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What was the moment? When did you decide to take back control?
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When my knees and feet hurt and I hadn't done anything to make them hurt. That is when I realized my weight was to blame and if I wanted to get rid of the pain I needed to lose weight and start exercising. I was also getting tired of trying to find something for lunch that was appealing because I was so used to eating fast food every day. My husband and I also have a week long trip to the beach this summer and I know we will be walking a lot. I want to be ready for that - climbing lighthouse stairs, walking in the sand - without falling behind and making my husband have to wait for me.11
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LukesGreenMilk wrote: »Seeing an unflattering facebook picture - looks so different than the mirror but a good wake up call.
I've had my picture in the paper recently - the spare tire caught my attention - and I'm sure everyone else's who looked at it. I don't want to see that ever again!11 -
my 'too fat for regular pants' leggings felt tight on me...18
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I've had quite a few moments like that - and even had some successes - but what really got me this time was a weight loss contest with a few hundred bucks as the prize. Though I understand how important my health is, I saw this as an opportunity to really motivate myself. The contest was 3 months long and I hit it hard. I enlisted my spouse's help, something I haven't done in the past, and I bought weights for use at home. I started actually having success too, something that I wasn't used to. I started developing better habits and sticking with them because that financial reward was near enough and tangible enough to stick with it.
Now that the contest has been canceled, and the final weigh in date long past, I'm still keeping with it, because that lower number on the scale is pretty motivating, as well as the desire never to be as big as I used to be. (As of now I am about 44 pounds lighter than I was on January 6 of this year and I have roughly 51 pounds to go at least, maybe more.)28 -
I was smoking a cigarette while sitting on the patio and daydreaming. The ash got too long & fell off onto my stomach .... and stayed there.
That my gut was sticking out far enough to serve as an ashtray was my moment of truth.20 -
In February of 2018 after my 3rd child was born (in August of 2017) I saw a picture of myself in a bikini top from the back.
I had been pregnant a lot in the last 5 years and hadn't really thought about it. Now after my last child was born, I actually saw my body for what was really happening. I was kind of shocked, I hadn't realized it, it crept up on me.
I'm now maintaining below my college weight.19 -
I had told myself I had to change my lifestyle once my fiancé proposed in June. I didn't actually start my workout regiment and calorie/macro counting until mid-October.
Reality hit hard - I was the heaviest I have ever been and about to need to size up in clothes. My favorite dresses/shorts/shirts were tight and I didn't like myself when I tried on my first wedding dresses! I was tired of feeling lazy, fat, and unhealthy.11 -
Almost two years ago, my disabled son was hospitalized for 2 weeks and almost died. He recovered and is fine now, but that was a turning point for me. The hospitalization had nothing to do with me, but thinking your kid is going to die really can change your outlook! So amongst other things, I made a realization that I needed to start taking care of myself (years of being mother/caregiver first had left me about 75 pounds overweight and feeling like crap). Reframing it that way -- taking care of myself -- instead of "I need to lose this weight" was apparently the shift I needed. I started slow, just showing up at the gym and doing some things. Something is better than nothing, I told myself. Then that felt good, so I started eating better. Fast forward to now...I've lost 60 lbs and feeling a million times better. My eating habits are better (not perfect!), and I have learned to enjoy exercising regularly. Truly a life change that I have never been successful making before!32
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The first time was when I started therapy and became happier in general - I felt I was worth it finally.
After a baby and a regain it was just getting to a point where I had the headspace for it.13 -
I feel as if I've been dieting my whole life. It sucks. But a few years ago - I saw 226 on the scale and absolutely flipped out. I started REALLY looking at pictures of myself over several years time and realized what I had let happen to me. That year I lost 40 lbs. Then gained 10. Then lost 8. Then gained 15. Then lost 20... argh. Coming out of quarantine I was 13lbs up again and decided enough. So I'm back on track, and hopefully for good this time. I'm down 8 since the beginning of the month, have secured an accountability partner to go swimming with every other morning and am shooting for 10K steps a day as well as some cycling in the evening to replace my usual evening hours in front of the computer or TV with beverage in hand.15
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I am currently incarcerated, but fitness has been a huge role in my life. I have always been physically active and fitness has been such a big part of my incarceration. I am looking for like minds and or a bright mind who wouldn't mind a penpal(Over 18 years of age.), especially during this weird time amid COVID-19. I am 22 years old, studying online college to become a structural/wildland firefighter. Don't be shy, write me!
