What was your A-ha moment?

laddyboy

Bump for later....Inspiring stories.

glennstoudt

So share your turning point for encouragement for the rest of us.


Probably a familiar story. Went for annual doctor visit following full metabolic panel. Doctor says your cholesterol is a little high. First time for me. He didn't talk about statin drugs which is good, because I do not wish to take them. He did say work on that for 3 months and do a lipid panel again. The next day I started a self directed restricted calorie, lower carb, low saturated fat, anti inflammatory oriented diet. I increased my exercise time, mostly walking the golf course. After another 6-8 weeks I joined a gym and started visiting 3-6 days a week for short duration high intensity strength training. Now having lost 17% of my former body weight and arriving to <25 BMI, I am more focused on when to stop losing weight. And the blood numbers all fell in line famously with natural intervention, no meds. The most of it was accomplished in about 6 months.

AdiposeRapture

I've been up and down, up and down for years. My gallbladder went, I lost 60 pounds- they took it out, I gained it all back and more. I went gluten free- lost 45 pounds. Felt great. Quit smoking in December, gained it all back and lots more.
Always said "I'll lose the weight" but never really believed I could or would. I had given up.

This is exactly how it happened. :P Kinda crude.

2 and a half weeks ago- I farted in bed. A fat to kill all farts. The worst smell anyone has ever smelled. Ever. It literally disturbed me (and my husband ran from the room and stayed out)... The next day, it was a Saturday, I was Googling reasons why gas would smell that bad. Ended up on a raw vegan site, reading about carcass in the bowels and being the extremist I am... well.
I woke up on Sunday a different person. I found NutriDiary (like this but way crappier) and starting logging everything. I went for a walk, The first walk in I dont know how many years. (Ive walked every day since, even in the pouring rain). I started doing Dance Central on Kinect- never even did it for fun before, now Im doing it in 30-45 minute increments and going as hard as I can. I stopped eating junk food and bought veggies and rice and bean chips and lentil crackers and HUMMUS!! *I adore hummus*.

I don't know why foul gas is what finally caused me to wake up. The pictures were horrifying. The mirror was my nightmare but it was the fart that started it all.

*Sorry to those this is too gross for, but it's truth :P*

billgiersberg

I was sitting in my LazyBoy one evening and it dawned on me that my gut was becomming like a table for me to set things on but the Ah-Ha moment came a few weeks later when I was helping my brother put up a fence and our dad was helping us. We were all in t-shirts and someone took a photo. I saw my dad had a gut too and then I saw myself 20 years from now. That was my ah-ha and "NO WAY" moment. I was 265 then. Now I'm 230 and am learning to eat better and count calories. Exercise and fitness have become my new routine when I get home from work. I do a litle cardio but prefer strength training mostly. It works! I just had a physical and my doc was all smiles and congradulating me for dropping my cholestrol 30 points and my weight by 21 lbs over the last 6 months (I attribute that to a lot of chicken, Omega 3-6-9, Red Yeast Rice and Chitosan) Several time though he was commenting about muscle mass. My guess is that he just does not see it in my age group in his office, something I also observed in his waiting room.

mamamudbug

With my last baby I ended up with gestational diabetes. With the help of a dr and nutritionist, I tried to control it first with diet then insulin. We never did get my bg numbers where they were supposed to be before delivery. After I delivered my son and went through all the check ups I weighed 15 pounds less than when I got pregnant. The nutritionist had told me that if I stuck with the diet I would continue to lose weight even while nursing (I was taking in enough calories to do it). I didn't listen and soon I was back up to my pregnancy weight and then past it. I finally hit "that" number on the scale and really felt like if I didn't do something then, I would be past the point of no return. I was worried about developing full blown diabetes and having to go back to taking shots all day long. I knew I would have to watch what I ate then, so I decided to do something about it before I ended up having to take meds.

natural813

I became pregnant last year and gained alot of weight, I promise myself after the babies I will get back on track, but I began to eat the wrong foods and began to gain even more weight. I have never been in the 200's before. I battled with it for months until I went to the doctor on Feb. 29th and the scale said 223. That was the moment I said enough is enough. On March 4th I stopped eating bad foods and only drinking water. I have now lost 28 pounds and so proud of myself , 39 more to go!

kristelpoole

I tried to fit into my favorite jeans and a tank top and had a hard time getting them on. Once I did, I realized my stomach fat was just pouring all over the place and I stood there in front of my dresser and I cried. I cried to my boyfriend and I knew I had to do something to get back to myself again. I used to be an athlete and I used to feel strong and powerful. But that was 10 years ago. I'm still hoping that I can be that person again.

kris1085

When i seen a picture of myself and my 2 neices and one of their cousins on Christmas of 2010 i was like wow i need to do somehting about this !~ And i started my diet a few days later in January of 2011 a good friend of mine told me about Myfitnesspal and i have lost 53 pounds !

