What made you start your journey

LindaCWy

Why did you decide to make a health change? What sparked it.

For me (and this is the watered down version) I hated my previous job, there was drama and lying and **** going on behind my back. I got caught into a bad situation and I was losing sleep over it. So I decided to take control of my life, since I couldn't do anything (at the time) when it came to my job.

I dropped weight, lowered cholstrol, beat anxiety, gained muscle, gained confidence, sped up my metabolism, lowered body fat and...the ultimate...found a new job!



What's your journey? Lets keep this positive, I'm sick of all the fighting on the forums lately.

Skippy1965

Found myself gaining weight, mostly in the stomach area, fighting fatigue & sluggishness. Went to the doc for full blood profile. All results were NORMAL! Good news I guess, but I wanted an excuse for the weight gain? Could it be peri-menopause? Possibly, but I'm going to fight the fat! Don't want to be a 47 year old with a whiskey barrel body. I'm taking control of my life, my eating habits, and exercise routine.

Today is a new day. I hope to lose weight, feel better, and have more energy than ever. Any suggestions from anyone concerning foods that boost metabolism and give you natural energy? If so, I'd love to hear it. Thanks and good luck to you!

75Juniper

I've been a professional dieter since I was 11, but never had any success and just kept gaining over the years. Last fall, I went for a physical and I was at my highest weight ever and my blood sugar was 101. It was only 2 points above normal and nowhere near the diabetic range, but that was the kick in the pants I needed, especially because my aunt has diabetes. I did a ton of research and found that if I just lost weight and incorporated a little exercise, I could undo the damage my lifestyle has caused.

beduffbrickie

Why did you decide to make a health change? What sparked it.

For me (and this is the watered down version) I hated my previous job, there was drama and lying and **** going on behind my back. I got caught into a bad situation and I was losing sleep over it. So I decided to take control of my life, since I couldn't do anything (at the time) when it came to my job.

I dropped weight, lowered cholstrol, beat anxiety, gained muscle, gained confidence, sped up my metabolism, lowered body fat and...the ultimate...found a new job!



What's your journey? Lets keep this positive, I'm sick of all the fighting on the forums lately.





OMG your story is exactly what im going through the only thing I havent done is got the new job yet because of anxitey, but i am volunteering!

well done on your new found confidence and job and beat anxitey

RachelVon

I looked sooo big in my wedding photos!

LindaCWy

Why did you decide to make a health change? What sparked it.

For me (and this is the watered down version) I hated my previous job, there was drama and lying and **** going on behind my back. I got caught into a bad situation and I was losing sleep over it. So I decided to take control of my life, since I couldn't do anything (at the time) when it came to my job.

I dropped weight, lowered cholstrol, beat anxiety, gained muscle, gained confidence, sped up my metabolism, lowered body fat and...the ultimate...found a new job!



What's your journey? Lets keep this positive, I'm sick of all the fighting on the forums lately.





OMG your story is exactly what im going through the only thing I havent done is got the new job yet because of anxitey, but i am volunteering!

well done on your new found confidence and job and beat anxitey

I really believe my success is based on the fact that I took the time to step back and reflect and really tell myself that everything would work out eventually. I was on the meds, and they SUCKED. When I went off them, I started feeling better. I would just go to work, do my work and listen to podcasts all day or music. I would disconnect, it was HARD. The hardest part was the 2 weeks I had to work after I quit, but I got through it. You WILL get there! The universe (that sounds hippy dippy) will work itself out, jobs are the one thing we can leave if we are that unhappy.

