What made you decide to lose weight?

G'Day Mates...........

I would be most interested to hear from people what was it that made them decide to loose weight? Was it a picture that you saw? Was it because of medical reasons (a doctor urged you to start)? Was it somethign that happened that made you open your eyes? Did someone say something?

I"ll start off first:

For me it was a combination of things and people. Ive been overweight for years eyons of years to be exact lol. Tried many diets, many weight loss venues, including the main ones...but without any success. Until last year when my son (16years) was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.......I saw how he suffered and struggled.......I saw how he faught.........I saw his strength and determination.......I was proud of the way he handled it. He gave me strength.....Then after all of that I had two more experiences. I had my picture taken with a couple of people at a Fundraising venture for the children's hospital foundation here in Brisbane. I hated the pics.......I looked overweight, fat and sad.....My son took another picture of me the week later and i still looked so depressed , sad and run out. I almost couldn't recognise myself. I thought long and hard....my son beat his tumour, so I can surely beat this scurge called "fat". So I started and I havent looked back since...........What is your story?

mine is getting ready to turn30! Im sick of excuses! I want my kids to grow up with a healthy mom and dad! I come from a family where they yo yo back and forth- I know I can change my life! Plus who doesnt want to be a hotmom!

Mine was also a culmination of things. My biggest reason is for my health. I am asthmatic and rather out of shape (getting better now though!) and I want to not feel old and tired at only 32. I also know that with the weight off my middle I will breathe easier and be able to keep up with my active kiddo.

Another reason is that I'm not getting any younger and I want to look fabulous just one time in my life. Even when I was thin before I was spindly and sickly looking. I wasn't healthy about it.

In my journal/log thing here I spoke about a few of the things that embarassed me into facing the truth about myself, that was motivating in a bad way.

Also, I've been studying Naturopathy and I feel in order to be able to help others learn about nutrition and how to prevent disease and live healthy I need to work at being a living example. I want to be one who can both learn and teach ;)

Also, I look at this as being able to kick my one last vice. I quit drinking and smoking years ago and when I lick this food for comfort thing it will be my way of proving myself to myself.

Guess that about sums it up :)
Christin

I looked down...really seriously...I looked down and I (tearing up right now, sorry friends) could not see my tummy button for the little roll that was above it. That is the reason. Now I have heard all the healthy chatting here and I know I have to get healthy along with looking better. So it comes hand in hand. huggers to you all...its hard....tears...gone to get a tissue now....

Thanks for sharing your story...
My story goes like this: I adopted a very active 5 year old and I am having trouble keeping up with him. I had to actually stop and figure out that I was about 20 lbs overweight. He is loving all the dumb bells, exercisie balls and his own water bottle! If that doesn't make it exciting, I don't know what does. Life is so much easier with even a couple pounds lost. Keep up the great work!

mines kind of weird. i was 60 pounds over weight( now 40). my husband is a tattooist and body piercer. and he tattoos and pierces everything ( i mean everything ) It was hard on me seeing all these young skinny girls coming in for the works. even though i know he loves me. I took a look in the mirror one day and said ick. why would someone want to be with this when he sees all the other girl(again he loves me) so i decided it was time to do something about it. When i started it was for him now ITS FOR ME.

I was always the tall skinny bean-pole in high-school, then I had a really serious car accident.

It took me a few years of physio therapy & yoga to get back to a functional state.... but I wasn't quite bright enough to figure out that since I wasn't doing all the stuff I did before the accident that I shouldn't be eating the same way.

When I was out of care I had gone from 135 lbs to 184 lbs.... I was absolutely crushed.

I tried a gym, but didn't know much about working out and school got in the way. My boyfriend at the time was a huge eater, and he was also packing on weight. I lived with him for almost 4 years and came out of that relationship at about 190 lbs.

I had some moderate success on a planned diet (e-diets, they make the meal plan for you) and went down to 172 lbs, but then I let life get in the way again.

When I hit 200 lbs at about October I took a serious look at myself and said: I survived the damn crash and I'm walking and otherwise fit, I pushed myself all the way through school to an MA, and I have a decent job now.... why am I letting the weight thing get to me?

I figured I needed to stop feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information out there and go attack weight loss like I would have a paper in university.

I did my homework and think I've got a good start, I know I need to exercise, I've got some good information on good healthy exercise, as well as some good nutritional advice, and this site is a miricale for making calorie counting easy!

