right choice now and make it a positive and continuing lifestyle for the years to come. I can only imagine how much better shape I would be in right now if I would have paid closer attention 15 years ago. I'm only 36, so I am not that old, but 15 years ago I was in my prime while I was in the army. But naturally, I ate whatever I wanted, drank way more than I should have, and smoked like a chimney. I'm sure I shaved a few years off with all of that. Although I can not change that, I can ensure the years to come will be great.

DevSanchez

My WHY is to feel healthy, be able to start a family, and look stunning in my wedding dress....and to enjoy being in my bathing suit for my honeymoon!

_KitKat_

My reason is I do not feel like myself with my current body. I woke up and noticed what I had done to my body when I looked at my reflection and A. didn't recognize myself and B. thought ugh she's fat. When I took action was I went to my Dr.'s and when weighed, I weighed more than I did at delivery with either daughter.


As someone that never had an issue even after having kids, not looking how I have always seen myself look and not being in the shape I always was is a hard reality and it is one I must correct. Also my poor husband, he still compliments me all the time, but he did not marry someone overweight and I feel like a bait and switch was pulled on him. Thankfully he does not feel that way and is supportive.

My weight gain has all been in the last 3 1/2 years No major life events or health issues

holliebevineau

My why is because exercise is the BEST medicine for depression. I dont always get a chance to exercise because of family and work but I do it because it does WONDERS for my mood. Depression runs on the paternal side of my family. It took the life of my first cousin. Of all the different drugs my doc has given, nothing works like running. It's free and there are no adverse side effects. the only side effect is you may start looking very sexy after a few months

BootCampCrazy

Great post!!!!

The most important thing that keeps me going...My daughter. She conquers physical therapy daily... she's 5 now and has to work harder for skills than anyone I've ever met. "She was never going to be able to walk", but at 3.5 years old she took her first steps. It was like watching someone fly for the first time. I can't even describe how amazing it was/is. When I want to blow off the gym I think about how far she's come because of how hard she worked for it. She brings me perspective and hope.
and...............I've got to make sure I can keep up with her and my other little ones.

I will admit though....Some of my why's are pretty vain. I'm not going to lie; I do want to look good in a bathing suit!

Iorns78

I can control my depression with out having to take medication. I feel down and out when I don't exercise, for me, even a walk helps pep up my spirit!

kikityme

I am a year younger than my dad was when he died.
Type 2 Diabetes I was just diagnosed with.

I am angry with myself for letting this happen. I knew better. Anger is the best motivator for me, cause being angry pisses me off.

cero55

1.) I had i high blood pressure and took 3 pills.
2.)i want to look and feel good.
3.) Taking Frustration out with exercise instead of food is bliss.
4.)now i fit in all the the clothes i like.

raw_meal

for later

zyxst

My WHY isn't good enough. Most of what I do is out of habit.

MsMarlaJean

This is an AMAZING thought provoking post! I want to think about it some more and come back to it and read it again and more of the replies...thanks for posting!

MikePXstream

Great post!!!!

The most important thing that keeps me going...My daughter. She conquers physical therapy daily... she's 5 now and has to work harder for skills than anyone I've ever met. "She was never going to be able to walk", but at 3.5 years old she took her first steps. It was like watching someone fly for the first time. I can't even describe how amazing it was/is. When I want to blow off the gym I think about how far she's come because of how hard she worked for it. She brings me perspective and hope.
and...............I've got to make sure I can keep up with her and my other little ones.

I will admit though....Some of my why's are pretty vain. I'm not going to lie; I do want to look good in a bathing suit!

That is a very powerful why. What a blessing that your daughter took her first steps. I can only imagine how excited you were.

DeterminedFee201426

why did i start
to feel comfortable in my skin
to feel healthy
all about me noone else

basically to look good yea to look good haha

iPlatano

1-*I want to get the benefits of workout and look good.

2-*I want to live for as long as possible and not take medications as I age.

3-*Because were we're not born to be sedentary because you lose what you dont use, just like a muscle.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

Teeny, tiny bikinis. That's why.

RUNNING_AMOK_1958

My mom died because she didn't take care of herself. Had she taken care of her body she could have had a chance against the cancer that killed her. I remember how I and all who loved her felt when she died. I vowed that I would become healthy to prevent disease in the first place, and to be strong enough to fight it if I got sick. I can control my health by doing the right things. I don't ever want those who love me to feel how I did after my mom died.

RachelSteeners

This is my first day on MFP. I found your post really inspiring and important.

I've had too many fun years of eating and drinking, and not looking after my body. Now I'm paying the price. My WHY is to get healthy, lose weight (so I don't need to use the sleep apnea machine anymore) and to live a long healthy life with my partner and future children!

demonsheep

My why has two parts. A shallow part and then the more real part. The shallow why is that I don't want to end up like so many of the people I see everyday, or like some of the people in my family. I don't want to go up one flight of stairs slowly, breathing heavily. I don't want to have to shop in the plus size department. Hypothyroidism runs in my family and I want to avoid it. I was never truly overweight, if I was it was only ever by 5lb when I started exercising and eating better in the summer of 2013.

My real why is that exercise and being healthy helps me mentally. I suffer from an anxiety and panic disorder, one that causes me to literally throw up. I've gotten comments on how "gross" that was, I've had people wonder if I'm bulimic or anorexic (I became so afraid of throwing up due to anxiety that even to do this day I just don't really eat in front of other people...) Not only did I have all of those comments, I was at a low point in my life spring 2013. I would starve myself through most of the day until I got home, then eat 1,000 calories all at once. I would never eat more than 1,500 calories, and probably less than that on most days. I'm proud to say that on days I work out, I haven't had a panic attack on the same day. In fact, I haven't thrown up due to a panic attack since August of 2013! I've been able to go out with friends, attend class, and have the energy to get through stressful challenges. Sure, the anxiety and panic attacks linger in the shadows- but I can run further, faster, and lift more away from them with each passing day. I'm hoping that I can make it to a year without throwing up! (But I'm leaving the country for a year in August, so that plane trip/travel might be enough to push me over the edge...here's to hoping not though!)

Edit- Sorry this was such a long read! I didn't mean for it to be :ohwell: