What gave you the motivation to start?

withchaco

Was there anything special that suddenly made you go, "okay, time to lose this weight and be healthy"? The final straw that made you decide it was time?

I've been overweight almost all my life, and never really cared about it. Last year, though, I met this child who weighed around 55lbs. Earlier this year it dawned on me that for me to reach my healthy weight, I'd have to lose at least 55lbs of fat, the same combined weight of that child's bones/ muscles/ etc! I was essentially carrying that kid on me 24/7. That weirded me out, and really helped put things into perspective.

ChristinaRamos

Yea, I changed my mind over night for the first time ever. Something

jamielise2

For me it was the fact that I coudlnt' even buy large sizes at most plus sized stores...they only went up to size 24. That and seeing pictures of myself with my daughter at Disneyland. I want to be the mom who can play with her daugthter, and be able to buy clothes at a regular store.

lalalalyndsey

I was dieting off and on, and while I was in an "off" stage, my mom joined MFP and had such great success so I decided to join. This site really has helped me take those steps on actually MAKING the lifestyle change and not just wait around HOPING for a change.

Kiwijay

1. I saw a video of me over xmas. 2. My very good friend asked me to go on a cruise with her 3. I hated that I had very limited choices for dresses at a friends wedding ( it was time to change!!!! :noway:

kendf60

I went to the doctor for a stress echo (treadmill/heart check) and was initially told that there could be a blockage and they needed to do more tests. I started eating clean that day but was told not to do anything strenuous until they did the additional tests. It turned out that I was just fat and out of shape. I started exercising as soon as I got the clearance from the doctor and haven't stopped my new lifestyle changes since. It will be 1 year tomorrow that I started eating clean.

hheard

Hi, I just joined tonight. I have problems keeping my heart in it's right rhythm, and tonight it started racing as I was doing the dishes and my mouth started feeling funny. I thought about the fact that I could have a heart attack, and that that would be a dumb way to die just because of my size. I thought of my family, my little brother is starting college, my Mom and I run a private preschool, I'm a writer, and I don't think God is through with me yet. So I decided it's time for a change . Found this site while looking for free zumba classes, glad I'm here.

hheard

That is awesome!!

rjsheets

My blood preasure was high, not incredibly high and my cholestoral wa high, the blood preasure meds gave me dry hacking cough and the choesterol meds gave me muscles aches. So I decided to go off both meds and eat right and exercise.

hheard

That is awesome!!

Sorry this message was supposed to be for Kendf60. Still figuring this site out

kendf60

Thanks hheard.

sandrapops

1) I realized that I currently weigh only 15 lbs less than when I was 9 months pregnant. That is ~so~ not right!
2) I'm a happy person living in a miserable person's body. And its totally cramping my style.
3) I have a lot of cute clothes that I just can't wear right now. Really, really, really cute clothes.

billmac

I had a friend take a photo which bared all. I hadn't thought I looked too bad until that moment!!! Rejoined MFP and have been very diligent for about 2 months since.

withchaco

I had a friend take a photo which bared all. I hadn't thought I looked too bad until that moment!!! Rejoined MFP and have been very diligent for about 2 months since.

Oh man, the photo moment. Some time ago, my mom took a picture of me, and I looked sooo out of shape. I thought it was just a particularly bad photo, but then I realized I looked just as fat in pretty much every photo of me.

zeeeb

Pushing the boudaries of fitting into a size 18... being to short and small for the plus sizes but too big for the normal sizes... nothing was ever going to fit me nicely.... and being bigger than i've ever been. and being uncomfortable, and sweaty and hot, and unfit and unmotivated, no energy.... and the depression from all of the above... amazing, only took 10kg to feel a world better, but also gave me the motivation to keep going and lose 20kg at least!

SweetAsHoneyy

my motivation kept changing, I finally realized that if someone who weighed 369lbs can loose weight, so can I. I was also very upset that I couldnt fit into these cute clothes I see all the time that I would wear. I used to be a size 11 and size 13. Right now Im at about a 18 or 19, I keep sweating at night, and its horrible. Its time to do something, a stranger had guided me here, I thought nah another weird site but something told me to try it, trust him, so far I feel at home here.

Now I say LETS DO THIS!!

billmac

Withchaco. I've recorded this story here before however just for amusement ...years ago i was in a physiotherapist and was lying on a bed without a shirt on. I looked over at the bloke beside me and thought "At least i'm not as fat as that fat bloke' Then I realised i was looking at a mirror!
MFP is sure a great help. The tracking calories really helps me.