Straw that broke the camel's back

I saw a photo my brother took of me when we were eating out for his birthday! I looked huge and I had about 4 plates in front of me! Yuck! smh my blood pressure is high and I am borderline diabetic. I am totally afraid of having health issues so it was time to get it together!

Thought that I looked cute and saw a picture of me with my friends. Realized I couldn't use the "it's the baby weight" excuse anymore!

I had to buy a dress for a formal work dinner recently, I couldn't bear the thought of anything sleeveless, which only left me the option of dresses that were too old for me. I tried on about 20, everything looked horrendous and I ended up crying in the changing room for about 20 minutes. I found a dress that was 'ok' and wore a cardigan over it. Then when i saw the pictures of myself afterwards, I nearly died. So it's very much a self-esteem thing for me, I don't ever want to cry in a changing room again!

I lost a lot of weight before I joined MFP - but my friends recommended it, so I signed up - and love it.

As for my initial push? I long suspected I had PCOS - facial hair, apple shape, and most upsetting of all: thinning hair. My hair was my crowning glory; my security blanket when I had a Fat Day. Now that guarantee wasn't there. And I decided - I'm losing my best feature, how about making my body a bit of a better one?

Bluntly - I can be fat and balding. Or I could just be balding.

I've been struggling since I got married last year and gained 20 lbs. I don't want to be that person to just let myself go. I've started recently because my clothes are getting too tight, and it's also a lot cheaper than buying a whole new wardrobe.

A couple years ago I went through a very stressful time and didn't watch what I ate, quit exercising and just basically didn't take care of myself like I used to. Then my husband surprised me with a nice big makeup table with an enormous mirror and I had to sit there every day and see myself for the first time as big as can be. My size 14 jeans were getting tighter and tighter on me and I was feeling horrible about myself as well as having a lot of hip pain. Dislocated my one hip 2x's doing simple things most people do with ease. Then went to the dr's for a check up but my regular dr. was out so the one who covered for him did my full work up. He told me straight out that my BMI was in the obese range!! EEKKK I was mortified. Thats when it really hit me and I knew I had to do something about it. We went over all of my meds. Got me off of them all one by one. I joined MFP before that dr's visit but my weight wasn't moving. Joined WW and got off my one last MS med that was not helping at all with weight issues and the weight finally started to come off. That was this past May. Down 52 pounds now and no more hip pain, no more fibro pain, no more high bp so I was taken off those meds as well. Just wish I would have had a wake up call sooner before needing those size 14 jeans. now I'm down to a very loose size 10 skinny jeans and looking forward to losing a couple more pounds and shopping for size 8's. :happy:

The situation that finally gave the "push" I needed to start losing weight was humiliating. I went out to the bar for my 26th Birthday, and for the first time in my life, I was insulted about my looks by strangers. I was waiting to have my order taken by the bartender, and a young man behind me told his friend, "This is useless we need to find a new spot--she is never going to get a drink on because she is fat and ugly." The friend in return replied, "Dude, I'm pretty she can hear you." .... He was right, I definitely could hear them! The second occurrence was about 30 minutes later. I was walking to the bar's restroom and there were two (different) guys leaning against the wall on the way there. As I walked by, one yelled out, "Don't worry, it's what is on the inside that counts!"
I had NEVER been insulted like this in my life...let alone twice in one night. That's when I knew I had let it go too far. Honestly, I should thank them for giving me the final motivation I needed to change my life. It's been 6 weeks and I am losing weight (10lb so far). I feel better, healthier, stronger, and more energized already; my confidence is going up, and I am teaching what I am learning to others around me. I'm dedicated to making a lifestyle change--and I am so damn proud of myself!

Your tone is so positive, and you sound so motivated - and that's what I'm taking from this post. Well done!

BUT! God, I want to punch some people in the face until I'm weak with exhaustion. What is WRONG with people?

The situation that finally gave the "push" I needed to start losing weight was humiliating. I went out to the bar for my 26th Birthday, and for the first time in my life, I was insulted about my looks by strangers. I was waiting to have my order taken by the bartender, and a young man behind me told his friend, "This is useless we need to find a new spot--she is never going to get a drink on because she is fat and ugly." The friend in return replied, "Dude, I'm pretty she can hear you." .... He was right, I definitely could hear them! The second occurrence was about 30 minutes later. I was walking to the bar's restroom and there were two (different) guys leaning against the wall on the way there. As I walked by, one yelled out, "Don't worry, it's what is on the inside that counts!"
I had NEVER been insulted like this in my life...let alone twice in one night. That's when I knew I had let it go too far. Honestly, I should thank them for giving me the final motivation I needed to change my life. It's been 6 weeks and I am losing weight (10lb so far). I feel better, healthier, stronger, and more energized already; my confidence is going up, and I am teaching what I am learning to others around me. I'm dedicated to making a lifestyle change--and I am so damn proud of myself!

