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

Sadly, mine was when I realized I could fit into my sisters clothes.....I have always been the smaller one. We are step-sisters and only 1 month difference in our age. I was the cheerleader in High School. Also we went on vacation this summre to visit a friend of my hubby's from High School and when I realized that he was now going to see me AFTER having 3 kids and that he knew me back when I was a 100 pound cheerleader. It was embarrasing. I did NOT want to be that person that everyone said, "oh, wow she really let herself go after having kids!" We went on a really long hike out in Colorado and it kicked my butt! That was when I said to myself "your baby is gonna be 5 you have no excuse anymore to blame it on the kids and pregnancy. It is time to get back in shape". I was always so fit in High School and the early years of being married and I knew I needed to get back into that shape again....for ME for my 3 little girls and for my husband!

I also think you HAVE to have that AHA moment before you can really become and STAY committed to your goals! You have to get really ma at yourself for not taking the time for YOU and letting eveything else be an excuse for being unhealthy! It is amazing how much energy I have now and how much happier I am knowing that I am on the right track now!!
Good Luck to everyone! It isn't easy but we are all doing our best!!

When I looked in the mirror and knew that the person i was seeing was NOT the person who was INSIDE.

When i felt like everyone was looking at me.

When I could no longer find the awesom dress for a friends wedding.

When i was just SICK AND TIRED OF BEING THE WAY I WAS!!

When i felt sexy on the inside, but didn't look it on the outside!

Now i am 45 lbs down with about 15-20lbs to go!

In August at my annual physical I was my usual 300 pounds. My weight has been annoying, but never stopped me from all my favorite things to do, and I have always been pretty energetic. BUT this time my blood pressure was up. Doc put me on meds, which was a wake up call. I do not want to NEED any type of medication. SO the weight must come off. I always promised myself that when this weight started interfering with my life I would lose. That time has come now. So I have a long journey, but I am ready. I have lost 19 pounds since Sept. 1st when I started. Another 100+ to go. I actually have no idea what it feels like to be a normal weight since I never was. We shall see! :-)

All I can tell you is you are in for a very pleasant surprise! Ready to look and feel 10 years younger? = D

I have battled with my weight for years and have been on every diet imaginable. When I was in High School and College I stayed fit. I was a basketball player and liked to work out. I was still a plus size woman, always the "big girl" with the "pretty face". After I had kids and became a therapist I kept gaining weight and never seemed to be able to find the time to work out. I tried for awhile and then stopped. I felt overwhelmed from all of the responsibility of taking care of people. I struggled with finances, I was really depressed from my husband cheating, getting a divorce and becoming a single Mother. I worked two or three jobs at a time to make ends meet. I finally gave up and turned to food for comfort, I figured if I couldn't loose weight I might as well eat what I wanted.

Luckily my second husband is wonderful and it was actually his unconditional love and support that made me want to loose weight. He loved me so much, that it made me realized how I didn't love myself. He encouraged me to take time for myself. A few years ago I started having horrible sciatic pain that would shoot down my leg and through my foot. I went to the ER one night it was so bad. I had started working out a couple of months before due to my Mom practically pleading with me to walk with her in the mornings. I found out I had two degenerative discs in my lower back that were causing the pain. I hated that I couldn't walk without being in pain. That is really what made me want to change. I am so glad I found my fitness pal.com, it makes it so easy to track food and exercise and I appreciate the support. I wish you all well.

When my cousin and I realized on the fourth of July that if we kept goin the way we have we would be this way forever and never feel good about ourselves in bathing suits at this party we go to every year. Unfortunatly she fell for fad diets and started thinking starving herself would work because "it worked so well before" and she eventually fell off the wagon, but I found MFP and never looked back