digitalbill

I was never very good about going to the doctor for regular checkups and I had not gone to the VA for about three years.
I had to go in to have a few spots on my shoulders looked at (turned out to be cancer but, that’s another story).
Anyway, before I could go to the dermatologist, I had to see my primary first so; she chastised me for not coming in to see her for three years.
Then, she informed me I had put on 32 LBS since our last visit (that is a LOT).
After that, she started to feel my ankles and shins. I asked her what she was doing and she told me she was checking for swelling.
I told her that there should not be any swelling because I have not injured myself.
Her next words were like a knife to the heart.
“Men as overweight as you can develop swelling which points to other problems”.
That scared me. It turns out that, other than me being a fat *kitten*, I am in good health. Blood pressure, sugar levels, everything. I dodged a bullet with that one.
So, they put me on something called the TeleMOVE program http://www.westpalmbeach.va.gov/WESTPALMBEACH/features/TeleMOVE.asp
This basically is a support group you do from your house. I also got the MyFitnessPal on the same day.
As the LBS came off, I wanted more which brought me to the “Insanity” workout that I started yesterday.
In the end, I am hoping to not be embarrassed to take off my shirt at the beach anymore.

Evansmama29

I had a beautiful baby boy last year in April, and at the end of November I was up a pant size from when I gave birth. Those pants were beginning to get too tight and it was the beginning of January - I REFUSED to buy yet another bigger size - that's when I joined MFP and started logging everyday and exercising more. I'm down 17lbs now - and 2 pant sizes Joining MFP was the best decision I could ever make for my health.

Tannedtiffers

I started this journey just over 2 years ago. I had been feeling awful and after going to the Doctor I realized just how bad of shape I was in. Morbidly obese, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and pre-diabetic. i didn't know what to do. After going on a Christmas Vacation and seeing pics of myself sitting on my husband's lap, I decided enough was enough. I know I am not where I wanna be, but I am sure working towards it. Down 131 lbs to date. *pics in profile*

graelwyn

23 wasted years of eating disorders, to a point I don't even know how to eat anymore, how to choose, or how to eat normally.
I just want to find a way now of eating in a healthy way that allows me to be comfortable in my body, and to feel well with food not controlling my life and mood.

thisisnonsense

This is my first day on here so hello *waves*. I'm so cross with myself. I lost 42lbs 3 years ago and have put on 21lbs again and I can't believe I let myself do it, Been a rubbish couple of years, losing both my parents within a short space of time and I think I just stopped caring really. So now I want to lose a bit of weight again and get fitter again for my kids and for me.

reneegee23

Getting really personal here. I feel like I've had good judgement in every other part of my life except fitness and health. I've been overweight basically since puberty and although I've lost about 70 lbs over the last 6 years (and kept it off), I don't feel like I've done it in a smart or healthy way. Not to mention, I still battle eating disorders (seeing someone for this) and I believe a large part of my struggle has been my unrealistic views on weight loss and overall body image/expectations.

I'm not an idiot or lazy, but for some reason, my concept of weight loss was always clouded with fat diets, nutrition misconceptions and general apathy towards being truly healthy. I wanted to lose weight and be thin, but I didn't give a *kitten* about being active or in shape. It's a mindset that's unfortunately ubiquitous, and will only change when a person is truly ready to change.

With education, the quality of my diet has greatly improved over the last couple years, but the biggest change has been that I am now an active person. I don't just exercise because I have to, I do it because I now genuinely enjoy it. I mostly do group classes (boot camps, spin, etc) and I've also been weight training, which I absolutely love. Being active, for me, has made the biggest difference.

Kristy_Elizabeth

I wasn't liking how I looked at 10 pounds heavier than I was when I left Texas for Oregon. Then I went snowboarding with my guy for the first time this year and I wasn't nearly strong enough. Worked out, lifted some light weights, did some of the Insanity moves, and tried it again. I was much stronger! I basically want to look better in my clothes, look better naked, and be fit and strong enough to play whatever I want as long as I want.