[Edited by MFP Staff]
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Mine was our issues TTC combined with my thyroid problem. The doctors won’t take me seriously because I’m overweight and have a thyroid condition. I decided I’m not going to let them overlook me anymore and that I want a baby more than anything right now. More than I want all that junk food. I can still eat it just not all the time, all day every day.17
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I gained about 40 pounds in the past 15 months. Last February I was at my goal weight and feeling great. An emotional crisis caused me to slide down that slippery slope back to unhealthy eating behaviors.
When I’d gained 10 pounds, I said to myself “no big deal, you’re still golden”. When I’d gained 20 pounds, I said “eh, it’s not where I want to be but I still look good.”. When I’d gained 30 pounds, my brushoff was “well it’s definitely more than I’m happy with, but I carry the extra weight well.”.
Finally last week, I weighed myself for the first time in a few months. 40 pounds up from my goal weight of just over a year ago. And I looked in the mirror and I found I’d run out of excuses, brushoffs and denials. I am overweight and I look it and feel it.
The funny thing is that finally owning up to it and being accountable....I feel better about myself than all those days/weeks/months when I was behaving unhealthily and betraying myself. Now that I’m taking responsibility I feel so much better already!26 -
It was a year after I had left my husband of 25 years due to his mental and emotional abuse, and the hoarding that had pushed me out of the house. I finally could go to the doctor, and she said I weighed 296. That's near enough 300, and that appalled me. I couldn't lose weight while married to my ex; he was a compulsive eater and forced me to eat when he did. But I'm now in a supportive situation with my partners and can take the time to focus on my own needs and what I want in my life and what I want my life to look like. COVID-19 slowed it down a little, but I have kept losing weight right through the quarantine and the stress, and I know I'll be able to be in straight sizes by Christmas of this year, and by June of next year I will be able to talk to a surgeon about abdominoplasty, because I will have been able to hold my weight stable.27
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I am 66 years old, a grandma, had kidney cancer and a kidney removed in 2008 and 2 brain surgeries in 2014 and ultimately lost my job. That woke me up and I did begin to take better care of myself and have lost almost 60 pounds however that's been a long time coming and I need to step it up. My biggest challenges are Portion Control and sticking with anything I start. Today is day 5 and I feel better and have more energy. My oldest daughter is on around day 65 and has lost almost 30 lbs. I look forward to talking with others to get ideas and support.27
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When I sat on the steps getting ready to leave for work and realized I had to hold my breath to tie my work boots, Ive dropped 24's since .15
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Last year, when I calculated my BMI and saw it was at 30.7. I hadn't even realized how badly I was eating! I changed my diet and lifestyle overnight and am now at a BMI of 20
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The realisation that I was buying clothes two dress sizes bigger than what I've been for about five years. It started off as "oh it's just because of my big hips" and "I just prefer a looser style", when really I was in complete denial that I was two sizes bigger now, maybe even starting to push three sizes bigger. I haven't been weighing myself and I was shocked to see how much weight had creeped up on me. My friend is getting married October 2021 and asked me to be maid of honour - I do not want to be buying a bridesmaid dress in my current size. I've had a few false starts of new diet plans since January, but I'm happy with my current set up and have lost 5.5lbs in just over two weeks. Lockdown hasn't made it easy but I'm using the extra time to make nice food and understand what is hunger and what is boredom/ emotional eating, and hopefully when life gets back to normal the calorie counting will be a habit I won't forget about.15
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When my partner repeatedly gawps all the time at other, pretty, young, slim girls/women and I decided that I refuse to feel any less than my worth anymore. I am going to do this for me because I know I will look good and I don't care if he doesn't. I matter, my feelings matter and if feel good about myself that is all that matters!!!25
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When I started this journey 79 pounds ago (4 years now I have kept it off) I promised myself I would be at goal weight for my 53rd birthday. I am 55 and still 30 pounds to go. What am I waiting for? This quarantine has helped me to see how easily I could go backwards...not where I want to be so forward I go.12
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i just kept seeing the scale creep upward and i wanted to get in control before i was out of control7
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I got serious about losing weight the day my picture was on the front page of the newspaper. It shocked me to see myself and have other people see me on the front page. I weighed 250 lbs. I have lost 70 lbs, but it has taken several years.12
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I couldn't look at myself in the mirror anymore. I would face a different direction or leave the bathroom while brushing my teeth to avoid seeing myself. If I couldn't stand to look at myself, what would other people think when they saw me? Not the most realistic logic, but it got me off my *kitten* to lose the weight and its stayed off.12
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Yesterday. When I held my first grandson for the first time. No more blaming my age, stress, Covid-Quarantine...it's me and my choices that gained these 30 lbs. MFP helped before and it will again.
