What is your "why" for your lifestyle change? w/pic

rgoodearl
rgoodearl Posts: 360 Member
edited December 20 in Motivation and Support
It was kind of a simple choice for me...heart attack scare in Dec 2008...crazy thing is I still sat on my rear for another 14 months before I made the decision to commit ! No turning back now ! :happy:

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Slide1-001 by bigpic, on Flickr

Replies

  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Inspirational. Congratulations:flowerforyou:
  • Momma_Grizz
    Momma_Grizz Posts: 294 Member
    Wow, you are inspirational rgoodearl! With a scare like that, it's good that you turned your life around - good job!

    The why for me, I had just turned 45 and I was so sick and tired - plain and simple - just sick and tired. After taking care of everyone else (husband and 2 sons) for over 20 years, I had nothing left - life was passing me by and I felt lost. Well I decided it was ME time! I actually lost 153 pounds in 14 months, maintained it for almost two years and then got sucked into my old lifestyle of putting ME last - gained 40+ pounds. Well I've picked myself up again, found my mojo and am back at it. But then, aren't we always a 'work in progress'?

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  • johnwhitent
    johnwhitent Posts: 648 Member
    WOW, what an amazing transformation! Congrats to you for turning things around.

    My journey started with a doctor visit five years ago. My doc was alarmed at my weight, blood pressure, etc. He told me that my unhealthy state was going to knock 15 years off of my life, and I was 54 at the time so the thought of losing 15 years was scary. He put me on blood pressure medication and other meds. I asked if I could change my prognosis with diet and exercise and he said it was theoretically possible but few people actually make the changes and stick with it. I moped around for a few months then decided that I was going to take the bull by the horns. With diet modification and exercise (cycling) I lost 55 lbs and got off of all the meds. My doc says that I am his greatest success story. I don't remind him that he did not believe that I could do it so didn't encourage me. I like being called his greatest success story so I let him believe it!
  • 42kgirl
    42kgirl Posts: 692 Member
    I don't have any pics as I am on DD's computer. I lost my mom to ovarian cancer last year. She was quite heavy, not active, and did not eat well. Obesity has been linked to cancer particularly women's cancers. My BP and cholesterol and all that has always been good and I was active, but the weight just wasn't really budging. It was when I started logging everything consistently that I really started losing. Honestly, my iPhone was a big contributor. Being able to log where and whenever I wanted was a big help. It's little things that keep me motivated to continue. I have taken 3 minutes off my per mile minutes running. I bought 2 bikinis this year. I have more to lose, but I now know that I can do it and it's relatively painless! It's kind of like saving for retirement. I am getting fit and healthy now so I can bank on my health when I am older.
  • Neahpata
    Neahpata Posts: 322 Member
    Wow, you guys are so inspirational. Well done on the loss and lifestyle change.
  • 42kgirl
    42kgirl Posts: 692 Member
    bump
  • SteveHunt113
    SteveHunt113 Posts: 648 Member
    Very inspirational guys! Thanks for sharing!

    I don't have any real good story. I've been a gym rat for over 10 years and thought I could eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I thought I looked good ... until my wife took a picture of me while we were vacationing in Hawaii. I saw this picture (before picture below) and realized I was NOT the hunk I thought I was! :)

    My final weight once I started back into maintenance was 196. My before weight is a guess, but it was no less that 225 and probably closer to 230.

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  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    (sorry pic is too large, but just right click on the picture and say "view image" to see the full size)

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    My "why" was that I never felt good about me or had the energy to do what I really wanted to do in life, and I was 26 years old. I've got too much life in me yet to just give up on myself so easily.
  • Anyaaaa11
    Anyaaaa11 Posts: 242 Member
    You are all SO amazing and inspiring. I almost wanted to cry looking at your posts. Truely amazing! This is the reason I keep striving for the body I want! Nothing is impossible!
  • newking
    newking Posts: 70 Member
    330to235.jpg

    This picture is 13 less than my highest (343) and the progress one I have lost 10 more lbs since I took the picture. I still have a long way to go.

    But my WHY is I want to be here for my son. I need a kidney transplant and have to be in the best condition I can be in so I can a. get a kidney and b. take good care of the kidney I hope to get.

    Everyone here is such an inspiration. :)
  • tlc0815
    tlc0815 Posts: 5
    My motivation is my daughter who is in my profile picture. She is almost 7 months and will be crawling soon and I want to be able to keep up with her and play with her as much as she wants without feeling completely worn out!
  • KyliAnnHobson
    KyliAnnHobson Posts: 551 Member
    My turning point was when I saw this picture from my family reunion in July of last year.

