Your 'Ah-Ha' Moment

violet0ann · August 2016

I wanted to lose weight for a long time but a mixture of heath problems, depression and not properly medicated hypothyroidism kept me from losing it. I had tried before to lose the weight from everything from Very low calorie shake diets and slim fast and intermittent fasting, weight loss classes and everything else under the sun. until my thyroid was properly medicated and my other health issues were sorted and I got into a positive mental state I couldn't lose the weight. Also seeing other people my sort of size on here and on youtube helped a LOT, since i could see it was possible to lose a very large amount of weight without Elite diet coaches and spending fortune at a private gym spa retreat. wanting to have kids and knowing it might not be possible and that getting pregnant at this weight would cause the kids harm helps me motivated to try but I honestly didn't think it was possible to lose it until i first hit 30 lbs loss. I had lost a load of weight and fluctuated up and down for a long time but never actually had a gradual maintainable loss. I always lost a lot then it would pile back on again. still scared that it will just stop and pile it back on again but i'm getting more use to my body fluctuations like how when its my time of the month i gain water weight and then lose it again quickly after. been slowly losing since October last year and I don't mind so much that its taking me a while to lose it all. I'm just glad its coming off regularly and repeatedly now,

Diana_GettingFit · August 2016

What a great thread! I had two ah-ha moments. Growing up I was always skinny. Right up until my mid 20's. Then my weight started creeping up. I was diagnosed a type 2 diabetic in August 2008. I was my heaviest then, 214 lbs most of it showing on my belly and face. I was put on Metformin to help control my sugar. I battled with my sugar levels for several years. My pant size crept up from size 36 in 2005 to size 40 by 2008. My first ah-ha moment came when those size 40 pants started feeling snug and I realized I was in danger of going up to size 42. Something in me just snapped and I refused to buy 42 pants. My wife and I joined weight watchers and I managed to get my weight down to 190 and I went down to size 38. I hit my first plateau and didn't have the will to push past it so I stalled there. I actually maintained pretty well at 190 until March 2015.

In December 2014 I had my 2nd and final ah-ha moment. I went to the doctor for a check up and my A1C was 7.2. The doctor wanted to put me on a 2nd medication. When we did our research we found this drug was strongly linked with causing liver problems. In fact when I went back to the doctor six months later the doctor ordered that one of my blood tests be to check how my liver was functioning.

Again, something in me just snapped. I figured if the doctor was taking my diabetes serious enough to risk causing a second, potentially more immediately threatening health issue then i should also take it seriously. That winter was long and bitterly cold and I had plenty of cardio going out and shoveling snow. But when the beginning of March rolled around and the temp finally hit 40 degrees I started going out walking every day. At first two miles, then three then four. And then I slowly incorporated running. Around that time I also found MFP and started counting calories. Within a month I noticed my fasting sugar was coming down from averaging 120, dropping through the 90's, 80's, 70's even into the 60's. Once it hit the 60's I started worrying about my sugar going too low so I cut my Metformin medication in half. I tested my fasting sugar every day. Still in the 60's so on April 22nd, the day after my birthday, I stopped taking Metformin all together. My fasting sugar averaged in the 70's and 80's. It still averages that today. My weight started to really drop once I started running. I went back to the doctor in June and my A1C was 5.8. The doctor told me I don't need to take Metformin any more. He asked me how I did it. I told him it was through diet and exercise. He was almost as excited as I was and told everyone who came into the room that I'd beaten diabetes through diet and exercise. In October my A1C was 5.5. I've gone from size 38 to size 32 pants. My weight is currently 154.

I know this is a lifetime deal. I've made a vow to never go back to who i used to be. I run 3 or 4 times a week. Only averaging 2 to 4 miles but as someone who a few years ago couldn't run a block without breaking out in a cold sweat and being seriously out of breath I'm over the moon with where I am now. MFP made everything much simpler than it would have been otherwise. Maybe not easier. But definitely simpler.

GeoBaybee · August 2016

When I couldn't even bring myself to post my own engagement pictures because I looked so horrible in them. I decided that I wanted to be proud of my wedding photos. Here I am, 6 weeks out from my wedding and only 10 lbs from my goal weight

RavenLibra · August 2016

It was about 4 years ago... I was doing up my belt and it occurred tome that I might have to buy a bigger belt... that thought horrified me... WHAT the HELL!!! was I thinking.. what HAVE I been doing to myself??? holy *kitten*... BUT it wasn't until 2 years ago... that I got serious about my fitness... having a doctor call you up on a Saturday morning and telling you that he got the results of your blood work and that you should immediately head to the emergency room because your blood sugar is off the charts... and at the same time having my vision begin to decline at such a rapid rate that I was needing to buy different reading glasses every week to keep up with the decline in my ability to see... th eonly bonus was that with the uncontrolled type 2 diabetes... I was loosing about 3 lbs/week and eating everything in sight...

