What kicked your Butt into Gear !?

Medical issues. Cellulitus led to lymphedema led to referral to vascular surgeon, who told me the veins in my legs were refluxed. The condition can be managed/controlled, not cured. And the bout I had with it required multiple courses of antibiotics, plus daily dressing changes from home-care nurses until the wound healed. Any time I break the skin on my shins/calves I risk an infection. At best, it heals very slowly. And I was told that the treatment was compression stockings (wearing them now), but taking the pressure/lightening the load of what my ankles routinely have to support could only help.

And at that time, my father started pushing me to get on the wait-list for bariatric surgery. Which I don't want unless it's really the only option. He had it. So has my sister. But I like cooking. I like trying new foods. I'm vegetarian. Having to reduce/cut grains and beans isn't for me.

I used to use Weight Watchers. My previous GP recommended it. My current one just echoed the vascular surgeon that I need to lose weight. I told him I was unemployed and the weekly WW meeting fees were one preauth I didn't need. And he pointed out the obvious: I don't need them to lose weight. When I first started watching what I was eating in my teens, I'd bought a calorie-counting book. I thought I could probably find something online. And I found MFP. Joined, put in my stats, and here I am, 4 months later and 39 pounds lighter! (Still got 87 to go, but I'm in no rush.)

Getting close to 40 and realising I still don't look like Arnie!

My original motivation three years ago was a massive weight gain from taking antipsychotic medication. My appetite was completely out of control and I became so heavy it was hard to do things like tie my shoes. Along with counting calories with another app I started exercising as well. The exercise along with a 30 pound loss really made life easier and tracking just didn't seem as important after 6 months. So, even though I'm perfectly aware obesity is unhealthy I was kinda wishy washy yo-yoing for the next couple of years and ended up putting all the weight back on and more.

Then my husband's job moved us to Reno this summer, which is my new kick in the butt. The lifestyle here is based around the outdoors. People get outside and do things year round. The kicker is the hills are steep and the elevation makes everything more difficult. We bought a house in a tiny mountain valley at 5000' and suddenly my fitness level was no longer cutting it. I couldn't even walk up the main street in our subdivision without stopping for a break. I took my bike out and felt like I was going to die. I went to the doctor to see if I was having trouble adjusting to the altitude, but she did an oxygen test and said I had acclimated.

We did a kayak tour at Tahoe and I had to ask for a different boat because I didn't fit in the first one, the wider one still wasn't comfortable, and we had a really hard time keeping up with the group. I didn't feel like I could fully take advantage of all the great recreation opportunities available to me at my size.

So, in my usual several times a year attempts I started tracking on MFP again and walking every day. For whatever reason I've stuck with it this time. I'm close to breaking my old tracking record of 6 months and am at my lowest weight since I started tracking my weight in January of 2014. I did my usual C25K this winter and for the first time moved onto the 10K program. I've beat my old lifting streak too, going on 6 months now. I guess I finally have a good reason to get fit, so I'm actually doing it this time.

Fai30 wrote: »

jennybearlv wrote: »

My original motivation three years ago was a massive weight gain from taking antipsychotic medication. My appetite was completely out of control and I became so heavy it was hard to do things like tie my shoes. Along with counting calories with another app I started exercising as well. The exercise along with a 30 pound loss really made life easier and tracking just didn't seem as important after 6 months. So, even though I'm perfectly aware obesity is unhealthy I was kinda wishy washy yo-yoing for the next couple of years and ended up putting all the weight back on and more.

Then my husband's job moved us to Reno this summer, which is my new kick in the butt. The lifestyle here is based around the outdoors. People get outside and do things year round. The kicker is the hills are steep and the elevation makes everything more difficult. We bought a house in a tiny mountain valley at 5000' and suddenly my fitness level was no longer cutting it. I couldn't even walk up the main street in our subdivision without stopping for a break. I took my bike out and felt like I was going to die. I went to the doctor to see if I was having trouble adjusting to the altitude, but she did an oxygen test and said I had acclimated.

We did a kayak tour at Tahoe and I had to ask for a different boat because I didn't fit in the first one, the wider one still wasn't comfortable, and we had a really hard time keeping up with the group. I didn't feel like I could fully take advantage of all the great recreation opportunities available to me at my size.

So, in my usual several times a year attempts I started tracking on MFP again and walking every day. For whatever reason I've stuck with it this time. I'm close to breaking my old tracking record of 6 months and am at my lowest weight since I started tracking my weight in January of 2014. I did my usual C25K this winter and for the first time moved onto the 10K program. I've beat my old lifting streak too, going on 6 months now. I guess I finally have a good reason to get fit, so I'm actually doing it this time.

Lady, YOU ARE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION. Look at you ! Wanting to get healthy because you want to take advantage of you life !! Isn't that the most amazing and isn't it such a clear and simple reasoning.

I love that, I want to take advantage of the summer this year, and play with my son. I wanna go rafting and hiking and really take advantage of being in Ontario this year. We have lived in the Middle East the past few years, and didn't really get to spend time outdoors due to the Extreme heat and lack of green spaces to play with him.

Btw Ive never made it to the 6 month mark... I really hope I do as well !



Keep going girl, Your gonna be leading the group kayaking this year it seems xx

You're so sweet, you're gonna make me blush. We sound like we're in a similar spot with moving from the heat. I had lived in Las Vegas my whole life. Beautiful winters, but too hot to really do anything the rest of the year. Enjoy your cool Canadian summers. You will make it to that six month mark before you know it.

