What finally made you get serious about losing weight?

shadowkitty22

When the scale finally tipped over 300 pounds I decided that it was finally enough. I've been overweight (and honestly just obese) for the vast majority of my life but I found that 300 pounds was just unacceptable. It also helped me that my husband needed to lose some weight in order to keep his job (he's in the military) so he was eating healthier with me. I'm not going to lie, it's a lot easier to lose weight when your significant other is willing to help out by eating right and exercising as well. It also helps when you're in charge of buying the groceries because then you have the right to not buy things that you don't want to be in your house if they're a temptation for you. These days, if my husband wants to eat chips and cookies he pretty much sneaks them at work because I refuse to buy them.

jciukaj

what's a 30 day shred

onewhodiets

The doctor reported a blood test result to me that indicated I was heading towards being a diabetic. I know a lot about that disease and I want to avoid it, if I possibly can. I want to enjoy being active and healthy, especially when I can retire and do as I please, in about seven years. I wasn't motivated so much by looks, because I'd come to accept by flab, but I certainly am enjoying my changing appearance. Apparently, by just losing ten pounds I would decrease my chances of developing diabetes by 50 percent. I am now no longer obese and if I lose about twenty more pounds, I will be within a acceptable weight range. I never thought I could do it before, but MFP has been invaluable.

mrsmel55

My wake up call when my husband of thirty years (he's 60) had a heart attack. Thank God we went to emergency room when the pain in his jaw, arm and chest seemed suspicious. We were in the ER his heart went into defibrilation and they had to shock him 11 times. He had 100% blockage and they were able to fix him up with a stent. Doctor said if he had not been in the ER when that happened he would have died. OMG! Well, number one thing the dr. said is to quit smoking. No 2 is lower your cholesterol. No 3 is exercise. I had quit smoking 2 years ago and added even more pounds to my already overweight self. He has quit since the heart attack (January 14) . I made myself an appoitment at the heart clinic for a check up and my tests results made the dr want to do an angiogram on me. Thankfully, my worst blockage is 50% but I have a 40 and some 30's. So since January 14, I have lost almost 20 lbs and he has too. He wasn't quite as overweight as me but we were both out of shape. I have been using the George Foreman grill to cook chicken, turkey, talapia. Its fast and easy and tasty. We got bikes and I am enjoying riding and adding calories to my day. I can't walk very far because my knees and ankle hurt. But we decided we had to change if we wanted to be healthy and live to enjoy retirement in the near future.

FitAtFifteen

O: I am too young to give up on myself!

mxmandani

once I started huffing and puffing when i took the stairs, i knew it was time to do some work and loose weight

SarahJeanVSG

I want to have a healthy family! I have been married for a year and would love to start a family, but with my size now if I got pregnant there would be way to many risks. So in order to start a family I must shed my spare tire and get my self to a healthy place to begin my life!

midgrabens

i feel gross. I have gone through this now 3 or 4 times. Story is usually something having to do with having gotten busy, stopped running, had to study more, eating more. At this point i don't recognize myself in the mirror. Enough. Time to start over AGAIN. At 38 not running a week will put me behind... now its been the better part of 2 years. But I've done it before and I will do it again. 3 years ago i ran a half marathon. I don't know if i'll do another marathon, but I will be fitting into these jeans again and be able to see myself in the mirror and see ME... not this strange pear shaped person i vaguely recognize. This is day one. I can't fail... it has to be my new focus.

New_Atti2ude

O: I am too young to give up on myself!

Congratulations on your lbs lost!

fashionista954

I'll be 30 in less than two months and I have struggled with these extra 40+ pounds for the past 3 years! I have been very unhappy ever since I gained the weight, and instead of taking charge, I ate more unhealthy foods and portions. For a while I wasn't motivated to go shopping or to take pictures (two things that I love dearly).

It finally hit me that I couldn't continue like that; I was alive, but not "living". In the past I would start a workout/diet program for two weeks and would find every excuse to quit it! I must say now, I'm almost two months in and if I miss a scheduled workout, I feel like something is missing, and find ways to make it up. I'm at the beginning of this journey, but what I've gained so far is amazing. Staying committed to something that is going to make such a huge and rewarding difference gives me so much joy...and this time around, I have already visualized myself at my goal weight...that keeps me going.

scentexpress

If it weren't enough that I was on blood pressure & cholesterol meds, my epiphany occurred when the doctor called me into her office to discuss my latest lab work (that I was required to have in order to get refills on the above meds). She hands the paperwork to me and said, "Welcome to the wonderful world of Diabetes". I nearly fainted.

