What was your kick-start insult or event?

[madmike]

Most of us have been heavy for a long time, but could never muster the desire to do anything about it... then something happens, an insult (perhaps meant as a joke but hurtful), a glance of yourself naked in the mirror, an embarrassing moment in an airplane, etc. that kick starts us on a diet, hopefully THE diet that will solve our problem for good. My question is, what was that insult or event that got you started?

Mine was a dinner party my wife and I were having a few months ago. There were my friends and several family members gathered, including my Mother who is 75 years old. She knew that I had gone to the doctor that week. Anyway, everyone made their plates from a buffet we had set up, and then brought their plates to the dinner table. As I brought in a huge stack of food and sat down, my Mom asked "now son, what did the doctor say about your weight problem? :cry: I was so embarrassed, especially with that huge load of food I had on my plate. She didn't mean to embarrass me... she was speaking out of concern, but at her age didn't think before she spoke. It was very awkward, even though I tried to laugh it off. Ever since then though, I keep thinking about that evening and why I was the only one in the group that was fat... just look at my plate! madmike

[sunspine17]

I actually don't have one-- just sick of being overweight to the point where I finally went out and did something about it. I have a friend who has a great one, however. He was at the movie theater standing in the lobby. There was a father with a few young kids in the lobby too. One of the kids was asking his father where the bathroom is. The dad pointed near where my friend was standing and said "over there by the fat guy." My friend said the looked around and there wasn't anyone else near him. Suddenly it hit him that HE was the fat guy! He went on a "DIET" (low fat---ugghhh!) the very next day.

[Sentoria]

For me it was the pictures we took Thanksgiving of last year! I knew I was big, but never realized how big until then. I was in shock!

[skibunnie]

My friend asked me if i was pregnant. I saw pictures and I didnt recognize myself anymore. This girl who is alot bigger then me (even then) asked me if I wanted some of her clothes that were too big on her now (she said it to be mean)

[Thanakar]

Mine was lying down on the floor to watch TV and not being able to see over my belly, plus this mouthy little 12 year old that kept asking when my baby was due.....

[wendy858]

I have a closet full of size 8/9 clothes that I haven't been able to wear for almost 2 years. :cry: I refuse to buy clothes that are size 12 or bigger, so I have been wearing some U G L Y, baggy, crappy looking clothes for some time. :rolleyes:

I hate it. I want to wear my smaller clothes and buy some new ones! I want to feel good about how I look. I want to be healthy and active.

[Ashtaroth]

My best friend lost about 20lbs last year and looks great! I finally decided that instead of feeling insecure (and maybe a little jealous) standing next to her, that I should just get my butt moving and do it too.

Ashtaroth

[rishamoon]

I had wanted to loose the weight for a long time. but I knew I couldn't do the typical "diet", I knew I would fail. I heard so many horror stories about people dieting, loosing, then gaining even more. Then my dad started doing Atkins, and having great results and I got curious and looked it up. I spent about 3 months thinking about doing it, but knew that it would be hard with all the "NO NO" foods in the house, my then hubby would still buy his twinkies and bring me chocolate.... So nothing happened till we split up. Here I was embarking on living alone, thinking of possibly re-entering the "dating" scene and I laughed, who would want to date me??? geesh. But I had the perfect chance to stock my kitchen with the RIGHT foods, since I was starting from scratch. I started Atkins when I rented my apartment, haven't looked back. :)

[yvonne326]

My "eye opener" was when I was watching video of me of Christmas 2001. I was probably at my heaviest there ... and I was shocked to really see how big I was (comparing myself to my rather large sister-in-law) and decided that before I hit 40, I will lose weight.

I did lose weight...not at goal yet...perhaps on my 41st birthday in March 2004.

[hey_Neener]

My grandmother was walking behind me and said "My God your ass is wide!" But the clincher was when I went shopping with her and she held up a pair of pants saying "Janenne-these should fit-they're a 20 Wide." Have to love her.

[smurf]

For me it was when we were in the car going to dinner and I was telling my husband how I was not able to find a dress that fit me for an upcoming wedding (I meant that all were too long, since I am short) from the backseat came this little voice that said "is it because you're so fat?" It broke my heart, not what he said but the tone, a matter of fact tone full of acceptance, just stating the truth. I vowed that my son would not have a fat mommy anymore, he would have a healthy mommy who would do things with him and who would hopefully be around a long time for him!

judi :)

[mind-full]

After having my children and realizing that after each birth I lost the baby weight and then started to gain ... "cleaning up" after the kids eat by finishing their food, bingeing on cake (my ultimate weakness) and cookies and just not really monitoring myself yet always feeling hungry, I knew I needed to work at something. I have never had trouble with weight until my 30's.

What started by husband and I off was my own thoughts boosted by his sudden interest in giving up "white" foods, such as rice, potatoes, etc. I knew if I didn't take the bull by the horns at that moment I would lose his interest and I wouldn't be able to do the WOE by myself with a house full of tiny people who burn carbs like nobody's business, plus a carb-loading husband.

So, without even telling my husband, I put us into Atkins' Induction. He lost 10 pounds the first week. He was hooked.

Now, we have a plan and goals and can discuss portions, whereas, before this WOE, he felt as if I was depriving him if I suggested smaller portions.

This plan has been a saving grace in more ways that weight. :thup:

[LovableLC]

I was going on and off of Atkins for the last year or two. I got really serious in July after I heard of someone referring to me as overweight. I know it doesn't seem like much but all my life no one had ever commented on my extra weight although it was my biggest fear. Hearing it from other people just really gets to you. Since then I've been trying my butt off to get the weight off.

[MocaGyrl]

I decided to do Atkins when my Man told me in January he's doing it. I thought, great, I wanted to start a plan, lose some weight, so let's do it together. Seeing pictures of myself taken in Nov 02 made me realize I had to lose a few.

[DaRockman]

I went to a pool party at my Mom's house about 2 weeks ago... The pictures came back yesterday... YIKES!

[madmike]

Hi DaRockman! Welcome to the forum... this is a great place to keep your enthusiasm and confidence up. Let me know if I can help in anyway during your first few days and weeks! mad

[suzieq]

End of last summer went to Six Flags with my family, after waiting in line forever, for this rollercoaster, I couldn't get the belt around me. Of course I held up the ride for a minute or two while I tried, and then my slightly scared daughter had to ride it herself. I was so embarassed and humilated, I swore I would do better this summer. And over the past year have lost 35 pounds, and I rode that ride with my daughter last month!!

Now I want to be able to ride on the swings, next summer!!

Susan

[Teaselus]

The clothes they have in the "plus sizes" department. I just can't look at them anymore.

Do they INTENTIONALLY want us to look even worse??? I mean, they are INCREDIBLY ugly.

AGRHHHHRRRR!!!!!

[IwillLose]

When I broke up with my boyfriend, he said, I think out of anger, "It doesn't matter, its not like it was easy for me to date you anyway. I got sick of hearing all my friends talk about how fat you are." I finally realized what a jerk this guy really was and was so excited to be breaking up with him, but at the same time, it hurt. I didn't do anything about it then, even after more and more insults about how big my butt was from friends. I separated myself from those people and got on my own and thats when I could finally start to lose weight, because I was doing it for myself and no one else.

[katoman]

My moment came in July. I have been suffering from a form of psoriasis that had been getting progressively worse, along with my weight, over the last two years. I didn't care that I was fat. My bloodwork has only been slightly elevated and my blood pressure is perfectly fine. But the psoriasis...that's a different story...While on vacation in June, my symptoms had temporarily abated. While on the road I drank tons of water (wasn't really hungry at all), ate salads and nuts. When I got back from the trip, the psoriasis flared back up with a vengeance!!! It got so bad my socks were bloody. That's when I decided. It wasn't the weight that lead me here initially. It was the devastating attack of refined carbs upon my feet and hands...probably candidiasis as many of my other "problems" seem to have abated as well: no more bloating, no more hunger, less weight to carry on tender feet, no more swollen ankles..and so on. Since the Low Carb WOE takes away the food of the candida, maybe now I can heal and lose the weight. Oh yeah. And no more excuses.

[lauracat28]

I had a firbord removed and the only risk factor i had was i was over wait. that was it. The other main thing was i woke up after haveing that done and reilized i was in a fat person hopialt gown that they had two sizes and i need the fat person size. I vowed right then to do something about it i did. That was over 80lbs ago.

[Arie]

well, three years ago we were redoing our website, and we needed updated pictures of us for it.. We brought a professional photographer, and they spent 2 days taking pictures.. I ask them to make sure they take my picture so it will minimize my weight (they have angles and tricks to do it)... and they did.
a week later we get the pictures and I was horrified to see my self.. I was so fat... of course we used my old picture.... But it did get my a$$ in gear. I started low carb (my own version) and started working out for the first time in my life...

Click here see "the picture that did it" (http://www.litman.com/beforeandnow.jpg)and what I look like 32 months later.

[EvenLower]

I think it was when I had to order xxl work shirts instead of xl


now I'm almost to a medium, woot woot

[djkismet]

last haloween i dressed up as a nun for work, and somebody there said "you cant be the flying nun, youre to heavy" ughh... i felt my heart break..

[Natkins]

My ex-husband said in marriage counseling that he was no longer attracted to me because of my weight gain. :(
It hurt, especially since he never encouraged me to lose or ever mentioned it! I feel like I never had the opportunity to fix it!! So it's too late for him, but it's never too late for myself!

[Arie]

My ex-husband said in marriage counseling that he was no longer attracted to me because of my weight gain. :(
It hurt, especially since he never encouraged me to lose or ever mentioned it! I feel like I never had the opportunity to fix it!! So it's too late for him, but it's never too late for myself!


I saw your picture... too late, and too bad for him.. you look.. GOOD!

[Natkins]

Thanks for the compliment!!
That pic is pretty recent. I didn't look as good at 193 pounds!!! :) And I didn't FEEL as good either.

[cwbydeb]

Ok, my turn.....

