Another forum asked: "what made you WANT to lose weight?"

THIS IS WHAT I ANSWERED:

Well a few things.  Like someone mentioned before, i knew i needed to lose weight, but i seriously bought into that whole "you're not THAT fat" mentality. Then a few things happened:

1. Just bought a house, so I'm broke. I have a TON of clothes i cannot wear.  Since I'm broke i can't go buy clothes that fit, so now i need to lose weight and use my massive wardrobe.

2.  After I left HS i slowly became a " I do not like to take pictures" person.  After realizing i had barely any pictures of me and my 3 yr old son TOGETHER, i freaked out.  The more pictures i took and forced myself to KEEP, I realized that me FEELING fat, was not just a "feeling" it was a reality.

3.  Finally, i got tired of thin people giving me weight loss advice.  I know what I have to do.  i have been on a million diets, know healthy eating habits and like healthy foods, constantly read fitness magazines, books and newsletters.  i KNOW more then them! I need to watch my calories, exercise and be consistent, yada, yada.  I do not need anyone else giving me rudimentary diet and fitness advice; especially from those people who have NEVER had a weight/emotional/stress eating problem.

Wheewwwwwwwwwwwwww! It felt good to vent. Thanks for posting the question Missxdior!

WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER???

My wife and I went on a cruise to Mexico in 2007, and I spoke to several people who have take the same cruise...the all said "You HAVE to do the zip lines".

The problem, it there is a 250 pound limit, and I was too heave (about 275 then).

2 months ago, we booked a cruise to Alaska for September, and again, I'm to heavy to do a zip-line adventure (now even 20 pounds heavier).

I have never been heavier than I am now, and I just got sick of being too heavy. I have always been heavy, but have gained alot in the last several years. I have trouble buying off-the-rack shorts, pants, and shirts. I'm one of the biggest guys I work with, and hate how I look.

2½ weeks ago, on a Tuesday, I woke up and said 'enough...I refuse to weigh 300 pounds (I was 297) and cannot live like this anymore'. I'm down 12 pounds, and wish I could just fast-forward a few months to get past the initial struggle.

My hope, is that in 2 years, I wil book a cruise and get to zipline...stay tuned!!

Too many reasons but not enough courage for many years.  Finally, the past 15 months I have found the courage and that I am going to be able to do this.  But as for me my reasons are;

1. My mom died way to young and overweight, she struggled for years to loose it.  I want to do it for her too.

2. My children deserve a playful, happy, energetic mommy.  I want to see them be mommies too.

3. I love my husband and I love having sex with him... I want to be able to enjoy that with the lights on and not feel like he is thinking of someone else so he can bare it.  Of course he doesn't,  but my lack of self confidence & esteem needs to change, this journey is helping that happen. 

4. I have to learn to love me and this is forcing me to have "me time".  The time at the gym is becoming my favorite part of my mornings.  It's getting quieter in my head, the negativity is becoming less & less.

Mmm ever since i was really young, i've always thought i was bigger than my sisters and most of the girls at school. But i knew one good thing about my size that time, was that i knew i can play sports better. I love basketball and in general getting into any sports activites.

When high school came along, i became more self concious about my weight. I had few friends and didn't date thus, i often blamed it on my size. It wasn't until late into my senior year of high school when i dated a guy that accepted me for who i was.

It took me awhile to realize the reason why i didn't seem like an approachable person or someone 'interesting' is because i lacked confidence in myself. The self image of myself affected me to where i started becoming some i don't want to be.

I want to lose weight to help my confidence and self esteem. After a bit of growing, i've become realized how beautiful i really am. All what i need to do is work to where i want to be. The journey to my ideal weight will be a very wonderful and fullfilling experience. :] And i can't wait to make myself proud!

