What was your aha moment that made you finally start a weight loss journey?

My doctor said, "Exercise and lose weight or more drugs."

I was sitting on a bus with my three year old and my one year old (this was 8 years ago mind you) and I saw a very large woman get on and sit in the back. She was arguing with her little boy, who wanted to go to the beach, but the mother was saying she was too tired. When the boy burst out crying and said "but you promised" the mother got angry and said "WELL WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW YOU'RE 5! WE ARE GOING HOME."

Now, I was just listening, at first relating because I was overweight and a trip to Walmart had me exhausted. But then I was horrified. I decided right there I would not be that person, the one that was too fat, exhausted and angry to go to the pool, beach, park, whatever.

I started that very day. Haven't looked back.

It was a few weeks ago and i got on the scale and i was at my heaviest of 255 lbs, i can only wear a few things in my exstensive closet. I don't want to go out because of my weight so i turn down invitations to go out with other couples. Right now i'm 11 lbs down but i've got a long ways to go but this time i'm going to try my best to stick with it.

Fed up of being fed up about it. I was boring even myself with it! Also bugged me that other people managed it so why could I not?

Sitting on a beach in Belize in my fat lady swim suit and meeting a stranger. She was a nice lady who visited with me for an hour - then she said "well you are obviously pregnant- when are you due?" (I am 52) lol - if that wasn't a kick in the butt - don't know what it would be

So interestingly enough I hit my highest weight at 360lbs in approximately 2013 or early 2014 and I was like OMG I have to do something about this . . . I HAVE to. So I did, and I dropped a good amount of weight - my lowest being 250lbs. Over the last 6 or 8 months, ish, I have actually gained 25 of it back. Recently I was at the doctors and he suggested - even with losing as much as I have - I would be a good candidate for bariatric surgery. I don't think it's right for me - I am considering it, weighing all the options so only time will tell - but ever since that visit I don't even look at food the same way. I have gone vegetarian and even in the short couple weeks I feel AMAZING! So I guess my doctor telling me, even after almost 100lbs loss, I need bariatric surgery kicked me into gear. I lost the 100lbs with half assed will power because just changing how I eat and what I eat, and adding in some exercise was enough. Now it's not enough and I have to make some more changes to kick it up a notch. For me, my actual kick in the *kitten* was half way to goal . . . which is weird, I guess, but that's when I happened for me.

My husband told me I was snoring consistently (instead of just a few snorts) all night.

When I went to get my first ever facial, during the consultation she asked me how much water I drink a day. My answer was none. Literally not even a cup of water. My entire day was energy drinks and coke instead of the water I knew I should be drinking.

That tipped me over the edge from the vague "I really should start dieting soon" to "no more excuses, let's do this!". That was just about 3 months and 20 lbs ago. I haven't had an energy drink since I left that appointment.

My husband took a picture of me before heading out to an amusement park. I looked at that picture and didn't even know who it was I was looking at. I decided then and there that I needed a change. That next day we gave away any unopened food and threw away any food that was already open but that we weren't going to eat anymore.

An acquaintance of mine lost over 150 pounds and I read something on her blog that hit me. She said 'You can either pay now or pay later. But either way you're going to pay.'. In other words, either take the time now to get yourself together, or pay later with possible health problems, extra meds, etc. Simple but it reached my heart. That was 2.5 years and 120 pounds ago. i never looked back.