What finally made you get serious about losing weight?

I finally got it in my head that I felt so much better when I was eating better and moving. I've been at it since the first of the year and i've lost almost 8 pounds and I eat lots of veggies and fruits and whole grains and I feel so much better inside and out. i mean I still have 16 pounds to go, but I wake up and feel like I should be proud of myself and that is just as big of an accomplishment as losing the weight.

For me, I just got totally sick of feeling tired and out of shape. I was done feeling sorry for myself. I was sick of my low self esteem and was ready to stop making excuses and just get off my butt and make the change.

I think you really have to get to the point where you are so sick of being overweight that you are willing to do anything to get healthy.

It took me 10 years to get to this point. I'm just happy it didn't take longer! I started this back on Dec. 11th. This is the longest I've stuck with something because I made the decision that this wasn't going to be a diet but a lifestyle change.

I think we all have moments where we falter a bit, but that is where this community is fabulous! I had a couple down days in there, and people were so supportive and really gave me the boost I needed.

I hope we can do that for you! Feel free to add me as a friend and we can support each other!

I finally decided that enough was enough. I saw myself in pictures and could hardly recognize myself. I found out that when it really came down to it, I was unhappy and had stopped caring for myself.

I literally hit the proverbial "rock bottom". It's different for everyone, perhaps you're not there yet. There's a difference though, between "dieting" and making a "lifestyle" change. One is temporary, the other is a long term commitment you make for yourself.

Focus on you, what you want, tune out everyone else - including the boyfriend. If you're not doing this for yourself, it's not going to be enough. Write down reasons. Take pictures of yourself. List all the reasons why you can't possibly remain in the lifestyle you're in now for a single second longer and then wall paper your life with post-it notes with these written on them (throughout the house, on your nightstand, at work, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, etc).

The only thing that has ever made me stick to any kind of diet or exercise plan was when I had someone else for support and to be accountable to. For a long time this was my sister. We live in different cities but we would email each other every day with our "diet report" which was our food diary from the previous day, whether or not we had exercised, and what our weight was that day. We both lost about 30 pounds that way. Then she got tired of doing it and I tried to keep it up on my own but couldn't. A couple years went by and the weight crept back up. Then I started taking a weekly dance class. The class was small so if you didn't come they would notice! It wasn't as good as the daily interaction with my sister but it at least meant I was getting exercise once per week and that helped me be a little more focused the rest of the week. Then a friend of mine and I joined MFP together. I see her daily status reports and I know she sees mine because we comment on eachother's status. I would feel like I was letting her down if I didn't log my food. We also set a goal that we would try to get some exercise every day -- and of course when she exercise I see that and she sees if I am doing it as well. We also decided that at the end of two months we would get together to assess our progress. That is coming up in a couple of weeks and I am so proud of us for sticking with it!

So, find a friend and get them to join with you and set goals together. It makes a huge difference!

Regarding healthy eating -- no matter what you are eating you can still loose weight (if that is your goal) by practicing portion control. Boyfriend wants pizza for dinner? Fine, have pizza, but just don't have as much as he has. He wants a burger and fries? Fine -- eat the burger, skip the fries, and have an apple later if you are still hungry.

My 2 cents!

My daughter told me "Mom..you're not THAT fat" It was the first time I realized that I was no longer in the skinny girl category. Once I started working out daily I got addicted and my reasons became more about me and how I feel about myself.

our local gym is having a contest for $1000 , Im not in it but are following the ladies that are. Its a good motivation for me.

I've been at weight loss a few times, this time I truly believe is the last.

What got me was I realized I didn't want to go places I used to enjoy, because I hated the way I look. I went in total depression mode a few months back, I was just so depressed about everything and my weight was the root of all evil. I didn't want to buy clothes all I wanted to do was sleep and eat. That's not like me, I loved dressing up.

For me, I refused to by the next size pants. I just decided that was it. I have tried in the past to lose weight and never had great luck but with MFP I am finding it easy. It is a long process tho

I work in a job where I not only have to be fit but have to protect others. I could feel it. I needed a change.

For me it was the feeling that I wasn't putting my 100% into my marriage. I wasn't happy and it stemmed from me. Nothing fit and I felt like crap! I needed to feel better, I wanted to wear the clothes in my closet, I liked them. But in reality only about 30% of them came close to fitting.
MFP has been a God-Send! I get on at least 2-4 times a day, I check in with my food, read threads, and gain as much motivation as I can from others.
I don’t need to wear a bikini this summer, I don’t need to win a beauty contest, but I do want and need to feel good about myself.

On a side note, it took a lot for me to get started with the 30 Day Shred. I am on day 31, and tomorrow I will finally be moving to level 3. I guarantee if you get moving you will love yourself more, your boyfriend will be so proud of you and that my friend is a great feeleing.

M

My father dying last year.

His death was not weight related, his lungs hardened and he went quickly, but it sparked something in me. I've always been overweight and have tried to lose weight so many times and then this happened. It shattered me and my family and I gained about 20 pounds in less than 2 months right after his death. I've always turned to food when I was depressed and this was the major tipping point for me. I know how easy it could be for me to give up and wallow in my depression over losing him but I kept thinking about what he would have wanted. I don't think he wants me eating my feelings and gaining major weight over his death.

I've signed up for a 5K and plan on doing a 10K in his honor in the fall that benefits the Lung Association. I think about him every day but especially when I'm at the gym because I'm doing this for him. It helps me run that extra distance and push harder on the weights.

A little sad but that's my reason.

I've thought about it for years but was never determined. Now, I'm smarter. I know what I truly like and don't so while I won't deprive myself I will make better choices. I think for me...I just finally reached my limit. In my head it was finally right.

When I got on the scale and saw 203.6..... Also the fact that I have to lose weight to make it easier to ttc... Also I dont feel comfortable at this weight. As well as seeing my mom go through getting gastric bypass surgery, and said I dont want that to be ME...

I am going to admit this..on this site. I want to loose weight, well...because I know I could be better in the sack...and want to be more confident. I am tired of being the fat kid. I just got up one morning....and that was it..I made up my mind.