WHY did you lose weight?

I already responded but as I began reading through others' answers I realized that I kinda failed to address your direct Qs so here I go again ;-)

I have been big my whole life, going from a proportional-yet-massive 10 yr old to a chubby preteen and then an obese high schooler. I'd been over 200 lb since age 15 and finally got back under 200 lb at 37, this year!

In between, I was usually about 260 lb and had ton of energy, good health (except obviously being obese...but no medical issues), great social life, etc. I really didn't even try to lose weight. Maybe I was partly in denial but my weight didn't feel like a problem in my life. I was around lots of people (including my ex-husband) who were also obese and I felt smaller (and more active) than most of them so I just didn't feel any urgency to lose weight or become more fit.

At age 31, I started a new job and gained a LOT of weight in a relatively short time. I found myself at 307 lb, getting winded on stairs, swollen ankles at times, and out of breath -- for the first time in my life I felt really & truly ashamed of my body and scared about health concerns.

So in 2008 I set off walking every night or almost...many miles per night. I made a few small changes in my diet but was clueless about calories or what was truly healthy. Like many people I believed that I was eating 'healthy' by not salting my food, using artificial sweetener, and getting the tall mocha instead of the venti. It took me almost 4 years to lose 45 lb and get back to a more 'normal for me' weight of 262.

In 2011-2012 went through a bunch of personal events that were pretty traumatic - lost my home in a tornado, changed jobs, moved twice, got a divorce after 9+ years of marriage, etc. There is even more I won't share here. Anyway, through all of that I managed to maintain my weight and felt proud of myself for that.

After a period of dating my now-husband, who is very fit & healthy (and had lost quite a lot of weight in the past himself) I was REALLY frustrated and annoyed that I wasn't seeing weight loss because I was eating so much healthier/lighter than I'd ever eaten in my life and getting a bit more exercise, too. I think I was down like 7 lb in 6 months or something. I didn't feel ALL that motivated to lose a lot of weight but I was just annoyed that I wasn't seeing more change from the substantial changes in my diet/activity. So I bought a scale and joined MFP on March 25, 2013.

I have logged every bite I have eaten for the past 11 months and continue to do so. I don't exercise as vigorously as many of the members here but I do make sure to get in my calories burned goal each week (roughly 1,200) or exceed it. For me it has honestly not been all of that difficult to stay within my limits. The weight has fallen off, almost 70 lb now, but the hardest thing is not getting frustrated when I see jumps due to salt or exercise and to remember that it will be a SLOW progression but every 0.2 lb adds up to a big loss over time.

I didn't really set out to lose weight. Initially, my weight loss was attributable to changing the way I was eating...I didn't track anything and lost 20 or so Lbs just making better decisions about what I was eating and paying attention to portions, etc. This was primarily for health reasons and I had some blood work done as part of my annual checkup and while things had been going down hill for awhile, they were really...really..really bad that time around.

I ultimately joined MFP to better track my nutrition and my macros and just decided, "what the hell...lose a pound a week sounds good...I'm tracking my macros anyway." So I preceded to lose another 15-20 Lbs with MFP.

Really though, the best part has been learning how to eat appropriately and learning so much about nutrition and fitness. A year and a half ago I was a 2-3 PAD smoking couch potato...and when I didn't have a smoke in my mouth I had food in my mouth. Now I'm a leanish non smoking, nutrition obsessed, fitness rockin' beast. All my blood work is in the optimal to normal range as well...the only thing I haven't been able to fix (yet) with diet and exercise is my hypertension. It is likely hereditary and it is likely I will be on meds forever for it...but I still eat in such a way as to try and address that issue with diet...and I continue to rock my fitness.

I also didn't start out to lose weight. I wanted to quit smoking because I didn't want to die. And yes, I know I'm going to die, but I thought I could maybe put it off a little. So I started going to the gym instead of having my morning smoke. Eventually, I started looking at what I was eating. I would say, without too much motivation, can you commit to going for a walk most days? Walks are great, they really improve your mood, get you off the couch and out of the house. Worry about weight loss later.

