What Made You Really Start?

i was drunk on new years eve and i said i was done feeling sorry for myself and hating everything about me so the next morning i started on this 2 year long journey of ups and downs.

What made me really start....hmmmmm I was watching TV one night and saw a guy in a commercial who seemed to have a perfect existance, So I asked myself "why am I not happy like the guy in the commercial?" After chuckling about the supermodel wife, I got serious and mad this list:

II'm tired of being overweight
'm tired of my knees hurting all the time
I'm tired of being out of breath all the time
I'm tired of taking meds for diabetes, blood pressure
I'm tired of not smiling anymore

So I came back to MFP and set my goals. I'll know success when:

Someone who doesnt have to notices and says something.
My doctor says "let's rethink your meds.
My granddaughters say look grandpa's not fat anymore

I started in December at 391. Now I'm at 368

As stupid as it may sound, Facebook made me start. I cringed at the thought of logging into my Facebook and seeing my friends had tagged me in pictures from the night before. I hated the way I looked, and taking pictures. ugh. Eventually it got to the point where I just avoided going out with my friends all together. I knew someone was going to haul a camera along with them and start snapping pictures. I started to isolate myself and began avoiding all types of social situations because I hated everything about me. I became tired of feeling depressed and unhappy with my body and decided I had the power to turn my life around. Since then I have been super dedicated to eating healthy and working out. I'm down about 35 pounds and I have a long ways to go but I couldn't be happier.

Gaining 48 pounds while pregnant and not being able to bend down to put on shoes for a few months since I got so big. People thinking it was okay to tell you how big you have gotten like it isn't hurtful while pregnant so I had many rude comments. When I gave birth to only a 6lb 11oz boy and only lost 25 of the 48 pounds (I was at my highest weight when I got pg as well), still couldn't wear anything but maternity clothing and my knees hurt horribly bad. I also had PPD so bad that excerise honestly made me feel better and having control over my calories gave me something in my life I felt I could actually control when everything else seemed depressing. MFP was and still is a great tool for me.

well as lame as it sounds the victorias secret fashion show made me start my journey. i just remember watching it and be like damn by the end of the year, i will look like that. still have quite a ways to go though!

Diagnosed with MS in 2009. Weight has always been a struggle for me but now i have THE reason to want to get healthy. Nothing motivates more than not being able to walk or see or feel sensations for an unspecified period of time.
I refuse to give in to the MS anything i have control over; like what i put in my body! It will not be because of anything i do if my disease progresses further... It will be because fate decides.

Hating how I looked in pictures. Tired of random people asking me when my baby was due.

Even though I was only 162 pounds, 80% of my extra weight is in my tummy and butt, which means people would always assume I was pregnant. So embarrassing.

I gained weight when I started working 60 hours a week at a desk. I ended up leaving my job a year ago, and lost the first 10 pounds just working out a couple times a week.

This January 1, I decided it was in this for the entire year. I felt like no matter what I did, I couldn't lose weight, but then I thought I would just try doing everything (cardio, strength and diet) for a long time - like a year without quitting NO MATTER WHAT. Even if I lost no weight the first month or two, or I lost .2 pound a week only, I would keep doing everything and maybe even add more/work harder.

My weight loss has slowed again, so instead of quitting, I hired a personal trainer to help me. I always felt like I wasn't good enough to spend money like that on myself, but now I feel it's worth it, and I'm worth it too.

I think what's different this time, is I made a commitment to not give up no matter what for the entire year.

It is really difficult because I am losing weight at the pace of a dead snail, but I am NOT giving up this time! I lost about 7 pounds so far this year and 14 total since last year.

My friend told me about MFP and asked me if I wanted to start running. She was already a few months into the process. My words were pretty close too 'yes because if you get skinny and I am still fat I will be pissed'. Rest is history for both of us.

My mom died as a direct result of her diabetes, poor eating, sedentary lifestyle, and cardiac disease. I was over 500 pounds and on my way right behind her, just 40 years younger. I was lucky enough to be able to care for her the last few weeks of her life, and it was the best incentive I could imagine. After that, I just decided - - - I was tired of being tired and I was going to do everything in my power to fight against my genetic predispositions.

You are a true inspiration and I want to steal your ticker message!!!

What made me start losing weight was pretty straight-forward. The doctor told me she wouldn't give me medication to treat fertility until I lost 50 pounds (for my health). Now I've lost over 60 pounds and I still want to lose 50 more before I conceive now. It's amazing how good I feel!

An ill-fated trip to Seattle in mid- November where I had to walk about a mile and a half from the ferry to a theater and I had to stop no less than 12 times along the route to sit because I was tired, out of breath and my back hurt (and I was so desperate I sat in WET chairs). I realized at that point something had to change.

Pleased to report on February 2nd I went to Seattle once again and walked about the same distance - WITHOUT stopping, WITHOUT my back hurting and feeling like I could GO ON if I wanted to (however I'd reached my destination and there was no where else to go lol).

I wonder if someday I won't be able to run that distance. That keeps me motivated.

I saw a picture of my great grandmother she was over 500 lbs and my mom said I going to be like her I said i may look like her but I wont be like her and easier time to find close and to be healthy

I remember having PROMISED myself that I would not begin my 30s STILL struggling with my weight...and then I turned 30 and was still holding the SAME 50 pounds that I had been swearing I would lose. I waited until Thanksgiving passed and began this journey. I am TIRED of being out of shape and uncomfortable in my summer clothes

I want to be hot. And strong. I love getting compliments and don't get them often so I'm working to change that.