What triggered your journey?

I'm 24 and what triggered my journey was realizing that I had begun HATING myself. After age 17 I slowly started gaining weight and was in denial when I would have to buy bigger clothes every year. I'm currently 5'6" and around 270 lbs. (I plan on buying a scale this week, I didn't want one in my house because I didn't want to know how bad my weight has gotten) I get disgusted looking in the mirror, I have no confidence, and I feel bad for my husband for having to look at me everyday. I literally have started making changes just two days ago but I'm so committed. I want to enjoy my life again and I want to start a family and I know I need to be a healthy weight to do that. My goal is to lose 120 lbs.

I am sick and tired of running away from cameras and hate seeing my pictures.

I am off on holiday in May with my Mum, Sister and Sister's friend and they are all Skinny Minnies's!!
I didn't want to be the heffer in the photo's and wanted to wear nice clothes instead of big baggy jumpers!
It was that, and I also want to be healthier for my daughter xx

Vanity!! I have two siblings, younger. I grew up thin. They did not. I was always the thin one. Well, my sister had lost about 80/90 lbs on WW and was then about the same weight as me. Happy, very happy, for her. But I was kind of freaking out. I'm supposed to be the thin one. I'm always the thin one. So, I got very serious. She has now lost over 105 lbs total (still going. she's also a bit shorter than me, so in the end she will likely weigh less than me). We still weigh the same, now, but we're both losing weight and we're both looking fantastic.

Vanity!! Because, I was always the thin one.

I have been battling obesity all of my life. I would start and give up. I am ususally a person that puts her mind to something and I don't stop until I get what I want. Why is this such a struggle? Maybe I never wanted it bad enough. Now I do. I am 42 years old and recently lost my husband to lung cancer. I have three children 20, 18, and 17. I am all that they have. I need to do this for myself and for them.

After my husband died I went for a check up at the doctor's and he told me that I needed to take care of myself and that he thought that I may be too far gone and the only hope might be gastric bypass. That if I didn't take this weight off I would die within 5 years. That was really hard to swallow since I just had lost my husband in November 2012.

I am determined that I am not having gastric bypass. I have met with a nutritionist at my local hospital and I have signed up for a 12 week weight management program through the hospital that starts January 17th. I also have signed up for water aerobics at my local YMCA. I have good support system. If anyone is looking for support send me a friend request.

I wish everyone the best in there journey.

Nikki

Two things triggered this journey.

The good: My daughter's wedding coming up in July.

The bad: 100 pt jump in triglycerides and borderline high systolic BP since last year. Turning 58 in February, and while my 15-pound goal is not as monumental as many of you, it's never easy.

I hear that 10% loss makes a HUGE health difference, so that's what I'm aiming for. With 2 generations on both sides (plus my brother when he was 50) dying of heart attacks or strokes, this is a MUST DO change for me if I want to see grandchildren.

Also, my silk chiffon Mother of the Bride dress is hanging in plain view.

Being embarrasseed to be seen in public because of my weight. Wanting to walk with my husband with my head up high instead of my head hung low.

I've been dealing with pain from a back issue I was born with (lots of pain that basically radiates from my hip to my foot) which considerably worsened in 2005 during a traumatic event (I spent some with a cane, and some time in a wheelchair, the pain was so bad -- it's better now, no cane or wheelchair since 2007, but not good enough to go dancing, or run, or even walk very far).

A few weeks ago, I finally was referred to a neurosurgeon. There's a surgery that will almost certainly help me -- but it's much safer for me if I lose 40 pounds. So I'm going to lose 40 pounds and have my surgery in May or June.

Being tired of being out of shape, got picked on a lot at school basically.

I found myself with less energy and my motivation had flat-lined. I started myfitnesspal and lost 30 pounds this past summer along with joining the ymca. I slacked off and decided to get back on track again and putting on 12 pounds.

This time I decided to join others and invited friends to use the program as well. I was feeling great, and went back to bad eating habits. It had been awhile since I had felt as good as I did the last summer and I want to be back on track to living a more healthy lifestyle.