What finally made you get serious about losing weight?

Over the last few years I was edging towards the upper end of my BMI and not feeling as comfortable in myself as I was used to feeling. Clothes didn't feel quite right, it wasn't as much fun being nekid etc. I didn't want the weight to keep creeping up so I decided to address it now when it was a small problem. I intend to stay serious about it and not let it get out of my control again. I'm back in the middle range and I already feel tons better, more like myself again.

We only go around once, and life is too full of amazing and wonderful opportunities and experiences to not feel your best. I hope that doesn't sound too corny.

I've always been overweight, but never had any problems until recently. My cholesterol was high, like scary-high. I'm only 37, and it scared me. Come to find out it was a bad test and my numbers weren't as high as initially reported, but the thought of it made me sick to my stomach. I have a great husband and 2 wonderful, young kids and a LOT of life to live!! I also want to take my kids to the beach. As it is right now, I don't have a swimsuit and can't find one in my size. I don't want to be a bikini model or anything, I just want to swim, play with my kids in the water, and have fun!! I've had way too many high school friends die already, and my dad died at 46 from cancer, so I really think about how joyous life is and I want to LIVE IT!!

I'd known for a long time I was "too big" but had been sort of lying to myself about how bad it was.

One of my favorite fast food places is right down the street from me. I went there two nights in a row for dinner. Guy at the drive-thru gave me a look the second night that sort of said "Dude. Really?"

I started the next day.

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.

Same here! Thanks for being honest.

The week between Christmas & New Years I had weird incident where a combination of a cold, some sleep apnea and some acid reflux (damn late night pizza) induced a really nasty asthma attack. I woke up and couldn't get a more than a fraction of a breath in at a time for the better part of a couple of minutes. Scared the heck out of me and made me pay attention to the fact that my weight was affecting my health in a real way that could have killed me. It took me a couple of weeks to figure out a way that I could start addressing what to do, and found MFP.

It wasn't one big, miraculous moment for me- it was the culmination of about four months of feeling miserable and berating myself for getting to the size I was before starting to make little changes step by step. It took a while for me to get my head in gear; I had to stop the negative self-talk and start telling myself that I am worth the effort required to be healthy and free from this weight. There was a lot of soul-searching and there still is- I still have moments when I feel as though I'm not ever going to get to my goal, that I should just give up. I push past those moments because I know I am worthy of living the life I have imagined. That said, I've been serious about losing weight for almost two months now and have been on MFP for a little over a month. I've lost 12 lbs since I started and I relish the thought of all the good things I am doing for my body my losing this weight. Give yourself some time- you will lose when you are ready to. It's not a diet, it is a lifestyle change- that's the main thing I had to wrap my head around when I started. Now, I don't want all that crap food and soda tastes far too sugary and chemical-y.
Good luck! You can do this, you deserve it for yourself! lots of love to everyone

All of my time of the month jeans became my everyday wear! And my skinny jeans no longer fit!

I have always held the believe when your number is up, its up and nothing you could do would change that. Because of that, I ate what I wanted and smoked and drank. I made a few feeble attempts to get fit but they always failed lasting no longer than a few weeks. Then I was diagnosed with diabetes (type 2) which came out of the blue and had high cholesterol. I got this back under control by stopping drinking and smoking and seriously exercising. I weighed 118 kg and was 195 cms tall The doctor told me I had done an excellent job with the diabetes and with that, my motivation went out the window. I stopped monitoring and went real slack onthe gym workouts. I would go but no push myself, staying well within my comfort zone. Then I got the news again, my diabetes had blown up and was fairly high again, cholesterol was up and now I found out I had high blood pressure. So some deep soul searching and I am now slowly changing my core beliefs where I alone am responsible for my health. I am serious about my gym work and always set challenges for myself. I have dropped my weight down to 111 kgs when I joined this group to knock off the last few kilos. I remind myself if I dont do this, then I will not be able to do the things I enjoy which is my work, my horses and fishing. As for your partner, not being rude but its all about you. My wife is not into healthy eating or being physically fit. She plods around the farm feeding her chooks and tends to them. I take the attitude I can not be responsible for her as she is not responsible for me. At the end of the day, it lies within you and how bad you want this. All the best. Surround yourself with supportive people, that helps on those low days. Cheers

When I finally got s disgusted with myself that I just was not happy. And I wanted to be able to play with my son and Not be out of breath.

If it weren't enough that I was on blood pressure & cholesterol meds, my epiphany occurred when the doctor called me into her office to discuss my latest lab work (that I was required to have in order to get refills on the above meds). She hands the paperwork to me and said, "Welcome to the wonderful world of Diabetes". I nearly fainted.

That was March 20, 2010. Since then, I've lost 120 lbs.by my OWN will, desire & determination. Not by following any of the fashionably latest or fad diet; I simply put the trust in myself to use my own common sense & make smart choices. I followed the logic of 'too much of anything can be a bad thing', and I googled up information about calories, fats (good & bad), carbs (simple & complex) & about the amazing benefits of fiber to the average person's diet. I then chose foods from those lists that were beneficial but that I also liked. I taught myself to love water & drink a gallon daily. And, most importantly...I got off of my butt. The first mile I walked almost killed me- I now mix running in with my walking & do an average of 7 miles at least 4 days a week. I've still have a ways to go, but I'm enjoying every day that I make smart choices & can honestly say that I trust myself for the first time in my entire life. I am so happy that I no longer am battling the blood pressure, high cholesterol OR the diabetes. I am proud of myself & I'm loving my life.

Your gorgeous!!!

Ditching my alcoholic "feeder" boyfriend who kept sabotaging me. That and getting a physical and finding out I had brand new high blood pressure, high glucose, and high cholesterol. I am only 18 pounds in, but this time I am in it to win it.

My mothers death....
She has health problems that could have been prevented.. It was as simple as healthy choices and a little hard work. Mostly it was diabetes that took her in the end. But there were other problems like high blood pressure, tyroid, and probably other issues that I have no idea about. Im a single mother of two and dont want this happening to them. I have no dad or mom and Im only 32.

Plus I would like to feel good and have all my ex's drooling

It's hard to stay motivatied but I have friends that are doing this with me and we have a biggest loser contest at work.. Money is a great way to stay motivated. As well as a picture of a HOT guy on your fridge.. like Usher or David Beckman.. (of course shirtless) hahah ... You can do it.... You have all of us rooting you on!!!

The way I looked in clothes. I'm 18 and I felt like I was dressing like an old woman. Also i was afraid people would think I was pregnant and I decided it was a ridiculous thing to be afraid of so I joined MFP.

The impending reality of turning 60 in May was my big impetus to getting my weight ... and corresponding BMI -- to the "normal" range. Throw in my loving wife's chronic health issues, two granddaughters and my recent purchase of a FitBit tracker and I have a ton of motivation.

I have no illusions of transforming myself back into the thin, fit jock I was in my 20s and 30s ... but I need to get healthier so that I can enjoy a good quality of life and "be there" for those I love for another 4 decades!