In April of this year I watched my aunt die from her addiction. Although hers was very different than mine.... I realized I have a serious carb addiction. Not a food addiction, but cabs and junk. So here I am.

deb~

In ontario CA too!

[Wenzday]

I catch my reflection and feel physically ILL! :(

the clincher though was being in the ER recently and having to tell the nurse my weight in front of my Father in law...I still want to die thinking about it!!! *sigh* well, at least I am on the right track now.

[Caper Greg]

I overheard someone refer to me as Meatloaf. Enough said.

[NYorker]

Bathing suit picture. Horrifying. Maybe one day I'll post it as a before. Maybe.

[RoseTattoo]

When I was at a family wedding in late May, and was seated with my mother and aunts, none of whom had a clue as to where they were, who was being feted, or what anyone else's name was, because they all have advanced dementia. It was after the 90th repetition of "Why are people dancing??", "Who's that sitting next to me?" , and "Do I know you from somewhere??" that I decided that I was NOT going to go down THAT particular route. We all suffer from genetically high blood lipids--but with low carbing and medication, MINE are going to come under control. :exclm:

[IthinkIcan]

About 6 close co-workers were near me and talking about diets. One said, "I need to get some motivation to start a new diet" My "friend" said, "If you need motivation just look at her."
Also a amusement park ride episode for me as well. The swing ride and being given an extra section of belt in front of a loaded ride.
Being put on meds to control blood pressure.
Feeling lousy.

More than anything, because I want it more than I want anything else now.

[Dstar96920]

Getting back my wedding pictures and really seeing myself and how big I had gotten. If you always hide from cameras, that do not lie, it is easier to lie to yourself.

[steveed]

I think being prescribed zoloft and blood pressure meds was the last straw for me, that and the indignity of not being able to tie my own shoe laces when seated!!! ...the hypoglycemic symptoms 2 hours after a "normal" breakfast told me something about my crazy insulin levels as well!

...I mean, high blood pressure at 38? I was pushing 290 at the time, now I'm 247 and already feel much better. No more acid indigestion, no more alcoholic binges (because the cravings are simply not there anymore!) and steadily normalizing blood pressure.

Next step...235, and I can wear the store of pants I have saved for all these years!! :doah:

[Merrymash]

for me it was a night I had planned to go out w/some friends and I could find nothing to wear even though my closet is STUFFED with cute outfits that I, a shopperholic, have spent my hard-earned paychecks on. It was so depressing and I ended up making an excuse to not go out.

I've started atkins after endless yo-yo dieting, and although my weight loss is going slow, i'm not getting discouraged because for the first time I feel like i'm in control!

[aebh]

:) My kick-start was being diagnosed with diabetes type II. I have a brother who is in a nursing home because of not taking care of his type II. He is blind, lame, and has had 4 strokes, all things he was warned about by his doctors. I do not want to join him. Atkins has been a lifesaver. Within 2 months I had normal sugar readings and did not need meds so this is a life commitment.

aebh

[glassgirl]

The decision to start eating LC began with a birthday revelation that it had been 18 long years since a very lonely and depressing summer in the country when my 13 year old self took to eating as a coping mechanism.
The 18 year sugar binge is OVER!

-that and a life time of humiliating nicknames (baby beluga)

-the family reunion last year when I figured out my weight is not genetic, but the likelihood of my developing diabetes is... (diabetes on both sides of the family and a parent who nearly died from a rare and weird allergy to injected insulin, which I may have inherited)

-INCREDIBLY UGLY plus sized clothing!

[Froggiebro]

My friend Tina came to town three weeks after she had started the Atkin's diet, 18lbs slimmer and looking so SUPER. I could tell immediatly and after she told me about how she lost the weight, I started the WOE the next day! I had toyed with the idea before, even thumbing through the pages of the book, but nothing spurred me into action like looking at my friend and hearing her story. You see all these pictures of success stories, but they don't really hit home until it is someone you personally know who has had success.

[Sinbad]

*lol* I used to be called Meatloaf too...
A number of factors have all added up to motivating me to do this:
I saw a pic of myself at 18 in an old sailing magazine... Almost unrecognisable
My ex-wife told me she found me physically repellant - boy OH boy I can't want till I'm at my goal and she sees me again *evil grin*
I realized I had grown a goatee to disguise how round my face was
I wanted to get back into sailing but I am too heavy to be competitive
Don't like seeing myself in the mirror
I am also a great believer in the universe giving you hints as to which direction you should take. In the space of a week I got unsolicited information about Atkins from 4 totally disparate sources (friends in different countries) so I figured I should take the hint and buy the book. Went on induction two days after I got it, and here I am :)

Steven

[tholian8]

I've said this before, but reminding myself of it keeps me motivated....

I needed a passport picture and when it was handed back to me I nearly returned it to the photographer, assuming he'd gotten mine mixed up with someone else. I literally did not recognize myself and it was only when I recognized MY CLOTHES on the huge woman in the picture that I realized how fat I had gotten. I was horrified and disgusted.

Then I had to swallow my pride and my vanity, and submit that humiliating picture for a visa application, because there was no time to lose weight and have it retaken. Under normal circumstances I would never have allowed that to go out ANYWHERE as a picture of me. But there was nothing I could do about it. After I mailed the application I went on Atkins, literally on the way back from the post office.

Emily

[Sooike]

So many things I read just made me sad.
Most people don't realise how much it hurt when they call you names. It still hurts when I think back at things people said to me when I was young, boys who made fun of me in front of my friends, etc.
Sometimes I wish that those people who make fun of us bigger people were fat just for one day. I don't think they'd survive.
Fat people aren't weak, you need a lot of strength to go to life being fat.
Just wanted to tell you one thing : my niece who was 6 years at that time told me that auntie Dana wasn't fat, just a bit chubby and that she just loved sitting close to me, because I was so soft. She also can't stand it when someone makes fun of people who look different, because it's not there fault they are different. Isn't that just sweet !

[Katie_K]

I can't believe some of the comments many of you have had to endure from ignorant people. :(

Mine was a bathing suit picture from our vacation in July. I thought that I had taken off more of the baby weight than that.

[whyspers]

Mine was going to the obgyn and finding out that my previous doctor's (who I had gone to hoping to find out about WLS) scale was off by about 15 lbs!!! I was a whopping 231.5 lbs...about 20 lbs. heavier than I was the last time I was there and when I gave birth to my last child!!! Add that to the fact that in a little over a year's time I was going to a graduation where my hubby's cute little ex will be and having the good fortune to see Dr. A on Donahue and that's all she wrote :) It was a combination of things. I had wanted to do something since I stopped nursing, but didn't know how to even go about it. I knew I could never follow most diets, but when I found out about Atkins, I knew it was perfect for me.

Even though I still have a ways to go, my son's friend's mother told me yesterday that I couldn't have that much more to lose or I would be too skinny. Its from the working out so religiously...I just know it. I look better at 176 than I did before at 155. At 5'7, 135 may be too thin for me, but I'll know it when I get to where I want to be.

Thanks again, Dr. A!!!!!


L

[HipsGalore]

My neurologist (of 20 yrs) started our last appt with, "My wife says I should never discuss a woman's weight, BUT......." He didn't have to tell me that I'd gained 70 pounds in last 2 years (from meds I was put on by Johns Hopkins, no less).

I felt like total crap, Got *itchy, cried. The whole reason I started Atkins was to show him that if I COULDN'T lose weight, he could kiss my big ole butt!

[kellyuk]

My story is a little different, I was talking to a skinny on-line colleague who's been on Atkins for 7 years, I was shocked, told her how dangerous it was! I mentioned a story that had been on the news the night before about how the celebs doing Atkins had probably only lost the weight by living off fish and seafood, we promptly entered into a bet, the winner would do a days work for the loser. Off I went to the Atkins website and spent 3 days researching the plan, decided to stick religiously to Induction eating lots of steak and fats I was convinced I'd weigh more at the end of 2 weeks eating like this, on day 4 I started feeling great, I thought that after Induction when I hadn't lost any weight I'd stick to this WOE but cut the fat, can you imagine how thrilled I was when after that 2 weeks I was down 19 pounds lol

[Burr]

It was my three year old calling me "tubby" that did it. Kids are great - totally honest and innocent. He was right. I was fat.

I sat back and realized that I couldn't walk by the cookie jar without grabbing a handful or going to Taco Bell for lunch and not spend $8.00 (that's a lot of Taco Bell!). I am a major carb addict and Low Carb was my only hope of breaking that addiction.

[gawdess]

It wasnt really any one thing anyone in particular did....more like a series of nights over the past ten years with guys and their attitudes toward overweight women...Well this is going to sound pretty bad but I want to teach a few guys in my life a lesson.....I think I am pretty cute overweight....I cant wait to see what I look like at 149....I will make sure I appreciate the guys that gave me the time of day at 232 and totally dont plan on showing any mercy on the guys that treated me like junk!

[MocaGyrl]

Wow, Arie, you look like a completely different man! :clap: Way To Go!

[solamander]

I've been lowfat/lowcalorie for the last 4 years, Yet I was gaining (slowly without noticing) 5-7 pounds a year. Couldn't figure out why the washer/dryer was shrinking my clothes LOL. Then in May I got the Christmas pictures developed (!) and saw myself in a a sweater. I did a "OMG I'm fat" moment. I went strict on the lowfat (no breakfast, lean cuisine for lunch, lean cuisine for dinner.) I was starving and pissed off. I'd eat a bag of pretzels every night(not a snack bag -a family bag) because they're fat free! After 4 weeks I had gained 3 more pounds. Tried this Hollywood Juice Diet where you drink for 3 days, I was shaking and jumpy for 3 days. Lost 5 punds of water and gained it back by the next week. Looked around for something different and found this board. Bought the book and tried it and liked it. Never hungry and slowly losing (which is the way it should be)

[Jeanne Sch]

I've been sick on and off for 8 years with a fungal infection of the gut.
I knew I had to do low carb to kill the fungus but until my in-laws were doing Atkins, I hadn't realized how yummy and doable it really was with a PLAN. I now know it is my way of life and eating because I don't have a desire to go back to the way I was.

