What was the deciding factor for you?

Riceking10

What moment was it that made you realize "Hey... I need to lose weight, and I need to lose it BAD!"

For me, it was right after having an appendectomy. The doctor told me that they did some blood tests and that I had a fatty liver.

After looking up all the terrible things that could mean for me, I decided to drop the weight. That lead to 70 pounds of loss in about 5 months! Hell of a motivator.

Funny thing is? I didn't realize that the BAD fatty liver is more related to drinking... I still had a fatty liver, and it was still because I was fat, but it's not nearly as bad

Anyway, that was my moment, what was yours?

StarryEyed500

Mine was having to send back a pair of (gorgeous) jeans cos they were too tight. I wasn't going to buy the next size up so decided I would lose weight. Hoping to lose 2-3 sizes and then I will treat myself to a pair of even more gorgeous jeans.

Edit: That sounds really fickle. There were other contributing factors, but that was my decider lol

codycisco

My doc telling me that he is giving me 3 months to get my weight under control or go on blood pressure medicine. I am OCD about taking medications.

runnercheryl

What moment was it that made you realize "Hey... I need to lose weight, and I need to lose it BAD!"

For me, it was right after having an appendectomy. The doctor told me that they did some blood tests and that I had a fatty liver.

After looking up all the terrible things that could mean for me, I decided to drop the weight. That lead to 70 pounds of loss in about 5 months! Hell of a motivator.

Funny thing is? I didn't realize that the BAD fatty liver is more related to drinking... I still had a fatty liver, and it was still because I was fat, but it's not nearly as bad

Anyway, that was my moment, what was yours?

The realisation in November 2010 that I wanted to be starting to consider getting pregnant in 2015, and that weight loss wouldn't be a quick thing. I'm 1/3 of my way to my goal weight now, and in a year I'll be half-way to that all-important year, so I'm not completely on track but I'm losing at the right rate now - I just hit a plateau last year and threw things off course for a while.

mzzzzzc

When I (a very prompt person) was late for everything because I can never find anything that fits

danmoffett

For me it was the sudden death of my wife of 37 years. We were both obese and in bad health. I had 2 children still at home and our first grandchild on the way. I had to change my lifestyle for their sake. That started my 24 month journey that has meant a turnaround for me. I've lost 155 pounds and all the ills that went along with the weight. I feel great and halve lots of energy to play with my now 2 year old grandchild.

katkins3

Wearing a size 20 dress to my daughter's wedding and seeing the hideous photos!

awlawson

I am 33 and have 2 young kids. My wife is GORGEOUS and thin. She deserves the same. Also, I was taking blood pressure medicine, had sleep apnea, and my cholesterol numbers were not looking good. Working in the medical field, I KNOW BETTER!!! I honestly felt like I was running out of time to be fit and healthy. My goal was 1 lb a week. My OCD kicked in and I have lost 34 lbs in 13 weeks. I don't wanna be that way ever again!!!

maryroseclare

My ex-husband died two years ago, and that's when me and my son decided to live healthier lifestyles. I've lost 60 pounds since then, he quit smoking. I have a long way to go, but I'm determined to stick with it.

Jessie544

There were several things, first thing that came to mind when I thought of the question::::

About 18 months after I had my first child, I was putting him in his carseat, and my 7 year old neice said "Hey Jessie, it looks like you have a baby in your belly again!"... lol, it's funny now, because it was just so innocent of her, but the honesty of a 7 year old made me realize how big I really was. It's weird how you don't realize how big you really are until you see a very unflattering picture of yourself or someone straight calls you out... oh, speaking of.... reminds me, my OBGYN also said during a check up "you're BMI is a little high"... I was like, ummmmm yes, I know this... thank you for your observation, lol....

JonathansMom0910

Mine was when I went in the hospital because I was having trouble breathing. They found my lungs full of clots, as well as my right leg. I had visits from a general physician, a pulmonologist, a vascular surgeon and a cardiologist. I was told if I didn't loose the weight, quit smoking and stop taking anything with estrogen in it, I was at greater risk for clots, I would be left on blood thinners and that I would have to have gastric bypass. I wanted to live. I wanted to be healthy.

Then 3 weeks later when I was just starting to be able to breathe semi normally, my son had his 1st birthday. When I saw myself in the pictures I was disgusted and cried. After that I started eating better and exercising. I want to be a better mother and hopefully a mother another time over. If I cant' stay off the meds, that won't happen.

