Losing weight for health or vanity?

Both

many people do it for looks not health but in health you will look and feel better obviously. You have to do what works for you. there is nothing wrong with being a tad vain but put things in perspective good luck and feel free to add me if you wish for support

Mental health and vanity.

Both.. My health hasn't been too great recently and I'm picking up on it. I'm also doing it for vanity because when I lost 20 pounds I felt damn good.

Health was my very first concern. I turned 27 and realized my dad was my age when his mother died of a heart attack related to diabetes, and I knew I was on the same path. I also knew I had a choice in the matter.

But I reached healthy a long time ago. Now, it's all about looking good. You know those days when you wake up and you're inexplicably hotter than yesterday? I have a lot more of those days now.

I would have to say both. I'd be lying if I said my current appearance didn't bother me. I'm physically uncomfortable and a bit embarrassed, so yes, vanity is a part of it. But mostly, as I get older (currently 42), I'm concerned for my health. Diabetes, heart disease, respiratory issues, asthma and stroke are common in my family. I've seen how it affected the lives of my parents, aunts/uncles and grandparents. Many of them have died, including my father. My mother lives in a nursing home, confined to a wheel chair (no use of her right limbs) and has difficulty with verbal communication. Much of this could have been prevented had any of them taken better care of themselves. I don't want any of this to happen to me so I'm making changes and thankfully making progress.

Was reading somewhere that people who choose to lose for vanity are less likely to keep the weight off long term than those who choose to lose for health.

For those who are under 35 and think they can quit their routine and still have the same body and blood work at 35, you are in for a rude awakening!

January of 2012 my weight was at the highest, 187lbs. I was considered obese & I was in straight denial about it. I was an emotional eater & all i thought about was food. The thought of diet & exercise was completely overwhelming... it just turned me off to lose weight. But I was so insecure about my body & didnt love myself. So I decided to make a change.

At first, losing weight was about "looks". I just wanted to look "hot". So I followed a strict diet & worked out constantly. I was miserable!! I was miserable because I was losing weight for the wrong reasons! I would workout and diet for a week & got no results, so I gave up. And I did this for months.

I realized I needed to love myself & do this for my health! Once I realized this, the weight literally began to fall off. I changed my lifestyle. I enjoy eating fruits & veggies. I enjoy cooking clean meals. I found workouts that are fun & im living an active life.

Im happy I made this mistake because now I can set the example & share my knowledge. People are shocked when I tell them I lost weight by eating healthy & exercise. All together I lost 60lbs!

Looking good is just the perk of a healthy lifestyle.

Has anyone else come to this realization?

I feel exactly the same. I wish it hadn't taken me 50 years to figure it out!

I wish I could do this for vanity but I can't since I don't really care what people think when it comes to my looks, lol

I wish I cared enough for health but food taste too good. But seriously I know my quality of life gets better the more weight I lose. I enjoy being able to get around easier, take the steps, park further away and it not be a big deal.

It's just a beast to maintain, I have yet to find a sustainable method, still working on it.

Both

I first started or decided to loose because I hurt all the time. I wanna look good and it's great not hurting all time!

Vanity, all the way.

Yep. This. At least we're honest... lol

Honestly? I do it to look better. Sorry. I know it's vain but that's it.

I will be honest, and you will doubt it.

It genuinely was for health. Actually, it wasn't for anything to begin with. The first 30lbs were lost by an inability to eat properly due to mental relapse, so I was eating a deficit (albeit not significantly). I started walking with my Mum's dogs to help her out, doing chores around the house and just generally enjoying being more active. To put it in context - I loathed all exercise and either forced myself to do it via guilt tripping or excusing not to do it.

About end of March I decided that the food I was eating was pretty good but could do better - I upped my exercise, joined a gym and sought out to learn more about changing my lifestyle - it had been a very gradual process (probably 6 months) of learning stuff and taking it on board, but I never forced myself or restricted myself.

I never said "I'm on a diet". I never made any reference that I was doing anything other than when people said I looked smaller and commented on the change in lifestyle. Barely anyone beyond here knows how much I've lost or what I do at the gym. I don't keep a blog. I don't deny myself anything.

It all coincided with the mental relapse, but when I noticed I was losing weight I thought my awakening in terms of overhauling my life should carry on, which I have. I will admit that the vanity side of things is obviously a very encouraging factor, but I'm never going to the the gorgeous girl sunbathing on the beach or strutting in short skirts - it's not me, so it really is for health.