I am now healthier, lighter and getting closer to the *me* I know in my head. :yay:

[Cody21]

Wow...there are probably hundreds of times that I can look at and they all add up to a push in the right direction, kind of in an accumalative effect.

Probably Knowing better and knowing I will feel so much better at my desirable weight. I use to play football for a long time and was in great shape! Married life has been blissfull but detrimental all at the same time. I have (so has my wife) put on a little weight each year for the last 14 years. It is heart breaking, ego breaking for that matter, to look at a photo or the mirror.

My 2 kids are also a huge motivational factor. The comments they make are not mean spirited but hurtful just the same. My kids becoming fully aware and conscience of our weight problem where they actually see and are able to make comments was probably the last straw.

I also want to be that handsome and great guy that I duped my wife into marrying :D

Here is a link to some pictures of us in case anyone would like to see. The one of me and my daughter is a few years old and about 40 pounds ago.

http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/stuwillard/lst?.dir=/My+Photo+Album&.order=&.view=l&.src=bc&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/

Enjoy!
Cody

[harleydee]

Ok **deep breath** here goes....

- those god-awful Plus Size clothes. They really are horrendous. Why are all the plus size clothes so repulsive? Sometimes I think I'd look better in a tent! I have never found anything in a plus size that I thought was gorgeous. I find a lot of regular sized clothes that's cute and think "Just wait until I lose this weight...."

- the fact that the seats in the airplane felt "tight" around my butt when the arm-rest was down. That was a SHOCKER!! I thought that the seats were smaller and then realized I travel in that size plane often enough to know the seats stay the same size. Boy was that a wake up call!! Not to mention the fact that the seat belt had to be FULLY extended to buckle.

- pictures from my cousin's wedding in May, 2003 - you really canNOT hide from the camera. I thought I was looking slim (in all black) and sexy. Well, I was looking sexy (plenty compliments, not just my swelled ego talking), but DEFINITELY not slim!

- the fact that my "fat" clothes were feeling tight and some weren't even fitting at all - that was the last straw!! Imagine me not fitting into my fat clothes - that's very bad.

So here I am now....3 weeks into this WOE and feeling great about myself. I haven't weighed because I hate scales, but my fat clothes are all fitting (some to baggy to wear to work now) and my belt no longer suffocates me when I sit down after lunch!

[Vevo]

Stopped smoking in January this year, and of course gained. I've heard about my weight from my family for too long, and every morning trying to find something that hides me has gotten too upsetting.
Looking at my daughter's graduation pictures really upset me. I threw away the photos before anyone saw them. Besides my husband telling me that he isn't attracted to me anymore doesn't help (of course he's 60 lbs overweight - but who's counting?) LOL
I finally realized that I have to do this for ME, and no one else. Hope I can stick to it this time. Fourth time is a charm!
:)

[melissasvh]

For me, it was standing in the dressing room of Lane Bryant and realizing that I'd gone up two sizes in jeans (those same jeans today are horribly baggy - I really need a belt...or new jeans). Then, it hit me that it was truly miraculous that, so far, I had not had a major health problem related to my weight and that I was truly just playing with time before heart disease or diabetes hit.

Also, realizing that I will be applying for entrance into a pharmacy school soon and that, even though my grades are stellar, my weight could very likely be a deterrent when it comes to face-to-face interviews with admissions committees. Unfortunately, regardless of what people might say, I think there is an awful lot of discrimination - at least on a subconcious level - against overweight people, especially in competitive situations like jobs and school.

[chargeit]

At niaga falls last year ,we went on vacation and walking just to see the falls made me winded. I decided that it was time for a change. Also going on rides at the amusement parks. Ones I thought I could ride , I couldn't ..
I had asked my dr about the gastric bypass surgery and he said I'd be a good candidate. I got the phone number and called for a consultation (I'm still waiting) I figured one more try wouldn't hurt. I just may tell them I changed my mind if they do call.

[Iowagirl]

I got tired of buying bigger and bigger clothes. I am not very tall but I could always dress to hide my size. When I told my best friend how much I weighed at my heaviest she couldn't believe it. It was a blessing in disguise - but I knew I was way too big.

Then there was the diabetes my mother was diagnosed with and the fact that she suffered 2 strokes by the age of 56 due to a lack of careful monitoring. I am my mother's child so the writing was on the wall.

It reads differently today. :)

[MesoMaiden]

Like IowaGirl, I could also disguise my weight to a certain degree. However, it was to the point where I couldn't hide the extra skin on my jawline and cheeks and I could never leave the house without something covering my butt.

My major wake-up call is when I was really beginning to hate life because I was gaining weight so quickly. I was miserable with my appearance and didn't even want to leave the house, other than for work. Down 12 pounds since then, and I'll never go back to that lifestyle again.

[Tory]

I had a couple of reasons, nothing major.

It is summer and we were going to the beach, the lake or swimming every week, plus my friends are big on taking pictures. I can't stand to look at pictures of myself fully clothed, so those were bad.

I didn't want to go to another party and be ingored.

I was squeezing into the biggest size I could find at the stores, I was NOT going to buy plus sized clothes.

Luckily my friend and her father had been doing the Atkins thing and she suggested I try it. It has only been 3 weeks, but the benefits of eating this way have been great.

[jers52]

when even eating the WW way - didn't change what I weigh! It just doesn't budge on that type of plan - now I 'get it'!!! Going slow but sure!

[xerces]

Two sided story for me…
1) I have 3 kids and from that it has brought my attention to my weight. I knew I had to lose weight. I tried exercising more and once I had lost all my 40 pounds from it, but naturally it came back.
2) My grandmother is pure Japanese. As you know most Japanese women are very tiny and try to perfect their look. Seems like I am the biggest one in the family ... lol. Anyway, I visit my grandparent’s maybe once a year sometimes longer. The first thing my grandmother says to me is “Your fat. Look at your arms they are big. Your getting fat” She has been saying this every start of a visit for 5 years or so now. I suppose I shall wait till I lose my weight and give her a shock :cheer:

[MetilHed]

I overheard someone refer to me as Meatloaf. Enough said.

Hey, that happened to me too. I was hoping it was my face and long hair !!!

Met

[kevidona]

I guess it was when I was sitting down and tried to tie my sneakers and almost passed out from lack of oxygen because I couldn't breathe. But then again it has been quite hard since when I started I was 6'5" tall and weighed 349#. I would get on a scale and I would see the patent pending number. LOL. I have been heavy for a very long time. I went to my Doctor and he was the one that suggested Atkins and from that point on, here I am...

[sunseeker]

My mom remarked on how overweight I was.....

[gary]

I was always thin - came out of college at 134lbs 5'9" In my mid thirties started to gain weight that was noticable. Remember at 160 - could not stand the thought of being 160 - but could not do anything about it. Then kept blowing up until my wife and I were on a trip and she took my picture. I could not believe the stomach I had sticking out. Kept blowing up until 195lbs. That was it! I hurt around my waist everyday. Had to get 38 waist pants which never felt comfortable. My pants would always be pushed down by my belly. Then I was in a bar and this guy came in and said - gary when is your baby due? Really pissed me off - I mean really really pissed me off! Then was at my parents 50th wedding anniversary dinner and one of their old friends at the end came up to me and said - you know one thing your Dad did was maintain his weight. That stung too!

Fortunately I ran out of reading material on a business trip - picked up Atkins book and started cold turkey that next Monday April 1.

Why do I stick to LC WOE for life - The story I just related keeps rolling around my head to keep me true. Feel so much better - pains around my waist went away. :yay:

[iceman24]

Been Fat all my life. Made fun of all my life. Been rejected by women all my life. The last time broke the camels back(more like the mammoths back). Also starting to loose my hair at the age of 24. I dont intend on staying big fat tall and bald. If i'm gonna be bald by the time i'm 30 by golly i'm gonna be bald and look darn good!!!

[serrelind]

Several things:

- I was gaining about 5 lbs a year for 3 years since I left college and started working in the IT environment

- I was sick and tired of looking chunky and hiding behind baggy pants

- recent pictures taken of me made me realize I was going on my way to 130lbs if I didn't do something about it

- I'd been wanting my bf to lose some weight and get back in shape... the only way I can set a good example is to successfully lose weight myself

- I don't want to be one of the very few fat Asian

- even though I wasn't overweight (I was still in the borderline "healthy" weight area), I wanted to get back in shape and feel better about myself physically, mentally, and emotionally

[Rachelle]

well...

First off i have a closet full of gorgeous clothes that don't fit...
I feel like no matter how healthy (high carb) i ate... i still managed to gain weight.

My boyfriend and i have dated both when i was skinny ( almost unhealthy skinny) and then 1 yr later when i was no longer skinny at all.
He has told me that he loves me both ways...
But i have quit loving me... soooo decided to make a change... and i know he is excited that i made the decision on my own..
And helps me not to cheat all the time.. telling me how proud he is of me.

[lose55pds]

Reason: Afraid I was going to die if I didn't change.

Event: Somebody bet me I couldn't do it.

Result: Don't bet against someone as stubborn as me.

[nettie155]

Saw a picture of myself in a dress I *thought* I looked pretty good in. :cry:

[sunspine17]

Wow, well I guess I had some reasons after all.

1. Feeling tired, run down and all that horrible stuff. Not having energy to play with the kids.

2. I was growing out of my size 16's and refusing to buy 18's. I was also growing out of my DD bras and had no clue (and didn't want to find out) what size comes after DD.

3. I was running into people here and there that I had not seen in a while which made me conscious of my weight (i.e. they had never seen me that fat and I'm sure they commented to someone about it after we parted!)

4. It seems like everyone I work with is young and skinny. It makes you more conscious of yourself having that in your face all day. I can't turn back the clock but I can turn back the scale.

5. Being just a few pounds shy of 200. Also, seeing my weight plotted on a weight chart and realizing I had moved into the "obese" category.

6. My oldest daughter asking me every few months with this excited twinkle in her eye "are you growing another baby in there?!?!"

