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

An acquaintance of mine that I hadn't seen in a year asked me if I was pregnant. When I told her no, can't be (tubal ligation), she actually argued with me. "Well honey, you've got such a belly, you might want to take a pregnancy test!"

That hurt. I've been big most of my life, but other than actual pregnancies, no one has ever just assumed I was pregnant.

I was always fit and healthy, even when I was diagnosed diabetic I was trim and very fit. However, over the last 3 years my relationship fell apart, I ended up on insulin on top of the tablets and had 18 months fighting for access to my daughter. In that time I piled on the weight and never really noticed until I spotted a picture someone had taken of me when I was on holiday.

It shocked me and I decided it was time to sort my life out, so being single I had plenty of time on my hands so sorted the diet and rejoined a gym. Fast forward 6 months and I have lost a total of 24kgs so far, no longer require insulin (and even may be able to drop the tablets too) and all my friends and family are commenting on how much better I look. And most importantly I have great access with my daughter with the fitness levels to do anything she wants. Not stopping now, another 10kgs and I'll be happy.

A combination of things, as it would be for most people.

1. I began working closely with patients in a hospital and seeing people in their 40s and 50s die from preventable diseases and lack of compliance every day.
2. I developed a binge eating disorder. I would eat an entire pizza and then 6 doughnuts, or a bag of 10 McDoubles with a box of chocolate chip cookies on a normal weekday to de-stress.
3. I was diagnosed with a genetic heart condition that can cause sudden cardiac death.

I added things up finally. I was one of those people who would die in their 40s or 50s from something that could have been prevented/controlled by proper diet, exercise, and regular doctor's appointments. Once I got past the general "that can never happen to me" phase, things just clicked.

Resting heart rate has been lowered from a high of 144 to 68, I'm down 40lbs, my blood pressure is under control, my EKGs look great, and my labs are perfect. I'm still working hard to improve my health and make sure that I'm not one of those people. Death is inevitable, but I don't have to beckon it.

at the age of 33, having to lay down for over 5 mins because i was out of breath after walking up 13 stairs, i found this utterly ridiculous and decided enough was enough

My last straw came when I found standing up for long periods or walking even short distances became difficult. Although I think it had more to do with the fact that I spent a lot of time in my last job sat at a desk so wasn't exercising, I decided enough is enough.

Also, getting divorced after my husband cheated on me with a slimmer woman nudged me in the direction of getting fit too. If not for that reason, it was for my own happiness and health/well being.

I lost my grandpa to pneumonia brought on by a stroke caused by years of unhealthy lifestyle choices in January 2012. I don't want to go that way and the only person who can prevent that is me.

EDIT: The other motivator was a photo, like it usually is... My wedding photo in fact. I was a huge lump in a full length purple gown. The wedding was a Vegas drive through wedding, so the photos were taken on the grounds of the chapel and in the back of the limo. It didn't hit me how big I actually was till I saw the photos.

my breasts would block blood flow to my arms when ever i lay on my side. Was getting painful and really scaring me. At that point i was up to a 44 Hcup ( and 230 lbs) and had enough and decided to lose so the girls would shrink.

Watching my dad lose part of a foot through diabetes and pulling muscles in my lower back was my catalyst to shake things up.

We had a health fair at work several years ago. I weighed 241 with 30% body fat and was considered obese. When I read about all the risk factors in the literature they provided, it freaked me out to think that I might not be around to see all my son's milestones.