When was you "I need to do something about this" point?

When my dads cousin told me that she could hardly pay attention to my conversation with her bc she couldnt help but stare at how fat my face was

It sounds like your dad's cousin is a shallow jerk off lol
I can see how that would be motivating, but shame on her.

My mom got really, really sick a little over a year ago. I realized that I wanted to change my life and start really LIVING it rather than just hiding away under the fat. I was 268 pounds and totally sedentary and miserable.

Now, I'm 198 pounds, I've done two 5ks, two triathlons, a 10k and I have 3 more races before the season is over! My goals are just to continue getting stronger and fitter and enjoying my life and the new opportunities coming my way.

When I was 29 I weighed 327lbs. I was watching one of those shows like the 600lb man or something like that. I kept thinking how could they let themselves get that way? The guy in the show I was watching died, there was no happy ending. Then I realized if he would of changed when he was my size he would still be here, and if I didn’t change I was going to keep getting bigger and die. So, I lost 85lbs in a year. Fell down my stairs, injuring my back and knee, and gained it all back plus 15 lbs. Yes, that’s right 100lbs in 3 years. What made me decide to change again? The same thing, Im going to die if I don’t. The turning point was seeing a video of me and not knowing it was me. Who is that fat girl wearing my clothes? I had to get the scale out. I had to do the math. I had to change. Every picture is fuel, every picture shows me I’m not done. I joined MFP for Android to hold myself accountable with a calorie counter, not knowing I would find a wonderful community too!

When I graduated high school, I was 172 lbs at 5'4. I didn't think anything of it at the time. However, my living environment changed and since I was no longer living with my single mother (who could not cook, and did the best she could which was fast food), I taught myself to cook and began taking walks because I was lonely. I also began waiting tables to pay rent. I lost 50 lbs over two years and suddenly there was a huge difference in how people treated me. I got waitressing/bartending jobs on the spot because of my body. I got dates. I got new "friends". Not all of this was good, but it was enough to make me aware of my body.

When I finished college and started graduate school, I became much more sedentary and gained back to 151. My last boyfriend made me feel terrible about my weight. I started lifting to try and lose weight to please him, but he was still unsupportive. I dumped him. I went to Turkey for fieldwork and started losing weight slowly eating probably over 2k cals a day because I was hiking 5-10 miles a day. This was a first spark of motivation. Then three more things happened:

1. I went on a date and am 99% sure I didn't get a second date because of my weight.
2. I went to the beach with my skinny aunt and cousins and we discussed healthy fitness strategies. And obviously I saw them all in their bikinis and got jealous.
3. My grandmother referred to me as the "chubby" granddaughter.

So now I'm motivated to get down to my weight at age 21, 122 lbs, and this time do it for ME and appreciate it.

When my student took a picture of a coworker and I when she was retiring in May of 2011. I couldn't believe it was me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See my profile to see the picture...

Another thing that sparked me to begin this journey is my mom died of complications from heart disease and diabetes at 63 in November of 2010. I was headed for the same fate. Plus, she begged me to be healthy and happy. Prior to me beginning this journey, I was neither of those things!

I've never been thin, I've struggled with my weight since I can remember. I have tried weight watchers and many other diets just to lose a few lbs and fall off the wagon. I think a turning point for me was seeing my children fall into some bad habits with eating and realizing how life will be for them if they are overweight. I am a firm believer in doing rather than simply saying so I never as my kids to do something I myself will not do or have not done. So I realized enough was enough and I need to get healthy for myself and my family. Getting married is another big motivator as well, I want to look stunning in my wedding dress, :-)

When I stepped on the scales and weighed in at 11st 3lb I decided I needed to get back to my usual weight of 10st!! I know Ist 3lb may not seem like a lot but boy did I notice the difference - I vowed I would lose the weight for my birthday and pleased to say that I am down to 10st 6lb (Birthday was yesterday) but still determined to lose the 6lb and my target for that is now the first weekend in November!!

I too have been fat for my entire life, and can only remember short periods of time when i was much thinner, usually because of some pill or fad diet. I gave up on myself for a very long time, struggling with stairs, clothes and yet continued to eat my pain away. December 2010 i saw my doctor for the results of test i had for chest pain. At age 57 i was a bit scared. That turned out to be just really bad heartburn, but when he walked in and said congratulations, you now have diabetes type 2 I nearly died then and there! I love my doctor, but he doses out a lot of tough love and told me I had to make a choice. Start taking more medications or start working on me. He recommended MFP and I've been addicted ever since. My highest was 290 (scared to death to see that 300 number lurking in the distance) but i'm down almost 50 lbs. and amazed at how much better i feel and what i can do at 240, yet wondering how much better it will be when the numbers go down even more. Its slow, but its always in a downward direction so I'm okay with that. Too fast a loss in the past never taught me anything. I used crutches then, now I'm doing it the right way... Diet and exercise. one small NSV is that as of this month i have had a years membership to the local gym/pool and have used it at least 2-3 time a week since. In the past i'd pay and not go...what a waste of $!!

I said enough was enough when I was 5' 11" and 197 pounds.
I found MFP when I was looking for weight loss and health apps on my iTouch haha
My biggest victory is losing 42 pounds and now being 5' 11" and weighing 155