Why did you come to the conclusion to lose weight?

It was this summer for me. I watched my father in law go through a heart attack, open heart surgery, and then a stroke. He lost a portion of his vision, and can no longer drive. In addition to all of that he's diabetic as well. I helped take care of him and saw the amount of meds he had to take everyday, and that was it for me. So many of the illnesses we deal with are a result of our lifestyle. I'm no longer willing to destroy myself.

Lots of factors for me so in no particular order (except the first on e which is my biggest motivation) my children, lost both my grandparents in the same year, lost my fil at the young age of 56, weight related illnesses run in my family, diagnosed with anxiety and depression after the above losses and found exercise helped me control my emotions, signed up to a 10k run, always being the fat friend for as long as I can remember and I wanna feel
More confident in my own body

I was the tiny, dainty, itty bitty, petite (5'0") pixie before getting pregnant. I indulged a little too much and went from 99lbs to 176lbs at the heaviest. Everyone told me "it took 9 months to gain, it'll take 9 months to lose" but here we are, 19 months later, and I'm hovering around 140lbs. My husband doesn't mind it, but I'm used to being the skinny, pretty friend (conceited, I know) but now I'm a potato and sick of it, and jealous of my other mom friends who either lost the weight, or carry it better. (Mine all seems to be on my stomach and arms.)

A dump truck was the kickstart I needed. I've always been "big boned" (is that still a thing?) but eventually let excuses rule the day. The week before thanksgiving in 2016, I was in a MVA. Even though I could extricate myself from my car (I didn't move until the EMTs said I could) I felt bad for the EMTs trying to deal with my fat *kitten*. They couldn't get the neck brace around my neck, they had trouble (I knew even if they didn't say anything) moving me between gurneys for all the different tests. Turned out I had sustained a broken wrist and hip, but didn't require surgery (or was I too fat for surgery? dunno).

My BF thought it was when I FINALLY got to a room and the nurse asked if I could move myself or would she need to use the crane (I moved myself), but that wasn't it. It was the indignity of using the bathroom and not fitting on the seat with handles that was there. Nothing like pure disgust to motivate me to change myself. The following March was a cousin's wedding and pics with me looking like Jabba the Hut.

I had heard for YEARS that I needed to lose weight. But, as everyone who is successful knows, someone telling you doesn't mean nearly as much as you coming to the conclusion yourself. The week before my MVA, I had a CAT scan because I may have had a hernia. It came back showing I was a train wreck. When I finally got to see the doc about the hernia, he said he couldn't do anything about it because at my obesity level, I might not wake up.

Six months after my MVA, when I was able to walk with a cane and drive again, I joined WW and have lost 75 pounds so far. I joined MFP because I've been stalling on WW and need more data points to help me do better. I'm not quitting WW, I need the accountability the weekly meetings give.

The hernia doc is pleased with my progress - because of this, my hernia has shrunk and he's willing to wait until I'm at or close to goal to operate. My GP is THRILLED and my labs have come back better than they have in years.

I used the excuse of being busy, and then I had elbow surgery and didn’t move much. I went out to eat and check out breweries more than weekly. The weight crept up but I didn’t mind it. Then (6mo after surgery) I went shopping for a sexy dress to wear to a date with my husband and after searching all day, couldn’t find anything that fit. That was two weeks ago, so I just started, but it’s something. Gotta start somewhere.

I was overall unhappy with my appearance and shopping (which has been one of my fav hobbies) was no longer fun as most clothing was unappealing on me. I also wasn't comfortable being intimate with my husband and this really bothered me because I don't want to be thinking of what's wrong with my physically in these instances. 10 months in and 40lbs down with 25 more to go!

I found out I'm pre diabetic. I was never this big until I got into a relationship where I was truly truly comfortable and in a matter of 2 years had gained 80 pounds. About 5 months ago my doctor told me I was in pre diabetes (my number came back 115, 125 is diabetic.) It took a few months for me to kick myself in the *kitten* enough to take it seriously. But I had diabetes twice while pregnant, and I can't imagine living like that all the time, plus medication.