At what point did you finally decide "this is it..."

marylynn85

I was about 5 pounds away from hitting 200. There was no way I was going to let that happen. I started back up with MFP after a pretty long absence. Been here for 70 days now and have lost 16 pounds. I will never let myself get that big again.

BlueBombers

When my size 18W/20W pants started to get tight. It was either buy new pants in the next size up or get off my azz and do something about it.

m1a9t8t1

for me it's a yoyo situation...according to the internet I should weight 156 (male, 5'7.5''). Well I rarely dip that low! by the end of summer, right after I work out, but before I drink any water, I may see that weight...but by Feb, I'm 20lbs higher. I find it extremely easy to lose weight and be in shape in the summer, but as soon as the cold air whips in the northeast, it's over for me...I want to sit on my couch and watch tv after work....I want wine by the bottle and steak and potatoes...maybe I should move to a warmer climate!

thegirlwiththesox

For me it was a 3 day period where things just kept popping up to prove that I needed to change.
It started with the morning I hit 300lbs on the scale and was like Nope! Not happening. Later that day I went to the beach with my girlfriend in a dress that slimmed me down. When I saw those photos I realized that no matter what I wore I was much bigger than I was allowing myself to see in the mirror, it was like despite looking at my body before I was seeing it as smaller than it actually was.
The following day I decided to go out on my quad skates that I'd left in the closet for who knows how long since starting college....I couldn't skate for more than 10 minutes before I had to stop, this was a slap in the face considering the fact that just over a year ago I was playing full on roller derby with no problems what so ever.
Then to top it all off on the 3rd day I found out that someone teaches Stand Up Paddle Boarding near where I live, a sport I've wanted to learn since I found out it existed a while back, the downside; their boards only carried up to 250lbs so I'm far to heavy to even attempt it.

m1a9t8t1

oh, and this was a particularly tough winter..I've got 20 pairs of dress pants in my closet....five fit by March...then I split a pair and bleached another...I was left with rotating 3 because I refused to buy a size up!

kwilcox1195

when I realized that I'm not proud of the way I look. My tummy isn't 'sexy' or toned or tight or flat or anything. There is no reason it shouldn't be. .....and I'm the only reason it isn't.

giomyrosario

Ever Since the Doctors told me that my health was getting worst and there was nothing they can do, so I decided to do something about my self and loose weight and eat healthier, at this point of my life I can't let another health issue kill me. Also my clothes don't fit me anymore I used to be a size 10 an now I'm a 16. It's been so hard and I've been really depress.

_celesse

Pictures. I thought I was chubby in the mirror, but then I saw myself in pics and was just disgusted. Even in outfits I thought I looked shapely/smaller in, I was still a wide load from every angle. Not cute.

Pathend2

I'm turning 30 in two months and am starting a new career. With all the changes going in my life, I think I finally decided to do something about my weight issue. I would always tell myself that if I had just stuck to the diet and exercise I would do for a few weeks at a time in January to last through the whole year that after that year is up, I would emerge being 100 pounds lighter. I guess with all that cumulating at once, I decided to stick with this plan once and for all.

7 months later, I'm down 80 pounds. I've still got 40 to go before I'm in the "normal" range for BMI, but I've come this far. I'm not about to quit now.

SaltyElephants

I looked down and I couldn't see my feet.

dustsettles

I was sick. I went to the doctor and had to step on the scale for the first time in probably 3-5 years. I was shocked and horrified. I was 37 lbs over my normal body weight. At the appointment I was diagnosed with chronic panic attacks, 3-5 a day. At that time I could barely hold food down, walk, drive, or do anything. I decided to make some radical changes in my life.

I quit my stressful job, ended a toxic relationship, and went back to school. That was about a year ago and so far I've lost 25 lbs and I feel so much better, almost like my full self again. It was the wake up call I needed. Now everyday I focus on how I can become stronger, healthier, and more confident.

starbean

It had been a long, slow progression of weight gain, with accompanying realizations. Not wanting to wear skirts and dresses because my thighs were uncomfortably rubbing together was a real tipping point, but seeing a new number on the scale--one that approached 190--was the final wake-up call.

The worst of my weight gain happened through a series of stressful times, particularly in the last two or three years. This summer I'm trying to adopt enough healthy habits to keep me in control when my workload increases in the fall.

Ibleedlipstick

I've been playing around with losing weight for over a year now. I lost thirty pounds last year, and this year I have slowly gained them all back. It has been a rough year, and I have let things slide in a way that I shouldn't have.

