I am kind of along the same lines as you. I'm an athlete and in college i was SO lean (and to think i thought I was fat...CRAZY!). I just didn't have that lean body that I used to have. I'm tired of feeling fat and uncomfortable in clothes all the time!

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was supposed to go on a date with a guy I really liked. I couldnt find anything in my closet that fit since I normally wore stretchy pants or sweats. What I saw in the mirror upset me so much I cancelled that date and spent the night in my room hiding while crying and eating a whole container of ice cream. The next morning I got up and threw out all my junk food and went healthy shopping and havent stopped.

For me it was athlete-related also. My daughter is the athlete. Olympic class, with 2 medals already, on track for London 2012. If she can do all that training, I guess a little wouldn't hurt me!! Second, I need to clean the fat out of my arteries. I don't want to succumb to a heart attack if I can help it.

Being told I was type 2 diabetic at 32 years old was a shock. Not being able to conceive as my blood sugar was so high & so much excess weight was preventing pregnancy was a harsh reality. Looking at a photo & seeing a fat, frumpy, sallow skinned, spotty basically very ugly person who looked 10 year older than she was also contributed.

For me it was athlete-related also. My daughter is the athlete. Olympic class, with 2 medals already, on track for London 2012. If she can do all that training, I guess a little wouldn't hurt me!! Second, I need to clean the fat out of my arteries. I don't want to succumb to a heart attack if I can help it.

WOW, that's very exciting!! What event does she do??

rowing - women's eight

I had to get off of a ride I had ridden a year previous at an amusement park. I was sitting next to my dad...who also had to get off.because the safety restraints wouldn't close over either of our stomachs. We told each other we would for sure ride that ride next year. The next day a friend texted me to let me know about a weight loss contest she was starting. The next day I weighed in for the first time, four months later and 36 lbs lighter, I am still going strong!

When my tight pants was making cut marks in my belly!!!! I was like "Oh HELL No!!!" So i set a goal to run a Half Marathon so I could stay focused! I am halfway at my goal and ran my first half marathon last September. MFP has become a habit for me therefore a lifestyle change!

I've always been a big girl..."Amazon Woman" as my short friends like to call me. I can't remember when I was a smaller than a size 18. Probably in High School. I lost 40 pounds on WW a few years ago, looked great and felt great. Got a new job and moved, which led me down the same path of stress eating. My "Ah Ha" moment was looking at a picture taken a couple weeks ago. It's funny how I can look in a mirror and be okay with myself (for the most part) but in pictures (a third-party point of view) I want to throw up!!!!

I weighed myself shortly after that revelation and discovered I was a few pounds shy from 300 pounds...instead of feeling depressed and hopeless, I felt really empowered!!!!

VERY exciting sport to watch! I had a close friend in HS that rowed. That girl had some ARMS on her!!!!

Lol. I was looking at my daughter's arms when she came home for Christmas. She is thin everywhere else - 6'4" and 170#. But those arms!! Her dad says he wouldn't like to meet her in a dark alley.

My whole life has been an aha moment that I mostly ignored I have been fat my whole life. I remember in jr high weighing 230. Size 18/20 in highschool 290lb. Lost 50 pounds on quick weight loss center diet and gained it even quicker back. Got up to 293. Always tried eating healthy....got down to 250 two years ago for my wedding. And now I have so many health problems it's ridiculous. Back problems, a blood disorder and hypothyroidism... I recently have been diagnosed with lymphedema which is severe swelling in the legs. My right leg is bigger than my left leg due to water retention. On any given day I can gain ten pounds of water weight..this disease has taken over my life. I am constantly depressed, I can't wear shorts or skirts. Being fat makes lymphedema worse. My husband and I want to have a baby soon but there is no way I can have a baby like this. I am about to turn 23 and I feel like I'm 80. I'm in nursing school and the biggest in my class... If I don't do this now, I don't think I ever will. Don't get me wrong, I am blessed in so many ways. My husband is so supportive and as well as my family and friends. God has great plans for me but I know I was not meant to be this big!!!!