I want to lose weight for

1. health
2. memories (photos with my kids, I just deleted all the photos of me from our Disney trip, even if it was just my fat fingers)
3. confidence
4. I'm tried of my mom pouch bouncing more then my chest during fun night time activities
5. I want to feel like DH want to do night time fun, not just get it over with. I'm sure it's more in my head because I want to just get it over with so He can't feel a fat moving.  There's that confidence.
6. my 3 year old asked me if we were going back to the DR and if this time could we gat a sister not a brother.  UMMMM i have an IUD.

Well, there's more than 100 reason why I want to loose weight, but the main one is to lower my cholesterol level which is sky high. 

I too want to lose weight for my health. Recently, my father came to stay with me for a few weeks. He is in his mid 60's, and near 300lbs. He takes many medications, almost all weight issue related. I cannot go down this path. We share genetics, but I want to choose another way. I had my children late in life, I'm 44 my kids are 6 and 4. I want to be a healthy energetic mom for them. There are health issues I can control. Being a healthy weight is one of them. I'm currently on BP meds and can't wait to lose wieght and get off of them.

Original Post by cmpass:

3.  Finally, i got tired of thin people giving me weight loss advice.  I know what I have to do.  i have been on a million diets, know healthy eating habits and like healthy foods, constantly read fitness magazines, books and newsletters.  i KNOW more then them! I need to watch my calories, exercise and be consistent, yada, yada.  I do not need anyone else giving me rudimentary diet and fitness advice; especially from those people who have NEVER had a weight/emotional/stress eating problem.

YES! (just discovered this thread).

MOST of these i dislike when thin people give you "advice" containing info on fad diets and supposed superfoods you just HAVE to consume (bacause some celeb or tabloid said it). ie you HAVE to eat avocados (all the time). berries as superfood. green tea a miracle. etc. yes these are healthy. i know about the need to have variety of foods. i believe in calories in,calories out, not by some hal-though article about avocados, thank you very much

So many reasons, so little time. I'll just hit the highlights...

1. I want to be able to play with my kids and not be a quivering, sweaty blob (I live in Arizona- nuff said).

2. I want to be healthier so I'll still be here for all of my children's milestones- graduations, marriage, grandchildren, etc. Plus my husband has to take blood pressure medication and maybe if I'm healthier, he will be, too.

3. I want to feel sexier- not just in bed with my husband but all the time. Who want to be so aware of what their body looks like that they think "Don't touch my belly" or "there goes that jiggle again"?

4. I want my husband and children to be proud of me. I don't want to be the fat mom/wife.

5. **warning- shallow comment** I want people to see me and think "She's pretty" not "Thar she blows".

6. Since I live in Arizona it would be nice to wear shorts and a tank top out in public instead of burning up wearing jeans and a big t-shirt during the whole summer.

7 Pictures- I want some family photos where I can actually be in the picture and not obsess over my double chin/ belly/ arm fat/ big butt.

Alright, let's see...

1. My mother. She's a bit bigger than me and has Lupus. Maybe if -I- lost the weight, she'd be inspired to do it as well.

2. I've got low self confidence. Maybe if I lost the weight I would be able to hold my head up in a crowd.

3. Plus sizes are EXPENSIVE! I don't make alot of money, so when my clothes go out I've got to get out the sewing kit and deal with it.

4. I'm tired of being hungry all day. Litterally. It's hard to tell when one meal ends and snacks begin sometimes.

5. Last but not least, I intend to go to Job Corp this fall. I want to lose at least a little before I go, and get a jump start on the weight loss I'll try to continue there.

Original Post by caraz:

Simple - I want a baby.

I'm not ovulating because I am overweight.

I can't get fertility treatment because I am overweight.

Everything else (to start running again, be fitter, be able to buy nice clothes etc) is just secondary.

I really truly hope it works out for you <3

1. I got asked *three times* if I was expecting a child. When I said I wasn't, one customer suggested that I get liposuction.