7. Not wanting to shop at the "fat store" anymore because yes, the clothes are UGLY!

[cc48510]

A little over a year ago, my Uncle died [at age 51.] The night I found out about his death [I didn't know what caused his death at the time,] I went to the All-You-Can Eat Buffet and ate probably half my weight in Carbs. A few days later, I helped carry his casket as they put it in the ground.

In the coming months, I found out his official cause of Death was Hypertension. I believe, nay am sure, his condition was caused by his eating mostly low-calorie/low-fat crap [for years] that had been loaded with Sugar and Salt to replace the lost taste. He always thought he'd lose weight eating that way...Instead it killed him. Not long after I found out what caused his death, I went on Atkins...at the suggestion of a friend.

I wish he had still been alive when I went on Atkins. I'm sure I could have gotten him to try it and his health would have greatly improved. Atkins reversed my High Blood Pressure and gave me very good Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and Blood Sugar. I am sure, given the chance he could have done the same and maybe lived another 20-30 years.

[Birddog]

Mine was a comment from a loving family member. My brother. He has been over weight his whole life and took one look at me and ask "How does if feel to be fat?" I knew about atkins and decided to get started. 8 months later I was 65 lbs lighter. Atkins works.

[madmike]

For all the newbies out there and for those who missed this the first time... it was a lot of fun so I thought I would keep the string alive. mad

[vbrowne]

We were going to our best friends wedding. I purchased a dress for it about a month before. The morning of, I couldn't even get it zipped up, I was so upset I didn't want to go - I ended up wearing something I would go to work in -- that did it for me.

Vikki

[MaggieP]

1. Finding out I had a family history of diabetes, and knowing that I hate needles. That is one nasty disease!

2. Getting photos back where I didn't recognize myself. I felt like there was the real me lost somewhere in a blow-up doll with my face on it.

3. Having to buy a size 16 dress. How depressing!

4. Two words: double chin.

5. Having a woman come into our office touting Atkins. She said I could eat butter, cheese, nuts and meat. No frankenfoods, no fat-free nastiness and no ricecakes. I thought, that may be the first "diet" I can do!

Six months later, it is still working!

[dieffen]

my kick in the a$$ was that i realized that I would let my husband touch me, or look at me. hell, i didn't even want to look at me. Our marraige started to go downhill. and instead of telling him the truth on why i didn't want him near me, i made up excuses that just escaladed. in short, i just stopped loving myself.

[adkpam]

Strangely enough...it was a visit to the eye doctor...who said I needed reading glasses.
This was a kind of kick start for me with a lot of things...got a new haircut, got rid of the gray, and decided to get rid of the 30-40 pounds I keep losing...and then gaining back.
It was a kind of wakeup call about how time marches on, I guess.

[paradise]

Mine was a kick-start event. Last July 2002, I went to the local department store to get some new clothes for work. Well the size I remembered that fit me NO LONGER fit me! I knew I had to do something drastic and after years of low-fat/low-cal eating, low-carb eating was drastic!

[angieK]

I had been thinking about losing weight for over 2 years. I would think about it and make a goal date to start but it never happened--the weight just piled on in those 2 years until my birthday party at my sister's this year. Everthing went fine--ate tons of carbs and really enjoyed myself. When my brother in law e-mailed me the pictures I was shocked. On the couch was this person I did not know. She was big and very bloated looking. She was looked tired and OLD. From that day on I searched for a diet to go on and have stuck with it so far. That picture will definately be my before picture.
angie

[becky160]

when a collegue laughed infont of other collegues ans said that it looked as if I has three bellies instead of one. I now, thank him, because I did not realice how fat I was becoming.

[marks]

I went to the doctor in June, and my blood pressure was so
high that she kept asking me if I'd been skipping taking my
medication.

I went back last week, and my BP was 113/80. I'm
still on medication, but it hasn't been that low in almost
10 years.

[usedtobero]

OK - my MIL is visiting and she takes a teeny tiny portion of dinner , looks at my plate and loudly says to my 4 year old - "see Emma this is the amount a lady should be eating"!!!

She is 5 foot 9 and 110 lbs (borderline anorexic and as neurotic as they come) and has never had a weight problem in her life other being underweight! She is the ultimate bitch... i havent seen her since I started this WOE. She is coming back this week to visit again and I do not want to discuss my diet or weight loss with her at all - as she makes me cringe!!!! She is the such a complete snob!

AT least when I was fat and now thinner I was happy - but she is the mosct miserable vain old lady I know. Anyone that still wears leapord skin leggings well into their 60s has no class as far as I am concered!

Well now thats off my chest I feel better !!!
Claire

[Cody21]

Claire,
You have got to let us know how the visit went! I would love to hear you MIL comments (if she brings it up) about how wonderful you are doing.

Cody

[llabonte]

I had wanted to lose weight for a long time. But one day while I was in the ladies room at work I got a shot of my butt in the full length mirror! I was shocked at how wide and "flat" it was! My gosh... it was my mothers butt!!!! That day at lunch I was in Target and saw Dr. Atkins book. I bought it and I have not looked back. Although I have only lost 24 pounds in four months I feel so much better. Last weekend my daughter asked me if I was going to stay on Atkins forever. I cannot imagine going back to my old eating habits. One of my co-workers (who is about the size I was) told me last Friday that she is so proud of me for being able to stick to my diet! I told her that I cannot believe how easy Atkins is (we are having this discussion in the breakroom that has a table loaded with homemade coffee cakes and breads!) I told her that I don't even have a desire to have any of the food that was on that table. She found it hard to believe. Before Atkins I was a total sugar freak. I don't know what has come over me (Atkins! of course) but my cravings for sweets and breads are gone. My heart palpatations are almost nonexistant (except for the week before TOM, must be hormones) and I feel so much better from the inside out! I had someone at work call me skinny! I am 44 pounds away from goal but you can definitely see it. Dh has even called me "Minnie"!

[SarahO]

Claire, that comment by your MIL really horrified me. Not just her cruelty to you, but good golly, a young girl doesn't need to hear a message like that, especially from her own grandmother. Grandmas are supposed to cherish and nurture kids, not make them feel bad about normal eating!

I hope you had a talk with your daughter about how wrong that was and how a true lady eats until she's not hungry anymore. And I hope the MIL's next visit isn't too traumatic. She sounds like a real piece of work. If she pressures you to talk about your weight loss plan, you could get your own back by just saying over and over how HEALTHY it is and how HEALTHY you feel, and how much better it is than some awful starvation diet, while giving her unhealthy figure enough skeptical looks to get the point across. I guess I'm a petty person because that's what I'd do! :)

Back on topic, my kick-start event was pretty mundane compared to the stories here. A coworker told me that he was planning to do Atkins, and talked to me a lot about how it worked. He got me thinking about how badly I had let myself go, which I didn't think about that often. (Lots of denial going on.) I thought it would be easier to do the plan if I was doing it with someone else who I saw every day. So I started on the same day as he did.

[ItsTheWooo]

Well, I always had known how fat I was. My problem was I just didn't know what to do about it. I didn't want to attempt to lose weight improperly on a plan I knew I couldn't maintain, because I was scared of getting into that yo-yo dieting mode and ruining my metabolism/ability to lose weight.

My cousin who is very obese had lost 40 pounds just by cutting out all refined carbohydrate. She told me how I could do it to, I could lose weight. Me, lose weight? For the first time ever, I felt a low carb plan is something I could stick with and make work, so I started doing the research on atkins. I read everything on their website, the science behind it, plus pro and anti atkins material available on the web. My conclusion was, I was convinced atkins worked (the science re: insulin and processed food just made so much sense) and most anti-atkins groups were motivated by monetary greed (grain or weight loss industry agents). After I decided the insulin connection was the foundation of weight gain, and the diet was healthy and sustainable, I began a strict induction immediately.

That was over 6 months and 90 pounds ago :). The weight came off so fast I couldn't (and still can't) believe it. I couldn't believe the shakiness and ravenous hunger I had lived with all my life were just gone. I had cut my calories more than in half, and my body was still not protesting! It was as if LC caused my body to make a seamless transition to using body fat in absence of adequate dietary intake. The weight was and is just melting off, as if the refined carbs were some kind of allergen exclusively causing the weight gain.

LC really was a lifesaver, it gave me a chance for a normal healthy future.

[shaerat]

Well, I woke up this morning and ended up going back to bed in tears.. frustrated and ready to give up... but then I came here... and of course, I'm back on track and know I can do this now...

My moment? Well, I'd been on Atkins before as prescribed my my reproductive endocrinologist (I couldn't conceive a much wanted baby)... he told me the his insulin in my body was causing my ovaries to swell... (I actually saw them on a u/s). I SO wanted another baby... so we did Atkins.. I lost 26lbs. I was happy.. and then I conceived. The obgyn I saw said it wasn't right to do low-carb while pg.. so I ate.. and as soon as I added back the breads and pastas, I started craving.. and the cravings took over.
After having my little blessing, I realised I was back to the SAME weight I was when I STARTED Atkins the first time... I just got SO depressed. I tried it half-heartedly last winter... didn't get anywhere... just more frustrated.
Then this summer.. well, I never once went in a pool...not once. I sat on the deck and watched everyone else get cool and splash and have fun... and I realised I was missing out on life... I wasn't getting to play with my kids (that I did so much fertility work to get in the first place), I wasn't happy. SO... I decided on August 25th that I was starting again. That was it....

With the exception of this morning, I have been feeling really good with it... and I've lost 15 lbs so far. I need to lose 10 more to make my goal for Thanksgiving (canadian)... and for the first time in my life, that seems plausible.

Incidentally, when I lost the weight the first time I got down to 181 when I found out I was pregnant... so.. in 10 more pounds I will be the lightest I've been in 12 years... I can't imagine how that will feel!

Blessings and thank you to everyone for sharing.. it put me back on track today.. THANK YOU!

[Karen Lynn]

My endo said if i didn't eat this way, i will be back to see him with diabete's like my parents within two years. Don't like needles, so i'm going with low carbing.