Your tone is so positive, and you sound so motivated - and that's what I'm taking from this post. Well done!

BUT! God, I want to punch some people in the face until I'm weak with exhaustion. What is WRONG with people?

I'll hold their arms for you. The amount of abuse I've had shouted at me in the street. . . . It's as bad as the weird aggressive sexual 'compliments' for ruining my mood.

I saw a picture of myself at 193lbs and was absolutely blown away at how big I looked. I broke down, sobbing in my husbands lap again and he told me, "this is the last time you cry over this, either you do something NOW or we are going to have a bigger issue." It was exactly what I needed I vowed never to see 200 and got to work.

My youngest son's weight was getting out of control. I felt really bad speaking to his doctor about the weight issue when mine was out of control too. I been at this for 9 months and he has stopped gaining weight but his growing inches so he is looking thinner these days.

The situation that finally gave the "push" I needed to start losing weight was humiliating. I went out to the bar for my 26th Birthday, and for the first time in my life, I was insulted about my looks by strangers. I was waiting to have my order taken by the bartender, and a young man behind me told his friend, "This is useless we need to find a new spot--she is never going to get a drink on because she is fat and ugly." The friend in return replied, "Dude, I'm pretty she can hear you." .... He was right, I definitely could hear them! The second occurrence was about 30 minutes later. I was walking to the bar's restroom and there were two (different) guys leaning against the wall on the way there. As I walked by, one yelled out, "Don't worry, it's what is on the inside that counts!"
I had NEVER been insulted like this in my life...let alone twice in one night. That's when I knew I had let it go too far. Honestly, I should thank them for giving me the final motivation I needed to change my life. It's been 6 weeks and I am losing weight (10lb so far). I feel better, healthier, stronger, and more energized already; my confidence is going up, and I am teaching what I am learning to others around me. I'm dedicated to making a lifestyle change--and I am so damn proud of myself!

Your tone is so positive, and you sound so motivated - and that's what I'm taking from this post. Well done!

BUT! God, I want to punch some people in the face until I'm weak with exhaustion. What is WRONG with people?

I'll hold their arms for you. The amount of abuse I've had shouted at me in the street. . . . It's as bad as the weird aggressive sexual 'compliments' for ruining my mood.

Unfortunately there are immature, rude people in the world. I had been blaming my confidence and appearance problems on a haircut (that sounds ridiculous, but true). I finally realized that it didn't matter how much or how little hair I had, I am still overweight and I'm the only one that can change that. Thank you for the support!

You're welcome! No matter how fat or skinny or whatever someone's wearing; walking down the street is not an invitation or an excuse to shout uninvited comments at them. If I'm in a relatively safe space, I've taken to confronting them, it's completely unacceptable.

Good luck with your weight loss!

My husband & I went hiking up chimney rock in NC. It is a LOT of stairs, but I had done it in high school so I didn't think it would be a problem. We only made it half way up before I felt dizzy & light headed. Not only did we not make it to the top, but we took the handicap elevator down.

We vowed that next September we will try again.

In Feb 2012 a photo from a friend 40th birthday celebration, posted on Facebook - Me and all my skinny little friends - They could all have hidden behind me I was so big. a couple of very depressing months later (the weight had not changed but then neither had the eating lol) and another friend mentioned he was having great success with MFP. On the 23rd May 2012 I logged in and have not looked back.
I will be using that Facebook photo in my final Success story

My genetic form of diabetes (inherited from my dad, he got it from his dad) means my blood sugar is ALWAYS elevated, both my dad and grandfather died very suddenly with massive heart attacks, both fairly young (grandfather 65 and dad 67) so I reckon now is the time to be as healthy as I can be! Joined here three months ago, loving the support and encouragement!

I went to the doctor because I was having chest pain only when eating, and was diagnosed with acid reflux. He prescribed Nexiumm, and talked to me about dietary changes I could make. I walked out of there and decided it was time to change my life. It seemed ridiculous to take medicine for something that I could control on my own. I also knew that at 42 years old and 338 pounds it was only a matter of time before it became medicine for diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Funny how such a small event can change your whole life