Your upcoming event is "LIFE". If you are going thru isolated depression, then you are not living (it up). Everyone deserves joy. Healthy food and exercise battle depression naturally. If you choose these options to feel better, you will lose weight as a positive side effect. Usually feeling and looking better brings about events on their own. You want to go out, you want to have fun. Do it for you. My reason was to improve health.

I'm doing it because I'm finally starting to get a bit girly and want a cuter wardrobe and to feel comfortable in those cuter clothes. Also because I'm larger in the waist and smaller in the chest so buying bras is a pain in the *kitten*. I'm only an a cup but need about a 36-37" band and that is super hard to find.

Because being overweight is uncomfortable. Clothes don't fit right, my legs chafe, sitting down makes thing dig in. When things don't feel good its very hard to believe they look good.

Then of course there's my health. I wan't to have a healthy body fat percentage with my fat distributed in the right places (as little around my organs). I also don't want to risk ill health caused by being overweight.

I also have enough issues of my own to have to worry about being judged for being fat as well.

15lbs down and I'm already feeling better.

I have started this journey to a healthier life because first, my mom is currently waiting for a hip replacement and is pretty much completely immobile and my older brother is had horrible arthritis in his hips and his wife left him because he's so overweight and unhealthy. My hips and knees ache and I see the writing on the wall.

Second, On my vacation I did a lot of scuba diving and had to use 20 lbs of weights because my body fat makes me very buoyant. Plus, the dive staff treated me like an old lady because of my mobility... I'm only 48! Next year, I will totally rock the dive team !!!!

I decided to lose weight because I was tired of being invisible. it's amazing how easy it is for people to just look right through somebody who's carrying around as much bulk as I am (well, was...I'm 30 pounds down since November). I've seen a number of women around my age (I'm 52) who sort of shine from within, who aren't particular gorgeous but who are confident and happy with themselves and it's like they're magnets to other people. And for better or worse, the only way I can radiate that kind of positive energy is to be able to look at myself in a full-length mirror and say, "Hey. Not bad, sweetie."

What did I do? How did I start? I joined a gym and I go every day. I have a pedometer and I don't go to bed until I've logged 10,000 steps. I count my calories (thanks, MFP!). I've downloaded 20 books about weight loss (not diets--weight loss) that are either personal memoirs (The Shift, ...Then Just Stay Fat) or nonfiction (If I am So Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight). I read at least 20 pages a day. I visit the MFP Success Stories board a couple of times a day to celebrate the successes of my partners in loss. I participate in the Lose 5 pounds in... every month. I try to surround myself with people who are traveling the same path as I am, because it's more fun this way.

Here's the thing. I've been overweight most of my life. As I said, I didn't get around to this until I was 52. I think I can make my weight loss happen, and make it permanent. And maybe now is the time I'm SUPPOSED to be losing this weight. The reason for that belief is this time, it seems so effortless and natural, as if I've lived my whole life this way, as if eating right and exercising and giving/getting support from my cyber-pals is as ordinary (and extraordinary) as breathing. Nobody else could have gotten me to do this. It's for me, and wow, it's been great (and it will be even better).

One last thought - EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON MFP is on your side. We all want you to succeed. Isn't it great to know that thousands of people are rooting for you, right this second?

Good luck, sweetie.

Try it - you'll like it. Set goals - small ones you can reach AND a big one you want to get to. Do it at your own pace. And above all do it for YOU.

I was a nice 230 pounds and liking my bachelor lifestyle when my future wife moved in with me. 20 pounds came off that first year by simply dropping that bachelor diet - and while I didn't HATE what I'd been seeing in the mirror until then, I found out that I LIKED what I was seeing when I was seeing less and less of myself in that mirror.

The REAL trigger for me was the birth of my daughter. I resolved then and there that I wanted to be around for her and my wife for as long as I could, so I started doing it for them as much as for myself. That was 60 pounds ago; now in a healthy weight bracket, I'm still going strong with goals of increased strength and endurance to be able to handle chasing my little girl around and handling the day to day stuff of a family lifestyle, literally without breaking a sweat. And being a stage actor, I can confirm it definitely doesn't hurt your auditions if you're a lean muscular guy versus an obese guy puffing his way through a scene. It's a hell of a lot easier to be healthy and act big, than to be big and act healthy.

