When did you know it was time to start losing weight?

So many things were pointing me in the right direction, happening close to each other, finally made me decide to really make a change. First, my nephew visited and the resulting picture of me in a bathing suit was passed all around the family. I realized it wasn't 'just the bathing suit'... that body underneath was mine and it was fat. I went on a trip with friends in a small plane, and had to enter my weight in, accurately, I was just over 200 pounds. I couldn't believe it and the round number really sent a message. ... funny how 199 sounds so much better that 200.! And then, I couldn't fit into any of my size 14... and went to the store to buy something comfortable... size 18 fit better than 16. Size 18 was my mother's size. Oh no no. (Sadly, around this time several of my close friends and family members were being diagnosed with health issues that were weight related... that was scary. Knowing that I was OBESE and getting more so made me realize that my health was at stake... not just my sexy figure!) At 52.. health becomes a driving factor.

Around this same time, a close friend joked with me about joining him on our own private 'biggest loser'. I had started MFP about 6 months earlier but had no motifation to stick with it by myself. Now.. with the help of this friend, and a few others who have joined in... I'm on my way to a much fitter, healthier, and more active weight and life! Feels good to be going down!

I knew it years ago, and tried to lose weight before. But never for the right reasons. Finally, I'm on the right track!!!

I had a late night infomercial epiphany, I was nursing my 6mo baby in the middle of the night and a commercial for 10 minute trainer came on and it hit me- I can do this! it only takes 10 minutes so I can do it while the kids are sleeping... Anyway I took this picture <---- and that was the start

My dad weighs about 350 lbs, and I knew that if I didn't get a handle on this now pretty soon I would be fighting for my life. My mom, my siblings, and I all are constantly afraid that something is going to happen to him, he had what should have been routine out patient surgery but because of his weight it was terrifying.

There was also a moment that happened shortly after my daughter was born, my older daughter ( who was not even 2) was playing in our yard and was getting close to our pond, I got nervous and ran/walked over to her... It was pathetic, yes I had just had a c section but I felt that was no excuse for not being able to even get to her quickly

PS for the record DH was out there the whole time (and yelled at me for trying to run), she was never in real danger, just my nervous mommy feelings.

I had tried so many times to lose then would lose some but then when off the "diet" i would gain it all back n then some. I soon resided that I would always be big so what was the point... better to stay at one weight? right? My the lies one tells themselves.

In January of 2009 I went to emerge with pain in my hernia.... mind you I always stayed away from doctors...so to go to emerg it was bad. I have a rather large hernia, with an exray it revealed that my gut was fully outside my abdominal wall. A surgeon consulted n said it was not good, told me where i stood with my hernia, and in fact my diabetes (was on 90u in the am and 80u in the pm) and being overweight that my health was at risk. if i were to have a perforation of the bowel, they would not be able to close me up in the OR... elective surgery would be a must and weight would have to come off before. he sent out a referal to a specialist. When i went home i went back onto my diabetic diet...for about a month. The place i worked at had gone bankrupt so i was off on EI. when inqiring about my referral at my docs office i received alot of grief like I was bothering them... so exasperated i blew at them, got an answer that they would call the specialist and see about my refferral, then call me back. weeks passed... but no one called, so I gave up and returned to eating as i had before.

Mindlessly I ate and gained up to the point where life on Sept 25th 2009 suddenly made me face my own health. What happened you might ask? Well my husband of 25 years was rushed into emerg, was diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and penile cancer. Had an immediate amputation. Here my own health was shot and had to pull it together to take care of my husband. So in helping him, I helped myself. It was the beginning of a rollercoaster of a ride. In January he has a lyphadenectomy..3 weeks later went into cardiac arrest where they had to paddle him back weeks later a heart stent put in. that day we found his pathology come back neg. we were so happy.

we started to walk together and continue out journey to health. but things took a turn and his cancer returned and on July 14th 2010, 10 months after diagnosis he passed away. Watching his fight for every last breath, I can not give up my own journey to healthiness... how can I? Health is far to important as is the preciousness of life.

So I went to the doctor after he died ( i had stayed away from docs as much as possible) and it was then she put me on synthroid and blood pressure pills. My insulin had decreased some and my bloodsugars remaned good. I had to go check with her every 3 months. she also referred me to a surgeon. he then referred me to a specialist... i thought wow here we go again lol.

Well Feb 25th2011, I seen the specialist. i was 430.1 lbs that day... i had 120lbs off so far. he said to lose 30 lbs and he would do wls to get me down to 250 to do my hernia repair. he would put me into their weight loss program (they approve you for wls), well I had my info session with them in june....i follow their program diets and advice walking etc etc...and my one on one with them is not until next month on nov 8th. usually it's two to three weeks after that you see the sugeon. LOL by that time I WILL be at 250 and he can fix my hernia.... can't help if their program's a lil slow lol.

n oh btw...i no longer take blood pressure meds , they ended one month after walking and as of today I am on NO insulin

Facing the humiliation that if i didn't start losing, I was going to have to go to the jewelers in a few days to have my wedding rings cut off because they were stuck and starting to hurt my finger. A lot of other things too, but that was the moment I think that really pushed me over the edge.

I was never happy with the way I looked. I've always been overweight all my life, but once when I was about 25 years old. I lost a lot of weight on Jenny Craig, of course, once I had kids (I have a 10 year old girl and twin 7 year old boys), I gained it back and then some. My family has a history of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, you name it. So, what really got me to say enough is enough was when my neighbor, who is quiet a bit bigger than I am, said she lost 10lbs and she looked better for it. I said to myself "If she can do it, so CAN I!" I started eating healthier and working out, got my family on board with me to help me through and they have been great! I've lost 65 lbs to date. I still have about 15 lbs left to go and they are hanging on for dear life, I must say! LOL! I'm confidante that I will get to my goal weight and once I do, I am NEVER going back!!

There were a lot of little things (seat belts, amuusement park rides, winded walking up a flight of stairs, 297 on the scale in dr.'s office) that started me thinking about weight loss, but it was not until I realized that I would be turning 42 this year that I decided to change my life. My father died when he was 42. I realized that I needed to make changes in my life or I would not be around to see my children grow up.

I have lost nearly 70 pounds, but I also have gotten fitter. I run 3 days a week, go the the gym 2-3 days a week, and I have a ton more energy to do things with my family. I have a much better attitude toward life and am generally a happier person. As my quote says below, I'm saving my life.

When I was at work and split my pants when I sat down..:embarassed:

After I stopped doing martial arts and my lean mean killing machine body turned into something that couldn't run up stairs.

Okay so lean mean killing machine is a bit of an exaggeration...but basically I felt like my muscle mass turned into just...mass.

LOVE IT! :laugh:

One day I looked in the mirror and was just disgusted with myself.

This past August at my 10 year class reunion. When I was looking around at all of the women and suddely realized that I was "one of the FAT girls" and even more when I got the pictures back. HORRIFIED!! I knew right then and there that I would certainly be out of the "FAT girl group" at our next class function!