[JulieL]

Several things did it for me

1. I found an old box with mementos in it, including the pair of shorts I was wearing the day I met dh. Of course I had originally put them in the box because I couldn't wear them anymore. But, I decided to try them on just to see and I got them up just above my knees and that was it. I suddenly realized that in just 8 years I'd gone up 4 (probably closer to 5) sizes. I'll probably never wear those shorts again since that was before I was 30, but at least I won't be so many sizes larger either!

2. I'm terrible about putting photos in the album. I had a real pile going and decided enough was enough. I went through them to put them in order. The first ones were of our first vacation as a married couple -- 7 years ago. And there I was looking slender. The more recent ones showed the new, overweight me. I couldn't believe how much I'd changed.

3. My dh is so lanky. He's 6' 4.5" tall and weighs 165 pounds. I suddenly realized that I weighed more than him. He said he didn't care and that he loved me just the way I am no matter what. But *I* cared.

I feel so much better. I wish dh could do Atkins but the LAST thing he needs is to lose weight. In fact, he needs to gain it but nothing seems to make him gain weight (including eating 3 or 4 bagels with cream cheese every morning for breakfast, super-sized fast food meals for lunch, and everything in site for supper!!). I am beginning to thing there's something wrong with his metabolism or something. I know he'd feel so much better without all those carbs he eats (plus it makes me sick watching him eat them LOL!!)

Julie

[siara28]

I would have to say combo of having my two children/gaining with the pregnancy, and pictures, I didn't realize how I looked.
Not any ONE thing in particular!!

Heidi

[ge0rg1e]

Great thread! I'd wanted to lose some weight for a while, but could never get my act together. Then we went out to dinner with an annoying couple and they were bragging about how they went on Atkins and lost all this weight but all they could eat on it was chicken Caesar salads and I thought, if those losers can do it, then so can I!

And I think I've only had chicken Caesar salad once.

[shaerat]

ONLY chicken ceasar salad??? Where did they get that from??? :D I mean, ya, sounds good.. but I don't even think I've had one!!!

I find it so interesting that not many of us started because someone else was doing it.. and of course we're all up against much friction over this WOE...

I also find it interesting how many people lost then gained on low fat/low-cal/high carb diets... I dont' think I could have lost in the first place. I find the whole WW thing incredible (surreal, not good... ;) )

[hysteria]

When I realized my size 14 jeans were not going to fit any longer if I didn't get my butt in gear & do something (I think I actually peaked out around 215). I am cheap & HATE shopping (could have to do w/ being overweight my entire life...), so getting any larger was out of the question! Now, 35#'s later, my 14's sag off my behind and 12's are more the norm!

[almost]

I promised myself after I went to Europe for the first time that I would lose weight so that I could enjoy it more the next time. Then I suddenly got sent to Europe again without having lost the weight and I kept getting winded walking around everywhere and going up and down so many steps. I remember thinking how much more enjoyable it would have been if I had just lost the weight the first. At that moment I dedicated myself to losing weight again.

Next time there is a trip I will be ready!

[cpj]

My regular doctor sent me to a surgeon to talk about a hernia I need repaired. When I arrived at the surgeon's office, I looked around the room and everyone there except one child was overweight; most very obese. I'm usually the biggest person in the room, so I sat up and took notice. I had an inkling before I saw the doctor that he had a "specialty" and sure enough his first question was, "So when do you want to have your surgery?". I was shocked! I had no idea my hernia was that bad I say. He says, "I didn't know you had a hernia. I thought you were here for a by-pass". I just looked at him and said, "I would never choose to have elective surgery." He tells me he won't even do the by-pass until I lose 40 lbs. I tell him if I could lose 40 lbs., I wouldn't need the surgery. He says, "Oh yes, you will, because you'll just put it back on if you don't have the by-pass done". I came home that day and started reading everything I could find on dieting. Atkins stuck out as best for me. I'm supposed to see him again in January. I hope he gets a big surprise!

[TamiOrr]

After spending a month at home with my folks this past summer and seeing the way they eat and the shape they are in physically. I don't want to look like that when I am my mom's age. Gaining 10 pounds on holiday that I had worked so hard to get rid of. The next time I visit, I will know how to eat properly and keep the gain to a minimum.

[xtena]

I became borderline gestational-diabetic when I got pregnant with my first child at the age of 35. Even though my sugar stabilized after giving birth, I knew that GD put me at a much higher risk for developing type two diabetes, especially with my weight problem and family history. For 18 months after my daughter was born, I struggled with low fat dieting. I managed to lose what I had gained during my pregnancy, then I plateaued. I would have hypoglycemic symptoms before lunch and after work - yawning furiously on the short drive home. Then in May a colleague announced she and her husband were going on Atkins. She's a programmer, like me, and he's an honors graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and one of the smartest people I know. For years I had bought into the "Atkins will kill you mentality", but since John was convinced it was healthy, I secretly bought the book, read it cover to cover in two nights, and went on induction the same time they did. Now I'm approximately 20 pounds down and counting...

[spongebutt]

It started in January of 2002. We went on a trip to Oklahoma to see family/friends.

I was still thinking that I was in a size 12 or 14, like I had been when I got married and had always been. As I was always wearing men's jeans, I assumed that. Never assume! :rolleyes:

We went to JC Penney's to get me 2 new pairs of jeans. I tried 12's...no luck. 14's...barely went past my hips. I was wondering what the problem was...my dh bought a pair of 16's into the dressing room. I tried them on, they fit perfectly! :tears:

I was so embarrassed, humiliated, you name it. I was ashamed of myself.
I couldn't believe I had let myself go like that! :bash:
I felt disgusting, :Puke: and didn't want my dh looking at me.

We purchased the jeans.

I remained stoic until we reached the car, where I started sobbing uncontrollably. :cry:
My dh just held me. He knew how I felt.

When we got back to CA, I started Slim-Fast. Lost 18 pounds in 6 weeks, but was always starving. That's when MIL and FIL told me about Atkins. I was skeptical. :bash: Dh encouraged me to try it. So I did.

And here I am. I have taken time off from lc'ing (BAD, BAD idea! :nono: ), having thought I reached my goal weight (turns out, defective scale). I was actually about 10-15 pounds away.
I gained 15 pounds back, but am losing again. And this time, I plan on really reaching goal!

[Redfallon]

Well, here is my quickstart - these pics were taken at a work team outing in July 2001. This wasn't even at my heaviest 201.5 - these were about 196, I think.

The other one I took today at 168 lbs. :D

[DixieDoll]

My "jumpstart" was actually worse for my husband than it was for me...

A friend of ours had sent us some pictures they had taken while they were visiting. I thumbed through the pictures only to find my husband in a lip-lock with some woman! I pitched a fit and accused him of cheating on me, insisting that I had proof. Of course, he insisted on seeing this proof...

I whipped out the picture and tossed it at him. He looked at the picture, looked at me, and burst out laughing. The picture was of him kissing me...I didn't even recognize myself!
:idea:

That sure motivated me!

[Birddog]

My "jumpstart" was actually worse for my husband than it was for me...

A friend of ours had sent us some pictures they had taken while they were visiting. I thumbed through the pictures only to find my husband in a lip-lock with some woman! I pitched a fit and accused him of cheating on me, insisting that I had proof. Of course, he insisted on seeing this proof...

I whipped out the picture and tossed it at him. He looked at the picture, looked at me, and burst out laughing. The picture was of him kissing me...I didn't even recognize myself!
:idea:

That sure motivated me!

That is way too funny!

[madmike]

Jamie: Your before and after pictures look marvelous! Keep up the good work... mad

[TangieK]

Well... I had a couple of things leading up to this.

I was in third or fourth grade... These two girls used to follow me and my best friend home and taunt us and I was graciously given the nickname "Butterball."

Think back a few years ago... I went to work with my college church group to work for a week and a half at an orphanage in Mexico. The kids were congratulating me on my "baby." Too bad I wasn't pregnant!

About a year and a half ago, a relative of mine (an old man, grumpy and outspoken, kind of awnry) was staying with us and as I was making dinner at my parent's house, he asked me, "So, who knocked you up?" Naturally I was really shocked and didn't know how to respond. Then he went on to say, "Looks like you have a bit of a belly there... maybe you should exercise." I ended up locking myself in the bathroom and crying inconsolably for hours.

I ended up struggling with eating disorders over the course of time and have tried every diet and exercise regime I could find... even down to the Hollywood Detox Diet where you drink that nasty juice for two days.

This is the only thing that has worked and you know what? For the first time in my whole life I feel energetic, and am starting to feel more confident and at home in my skin. And the problems with my eating have pretty much gone away.

I can't believe I've finally found something that works and makes me feel so good!

Thanks for listening!
Tangie

[angel30058]

My jumpstart was when a 'blind' aunt made a comment about my weight . . .
I started exercising in June, 2003. I was motivated when I attended my daughter's 5th grade promotion ceremony. She got an award for being athletic. Her coach said that part of the reason she got the award was that the family exercized todether. The problem was that we had not done so since November of last year! So, I began my exercise program in June.
I when to an out of town family reunion in the last week of June. I have an aunt who is diabetic, and losing her sight. I am 39, she is about 72. She used to be extremely overweight, but since her diagnosis several years ago, has lost a lot!!! of weight. She saw me through those diseased eyes and said, "You are getting fat! Have you gained weight?" I told her that I have, but I had just started an exercise program. She said, "Don't let yourself go like that! It's not worth it!" I knew that I was in denial about my weight and if a legally blind woman could tell that I had gained a lot of weight , then others could too. I restarted Atkins, and since then I have lost a lot of weight. My waist has gone from 40'' to 34.5" from June 28 to today!!! I won't get on the scale until I am at 34", then I can talk about the weight I have lost!

Thanks for the thread!

[Redfallon]

Jamie: Your before and after pictures look marvelous! Keep up the good work... mad

Thanks Mike!