The pounds are coming off and I'm seeing a lot of improvements. If I can keep the motivation up I'm sure I'll break through all my previous weights and be back in shape within the next year.

Cheers all,

Hi Sue,
First, I am so happy to see that he is recovering and doing well! How proud you must be of him! I can only imagine what you were going through. It must have been awful. I understand what you said about your son and the way he handled his diagnosis.. I know first hand how their positive attitude greatly helps us. This past September, my son (18) was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes, he accepted his disease with not much more than an "it a b*tch but what can you do about it" attitude. He continues to be amazing and keeps his sugars under great control. I am so proud of him too!

So, anyhow about what motivated me this time.. well first a new years resolution with my husband to get in shape before the summer (he says he's sticking to it but I'm not so sure...we have a carrot cake in the fridge which he bought). Also, the fact that I have no clothes that fit me & have a nice wardrobe if I just drop this weight! I am trying to do it by making "good choices" and being more conscious of what goes into my mouth. I have a daycare and it's so easy to nibble all day.
One more thing... I have a foot problem, I am afraid the extra weight is only making it harder for me to walk and I hope loosing the weight will also relieve some of the pain!

Well my motivation is posted in the motivation section titled new dieter, it's a long story and i dont want to retype the whole thing. Basically i have gained about 30lbs in the past year because my job i sit at a computer for 12 hours a day. it's really taken a toll on all the women that work there. At our christmas party we took alot of photos on a co workers digital camera. A couple of weeks ago she had the pictures developed and when i saw myself i could not believe it! When i look in the mirror i dont see the same person. and i felt that my outside appearance was changing my inside. I started becoming jealous and insecure which really affects my close relationships! I love myself and I wanted to change the outside to go with the inside i know i always was!

heard all the health chats etc. bottom line I want to live long enuf to have fun with my grandchildren not just enjoy them from the sidelines. Also I wont have to worry about a retirement fund. Have you seen anyone 70 or 80 years old that weighs 308. Mind you I'm not 70 or anywhere close. But I'll never make it to 70 if I dont move this mountain of flesh yonder

Well, for the 12 years before my children were born, I was an amatuer roller skater. I practiced everyday for anywhere from 4 hours to 8 hours. I was built rather atheletically and didn't have to worry about anything where my weight was concerned. Everyone else in my family did. After my kids were born I went in the army and realized how fat I had become. Basic training helped me burn it off and I successfully kept it off for quite a few years. Over the last year and a half, I have turned 40 and have been able to stay at home for the first time in my boy's lives. They are now almost 18 and 16. No more missed football games or track meets. Yeah! I gain weight around the middle, and guess what! I have gained it there yet again! I don't feel good. I don't sleep good. I don't have much ambition. I babysit two younger kids before and after school and they are very good for my ego! My boys will tell me the truth, but the other two will lie to me in a heartbeat! LOL! Anyway, I looked in the mirror one day and didn't like what I saw. Plus, I got my winter clothes out and didn't like they way they fit ot didn't fit. My husband is an old biker man and rides a harley. He likes that image even though he is getting older. You go to these biker functions for the weekend and really feel self conscious even though he loves me dearly and my weight gain really doesn't affect him at all, it does me. I know I probably won't ever look the way I used to, but I can look better than this! I can feel better than this!

Thanks for sharing your story. It's wonderful to have a son with such courage and determination. My story is not unlike many others. I have gained and lost the same 10-25 lbs year after year. I have multiple sizes in my closet ranging from size 14 to size 10.... don't think I've seen a size 7/8 since my high school days. I've tried Atkins, Weight Watchers, etc. and always have some success... but once the weight is off, I seem to slowly gain it all back. I'm tried of the yo-yo dieting and know that I need to create my own program to make it work and stick. The most recent events that helped me get motivated are... my son got married in October and when I saw how "fat" I looked in the pictures, I couldn't believe it was me. Who was that person??? I also took a good look at myself in a full length mirror and saw how flabby my arms, stomach, legs, etc. looked. I think I've been fooling myself for years and believed that I wasn't really overweight. I also turned 50 this year and it's hit me hard. I've been pondering what do I want to do the rest of my life??? I know one thing... I need to take control and be healthy for all those grand babies that will hopefully be coming. PS I saw my sister-in-law at the wedding after not seeing her for 8 years... She's still a size 10 and I'm jealous.

First off let me say that all of the posts were truly inspirational. Really makes you realize how hard we are all working to be healthy, fit and happy.

