What Motivated You to Start Losing Weight?

mt_goodrich

For me, it was the chance to go backpacking for two weeks in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Philmont Scout Ranch to be exact.

In recent years, they had adopted a system in which your height and weight must meet a certain standard. This was primarily for safety reason for those going into the backcountry and I understand.

For me, I was 5'9" and weighed 258 pounds. The maximum allowable weight for my height is 218 pounds.

So, I decided that would be my motivation. Being able to go backpacking with a group of my Boy Scouts. I began exercising in November 2011; however, did not find "MyFitnessPal" app or website until February. Love it.

So far, I have lost 27 pounds and have 14 pounds to go. I have until June 30th to reach it.

What was your motivation?

ribena1958

My health mainly x

Lingerine

To become healthier, and trim myself into shape.

shbretired

doctor said fat gonna kill you, and soon if you don't do something! ☺ how's that for scare tactic's?

vallemic

I knew it was "time" because I was beginning to avoid social situations due to the fact I had nothing to wear or I was embarrassed at how big I was. So glad I have stuck to it! Shopping is now fun and I am loving gatherings/parties/get to togethers again!

fatfrost

My wife took pictures for our christmas cards including one from the back. When I looked at that picture, I knew that we were not going to be sending those cards out. My *kitten* was so fat on that card (in particular when compared to my lovely, fit little kids), that I knew I had to make a change. -30lbs later, I am about halfway to my goal!

OnWisconsin84

There's a picture of me in my profile putting on a green pair of pants. I was humongous & felt like *kitten* after that weekend & seeing how I looked. Joined WW the following Tuesday & here I am 4 years later & 130 pounds lighter.

NNAhuja

For me, it was the chance to go backpacking for two weeks in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Philmont Scout Ranch to be exact.

In recent years, they had adopted a system in which your height and weight must meet a certain standard. This was primarily for safety reason for those going into the backcountry and I understand.

For me, I was 5'9" and weighed 258 pounds. The maximum allowable weight for my height is 218 pounds.

So, I decided that would be my motivation. Being able to go backpacking with a group of my Boy Scouts. I began exercising in November 2011; however, did not find "MyFitnessPal" app or website until February. Love it.

So far, I have lost 27 pounds and have 14 pounds to go. I have until June 30th to reach it.

What was your motivation?

That is an AWESOME motivator!
Mine is vanity. Many of my good friends are getting married soon and I want to look good in the wedding pictures.

hklinda1976

When I went shopping for jeans and noticed the size that fit comfortably was a 16!!! That's what my mom is and it was a real wake up call for me to get on track with my weight.

lil_pulp

A photograph from my sister's wedding. I couldn't help noticing that I was twice the width of any other person in my family. I had to stop blaming genetics...

donna_glasgow

i saw my self in a photo and some camera footage from hols a full length pic ... i didnt realise i was so big

Robyn_T

I work in an ER. A certain patient, who weighed easily 400-450 lbs, kept coming in due to COPD (essentially, the extra weight was suffocating this person). I just kept picturing that as my future and it scared me SO much.

Also, my extra weight was making me infertile and, if I could have kids, I couldn't imagine keeping up with them at 317 lbs. I didn't want to be the mom who never got off the couch.

NurseAshoRN

Seeing pictures of my self on my wedding day and HATING every single one. Not one photo hangs in my house from the best day of my life.

cassienp

my true reason to lose weight was because of my daughter who is now 15 months old. I decided that the way I was living my life I was not going to be around very long I would probably never see a grandchild and I want to be around as long as possible for my family.

cassienp

Seeing pictures of my self on my wedding day and HATING every single one. Not one photo hangs in my house from the best day of my life.

I know exactly how you feel. I hate all of my wedding pictures!! I actually want o renew my vows once I lose my weight so I can have pictures I might actually hang up.

riadastfu

Clothes. :bigsmile:

JanetLM73

There was no way I wanted to be overweight when I turned 40. I want to be healthy for my family and I just want to feel better about myself.

annahiven

I had an affair.... and realized that there was happiness out there, but that I had to change to get it.

Divorce was first... then focusing on myself and my own health.

tldust

I'm a RN. I've seen quite a few people in their 30's have heart attacks from lack of exercise and poor diet. I don't want to be a statistic. And I really want to buy clothes in the regular stores instead of Lane Bryant. I want some cool clothes, and I want to look good in them.

DianneBoo

My health for the most part. Then, to be able to keep up with the kids (nieces and nephews).

Josee76

My wife took pictures for our christmas cards including one from the back. When I looked at that picture, I knew that we were not going to be sending those cards out. My *kitten* was so fat on that card (in particular when compared to my lovely, fit little kids), that I knew I had to make a change. -30lbs later, I am about halfway to my goal!

I can relate.... I had rolls of back fat! I spent more time shopping and trying to find clothes to hide the fat than I did thinking about how I should get rid of it! I finally got real!

Janiot

My husband - he needed me to stop binge eating junk and filling the house with chocolate, choc biscuits and chippies (crisps) and baking cakes -so he could lose weight - he plans to walk Kokoda in August this year.
He has lost about 10 kg since 1 Feb 2012 and would like to lose another 10-15 kg - he has 3 months until he goes.
Meanwhile I have lost 15kg and plan to lose at least 6kg more ( to reach normal BMI) and hopefully another 9kg after that before I am finished.
This is a life style change for us both and we hope our children will follow our example too.

rjulius008

My husband and I have been watching the Biggest Loser on Netflix... I'm not huge, but I am definitely grossly out of shape, and often find myself getting really jealous of girls who are smaller than I am. I would love to be comfortable and confident in shorts, not have my thighs touch when I walk, and to not feel like I have to compare the way I look to everyone around me. I want to feel good!!!

TriciaAllen7251

380 pounds and an ever increasing A1C and blood sugar readings. Increasing blood pressure and a desire not to die before my parents. My goal is to lose 1002 pounds by 8-4-13. Almost 3/4 of the way there and still losing.

TriciaAllen7251

Thats supposed to say 100 not 1000.

harleykat64

Reason number one was my kids, I want to be around annoying them until they have kids I can annoy. The second reason was myself, I deserve to be happy and comfortable in my own skin, one year later I have 70 pounds (half way to goal) and one divorce behind me. And happier then I have been in a long long time

j1wright

My best friend apparently didn't think she was being rude when she told me I was huge while I was pregnant. She kept saying off handed remarks about my weight laughing about how big I was. I was always afraid to see her after the baby was born because I was afraid she would tell me how I huge I still was. That was my motivation to lose the weight.

We are not friends anymore.

pilot1111

In the early spring of 2003, I went out for a round of golf. We walked the course, and by the time I got to the end, I was ready to die! I vowed the next day I would take off the extra pounds that I was carrying, from plain irresponsible living. And I did it within 6 months, 30lbs gone! That was almost 10 years ago, but the BMI chart for my height and weight should be in the range of 183 lbs for a person 6 feet 0 inches. Diet modification cannot solely do it, so I have now decided that I will excercise more. It has already helped those last few pounds to go away, and I feel even better! A nice brisk walk for as many nights as I can get away with it, will be in my future!

celebrity328

Was at a party and someone had taped some stuff on their phone... They played it back and I was like who is that person?! they were like thats you.. I was shocked by how big I had gotten (264) and said that was it I was done.

SecondChance2012

Definitely my health and missing what it feels like to move around freely.

sthrnchick

Seeing a picture my sister tagged me in on FB... I knew i was fat... but was SHOCKED at how much I had let myself go...that was early March 2012... and like they say... the rest is history! I have been working HARD since that day! Very glad she posted that picture actually!