Brutal Honesty - What was the final straw?

Mine was a bit different-- My friend said to me "I am gonna lose 30 lbs before my birthday." I said, "That's great. I wish I could lose weight like that." And he simply said to me, "Why can't you?" That made me question myself as to "why can't I go for it too?" =]

Mine was when I was offered an incredible opportunity to spend three weeks in Scotland and France. It was a once in a lifetime trip but I was immediately overwhelmed with anxiety: plane seats, tour bus seats, walking/climbing/hiking everywhere, PHOTOS. I wanted to enjoy this trip to the fullest and I realized that even though I was very active at 285 lbs I was limited. And if I was this limited on a once in a lifetime holiday, then I was limiting my life and it had to change.

I made the change and it was worth it. My trip was absolutely incredible. Not only was I comfortable in planes, trains and taxis but I felt confident in pics, had loads of energy and even finished a hill race in Oban. And I am not done yet.

Mine was different. I was unhealthy in a different way...not from weight but from smoking and bad lifestyle choices including a poor diet. I was 31 and couldn't even stand to cook dinner without feeling like I couldn't breath. What had I done to myself?!?!?

I finally quit smoking 10 months ago. That lead to joining a gym 10 months ago. From there I quit pop and sugary drinks 6 months ago and last month I started to eat clean and pay attention to the foods I'm fueling my body with. Now I have very serious health goals and feel better than ever.

My weight was slowly creeping up and up. When sitting in my work trousers was uncomfortable, I knew I had to do something. I was in a larger size and would have to go to my boss and request an even bigger size be ordered. The thought of that humiliation got me started, and once I weighed in the fact my BMI was in the obese category I fully committed to getting healthy!

My last straw was in 2009 after I had my 2nd son. My back pain was so bad that I couldn't take care of my newborn son or my oldest son -- I couldn't sit, stand, or lie down without debilitating pain. One day I got off the couch so I could put my newborn to bed for his nap, but I fell over on all fours in severe pain and had to have my 3 year old get the phone so I could call my then husband to come home from work. I was stuck, frozen on the floor in pain. Thankfully, I hadn't picked up my newborn yet or he would have fallen to the floor.

It was then that I decided that I had to get the additional weight off. I felt like I was suffocating under my own neck fat at night when I tried to sleep, I was in pain all the time and could hardly walk, and I didn't want my life to be spent watching my sons from a bench somewhere. I wanted to be the mom that ran and played with her kids, went hiking, did crazy things like run races & complete triathalons. I wanted to feel like I could do the things I once dreamed of -- better yet, I wanted to REALLY do them and quit dreaming of them. And on a slightly more fickle yet budget-minded note, I wanted to be able to find clothes easily and not have to pay extra to get the things I liked in a plus size.

I hit my highest weight ever and decided that I was *not* going to buy the next size up in pants. So a friend who lost over 50 pounds pointed me here and I started journaling and my new way of life. I've lost 16 pounds so far (was more until Christmas hit) but need to keep going. Right now I'm waivering and I heard this morning that it takes over a month for new habits to become a way of life so I guess I just need to start a great new habit. I have to admit that I like the way I look now with those pounds off and while I don't want to gain, I'm afraid actually to keep losing and have to go shopping to buy all new clothes. And that is sabotaging me bigtime! I might need another "final straw."

I went to the doctor's with my 16 year old daughter and when she got on the scale she broke down into tears. She weighted 198 pounds. We decided that it was time to get back to the gym. When my husband and daughter went there to sign up the gentlemen who signed us up was a health coach. He encouraged us to try a trainer. That first trainer was what made the difference for us. Now the 3 of us train 2x a week and work out on our own another 4 times a week. My husband has lost 100 pounds, I have lost 92 pounds and my daughter has lost 50 pounds. We've tried many diets before, but this time we met the right people and that made all the difference. It's a year later now and we've never looked back. Our lives are totally different and so much better! My daughter has so much more confidence, it's amazing!

This touched my heart and made my day! What a gift you have given to your family and especially your daughter!

Seeing myself heading towards 400 lbs! Wanting to be happier. Tired of how life treated me for my weight. People definitely discriminate against heavy people. I'm not as heavy as I was but I still get mistreated and judged. Looking at photos of myself, almost to the end of the in-store plus size range. Couldn't see myself being a 5x or 6x or not being able to shop anywhere for clothes. Would have been bad, really bad. After size 32, the clothes seem to get frumpier and frumpier. You have to buy sweaters with cats on them, twinsets, solid colors, no style at all! Catherine's is the WORST clothing store. They turn plus size women into grandmas, and they are TOO expensive.

Seeing my bro in law ballon. I said no way I'm ending up like that.

The day I hit my goal weight (which will be soon), I'll post all the details, but more or less, about five years ago I nearly died due to my own destructive behaviors. I decided to change my life and about a year later I realized (and made the conscious choice) that I wanted to not only remain alive, but I wanted to LIVE my life.

Getting healthy was just sort of a side effect really. I joined MFP a few months ago because I wanted to get back to the weight I was on the day of my near death experience, but this time be at that weight because I was HEALTHY, not because I was near death.

Had a picture taken at bass pro shop and I didn't regonigze the fat girl in the picture. When I took my own pics I could turn a certain way and look just "thick" but when I seen the picture from bass pro shop I said that was it and I started small by just drinking just water and milk no cold drinks then added exercise and 6 months in and I'm 30
Pounds down. I'm so happy I started my journey with MFP

Last Christmas I got on the scale and was 196lbs. I couldn't believe that I was almost 200lbs!! Shocking! And then a few weeks later I came upon some pics of me in my Halloween costume at work. I was a football playing because that is all I could find to fit me. At the time, I thought I looked cute. Turns out, not so much! Those work pics really showed just how hefty I was, and like a pp said, I didn't recognize myself at first. I thought, whoa I don't remember another football player at the party. WAIT. Thats ME!! ::mortified:: This Halloween I could wear just about any costume I wanted! It was an amazing feeling! I felt amazing and sexy for the first time in a looooong time! lol I still have a ways to go, and I can't imagine how great I'll feel when I finally meet my goal.:happy:

Tired of adding girls names to that list that didnt go out with me, maybe, because I was fat. And thats the brutal honest answer.

Swim suit photo.

For whatever reason, I always thought I looked better than that. I've seen myself in photos before and there were a lot of them that I didn't like. But that photo was the final straw.

I want to look good in my pictures and I want my kids to remember me as strong and fit.