Breaking Point

The approach of the summer did it for me. Had a baby 3 years ago and completely let myself go. Ate unhealthfully 80% of the time and did zero exercise. I would try to be better and failed each time saying "Ill start next week/next month/Monday". Some of those failures were beyond my control, but most were completely my fault, and with this summer approaching I just got fed up with myself. So, I bought the 30 day shred knowing there could not be any excuse for not finding 20 minutes a day, and set my alarm for the next morning. That was about 6 weeks ago and I only wonder why I waited so long to do this!

It just takes mindset.

It was multiple things hitting at once for me. I had a physical last year, first time in ages and the doctor sai that while overall the numbers were not bad, I was borderline for diabetes, hypertension and one other thing I can't remember. She said I was fat and needed to lose weight but didn't have the be in the government scale of healthy to be healthy.

After that, I realized (yes as a man) that I have a bucnh of clothes that for most part I was one pound or two too much to wear them without it being uncomfortable or looking like I just wedged myself into my clothes. Also I after the doctors visit, I realized I was wearing pretty mich the same clothes over and over again. I started thinking that others were thinking I was poor or something (joking)....

So that's when I decided to get serious. The last month and half was a bit of a set back, but I am back on the horse now and looking forward to hitting my goal by October.

Finally seeing pictures of this really fat unhealthy guy got me. Especially when I saw it was me.

Divorce and the thought of having to date again.

my health was in a downward spiral. my doctor gave me this website, a nutrtionist & 3 months to start losing the weight on my own. or face another sugery
proud to say im doing it! no surgery needed, & ive already reversed all my serious medical health conditions!

Not long after I turned 39 I realized that I had put 20 of the 30 pounds I had previously lost back on...and was going to be 40 years old in less than a year.

Divorce and the thought of having to date again.

This was pretty much it for me too. For so long, I have hid behind all my fat and used it as an excuse not to go out and enjoy life. I wanted to change that. And I am. The fat is still there (although a little less, and not for much longer), but I'm not letting it hold me back any longer.

I went through a series of three injuries in the span of about 2.5 years, was newly 21 and partying a lot and dating a guy who had TERRIBLE eating habits which I of course picked up and it all just added up so fast that before I knew it I had gained 35 lbs. I was out with friends and was tagged in pictures the next day which was the point reality slapped me in the face and I realized just how fat I had gotten. I made up my mind, in the middle of the week, that it was time to change. Not next week. Not next month. Now. So I found MFP on May 17, 2011, a Tuesday, and started my journey.

I had been doing strength training for several years and thought my once extremely weak ankle was invincible. I was in Florida with a friend and turned it to the point that I thought it may be broken while sitting down into a lounge chair. I realized that they may be stronger, but I still needed to lose the weight.

I've always loved the outdoors and have been active. I cut back on my hiking a year and half ago to spend more time with my GF. I was overweight to begin with. After I stopped hiking, I blew up like the frickin' Good Year blimp.

My GF is an RN at one of those "Dial a Nurse" operations. She councils people on their chronic health conditions. She had been bugging me for months about my weight gain. But, I just couldn't find the motivation to do anything about it until a couple months ago when I saw my doctor.

My doc told me, according to my BMI, I was considered obese and my good cholesterol was low due to lack of exercise. If that wasn't enough, she said, if my BP got any worse she would put me on meds to control it. I've been on a CPAP for a couple years now for obstructive sleep apnea.

I simply couldn't reconcile any this with my self-image. I've always seen myself as an active outdoor person who embraces life and thrives on adventure. But according to medical numbers, I was just another fat *kitten* sitting in front of a TV eating his way to an early grave. I missed the mountains and my hiking friends

So, here I am.

As some others have said...not my first breaking point but the most recent one that kicked me back into gear. Last month my 22 year old niece was diagnosed with acute liver failure (didn't drink, do drugs, eat bad, no pre-existing conditions...no idea how it happened.) She died a week later. She has three children with no mom or dad. I realized that I needed to be there for them. I couldn't continue on this self-destructive path that would eventually take me away from my family as well.

Losing her also made me remember that I'm an organ donor but at the rate I'm going, when I die, my organs won't be good for anyone. I don't want to leave this world not having helped some other people. I know it won't matter to me after I die but it matters to me now and it's been good motivation.

Thanks Amber.

To be fair, my GF has some physical limitations (that I won't go into) that prevent her from hiking with me. We do other outdoorsy things together such as kayaking and camping. She has been very supportive of my efforts to regain my fitness.

At the time I stopped hiking, I had just completed my goal of hiking all the 4,000 foot peaks in New Hampshire's White Mountains. My intention was to take a short break, maybe one or two months. That turned into an 18 month hiatus.

It's tough rationing my time. We only get to see each other on weekends. Our family and professional obligations keep us apart during the week. I just wish this stinking economy would improve . That would make it much easier for one or both of us to relocate .