When did you decide to start losing weight?

My mom got really sick - she was in the hospital for a month, in and out of the ICU, finally got out and was diagnosed with breast cancer. I decided that I wanted to take control of my life, and be as strong and healthy as I could possibly be while I was still young enough to enjoy it. And know that if I ever do get sick like that, I'll be in the best shape of my life to fight it.

My breaking point was when I had to have my mom or boyfriend help me with my shoes and socks because I couldn't bend over that far. I still have to sit on a chair if no one's around. I've only lost two lbs. from my highest weight before joining MFP in April the day before my 30th birthday, when I've said: this is it: I've had enough! When you need special implements to clean up in the shower and you need to do friggin' acrobatics just to wipe your @ss every day - when it gets to THAT point, ya it's time to lose weight lol

March, 2011. I had just had enough, and it was time for a change.

Mine was much the same reason. Just was December 2011 when the scale read 344... I knew starting during the holidays would be impossible so I began January 2.

Heart attack.

When my bingeing was out of control, due to my also out of control sugar addiction, which was especially concerning due to having PCOS. This was also coupled with the fact that I was always exhausted, felt fat, unattractive and generally unhappy with myself. My once fit, 110 pound, happy frame was a thing of the past.

I had a million 'breaking points', but I would often fall off the wagon after a few weeks, and just end up gaining the weight back again.

However the literal turning point was on Valentines day this year. I had lost about 5 pounds before then, but I was struggling to keep it off due to sporadic binges. On V day I had a particularly large binge, due to the fact that I was lonely, and figured "**** it, I'm gonna eat sugar because I'm single". This binge involved going out of my way to the supermarket, buying a bunch of sugary treats using my hard earned money, and secretly stuffing my face in the car.

It was after that moment of shame and anguish that I decided to put my foot down, and change myself to what I once was.

I rejoined MFP, after having used it about 2 years ago, and realised on days that I was 'dieting' I was way under eating, thus leading to binges. Also, I was restricting certain food types, so I would often feel extremely deprived. Once I started keeping the mfp food journal, everything stuck

And here I am, 3 months later, 111.3 pounds, and I'm fit, happy, energetic, and I fit into all of my old clothes again. And that sugar addiction I struggled with? An absolute thing of the past

A trip to the doctor in late August 2010 did it with me. I had a cholestrol test come back, and I was told by the secretary (my doctor's husband, my doc's a woman) that it was "up a bit". That was an understatement, of course, but it wasn't the test that shocked me at my appointment. It was how much I weighed on the scales that gave me the fright of my life - an electric scales, and the results read in at 287.4 pounds!!!! That was what scared me. I knew I needed to lose some weight, so the next day I got an electric scales of my own and started dieting. I went up a pound first, and then from September 2010 to April of this year (2012) I lost 40 pounds - all on my own, no help from a dietician. Since then, I've joined MFP, lost another 5 as of this moment, and I'm still going!!!

This April when I put on a pair of my "fat" pants and they were a litte tight, as well as seeing the number steadily getting higher.

2 weeks ago... I had a friend recommend this site as she knew others had used MFP. I downloaded on my phone a few days before I started using the site. 2 weeks ago, I decided to create a log in and start tracking. I may not have been perfect everyday, but I am consciously consuming better food choices.

I also lost my dad last December and since then in my mind have been telling myself that I want to be healthier. I have been excising some over the past 5 to 6 years but needed to do more. I have gained about 5 to 10 pounds each year the last few years. Last year at my annual dr. visit we discussed that I needed to keep an eye on my weight. She wasn't too concerned but did not want me to gain any more. So I am to go to my annual appointment in a couple months and hope to show that I have not gained but at least lost a few from last year.

One other factor, my jeans. I wore out my jeans and I knew it had to be from extra weight! What an awful feeling that is.

Finally, I looked at myself in the mirror an said "is that a double chin starting?' I knew then I HAD to make a change.

Add all this up, and it is time to make a change in my life. I know I can make the right changes and I have a very supportive fiance.. encouraging, never has called me fat or anything of the sort, loves a woman with curves, which loosing weight is not going to make them go away, it will make them look better, and he is also an avid cyclist. It helps to have a healthy spouse, it is encouraging to be around.

Thank you to all for sharing your stories!

Last year at this time I went clothes shopping for the upcoming summer. I was disgusted with how I looked and decided that I was going to change my life from that point on. Funny how one little moment in your life can lead to such a complete change in everything you do!

I'm with the person that said "my body decided for me". I am fast approaching 49 and feel like 79. I'm in pain all the tome. I feel like my weight has been an anchor seriously weighing me down. I saw a picture of myself at our family christmas party, and I am the heaviest person there. I am tired of feeling ashamed. I am also done making excuses. I started losing earlier this year because of problems with my gall bladder. I think it has been a blessing in disguise. I know that I wasn't ready mentally. I had to make changes because of the pain and nausea. Because it was happening organically, my attitude followed. My sister then invited me a few weeks ago to join MFP. Another amazing turn in my life. Since then I have lost another 5 lbs. It is really motivating to see my food decisions and how much (how little) exercise I get. MFP and my sister's encouraging words are now keeping me on the right track. I truly feel that I can do this. I am starting to see a pin dot of light at the end of the tunnel. I look forward to it getting brighter and that I can do everything I really want to with the next half of my life. Best wishes everyone!

I was extremely depressed and facing being institutionalized for my depression. My depression was largely linked to my weight, although I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, it just so happens that when I gained weight it became all about my weight. I have bad and good days even now.

Anyway, almost 300lbs and dreading waking up every morning I decided to do something about it. My live totally turned around, literally, it's completely different.

Pleased to say that 3 years later I'm off medication for my depression and 75lbs lighter haha.

When my Brother in laws youngest son looked at me a couple of years ago and said "you look like you're pregnant"

this my niece she asked if i went outside of my place without a shirt on. i said yes and and she replied you must scare peoples eyes. it hurt tones. i stued around mad for two weeks. then i decided to join a gym that had a programe for weight loss. i was real suscessful i dropped 57 pounds. then the people who i thought where my friends at the gym turned out not to even care. it was just a job to them. my emotions got the better of me and i put on 30 pounds. so when my year was up i moved to a new gym and i have been trying since then. i will susceed because now i have my mfp family

I went all day in yoga pants (and was not doing yoga) and huge tshirts.

I was having a hard time sleeping because I was so uncomfortable.

I could barely make it through the day without a nap.

I was not spending enough quality time with my son.

On March 30, 2011 I quit smoking and I decided, if I can quit smoking and be that strong, I should be strong enough to exercise and eat right!


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I started trying when I realized I was growing out of size 10 pants. But then I met my husband, got comfortable in the relationship, stopped exercising because I was spending all my time with him, and started eating whatever I wanted. I weighed 195 pounds when I got pregnant with out second baby. After he was born I got serious. Our third baby was born 4 1/2 months ago. I lost 30 pounds (15 baby weight, 15 extra) in about 6 weeks and I'm now about 10 pounds lighter than I have been in over 4 years. Breastfeeding is taking a ton of calories away from me (burning about 1200 calories from making 60oz of milk a day), and if I could eat enough I'm sure I'd be losing some more weight. But, it's not a huge priority for me right now, so I'm happy where I am. For now.