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    I couldn't even believe that was me! I honestly didn't realize just how large I had gotten. I bought a scale and was horrified that I was pushing 200 lbs. Right then is when I decided I had to make a change. I was fed up with myself for being so lazy and eating so horribly everyday. It's been almost a year since I discovered MFP and I've logged on every single day since. I've lost 70 lbs and just ran my first 5k trail run yesterday!

    xn5CM.jpg
  • sagetracey
    sagetracey Posts: 607 Member
    For me it was when my husband told me he was scared that I would end up in a wheelchair or die because of the problems that my morbid obesity was causing.

    In a complete turnaround, I found myself thinking this morning that, in terms of fitness, I have outgrown this awesome guy. 14 months ago I could barely walk around the block but he has supported me through WLS and exercise. Now we walk, cycle, dance and swim together but lately I have noticed that I am outpacing and outlasting him, especially with cycling and walking.

    Oh well, he needn't fear I shall end up in a wheelchair and I shall just have to work hard when we are not exercising together and push him when we are working out together!
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    My turning point was when I saw this picture from my family reunion in July of last year.

    i0QWQ.jpg

    I couldn't even believe that was me! I honestly didn't realize just how large I had gotten. I bought a scale and was horrified that I was pushing 200 lbs. Right then is when I decided I had to make a change. I was fed up with myself for being so lazy and eating so horribly everyday. It's been almost a year since I discovered MFP and I've logged on every single day since. I've lost 70 lbs and just ran my first 5k trail run yesterday!

    xn5CM.jpg

    You are freakin' amazing!
  • KyliAnnHobson
    KyliAnnHobson Posts: 551 Member


    You are freakin' amazing!

    Thank you! So are you!!! :smile:
  • tat2dmrsgrimm
    tat2dmrsgrimm Posts: 226 Member
    no pictures, but why I am doing this is very simple. My 7 year old son and my 3 year old daughter. I couldn't keep up with them at all 3 months ago. Now it is getting easier, but still rough. I want to be able to do things with them. We live in Arkansas. Lots of really awesome places to hike, camp, and adventure. I want to be able to do those things with my kids and my husband.
  • veronicacannon
    veronicacannon Posts: 107 Member
    I did an internship at a hospital and saw so many people in there due to complications of poor unhealthy lifestyle and diet and being overweight. I figure I should do something with myself before It gets too hard to lose. I'm now in a healthy weight range after only 10 pounds lost but I am so glad I didn't wait.

    Edit**
    Sorry, I realize I don't have a picture! lol
  • sippercreek
    sippercreek Posts: 1 Member
    My second heart attack prompted my wife and I both to eat healthier and to lose weight. 95 pounds between us so far. 50 for me and 45 for her.
  • patltrimble
    patltrimble Posts: 20
    Such an inspiration! Thanks
  • zaithyr
    zaithyr Posts: 482 Member
    I have had two kids and both pregnancies were riddled with complications that could've very easily taken the life of me and the baby. My size had a LOT to do with it. I need to be the best mom I can be for my kids and be the best me I can be so i can live my life to the fullest!

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  • aproc
    aproc Posts: 1,033 Member
    I was tired of feeling so uncomfortable in my own body and being looked at differently. That was the intial reason for losing weight. Now I am bulking to put on muscle. Now I do it because I love weights and I love living a healthy lifestyle. When I have kids someday, I want to be fit and a good role model for my kids to grow up with healthy habits and in good health.
  • callmejessica
    callmejessica Posts: 1,868 Member
    When I first joined MFP, I had been feeling down on myself as far as relationships went. I had been with a guy for a very long time and he turned out to be abusive and controlling when moved in together. The guy I dated after him cheated on me. I had great luck with guys, huh? Obviously my confidence was shot, but I knew that I couldn't get stuck in a dark place. I focused all of my attention and energy into working out and running daily in hopes that looking better would make me feel better. That all came to a halt when I had surgery for a breast tumor this past April. I soon realized that fitness is more than just for appearance: it's a total lifestyle. I have a lot of different health issues and that wasn't my first little lump I've had in my life. I figured that life is going to throw me a lot of curve balls and who knows what other obstacles I will have to face, so I might as well be as healthy as I can be for when those times come. Maybe I can't control genetics and all of these unexpected issues, but I can control my fitness and attitude.
  • rgoodearl
    rgoodearl Posts: 360 Member
    I love all these motivational "why's"
    Awesome job to you all !!!
    Keep it going !

    Bump
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