What was the final straw for you?

2

Replies

  • MarkusDarwath
    MarkusDarwath Posts: 393 Member
    For me it was the pain interfering with my work.. lower back/sciatic nerve, knees, ankles, feet.. developed plantar faciatis. That and too much time of the diabetes meds not seeming to make any progress in controlling my blood sugar. My cholesterol and blood pressure finally started an upward climb as well, and I just don't want to be taking all these pills. I decided it was completely up to me to fix my body. Cholesterol and blood sugars are down into normal range now, and I've lost 18 pounds so far, but it's going to take another 20 or so before I get serious relief for the joints.
  • Mythril
    Mythril Posts: 146 Member
    For me it was discovering Keto. I had always wanted to lose weight, had always tried and failed. It didn't come down to simple "calories in vs out" for me. I have bad, bad, bad PCOS and it has made weight loss terrible and difficult. I discovered keto and I began to lose, and easily. And then I could move, so I did. And then I was getting stronger and healthier and I could see the huge difference.

    I mean, there were things that made me want to stick to Keto. I couldn't stand for more than 2 or 3 minutes. I couldn't climb the stairs in my house without being winded. I hurt everywhere all the time. My back ached if I tried to do the dishes. I couldn't walk around the grocery store without taking stops. I hated to see full-body pictures of myself. I hated to see my reflection in the t.v. when I turned it off. I just hated life.

    Things are so much better now.
  • OliverFiles
    OliverFiles Posts: 22 Member
    The final straw was watching back a video I filmed with my girlfriend, when I was visiting her this past January through April (long distance relationship). She wanted a video of us together, just laying on the bed, cuddling and talking (we were clothed, just saying, not that type of video)... I was laying on my stomach and I could see the fat on my butt jiggling through my pajama pants, like someone who had just poked a waterbed kinda jiggle/wave/ripple effect, when I moved around.

    I was disgusted looking at how large I've gotten, I weigh twice as much as my gf does. I've been this big all of our relationship and she loves me regardless of what the scale says, which I'm really grateful for. But, she has urged me to just be healthier before, she is scared of losing me to obesity related illnesses. Whilst I don't have any illnesses right now, I'm heading into my 30's this year and now I'm scared of what could happen in the future, if I keep heading down this path and not changing anything permanently. Cancer and diabetes runs on Dad's side of the family, heart problems runs on my Mom's side, it's really scary to think about it now, as I'm getting older.

    I've tried to lose fat and be healthy so many times before, but I always got bored of it, tired of doing it, over-did & quickly got burnt out, sick of not seeing results faster, etc... but this time feels different, I'm taking it slower and smarter.
  • Jdigs88
    Jdigs88 Posts: 71 Member
    I lost a big chunk of weight a few years ago after my mom passed, and then gained it back plus some. This year, I'm at my highest weight ever, and whether its correlated or not, I've been sick almost nonstop since January with various flus and colds. Then, at the end of April, I injured my knee at a trampoline place, and I just got completely fed up. Time for a change before this gets worse! (As an added bonus, I'm getting married in November and would love to look stunning and be in super good shape to go hiking on the honeymoon.)
  • mwalle09
    mwalle09 Posts: 305 Member
    Its hard to admit it because its been a few years and I'm still struggling with my weight, but when I was 25 I went to the doctor for the first time since I was 18. I'd gone from a 160lb high school football player to a 270lb teacher and the doctor was throwing out terms like high blood pressure and cholesterol problems and finally obesity and I laughed. When the doc asked what was funny I said I'd never had a weight problem before and she was like well you have a pretty serious one now, that shut me up quick. Feel free to add for support, I know I need it too.
  • Notaphase
    Notaphase Posts: 81 Member
    What pushed you over the edge and made you start this journey?
    I noticed my reflection in a far away mirror. I only need to lose 15lbs so I'm able to pose and suck it in for photos, but seeing myself like that (caught off guard) made me realize that I was only fooling myself. It's not just that I looked heavier than I wanted it's that I noticed my legs were splayed out to accommodate the extra fat of my thighs. I used to work for a chiropractor and I've seen the damage that happens when your joints move at the wrong angle for an extended period of time. My goal is to lose some of that weight so that my knees are closer together when I walk.
  • blakesnewface
    blakesnewface Posts: 3 Member
    I've struggled with my weight for years. Lost 50+, gained it back, lost 80, gained it back. My 'last straw' was last week when we went out to eat and I realized that I just didn't care what I ordered. I used to put some thought into it, but had reached the point of ordering whatever, eating whatever, whenever I wanted. Something clicked in my head at that moment. It's time to start making good choices.
  • Guns_N_Buns
    Guns_N_Buns Posts: 1,899 Member
    I never realized I was getting to be overweight until a couple of my guy friends, on separate occasions, told me I'd be "super hot if I would just lose 20 pounds". I think that was the first time I stepped on the scale and saw that I was 215 lbs (I'm 5'9"). I then started to look at candid full-body pictures and was disgusted with myself.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Let's just say that when you're 38 and you go to see your doctor for an annual checkup and he basically says, "congratulations, you're well on your way to having an early heart attack as well as pre-diabetic"...well, it's an eye opener.

