What is your incentive in regards to your weight loss?

Tell me, whats yours?

I'm 32, and I saw all these women 10-15 years older than me at the same weight I was (268) and they couldn't walk.  I want to be able to walk when I get older.

And my godson.

i am 16 and i should be in the best shape of my life, but im not. i want to be healthy and start my adult life out strong! and i want to look and feel hot

I started to have knee problems and back problems last year, and my blood pressure is iffy, and I finally realised that at 36 I have to deal with my weight NOW, before I woke up one morning and discovered that I'd hit 300 pounds and semi-immobile and it was that much harder to deal with.

I want to be light enough (and fit enough) to be able to be active and mobile for the rest of my life.

And I want to get out of plus-sizes and into regular ones so that I can wear what I want to instead of just whatever the stores deign to make in my size.

I've done it all--lost weight to fit into clothes, lost weight to feel more attractive, lost weight so that I would be at a healthy weight when I got pregnant. Now, I'm not losing weight for any of those reasons. I'm losing weight for me. That's it. I'm losing weight because I know that on my 30th birthday (Oct. 10 2008), I'm going to be the healthiest I've ever been. My focus is completely on healthy choices--eating lean protein, fruits and veggies with every meal, eating two snacks per day.

Will it be nice to fit back into my size 6 skirts and pants? Of course it will! Will it be nice to model a healthy lifestyle for my daughter (who's 19 months now)? Yes! Will it be nice to feel more attractive and sexier? Absolutely! But is this what I'm thinking about when I'm jogging around my hilly neighborhood? Nope! I'm thinking about possibly running the Bay to Breakers, if not this May, then next. I'm thinking about feeling good about all the choices I'm making in my life. I'm feeling good about myself. That's it.

Regretably, I waited until I turned 30 to realize that if I didn't get up off my fat bum, my bad eating habits and weight would only get worse. Now I am fitting into size 5s (which I haven't fit into since about 7th grade), I can eat twice as much as I used too because it's nutritious healthy food, and I absolutely love the way I feel when I'm in the gym. Oh, and the looks I get when I stroll up to the free-weight area in my gym and grab heavier dumbbells than the guy standing next to me. That always puts a little grin on my face.

I just finished school, I just bought a car, I'm starting uni in March, it's all happening for me at the moment. I'd like to start uni thinner and fitter than I am now. If I'm about to better my mind, why not better my body first?

To feel strong, healthy, and sexy. To be able to keep up. To be able to lead. To set an example. To prove to myself that I can. To be proud of myself instead of ashamed. To take control and leave excuses behind.

i'm single.

- I want to feel better in general, have more energy, breathe easier, not get sick with diabetes, etc.

- I want to look more pleasing to myself and my husband, and feel more... able to do certain things more effectively and with more energy.

- I'd like to fit into "normal" clothes and look good in swimsuits.

- I'm 30 and transferring back into school after a five year haitus, and I'm going to have to "compete" with 20 year olds! Let's face it, fat people aren't treated as well as thin people, so being thinner will be part of my success as a student.

- There's a hot person in here somewhere. I've seen her before, I know she's still there... I miss her...

- I want to make my mom proud (though I don't want to be as skinny as her - about 5'1" and 100 pounds, size 0 to 2). She used to be heavier, about 160, and got into shape by running with me when I was in high school. Now I'm the heavy one, so maybe I can run with her again soon. And when I look at my mom, I know that there is no reason why I can't be thin again. If she can do it, so can I.

- I want to be strong! By the time I've reached my goal I want to be lifting freeweights again. I hate asking for help opening jars or moving heavy objects.

Probably a sad reason...

But peer pressure. The media. The conception that how all Asian girls are petite and skinny.

Unfortunately, people are trying to be thin and where I come from, you have to be stick skinny to be pretty. Boobs? Butt? They don't mind curves.. but they would rather be stick skinny than to be a little womanly and curvy.

I know that most of you would probably tell me (and I would agree) that you shouldn't pay attention to those but concentrate more and love yourself. But that ain't so easy if I were to go back to where I came from and hear "What got you so fat??" Grr, it's not easy to just disregard what I hear.

That's one more reason I fear for younger generation of women/girls who don't want to be pressured but subtlely or not so subtlely are by the society/media/misconception.

-Lemon Jello

P.S Oops, I forgot to mention that another reason is high risk (if already not) of diabetes. =\

I have too many friends and family members who are dying of cancer. I guess I'm afraid of getting sick because of my unhealthy lifestyle. I'm trying to eat better and work out to keep my body healthy and strong, in hopes that when I'm older I'll have a better chance at fighting weight-related illnesses.

Also, I'd like to be able to fit into clothes better. I hate shopping and not being able to find my size.