Why did you let yourself go?...

I've been asked, what made you decide to lose weight? How are you losing weight? but rarely does anyone ask why? I had a chat with my mom ans she was the first to ask- why did you let yourslef go? How did you gain all that weight is pretty obvious-food and lack of movement...

When I was a teenager I dated a guy who I liked,but he was embarrased to be seen with me or have anyone know we were hanging out as more than friends.I knew deep down that was why we never went on dates in public.I learned through a school mate how he trully felt. Needless to say it crushed me and was a catalyst in my weight gain.

I had to protect myself from being hurt by a guy ever again.I figured if you can't take me as I am now (heavy) and see past looks, then why bother with you or love?

Years past and I only ever dated 2 guys after that experience one of them being my husband who has loved me through all my sizes,but understands I need to lose this weight for me.Which makes me feel like the luckiest girl alive ^u^

So I ask you now why did you let yourself go?
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Replies

  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    Because our society allows mothers to use pregnancy and having children as a valid excuse to get fat and stay that way. Pure and simple. I used my children as an excuse to not work out.
  • I never put on that much weight but when i was 16 i was about 57kg and when my boyfriend broke up with me I put on 6kg. When I was 18 I moved to Ireland and started eating really unhealthy and put on another 7kg. Then I was 70kg and went on holidays and put on another 3.
    And then I decided to lose weight because my favourite jeans didn't fit me anymore plus it's my sisters wedding in 2 weeks and i want to look good :)
  • Because our society allows mothers to use pregnancy and having children as a valid excuse to get fat and stay that way. Pure and simple. I used my children as an excuse to not work out.
    Isn't that the truth, I am actuallyl osing weight to hae a baby lol
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,282 Member
    Complacency and denial.
  • I never put on that much weight but when i was 16 i was about 57kg and when my boyfriend broke up with me I put on 6kg. When I was 18 I moved to Ireland and started eating really unhealthy and put on another 7kg. Then I was 70kg and went on holidays and put on another 3.
    And then I decided to lose weight because my favourite jeans didn't fit me anymore plus it's my sisters wedding in 2 weeks and i want to look good :)

    Guys can be awful somteimes :( Really happy you have a motivator to lose weight now though ^u^
  • Complacency and denial.
    Yes !! I think I avoided clothes shopping as much as I could :/
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    I'm an emotional eater but found it hard to work out exactly the emotions were. Then I got sucked into the roller coaster of sugar highs and lows and found it difficult to stop. Fortunately I now know how better I feel when I eat well though it's still a challenge. I can't even begin to imagine what a blow it would've been to find out the guy you were dating didn't want to be seen with you. So shallow! But we take it all on board don't we and make it our problem when it's actually theirs.
  • Browneyedgirl140
    Browneyedgirl140 Posts: 102 Member
    My excuse for years was that I didn't have time with school, work, social life, etc. Now I am doing all of that plus more and I am finding time to workout and making it a must do on a daily basis. I thought I would feel tired if I added one more thing to my busy schedule but I actually have more energy!
  • Smiling_Sara
    Smiling_Sara Posts: 203 Member
    I can't really answer it. I'm not sure what made me gain weight to begin with. But regaining 30+ after losing almost 100, a big part was because I was very uncomfortable with the attention from men I was starting to get. :(
  • Sixalicious
    Sixalicious Posts: 283 Member
    Depression and losing sight of myself.
  • I grew up and didn't adapt my eating habits. I am 23 now, but up until I was about 20 or 21 I could eat anything I wanted and never work out...and not gain a pound. I hit that normal curve in life where teenage girls turn into women and haven't been taught how to eat/act in a healthy manner. Now I have to lose some weight and relearn how to live.
  • cardsfanlv
    cardsfanlv Posts: 110 Member
    Well, because I greatly enjoy

    Soda
    Fast Food
    Pizza
    Candy
    Salty Snacks
    Fried Chicken
    etc
  • I just didn't care enough about myself
  • My mother died in my livingroom. I ate my way through my grief. Within a year I had gained 75 pounds.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    For me. I was super physically active but I didn't know I ate too much. I didn't pig out, binge, or mindlessly eat, and I ate all healthy, everyone always said I was the healthiest eater they knew, but the fat piled on year after year, marathon after marathon, until I finally learned to eat less and paid off the calorie debt --> long story here http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/740340-i-lost-60-lbs-at-age-51-anyone-can-any-workout

    Wishing you the best of luck!
  • Oohtobethin
    Oohtobethin Posts: 4 Member
    Initially depression. But then I got better and things levelled out.
    Once I got the implant (contraceptive) though it just piled on even though I was eating the same.
    I've been working out and eating reaaaaaallly well for about 6 weeks and only lost 6 pounds, half of what I should've lost.
    I'm getting the implant out tomorrow and hopefully that will make a difference.
  • I can't really answer it. I'm not sure what made me gain weight to begin with. But regaining 30+ after losing almost 100, a big part was because I was very uncomfortable with the attention from men I was starting to get. :(

