What was your 'AHA' moment?

flcaoh
flcaoh Posts: 444
edited September 19 in Motivation and Support
I was having a conversation with some fellow overweight work buddies of mine and we were discussing AHA moments that motivated us to seriously get into shape. I've had several but my most recent was finding out that my accurate body fat reading was about 10% more than I had previously thought.

I'm just curious... what was your "AHA moment" that finally kicked you into gear?

Replies

  • flcaoh
    flcaoh Posts: 444
    I was having a conversation with some fellow overweight work buddies of mine and we were discussing AHA moments that motivated us to seriously get into shape. I've had several but my most recent was finding out that my accurate body fat reading was about 10% more than I had previously thought.

    I'm just curious... what was your "AHA moment" that finally kicked you into gear?
  • Brandiann
    Brandiann Posts: 905 Member
    My "AHA moment" was when I had been invited to a family baby shower (Jan 09') and nothing fit! I relocated from Florida in July 08' and prior to moving I was eating healthy and exercising regularly so I had lost about 30 lbs and bought new clothes but to find out when I had to get dressed up nothing fit. I gained 20lbs back from all the stress and not focusing on me that I felt so horrible! It was this point that I said I'm no longer going to be overweight and got my booty in motion.
  • astarte09
    astarte09 Posts: 531 Member
    pictures from the holidays probably... that and a combination of getting comfortable buying size 9/11 jeans... not cool
  • Hannah_Banana
    Hannah_Banana Posts: 1,242 Member
    When I saw stretch marks begin to appear on my ARMS. Holy crap, those ugly little red lines started appearing and I just lost it. I will NEVER get another stretch mark that isn't from something that comes out of my hoohoo. :angry:
  • firewalking
    firewalking Posts: 335 Member
    I agree with astarte09.....I saw a photo of myself and realized that "those pants do not even fit me anymore..."

    I hate that moment.

    I hung the photo on my fridge for the longest time.
  • kerrilucko
    kerrilucko Posts: 3,852 Member
    I was looking at an old highschool friend's wedding and honeymoon photos. She looked great, and I thought about having to suffer through having friends look at my wedding photos. I knew then that I wanted people to tell me I was a beautiful bride- and MEAN it. I didn't didn't want to look back and feel guilty about how I looked in my wedding pictures. I know that sounds really shallow. But it's true.
  • thejarviclan
    thejarviclan Posts: 465 Member
    My Aha Moment was when my son made a comment about his "fat Mama." I realized that my children had no idea what I'm "supposed" to look like. They only knew the Fat Me.

    Not anymore! Now they see The Real Me. :happy:

    I'm happy to add that my youngest daughter has NEVER known me as a fat lady and when I show her photos and ask, "Do you know who that is?" She does NOT! Wooo!
  • artschoolgirl
    artschoolgirl Posts: 598 Member
    My senior year grad photos! It really gave me the motivation when I started college!
  • adopt4
    adopt4 Posts: 970 Member
    Being a bit overweight all my life, I had a wrong body image, so to me 190 looked the same as 290. My moment came this fall when I went to Ethiopia and saw all those people starving and begging in the streets, I realized that what I ate in a day would feed this family for a WEEK. I was embarrassed at my size, embarrassed at my gluttony, etc. That was my AHA moment.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    Being a bit overweight all my life, I had a wrong body image, so to me 190 looked the same as 290. My moment came this fall when I went to Ethiopia and saw all those people starving and begging in the streets, I realized that what I ate in a day would feed this family for a WEEK. I was embarrassed at my size, embarrassed at my gluttony, etc. That was my AHA moment.

    Thats very very deep I often think about how much we consume compared to other countries...hats off to you for making the change and having compassion:flowerforyou:
  • chickadee10
    chickadee10 Posts: 350
    My AHA moment was I guess just seeing stretch marks on my stomach and sides and seeing how big my chest is, and realizing that I need to loose weight in my thighs and a little in my stomach.
  • TrailRunner
    TrailRunner Posts: 140 Member
    when I went to Ethiopia and saw all those people starving and begging in the streets,

    woe, that just kinda hit me
  • Phoenix_Rising
    Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
    when I went to Ethiopia and saw all those people starving and begging in the streets,

    woe, that just kinda hit me
    Amen. That was powerful. That is great motivation to be a better person all around.




    My AHA moment was when yet another medicine was added to my regime and it literally made me crazy. I was on 3 asthma meds, a high blood pressure med, stomach ulcer meds, and topomax for migraines/possible seizures. The topomax made me lose all control of my emotions. I almost yelled at my boss, but instead burst into uncontrollable sobbing. I couldn't hold myself together-- I seriously thought I was losing my mind.

    In this crazed altered state, I decided I had to come off ALL my meds. I called my doc and told him. He told me to come in, and he allowed me to go off everything. Warned me what to look for, what I had to be careful of. I was monitored.... it's not recommended to just STOP meds like those.

    I kicked my exercising and dieting into full gear. I started dropping weight. The symptoms of all those problems started subsiding.