well my weight hasn't changed much... and I am using the same belt as I was 4 years ago... BUT I have used the last notch on it a couple times this week and maybe I am in line for a smaller belt... I eat better... and exercise 5-6 times/week... and it wasn't long ago that I couldn't imagine how I was going to get 3 work outs in/week...and for those of you out there... who think they don't have time... I get up at 4 a.m. walk my dog ( I don't count that as exercise) get to work by 7:30... finish at 4:30 get home at 6... and in bed by 9... I find time at lunch and after work to work out...funny that when your life depends on it.. or your quality of life is in jeopardy you find the time...I spent years thinking that physical exercise was optional... it isn't...

caramel827 · October 2016

My AHA Moment- When my husband and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas and the day before departing I got on the scale to see it read 249- and I am just 5'5. I had a miserable time because I knew I couldn't go skydiving with my husband due to the 250 weight limit. I was embarrassed but told all I was scared. It was a horrible trip where the wives of the couples we went with wore cute clothes and I wore my XXL. I got back on MFP and decided to stop referring to my Fitbit as the Unfitbit as I previously did.

What was different: I have lost up to 50 pounds previously in my 20s (I am 43 now) before my kids and marriage- by eating like a rabbit and working out 5 times a week which I hated doing absolutely hated. It fell off quickly but the day I returned to normal life boom it all came back even faster.

This time I told myself I would only eat things I like, I would not deprive myself of anything just stay in my calorie limits. I didn't work out. Never went to the gym. I simply moved more with my Fitbit. I'm proud to say I recently did a 5k walking which over a year ago was unimaginable but I discovered something else- I don't have to get all sweaty and do intense workouts to stay active. I park farther away, I get up to get things instead of asking my kids...I log into MFP daily and am faithful and accurate as can be with logging.

In short- it was not a diet it was truly a shift in my thinking and a lifestyle change! I had weeks where I didn't lose a poun but I stepped off the scale shrugged my shoulders and moved on. Not like before and other attempts where I would get angry and go off my diet. This time there was no diet to go off of- this is how I eat all of the time.

State of Mind- Absolutely the mindset plays a heavy part! I have over the years known I had gained even more weight then when I was pregnant but even buying size 18 clothes didn't shift my mind. I think everyone has something that will give them that moment.

So here I am 100 pounds down in 14 months , slow and steady, achieving my goal not even concerned about maintenance- I know I got it because this is for life.

KyleGrace8 · October 2016

My AHA moment was when I realized that I was bigger around than my 8 month pregnant sister (at the time). The other AHA moment was when I went to Costa Rica and was in a group with much older people from Finland and I was perpetuating the fat American stereotype by making everyone stop several times climbing up a mountain so I could catch my breath. I was even more unfit than my 100lb bigger than me ex. (Both instances were 5 years ago) Idk I've had many AHA moments. The last AHA was (2years ago) when I had starved myself to the point my hair was falling out and I saw stars getting out of bed and still hated what I saw in the mirror and I decided I didn't want to be that weak again.

This time I didn't focus on dropping the weight fast. I baby stepped my way here. I discovered eating right feels good. That exercising feels good too. That getting fit isn't just about being skinny, it's being strong and capable. I don't want to be either extreme again. I deserve to eat and I deserve to eat quality foods and not over processed, salty, sugary, deep fried crap. I deserve and owe it to myself to be able to run up and down stairs without too much trouble. Finding the middle ground has been a huge blessing.

lasirena624 · October 2016

My ah-ha moment was gradual which led to small changes. I had had three back to back pregnancies and my body was exhausted and I had no time for myself! As my children grew a bit and became more independent I could take more time for myself.

In the past I was never overweight so I had not tried and failed or succeeded in loosing weight yet. I started learning more about how people actually lost weight and I just started with logging. Logging alone helped me drop twenty pounds. Then as I started to feel better about my energy level and stamina I started doing short exercise stints when I could find time and I went back to running (which had been my exercise choice prior to having children!) and I lost another twenty pounds. Now I am training for a ten mile race in November, just hit 8 miles on my last training run!!! Still slowly loosing but not much.

Guessing that a "can do" attitude helped me make time for myself, going from the cliche mommy focused mode to the whole person focused mode helped me succeed to this point. Including my husband and kids helped too-we all run now! We always are pretty healthy, I just ate much more of it all-this is my biggest area of growth, stopping the mindless eating!

Ceeceeann · December 2016

I looked in the mirror naked and was totally disgusted. Changing this time because of my age. I feel like I wasted a big part of my life being fat.

ALG775 · December 2016

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HappyGrape · December 2016

I imagined myself being 60 and still having to diet post vacation. It felt I can't do this anymore. That I need consistency and moderation even on vacations and holidays

I know the exact date I had this conversation with myself, loosing and regaining weight is sooooooooooo heartbreaking. I couldn't take the thought of doing another plan and go on and off plans.

UltraTacks · December 2016

Today.....will start in 2017

PurpleSnack · December 2016

I don't remember an aha moment as I was always fat and never liked it and often thought about or intended to lose it. I lost a few pounds without trying just walking too and from college. I felt better about myself and was cocking for myself as I had moved out and decided that it felt so good I'd make a conscious effort to lose weight.

Motivation was that I had always wanted to be a UK size 12 by the time I turned 21. I was sick of being the fat friend in the group.