Clarimusic00

I had several factors that just kind of added up. My grandmother was hospitalized last year for 3 months from complications from being obese (my whole family is/has been obese). I saw the process of my brother loosing weigh (150 pounds) and being a much happier person. I also hated the way I looked in pictures and videos. I didn't have the health complications from being over weight some people have but it does sting when your doctor tells you that you need to loose weight. On top of all of that, my number 1 reason I got motivated was my boyfriend. I met someone who loved me despite being so overweight and I became a happier person. And because I was happier I wanted to live longer and so many other benefits of being healthy. Now that I've found a process that doesn't leave me feeling like I'm starving at the end of the day, I'm certain I can keep with it!

Jgreenb

Mine was seeing the words obese under the conditions section on my medical report my doctor filled out.

fearie_jae

Mine was right around Christmas. I had told the kids that I had bought stuff for us to make cookies for Santa and the 6 yo said "Why doesnt Santa get healthy stuff?" THAT made me look at my food choices and lifestyle and realize i needed to change BIG time for myself and to set a good example for my kids.

Thriceshy

LOL, I've known for years. Dropped 75 lbs back in 2001, gained it all back, plus another hundred over the years. My back finally got so bad that I couldn't tie my own shoes and walking to the car was agonizing (ruptured disks in my lower back). That wasn't enough to inspire me. I'd gotten to the point where drying off after a shower was enough to leave me gasping and winded. Still not enough to get me moving because I felt absolutely certain that it was too late, I was too far gone to fix. But when the clinic told me I was diabetic, that somehow registered. I guess because, unless I wanted to be drug-dependent (and I didn't), I was going to have to watch what I ate and move more, whether I lost weight or not. Somehow, that did it for me. So a big THANKS to diabetes!

liog

Seeing the photos from our Disney vacation in January. I don't ever want to have fat photos of myself again.

Applelina

Mine was trying to get life insurance on myself just in case for my children and realizing I wouldn't be covered because I also have fatty liver. I was told it was better but I got the blood results and was denied. It isn't as bad as fatty liver caused by alcohol but it still can lead to other complications. I was also told to only lose weight at the most of about 2 lbs per week because otherwise it could turn into NASH depending on the elevation of your liver enzymes. So far I've lost 13 pounds from about the second week of January. When I've lost weight quicker my enzymes were elevated higher, triglycerides were higher and my blood pressure. If that isn't a wake up call I don't know what is! It was what I needed to get myself serious because I have wanted to lose weight before to look good (and I still do!) but now I have 3 more reasons at home to get myself straight and healthy. Best of luck!

Jking826

For me is putting on every pair of pants in my closet and not being able to fit ANY. I just recommitted myself this week and I am SO DETERMINED.... I refuse to buy bigger sizes so Im letting these pants cut off my circularion ro remind myself the mess I put my body through lol...

whutzup1

bump

Katacheese

It was a couple of things. I had my gallbladder out last year and was really sick. Then I signed up for this program at work that actually pays you to loose weight and see a counselor. I signed up because I needed the money. It's really motivating to know that I get a dollar every time I work out. Finally, I see my mother who has bad weight problems, the aggravate her bad back, sore feet and legs. She can barely move. I want to be able to move when I'm older. I have a son who needs me.

goodfido

I was tired of clothes not fitting well and not wanting to buy bigger sizes. I have been making excuses for my bad choices and it really has to stop. I've been back on now for a couple of weeks and I'm feeling much better about myself and the ways that the clothes are starting to fit once again. I have a ways to go but knowing I'm determined to NOT make any excuses is a great feeling.

seebeachrun

Got engaged and realized I had been wearing stretchy scrub pants to work for months because none of my slacks fit me (I am an attorney so wearing scrub pants to court without shame was pretty bad.) Just found out my high school reunion is at the end of June so that's additional motivation.

mannaseng

Seeing myself sideways in the mirror and being SO appalled by my stomach sticking out. Oh, and realizing that the reason I hate shopping for pants is because I always look fat and it depresses me. This made me realize the reason I was wearing 7-10 year old pants still was because I just couldn't stand to face my fat butt and go jean shopping. How pathetic.

Juawill

Mine was building for awhile. I'm a 59 year old male with two grown children. One of them will be married two years this June. I guess I'm hoping for grandkids and I definitely want to be able to play with them, not just look at them whenever they do come. I never rated obese. Rather, I've been the the upper range of the overweight category. I've smoked for most of my life (grew up with the Marlboro Man on TV all the time!). Anyhow, I'm smoke free since March 1.