2. Size 16 is starting to fit way too tight, and 18 is a little to close to womens size/plus sizes for me.

3. Heart disease, high blood sugar, high cholestoral, diabetes, heart disease all runs in the family.

4. I feel it'll be easier to maintain my thyroid problem if I'm on a set diet.

5. I'm only 20! I want to be able and go out and go hiking with my friends without being embarrassed of my weight.

6. Even though I'm in a loving relationship, I'd *really* love to make my exboyfriends mad at themselves for leaving me.  Superficial, yea...

Original Post by turtlebug003:

4. I feel it'll be easier to maintain my thyroid problem if I'm on a set diet.

i believe in losing even a part of the extra weight is good for this! my doctor has put me off thyroid medication altogether since my levels went normal after i lost PART of my extra weight. it was a very pleasant bonus. yes i need to get it checked and maybe i will be on the meds again sometime, but at least now it is ok!

Original Post by ka2007:

i believe in losing even a part of the extra weight is good for this! my doctor has put me off thyroid medication altogether since my levels went normal after i lost PART of my extra weight. it was a very pleasant bonus. yes i need to get it checked and maybe i will be on the meds again sometime, but at least now it is ok!

Now *that* is music to my ears. Hopefully this will hold true for me too! I've noticed that I've been feeling better as a result of a better diet (duh, I know...) so we'll see what happens when I go to the doctor for labwork next!

1. I dread being on pictures so I am missing out on memories.  (I feel like that one lady in a weight loss commercial).
2. Doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit elevated.  It was not bad enough "yet" for medication.
3. I hate going past these nice clothing stores that only have sizes up to 12 (and the odd slender not wide 14).
4. I don't want diabetes or heart disease.
5. Dating - If I don't like my image, how can I expect someone else to?
6. Promotions - Fat people are usually passed off as lazy.  I hate to say it but I could really see the prejudice around me. Looks often are put ahead of ability even with highly reputable employers....sad but true

1. I want to ACTIVELY enjoy my grandchildren

2. I want to travel and be able to participate in sports/hobbies like hiking, canoeing, playing tennis and golf

3. I want to be healthy and fit and not develop diabetes like every member in my family

4. I want to go into a store and be able to try on and buy clothes that are flattering and not just to cover up the rolls

5. I want to inspire and motivate women who have not given themselves the time and love they deserve because they have put everyone else before them

1.  I want to feel better

2. I want to look better

3. I am in college and probably one of the 5 fattest in our class

4. I am going to be a nurse and want to set a good living example

5.  I want to run to the camera, not away from it

6. I want to fit into my jeans again

7. I want to feel attractive to my husband

Honestly, I have never been able to lose weight.  I have been put on pills my the doctor and everything, with 15 pounds here and there and that is it.  The 2 times I lost weight in my life were when I starved myself and when I used a drug to lose weight.  I got down to 130 which was a size 4 for me.  I felt great.  But beings that I lost it with unhealthy measures, I gained it back very quickly. This is only my second day of counting calories and about my 2nd month of working out consistently.  I have only lost 2 pounds in the last 2 months.  I pray this will work with perserverance.  If anything, maybe I will feel better about myself.

why i want to lose weight

1. i do not want my children to be fat or learn my eating habits

2. i want to be and feel healthy

3. i want to go in a store and buy clothes i like, not settle for the ones that just fit me.

4. i dont want to be the fat friend any more

1) I got a boyfriend, we've been together 10 months now and swears he loves me the way I am, but I still feel self-conscious around him. I want to be able to enjoy our time together without worrying that actually he doesn't like the way I look.

2) I had a scare when I registered with a new doctor and they told me my BP was high. I had it retested a few times and I was alright, must have been a stressful day. Then the optician told me that the blood vessels in the back of my eyes show that I will be susceptible to hypertension. There is also a history of hypertension in my family and I don't fancy spending my life on meds.

3) My older sister is getting married in August 2010 and she's working really hard to lose weight, I don't want to ruin her photos by being the fat sister. Nor do I want to be afraid to stand in front of the camera. I want some good memories of this day as well.