What was your "Gotta Change my Life "moment ?

Many of us hit a moment in life when we say:" Enough is enough I can't take this anymore. I have to take control and change what is before me. " If you dare to share your "AHA" Moment please feel free to here .

Your story may help someone else and in sharing you may be able to forgive yourself for having neglected your self for too long. But realize in that same moment you opened you eyes and heart to decide to give your self the gift of health.

I will start by sharing mine. On June 1, 2012 I went in for a annual check up. Feeling good about myself because I had been doing so much gardening, landscaping, and working hard despite a bad knee injury the end of April. Walking on my own for two weeks without crutches or a walker. I was "PROUD" .

Well I weighed in and was elated I was 296 pounds I hadn't weighed under 300 in 6 years. WOW . I had them reweigh. Same result. Mu DR congratulated me on dropping weight he had never seen me under 300 to 325. I exclaimed again I still can't believe it. Wanting to make me feel better he said where their are two witnesses go get on the other scale down the hall and confirm it to yourself.

I went down got on the scale and it wouldn't weigh me it maxed at 350. Very confused I went back to the room and told him what was happening. He said you didn't do something wrong let's try again. We went back to that scale it wouldn't weigh we went to the first scale it said 296. Then he took me to the Dr's office down the hall and it couldn't weigh again.

As you can imagine JOY to utter DEFEAT in minutes. He sent me to the hospital then for blood work and also to be weighed on their scale that can weigh to 500 lbs. I recorded 370 pounds. 370 Pounds I was broken as a person. I apologized to my husband. Cried and realized how much I really didn't want to accept being over 300 even definately not 370.

My Dr then told me about my fitness pal and I promised to try. My husband and son decided to try to. My husband has to lose 40 lbs and my 26 year old son weighed in at 431 he wants his life to take control too. He had recently lost 15 pounds after starting a new job and had been weighing himself on a pallet scale at work.

These are life learned manors that we must all change. God willing we will achieve this. My first grandchild is due on Sept 14 and I really want to be around to watch him grow up.

47 years old and a lifetime of being overweight and I have finally hit my "Awakening". 6 pounds down so far. Many to go but I am on my way!!! For all of us just beginning may God give you strength and may next year we all report on miraculous results. .
«13456

Replies

  • wk9t
    wk9t Posts: 237 Member
    When my doctor told me I was pre-Diabetic. It scared the hell out of me.
  • SueD66
    SueD66 Posts: 405 Member
    a couple of things... the chest pains i was starting to get and also i actually looked in a full length mirror while on vacation. It was not pretty, not even close. Now i just need to put that mirror on my kitchen walls. hmm now there's an idea
  • I've had several. My most recent breakthrough was when I noticed that my friend had lost a lot of weight, and she told me about the exercise she had been doing and how she had been eating healthily, influenced by the friends she lived with at university. She looked fantastic, and she had started off at about my weight and my height. Unfortunately she doesn't live near me to work out together, but she's my inspiration anyway!
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    When my doctor told me I was pre-Diabetic. It scared the hell out of me.
    this and in the same visit she told me i had high blood pressure. she said that she would give me 3 months to change diet and exercise to reduce the blood pressure if not then i'd need to go on meds.

    i do not want to take meds so the next day i started tracking my food and going through what i eat to see where i could make changes.
  • Stargirlsmiles88
    Stargirlsmiles88 Posts: 52 Member
    I also got the pre-diabetes news. It runs in my family regardless of weight, but he said with losing weight it should go away. At that time I weighed in at 299...and knew I couldn't let myself hit 300.
  • Putting your mirror up sounds like a great idea.
  • byrnet18
    byrnet18 Posts: 230 Member
    I had back surgery when I was 21 after injuring myself lifting something too heavy at work. Well I recovered well from that but I was still terribly out of shape. A couple years ago I went cliff jumping with my husband and his family. After jumping the second time I could barely walk. It was my back again. I was injured from that for the rest of the summer. I saw some pictures from that jump and couldn't believe how big I was. As soon as I recovered I joined a gym and the rest is history :)
  • MichkaMeShell
    MichkaMeShell Posts: 34 Member
    I was at the doctor for an aching knee. I've been heavy my whole life, and as young as I am, I knew my weight was a huge factor. I've been in the mid-upper 200s most of my teen life, but I never hit 300.