    I actually never cared about the weight...I was overweight bordering on obese, but I carried it well and didn't really care...I did/do care about being alive and well to watch my young boys grow to be men and it would be kind of nice to be able to travel with my wife when we retire rather than laid up in some hospital.

    Going on 4 years later, I've reversed all of my bad blood work and I'm as fit as I was back in my 20s. I eat well and get my fitness on and generally just do the things that lean, healthy, and fit people do day in and day out. Life is awesome.
  • kymberkaye
    kymberkaye Posts: 41 Member
    Seeing a picture of myself with my grand children. I didnt want to be the fat grandma....and i need more energy to have fun with them. =)
  • Ffiffion
    Ffiffion Posts: 19 Member
    My final straw was realising that nothing fits me and I wear the same 2 outfits all the time because they're the only ones that actually do fit. Also the weight I've gained around my stomach makes me look constantly bloated or like I'm pregnant. Right now I'm trying not to think about how I feel about the way I look but it's hard and I now have a month and a half before graduation so I need to lose some weight for that.
  • lessismoreohio
    lessismoreohio Posts: 910 Member
    For me, it was having to start taking high blood pressure medication.
  • johnnylakis
    johnnylakis Posts: 812 Member
    It was when I got off the bus and dreaded the idea of walking 1/4 mile to my home.
  • billglitch
    billglitch Posts: 538 Member
    For me it was that everything was hard to do. EVERYTHING from tying shoes to getting out of bed to wiping my.... now i am almost 20 weeks in and have lost 67 pounds and people notice and everything is easier...not done yet another 70 or so to go
  • Wophie
    Wophie Posts: 126 Member
    For me it was sitting at my desk every day and realising that every pair of my trousers were so tight on me it was painful. I was sick of them digging into my waist and stuck tight to my thighs. I want to be able to feel comfortable in myself and the clothes I wear.
  • suzyjane1972
    suzyjane1972 Posts: 612 Member
    Passport photo.
  • Graymanstole
    Graymanstole Posts: 257 Member
    Hated the way I looked in a bikini.
  • Wophie
    Wophie Posts: 126 Member
    I never realized I was getting to be overweight until a couple of my guy friends, on separate occasions, told me I'd be "super hot if I would just lose 20 pounds". I think that was the first time I stepped on the scale and saw that I was 215 lbs (I'm 5'9"). I then started to look at candid full-body pictures and was disgusted with myself.

    I'm honestly sorry that comments like that were the final straw for you. While it's obviously a great thing getting healthy, that wasn't a very nice way for it to be done.
  • greatnonna2015
    greatnonna2015 Posts: 1 Member
    I have been down this journey before I never made it to my goal weight or even close. After about a month sometimes longer, I would give in and just not try. I am 56 now I can't stand looking in the mirror. I moved recently and the full length mirror in my bathroom is unforgiving. When my knees started bothering me, I decided enough is enough I will not give up. So between the discomfort of being overweight and those darn mirrors, I am going to succeed. My goal is 110 lbs off as quickly as possible.
  • kenyainez
    kenyainez Posts: 222 Member
    It was when I realized I never liked my body. I realized I either need to make the sacrifice and do something about it or be lazy and complain. It's tough and it's a struggle but I owe it to myself. I'm worth my own happiness. This is for my life, my health, and my mental strength. Achieving accomplishments helps build confidence and character and there's nothing more rewarding than sticking to and following through on your own goals.
  • SkunkOnARug
    SkunkOnARug Posts: 27 Member
    My final straw was when my blood sugar went up sky high even though I was taking medicine for it for years and at the same time the doctor told me that I needed to stop taking that medicine because I had chronic kidney disease and the medicine wasn't good for that. She told me to take another medicine. "Forget that!" I thought to myself. That very same day I changed my eating habits and started doing what exercise I could. In a couple of months I went back for a follow up appointment. My A1C had come down showing I was now pre-diabetic. The doctor said, "So the new medicine is working." That's when I told her I never filled the prescription and I told her why. She was happy and so was I.
  • LuckyNumbers
    LuckyNumbers Posts: 208 Member
    Having my daughter and going through severe postpartum depression were the impetus behind starting the weight loss. I hated myself for about a year after she was born - for lots of different reasons - but once I made it through to the other side, and started to be kind to myself, I realized how unkind I was being to my body and how that behavior was feeding more negative emotions I had about myself.

