What was your turning point?

I have hypermobility, and after gaining a lot of weight (two consecutive pregnancies, emotional eating after the death of my mum last year and general late night snacking) my feet started to really hurt as my plantar fasciitis returned, there was too much strain on my joints. So exactly 41 days ago I decided enough was enough and began going to the gym once or twice a week and logging daily, I've lost 15lbs so far and my foot barely hurts now, I still have a way to go, but feel much better.

I saw a picture of myself at Disneyland one Christmas and it finally clicked that the reason why it was such a struggle to get around / move was because of my weight. I've never looked back and never regretted making a change. My life is different now and for the better.

ashleyeatsbetter wrote: »

What moment made you realize you needed to make a change? How is your life now?

Getting to a 26/28 at Lane Bryant, the largest size, and not being able to stand or walk for very long. I was on a psych med that had an affect on my weight though. I gained over 100 lbs in 4 or 5 months. Weight gain stoppped after I stopped the medication. I'm irritated that I didn't do something sooner. I am almost back to pre 100 lb gain and life is getting better. I am trying to achieve my long time goals.

KayakerJoe wrote: »

When I realised I was single and nobody would even look at me

Can relate to that! Still do. I need to lose more.

Albuquerque.







.... left.

I found the tag in my jeans...
I thought I would be buying a 22, then I realized the jeans I was in WERE a 22 and I was NOT going to be a 24, AGAIN!
SO 11 years later, and 135+ pounds lost as well as about 100 inches later!
I'm now a size 6 I'm so glad I did it!
I can move and walk and I'm so FREE compared to when I was overweight!

I had a great night. For the first time in my life, I had good friends, met a good guy, drank and danced and took pictures.

When I woke up, for the first time, I didnt immediately regret the night before. I had gotten to a place where I could trust myself and the people around me.

I needed to get to a place of security to go about making the changes i needed to make. When I saw pictures, I was able to separate how I felt about my appearance from how I felt about myself. I didnt need to "shield" myself... so I stepped on a scale and got to work.

The question of what made the change is really the most important question. for so many people it's a harsh look at reality, but I really really needed to feel good about myself before I was able to "fix"anything.

Cleaning everything out of my life that was toxic. Family went first... was the hardest to break and the reason I'm so screwed up and have major issues with food (Dad would call me fat and thunder thighs... I'm 6'2 and was 170 lbs at the time pure muscle as I swam 6 days a week 5-8 hours a day due to being on a water polo team and two swim teams)... Next went the job where i just stuffed my face for 12 hours and ate out for EVERY single meal as well as two starbucks runs a day.... now I'm at a good job, assists with school tuition, great hours, less stress... better people

And now it's finally my turn to cut the toxic stuff out of me. Weight, poor perception of myself, low self esteem...

Finally getting over my long lasting depression. My inability to walk short distances. Bad knee joint, bad hip. Wishing to walk again in nature, smelling the roses again. That was 195 days ago - thank you MFP, thank you MFP members for all your support and good advice!

I was having chest pains at work and ended up having to go to the emergency room. Fortunately it was not a heart attack but it sure was a wake up call. I've dropped about 80 lbs in just over 14 months and am pretty happy with where I've ended up. I did it with life style changes and I'm going to do what it takes to ensure that I don't ever put that weight back on.

When my size 16 jeans, that had been stretched out with wear (they were the only ones I owned that "fit") were extremely uncomfortable and I vowed to never wear an 18 again (I had ballooned up to an 18/20 at Lane Bryant about a decade before). I'm now down 76lbs with about 20 to 25 to go and between a size 10/12.

The last time I lost weight, I got rid of clothes that were too big swearing I would never buy those sizes again. Last year in August I had had a job loss when I finally got a job again at the end of January none of my dress clothes fit. I was not going to buy bigger again so had to do something. So far I'm down 23 pounds and 17 inches.

It's been a slow go but I'm hoping the pace this time makes for a more sustainable long term loss.

When I first lost the weight (started in 2012) it was because I was so tired of feeling sick, huge, and invisible. I couldn't keep up with my kids (they were 7 and 3 at the time.) Obesity runs in my family and I decided I was NOT going to be like that for the rest of my life.

Long story short I gained most of the weight back and restarted earlier this year. I was again so tired of feeling unhealthy and invisible because of my weight, tired of eating my emotions. I did really well but fell off track over the summer. Restarting my journey again today. I just need to keep reminding myself that I want to be healthy and active and set a good example for my kids. My boys struggle with their weight too and I need to do this to set the tone for our household. They only have me to look to. I NEED to do this.

So i was renewing my vows in 2 weeks and discovered the dress that fit just last year no longer fit and i had to buy a new dress and also none of my jeans fit and i had to go up a size or 2. I am more determined than ever and working every day to push myself. Im not a success story yet..but i will be!

My turning point is more of a story - I am 22 going on 23, I have an amazing boyfriend and our beautiful daughter is almost four and I refuse to take pictures with them. I look in the albums and all I see is her and my boyfriend and it’s supposed to be ‘family pictures’. I became ashamed once again of how I look and that I feel embarrassed of myself, I didn’t want to see my friends, I didn’t want to be seen in public, I didn’t even want to go on dates with my boyfriend. I would stay home and eat my emotions. Our daughter keeps asking why mommy doesn’t want to come and I feel bad. I’m way too young to let myself go the way I did. I’m 5’6 and started my journey 2 weeks ago at 203 pounds. The heaviest I’ve ever been. 2 weeks of kicking my butt and I’m at 193 and I’m going to keep pushing because I do not want to disappoint myself and especially not my daughter. I lost myself, I don’t see my friends and I don’t have a life because of this weight and what it did to my self esteem. And honestly I don’t know where this motivation and determination and discipline came from but I am extremely happy it’s here and I never want to go back. From crying with boxes of pizza to going hard at the gym and cooking healthy meals!!