what started it all for you?

My most motivating day was when I had a pair of shorts on and I walked down my lane way and the entire time I felt my thighs rubbing together... I walked right back in the house, change my shorts, and changed my life. I can never get that feeling of disgust out of my head and still use that to my motivation even after a few yo-yos since then.

I was overweight as a youth and growing up and seeing my parents struggle with being clinically obese I strive everyday to no have that happen to me. I want to be an active parent (though that will be quite a few years from now) and enjoy the years to come instead of fighting my way through weight loss all the time... Its hard to lose but, harder to keep it off. However, the sweetest part of of keeping it off is seeing yourself go back. Not being disappointed, have to change your life around, not buying new clothes because all of them no longer fit.

If you have ever struggled in your life with weight loss, I would say one of the kindest things you can do is motivate someone who is younger than you to get in shape. They should enjoy life rather than having to do constant overhauls on themselves like many of us have had to.

*Get fit, Stay fit* - your life will thank you.

I was just doing web searches and came across this site and thought what the heck and signed up. I found it so easy to use that my husband signed up too. We use it as kind of a game at first just to see how much food we could eat and stay in our calorie range. Before we knew it the weight started falling off and we kept it up. We have now each lost about 50 lbs. and been on here for 6 months. We started with walking and watching calories. It has been amazing to see the changes. We both feel so much better. It used to be every time I even thought about losing weight I would go get 3 - 4 candy bars and say oh well... Now looking back at pictures I just can't believe we got that bad. Good luck!

Like the weight I put on, it wasn't one particular thing, just a gradual build-up of a lot of things. The death of my stepfather from an obesity-related heart attack (he was only 56) was a major factor. Then slowly being unable to fit into things - meeting room chairs, roller-coaster rides, restaurant booths, movie seats, etc. Other parents (and sometimes teachers) making comments about my size at my kids school. My doctor saying there's a surgery that could correct my lifelong heart defect - but that it's too risky to attempt at my obese weight. Then last (and in my mind, worst) watching my 11 year old daughter start to make poor food choices and follow in my footsteps, making me remember all the bullying I got as a kid at her age because of MY weight, and desperately wanting to be a better example for her, so she doesn't go through what I did. Realizing she was learning all this stuff from me made me really get serious about getting healthier - because no matter what I say to her about it, kids learn from what you DO, not what you say.

The scale tipping over 90 kilos. It scared me to realise I would look like my sister if I didn't do something about it.

My wife telling me she was worried about my weight and telling me she hated what I was doing to myself.

I truly don't know about anyone else but I realised that if I didn't try now, I'd just quit and that would be that.
There were some major health issues that involved a CT colonoscopy, then a full scope. The surgeon that I saw had a frank discussion with me and made an appointment with a bariatric specialist. On it went from there.
Somewhere along the way I realised that it was ME holding myself back, not anything else. I started by asking for a disability note for our public swimming pool and starting to go to aquafit. At the same time I set myself a diet that I could follow, talked with a dietician, read the material that the specialist requested I read and got determined to smarten up and get my act straightened out.
This is a five year plan to get my health back and my life in order. One step at a time and I've made a start.

My mum held up my wedding dress in front of 2 of my friends and said " can you believe Kelly used to fit in this? She used to be skinny" Ouch that hurt.

A dear friend put her arms around me for a hug and I realized that the size of my body was getting in the way of feeling and being close to people. I started making changes right away. Plus, I stopped antidepressant medications which had caused my weight gain in the first place, and the weight started coming off.

I had four big babies....it wasnt until i saw a picture of myself that i realized how unhealthy i had become. I never had to worry about my weight before having kids so i didnt know how to take care of myself while being pregnant. This site has helped tremendously .....couldnt have done it on my own.

I keep my before pictures in my profile as a reminder of how far i have come and to show others that it can be done!

Well a few things. I decided for my New Years resolution I was going to lose just 10 lbs in 2012. While I was trying my best to Zumba at home I joined with my coworkers in a few 5k's fun walks. Then my work offered a weight loss challenge which someone would win a gym membership for a year. Well I knew the chances of that was slim but something just clicked and I said let me see if I can just finish the 12 week challenge. I did finish it with 7 lbs lost. My dad had joined MFP awhile ago and he's lost so much weight it's crazy fantastic. He's on me now when I don't log my food. Lately I have been a logging fanatic and working out seems to work well in shedding the lbs- imagine that diet and exercise actually work. I need to start using a food scale I agree 100% something in you will click. I also was diagnosed with arthritis in my shoulder and it's made me feel old too. I also want to see if I can actually do something different and be a new me. A skinny me that I haven't seen in 16 years. Plus I feel bad that my husband wants to go swimming and I keep answering him not until I get skinny. Good luck everyone!!