Fai30 wrote: »

estherdragonbat wrote: »

Medical issues. Cellulitus led to lymphedema led to referral to vascular surgeon, who told me the veins in my legs were refluxed. The condition can be managed/controlled, not cured. And the bout I had with it required multiple courses of antibiotics, plus daily dressing changes from home-care nurses until the wound healed. Any time I break the skin on my shins/calves I risk an infection. At best, it heals very slowly. And I was told that the treatment was compression stockings (wearing them now), but taking the pressure/lightening the load of what my ankles routinely have to support could only help.

And at that time, my father started pushing me to get on the wait-list for bariatric surgery. Which I don't want unless it's really the only option. He had it. So has my sister. But I like cooking. I like trying new foods. I'm vegetarian. Having to reduce/cut grains and beans isn't for me.

I used to use Weight Watchers. My previous GP recommended it. My current one just echoed the vascular surgeon that I need to lose weight. I told him I was unemployed and the weekly WW meeting fees were one preauth I didn't need. And he pointed out the obvious: I don't need them to lose weight. When I first started watching what I was eating in my teens, I'd bought a calorie-counting book. I thought I could probably find something online. And I found MFP. Joined, put in my stats, and here I am, 4 months later and 39 pounds lighter! (Still got 87 to go, but I'm in no rush.)

I am so sorry that you have been suffering so many medical issues, but you know what.... LOOK AT YOU NOW !! Woahhh almost 40 pounds down in 4 months !!

You have become a source of inspiration for those around you. I know it must be a lot of hard work and it is challenging every single day, but its so worth it ! Am I right !?

I'm so happy that you opted to not to the surgery, because surgery is tough

I just had to have my gallbladder removed due to complications during pregnancy and its been a painful recovery.

I also eat a primarily veg diet ! Let's swap recipes !!

Keep Sweating Super Star !!

Sent you a friend request. Awww shucks! I don't feel like a source of inspiration. Just doing what I have to and hoping that this time I make it to maintenance. But yes, this is definitely worth it. Seeing my GP next week to check health markers. Hoping for good results!

I had to buy a couple new pairs of jeans because I was really pushing my last ones and was getting pretty close to 170lbs (at 5' ) when I swore I'd never break 160, and then 150 before that. I saw a picture of me going out in an outfit I thought I liked and decided to start making small changes.
Now those new jeans I bought are getting pretty lose, and my old jeans are fitting better!

Two things... One was a girl (Don't judge! lol). The other was that I used to be very healthy and tone, but as I got a little older, I wasn't able to run 10 miles a day and do three hours of yoga. So, I started just "not caring" so much about it and well, got a bit of a tummy.
For a few months though, I've known that I want to get back in shape, eat better, quit smoking and all that. She just happened to be a motivation for me to start doing so.
So far I've quit smoking and began eating very healthy. Exercise will start soon, but I'm still waiting for my body to adjust to things before I start doing any strenuous stuff. Most likely it'll just be yoga for the first month after I start.

Weight gain after recovering ftom surgeries and not being able to pull my pants up.

As I get older I have learnt that nobody can do things for you but your own self. I'd look at myself in the mirror and would not like what i'd see. I don't like going shopping for clothes because i have so many I don't wear and I want to wear them so badly.. they just don't fit. I have a lot of back issues and the pain of my sciatica originally led me to start doing pilates. Then my doctor ordered Physical Therapy so I did 10 sessions. All the exercises coincided with the ones from pilates, so I decided to do pilates twice weekly. My pilates instructor guided me back to yoga (a couple of years ago I could not do any pose at all, so hard for me) after i finished my PT. A year after I started pilates, i felt ready for Yoga. I have been doing Power Yoga for over a year, but i know I'm not 100 % strong because i don't practice it everyday. So I decided to start a plank challenge to strengthen my core to be better at yoga. Another thing that pushed me to start my journey to a better fit was my own Insurance company from work. They give us points for healthy goals achieved and I want to get as far as I can (points can be used to purchase gift cards and items from a marketplace online). One of the apps that connect to Go365 (Humana) is MFP. I had been here before and was doing great back in 2014, but after a winter season... I stopped wanting to wake up early to exercise. .. so everything went down the drain. With all this thinking, actions and wishes I'm back full force and I hope i can stick by the healthy eating and exercise this time. I even bought me a 21 day fix package of containers so i can start eating better. I need to cut on carbs and eat more veggies. We all need to be fit and we all can do it. We love ourselves don't we?? We can do it!!! I enjoyed reading everyone's posts and I hope we all become each other's support!!!

Fai30 wrote: »

Ahhh dresses, me too.. I was unpacking my summer clothes last weekend... and ... those neon Mango Jeans... wont be seen this summer for sure hahaha but maybe next summer ?

I suffered an ankle injury a number of years ago as well.

It's really hard..those thing just have a way of never being the same again.
But you will get better. Just takes some time...and if your like me.... it's prbly couldn't be fast enough.

How did you get into fencing !?

Honestly, I'm trying to quick fit my way into my summer dresses. It's usually too cold to wear them until mid-April anyway, so still got time!

I've never dealt with a severe injury before, so my patience on myself was a little.... lacking to say the least. I hope you had a better time with it. How long were you out for?

I joined when I got into University (so coming up to 4 years ago). They offered it as a varsity and I thought it was cool, new and interesting so I tried, got selected, and became half decent at it. xD