What was your "Gotta Change my Life "moment ?

Been overweight whole life. Lost up to 50 lbs several times but always gained it back and then some. I also thought of it as some kind of love test...if they didn't love me the way I was, then they really didn't love me, but in actuality, I didn't love myself enough. I considered myself fairly healthy at least since I wasn't on meds for anything. A little over 3months ago had my annual exam and found out I had high blood pressure and got put on meds. Started MFP that very weekend. Now of course I find myself in an unhappy marriage, I think h thinks he loves me, but in my eyes he doesn't love me enough, nor does he treat me the way you treat that person you will love for the rest of your life, so once I am done working on me (or befor if the opportunity should arise) I will then have to address what remains of my marriage nd if it is worth salvaging.

Mine was just a couple weeks ago. Three things hit me all in the same day like a domino-effect. I was visiting my mother (74 years old and goes to the gym 5 days a week) and we went to the mall to return some things she'd bought. We were walking through the women's clothing and I was seeing all the beautiful clothes I knew I didn't have a chance of wearing. Then as we were sitting and resting on a bench, my mom teared up and almost started crying. She asked me if it didn't bother me that so many people we passed in the mall turned and stared or laughed at me. Truthfully, I hadn't noticed, but hearing that and seeing my own mom so emotional about it just about killed me. As I was changing later, I caught sight of myself naked from a side view and that was the final straw. I decided then that I had to change.

A week ago today, I started watching what I was eating closely. Then last Wednesday, I joined a gym and found this website and I'm on my way to a healthier lifestyle.

Several AHA moments. My Physical Therapist I was seeing for SI and Shoulder problems, gently let me know I had let my physical condition go to pot. I saw a couple photos of me taken when I wasn't posing to hide my weight, I lost a friend with a heart attack, another was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Those warnings combined with my daughter and brother succumbing to terminal cancer, my younger brother barely surving a heart attack and my DH struggling with yet another back surgery (all within the same year) gave me the where with all to take charge of my health.

First, let me congratulate you on your progress and success to date! Keep up the good work!

My moment came at work when a bunch of skinny chicks I work with were talking about how much they loved Weight Watchers, so I dismissively replied that it sounds nice and maybe I'd think about it after the holidays. Followed by me crossing my legs and ripping the rear end out of my pants. We're talking an open party tent flap...not just loosening the seam.

Then I decided to visit the gym where my husband works out, and was greeted by two young men who looked at me like a velociraptor just walked through the door, and after the hushed "rock, paper, scizzors" that followed, this poor kid welcomed me with a voice that sounded like a mouse with asthma whistling in the back of a truckload of sawdust. So I get it. And let them off the hook and reassure them I don't need any help with the machinery and working out. And get your finger away from the panic button under the desk.

So the journey continues...some days I need every ounce of willpower not to eat the backside of skunk, and other days I think I could eat like a Supermodel for the rest of my life. To be continued...

I want you to write a blog. You have such a way with words!!

I want you to write a blog. You have such a way with words!!
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colleen-hawley.blogspot.com

Come join the madness...

I love this infographic. Sometimes when I'm about to binge or get out of control I take a minute to picture the INSIDE of my body and how hard it's struggling. Especially my heart. I picture my organs laboring away under a layer of fat. It scares me.

For me, my moment came when I was sitting in front of the open fridge eating something. I can't remember what it was (maybe pie? I do love a good pie), but I was just sitting there with a fork eating it off the bottom shelf while my boyfriend at the time was sleeping in the next room. I have never been significantly overweight, but that was the moment I realized I had completely lost control of myself. It still took me years and a few relapses and now at age 41 I feel like I'm finally getting free of those demons.

Another realization was seeing photos of myself from my sister's wedding. My other sister had lost 30lbs and kept it off and she looked amazing. I looked gigantic and I hated almost every picture I was in except for about 5.

My moment was when I, or one of my moments, went white water rafting. I got thrown over by a rouge wave and stuck in the rapids. It was a scary moment but what's worse..is the fact that the guide had a hard time getting me back in the boat.

Yeah, it was clear that I need to lose weight. That and riding horses at 230 pounds isn't heathly either.

I agree. I'm also a rafter and horseback rider and there's nothing like struggling to get up on a horse....and with the falling overboard....had that happen....nothing worse than your guide struggling to pull you back in. Humiliating!

Please don't take this the wrong way but gotta say this one makes me laugh kids are so brutally honest! Gotta love kids aye!?

My moment came when I was talking to my 5 yr old. She was choked by an older boy in the top of the McDonalds play toys, and I asked her later why she didnt call for me. She looked at me lovingly, and said "Mommy, I knew you wouldnt fit " She was so sad for me, and I could tell she didnt want to make me feel bad.

Then, a month later, my daughters (5, 3, 1) were given a full sized trampoline...brand new. My youngest was in the middle and was crying because the older two were jumping her. I kneeled onto the trampoline fast to grab her, flopped onto the middle of the trampoline...and it broke.

I broke a trampoline. A 15 foot trampoline.

My husband was able to bend the bar back and get it back to normal (he is a machinist), but I will NEVER forget hearing my daughters telling my husband that I broke a freaking trampoline.

My oldest still says to me "Mommy, dont get on the trampoline with us this time...okay? You can be on it later after you get healthy!"

Breaking your childs favorite toy is all the push I needed.

I weighed 323 at my biggest...and I am never going back. I lost 18lbs in the first month. I went from being terrified to walk for 10 minutes, to being able to jog for seven straight minutes after a few weeks!

My "aha" moment came in Jan of 2011 when I was in the hospital due to en ectopic pregnancy. This was the 1st time I was admitted to the hospital EVER, although I had some health issues for the last few years. While in the hospital, I had to weigh myself in front of my husband and mom, and the scale said 270... 40 lbs heavier than the last time I had been on the scale. That wasn't the first time I had had a "weight freak out" but it was the one that has stuck with me. After my surgery and recovery, I started loosing weight last year, but fell off the wagon in April and went back to some unhealthy ways.... This year in January I went for my annual check up, and while everything except my BMI came back OK, I was also having some major pain in my knee. When i mentioned it to the doctor, she didn't bring up my weight, but said that general exercise would make the muscles around it stronger... I started by walking my dog, and taking a once a week Zumba class. Now I try my best to stay in my calorie goal for each day and do something physical most days...Its been 6 months and I'm loosing a lot slower than I had hoped, but I know this is the right way to go about it. Its not easy, but my husband promised me a trip to Ireland if I loose 75 lbs and I am determined to do it... only 47 more to go... and I CAN DO IT! I think its also important to mention that I used to get horrible migraines and I haven't had one since improving my diet and cutting out most processed foods...