My story, while not as inspiring, pretty much shows how fast bodies change. After I graduated college I started a job where I work 11-15 hrs daily all behind a pc. I was SO much more concerted w/ going out and partying and hitting the scene in NYC vs. w/ being healthy and sane. I gained 20 lbs fast and have kinda hung out there for a while..... I smoked a pack a day... slept all day on the weekends (mainly from nasty hangovers). I started having the WORST nasea ever... would last all day.... I would routinely throw up in the mornings, in the pm, all day long! esp after drinking! I finally realized something was wrong and at the ripe old age of 22 was diagnosed w a stress/nicotine/no sleep/excessive alleve r advil /exagerated drinking enduced ulcer!!! 22 can you imagine!

So since then I've really tried to stop all of the aforementioned vices. I stopped smoking. I sleep-- a lot now- buit healthy sleep. I try and not multitask and remember to Breathe. i don't double and triple book myself... I don't drink as much... and well the stress is the last thing I'm working on. Its hard in my industry but daily cardio has been helping.

My goal is to be able to run 5 miles w/o stopping by June. So far on a good day I am up to 2.5.... Hey, its a start.

Thanks for listening ;) good luck to us all.

jt7dreamz....wow, what a story. The really cool thing is that you didn't wait your whole life to do something about it. You're awesome!

As a runner to another runner...you WILL be able to get to 5 miles by June. If you keep working at it, I'll be you'll be at 5 miles straight before then. June is a great goal! I remember my first 5K (3.1 miles). Just to go that distance without stopping was awesome. Now, I'm working on the marathon!

Keep on runnin' and gettin' fit!

I agree jtdreams....what a story! Im not too far from NYC , couple of hours! Best of Luck to you and everyone else! I would also like to run 5 miles this summer. Running that far after have 2 kids is kinda hard on the bladder! :P
what I would like to be doing right now is Cross Country skiing but the snow has melted and its raining!

thanks for the support!! much appreciated!!!! its rough though to be SO young and just realize you arent healthy... for me it's more about the health vs. the weight... Im still a size 8 wanting to be a 4 or a 6..... neeners- I need a strategy though to reach this arbitrary 5 mile goal... I am prob doing the JPMORGAN CORP Challenge in Central Park this summer (5k) but I'm such a wimp... I want to do it in 30 min or less... that's my goal part 2 and prob more important--- to not look like an unhealthy person in front of colleagues! Any ideas on a running plan would be appreciated. I had scoliosis surgery when I was younger so running isnt my favorite activity (in terms of joints etc) but I love the release.....

when I realised I couldn't fit into my pants that I could just a few months ago it was time for a change...

I have always been overweight and I just want to see what I look like skinny even if it is only for a day.

Suzzi,
What a wonderful testomony to courage and strength. Your son must be very proud of you. Keep up the good work.

My story is not uncommon--up the age of 28 I had a small size staying active with volleyball, softball and tennis. But after staying home with my last daughter, eating was easy and I could have anything I wanted. Did not do anything physically just take care of the baby and keep the house clean--so of course the pounds just piled on.

After many diets, Atkins, Prism, and so many more I have come to the crossroads. My eye doctor mentioned that I my have high chlostrol (sp) so that was all it took.
(15 years ago my ex had surgery to have his lower aeorta replaced and I saw what was plugging his veins) That did it for me. I also have high blood pressure.

I am blessed that at 52 I have met a wonderful man and want so very much to enjoy him for many years and play with my grandchildren.

Just want all of you to know that you are a great source of encouragement to me and this short amount of time has been a blessing to me getting to know you all.

FAB @ 55

HI! I have been overweight since my first son was born 21 years ago. I was 17 at the time and doing alot of partying. The minute I thought I was pregnant I quit everything. Drinking, drugs and smoking. I gained 280lbs. I had another son 22 months later and a daughter 22 months after that. I was 400lbs by then. I lost 100lbs about 12 years ago. It took me from the time my daughter was born. Then things in my life went a little crazy, divorce and all. I just stayed at that weight since.
I met my fiance about 8 years ago. We just got engaged and we want to be around for each other for a long time. I have to lose weight and get healthy. I want to see my great grandchildren someday and if I don't get this weight off my heart I will not make it. Besides I want to look fabulous for my wedding someday.

Hi Slappy

Here in Australia the kids call a "hot mom" a yummy mummy lol....Kids are strange at times. I am glad that at your age you saw the light and is prepared to change your life.......I only wish I did it when I was your age.....You can change - we all can change.......Good luck Love to you and yours Suzzi