I didn't notice how much I had gained until last week, when I went to put on my interview pants that fit beautifully in December, and I couldn't pull them past my thighs. In that moment I realized that at the rate I was going, I was going to be obese by Christmas if I didn't change what I was doing. Now, my goal is at least 12,000 steps/day and no more than 2,000 calories a day, even on "cheat' days. I live a pretty sedentary lifestyle (student), so there is no excuse for me eating whatever I want, whenever I want it.

kittygrrl15

My muffin top was turning into the whole bakery shelf and I couldn't take it any more. I'm a belly dancer on the side and when I feel gross in my costumes in spite of my general over abundance of self confidence, it's not cool. I've been slowly and steadily gaining year after year. Two pregnancies isn't accounting for all the weight gained, so it's time to get serious about actually paying attention to portions, about getting some more serious movement in my life, and eventually about getting strong to carry me long into my late years in a healthy body.

ninamarietheresa

When I needed "wide calf" boots, didn't like family photos, started to feel fatigue, when I am usually a high energy, productive person.

erinden

When I was embarrased for my husband to see me naked. During the Academy Awards I commented that Amy Adams looked hot in her dress and he said, "You had that exact figure until a couple of years ago." OK, then.

aarnwine2013

Mine are very simlar to the ones you all described. My husband took a picture of my daughter and I at Christmas and I was huge. I wanted to delete it. I then started thinking about all the things I avoided because I was fat. I didn't feel like I was that fat but, the pictures don't lie. It took until March of this year to make the change for good. I had a physical for work and found out I have insulin issues and thyroid problems.

I'm down almost 40lbs and I feel wonderful. I will not go back to that fat person who avoids pictures and life because she hates the way she looks and feels.

Now it's more about fitness! I started running and I've fallen in love with it. This past week I ran for a solid 4 miles! Best feeling in the world!

aarnwine2013

I'm 17 years old, 5'11" tall, and I'm going to be graduating this year. I ballooned up to... gosh 236 right before my vacation.
I looked at myself in the mirror and felt soooo ashamed of myself. So the week after vacation I stopped eating the nasty food. I started working out amost daily. Aaand I stepped on the scale 7 days after getting back home and I was 229! From then on I have had the mindset of "I can do this."
Now I'm setting mini goals. My mini goal at the moment is to be under 215 when school starts back up.
My bigger goal is to be down to 170 at graduation. When I graduate and am about 70 pounds less then I was the year before, I don't think there will be a girl happier than me.
Hope I can do this... The road ahead of me is long.

You can do this! I love the mini goals. That is what keeps me going! Good luck sweetie!

ErikaHope203

That's wonderful! Definitely not easy, especially to make many changes at once. Very inspiring

candb247

Father was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. I said "No Way" to me following those footsteps.

carliekitty

I was uncomfortable at my heaviest but never really put much effort into loosing or even thinking of it....then i got the cutest, sweetest, most active little furbaby from the a a spca. I wanted to be a better mom to him and give him all the exercise he needed. so i took off a few lbs before mfp then googled calories in food and mfp poped up. I wanted to loose 20lbs before i went to hawaii and i did and it was really a lot easier then i ever thought. So i am now 103 lbs lighter and i walk my furbabys 2-3 times a day and i run 5-6 days a week. =D I'm, now taking off vanity weight as i reached a healthy bmi on sat.

Annabear3

I've been saying for years I should do something. I even tried a few times. I usually gave up so quickly though. If I worked out (I would be a total baby about it too) I would take that to mean I could eat whatever and justify sitting and watching TV the rest of the day. If I ate good (which I rarely did) I didn't have to work out.

Then my sister started talking about a beach vacation for next year while we did a mini stay cation here at home while we were lounging by the pool. It sounded wonderful, but I just didn't feel comfortable (especially not next to my cute sister and our tiny uber healthy looking friend). I came home and spent a week just feeling off and unhappy. Then I walked by the mirror in my bedroom and really saw myself. I realized I'm going to hit 300 in a couple years at the rate I'm going. I don't want to go to a beach resort and not feel comfortable in my own skin. I didn't want to not do fun things because I was worried I'd be too heavy for the activity, or it wouldn't be able to accommodate my weight. I want to wear cute swimsuits and sleeveless summer dresses. So I sat down with my husband and said help me do this. Hold me accountable, don't let me make excuses. He wanted to lose some weight too, so he said he'd do it with me. He's not at the place where I am, just done with being fat and ready to be normal, but he's doing the workout stuff with me. It keeps me motivated more. My kids are proud and I'm already feeling better after only 2 weeks. I really want to go to the beach and feel comfortable.

