What was the moment? When did you decide to take back control?

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.

my 'too fat for regular pants' leggings felt tight on me...

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.

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.

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.

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]

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!

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.

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

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!!!

i just kept seeing the scale creep upward and i wanted to get in control before i was out of control

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.

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.

Walked to my car from work (about 1km), and was out of breath. Thought "Oh this sucks", lost 46kg.

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.