What was your "moment" that pushed you to begin your weight loss journey?

My weight loss journey is a long one. Chubby since childhood, I hit my highest weight of 278 in 2007. Went on multiple medications for high BP, high choles., metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance. Yo yo'd for almost a decade. In Jan. 2016 I had had enough, and via my employer, I was able to join "The Biggest Winner" fitness group; a spin off of the TV show, "The Biggest Loser." I guess that was the "a ha" moment that January. I walked/jogged a 5k that spring, and now I'm proud to say I work out 6 days a week and I'm down to 215! I have worked hard on trying to view this as my new lifestyle and not a temporary diet. Good luck to all of you in your journeys!!

Over the past several years, I struggled with gaining weight each winter and losing it in the spring/summer/fall. Then 2 years in a row, I didn't lose the extra 10, so I was 20 lbs heavier. I was smoking, too (an off-again, on-again smoker for about 10 years over the past 2 decades). For the first winter ever, I had given up jogging through the season--3-4 months with no exercise. Then I got a blood clot after a long road trip in late March, and realized I absolutely cannot enter my senior years with these awful habits and extra weight. I want to continue to be active, to travel, and to enjoy the next 20 years as best as I can. A healthy body is essential to living that goal.

I do feel like a lot of things have "clicked" this time around. I make every decision about my health with the question, is this sustainable? I know some things that have made me fail before (eating chicken, among others. I hate it.) I have learned from MFP that I was probably not netting 1200 cals each time I tried to lose before, so after losing 20-30 lbs, I'd give up and regain, having been too hungry and not feeling great while losing in that unhealthy way--undereating and over exercising.

I have quit thinking about "how long this is going to take," and feel pretty good all the time--only about 7 weeks in but feeling very positive after some early frustration. So thankful I found this site, b/c it is really helping me stay motivated and informed.

I've had a lot of these. I got winded from going up 3 flights of stairs at work, so I quit smoking, put on some weight afterwards, but realized not fitting into XXLs was more than just a quitting-smoking-weight-gain excuse it was a lifestyle excuse.

Being "obese." Vanity. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law lost a lot of weight, though on a faddish diet (Scarsdale as opposed to the peanut butter diet or whatever else is out there). They inspired me to try, and then compliments & feeling more energetic kept that going.

Being 45 and realizing, it's not going to get easier.

cdojko4931 wrote: »

I have been a yo yo dieter for as long as I can remember. But this past year has been a real eye opener for me. I lost my oldest sister to cirrhosis of the liver a year ago in June and my other sister in February- cirrhosis as well. I had some tests done and found I have fatty liver and some hardening of the liver and was told to go on a “low carb” diet. I’ve been working on it since February- hit and miss, guessing and trying to learn. I have currently lost 39 pounds. Still have a ways to go, but making progress and gaining knowledge along the way - at least not going pounds! I saw a nutritionist and she set me up with this app. Very inspiring seeing some of the posts!

I'm so, so, so sorry about your sisters. How agonizing.

When I looked at myself in a mirror. I looked like a barrel. Better yet- a keg with all the beer I have been consuming. I let myself go. I decided I didn’t want to look like a keg! I am on week two and I have lost 3 lbs so far.

Office life, stress and sedentarism caused ongoing anxiety and depression. I started to work out to help clear my mind and improve my self image.