brobin41101

My moment came, one day ,when a friend I work with was talking about MFP, and using the app. I noticed she ate pretty much anything she wanted while on her lunch or breaks at work. I'm talking donuts, candy bars etc. Now, don't get me wrong...she didn't eat a box of donuts or anything and not all the time, yet she still was losing weight. She admits openly she loves to eat. It was then I thought to myself I really need to check this out ! If she could lose weight and eat regular food this could work for me. A few weeks went by...she was still losing weight. Knowing that I will be turning 50 years old this year, I decided I better do something sooner rather than later. I wanted to get healthier. I have gained and lost the same 50 pounds so many times in my life never being able to keep the weight off. I wanted this to be a change I could maintain for the rest of my life. I simply don't want to be old and feeble and on all kinds of medicine in my golden years. That being said, I sat down at my computer and logged in, Wow, It was the best thing I have ever done for myself... I started MFP June 2011. I am fast approaching my one year anniversary and I have managed to lose 56 pounds !!! ...Yay Me !...I struggle some days but I am determined to get within the healthy range on the weight charts and stay there for the rest of my life....This site is awesome !!! The people are awesome !!! I have met some of the most amazing people....For those of you out there who think you are simply making yourself get healthy...you are also helping others along the way... Thank you ! You truly inspire me support me and encourage me every day !!!... You keep me motivated and accountable . Each day I feel as though I can continue on to my goal of a better way of eating and lifetime of healthier habits.....I Love my MFP Peeps !!!

togobug

I gor married last september i was supposed to do the whole lossing weight before it thing but ended up gaining ten lbs and as im already a tight size 18 i refused to go up a size. My wedding.dress actually tore when i put it on right before the wedding. So for about four mo monthes after the wedding i enjoyed the holidays and as soon as feb got here i started writing it down. When we got our taxes back i went and bought my phone and had this app started the same day. Its been 76 days ive lost 40 lbs and my eighteens fit my husband started a lil while after me and he has lost around 55

MzMandi1025

There were several moments, but the biggest one was when I realized that I didn't have any photos of me with my husband & daughter. I would delete out any picture that was taken of me because I couldn't stand looking at how big I had gotten. I was in horrible denial & was convinced I carried my weight well. But I was pretty much hit with reality anytime I scrolled through the photos & saw how huge I was. I also mastered the art of using my daughter to cover my body. Lol. I had reached my lowest point when I found pics of me in High School. I was very active & athletic back then, so to come to terms with the fact that I had put on 125 lbs in the last 8 years was very hard. I want to have another baby & I can't do that at the weight that I am currently at. I'm not looking to be the size I was when I graduated, but I am aiming towards being overall healthier. I need to set a good example for my daughter & I want to look amazing when I go on this cruise to Mexico at the end of the year.

threnners

Oh, I had a couple. The first was going shopping and my "fat" size was too small. The second was hitting a new high on the scale. It was then that I was like, THIS HAS TO STOP. I signed up here ages ago but didn't follow the program. Now I am.

Devan_Beckman93

Hello Everyone my A-ha moment was actually today which lead me to this website.I mean I was aware that I was not being healthy and my weight was bad,but I did not care because I never really left my house. I am 18 years old and I am so over weight it is pathetic. I want to be a happy healthy young adult I am tired of being a self conscious person who has to stay in her house because I am so huge. I do not have anyone I can call on to help me because a lot of people gave up on helping me to lose weight , but today I seriously got tired of looking at myself. I seen a picture of me before I had started high school and I was really thin and pretty now I feel ugly and fat! Any help or tips you could throw my way is appreciated.

bast2112

My 3 year old asked if I had a baby in my tummy. I almost cried, and did lose about 20 pounds with good ol' diet and exercise.... only to gain it all back and then some immediately. Two years later and I'm back at it again... actually been on and off the wagon the whole time since! Not sure if it's clicked just yet, but I keep trying and that's something. But I am at my highest ever non-pregnant weight now, my body is in constant pain, my clothes don't fit, etc. So if those aren't motivators I don't know what is!

logoode_

Realizing how close summer is... teenage self conscious reasons.
And bullying. I've been ridiculed for my weight for the past year. Its because of them, but not for them. Its for me, to feel confident and to be fit, healthy, and live a happy and long life.

paxetamore

I wanted this to be a change I could maintain for the rest of my life. I simply don't want to be old and feeble and on all kinds of medicine in my golden years. That being said, I sat down at my computer and logged in, Wow, It was the best thing I have ever done for myself... I started MFP June 2011. I am fast approaching my one year anniversary and I have managed to lose 56 pounds !!! ...Yay Me !...I struggle some days but I am determined to get within the healthy range on the weight charts and stay there for the rest of my life....This site is awesome !!! The people are awesome !!! I have met some of the most amazing people....For those of you out there who think you are simply making yourself get healthy...you are also helping others along the way... Thank you ! You truly inspire me support me and encourage me every day !!!... You keep me motivated and accountable . Each day I feel as though I can continue on to my goal of a better way of eating and lifetime of healthier habits.....I Love my MFP Peeps !!!

And we luv you too for all your encouragement and inspiration!!! :flowerforyou:

nz_deevaa

One of them was when I found out the that WWE wrestler 'The Rock' weighs 125kg.

My starting weight.

I'm 5'3. he's 6'5.

Helloitsdan

Last year watching Jamie Olivers Food Revolution.
I was 172lbs at 5'5" and i have never been fat...till then.
I'll have a year on MFP in about 14 days and i'm almost to 135lbs now.