What motivated you?

Hi I hope this type of question is ok here.

Im interested in knowing from both newbies and longterms users... What exactly motivated you to start losing weight/living healthier? What was that 'click' moment? And was/is your goal a permanent change or did you decide on a diet instead?

***

Personally something like clicked in me... For days I kept giving in to my sugar cravings thinking "Ill start eating healthier tomorrow"... Then one day I was sick of it. So I decided on a permanent change. Give up sugar and eat healthy stuff, avoid processed food.

My true motivation however, comes from me wanting to stay young for as much as possible. You'd think weight loss would be my main concern, but it isn't. Otherwise I'd probably have done something about it long time ago.
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Replies

  • For me it was a health assessment for work Health Insurance, when I got my numbers and the realization set in, i had avoided mirrors and scales for a while, It clicked for me, Me and coworkers all are giving each other support.
    That was almost a year ago and I am down currently 106, I don't plan to ever find those pounds again. :smile:
  • sarahg148
    sarahg148 Posts: 701 Member
    I don't have too much to lose, but for me, it was not fitting into my clothes anymore and just feeling "blobby." Getting back slowly but surely.
  • thedescentofhope
    thedescentofhope Posts: 118 Member
    Sadly enough my partner.
  • ravenchick
    ravenchick Posts: 345 Member
    On March 17th, 2012, I was sitting in my doctors office feeling worse than I ever have in my life and at that moment I decided to change my lifestyle or I knew I was going to an early grave. I've never looked back.
  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
    Seeing pictures of myself next to my stick thin brother at his basic graduation. I remember trying to "look skinnier" in all the pictures so I just look like a hot mess. Plus, I'm not even one of those bigger girls that can get away with it because she dresses nice and knows how to put on makeup and fix her hair.
  • My "click" moment was when my doctor recommended Paleo. I tried it without very high hopes, but it made a huge difference in my Fibromyalgia pain right away, and I was sold. =)
  • It was just time, I had been steadily changing little things, and a friend asked if I wanted to go to Zumba with her. I did, I kept going, she wasn't able to due to schedule issues.
  • Princess4Run
    Princess4Run Posts: 135 Member
    One year after my daughter was born I was asked if I'm pregnant again. Ooh hmm, NO. I just got fat. It was very uncomfortable for me and the other person.
  • I'm new here 25 days on Monday. There was no "Ah Ha" moment for me. I have always been a healthy eater, but that didn't mean that I didn't over eat. Combine that with long hours working and going to school, the last thing I want to do on day off was go to a gym. I found MFP after reading a Yahoo news article. I logged in and decided to give it a try. It's working and being here is motivating me to do more. I started belly dancing and hooping, Both are fun so I don't even think of them as exercise. I just love this place.
  • shutterbug282
    shutterbug282 Posts: 588 Member
    I don't have a lot of weight to lose, but mine was seeing a photo of myself from last Christmas. It didn't look like me anymore, so I decided to do something about it before I got any bigger. :)
    I've changed my food habits a lot and I eat healthier. :)
  • mychellelynne
    mychellelynne Posts: 122 Member
    Mine was being told if I wanted kids I needed to lose weight. It was not the first time I was told this but for some reason it really hit home. I started 12/28 and so far so good.
  • lippygidg
    lippygidg Posts: 68 Member
    I got tired of seeing myself "hiding behind " someone else in a picture !! Im out going , love to smile and laugh. time to do it for real not just for the camera! I want front row!! ( In a cute outfit ! hahaha)
  • My health over the years has gotten from bad to worst. A lot is caused by being overweight. Looking back now I wish that I had been more persistent with the weight lost but I kept putting it off. But my motto is better late than never. So here I am at 62 trying to do what I should have done years ago. But, I'm off to a great start and my motivation is higher than it was previously. If, I don't make some changes I could easily develop heart disease or even have a stroke; this is not an option. I still have a lot of living to do. Your health is so important. Your quality of life is so important. Don't hestitate or talk about tomorrow but start today. Your life could depend on it.:smile:
  • Andreaviolet89
    Andreaviolet89 Posts: 290 Member
    What motivated me were a few things. I've put off getting into shape because of college but now that I'm taking my last few classes its time for change. I'm not trying to drop weight super fast or anything but more make permanent lifestyle changes for long term better health. Now that its just my boyfriend and I living together I do all the shopping and buy healthier food and cook with a lot more veggies.
  • avababy05
    avababy05 Posts: 930 Member
    Being diagnosed with high blood pressure soon after the birth of my later in life daughter who needs me to be around for awhile.Losing my job and seeing a couple at least 25 years older than me run past my house every day while I sat on my porch and smoked. And feeling like I was smothering when I laid down every night.Now I've lost 45 pounds ( 5 more to goal) can run around and play with my daughter.Ran my first 5k last fall.Blood pressure under control.And have a much better job.!
  • Lalasharni
    Lalasharni Posts: 353 Member
    Getting a knee replacement and being told by the surgeon that I was really too young for one (60) and that with my weight I would probably wear it out in five years and need revision surgery which is not always successful.
    That scared the S**T out of me and I decided then that the time to begin was NOW. I want that knee to last!
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member
    Being in the hospital with a blood clot in my left lung that was trying to kill me. Plus they found a tumor in pancres that Was going to kill me.

