When was your last straw that made you want to change?

I have ridden the roller coaster of desires to fix my weight issues for at least 15 years.

I too am an emotional eater. Especially when I am bored or stressed. And I am a natural worrier so you can imagine I am constantly stressed.

My husband and I have had major marital issues in the last 5 years. We are working our way through them but in 2012 I had my entire marriage crumble around me and I am still trying to fully pick up the pieces of lost security and trust. (We are still together after a ton of therapy and communicating much better.)

Anyways I recommitted about 5 weeks ago, as the reality of the future I didn't want suddenly became crystal clear in my mind to me as I realized that a trip I have been invited with my mom and aunt to Paris, France was going to happen. The trip involves lots of walking and a very long plane ride. I had visions of what that trip would be like at the current weight and physical activity scale I was at. And it scared the ****ens out of me. I don't want to take what will be a trip of a lifetime for me and squander it because I am to heavy! I want to make it worth the financial investment. I want to come back from that trip and say it was amazing and not once think I wish I would have done this or that but couldn't because I was to heavy or to out of shape physically!

So 5 weeks later and I am on the right path, making smarter healthier food choices. Watching my calorie counts daily. Working out to get some physical activity. And finding myself 12 pounds lighter than when I started.

I have a lot more to go but that is what is motivating me so far! Not to mention I like the way I feel when I am attempting to make a difference in my health rather than the self disgust I feel internally when I am stuffing my face on food!

Awesome to read everyone's motivation! Thanks for starting the thread!

Finding out my husband and I were infertile and starting my 5th year of supply teaching. I couldn't control anything else in my life, but I could control my weight. It was a release for me, a way to put all my negative energy and emotions into something concrete and positive.

In 2012, I was still in high school, and I was walking up the stairs and I fell and hit my head, and had to go to the doctor. They weighed me and measured me, and the doctor told me that I was obese. Of course, I didn't listen. Late last year, I just got tired of always feeling lethargic, having clothes not fit, and having to sleep in a certain position because I would be out of breath. I'm so glad that I've made this change, because everything is going great in my life. I'm the happiest I've ever been, and I'm almost the smallest I've been in a long time (I was a size 12 by the 7th grade, years ago).

When I could FEEL my skin stretching. It hurt! I was having thyroid problems, and stressed and drepressed, and eating way too much junk. I lay down in bed one night, turned on my side, and my belly hurt, hanging to one side. That was it for me - I was determined to lose the weight and be comfortable - literally! - in my own skin.

Realizing that with sky high blood pressure (around 145/95 WITH meds!!), cholesterol at 290, on anti-anxiety meds and drinking EVERYDAY I was probably going to die before 50 and actually being resigned to my fate....a very scary place to be mentally! Thank GOD I finally snapped out of it and took control....I am now off all meds and I feel like I have been given a new lease on life, good to be happy again! I can't keep from smiling now, what a difference 11 weeks has made!!

I lost my job and started sitting at home. Then I started eating more and gained 50pounds. I've always been over weight but it was really outta hand. Then I stopped getting cycles and I thought I was pregnant again (I have a 2yr old) . Well 3 negitive test later I seen my dr. No pregnancy. 6 months later no cycle. So come to find it out my weight was causing issues and he said weight loss would help a great deal. He said I could end up diabetic and all kinda stuff. So I decided this time it was time to really do it

Want to look fab at 50.

Definitley being called the fat one of my friend circle by a group of guys in high school. Man that hurt and I still use that as my motivation today.

One day when I was at my absolute heaviest (274 pounds) I was telling a co-worker that my weight bounces up and down like Oprah Winfrey's, and that at one time not that long ago I was 206 pounds. She said "What are you now, 280?"

Then it occurred to me that not only was I way overweight, but other people could actually tell how fat I was. I really looked as fat as what the scales said I was.

I'm 184 now. The same co-worker is telling me I am getting too skinny now. LOL hater.

My 4 year old drew a "family portrait" in preschool.....and my picture was a huge round ball while everyone else was long and thin stick like ovals !!!! I didn't realize how kids, even so young, recognize and identify different body types. I'm hoping that by Sept when he goes to kindergarten his family portrait wont drain the markers dry while drawing me!!!

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Learning that I have a heart condition that will shorten my life by a lot if I don't lose weight. And wanting to be here as long as possible for my 5 year old.

My last straw was not wanting to go to work because my clothes weren't fitting me anymore . I refused to buy a larger size because it meant jumping from an 18 to a 20. Last week was the last straw, it's getting warmer and I can't hide behind sweaters anymore. So I started searching the Internet for weight loss programs and I found MFP.

Plus having been thin for 40 years then gaining weight only in the last ten, I'm always surprised how you become almost invisible to some people when you are heavier.

INSPIRING! Keep chugging!

Around this time last year I went out to walk the dog (someone else usually does it) and only 10 seconds in I was huffing and puffing (a big dog who likes to walk faster than my 300+ pound frame could handle). That walk lasted barely 10 minutes and I was spent! I knew then that something needed to be done!

I could no longer bend over and tie my shoes of all things! The very tight size 24 jeans didn't matter as much as no longer being able to do something so simple as shoe tying, for some reason that did it for me.