[Mousesmom]

My turning point was my birthday this year. I woke up and took a long hard look in the mirror and really hated what I saw and how I felt. I made a decision to do a life makeover. Lots of issues in my life needed fixing and I decided to make this year the one to fix them. I was tired of dressing to hide my stomach, tired of not being taken seriously at work, tired of being sick, over stressed etc. You get the idea.

I also decided to set a longer term goal in terms of weight. When I graduated high school I weighed 235#. That was 20 years ago. I want to go to the 20 year reunion 100# less than when I graduated.

As an adult I have been as low as 138 and as high as 235. I have a small frame under all this weight and I would like to see it again!

One day at a time..... one # at a time... 145 this morning, about 10# to go.

Take care all.

Julie

[Redfallon]

My turning point was my birthday this year. I woke up and took a long hard look in the mirror and really hated what I saw and how I felt. I made a decision to do a life makeover. Lots of issues in my life needed fixing and I decided to make this year the one to fix them. I was tired of dressing to hide my stomach, tired of not being taken seriously at work, tired of being sick, over stressed etc. You get the idea.

I also decided to set a longer term goal in terms of weight. When I graduated high school I weighed 235#. That was 20 years ago. I want to go to the 20 year reunion 100# less than when I graduated.

As an adult I have been as low as 138 and as high as 235. I have a small frame under all this weight and I would like to see it again!

One day at a time..... one # at a time... 145 this morning, about 10# to go.

Take care all.

Julie

Julie, I like the way you think! It looks like you are well on your way to your goal. How far away is your reunion? Mine is in 2006. I just wanna be about the same size I was or a bit smaller than when I graduated. I was about a size 10 - 135/140 lbs when I graduated and up to around 3 or 4 years ago. I can't believe I let myself get to over 200 lbs! But I am past my halfway point as of today (at 167!) and I am looking forward to my 75% goal of 152 and my 100% goal of 135 :D

[GabrielleG]

My turning point came when my partner and I started to build our very own home theater. We purchased 8 theater seats from a second hand store for five bucks each and spent two months removing the gum and nasty fabric, reupholstering, and painting them.

I built and carpeted a two tiered riser and purchased a bunch of posters and things for the room. We where sooo happy to have our own personal theater because we love movies.

But on the day we had our first viewing I went to sit down in my theater seat and I had to turn sideways to get my backside past the cupholders. Needless to say it was a tight fit. I was so embarrassed. I found Atkins a few days after that. By the way, we have movie candy in the theater for our guests enjoyment. It is no temptation what so ever because I can now sit in those theater seats with no problem.

Gabrielle

[madmike]

Anyone else like to share their kick-start event?

[MisterE]

Too many to count all accumulated to arrive at the point of my start. The biggest was that I could not breathe any more...blood O2 level was down in the low 80's. THAT affected every single aspect of LIFE.

Let's just say I am now the most alive person I know. Check on me in another 100 pounds and you may very well find me doing the Peachtree on July 4th. Hell, would not surpirse me in the least. (Mike you probably know what that is since you live in Peachtree City!)

[madmike]

I do indeed Mr. E! I am not at that point yet, but when I carry my three year old who weighs 30 lbs up the stairs (that is how much I have lost) it is a great reminder of how far I have come! Mike

[DWRolfe]

Mine was when I woke up one morning (Christmas Eve) and could barely walk. It was as though Santa had stopped by my place early and taken my knees. I actually made popping noises when I walked that were so loud my coworkers always knew where I was in the office. When I was in the MRI machine a few days later, I finally snapped out of my stupor and realized I had to do something or I would be in big trouble. The popping (both audible and pain pill popping) stopped within a month of beginning LCing. I have not popped since (so to speak).

We won't even go into the other shameful things, like not fitting in chairs, having the steering wheel of the car pushed into my gut when I drove, or not really being comfortable in anything other than sweat pants.

I don't ever want to go there again. Here's what followed:

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showpost.php?p=1445069&postcount=12

Donald :wiggle:

[madmike]

Donald: Thats the first time I have seen your before/after pictures and I am truly inspired. You have done an outstanding job. Congratulations and thank you! Mike

[TangieK]

Oh my gosh Donald you look fantastic. Wow... what an encouragement you are. Keep it up... you look awesome!

[Arnie24]

Mine came when I got on a talking scale and it said:"Hey! one at a time!"

[chandb]

My mother was going through old photos a couple of weeks ago and found one of me at my 21st (2 years ago) she called me up and told me that it was such a lovely photo "you were so skinny" - she didn't mean anything by it - but it still stung. My boyfriend and I had both put on weight since we were always going and getting takeaway and junk food - but I didn't realise how much until I stood on the scales - no more - it all changes now - I want to be comfortable in front of people without having to be ashamed of my thighs and stomach!! Charge on!! Hoorah!!

[Bella22]

I started college weighing 256 pounds. I graduate in may of next year and want to weight around 140. Never ever ever want to weigh that much again in my life it was a horrible experience!

[mofo]

in may of 2003, i decided that I was going to lose weight. there was no real trigger event. I guess I was fed up with being overweight so I told myself that I was going to put all my effort into losing weight. (I have never gone on a diet ever or really tried to lose weight). the first couple of weeks were difficult. but I toughed it out and every month since May 0f 2003 I have lost a total of 65lbs.

[black57]

There is nothing wrong with being elderly so I don't want this to seem like an insult. But when you are in your late 30s or early forties, that is too young to feel that way. My joints were achy, I was falling alot and I had symptoms of hypoglycemia. Obviously I needed to exercise, it was also obvious that I needed to lose weight. For about ten years I would resolve to lose 20 lbs and failed every year. What I failed to understand is how weightloss, hypoglycemia and peri-menopause work hand in hand.

Upon hearing the results from the study by the American Heart Association, I decided that I am going to begin this diet.. the diet that I had feared for so many years. I was apprehensive regardless of the findings so I studies it and figured out how I could actually do this and enjoy myself since steak and eggs is my favorite breakfast :wiggle:

Now my husband does not eat a lc lifestyle but he is a strong supporter of it. He can't see how anyone can lose weight any other way. I must say though, that he gave up a regular diet of beer in support of my lcing and he lost 12 lbs :agree:

That is my story and I am sticking to it.
Black57

[KimD66]

For me, I got pictures back of my vacation from NYC. UGH! WHO IS THAT IN THOSE PICTURES??? When did I get SO heavy?? What a wake up call! My friend who went to NYC with me got her pix back and had the same reaction! We both started Atkins 1 month ago! We're BOTH loving the results.

[LorynJohn]

Turned 40! OMG! Dont want to be fat and 40!! Just 40 is all I can take!! LOL

[mntnear]

My Doctor kept bugging me to call a stomach bypass surgeon. I got mad and started exercising/lo-fat for 6 weeks ... didn't lose a pound.

I switched to Atkins (I knew the diet but was reticent to try it again since in '74 when I did it I got a bladder infection ... not enough water...) and in the next 6 weeks I lost 30lbs

Now just cruisin enjoying this WOL and this Forum which I visit daily ... thanks all for your indirect help and encouragement ... I don't post often but i find the postings here actually answer many questions I don't ask ... thanks again!

[madmike]

For the newbies, bringing back this post

[Shannonp]

Mine was stepping on the scale and seeing I was at an all time high - even more than I ever weighed when I was pregnant, and I've had 3 children. I dont want to be the fat mom anymore.

[Sccuffy]

I have been up and down in weight since I was 15, usually in 6 year cycles, when I reached my heaviest weight every at 225 lbs I new it was time to take things into my own hands, my friend at work had been raving about how her best friend had lost 30 lbs in 3 months on Atkins so I decied to take a look at this diet.

If it can work for a mother of 4 childrens two under the age of 2, then it must be able to work for me.

Before just to loose twenty pounds I would take on a near vegitarian diet and play on three softballs teams and one soccer team, so I would be spending approx every Sat / Sun playing in ball tourneyments, playing evening games 2 - 3 times a week, as well as going to 2 soccer practices and playing a soccer game every Sunday. I only lost about 15 - 29 pounds with all this activity and diet change. Then when I stopped because I snapped my Patealla tendon, I took a break and gain about 29 lbs in 4 weeks.

I did not find the resolve to tackle this problem untill I found this site and all the wonderfull people.

Thank you everyone.

Sccuffy

[orchidday]

For me, it took actual physical pain to get me BACK on Atkins. Last October, I had to travel for business so I made two roundtrips from Orlando. One to Seattle and one to Colorado Springs. On my first flight out of Orlando I STOLE the seat extender because it was so humiliating to ask for that I didn't want to do it another eight times. I just slipped it into my purse, and would whip it out on each flight.

The humilation and look of dread in other passenger's faces (the oh I hope SHE isn't going to be seated by me and who can blame them) was bad enough. But the WORST part is that the seat hurt me and because it was too small, it hurt my back. I just hated it.

I realized that one of the things I love best is travel. I have always enjoyed flying. And now my weight was keeping me from flying for recreation.

On my last flight home, I left the STOLEN seat extender on that plane, and decided right then and there that I KNEW ATkins worked for me and I was not going to live like this. Now I am down 11 pounds and it is just the beginning of a big job. I am happy to be back! Orchid

[petcrazed]

for me it was reaching the 200 pound mark and my size 16 ( real size 18 since they were from lane bryant) jeans were getting tight. and i look at my wedding pictures from a year ago and see how fat i look in them and i never want to look that way again.

[Galadriell]

Sleepless nights... All my life I could sleep as a baby - deep, long sleeps. Then suddenly (after gaining 35 lbs in two years, but not experiencing any other problem) 4 nights waking up in every hour... On the 5th day I was in action:-)))

[judyr]

Last January I was video taping lesson for work on my master's degree. When I played back the tape, I was horrified. I knew Atkins worked because I had used it back in the '70s. I went out and bought the book. In April I hit a stall that last until I gave up in June. Gained back 5 pounds over the summer. I started back on in Sept. Hit a stall 3 weeks later and find this site. It has helped me with slow loss and stalls. I love this site.

