What was your AH HA! moment to get started?

FUELERDUDE

I actually had many Ah Ha! moments prior to my final moment where enough was finally enough.

I started with seeing my reflection in the computer monitor. It was starting to look like I was gaining weight even in my face and neck area. Then there was my fathers', and familys', history with weight related issues. There was the ever tighter and tighter fitting pants that I swore I would not "outgrow". Then there was one last one that truly was an Ah Ha! I've got to do something about myself moment.

I was laying in bed, watching t.v. without a shirt on. I kind of propped myself up and caught a glance of myself in the mirror. I honestly didn't recognize myself as me. I was starting to grow manboobs for heavens sake!. I had new fat rolls starting under my arms. I was disgusted and angry at myself for allowing myself to get so comfortable and lazy in my life that I no longer was striving for a better me. This was the moment I knew I had to change and take action.

What was yours?

SprinkledWithEmotion

Hitting 200 lbs.

silverlotus

A picture I saw of myself. I thought, "Wow, do I really look like that to other people?" I wish I knew where it was so that I could use it for inspiration whenever I feel like binge eating.

seanezekiel

My bathroom scale only goes to 300. My moment was when I hadn't weighed myself in a couple months, i was 280 the last time I had. I stepped on the scale and it went past the 300 to 5lbs. That was way to light. I knew I needed to gain weight fast. Also this meant my bones were hollow like a bird. Maybe I could fly?

Seriously though seeing it break that 300 for 305lbs, that changed my life.

mummyzena

People rarely take photos of me (i now see why) and other half took apic where i was in the distance and i was shocked and looking 8months pregnant (also now know why people offered me seats) plus i stepped on the scale the next morning and saw 3 at the beginning

missmegan831

When I had to literally roll off edge of the bed in the morning bcuz sitting up was no longer an option with my belly and boob fat in the way

jsielke

Being told I would need to carry oxygen, as I was short of breath all the time. Now, no shortness of breath, active lifestyle for first time since I was in my 20's.

MommiLauren

there was a lot of things for me. looking in the mirror and going wtf happend, the number on the scale, seeing pics of myself. but my ah ha moment i walked into the gym and said shut up and do it lol

tommygirl15

Finding myself in the clothing stores quite often trying to find larger clothes, because I didn't fit into any of my own any more

Squidgrok

Contemplated new underwear because I felt uncomfortable
Stopped wearing my jeans because I felt uncomfortable
Contemplated getting bangs to "slim" down my face after seeing a picture
Calfs and underarms felt squishy-ier
All of this triggered a NO! I'll get healthier instead

linxus

The ah ha moment has never been dormant as I have always knew that it needed to be done. However- bad relationship with food. Couldn't stop. Maybe it was finally realizing that I let my binging have more power over me than anything else.. and that the only thing I was ever really enjoying anymore was food.

kend9998

hitting 199 pounds. that was what i weighed in, on the day i had my kid. (not after having the kid, before). i never hit 200, and never thought i could. so i was thinking, omg, i weigh the same as i did when i was 9 months pregnant...wow.

Francl27

Going to the doctor and seeing 213 on the scale. Before I was 200-205 for like 6 years, could eat everything I wanted, and wasn't ready to change my lifestyle when I wasn't gaining. But realizing I was starting to gain more was a big wake up call.

SKMC0214

I had many small AHA's that were not quite what I needed. Vacations pics, not being able to participate in activities with the family. A very close friend has been doing MFP since August of last year and has went from a size 22 to a 9, she looks amazing. Anyway, my final AHA was when I had begun wheezing when even walking short distances, like from my car to my office at work. or through the grocery store, I felt and looked horrible. My feet and legs would swell so bad, I could not wear shoes and looking like they were going to explode. I had a really bad wheezing day on Jan. 20 and realized the next day would have been my beloved fathers 74th birthday, however, we lost him when he was only 49, which was the end result of morbid obesity. I in 3 weeks I would to turn 45 and realized it was my time to make a change because I was following too closely in his footsteps. My Journey began on January 21, I am down 21 lbs and 70+ inches. The sky is the limit and this is my time to shine!!! Good luck to you all!!!

JEG2012

When I didn't recognize myself in a picture :sad: ... that's bad:sad: :sad:

linxus

I had many small AHA's that were not quite what I needed. Vacations pics, not being able to participate in activities with the family. A very close friend has been doing MFP since August of last year and has went from a size 22 to a 9, she looks amazing. Anyway, my final AHA was when I had begun wheezing when even walking short distances, like from my car to my office at work. or through the grocery store, I felt and looked horrible. My feet and legs would swell so bad, I could not wear shoes and looking like they were going to explode. I had a really bad wheezing day on Jan. 20 and realized the next day would have been my beloved fathers 74th birthday, however, we lost him when he was only 49, which was the end result of morbid obesity. I in 3 weeks I would to turn 45 and realized it was my time to make a change because I was following too closely in his footsteps. My Journey began on January 21, I am down 21 lbs and 70+ inches. The sky is the limit and this is my time to shine!!! Good luck to you all!!!

Congratulations on your success! I am also very sorry for your loss. I'm sure he would be very proud of you!

I would also definitely have to say this is similar to my wakeup call, as far as the feet swelling. I work at a job that requires me to be on my feet about 8 hours a day, and I see my coworkers handling it so gracefully, while my feet are putting me in misery the entire day. At some moments I would try to sneak a ''sit-down'' lol. The only thing I focused on all day was the pain. Definitely not good.