    I'm proud to say I no longer have high blood pressure and (AMAZINGLY) have asthma attacks only RARELY and they are mild, controlled by just my rescue inhaler.

    My AHA moment was realizing that being on 7 daily meds (with my birth control) at the age of 24, my life was never going to change unless I changed it. You don't slowly grow out of those medications... doctors slowly add more. And I was done.
  • hadenough
    hadenough Posts: 6
    When my thighs became intimate friends.
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Mine was when I found myself barely unable to walk up stairs. I had very little energy to play with my son, I didn't want to take him to the beach because I was embarrassed with the way I looked, my husband admitted to watching me breath some nights because I would snore and the way I breathed worried him and he was afraid I would stop breathing.

    And knowing my mom died at 50 and my maternal grandmother died at 49. (for various things). I want to beat those numbers and I decided if have it in my power, I would do it.

    I was tired of FOOD controlling my life and decided then and there to never let it again. I am worth so much more than that and more importantly my son (and this baby I am carrying now) are worthy of a mother who will do her best to be around for them as long as I can be.

    :flowerforyou:
  • czarina127
    czarina127 Posts: 23 Member
    My best friend asked me to be in her wedding. My first thought was 'No.' Because I didn't want to be in her pictures and she look back and think about how fat I am. So I went on a diet right away and promised I would fit into the dress she picked. Many of the dresses didn't go up to my size at the time even if they came in plus sizes. By time the wedding came around a year later I had lost 50 lbs and I ordered the 2nd to the biggest size NOT the biggest. I was so proud and everyone complimented me. Her Brother even told his girlfriend I looked like a pin up. Just the look I was going for.
    In that year I did a lot of reading and research trying to find what works for me. I learned a ton about the poisons I feed myself and really what I was doing to my health. I always expected to live to about 56 . Figured it was just my genes and I didn't have a choice. I do have a choice. Most days I choose to live longer and more usefully.
  • LandBsdotingchauffeur
    LandBsdotingchauffeur Posts: 237
    When my thighs became intimate friends.

    HAHAHAAH!!!! This made me laugh out loud!!! Too funny!

    Mine was when my boss said he chased shoplifters down blocks across parking lots etc etc to get the merchandise back and I sat there listening to him and realized that at my current size, I wouldn't be able to go a block, even if it was b/c some crazed a-hole was chasing me. So, I started running...then started eating right and that's what it took!
  • jdelisle
    jdelisle Posts: 1,050 Member
    I was looking at an old highschool friend's wedding and honeymoon photos. She looked great, and I thought about having to suffer through having friends look at my wedding photos. I knew then that I wanted people to tell me I was a beautiful bride- and MEAN it. I didn't didn't want to look back and feel guilty about how I looked in my wedding pictures. I know that sounds really shallow. But it's true.

    Thats not shallow at all, I totally know how you feel. I was a hefty bride (212lbs :sad: ) and every picture I look at I cringe.
  • stillkristi
    stillkristi Posts: 1,135 Member
    adopt4, again, you are my hero! also liked the thigh-friendship post. smiley-laughing.gif made me laugh out loud too!

    My aha moment (there have been many), the one that moved me toaction was in January, we took a family vacation to celebrae my 50th and my mom's 80th bd. (pictures in my profile) I discovered two things. (1) My 80 year old parents are WAY more fit than I am. and (2) I love Southern Utah and I can hardly even walk around any more, let alone hike a little. :cry:
  • Phoenix_Rising
    Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
    I was looking at an old highschool friend's wedding and honeymoon photos. She looked great, and I thought about having to suffer through having friends look at my wedding photos. I knew then that I wanted people to tell me I was a beautiful bride- and MEAN it. I didn't didn't want to look back and feel guilty about how I looked in my wedding pictures. I know that sounds really shallow. But it's true.

    Thats not shallow at all, I totally know how you feel. I was a hefty bride (212lbs :sad: ) and every picture I look at I cringe.

    I hate looking back at my wedding photos, at my chubby bubby self.
  • jdelisle
    jdelisle Posts: 1,050 Member
    I was looking at an old highschool friend's wedding and honeymoon photos. She looked great, and I thought about having to suffer through having friends look at my wedding photos. I knew then that I wanted people to tell me I was a beautiful bride- and MEAN it. I didn't didn't want to look back and feel guilty about how I looked in my wedding pictures. I know that sounds really shallow. But it's true.

    Thats not shallow at all, I totally know how you feel. I was a hefty bride (212lbs :sad: ) and every picture I look at I cringe.

    I hate looking back at my wedding photos, at my chubby bubby self.