In February I decided I needed to do something. I sat here at the computer and did a few hours of research including WW. Obviously, I decided to use MFP and I also jumped in my car, drove to Best Buy and bought a Fitbit Ultra. Now, between the three of us (MFP, Fitbit and me), I'm tracking everything that goes into me and everything that gets burned up. I work out three times a week at a gym and am fairly active other times. My goal is 20-25 pounds. When I get there I'll reevaluate to see if I want to go further. I do NOT want to get skinny; I want to be at a healthy weight for someone my height and age.

Anyhow, for me it's all about living healthy.

cupboard_stalker

For me it is clothes, whether that be standing infront of the wardrobe having tried on everything and still finding nothing that will hide the fat, or seeing my favourite clothes in there knowing how i'm too fat to fit them. When you look good you feel good, when you look fat you feel dreadfull about yourself. My moment was the realisation that everyday i could stare into this wardrobe, but the outcome could be something positive or negative depending on what i put in my mouth.

tinkermommc

No real tipping point for me. Just an accumulation of things building up. Can't run as fast as my son, hate my clothes, knowing I'm fat, etc. I've tried before and was always a couple months and then stress would hit and it'd all be lost. So my New Years resolution was not to lose weight, It was to learn to handle stress better. So then I realized my weight was one of the things stressing me out and very fixable. So now if I am stressed I go for a swim instead of to the kitchen!

bamajes

I have two children that are 6 1/2 years apart. I started my weight loss journey about 6 months before my oldest daughter started kindergarten because I didn't want to be the "fat mom" in the classroom. I lost 104 pounds during that journey and ended up pg with my youngest daughter. After a 2 years in a nasty, drawn out divorce, I realize I lost myself and with my youngest turning 4, i again have the fear of being the "fat mom" in the kindergarten classroom. I realized the time was now to completely change my habits. It is a slow journey so far but the changes have been good. I already have more energy and see the benefits of making better choices.

TheUnwritten

For me it was being put on high blood pressure medication and a heart attack scare I was rushed to the ER.

Ballybabe1

I was always on some fad diet or other but the tipping point was 3 miscarriages in a row, the last being last September. I decided thats it I have 3 kids and never a problem and now at my heaviest I have 3 miscarriages one after the other so even though I know there is no reason (so they say) for mc's I decided that if I am going to try again later this year I am sure as hell gonna be a bit lighter and healthier and who knows I might have better luck. It couldnt have helped being 19st ! I will be 39 this summer so its my last chance saloon and I want to give it my best shot.

Who knows if I keep loosing weight I might not want to put it all back up by being pregnant again ! One day at a time !

Oh and my litttle brothers wedding & a 21 yr out school reunion this August are helping me to keep focussed also !

Also me and my best pal have a pact to be skinny for our 40th ! Roll on ........................

Prefessa

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
High Blood Pressure
Pre-Diabetes
Elevated Triglycerides, LDL
Low HDL
Elevated C-Reactive Protein(Infammation)
Chronic Fatigue(from B12 and Vit D defficiency)
No longer had Clothing that Fit.
BMI 38+(Morbidly Obese)

I am just like everyone else out there...."Change occurs when the Pain of Change is less than the Pain of Remaining the Same".

Frozenmango

It's been an on and off battle for me as well. I realized that the weight was creeping on since I was in my early twenties and out of school, but I was in denial of just how bad it was getting. Then came stress and emotional eating as well, and as the years went on, I ballooned up to 245 lbs at my heaviest when I was only 26 years old. I felt horrible, had no energy and would avoid cameras like the plague. I did lose 35 lbs after seeing a naturopath that warned me that if I didn't lose some weight soon, I'd be diabetic within a year. I've never gained the 35 lbs back, but I haven't gotten under 200 lbs either, which is a constant source of stress and failure to me. I did several 'fad' diets, and would get frustrated when I'd hit a plateau or wouldn't see the results I expected. So I would give up and gain it all back. But this year is the year of me. I actually started working out and changing my diet drastically last year, which did yield some inch loss, but the scale still didn't move very much. I'm hoping to change that this year as I've taken on a personal trainer who'll hopefully be the key to finally getting back to Onederland before I die MFP is great for tracking my food and being accountable for what I'm eating. Please lord, let this year be the year!