That was March 20, 2010. Since then, I've lost 120 lbs.by my OWN will, desire & determination. Not by following any of the fashionably latest or fad diet; I simply put the trust in myself to use my own common sense & make smart choices. I followed the logic of 'too much of anything can be a bad thing', and I googled up information about calories, fats (good & bad), carbs (simple & complex) & about the amazing benefits of fiber to the average person's diet. I then chose foods from those lists that were beneficial but that I also liked. I taught myself to love water & drink a gallon daily. And, most importantly...I got off of my butt. The first mile I walked almost killed me- I now mix running in with my walking & do an average of 7 miles at least 4 days a week. I've still have a ways to go, but I'm enjoying every day that I make smart choices & can honestly say that I trust myself for the first time in my entire life. I am so happy that I no longer am battling the blood pressure, high cholesterol OR the diabetes. I am proud of myself & I'm loving my life.

Your gorgeous!!!

Wow! Thank you so much! You are beautiful too!
To EVERYONE...YOU ALL ROCK!!! Your gutwrenching honesty is so appreciated..your stories move me & motivate me. Keep fighting the fight...you are winning!

Stinkybug

I finally got serious about loosing weight and getting healthy when the health problems started to add up. Diabetes, High blood pressure, Sleep apnea, Snoring, Aches and pains in my joints and so on. I have now lost 82 lbs and all but the Diabetes has gone away. I am so much healthier and happier now. I still have just under 30 lbs to loose, but I am getting there and it is worth every bit of effort.

tessa022707

I turned fifty in September. I was fat and fifty. Really fat and really fifty. How the $@!?* did that happen? Then I realized I had postponed going to the doctor because I was embarrassed by my weight and did not want to hear her say Obese. What an idiot- fifty fat and fearful! So something clicked on December first. I am down 18 pounds, have 43 to go and a doctors appointment in 2 weeks! I will be fifty one and fabulous!

Colbyandsage

I woke up fom a minor surgery and my heart stopped for 8 sec. After several tests, they found that I had a heart defect. I now have a pacemaker. Before the surgery, I was running a few miles a couple times a week but not watching what I eat. It was a huge wake up call for me at 33 with 2 lil kids. I realized that I needed to get serious about diet and exercise if I wanna live to see my great grand babies. My plan is to live to 90 like my great grand parents, who I know very well. they r my inspiration!

Good luck!

si_puedo

a birthday party that i went to in December. A friend of mine looked at me and said, " i know you don't I?" i hadn't seen her in a while. i had put on a lot of pounds since the last time i saw her. she didn't recognize me. booooooo.

Astrowife68

I personally put on 20 pounds during December of this past year. And my joints (hips) started hurting terribly bad when ever I made a move. So I decided it was time to take my life back. I am on High Blood Pressure, cholestoral, asthma, and acid reflux medicines. And I would love to lose enough weight to stop the joint pain in my hips and to kick all these medication to the curb.

I am still in the process of losing what I gained in Dec, but it is moving in the right direction. :happy:


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Saruman_w

I just felt like complete crap and unattractive. I wanted to do something about it, and was starting to get desperate. I found MFP one day and gave it a shot. Best decision I ever made.

LorinaLynn

I never got "serious" about it. I didn't think I could lose weight, so I was only trying half-assedly at first, and only doing it because I wanted to run the Warrior Dash and jump over fire. :drinker:

But eating better and exercising is making me able to live a better and more fun-filled life. Weight loss was a just a wonderful side effect.

bpassmor1

I had a child at the age of 35 and it has been my excuse for the last 8 years! I am tired of making excuses. I was also hurt when my 8 year old son told me that my belly was fat. That really did it for me. I encourage my son to be the best that he can be in every area of his life. And then I realized I am not setting a good example for him. I want to show him what happens when you work hard. I want to practice what I preach!

cmillv

O: I am too young to give up on myself!

I love this!

charlieduc

When the scale tipped 300 I know that I am way to young to be this unhealthy.

susannamarie

Worsening knee pain and a breakup.

INTER5TELLA

When I was sent to the hospital for "blackouts" caused by anxiety attacks; and had asthma attacks, walking a mile... in less than a month apart.

anfmusicgrl

I wrote about this in my blog....so I'll just copy and paste it here.

"The A-ha Moment?

Some people have this huge a-ha moment, or inspirational moment, in which they decide they're done "trying to lose weight" and just simply do it.

I didn't have that.

Mine was more like an a-ha year.

Let's rewind...

Early January 2011 - I got a phone call on a Saturday afternoon (Saturday the 8th to be exact) that my step-mother (47 years old) had a stroke. My mind was confused...I knew it was serious, but didn't realize HOW serious...still, something told me I needed to drive the 7 hours to go support my dad, brother, step-sister, and of course her. A week later, she passed away.

This scared the sh%t out of me.

