What's your "WHY"??

Had severe reactions to every medication they put me on for blood pressure and diabetes. Decided I had to take matters in my own hands . I succeeded no more medication no more extra weight plus now I am doing it because I enjoy the exercising and the results.

I want a baby. What I've been doing up to this point hasn't helped, so I decided to do the opposite.

For the past couple of years, every time I see a picture of myself, I think "oh! what an unflattering picture." After about a year of that, I realized it's not a bad angle, it's my weight and lack of fitness.... So, reality began to set in.

What made me get serious is wanting to look decent in my sister's upcoming wedding photos.

It started out as a way to prove to myself that relationship problems with my husband weren't secretly about my weight.

I was also sick of being red faced, sweaty and out of breath playing with my kids in the summer. I loathed shopping in the plus size clothing section. I hated seeing my photos and reflection in store windows. I was never fat as a kid, I am not big boned and I knew deep down I wasn't supposed to live my life as an overweight woman. I had used quitting smoking and having two kids as an excuse in my head but it was a lie.

Now everything has changed - even though I still have another 20 lbs to lose before goal I am much more confident about my appearance. It helps getting so many compliments from extended family and friends about how healthy and happy I look! I have strong, defined shoulders and my legs look great. I am proud of my body, not just how it looks but what I can DO with it.

Because I cant think of a genuine or valid reason why not.
Because one day I realized I was more worried about not feeding the dog stuff that I knew was bad for him than I was myself.
Because I looked in a mirror.
Because I saw a photo of myself.
Because I cried in the shop changing room.
Because I only have one body, no exchange, no return.
Because I felt old.
Because I felt tired.
Because I felt broken.
Because I could no longer ignore the truth.
Because I want to be strong and healthy when I am old.
Because I deserve it.
Because I am worth it.

Because it feels even better than it looks :-)

I'm reading all these posts, trying to recover from the other brilliant people, the motivation which lost me 7kg, bringing me back to the weight I used to be, looking and feeling fit again. It seemed quick and painless.

Now, though I am still exercising as I have always done, I am back to EATING until my stomach feels stretched. As I sit here now, the lovely canneloni bake is resting guilty as sin and heavy as a rock in my tight as a drum tum, joining the blueberry muffin and yoghurt.

I like cooking, I l ike baking, I cook and bake traditional South African food and I eat everything in sight because it tastes so good.
No doubt I shall soon be the fat girl again. BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE!! I've tried everything, including chucking the baggy tracksuits and buying new jeans. I've warned myself that I'll have to forego the new jeans and all the compliments I get at swimming and yoga about being back in shape - but does that stop me? I just have no self-control. Hypnosis? Kick up the backside? Help!! Advice! Please!!

i never give up on a true goal. If I gave up on this I'd have failed myself in pursuit of a goal for the first time. I'm not about to do that.

I realized my excuses were invalid.

Avoiding knee replacement surgery and decreasing the pain from degenerative disk disease.

My aging parents came to visit and their mobility was SO limited. For Mom, it was weight. For Dad, it was not keeping his strength up when he retired,...he let his fitness go.
I swore then that I wouldn't be them in 25 years. I wasn't going to be them in 1 year. SO,...I'm mostly about fitness. Moving, feeling good moving, feeling strong, feeling capable. I've got more to do, but the last 5 months have been about longlasting change, even though its been SO....SLOW,...hey, I've got nothing but time.