    Glad I'm not the only one! I can't wait until me and my hubby can get some nice shots done once I feel okay with myself in pictures :)
  • kellch
    kellch Posts: 7,849 Member
    When I was driving and I looked down and my stomach stuck out further than my chest :frown: When I looked in the mirror and saw the back fat, belly fat, and how tight my sleeves were on my arms. :embarassed: When I would get out of breath going up the stairs in our one story house :ohwell: And when my neice told my sister "Mommy, aunt Cheryl needs to lay off of the doughnuts, doesn't she". :embarassed: And when I bought a size 16 jeans and I was around the 200 lb mark. I'm only 5'5". Then my fiance proposed and I thought to myself, this will be my first and only wedding and I want to look beautiful, I want to live long, and raise a family. And I became determined to lose this weight.:smokin:

    I was sick of having such low self esteem and not feeling pretty and hating what I saw when I looked in the mirror. I'm still not where I want to be, but have come a long ways. I have lost most of the fat but I'm still soft. So I've been adding in my strength training and I can actually see SOME abs there. Well kinda sorta :ohwell: :laugh: I'm getting there...takes time....but I'm gonna stick this out and make it a permanent lifestyle for me :drinker:
  • WillPillageYourVillageForFood
    WillPillageYourVillageForFood Posts: 777 Member
    Mine was when I realized that no matter how hard I sucked in, the back fat was still there. :grumble:
  • keiko
    keiko Posts: 2,919 Member
    Last March on vacation when someone asked if I was pregnant:grumble:
    I came home and started the C25k. It really helped my stomach go down.
  • kerrilucko
    kerrilucko Posts: 3,852 Member
    I was looking at an old highschool friend's wedding and honeymoon photos. She looked great, and I thought about having to suffer through having friends look at my wedding photos. I knew then that I wanted people to tell me I was a beautiful bride- and MEAN it. I didn't didn't want to look back and feel guilty about how I looked in my wedding pictures. I know that sounds really shallow. But it's true.

    Thats not shallow at all, I totally know how you feel. I was a hefty bride (212lbs :sad: ) and every picture I look at I cringe.

    I hate looking back at my wedding photos, at my chubby bubby self.

    Glad I'm not the only one! I can't wait until me and my hubby can get some nice shots done once I feel okay with myself in pictures :)
    That's true. I was also really adamant that I didn't want to wear one of those dresses made to flatter larger women. You know what I mean... I had a dress in my head and that was NOT it. Ya'll should have some new photos taken with your men, call them "love photos" when you get to your goal weight. You can put them up around the house and then you son't have to look at the other ones as much. Plus photo shoots are like.... WAY too much fun, lol.
  • mrsyac2
    mrsyac2 Posts: 2,784 Member
    My coworker her is training for a competetion I saw her in street clothes rather than scrubs and it gave me the motivation to really hit the gym..

    I already knew what I had to do (I have been trying to lose the same 20-25lbs since last year) But seeing how much her body had transformed in 3 months was the kick in the *kitten* I needed--

    when I lost my first 30-35lbs I just saw myself and became disgusted so I knew what had to be done and I did it-

    Now my new goal is to drop 20lbs and if Im not happy I will make a new goal. But as of now things are going great I got serious on Feb 8th with hitting the gym- But on Jan 29th I started trying to get my calories in order
    Since the 8th of Feb I workout 4-5 days a week at the gym I stay within my calories everyday haven't gone over yet- 1400-1600 calories and I am down 7lbs--
  • connieq288
    connieq288 Posts: 1,102 Member
    Mine came when I stepped on the scale and it said 297 lbs. I couldnt believe it and decided there that I was not going to hit 300 and I wanted to lose half of my body weight at least.

    Connie
  • hesalive
    hesalive Posts: 4 Member
    Being a bit overweight all my life, I had a wrong body image, so to me 190 looked the same as 290. My moment came this fall when I went to Ethiopia and saw all those people starving and begging in the streets, I realized that what I ate in a day would feed this family for a WEEK. I was embarrassed at my size, embarrassed at my gluttony, etc. That was my AHA moment.

    Wow! That is amazing. And so true. Thanks for sharing that.


    My AHA probably pales in comparison...but it's mine and it's what made me get in gear, so I own it.

    Christmas 2008....the 2nd Christmas in a row that I wouldn't let anyone take pictures of me b/c I didn't want my chubby face & chubby belly recorded! :blushing: And I thought .... wow, I'm willing to forgo memories with my family during such a special time just b/c I don't like the way I look. :cry: So, I decided enough was enough. Once the 1st few pounds came off, I got really motivated.
  • pipinana
    pipinana Posts: 2,356 Member
    Being a bit overweight all my life, I had a wrong body image, so to me 190 looked the same as 290. My moment came this fall when I went to Ethiopia and saw all those people starving and begging in the streets, I realized that what I ate in a day would feed this family for a WEEK. I was embarrassed at my size, embarrassed at my gluttony, etc. That was my AHA moment.

    Wow, that took a lot of guts to say.... :flowerforyou: for you!
  • pipinana
    pipinana Posts: 2,356 Member
    Mine AHA moment was when I had been asked the fourth time if I was pregnant. The first three times were from kids between 7-12... The last? Someone at the grocery store.... That did it right there... :grumble:
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