What is your WHY?

My why is simple. My mother has always been obese. Always struggling with her food addiction. Growing up with the fat teacher mom wasn't easy. I didn't want that for my sons. Now in her 60's her body is breaking down. I too have been over weight. Pregnancy was ruff, when I ate I didn't feel sick. At 21 I found myself at 235 pounds. I gained 70 pounds in 9 months. I went on a quest to figure out nutrition and exercise. It really was a surprise how much I had been doing wrong. Now in my 40's it's still a commitment to stay healthy. Yes I struggle, as do we all.

My health - not your ordinary "want to feel better" or "lose a few pounds" health, but "if I don't get something going I will likely suffer till I die" health. I have a 30+ year chronic illness, and with it came other chronic conditions as secondary and tertiary to the main issue. My heart is the most recent to start failing, though it is abnormal in size and shape now, could not be prevented, and can't be fixed, it can be helped. All I have to do is find away around the life-saving, weight inducing medications that I must take. I've struggled with weight most of my life, I'm built like an apple, I take steroids to live, but I'm not ready to give up and after 30 years I finally found a doctor willing to help me lose some weight to help my heart be as strong as it can be, and hopefully not suffer to badly the rest of my life. I hope this site will help me help myself.

This is round two on MFP after having lost over 55 lbs in 2011. Went back to bad habits and gained it all back.

Why this time? Because I'm going to do things differently when I reach my weight goal this time. It isn't a finish line, it's a beginning.

Such a great topic. I completely agree that in the past I've failed because it was all about looks. And the moment I fit into those jeans, or that dress, my motivation disappeared, out like a light. I've lost and regained the same 60lbs more times than I care to admit (and probably could even remember). This time however, my why is a lot bigger than a new outfit.

Late last year, my mother too was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It's a disease that runs in our family and since it hit so much closer to home this time. For the past year, I've watched her struggle so much more with her eating and health, that it has literally broken me. I know it's time to make a change. My mom and grandmother have struggled throughout my life with various diseases and ailments. I'm to young to be dealing with the same issues they didn't have until their 50's. So here's my BIGGER why....

I want to deny the diseases that have taken some of the women closest to me in my family the opportunity to take my life.
I want to be an example for my niece and remaining family members that overcoming obesity is possible and that it's NEVER to late to start.
Should I ever have children, I don't want them to be led down a path of self-destruction that I will have to try and redirect and feel shame that I led them there in the first place.
I want to honor my God by honoring the tempe he has given me.

There is no hoping that it will stick this time, come hell or high water, this is my life and I will not allow it to be taken from me.

I'm tired of being weak, I want to be stronger
I'm tired of being slow, I want to be faster
I'm tired of being depressed, I want to be happier
I'm tired of being tired, I want to be healthier

I want to be a better version of me - so it's train insane or remain the same

StevLL: Your story shows that you have the ability to achieve your goal. I wanted to note, 'awesome', then changed it to 'insightful', and then 'inspiring'. Then, I have to tell you it was all three!

My why? because I want to be the best me.... strong and healthy. I've got this one body, I should want to take care of it.

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Beetus.

Awesome discussion topic, initial post, and feed back.
I sat down and listed reasons why I wanted to loose weight a few years ago and revisited the list frequently. I also logged journaled daily. These habits helped me stay focus on the hard days.
I have added to my initial list throughout my journey. I have fallen many times and found a way to climb back up. In October I started working out more. I wanted to gain strength to continue working crazy hours and to have the strength to kayak and hike. I can now carry my own kayak and easily keep up with my walking/hiking buddies. I just want to stay active to have fun and inspire my children and grandchildren.

I want to feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally.
I watched both of my parents, one uncle and one aunt pass away from illnesses. Both of my sisters have high blood pressure, one is pre diabetic. I've suffered a miscarriage recently, and about two weeks later lost a good friend to a motorcycle accident, she was a little younger than I am.
I realize that for years I hadn't been living my life. I'd never actively persued anything I wanted to, I made excuses to myself about everything, and let depression lead my life instead.
I want to have a long and healthy life. I have a SO and a daughter to live for.
I'm teaching myself to eat healthy and be active.
I've accepted that not every day will be perfect, but I'm going to do my best.

My why is simple... I want to succeed in reaching my ideal weight. I want to be the strong woman i know I can be and say no to unnecessary junk and yes to working out. I want to be my best friend

My why:
Because I was waking up every morning tired and in pain.
Because I felt 78 rather than 28
I hated the way I looked
I loathed going clothes shopping and would end up empty handed and in tears.
I was spiraling fast into a depression
I was questioning why my boyfriend was with me
I spent almost every moment out side of work in bed or on the couch.
Because I was back up to my highest weight
Because I had enough and decided that I love myself enough to change my bad habits.

Mine is a number of things.

A desire to avoid heart disease and diabetes is high on my list.

Being a good role model for both my daughter and patients.

I felt so terrible and unhealthy. I feel so much better when I'm closer to a healthy weight. Between feeling sluggish and starting to have pain in joints and my back I was in a rough place physically.

A desire to be more physically active.

A desire for a healthy relationship with food. For me to not follow my family trend of obesity and negative relationships with food. My large sized family (about 100 people in just 3 generations) has more than 3/4 of that number who are obese. Of the ones who aren't, at least a dozen have eating disorders.