    I want my daughter to have a mom who loves herself, takes care of herself, and has the energy and health to watch her grow and play with her every day. I want my time with her to be quality time, because we never know how much of it we have left.
  • prettygirlstorm1
    prettygirlstorm1 Posts: 721 Member
    I saw a number on the scale that I had only seen when I was 9 months pregnant. I looked at pictures of myself and could not believe that I had just let myself go. I'm down 22 pounds with about 30 more to go. I will never see that number again if I can help it!!!!
  • jwcanfield
    jwcanfield Posts: 192 Member
    Actually there wasn't ever a final straw, for me because I've been "dieting"; since I began gaining weight. All my previous efforts did, was prevent me from gaining without losing. Meaning that, all I've ever accomplished was losing the same pounds that I've gained; over & over again. Some'd consider that a failure but I don't because I assume that I've gained & lost possibly 100 pounds, over that course of that time & without my previous loses, I'd be 100 more pounds overweight currently & all at once. My constant "failed" diets, have ensured that I've never been more than 4 pounds into obesity (which was water weight because a week later, I lost 5 pounds; without changing my diet).

    So if there was a final straw for me, I'd have to say that it was my 1st straw because especially since I've been disabled, since I began gaining weight; I knew that if I ever became obese that'd be the point of no return for me. I knew that it just be impossible for me to lose that much weight, so I had to do my best; to prevent that from happening. I didn't know anything about water weight gain, when the scale said that I was 4 pounds obese, so it was devastating/defeating. At that moment I cried & accepted that I'd just keep gaining. I also didn't care to ever use a scale again but as the week progressed, I physically began; to feel lighter. So I chose to weigh myself again & was just overweight again, so I began my "dieting" again.

    Unfortunately even though I currently know what to do exactly/successfully to lose & keep off this weight. My declining health, has made it as though; I am just "dieting" again. So I'm back to gaining & losing again, as though I am just winging it; like when I was uneducated. So I fear that unless I can get rid of all of this excess weight, before I turn 40 (in approximately 4 years); that I'll be too unhealthy to try.

    I know that what works best for me, is to have home cooked meals because I make them voluminous, filling & less calorie dense but shopping/cooking enough, to sustain this; is becoming increasingly impossible. So I am considering hiring someone once a month (that's all I'd be able to afford), to shop for/batch cook (not everything I buy, can be ordered online & delivered/hopefully a month's worth, of food) for/with me & help with some other tedious chores, at least until I've gotten rid of this excess weight; so that I can just focus on becoming as healthy as possible. My hope is that I gain some energy, by being healthier; to then not need help to maintain whatever I've lost.

    So sorry about your health. Know it must be disconcerting at only 36! Do you plan your daily nutritional goals and calorie intake based on a sedentary lifestyle? I'm fairly sedentary, with bursts of activity, and that hasn't been overly difficult.
  • Guns_N_Buns
    Guns_N_Buns Posts: 1,899 Member
    Wophie wrote: »
    I never realized I was getting to be overweight until a couple of my guy friends, on separate occasions, told me I'd be "super hot if I would just lose 20 pounds". I think that was the first time I stepped on the scale and saw that I was 215 lbs (I'm 5'9"). I then started to look at candid full-body pictures and was disgusted with myself.

    I'm honestly sorry that comments like that were the final straw for you. While it's obviously a great thing getting healthy, that wasn't a very nice way for it to be done.

    Thank you. :) There was no hard feelings there; I'm actually glad they figuratively slapped me back into focus on me and not the relationship I was in at the time.
  • justinea90
    justinea90 Posts: 4 Member
    I am starting again, and this time I am serious for a few reasons, some vain, some not so much. I really hate my pictures, and as another user said, I never want to be in pictures with my family. I am also planning on going to Hawaii next year and I'd like to not hate myself in a swimsuit. Third reason is health. My family has a history of diabetes and heart problems due to weight problems, and I would like to get my health under control before it is an issue.
  • jkane101
    jkane101 Posts: 6 Member
    My mirror :'(
  • Colt1835
    Colt1835 Posts: 447 Member
    edited June 2016
    Wophie wrote: »
    I never realized I was getting to be overweight until a couple of my guy friends, on separate occasions, told me I'd be "super hot if I would just lose 20 pounds". I think that was the first time I stepped on the scale and saw that I was 215 lbs (I'm 5'9"). I then started to look at candid full-body pictures and was disgusted with myself.

    I'm honestly sorry that comments like that were the final straw for you. While it's obviously a great thing getting healthy, that wasn't a very nice way for it to be done.

    Why? Some people need that kind of eye opener. Not everyone is motivated by others being nice to them. Some need the truth.
  • Hoohoohaa
    Hoohoohaa Posts: 48 Member
    I started making excuses about my clothes fitting, ability to keep up, taking naps, etc... I don't allow excuses from my kids, my staff, or the players I coach, and my son ended up calling me on it. Now I've see-sawed a few times (drastically) with my weight, but I don't want to set an example that it is ok to quit, so on I go
  • Kylie0625
    Kylie0625 Posts: 5 Member
    For me it was several things. I just had my senior pictures taken and I have a double chin in every picture and I look really big from the side angle pictures. I also want to atop having to go into the women's and plus size sections for clothes, I want to be able to fit into clothes my peers can fit into. I like shopping and get excited, but then I get there and can't fit into anything and get sad. I also have acid reflux which can be helped and maybe even eliminated if I lose weight. I've finally had enough.