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

And I ask you all.... based on the comments I've seen and my own experience... how much of aging is actually just the effect of not taking care of our bodies, including weight gain? I have told you all about my first aha moment, but another aha moment came when I realized I needed to continue this journey. At that moment I realized "I feel ten years younger! What I thought was just age related slowdown, was only due to my excess weight! I can keep on de-aging myself, and feel even better! LET'S DO IT!"

My moment was when I had to get bloodwork done and my doctor called saying I was on the line of being pre-diabetic. It was just the wake up call I needed.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I'm gonna take that as not a rhetorical question, and answer it.

IMO, it's most useful to think that nothing inherently comes from aging alone, i.e. that it's entirely about choices.

I'm pretty sure that's not 100% true (mitochondria, telomere shortening, blah, blah blah).

For sure, I have 70- and 80-something year old friends who are active, healthy, athletic, vital, and at a reasonable body weight. I'm absolutely sure their life choices have been a crucial factor in their happy, healthy aging. I also have friends in their 30s (and a few even younger) and beyond with serious health conditions and dysfunctions related to overweight, inactivity, undernutrition, excess intoxicants, smoking - also mostly life choices.

A few people will be unlucky (experience serious health compromises despite good choices). Making bad choices because bad luck could happen is not the way a smart gambler would play the hand, if you ask me.

If it matters, I'm 64.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10728170/thoughts-on-getting-old-vs-aging

Totally not rhetorical - not anymore anyway. I know there are things that just kind of - wear out in the body, but I have a sixtyish friend who is fitter and has more drive than most people half his age. This after stage IV cancer. His attitude and his lifestyle led to his survival and he has a zest for life that's second to none. When I compare how I am now with how I was a year ago... there's no comparison! So thanks for answering.

Turning point... was my divorce!

I realized that throughout my marriage, I was eating 'like' my husband...and gained 50 lbs. When you are married, your husband might say they love you, and overlook what's happening to your body.

That seems to be an excuse for a lot of women. But I felt like Crap...and then, the weight came on so slow over a matter of two years...that I had to do a Serious Check list on myself. I went up to a 2X. I WAS 230 LBS!!! 5"6
I am way to pretty to carry around all that weight...and felt ugly.

Also...
One... eating processed foods. Two...to much sugar. Three...Not enough Vegetables. While I am not a big meat eater, I was eating more meat due to my Husband's choices.

Well...within 6 months after we split up...I dropped 25 lbs. I was also caretaking my Mom, and my life was in turmoil. But I worked hard to keep my focus on Health and Clean Foods. I also started researching things about Food, Animal Farming, "Forks over Knives" documentary & learned about many other Food doctors like Esselstyn and Dr. Fuhrman, Dr. Micheal Greger.

When I discovered those people...I was shocked by what I found out. Especially a Book - The China Study! It was then I realized that the Food we are being FED has led most of the population toward OBESITY and Bad Health.

It no longer became about looking GOOD - My LIFE became about being really Healthy.
Because the American Standard DIET - is to much Processed "anything". Dairy Causes Inflammation - also contributes TO Osteoporosis! Diabetes....is primarily from eating TOO MUCH MEAT!..not carbs. Carbs may turn to sugar once your body becomes Insulin Resistant...but it's a Diet high in Saturated FATS, that causes the Insulin issues DOCTORS HAVE THIS SO BACKWARDS!!!

I am now down to 165...I actually got down to 140, started a new Job that stressed me out so much I ended up gaining back 20. Well...while friends tell me I look fine, I am not happy and as fit as I would like to be.

So my Goal...is 145 by September - I can DO this. I have all the Tools and knowledge this time around. And I have decided to skip the Sugar, and become Vegetarian. Within two weeks, I can feel my body already turning around and already lost 4 lbs.

Juliana

When I found out that I weighed as much as my dad, and he was complaining that he had put on a few pounds! I had known for almost 2 years at that point that I needed to find a way to deal with the weight that I had been gaining. I had tried a few things for a few weeks each (shake diets, ACV), but they never stuck. I could probably count on one hand the number of pictures I've posted to social media during that time, as I have been so ashamed of how I looked. I also had the mindset that counting calories was overly restrictive and not sustainable in the long wrong. I thought that if I just ate "healthy" and exercised, that would be enough. I am also someone who loves traveling, and when I thought about a future of struggling to walk around a new city due to lack of energy and fitness, and the shrinking size of airplane seats, that provided a further motivation. I decided it wouldn't hurt to trying tracking calories, and that if it was too hard, I could quit and just go on a strict "healthy" diet. Well, it's been almost a month since I've started this. I'm not finding tracking too hard, I can still eat (small portions of) my favorite junk food, and despite eating at only a moderate deficit, I've seen the scale number drop for the first time in 2 years.

Went on a tropical vacation. When we got back home, I couldn't believe who the person in the pictures were. I did not even share any pics of the vacation. It's almost like I wasn't there. I felt uncomfortable in my body the whole time and if I could get out of a picture, I would. We are going back to the same vacation spot in a few months. This time I would like to share a few snaps.

My doctor told me that I was pre-diabetic. That scared me enough to start to eat healthy and get at least 10,000 steps in per day even if I don't feel like it. I have been logging in for a week now and I feel great. ..so much more energy!

chaseracer2386 wrote: »

When i got out the shower and looked in the mirror and was like what the hell you fat a**... Time to suck it up and get fit and healthy..

This was me too! Lost 60 lbs over the next year and kept it off for two more. Recently I've gained some back, and me and my reflection had words this morning. Back on MFP.

I had a difficult time tying my shoes. That really bothered me.

about 3 weeks ago when i hit 13 stone 11 and a bit lbs. 14 stone was psychologically a different space and i was a big meal and a few drinks away.

Currently using MFP to help me through the 8 week fast reset and then migrate to a longer term 5:2. I'm 14lbs down, with at least 18lbs to go. Having a slightly difficult day today and reading the notes here has helped.

When I stepped on the scale and saw that I weighed more now than I did when I was 9-months pregnant with either of my kids. I was so disappointed and utterly sad about it. Decided then and there to get my butt in gear and get my mind right!

I lost 25+ after retirement when I FINALLY got around to tending my health. Turns out that when I am not counting calories (paying fairly close attention to my health), I am gaining weight. I am back up 5-10# and having ditched all my big clothes and getting new smaller swim suits, it was clear to me that tracking was just necessary. I tried another service but guess what? Eating is just emotional for me!! I love it! So avoiding excess requires focus and tracking helps me focus.

My moment was when I put on a pair of shorts that I thought still fit, and before I could get pass my thighs, the teeth on the zipper popped off and hit my wall....talk about embarrassing!

I saw this topic and realized it was exactly 10 years ago tomorrow. I stepped on the scales that morning and I weighted 282 lbs. Three weeks later my wife of 33 years passed away from stage 4 breast cancer. She had been 100+ lbs overweight her whole adult life. She had ALL the health conditions associated with her obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes, circulation problems, joint deterioration, etc. In my heart I think her poor health kept her from beating the cancer. She was incredibly intelligent, had our retirements all figured out and we were financially set. I was to retire at 55 in four years and we would travel and enjoy life without a care.
Now she was gone. I knew if I didn't change I was going to miss out on those plans too. I had put on 105 lbs since we first met.

I changed the way I ate; and wore out two exercise bikes in the next few years.
I did retire at 55, 100+ lbs lighter than that day, and eventually found someone to share those retirement plans with me too.

My vacation pics. I did not show my parents any pictures with me in. Just the views. I wanted to brag a bit because it was the best one I've been on, but I couldn't. The shock of what I looked like was necessary.