    I had tried...and failed...so many times before that it was not funny.

    They got the BC under control, took out the tumor and I was in the hospital for 28 days. Not so much a "diet" but more of a lifestyle change. It worked. I shed the weight and stopped thowing blood clots.

    Healthy and happier then I have ever been.
  • Being rejected by a lady friend .... :brokenheart:
  • im getting married in july so thats wat motivating me , i wanna feel and look nice in my dress :) its my 21st birthday the same day as my wedding :) i have to look good :)
  • avababy05
    avababy05 Posts: 930 Member
    Being rejected by a lady friend .... :brokenheart:
    That's worked for me in the past too! Heartbreak is a great appetite supressent.But you'll show her!
  • Jessimaaka
    Jessimaaka Posts: 127 Member
    Before getting pregnant, I quit smoking (as I didn't want to smoke while pregnant) and gained 20lbs. While pregnant I gained 50lbs. I've lost 47 so far, so just starting to work on the quitting smoking weight soon :) But my goal weight is 10-15lbs below that based on pictures I've seen from that time - I don't feel that big but apparently I looked it.
  • Hanfordrose
    Hanfordrose Posts: 688 Member
    My surgeon said, "Lose 70 pounds, and I can do the surgery to replace both of your knees. You won't feel that pain again."

    Like MSP sister in an earlier post said, my surgeon knows any knee replacement will probably fail within 5 years, if I don't first lose a considerable amount of weight. He won't even consider me for surgery at my current weight.

    My life is spent in a wheelchair or desk chair, because degerative arithritis has destroyed my knees. If I stand to use my walker, it is for just a few painful steps.

    I want my freedom back. I want to stand without support again, to walk with my hubbie on the beach, to ride a bike, to drive my car or even to run, if I feel like it.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    i was at my highest weight (127), for me it was too much to handle and i felt so gross. it had to go, and i feel like crap when i eat crap food. i still do but not as often so i feel somewhat better (i still feel like crap but for other reasons, less crappy is always an improvement)
  • KathyPBiles
    KathyPBiles Posts: 292 Member
    Mine was getting winded at the simplest of things - such as showering.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    I'm short, only 5ft 3, so when I hit 179, I knew I had to do SOMETHING because I was NEVER going to go into the 180's. I also had realized I wore a maternity suit the entire summer. :mad:
    ETA more. lol
    I'm only 51 but had a small stroke in Nov 2011 that luckily, I recovered from, my blood pressure had skyrocketed to 190/109, was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea, and my older sister had recently had 3 strokes at the age of 53 and is now permanently disabled. I was sick of bending over and having food come up in my throat every time I tied my shoes, sick of buying size 16 jeans that were too tight, sick of being out of breath if I walked 10 feet, worried about not being able to put my seatbelt under my gut, my knee was killing me, I was sweating constantly, didn't want to keep taking pills and with fibromyalgia on top of it all, I was literally miserable and did not want to become dependant on drugs.
    -40lbs and I feel like a totally different person. :)
  • PonyTailedLoser
    PonyTailedLoser Posts: 315 Member
    Fat comments. *sigh*
  • ladyinredflush
    ladyinredflush Posts: 72 Member
    my bf told me I needed to. He was right, so I did! I am thankful that he gives me tough love. I am much happier and healthier now.
  • Crankstr
    Crankstr Posts: 3,958 Member
    being tired when I reached the top of the stairs.

    and seeing these:

    33110506_7732.jpg
    33110506_3110.jpg
  • zagrath769
    zagrath769 Posts: 44 Member
    (1) Being able to wear my wedding ring again. I haven't been able to for years because my fingers have gotten too chubby.
    (2) Being more comfortable sitting in a booth at a restaurant.
    (3) Being able to put on my seatbelt in my car. Being able to move closer to the steering wheel so my feet reach better.
    (4) Wearing what I want, not just what fits.
    (5) Being able to breathe better.

    Well, that's my short list. haha! Best of luck to you!
  • Hi I hope this type of question is ok here.

    Im interested in knowing from both newbies and longterms users... What exactly motivated you to start losing weight/living healthier? What was that 'click' moment? And was/is your goal a permanent change or did you decide on a diet instead?

    ***

    Personally something like clicked in me... For days I kept giving in to my sugar cravings thinking "Ill start eating healthier tomorrow"... Then one day I was sick of it. So I decided on a permanent change. Give up sugar and eat healthy stuff, avoid processed food.

    My true motivation however, comes from me wanting to stay young for as much as possible. You'd think weight loss would be my main concern, but it isn't. Otherwise I'd probably have done something about it long time ago.

    1. Getting to fat for my age
    2. Seeing fat pictures of myself :(
    3. Started working out and tracking my macros