    I weighed in at 301 in his office and was immediately ashamed for even being there for my knee pain. I knew the source of the pain. I knew he'd tell me I needed to lose weight. Why was I so stupid to think the doctor could fix me with a pill or surgery when the problem was all over me, literally.

    I didn't even do follow up appointments. I was so ashamed of myself and I felt awful for my boyfriend. He had to be with me like this and it wasn't fair to him at all.

    It took me a while to finally get on the ball, but so far, I've lost nearly fifty pounds and I'm not even close to stopping.
  • Mina133842
    Mina133842 Posts: 1,573 Member
    I've had several moments that have been building up to me not wanting to be this way anymore.
    1 - unable to buckle a seatbelt in my van.
    2 - winded after walking up the stairs in my own house - and realized I hadn't been downstairs in a VERY long time.
    3 - I had gallstones and had to be weighed before the surgery - in front of my husband and one of my best friends, and I was at one of my highest weights ever (and not pregnant at the time- just very ill).

    and just hate the clothes shopping when you're in plus sizes, the selection is- well crap to be honest, and it's never fun to shop in large sizes like that, I DREAM of shopping in a normal size...
    getting married in a normal dress size would have been nice. I would have loved dress shopping.
  • Nataliaho
    Nataliaho Posts: 878 Member
    Honestly it was after I broke my leg a few years ago, the reasons were 3-fold:
    * I received very poor medical attention for my leg simply because I was obese
    * I found getting around on the crutches really really physically difficult because my fitness was so poor
    * I had a tiny insight into what it would be like to be incapacitated and realised I was doing that to myself on purpose
  • Romans624
    Romans624 Posts: 822
    The last time I moved my apartment, I had to do most of it myself. Afterwards, I was so sore (particularly my hips), that I could barely move without a lot of pain. I had to take a lot of time like an old person to get out of bed.

    - some rear seat belts didn't fit me, and I struggled with plane seatbelts as well.

    -My husband said he wanted a divorce (for other reasons). But it was such a shocker and blow that I wanted (and want) to get rid of everything that shouldn't be in my life, attitude,etc. No more taking life or people for granted.
  • Wow in just a few moments so many of you have shared so much thank you . I see myself in so many of your stories.
  • oOTaraOo
    oOTaraOo Posts: 29
    I had never been a skinny girl but was comfortable around size 12-14 (Australian Sizing). I gradually put on weight without realising it until I had to buy my first pair of size 18 pants. I had hit 98kgs (216 pounds) :( My mum had started WW and had lost a huge amount of weight. I started it myself at that point and over about 2.5 years (on and off) I managed to drop to 75kgs.

    I have gone up and down since then but this time around I want to get to my ultimate goal of 70kgs which I have never been at except for the first time through on my way up to my current weight.