[Dean4Prez]

I was oblivious to insults. What triggered my doing Atkins the first time was watching a coworker lose about 60 lbs. He was no intellectual (former college football player), so I knew I could read the book and follow the diet if he could. I lost about 40 pounds, decided to try CAD, then stopped low-carbing altogether -- and gained back 35. When I hit 225 again, I decided to go with what worked before.

[niudog]

4 key things for me. . .
1. When my doctor started using the term "pre-diabetic".
2. When coworkers called me and my friend "The Twins". (I was about 260 and he was over 300 el bees).
3. Tired of always being the fat dad helping out at baseball practice.
4. Seeing how FAT I was in the pictures on my Cub Scout packs web site.

[patigayle]

Me and my hubby ride a Harley. Last month we were going for a ride and when I got on behind him he was left with very little room because I had a huge spare tire taking up all of it. I felt so embarrassed.I told him to enjoy his pillow while he could because it was fixing to be HISTORY !

Pati:cool:

[Volgal]

Easy question ~ my wake-up call was when I was declined by my insurance company for gastric by-pass surgery and decided to do this on my own ~ started on October 27th of 2003 and as of 1/22, I am down 39 pounds with 86 to go!!

[Bugspit]

My moment was pretty recent and for some reason hit me pretty hard. I play in a co-ed soccer league and I have always been pretty atheltic. One game I said something to a player on the other team, just making chit chat and he responded back by saying, "shut the *!~# up fat boy". That was very upsetting to me and was on my mine for a while.

[FrecklFluf]

I'm 32, and I've been overweight since about age seven. Since my little sister and I had the same activity level when we were kids even though she ate much more than I did (I've never been a really big eater, and she could easily down six pieces of cinnamon toast as an after-school snack), I just accepted it as genetics and tried to eat "healthy."

Fast forward to 2003 ... I'm 32 years old, 196.5 pounds, and my knees have been hurting for about three years (sharp pains, especially when going down stairs or stepping down wrong). Also, my husband could stand to lose about 120 pounds, and I knew he'd had previous success with a high-protein regimen combined with circuit training. I wanted to support him and help him. A friend of mine who is currently pregnant but had previously lost a lot of weight on Atkins (and plans to go back to induction after breast-feeding) loaned me DANDR and a few other books. I read DANDR and learned a few things.

1. Dr. Atkins was not a quack. He was a brave, smart man. It takes courage to stand up and disagree with the consensus. The theories of Copernicus, Pasteur, and Lister weren't accepted at first either.

2. I am not destined to be fat. I can control it. (Wow, typing that made me tear up, which I normally don't do. Guess being fat bothered me more than I thought.)

3. For whatever reason, some people ARE more sensitive to carbs. It will always be easier for my little sister to be thin than it will be for me. That's okay; she has her crosses to bear too. Like Cherry Valance said, "Things are tough all over."

So far, I've lost 28 pounds, and I'm one and a half pound away from being as small as I've ever been as an adult. And my knees have pretty much stopped hurting. I'm beginning to suspect that I actually may make it to my goal weight.

Now if I could only get my husband to do it ...

[scorpio381]

All of your stories are very inspiring and really touched my heart.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, ATKIDS!!!

[cheeze]

It was a combination of 3 things for me. One was the day I got on the scale and saw I weighed exactly twice as much as I did when I met my husband, I could barely fit into my size 18 clothes and I could not get my wedding ring on.

[perbain]

I saw my graduation pictures and saw for myself what I looked like. It was just a shock. Then I started to notice things like my pants were so small, I would have to unfasten the button to breath. I started to realize that absolutely everything I did was centered around food. My girl friend is having a baby, and she said,"I wonder who will gain more-you or me?" That just really got to me, and a light just came on :rolleyes: I decided to do something. It took a while to decide which one I wanted to do, so I read everything and made the decision to do Atkins for life. I just want to be healthy and not hate what I see in the mirror. :yay:

[Ohio Kim]

I got married last winter and spent a week in Mexico. When I got the pictures back, I couldn't believe how HUGE I was. I didn't want to show anyone my beautiful pictures because I didn't want them to see ME in them..

[H6l5y]

My moment was on November 1st, 2003. I was on my first week of induction when, unnfortunately, our house caught on fire while I was away for about 30 minutes. When I came home I ran to my neighbors and a couple of guys came over to help try to put the fire out. While we were waiting on the Fire Dept I kept trying to yell for my cat from the front door to see if he was still alive and could come out of the house but my neighbor (a guy) grabbed me and said that I shouldn't be breathing the smoke in especially since I was PREGNANT! Well guess what........I wasn't pregnant! I have to say that his comment was the final straw for me and even in the midst of my chaotic life living out of a hotel room for the next couple weeks and the never ending restoration of our house I have been able to stick to my new WOE and have managed to lose 22 lbs so far. As much as I would have loved to smack that guy right upside the head I have to admit that if he hadn't said that I might not have been so determined and probably would have given in to emotional eating as a result of the fire. I still think he is a bonehead though!

[nikkil]

Okay, I've read this entire thread and I cannot believe the insensitivity and cruelty of some people!

I have my own 'cruelty' thing to add...

My son's birthday party Nov 1st, my middle son (12) bumped into me and knocked me off balance a bit (staggered). My BIL comments, "Wow, you should be a professional hockey player if you can knock HER off balance!"--nice, huh??? Also, I'm the biggest person at all of the family get-togethers on my husband's side and I'm sick of it! He has 2 brothers and both of their spouses are very slim and wear fashionable clothes and bathing suits in the summer (neither has had kids, mind you, and I've had 3 but that's beside the point). I'm tired of always being self conscious when I eat in front of anybody and being embarassed all the time about my size. I hate it!!! I've just been laid off from my job (ends in April) and will be going to job interviews and I don't kid myself that there's discrimination out there.

My MIL is always commenting on weight things. She serves me second helpings of food without me asking for them, snide remarks constantly...yet she's not small at all--go figure :rolleyes:

At my highest I weighed a few pounds more than my 6'5" husband :rolleyes:

I weighed the same weight as I did when I gave birth to my 3rd son--9 months pregnant with a 9 1/2 pound baby!!! He turned 6 at the party I mentioned above.

Nearly passing out from doing up my shoes, aches and pains and only 32, trouble sleeping, heart palps, out of breath walking....take kids swimming and NEVER go in the pool (I LOVE swimming!), not participating.

2 MOST MAJOR THINGS:

Binging in secret, when by myself, hiding wrappers deep in the garbage, lying about when and what I ate...

and lastly, feeling like I'm wasting my life waiting to do things 'when I'm thinner'--not swimming with the kids, bike riding, roller blading, ice skating, going to fun stuff because I didn't want to be the 'cow' looking stupid...

[RD64]

For me it was me realizing that at 40 my body was breaking down more and diabetes runs in my family. I was having major backaches and hip pain on and off so I went on the atkins diet after the first of the year and I have felt great ever since. Pains have subsided. I just don't want to end up like my parents taking insulin shots and pills every day.

[cmiskinnis]

I was motivated by a couple of events. One was when my daughter's friend, who hadn't seen me since the weight gain, remarked at how different I looked and that she almost didn't recognize me. The second thing was when I realized that men didn't look at me anymore. I used to get lots of attention and now I'm invisible! I can't remember the last time I got complimented or flirted with. I was spoiled I guess. I'm too young to be ignored by the opposite sex, darnit.

[lizwhip]

I had three things happen in one week - I was on the phone with an old friend whom I hadn't seen in years. We used to ride horses together. She asked my why I didn't ride any more and I had to admit it was because I was afraid I would hurt the horse because of my weight.

A couple of days later I got on a plane and couldnt put the tray table down because my stomach was in the way.

Later that day I saw a guy I hadnt seen since I was a teenager, he came up to say hi to me - great! - but he thought I was MY MOTHER.

Quite an eye-opening week.

[rosey1]

i went in the hospital in october for gall bladder surgery. the doctor told me "you may be 28, but you have the heart of a 40 yr old" that was all i needed to hear. it did take me a few months to get started. i wanted to heal first, so i could put my all into my new WOE. I'm looking forward to going on a roller coaster with my kid, and not having to worry if the seatbelt will fit!

[Keisha]

I started having dreams, and in them I was always slim with a flat stomach, and able to wear a lovely dress. This happened so often I figured myself was trying to tell me something ! Then.... the photos of Christmas came back from being developed.....gheeese thats telling, when you look at the photos and the person that IS you is just not the person you see inside your head, or imagine you look like ( is this making sense? ) soooooooo..... DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !! So I did, and I have, and it"s working brilliantly. I am a Born Again Atkinser !!! :yay: :agree: :yay:

One other YUKKY experience is the mirrors in changing rooms ( in shops), don't know what it is about them but they really seem super unflattering...( at least everthing I try on looks so horrible I don't spend any money!!) (Will do in a few months though!) :p

[AFwife]

My kickstart was when I need an extension on my airplane seat belt this past August when we moved to England. I felt horrible and DH just didn't know what to say, he felt bad for me. He tried to make me feel better by saying all seatbelts are different. I went to bathroom in plane and cried.

Then a week later while walking around in these beautiful towns in England, I was waiting to cross the street and a guy in a car passed me by and said to my butt cause it was facing the street, I'll have 4 double cheeseburgers please and drove away laughing.

I pretended I didn't hear him but went home to look in the mirror and started to cry. How could I let myself get like this.

Well, I've lost 32 pounds since November 2003 and I'm proud of myself and more determined now more then ever to go the whole distance. I love this new WOE and I thank God for this support group.


Lily :)

[CherylAust]

There where a few things within a few days that could have set me off. First my darling :bash: mother-inlaw took one look at us when we arrive, there was no hello, just "you both are fat". It got my dh's goat, I'm used to it. She does it to me all the time usually not in front of him, even though she has a daughter who larger than me, MIL told me she gets upset when she mentions anything about her weight.
Then I went shopping for swimming costumes, enough said.

The final straw was on my birthday, DH bought me some tshirts, not one of them fit. That day I took them back and got some exercise wear instead and an exercise dvd. Not long afterwards I started leaving the sugar out of my coffee and a couple of days after that decided to go the whole hog and get back onto Atkins.