You may have trouble finding motivation, but that motivation exists for you. It's out there! You CAN find it, and places like these forums are chock full of people who are happy to help!

Mark

Hello everyone! This is my first post! You dragged me out of lurkerville...but I have been where you are and I hope I can help. As you can see, I have just started my journey. I didn't have a big light bulb moment. I have tried EVERYTHING to lose weight, with no success, just more lbs added on.

I just turned 40, and I got to thinking, "My life is sucky. Wonderful in that I have a loving fantastic and handsome husband of 20 years who absolutely ADORES me, 5 great kids (2 that we just finalized an adoption from foster care on Yea!), and I am very much loved. Sucky in that for the last 40 years I have made crap decision after crap decision. Money, life choices, food choices, ect. My family is so effected by my weight (highest was 327lbs). My husband's co-workers think I am a ghost (he is not ashamed of me, I am ashamed of me), my kids think I hate swimming (I actually love it), and my oldest daughter who is 17 is 30lbs overweight. I am getting to the age where health matters, and my family really needs me. My youngest is 8 and such a mama's boy and he would just be devastated if I died from a heart attack. And how selfish is it that I would rather eat a cheese burger than try to be healthy??? And I just thought, I am NOT going to live the next 40 years of my life regretting my decisions. I am just not."

And I am not talking just about food. I spend too much money. I use my time unwisely. I struggle with bouts of depression.

We are Christians, and I know that overeating is a sin, so is overspending, ect. And I was like, "God, I just am so sick of wallowing in the pig pen, seriously I am." Shortly after that I somehow ran across MFP, and the barcode scanner is the coolest fricken thing EVAH! Anyway, I am down 25lbs so far, taking it one day at a time with the focus on not living a life of regrets day by day. My daughter is doing it with me and she is down 5lbs. Yea! We love using MFP. It is so easy. I don't know why this time around is easy, but I truly just give props to God because we have just breezed through this last month by counting calories and I don't have an urge to quit or feel deprived.

I can only say to you that you truly need to take stock of your life up till now. Your life doesn't have to be this way. Yes it is overwhelming to lose a lot of weight, join the club! But look at it from the perspective of not how many numbers have to go down on the scale, but make decisions and life choices starting now that you won't regret. All decisions, money, time, food, ect. The beauty of it is, you don't have to feel overwhelmed because you are only making one decision at a time. Make it, move on. Don't waste your life. I just don't want to waste mine anymore.

Careypea

P.S. I know my thing says that I joined Jan 2013, but I have to say, I HONESTLY don't remember every joining until the end of Jan 2014. Whatever, my journey to making better decisions started then...;)

i understand. i sign up for races because i like having things to prepare for. i like having a date set where i have to be ready to swim bike and run. helps focus my training.

I came back to MFP because - it works - 18 months ago I lost 19 pounds with MFP....my reason for joining then, was just to loose weight. This time, it's different! Now, my goal is HEALTHY! And this isn't just a "ME" thing - this is for my whole family to make healthy choices. I will be 47 this year and already have aches and pains that I know will lessen with weight loss. And I have two teenage daughters that I want to be around for. I have lost both my Mom and Dad. And surely don't want that for my girls. Each day, each moment, just think about what you are putting in your body. You deserve it!

1)To get off diabetes medicine
2)To be a good example for my children
3)To live a long time and be healthy
4)To have a good quality of life
5)So my back and knees DON'T hurt
6)To look good in clothes and not loathe clothes shopping!
7)Not have sleep apnea
8)Many reason to do it and no reasons not to!

I'm early in the journey, but going all the way to goal!

I lost weight before, to my ideal weight; and now this time I am going to make it stick. For many reasons:
1)to avoid diabetes, cancer and heart disease (all at higher risk if overweight/obese)
2)to help with mood
3)to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and high liver enzymes
4)to fit into smaller and more chic clothes
5)to feel less achy and out of breath
6)to spend less on junk food
7)to be more sexy
8)to avoid discrimination in job interviews
9)to be able to do really fun sports like windsurfing and rock climbing again
Glad you asked! Best of luck in your journey.

Why? Because I'm worth it. Because I deserve it. Because I am the strongest person I know.