FlamingJune67

I had started gaining weight in my late 20s and had spent my 30s overweight and miserable. I honestly thought that was just how it was... I was just meant to be fat. But then a friend of mine - who had spent a lifetime being overweight - joined weight watchers and lost a lot of weight. Woop-de-doo. I had seen a lot of people do that. But then she kept it off. One year. Two years. Three years.

I had my last baby 4 days after I turned 40, and for the first time in my life I thought it was possible. Maybe I wasn't destined to be fat?!! Maybe I, too could lose weight!

It took me 8 months... but I went from a size 16 to a size 10. I made sure I immediately got rid of any article of clothing when it got the least bit loose. I was not going to make any provisions for ever going back!

I've managed to keep it off for 7 years - all the while bouncing between an 8 and 10 (I'm 5"8") My ultimate goal is to be a size 6, and I'm using MFP to get there.

scrounger888

i just turned 34. I haven't been happy about my size in several years, and it's uncomfortable, hot, and sometimes just embarrassing. I cannot shop for clothes without them either being hideous, or very expensive. I've been opting for expensive so I can at least feel better about my outlook for today.

So, as my birthday present to myself I am giving myself the gift of better health, strength and fitness. It's been about a week, had a birthday celebration in there but other than that I've been doing well. Several workouts in, trying to make walking a habit, and logging everything, good, bad or otherwise. I don't want to live as the fat friend forever and I'd like to be able to walk into any store and select some nice clothing, not have to drive 45 minutes to shop at the one store available. I can do this. It helps that my work partner also started his program a few months ago, and he's lost 70 pounds, so I have a good, supportive friend to help me get started. The time just seems right!

SheBeButLittleSheisFierce

I had some personal stuff happen last fll that really turned me upside down. I simply decided I needed to take some time for me or I was going to go crazy (not literally) I contacted a friend who is ISS certified and said show me a few things I can do to help me workout. I've been going by to her ever since. I found it is a great way to destress, work out aggression, and simply feel better about me. It has been seven months and I'm down 32.5 pounds. I'm stronger, I'm happier, and I'm never going back to where I was!

scthomas100

I've always been the big girl, but I never really had any health issues. I actually lost weight in college from walking everywhere. I stayed in the low 200s until my thyroid went overactive. I lost 50 pounds in 3 months. I had to completely kill my thyroid with radioactive iodine in 2010 and gained around 80 pounds over the next two years trying to find an optimal dose of synthroid for me. I knew that I should have taken better care of myself during the "find the right medication" phase of my hypothyroidism, but I was having fun going out with friends every night and partying.

I've been trying to lose weight since December, but the big moment hit me this weekend when I was looking for new work pants and had to buy the size 20 ones. That sucked, and they're still a little tight.

agman90

I am the youngest of 5 in my family. My mom had bad health and weight issues since before I was born, having taking medication that she was allergic to. She was diabetic (pancreas didn't work at all), she developed heart issues with some of the medications she was on. I really don't know if there were many days that she actually felt well. Her kidneys stopped functioning and she was on dialysis. My sister developed diabetes, but was able to control it with diet. One of my brothers is diabetic and has almost lost his eyesight. Another one is afraid to go to the doctor because they will probably tell him he's pre-diabetic.

We were all in the hospital room with my mom when she passed. All I could think was, "I don't want my (5) children to ever have to sit here and watch me die like this". I lost quite a bit a couple of years ago, but I did gain some of it back. I want to lose again, I want to be able to be there for my kids when they need me.

euronorris

The Christmas party rolled around and I had no 'going out' clothes in the wardrobe that fit me. And then I went shopping....and realised how many sizes I had increased by.....and that I couldn't wear the style of clothes I wanted to because I didn't feel good in them, at that size.

That was enough to do it for me!

lissdawn

When I realized a few months ago I was in a year-long relationship with a guy who treated me like garbage, and I was only remaining in it because:

a) it was less messy then having to deal with untangling our lives and breaking up and

b) I figured I couldn't be in a healthy relationship with someone until I had a healthy relationship with myself.

So I decided to make my life messy and get my **** together. I am now single and 100% focused on myself and my personal health goals and haven't been so determined to do something for myself in...well...ever.

MarcieColley

When 39 years old I gave birth to my son and weighed almost 300 lbs. I was borderline diabetic with sever hypertension and a family history of heart disorder. I don't want my children losing their mother when they are still young and need me.