is this time different?

mike_littlerock

Just curious how many of you had a moment where you felt a "NEED" to get healthier. Did you have a memorable moment where you knew change was a must, or was it a more routine decision.

I can share first (I aint skeered.. as some say in the south.. - translation " I am not afraid"). I was having heart palpation's and was always feeling like crud. Luckily my doctor put a heart monitor on me for 24 hours, and part of the process is logging everything you eat/drink. He concluded that luckily my heart was still healthy, and the issue was the amount of caffeine I was consuming. I would guzzle several Monster energy drinks every day.. just to stay awake. That experience really bothered me, the thought that my decisions might cut my life short. I had a really down day, it was eating at me. knowing i NEEDED that change, and that very day a friend posted a note commending his gym and saying the trainers were the best. at that very moment. i made the call and after discussing with my wife, i started training that very day.

I had moments in my life where i just decided to start working out, but they fizzled. Im trying to understand why this time i feel changed, and feel confident the changes we have made are lasting. Was it that I had that "rock bottom" moment, where i knew it was now a Need versus a Want?

I would love to hear other stories about why you decided to start, and if you feel differently about that decision versus other times in the past.

Stenobun

In my case, my husband had been trying to get me to diet and exercise with him for a long time, but I kept resisting. Last year we moved and my commute was shortened by a LOT. I have a great job and a great husband, and one day I just woke up and felt happier than I had been in years, and I realized that the only thing standing in my way was this weight I've been carrying around for such a long time. In every other aspect of my life, I've been strong and competent and able, but if I didn't get healthy none of that would matter because I was told by several doctors that I could become very sick very soon if I didn't change things. It's really weird, but once I wasn't being consumed by the unhappiness that used to hold me back when I was younger, I had more energy to deal with this weight that's been holding me back. I ran out of excuses not to deal with it, basically.

Nix143

This time feels COMPLETELY different and I don't really know why, it just is.

My weight had been steadily creeping up and up and up. Previously I had dieted my face off and gone crazy at the gym and lost 15lbs then piled them all back on again plus a little extra. This time it's like my mindset is completely different. Whereas before I wanted results in a month or 2 and if I ddn't get them then I would give up. This time I'm giving myself 2 long term goals which aren't even really goals - they are more 'In March 2012 I will be smaller than I am now' and ditto for October 2012 - March because of a holiday and October because I will have been doing this for over 12 months then.

When people used to say about a lifestyle change I wouldn't get it - I get it now. I'm not on a diet, perish the thought. I've just changed how I eat. I eat really well, I'm never hungry, I still get to cook amazing food. I have no cravings, I've given up drinking - yet I can go out for dinner and not freak about what it's doing to my 'diet' - because I'm not on a diet. I just eat differently than I used to.

I think it's similar to the headspace you need to be in to stop smoking - if you tell yourself you have given up smoking then it is like you are denying yourself. If instead you reframe it and say you are a non smoker then there is no denial and no mental battle, which is half the issue.

Re-framing. I am doing a lot of that. Looking at the positives, the long term instead of the negatives and quick fixes.

I feel so grounded and content and I KNOW I can do this.

There are multiple instances of people on this site that have made me feel like it is achievable and anyone can do this. I can't thank everyone who participates in the community enough. You've all helped me really believe that this time is will be different.

LNZimmer

Mine was August 5th of this year - My work had it's company picnic and I won a fitbit ultra in the door prize drawings. I was so excited! I had wanted one for some time!

The rest of the day was down hill though. I felt MISERABLE walking around ALL day. My feet hurt, my back ached, I couldn't wait to just stop walking. I felt like CRAP because my 3 year old wanted to ride all kinds of rides...Daddy had to do it, because mommy was 318 lbs. I could only fit on ONE ride with her, and that was embarrassing because I could hardly get in to the cart and get the belt over my legs.

The next morning, I - NO LIE - could not get out of bed. I had to really struggle to get up and move. My legs hurt SO BAD.

I had to make a change, and I did. The following week I started at the gym and started to log my foods. I am missing out on sharing a lot of memories with my daughter, and it isn't fair to her. She is my world. I am not only doing this for myself, but for her. She deserves so much better than what I have been offering.

I have lost 28 lbs so far, and am already feeling a lot better about my world