    When I hit 75kgs I had a TIA which is a mini stroke. It scared me as I was only 24 at the time. I believe it was partly caused by how overweight I had been and the body hadn't recovered from it. So this is always at the back of my mind when I start to go up in weight.
  • JenRunTriHappyGirl
    JenRunTriHappyGirl Posts: 521 Member
    At 29, I realized that there were more days than not that I woke up in pain. With 2 young boys, I knew that this was not okay. The only way this would stop was to loose weight and get in shape. Here I am and ITS WORKING!!!:smile:
  • steflbrown
    steflbrown Posts: 168
    I was in complete denial. My mom had tried to talk to me about it, but I just refused to see the weight gain. Last October I had a friend and his girlfriend visit from England. They wanted to go to Cedar Point. Sounded great. So I tagged along. Sure enough, we wait 2 hours and I go to buckle the seat belt and it wouldn't go. I couldn't even "suck it in" enough. So I couldn't ride. I spent most of the day just sitting watching them enjoy the park. That was it - I knew that I had totally lost control. I had a few struggles, but since then I have been working hard to get my life back.
  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    Mine was all that dramatic. I never felt fat, my health was good, and then i had gone to a charity dinner and my friend had taken a picture of me and my husband. She brought the pictures into the office for me to see and i couldn't figure out who the fat chick was in the background of a lot of pictures...and then i realized it was me. I knew then i had to do something.
  • pittsblue99
    pittsblue99 Posts: 277 Member
    My moment was when, at 29, I was put on two medications for high blood pressure. I have never been one of the skinny girls but that was the final breaking point for me. Now, two years later, I am down to just one BP medication and that is only because my bottom number will not do down.
  • marylouise123
    marylouise123 Posts: 127 Member
    My moment was getting close to hitting the 300 mark on the scale.. I started this journey at 292.. Well went to the doc & found out I actually had hit 299.. I started thinking it might have been higher when I was not at the docs.. That 300 number scared the hell out of me.. So I found MFP by accident by searching weightloss on the net.. I was tired of being short winded & feeling basically like a lump... My new life started on January 9th, 2012 & I am now happy to report 33 pounds down & 34.5 inches off.. I started out just doing a 20 minute workout & now am up to as much as 2-3 hours on a good day.. I help my husband with the yard work & do Leslie Sansone workouts or my Wii or Tae Bo.. Whatever gets my moving & sweating.. I have had some bad days & down moments, but my friends here have helped keep me on track... I am in this for the long term.. I want to lose 100 plus... If it takes me a year or more then thats fine.. I have changed the way I eat & my whole outlook on life is more positive.. MFP really saved & changed my life for the better.. I am forever grateful.. Thanks for sharing your story & good luck...
  • FrauHausMaus
    FrauHausMaus Posts: 194
    I've had a few... let's hope this one sticks... My step dad passed away last Thursday from complications of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. He was 50. I'm 30. I want to live more than 20 years. It just shocked me out of some major self-pity and got my fat *kitten* back in the gym.
  • timmymon
    timmymon Posts: 304 Member
    Last year I went clothes shopping for the summer time and I realized that I looked absoulutely terrible in everything that I picked out. it was such an awful feeling. This summer I am 100 pounds lighter and am never going back to feeling like that!
  • SpecialKitty7
    SpecialKitty7 Posts: 678 Member
    and just hate the clothes shopping when you're in plus sizes, the selection is- well crap to be honest, and it's never fun to shop in large sizes like that, I DREAM of shopping in a normal size...