SarahBarker1987

I went to my friend's house over Christmas last year and all of the pictures taken from that evening made me want to loose weight! I didn't recognise myself in a lot of them and it made me realise that I'd put on a heck of a lot of weight without realising it. So since then I found MFP and lost over a stone so far

SarahBarker1987

I started this journey just over 2 years ago. I had been feeling awful and after going to the Doctor I realized just how bad of shape I was in. Morbidly obese, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and pre-diabetic. i didn't know what to do. After going on a Christmas Vacation and seeing pics of myself sitting on my husband's lap, I decided enough was enough. I know I am not where I wanna be, but I am sure working towards it. Down 131 lbs to date. *pics in profile*

The photos on your profile are incredible. Massive congratulations to you!

djmauck

Lent. I decided I should start taking better care of my body because St. Paul wrote that it's the temple of the Holy Spirit, and I certainly wasn't treating it as such. Among other things I quit smoking and started eating better and doing cross fit because I got a Groupon for it. Many positive mental benefits ensued - more energy during the day, better mood, which is a big deal for me because I take medication for bipolar and anxiety. So now that Lent is over I'm continuing with more of the same because life without habits that are detrimental to my body and soul is better than life with them.

jody664

In May 2011, I quit smoking. I knew I would gain weight, so I gave myself through Dec 31, 2011 to just settle into a non-smoking lifestyle. Meanwhile in Fall 2011, my dad was diagnosed with diabetes. I favor him in almost every way (personality, coloring, height, body shape, you name it), so I knew where I was headed if I continued to let my diet get out of control.

Fast forward to Christmas 2011. My dad had started losing weight in order to gethis diabetes under control. And my weight had continued to go up. One day during my Christmas visit, my dad shared with me how much he had lost and that his weight was now 190 lb. I had just weighed myself that morning and I weighed 200 lb (my personal highest weight). Very humbling.

So January 2, I found MFP, joined a gym, and started working out with a personal trainer. Best decision(s) I ever made!!

Vi0l33t

The realization that most of the girls I know, love and admire are half my size and how bad I feel about that. I also don't want to be one of those fat brides if we ever get married. Then there are my kids, one of which is a girl, who I know will have a poor self image if she never sees that being thinner is better than being fat. I cannot allow myself to be such a lousy role model for my children.

Lizabee84

After my mom passed away last year I decided that I need to take control of my weight/health. I have been on medication for severe acid reflux for 5 years now and I would like to get off of it. My problem I am a stress eater and work was getting the best of me. Needless to say I started excercising in July of last year and by October I had lost 20 pounds. Then I went back to my old habits with stress eating because I was miserable at work and gained 10 of it back. Finally in January of this year I said it was time for a positive change in my life. I found a new job and in Febuary I decided to take control of my weight again. MFP has been the best thing for me. Now I am hoping to lose 15 more so I can get off of my stomach medication for good.

Jessi40

I'm actually surprised everyone's story is so short since for me it was so many things... but I'll hit the highlights.

I struggled with my weight most of my life. In 05 my hubby and I lost our extra weight. We were living healthy and figuring this out. I was cycling and hiking, etc... Then in 07, we decided to adopt a 3 year old and he moved into our home. I was going to go cycling with friends, usually a 5 hour ordeal and I felt like I had already missed so much of his little life that I didn't want to miss anymore... so we baked cookies instead. I've often relived that moment in my head.

Now we have four children (2 adopted and 2 relatives) and last year was horrendous for me. I have completely put my health on hold. My asthma/pneumonia, etc has flared up and I developed atelectasis. I couldn't move and breath. I just realized that this is not what I wanted... I did not want to become a mother to teach my children that being sedentary and watching TV was a way to live. I wanted to live again.

and I wanted to teach them that living, moving, breathing, exploring the world is what life is about...