She had Addison's disease, which has to do with the body's production of cortisol, stress, etc. (Google to find out more) and due to this she was overweight, and had also been diagnosed as diabetic a year earlier. She did as she was supposed to, cut out the sugar, white breads, etc. But what's this??? She drank diet soda.

Anyhow...It took me a few months to process what happened. I was in shock. It did however, make me scared of artificial sweetners. I started opting for drinks and foods that had unrefined sugar. (In place of bleached sugars, artificial sweetners, high fructose corn syrup, etc)

While I was still processing this.....fast forward to March 2011:

My mother (49 years old at the time) was admitted to the hospital because of abnormal bleeding, which had left her very weak. After days of blood transfusions they finally performed a hysterectomy for the "fibroids" and she felt great, and life went on....for 3 weeks...

April 2011: I was on my 2nd day of vacation, had been to the beach with my husband and had just gotten home to shower. My mom called... The doctor left a voicemail (didn't even SPEAK TO HER) and informed her those fibroids were actually a rare cancer called Leiomyosarcoma.

My mother is the PICTURE of health. She is 49 years old and seriously looks 29! People ALWAYS think we are sisters; and are literally dumbfounded when they find out she is my mother. She has always been very thin (I'm talking size 0-2 her entire life), no issues like high blood pressure, hell...not even WRINKLES) Anyhow, I flew up to be with her at her appointment in which they said "Oh we got it all with her surgery, she is ok now". And so, life continued for another few months. This had a big effect on me though. How does someone SO HEALTHY get such a rare cancer at such a young age? I then began switching to organic and all natural products (I'm talking down to the face moisurizers I use, not only food). This began to have a small effect on me, I still ate big portions, chose the wrong things at restaraunts, but, I still lost a little weight, and stopped gaining.

August 2011: I got a call at 7:30 am on my way to work, mom was bleeding and in pain... She found out later that day her Leiomyosarcoma came back not only in her pelvis area, but also in her lungs. I immediately flew up to be with her again.

Since then - just so I don't leave you all hanging... my mother is doing well considering the circumstances. She had a few major surgeries, and was in the hospital for weeks. She began chemo, and has been undergoing chemo for a few months now; and will have scans done in 6 days. They removed everything "visible" in the abdomen, and they are trying to get her lungs to a condition where they can operate. You can follow her battle on her facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbaras-Fight-Against-Leiomyosarcoma/104115746357036

Anyhow....All of this CRAZINESS literally scared me into my a-ha moment. I found myself not eating quite as much; and making better decisions just because in the back of my head I was like "I don't want to die at 27 of a heart attack, diabetes, stroke, cancer, or anything like that"...

So I got weighed a routine visit at the doctor, and I had to ask them to repeat my weight. I'd lost about 15lbs, without even knowing it. This was amazing to me! I've been battling weight issues since mid-high school when my hormones kicked in. There are no excuses for the weight I've gotten to, but contributing factors were definitely: my depression; my crazy childhood (I ate bc of emotion and boredom); Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome (hormone imbalance- causes me to store fat around abdomen, glucose/sugar issue); and the list goes on and on. Sometimes I lost from starving myself (literally) but that was the only way.

All of this is my a-ha moment.

I HAVE to get healthier. I want to enjoy life. You cannot control what happens to you sometimes (for example my mom's cancer; or accidents, etc) but I can control the quality of life I lead each day.

I lost up to about 35lbs without tracking calories, or exercising, but finally decided right after Christmas because I was doing so well... I'm going to exercise! And I didn't hate it...so a week later I thought "I'm going to track my calories".....and so, here I am...47 lbs lighter than I was this fall.

I still indulge some, have "maintenance" calorie days, but I am very consistent with never over eating, making decent decisions, working out, and it's working for me.

My first goal is still 46 lbs away. (Which would be a total loss of 93 lbs) and from there, I'm not sure...I haven't put a number on my final goal. HEALTHY is what I want.

I never want to feel bad at the mall because I don't fit into certain stores clothes again.

I never want to worry about riding a roller coaster because I don't fit in the seat again. (This almost happened once and that moment flashes in my head like a record on repeat)

I never want to struggle to buckle the seat-belt on the airplane again.

This is my motivation, my struggle, my story.......but I'm in control of the outcome. That is something I will not forget."

birdieintx

I went to my yearly girly appointment and after the weigh in I was reading the BMI chart on the back of the exam room door and realized I was just a few pounds shy of being in the overweight category. I have never in my life been overweight. In fact I spent my first couple decades being on the low end of normal a few pounds shy of underweight. I know that getting older changes your metabolism etc...but I also knew that I wasn't taking care of myself the way I should be. So I gave up soda, made better choices about what I ate and started tracking my calories and portion sizes. Most of all I started exercising because regardless of weight loss I want to be healthy!