    This. No one apparently knows how to make plus sized clothing. I think they hold up some fabric cut a square and call it good.
  • PJ64
    PJ64 Posts: 866 Member
    I had back surgery when I was 21 after injuring myself lifting something too heavy at work. Well I recovered well from that but I was still terribly out of shape. A couple years ago I went cliff jumping with my husband and his family. After jumping the second time I could barely walk. It was my back again. I was injured from that for the rest of the summer. I saw some pictures from that jump and couldn't believe how big I was. As soon as I recovered I joined a gym and the rest is history :)
    I had a backninjury at work. 3 operations and 45 lbs later I was disgusted with myself. I was always in shape and was ashamed of how fat I had got. Its beena hard road back but I'm plugging along and MFP has been great!
  • Melonhead
    Melonhead Posts: 168
    I coach my son's tee ball team. I saw myself in the team photo and though damn! Then I went to the doctor last Friday and my blood pressure was high and when I got on the scale - the nurse kept pushing those little bars THE WRONG WAY and BAM 255 lbs. I couldn't believe it. Why? Denile - plain and simple. Up until 7 days ago, I ate horribly bad foods and never exercised. Well - NO MORE
  • heatherterp
    heatherterp Posts: 239
    My husband and I were on vacation. We stayed at the Biltmore in Ashville, NC. Why there is a scale in the room while on vacation and why I got on the scale is beyond me. We were celebrating our anniversary. That number is not who I am or was, but I was mortified. My husband was not having sex with that! It was my ah-ha moment. It also helped that while on tis trip we were reading Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. He kept comparing getting out of debt to getting in to shape. I hate debt and we have been debt free (minus the house) for a long time. Thinking of my fat as debt has worked. My fat is my debt. I will be rid of it once and for all in due time. I am half way there.
  • EEpling89
    EEpling89 Posts: 152
    After I went from 180 lbs to 130, back to 180, back to 130, back to 160 in less than a year. In the midst of all that yo-yoing, I was on the "master cleanse" and realized that I couldn't physically get out of bed from lack of nourishment. After that, I swore off "dieting" and pretty much just reverted back to my unhealthy habits, eating whatever horrible foods I wanted, as much as I wanted, and not exercising because even though it didn't feel good, I felt better than I did when I was starving.
    Six months later, my husband and I bought a house in a different town and I got a new job that I love and that pays enough for us to actually pay our bills. I started really working on my depression and anxiety problems and realized that I could be healthy without starving myself. I joined a gym and began taking classes there. I've made friends there and I actually enjoy going. I eat about 2000 cals a day and am still losing, although very slowly. I eat mostly clean but still treat myself every now and then.
    That's the shortened version of my journey so far. I feel great and although I struggled for a long time, I wouldn't trade it because it got me where I am today. :)
  • I went to women's conference this weekend and it was very inspiring. So uplifting. One other friend was also there and she has recently starting losing weight. She said something to me that made me think a little. It's okay to give yourself permission to shed the weight now. What a thought ! She was right I was in this choice making a decision to give myself permission to be better. Do we sometimes purposefully block our success or hide behind what we have allowed our selves to become. In making the decision I was telling myself it is okay to be better. It is okay to work towards allowing myself to feel good. Do I dare say even allow myself to be more beautiful in my eyes. I am worthy of all the benefits this weight loss will give me. again I AM WORTH IT. ME Jenny Dee is WORTH IT. I have a lot of soul searching in this thought to do to because it made me stop in wonder did I value myself less before. And if the answer is YES to that WHY. As I shed the weight I hope to shed layers of guilt, frustration, disappointment, past memories, and just plain old life's situations that may have helped me to become what I was. All I know is a better me is out there or should I say in here. Buried underneath these extra cells screaming to get out. Wanting so much more and to also live my life to the potential and fulfillment my Lord intended me too. Walk with me my friends. Share your journeys trails. Hold each other up in prayer and allow the miracles in. Thank you once again for sharing your stories I hope to continue to hear more.
  • HotMamaByVday
    HotMamaByVday Posts: 343 Member
    I was 215 lbs and someone asked when I was due. And I lied. I said my baby (who was 4) was 8 weeks old. That was the day that changed my life.
  • Perisylpha
    Perisylpha Posts: 139
    I've never had a positive body image and was always terrified of being overweight...but seeing myself in photos is partly what did it for me. I can't stand the sight of all that lard hanging around on my arms and under my chin. At 180lbs I would probably be considered quite a healthy weight to some here that have alot more weight to loose but I would like to once again be a size 12 (UK dress size, I believe this is an 8 or 10 in the US) I have not been that size since before I had my children (nearly 15 years ago)
    I see people running and keeping fit and I want that to be me, toned, healthy and full of energy.
  • mrmv
    mrmv Posts: 95
    When I caused a traffic jam in the third floor stairwell of a parking garage...
  • Perisylpha
    Perisylpha Posts: 139
    I went to women's conference this weekend and it was very inspiring. So uplifting. One other friend was also there and she has recently starting losing weight. She said something to me that made me think a little. It's okay to give yourself permission to shed the weight now. What a thought ! She was right I was in this choice making a decision to give myself permission to be better. Do we sometimes purposefully block our success or hide behind what we have allowed our selves to become. In making the decision I was telling myself it is okay to be better. It is okay to work towards allowing myself to feel good. Do I dare say even allow myself to be more beautiful in my eyes. I am worthy of all the benefits this weight loss will give me. again I AM WORTH IT. ME Jenny Dee is WORTH IT. I have a lot of soul searching in this thought to do to because it made me stop in wonder did I value myself less before. And if the answer is YES to that WHY. As I shed the weight I hope to shed layers of guilt, frustration, disappointment, past memories, and just plain old life's situations that may have helped me to become what I was. All I know is a better me is out there or should I say in here. Buried underneath these extra cells screaming to get out. Wanting so much more and to also live my life to the potential and fulfillment my Lord intended me too. Walk with me my friends. Share your journeys trails. Hold each other up in prayer and allow the miracles in. Thank you once again for sharing your stories I hope to continue to hear more.

    I agree with getting into this mindset. Thank you for sharing : )