When was the first time you realised you wanted to lose weight?

As an adult, it was when my 45 yo morbidly obese, sedentary, cigarette smoking uncle died of a heart attack, and I looked at the path I was on -- cigarette smoking, morbidly obese at 26 -- and decided I didn't want to end up that way. 13 years later it's still a journey, but my 26 yo self probably wouldn't have believed you if you'd told her in 10 years she'd be playing roller derby.

Mine is a bit of a boring story, i knew after meeting my other half in Sept 2010 i was happy with the way i was UK size 10, and over time i didnt think i changed much, slowly i got more angry and upset and aggressive within myself and i put it down to birth control (which was about 30% the reason). in November 2012 i went to a fancy dress, UK size 16 didnt even fit me in the costume i wanted and had to order stretchy clothing, in December the pictures were posted, i sobbed my heart out after seeing myself, i couldn't believe i looked like that!! i slowly tried to make changes to myself, especially over christmas but i decided in feb/march 2013 to really get my but in gear,i stepped on the scales and saw 14 stone 11lbs (207lbs, i already lost a little weight over the previous months i assume) since then to day i have only lose 2 stone 6lb (now 174lbs) since them im a lot nice, no longer morbidly obese for a weight of 166cm woman, and been settled like this for about a year and a half, but im determined to lose that extra 2-3 stone, but i think in another 2lbs i would be so so so much happier!

I was also really young, though never really obese or even really overweight. Part typical media fed body issue garbage most young girls deal with: comparing myself to girls with very different builds, having a mother much thinner than me, thinking "oh no" when I got curves early on and felt uncomfortable. But at the same time I also hovered at the high end of normal despite being quite active and athletic. It was always that slightly chubby or thick look that seemed to hang on even though I was spending a lot of energy focusing on being very healthy (when I wasn't experiencing an emotions induced binge phase). So for me it was more subtle I guess. Part managing emotional eating and part realizing the importance of food quantity over exercise. I like being fit and still exercise plenty, but realized the power of managing calories and not thinking I can eat huge quantities just cause I went jogging or just cause it's whole/clean food.

When UK size 10-12 wasn't working anymore. Then went to UK size 12-14 I thought no problem but when they got tight, I couldn't force myself to buy 14-16. Back down to 10-12 happy again though would like to get to 8-10.