    I think saying how we got to this weight is so easy but understanding why we stopped caring about ourselves and life is tha hardest. The fact that you lost 100lbs once means you are stonger than you think doll and gaining 30lbs is nothing :) I wish you the best and keep looking forward. Embrace the attention but don't get intimidated by it doll you are awesome for losing that much weight ^u^
  • I just didn't care enough about myself

    This ^
  • Sports injury and then laziness set in.
  • My mother died in my livingroom. I ate my way through my grief. Within a year I had gained 75 pounds.
    I am so sorry for your loss but think you are incredible for picking yourself up and taking control, good luck in all your endeavours!
  • I had an accident which left me with severe PTSD and I used to eat to make myself feel better.

    That was 9 years ago and I still have not got a lid on it yet. I am a yo yo dieter and find it hard to eat in moderation.

    I lost 3 stones for my wedding earlier on in the year, but when I found out I had a heart condition and my exercise had to be cut down I started to eat and not exercise again and put the three stones plus some back on in the last 8 months.

    I feel awful and at the moment, until I have my heart operation I cannot exercise the way I want to so I just use that as an excuse not to do anything, and now I hate myself again.
  • cygnetpro
    cygnetpro Posts: 419 Member
    Good question. I have a confounding factor of a life-threatening illness that confined me to the couch for a few months, and doctor-prescribed reduced activity. I packed on 30 lbs. But it started before then.

    I was a twig my whole life, without trying. But an unhappy, long marriage to a man who told me that I wasn't very smart, was unattractive ("I didn't marry you for your looks"), etc. made me miserable. I found that I turned to food becaues I was already unattractive, right? Why bother?

    Dumb, dumb, dumb.

    Now I'm working my way back. I lost 250 lbs already (of ex husband), and have about 40 more to go of my own to get back to awesomeness. :happy:
  • hooperkay
    hooperkay Posts: 463 Member
    I know how it happened. I ate whatever I wanted. :) I also am camera shy so I never really saw myself. Never really wanted to see. I felt miserable, tired, and old. A friend snapped a photo when I wasn't looking and posted on facebook. When I saw that photo, I cried. I knew I had let myself go, but I didn't realize exactly how bad. My hubby has always been supportive and never said anything negative. I wanted to be a better Beth. :)
  • I just didn't care enough about myself
    Yes! I think once we realize we ARE woth living for it makes that turning point of not looking back easier
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    I grew up and didn't adapt my eating habits. I am 23 now, but up until I was about 20 or 21 I could eat anything I wanted and never work out...and not gain a pound. I hit that normal curve in life where teenage girls turn into women and haven't been taught how to eat/act in a healthy manner. Now I have to lose some weight and relearn how to live.

    Yup. My metabolism changed and my lifestyle did not.
  • I was never overweight till my after my second child was born in my early 20's. When I am feeling emotinal I crave a certain endorphine boost. For awhile it was perfoming in public & being the center of attention that fixed this. Then it became male attention. And then I realized I could get it from foods. Once I became a stay at home mom not having any friends made me crave more food. Then I became single & that coupled with no social life became a huge void and I ate even more. Now I'm finding the more weight I lose, the more confident I become & the more ok I become with being so alone.
  • I know how it happened. I ate whatever I wanted. :) I also am camera shy so I never really saw myself. Never really wanted to see. I felt miserable, tired, and old. A friend snapped a photo when I wasn't looking and posted on facebook. When I saw that photo, I cried. I knew I had let myself go, but I didn't realize exactly how bad. My hubby has always been supportive and never said anything negative. I wanted to be a better Beth. :)
    Sooooo elated on your loss that is amazing cupcake!!
  • karenwill2
    karenwill2 Posts: 604 Member
    Because our society allows mothers to use pregnancy and having children as a valid excuse to get fat and stay that way. Pure and simple. I used my children as an excuse to not work out.

    Ouch! I know. I keep telling people that my statute of limitations is running out on that excuse. lol
  • _AllieCat_
    _AllieCat_ Posts: 515 Member
    I had to protect myself from being hurt by a guy ever again.I figured if you can't take me as I am now (heavy) and see past looks, then why bother with you or love?

    THIS ^
    A huge reason why I let myself go. I was heartbroken a long time ago and I was tired of men looking at me so I allowed myself to gain the weight back.

    All is well now, but I had a very similar reason to let myself go as you did. It's refreshing to know I'm not alone in that decision.
  • Depression and losing sight of myself.

    I am so excited for finding yourself and making the change doll!!!