My mindset was that it would be much easier for me to lose the weight while I'm young rather than being stuck with it and it being twice as hard to lose when I get older. I was looking at short term goals and trying to lose 2lbs a week. I decided there was no point in being skinny and miserable so I had a little bit of chocolate everyday and if I really wanted a takeaway or something, I'd think about if it was worth it. If I still wants it I didn't deny myself. I also had the mindset that hunger is not good so I tried to fill up on healthy food to avoid getting hungry because when I'm hungry I'm more inclined to give into foods I shouldn't have

daworley · December 2016

I had gone to my Dr. and my fasting blood sugar was 109, cholesterol was elevated and blood pressure high. I have a son who is also an MD and he said that my health was still in my control at this time and that it is ridiculous to have lifelong serious health issues because I didn't want to work out or lose 20 lbs. Something about that "it is in your power" resonated with me. Ah ha!! No looking back 40 lbs later!

riffraff2112 · December 2016

A collection of many. Mostly pants not fitting, not liking my refection or pictures.

pdxwine · December 2016

My Ah ha moment was my Dr telling me that I had high blood pressure and needed to take off at least ten pounds or go on meds.

She told me that a heart attack was a reality, if I didn't get my BP under control.

So, I left that day and instantly got serious about this.

I was once very thin and then packed on far too many pounds.

Two years later, I am 104 pounds lighter (8 more pounds to goal). My BP came down, but alas, has gone back up so I am on meds, even with the weight loss.

But, I am almost back to my original weight and can now wear my old clothes. I kept everything and yes, most of it now fits. Yea! Fun to shop in my own closet.

vanmep · December 2016

Two things got me going. A friend who probably weighs about 100 pounds told me that long before I had met her, she weighed 176 and had lost weight by walking. I weighed 173 when she told me this, and for some reason it all just clicked then - if she could do it, why couldn't I? Secondly my brother challenged me to start logging MFP. He told me not to worry about meeting my goals, but to commit to logging every single thing I eat for one year. He quit after a couple of months, but I just jumped right into it and I love the knowledge that it gives me. Like many other people have posted, I always thought I ate very little and ate very healthy. It was when I started logging that I really started to understand what I was actually consuming and how I needed to change. I think it is both this new knowledge as well as the CICO philosophy that has kept me going at it. I haven't really given up anything. I just control my portions now and I have stopped mindless eating. I started on January 3, 2016 and I will be committing to exactly the same thing on January 3, 2017 and probably for the rest of my life.

lulalacroix · January 2017

My "aha" moment is just being tired of being overweight and unhealthy. I'm not getting any younger and I would love to live an additional 40 years.

cmoll520 · April 2017

For me it was early a picture. I'd known for awhile that once my youngest stopped nursing I needed to get my act together but then a picture from Nov 2014 really convinced me. I was heavier than I had ever been- about 176lbs. I decided Jan 1 would be the day. I lost 55ish lbs between Jan 1, 2015 and May 2015. I have maintained that loss since then. Never going back.

juliemargaretkim · May 2017

This.

uberleelee757 · May 2017

When was your 'AH-HA' moment that made you decide, 'ahhhm okay it's time to do something about this weight?

A little background: I lost 50 lbs in a little over 6 months doing Zumba Fitness back in 2012. I didn't change my eating habits...didn't think I had to, and the weight just kept falling off. It was great. I stopped doing Zumba and working out in general back in 2014 (oh, life!) and the weight gradually came back on. It just didn't click that the foods I was eating (and wine

) was packing all the weight back on. I feel horrible when I look at all the progress that has gone down the drain, and I know I can't beat myself up about it. I am just 7 lbs shy of my weight the day I gave birth to my second child. Unacceptable.

My a-ha moment was just 3 days ago. I went to Denny's with my mom for breakfast. I had the supreme skillet...it had home fries, sausage, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and two yummy over-medium eggs on top. Talk about delicious! I downloaded MFP about a month ago, but never opened the app because I thought I needed a FitBit or some other tracking device in order to use it. I recently started researching calorie counting and learned that you need about 2500 calories to maintain your weight. Anything over that, you'll gain weight, and if you want to lose weight, you have to consume less than that. I had no clue....MIND BLOWN!

So, back to the day I ate the Denny's: Something told me to open up the MFP app. I entered my foods which included the Denny's, a few snacks, and my lunch. OMGEEEE! That Denny's bkfast was 1200 calories which was the daily allowance MFP suggests for me to lose the weight I want in the timeframe specified. I ate all my day's calories in one meal....SMH! I told myself, "never again."

What made a difference this time which differed from previous attempts to lose weight &/or get healthy? (motivation)

I just started this journey, and so far so good. What's different is the knowledge I gained from the internet! Learning the science behind weight gain due to eating, has really changed the game for me. I am making smarter choices and not sitting around aimlessly snacking all day. MFP is soooo awesome. I swear it's a Godsend. I love holding myself accountable. I am looking forward to success!

How much impact do you feel that a correct mindset has on the level of achievement?

You have to be in the right mindset in order to achieve your goals. I am so glad that I have decided to love myself more than I love food. Best wishes, everyone!

Your 'Ah-Ha' Moment

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