What was your Aha! moment?

ShinyButton
ShinyButton Posts: 1
edited September 27 in Motivation and Support
I see lots of fabulous success stories on these message boards and I was wondering what the turning point was for everyone who reached their goals (or are almost there).

What finally made you realize you needed to change for the better and continue along that path? How do you stay motivated still?

Replies

  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
    When my @#$@#$%@ sister in law called me pregnant, and she happens to be fatter than me. -_____- It still got to me, though.
  • Sunjenk
    Sunjenk Posts: 139 Member
    For me, like many others I'm sure, I saw a picture of myself that is awful, terrible, and I cannot even believe I looked like that.

    The part that was worse was that I remember the particular day, getting dressed and spending forever doing my hair and makeup to see my older sister for the first time in about a year, and I thought I looked fantastic.

    Seeing that picture made me realize how big I really was, and that I clearly needed to change something, because I did not want to look like that.
  • 4lafz
    4lafz Posts: 1,078 Member
    I was growing out of my 1X's and was going to have to buy the 2X's! I REALLY want this - I lecture myself everyday to stay focused and exercise (I still hate it). MFPeeps help keep me focused - this site is what really is working for me. I know now that this is for the rest of my life.
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    My personal A-Ha moment was the Literal Version of "Take On Me" ;-)
  • ashleypietz
    ashleypietz Posts: 87 Member
    For me it was realizing I was a size 20 weighed 245 lbs and was starting to get high blood pressure at 28! I'd been able to ignore the pictures and let myself think I wasn't that big...basically lying to myself.

    Now after loosing almost 70 lbs, I look back and am sad at all the things I missed out on because I didn't take care of me. Not anymore, I'm important and my health is important.
  • dendra7
    dendra7 Posts: 113 Member
    I went to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO for a concert. I had gone down to the bottom of the theater to get two very big beers for myself and my friend. On my way up the very steep, very long flight of stairs back up to my seat, I got to our row and I was SO out of breath- my heart was pounding out of my chest. I didn't run up those stairs. I had to carefully plod my way up. And as I stood there, I leaned up against one of these giant stands and thinking I may actually be having a heart attack.

    I don't want to feel that way ever again.

    What keeps me motivated? Lots of stuff from *****y "frenemies" to doing stuff I enjoy to workout. And somehow, logging everyday.
  • olyrose
    olyrose Posts: 569 Member
    Not even close to my goal yet, but getting there!

    My "aha" moment was realizing I was really stressed out about some things going on in my life that I had absolutely no control over.

    Then it hit me that if I focus that energy on things I could control, I would be able to make myself a LOT happier, and my weight is the one thing that I have COMPLETE control over.

    Since that day, I have been dedicated to making myself look and feel better. And have stopped stressing on the things I can't change. It has been feeling wonderful to see progress that I made happen for myself, and so ridiculous it took me this long to understand what I can do for myself.
  • mmusgrove76006
    mmusgrove76006 Posts: 4
    It wasn't any one thing but a combination of them all.
    I'm a guy but family members kept asking when my baby was due.
    Realizing that my pants with a 36" waist were no longer just snug but couldn't be fastened.
    I started getting out of breath walking up one flight of stairs.
    We had a health fair at work and I was classified as 'obese'.
  • Clonekuh
    Clonekuh Posts: 92 Member
    My personal A-Ha moment was the Literal Version of "Take On Me" ;-)

    Win!

    Mine was a combination of fortuitous events. I graduated college, got out of a 4-year relationship and saw horrible pictures of how large I actually was. I had all sort of new free time without the dude or homework, so it was easy to replace them with gym time.
  • Sarah_uk
    Sarah_uk Posts: 209
    I suddenly realised I have to be a better example for my children.
  • tashajayne2011
    tashajayne2011 Posts: 288
    I suddenly realised I have to be a better example for my children.

    Yup me too.
    My daughter is 5 and I am hoping that she doesn't have many memories of me at this size when she grows up. I don't want to be sat on the sidelines holding the bags, I want to be doing things with my kids.
    My son is 10, he said to me a few weeks ago that he was worried about me being so unhealthy - when a 10 yr old notices then its time to make a change - and I want him to see me lose the weight and know that anything is possible if you try hard enough.
  • robynrae_1
    robynrae_1 Posts: 712 Member
    My AHA moment is when I was shopping for larger jeans pants. Because I didn't fit into any of the ones I own. I decided that instead of buy pants that I need to fit into the pants that I have. It is hard to pay attention to your waist line when you wear scrubs all the time at work and then come home and put your lounge pants on. I took a picutre of myself in the bigger pants on my cell phone anytime I start to slack I pull up that pic.
  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    When I tried on my wetsuit and could barely get it past my knees, never mind over my butt!! :huh:
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