I also look at my precious daughter, so young, so perfect... her little healthy body... and I never want her to feel the way I feel about my body... so we are focusing on what we can do now and it's working... and I'm hoping I am teaching them to eat healthy and to enjoy moving.

millerhillbabe

there where so many reasons to start but only one to keep goin... I wanted to live as long as I could and If I can or could control that I was going to. I lost my brother in law when he was 51 to a massive heart attact about five years ago. I lost my little brother only 5 months ago to a sickness that could have been treated and cured if he had only seen a doctor. but we burried him before he was 41. tomorrow is his birthday. His kids will spend their whole adult life with out a Dad. I dont want my kids to do the same, if I can help it.

trababes1971

Well i guess for me..i have seen a few photos of me recently that made me realise i needed to make a change. Ive struggled with eating disorders most my life, been both anorexic and bulimic. Am not overly active either due to the fact i wont go out of the house on my own, as suffered with agrophobia (i am getting better though). Im not a very confident person and abuse over the years gave me low self esteem i guess, and so i guess i did things to my body, i.e drink alot, take drugs, eat the wrong foods etc, because i felt so crap.

However after coming off medication for depression and anxiety, i kind of woke up from this self pity hazy cloud i was living in, and thought "do you know what, i can either carry on being pathetic and blaming my lifestyle on my past" etc.. or "i can get up and start bloody living again and get fit"!! I have chose that option because i believe i DESERVE to be happy, and i need to learn to love myself, as ive hated myself for too long. Might sound a bit dramamtic but its my honest account of things.:happy:

RideaYeti

At 43 I realized that I was only 1yr younger than my dad was when he died and my son was my age when that happened. I have struggled with my weight most of my life. My late teens and 20's I was in good shape but started adding weight after our son was born. Then I got a desk job and the weight really added up quickly. Then one day my chest was really hurting and I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. Thankfully it was only indigestion, but it scared me. No way did i want my kids to grow up without their dad like I did.

So I started riding my bike again and dropped about 35lbs, got my blood pressure down, and was feeling much better. I kind of leveled off at that point until my doctor told me I technically had type 2 diabetes (130 fasting and A1C of 6.5). He wanted to put me on a reduced dosage of Metformin, but i was determined to NOT get on meds. Since then I have dropped another 15lbs and have my blood sugar under control.

My kids have definitely noticed and are now wanting to exercise regularly so they are my continuing motivation now.

Dixietrink82

I work in the human services field where social workers notoriously work through lunch, take work home, and live off fast food. I went to the dr's and she told me I was pre-diabetic. Not enough for me to change. Went to OBGYN and she told me that I shouldn't have kids at this weight. Since I'm a newlywed and can't wait to have kids, that kicked my butt into gear. I want to lose 70 lbs by my one year wedding anniversary (September) and start to try to have kids. I need to take care of myself instead of caring for everyone else. That is one of the greatest challenges I've been up against, especially as the needy get needier and my work load seems heavier each day.

the_great_unknown

For me, it was a combination of things. I have already lost about 80 lbs through the usual suspects but I still was not living a very healthy lifestyle, at least not on a consistent basis. For the past two years, I have been trying to lose weight by eating fewer calories (around 1800) and exercising (but not enough, and not consistently). I wanted to lose weight so I could look better and feel more confident.

Recently, though, I have been paying attention to how people around me are aging and asking myself if I want to be part of the group that eats whatever they want, don't exercise, and aren't that healthy, or do I want to get the most possible out of life - sleep well, be energetic and active, and make the best possible food choices without being unreasonable? I also have not been very happy lately and wanted to be proud of myself for something.

The answer was pretty clear. I started paying more attention and realized that 1,800 calories for me was way too many (I'm 5'4 with a medium frame). My MFP recommendation is 1,380. Not surprising that I hadn't been losing weight, then, at 1,800-2,000. I have been exercising more frequently and with greater intensity. I am noticing that I am losing inches but the weight loss has been slower than I would like, so my next step is to figure out what to change next.

LindaCWy

Bump

thistimesucess

I saw photos of myself at Christmas time and hated what I saw. At the same time I knew all my clothes were getting too tight and I had no energy to even walk the shortest distance. That was enough to kick me into gear and 3.5 months later I'm still going strong. Now I'm motivated by seeing my family for the first time in 18mths at Christmas time and I want to surprise them by being 15kg lighter than last time they saw me.