Jdo13

When I realized I was an a "very obese" person that co-workers and medical shows were always talking about. I avoided mirrors and had very low self-esteem. In my eyes, I was young and "healthy".

But than I saw pictures. I felt how short of breath I got with walking or a small hill. I was labeled the "big girl". Then I really looked at the scale, realizing I was OVER 300lbs. I realized I was NOT healthy and needed to be make a difference. It was like a big bug bit me to get off my butt and get moving.

Thank goodness I had an awesome support system that pushed me and continue to push me. Now I look at pictures, my new eating lifestyle, and fitness accomplishments; who was that girl -128lbs ago?!?!?!

Bizzeemamanj

For me the moment was when I realized my overall lack of fitness was keeping me from enjoying things with my family. As my kids have gotten older, they are naturally more active, adventurous and willing to push themselves. I realized I couldn't keep up with them, but I still really wanted to be able to do so.

I told myself years ago that I never wanted to be the parent who sat in the ski lodge while my kids tore up the mountain. In October, I joined a gym, got a trainer, starting working out, doing yoga, cross fit and any other new gym experience I could find. Turns out, I really love being a gym rat. The healthy eating followed a little later, simply to allow me to do a better job of fueling my can't live without gym time. The weight loss and smaller sized jeans is just a bonus.

My test is next week - skiing with the kids for 7 days. Not only am I sure I'll keep up, I might even give them a run for their money.

jenniferswooten

Mine was I hated looking at myself in the mirror and I could feel myself not even liking to go out with my husband or my friends because I couldn't stand the way I looked. I was tired of being the fat friend. It was never going to get better until I made the change.

Sqeekyjojo

Knowing that I needed to do it was one thing. I then looked about, researched a bit, thought about targets, what I really wanted. Thought, planned, schemed and plotted.


And then, one morning, I decided 'TODAY'.

And so here I am.

Miamiuu

i noticed that my jeans and shirts were feeling tighter. if i would have kept eating like i was i would have needed new clothes. I went from 220 to 200 in about 4 months.Im now trying to break below the 200 weight.

SKMC0214

I had many small AHA's that were not quite what I needed. Vacations pics, not being able to participate in activities with the family. A very close friend has been doing MFP since August of last year and has went from a size 22 to a 9, she looks amazing. Anyway, my final AHA was when I had begun wheezing when even walking short distances, like from my car to my office at work. or through the grocery store, I felt and looked horrible. My feet and legs would swell so bad, I could not wear shoes and looking like they were going to explode. I had a really bad wheezing day on Jan. 20 and realized the next day would have been my beloved fathers 74th birthday, however, we lost him when he was only 49, which was the end result of morbid obesity. I in 3 weeks I would to turn 45 and realized it was my time to make a change because I was following too closely in his footsteps. My Journey began on January 21, I am down 21 lbs and 70+ inches. The sky is the limit and this is my time to shine!!! Good luck to you all!!!

Congratulations on your success! I am also very sorry for your loss. I'm sure he would be very proud of you!

I would also definitely have to say this is similar to my wakeup call, as far as the feet swelling. I work at a job that requires me to be on my feet about 8 hours a day, and I see my coworkers handling it so gracefully, while my feet are putting me in misery the entire day. At some moments I would try to sneak a ''sit-down'' lol. The only thing I focused on all day was the pain. Definitely not good.
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Thanks so much, I know he is, and for once in my life, I am proud of me too. I got this !!! I had the opposite issue, I sit down at my job for 8-10 hours a day, but you are correct, the swelling is so painful, no one could explain unless they have experienced it. You are going absolutely great and congrats on you current and upcoming success.

phylsyl

Hitting the magic 200#! Been there and back a few times. Felt best at about 145-150. Harder to lose when you"re older, but better!!

tpittsley77

Gave birth to my second daughter and weighed in at 206, which was actually 2 pounds less than when I got pregnant for her. I realized that I didn't want my girls to grow up with the obese parents I grew up with. I want to be a participant in their lives. I want to raise them to be healthy, with healthy habits. I don't want to raise them to be obese, as my parents raised me. I don't want to sit on the sidelines of their lives. And I don't want them to grow up with the weight issues I have grown up with.

wormy80

Bump

davidjl3

My kids askind me if I was pregnant..

AmyMgetsfit

I couldn't get my size 14 dress pants buttoned comfortably to wear Christmas Day. I knew I didn't want to start buying bigger clothes. I stepped on the scale to see the damage, and I weighed 165lbs. I had too much going on in January to start with a game plan then, so I waited until February 1st, this year.

AmyMgetsfit

My kids askind me if I was pregnant..

Now that's funny.

stefi2107

I did a 5k with my friends in November 2011 and couldn't run any of it and was miserable and out of breath, meanwhile athletic husband and our friends ran the whole thing. I realized that enough was enough! The next day I started exercising and eating better. In November 2012 I ran the exact same 5k the entire way and beat my time from the year before by 20 minutes and 108 pounds lighter.

hannah_ryann

When I started deciding what to wear in the mornings based on what I could squeeze into. I was only fitting into 3 pairs of jeans and 3 dress slacks. My work started a biggest loser challenge around that time and now I'm not only getting really healthy and learning about my body, but I might win $400 bucks on top of it.

Hoop4la

The picture of me in my bathing suit in Thailand .... gross .. I was shocked ! then i put on 7lb over xmas !
I decided 2013 was going to be my year