I am lucky that I haven't struggled with my weight and diet my whole life but I don't want to spend my adult life doing it.

smantha32

My motivation is always the same. Seeing horrifying pictures of myself. Because I never seem to think I'm as fat as I really am until I see it captured in a photo. ACK.

Wingnut51

At one point 4-5 years ago...when I was like 15-16 I was almost 300lbs. And I didnt want to be "fat" anymore. I decided it was time to do it for real. After losing like 5lbs the first week and finding as the weeks went on that my clothes kept getting bigger and bigger and I could wear smaller sizes I kept going and never stopped :]

betsie_n

For me, I had been fighting with myself for a long time. I started exercising and make some better food choices, but was never fully committed, which meant nothing changed on the scale. Then one day it struck me that I am very blessed in my life. I have a great family, a home, wonderful friends and a decent job. No, it's not all perfect and many people have more than me, but I am lucky to have what I do have and I am happy.

So, I just asked myself WTH? Life is good, so why am I punishing my body by not taking care of it? Why do I put eating bad food ahead of feeling good about myself? It seemed so silly when I looked at it that way. So, that's what I think about when I start to make bad choices - a bunch of fried food is not worth it anymore. I like knowing that I'm taking care of one of my many blessings.

I started eating better and found I feel so much more energetic that exercise is not such a giant hurdle every day now. I realized also that my morning workout helps me get focused for my day. All those things they say will happen when we do the right things, really do! Today I'm down 7 pounds since the holidays.

Lauren8239

Wow...all these stories. Amazing. And kudo's to you all for taking action.

10 years ago I woke up feeling like I had the worse flu in the world. My stomach HURT like there were knives twisting in there. I threw up all the time. I had acid pouring out both ends (sorry). I thought flu? Food poisoning? I survived on Ensure as that's all I could stomach. I lost 30 pounds in one month. I went to doctors, and was taken for many tests on my stomach, even got to eat a radioactive egg to track it's progress through digestion, lol. I was on many meds for GERD, reflux..........it was unreal. None of it helped. When I could start eating solid food again, there were only three things I could eat without puking: rice, bread and potatoes. Yup, that was it. Anything else and I would throw up until I thought I would die. And the acid just kept flowing, and the stomach pain had me writhing in agony. Eight years go by.....and still being tested and put on drugs........I started getting multiple infections...bladder, kidney, glands.....I had a tooth extracted and the resulting infection almost killed me. Literally. I thought I was just falling apart physically. Because all I ate was high in bad carbs, I bloated out and looked horrible. One day I had yet another infection somewhere in my neck and my face literally blew up from it, so I immediately went to the walk in clinic. When I saw this doctor, I swear someone was looking out for me. He took one look at me and knew exactly what was wrong with me. Remember, this is after 8 years of seeing specialists and surviving on only three foods. He asked me what I ate, and I told him. He said he could tell by how I carried the weight that it was carb overload. I'd been tested for H. Pylori multiple times yet the test always came back negative. He told me that many people can have H. Pylori and have a negative test, so he treated me with multiple wicked antibiotics for this stomach infection. It took an extra two weeks of treatment (totalling a month) to eradicate this parasite. He had in the meantime taken blood tests and was in shock I was actually alive. The numbers for my cholesterol and my triglycerides were through the roof. My insulin level was high as Mt Everest. He said that I should have been dead from a stroke or heart attack and that he had never seen anyone with such high counts actually walking around. It shocked me. My blood was tested for fat in it, and he told me that my blood was so full of fat from the foods I had to eat that it was like congealed gravy that had been kept in a fridge. He did not put me on meds, he explained exactly what was happening to my body because of the infection in my stomach and had me tested to be sure my organs hadn't been damaged from the extremely high insulin levels in my body. Thankfully my organs were still ok. He suggested Atkins, which I did and it made a huge difference. My body could not find anywhere else to park the carbs I was living on. This man knew by looking at me what I was ill from, yet my family doctor would chastise me for being fat, saying that I just didn't do any exercise. He never once suggested checking my cholesterol or anything like that. Unreal. So this walk in clinic doctor literally saved my life, and I've never looked back.....once I felt better I kick started my life into being healthy, and I really enjoy eating real food now.
I'd like to add that my case was rare. Half the population has H. Pylori in their stomach. They thrive in stomach acid. I was told that I am in the 1% of the population that get sick from it. The majority of people have no idea they are infected.

kujotx

Totally agree about making a "lifestyle change". i tell my husband all the time that this isn't a "diet", it is a lifestyle change. What is the point of going through all of this if you are just going to go back to how it was and be unhealthy again.