Grandson?! You barely look legal. Wow. You go girl!
For me it was when I saw a picture of myself and realized I’d put on too much weight. That was almost 3 months ago and I look a lot better now. I’m over halfway to my goal.
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I was in a car accident that paralyzed me for a short time from the neck down back in the end of 2006. I've suffered from nerve issues since and mobility issues. Had a treadmill to try to maintain weight (I was 6' 1" and 170 lbs until that point) but it hurt, and I gained weight. I just went with it because I was in pain and unable to really do any exercise. This past January I was in for a respiratory infection at the clinic, and they weighed me. I realized I had to do something at that point, I saw a number I never expected to see in my life. I realized that no matter what, I'm going to hurt. I hurt while sitting, or while walking at work, or walking at the theme park with my son. So why not hurt trying to make things a little better? That very day I got on the treadmill and stopped with fast food for lunch all the time. Lost 30 lbs in the first 5 or so weeks, almost 50 lbs by the time I hit 3 1/2 months. I still hurt, but at least I'm still going in the right direction. And who knows, maybe as the weight drops, other things will start to feel better as well from the regular use. And if they don't feel better, I'm at least not feeling any worse. So far I've only missed one day since the second week in January due to tendonitis in my foot. Other than that one day I literally couldn't walk, I'm on the treadmill, no days off, no excuses... For me it's like when I quit smoking. I finally got fed up with a bad habit and started changing my habits. This is the same journey, just different habits to quit and new ones to start.30
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When I was 24 and weighed 570 lbs. I've had huge weight swings the last nine years, but I'm currently 406, seeing 399 is going to be incredible for me. That will put me less than 100 lbs to my goal. I looked real good at 370 so I know 300 will be good for me.32
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Walked to my car from work (about 1km), and was out of breath. Thought "Oh this sucks", lost 46kg.17
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It was when I noticed I'm always tired even though i slept well and ate healthy. I just started eating smaller quantities and started exercise routine 3x a week. Now I lost 2 kg in 4wks. 😊10
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I was dying from untreated lyme disease. Had been taking the vodka cure for three years to self medicate. Went for my annual physical and the paper said OBESE. Slapped me sober.
Gave up alcohol. Lost 10 #'s. Got a better doctor, and treatment, went back to gym ... lost 20 #'s, switched to logging and real life exercise lost another 15#'s. After almost a decade of logging and moving I weigh what I did 40 years ago. I am fit, trim, enjoy food and cooking, and my friends on MFP.
A fan of real life cardio exercise, I could tighten the jiggle with some weight training. I'm looking for new friends who log and exercise. I can't get friend request to work on my tablet so please feel free to friend me. Thanks. Enjoy your Saturday all.13 -
Health issues, most of which would improve with weight loss...sore knees, aches, etc and a diagnosis that was least expected...that did it!7
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