[dahliameow]

Well, I have always been overweight.. and always wanted to lose.. just never did. I would always stick around 200 sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.
My mother and I play "dress-up" sometimes (yes, were both grown) and take pictures of each other. When the pictures came back the last time around last March I decided I was going to do something. I was horrified at the way I looked. Ill post some of those pics soon, I want to put the before and afters up at the same time.... not yet.. Anyway, I went on a diet for about a month, lost 15 lbs then quit and gained it all back. I was around 210 at this time.

Then close to Christmas time my best friend and I were talking on the phone and she was telling me about what her boyfriend said about me. He told her that he didnt want to set me up with any of his friends (I was single at the time) becuase I had such a pretty face, but my body was awful. She didnt mean to hurt me by telling me this... but my goodness did it ever hurt!

Later that night after a good cry, and a lot of soul searching.... I jumped on the scale and to my suprise I was at 223. I am only 5'4. I decided to start low carbing at the first of the year. I did and I am now at 57 cheat free days, and 20 lbs lighter....

Dahlia

[beanerz]

Well, I was diagnosed with diabetes and I couldn't control it and when I had to give myself that first insulin shot I FREAKED OUT I think it took me about 20 minutes to just prick myself. But right before that, I remember several things, I used to be EXTREMLY thin growing up (I danced for 15 years) and when my future MIL came over to my mother's house for the first time, she saw pictures of me up in the hall at my smallest, yet unhealthy weight, I was like 95 pounds but 5'4 (I was anorexic and going to counseling) but she commented on how wonderful I looked, I know that is sick meaning to say that, but she was right to a point, I look muchbetter thinner. She makes several comments about how she will starve herself if she goes above 125 and she is 5'7. I know SHE has ISSUES with weight, but it does get my head spinning as I was once diagnosed with an eating disorder and anyone who has been, isn't or never will be 100% cured from it. The other factor was when my back would ache getting up every morning, and I could sit down on the bed propped up with a pillow and my fat rolled into my boobs, so it was time. I am 5 pounds from pre-pregnant weight and it WILL come off, I am doing great and won't go back. Makes you very sensitive to heavy people, as I have been super thin and super fat.

[lilian]

Lets see its alot of things that made me start
1: Looking at myself infront of a mirrow and not liking what I see
2: going shopping for jeans and somehow thinking Im a smaller size than what I realy am
3: Not liking myself for not having the will power to not cheat on this wol
4: last but not least Knowing that my husband is no longer atracted to me, even thoe he doesn't say it (actions speak louder than words) and his are screeming....

Well good luck to you all on this way of life/.. :agree:

[bfritz_pa]

1) I just got sick and tired of seeing myself so BIG.
2) My Health
3) My self confidence
4) That sickening feeling when I sit down and my Gut tries to contract into itself.
5) To run again.............
6) To buy nice clothes

[JayRob]

(1) Pants that were getting too tight. :)
(2) Co-worker who lost 50 lbs on Protein Power.
(3) Step mother who had a stroke from Type II diabetes complications and now faces the loss of a limb.

[Anne768]

First time I've seen this thread....good one
(do not have time to read all postings yet...work calls)..but I will

I think for me, it was looking at high school class reunion pics...which i didnt attend..did'nt know anything about it.....seeing people I hadnt seen in 20+ years was a little eye opening...(i mean...what if they saw ME now...arg!!)

+ it was a new years resolution thing...start anew

and how i havent taken pics with me in them for years, clothes not fitting, not wanting to buy 16+ sizes anymore, not being happy w/myself, gosh i could go on.....& on....but duty calls.

[Stephen596]

My Depression

[Xplora]

I had injured my back and was in severe pain. In the ER the doctor told me to lose weight and otherwise blew me off completely. Handed me some pain pills and shoved me out the door. I was so insulted that they did not treat me with enough respect to even look into what might have been wrong. (I had an employee who was in with the same simptoms and he had x rays, mri, therapy....) I was literally screaming in pain. I realized that as a fat person, I did sometimes get descriminated against. Mainly though, I knew the doctor was correct, that my weight did effect my health and my back problems were worsening.
Since losing weight, my back has been much better. Pilates has been great in strengthening my back and abs too. I feel and look much better.

[hummelda]

I just decided it was time. Enough. Game over.

I cannot say I have been overtly insulted over my weight but life is restricted at the weight I started. I didn't even start with the thought that I was going to go all the way. But as I've gone through this, my resolve has gotten stronger until there is nothing that can stop me and nothing that will make me go back to the way I was.

[lizwhip]

Hummelda -

Marvelous post. I feel the same way.

Liz

[sugarpie]

several things did it for me all with in a few months time

hubby's doc asked when our baby was due, when i explained that i had a hysterectomy she couldn't believe it and put her hands on my stomach and said "amazing"

size 22 that were too tight, ugly sweat pants and not wanting to leave the house

looking in the mirror and having my very overweight mother look back

not fitting in a lawn chair any more

a hubby who no longer wants to be intimate with me

a recent diagnosis of high blood lipids, liver problems and diabetes

25 days into this woe and down 18 pounds

i can't wait to look cute again

[SpydrMonke]

What a great topic! I was just discussing this with a non-believing co-worker on Friday.

Several things prompted me:
1. I was laid off from a job which I had pretty much consumed my life for the previous two years.
2. I was embarassed to go out with my friends because I was so much heavier than them.
3. I was out of breath walking up the stairs in my new house.
4. I missed being able to shop for clothes..

[fAlbert]

I had a job interview a few weeks ago. When I tried to put on my suit (which was tailored just 2 years ago) it was not even close to fitting. The pants were way too small and I could not button the jacket.

[LondonIan]

Always hated the weight. I think the worst comment I got was several years ago when I was 35 lbs pounds lighter than I am now. I weighed about 15.5 stone (217 lbs).
I walked into a jeans & denim shop on a Saturday and I got one step past the door before the shop assistant ran up to me and said (before I'd opened my mouth or looked at anything), "Oh, I'm sorry we only do sizes for normal people here".

[Carla27]

1. I was on the verge of looking in the plus sizes for clothes.
2. My lower half started looking like a butchers diagram
3. I was getting winded walking up to my 3rd floor apt.
4.Depression
5. My dh and I were going straight to bed at night and neither one of us complained about it...ok a little personal..sorry

[MKist]

There wasn't any one thing to set me off. There's a whole list.

1. We have several family things a year. I haven't attended in about three years and have just been making excuses when asked why not. The truth is that I just feel uncomfortable around other people. I don't want anyone to look at me.

2. It's embarrassing to get in a rollercoaster or airplane seat. It's scary to go to someone's house and see narrow or spindly chairs. I'm afraid if I sit, something's going to break!

3. I feel awkward in any social situation. As if everyone is staring at me and commenting on how I'm a fat slob. I know they're not, but the idea gets stuck in my head and the whole time is an ordeal.

4. This may be a bit personal for some, but it's the truth and a big reason for me. Sex. Not only is it harder to muster up the energy and enthusiasm for it, but it's not nearly as fun as a fat person.

[tcastro]

1) Having to buy 3X shirts.
2) Finding out that my Great Grandfather, Grandfather, Father and all my Uncles had developed diabetes Type 2 by the time they were 40 and they all weighed LESS than I did.
3) To be completely honest, I want to date (and eventually wed) a healthy and athletic woman, but I can't expect to attract a woman like that if I'm 100lbs overweight and sedetary.

[LondonIan]

OK, I give up, honesty prevails. I'm single and fat guys don't get laid!

[kyrasdad]

My event was having a baby. It took six months after she was born to find the right method (Atkins) which I had barely heard of before I started it.

I've spent extensive time in my journal going over the machinery of motivation. God knows, I had a lifetime of humiliations to light a fire under me, but none of them ever did. It took a massively positive thing for this lifetime fat guy to decide to be a better man.

[C-u-lean]

The main motivation for me was having my daughter. I never wanted to be seen with my mother because she was overweight, and I didn't want her to feel the same way about me. I also want to be able to have fun with her, playing in the park ect. Not just sitting on the sidelines.

Another motivating factor happened about 4 months after she was born. I was standing on a chair painting her new room and fell, slammed my head against the wall and landed with the chair in my back. I had horrible back pain. After many failed attempts with Dr's for relief of my pain, I asked one of our back surgeons (I work in the OR) to take a look at my x-rays. He said there was nothing wrong, I just needed to lose 100 pounds. Granted, he was right, but when there is a definite onset to your back problems, the weight was not the sole issue. Plus I thought my scrubs hid 30 of those pounds, I guess I was wrong :blush:

[Marie H]

I've been thinking about this motivation thing, and it's hard to say what finally clicked. I could point to specific things that happened (seeing pictures of myself at my brother's wedding . . .) or the fact that siblings had used Atkins with success (though none of them was particularly large).

However, the real motivation wasn't mine: DH announced that he'd decided to start Atkins, based on a dramatic weight loss by a friend of ours and her endorsement. DH was significantly overweight (over 400 pounds) and has been diagnosed as diabetic. I was also significantly overweight (just shy of 300 pounds) but, at least until last month, had not been diagnosed with any medical problems. I have a real desire to grow old with this guy, and really want him to lose weight and get healthier. Once he announced it, it was easy for me to join him; I just insisted we buy the book and do it "by the book".

Having the two of us doing this together does make it easier. The weight loss following a plan that doesn't leave me feeling deprived is great motivation for continuing.

[barefoot55]

I woke up one day and realized I just felt sick and horrible and I was on the path to cutting my life short. My father died of heart disease at age 42 and I'd already outlived him - but for how much longer?

Fear can be a great motivator.

It's a cliche: I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.

barefoot

[Allikins]

I guess there wasn't really one thing that made me want to try this. I've been overweight almost all my life but it never really bothered me (never dieted).

I think what got the ball rolling was probably seeing myself in my wedding pictures (married 2001). I didn't like the way I looked in them which started to make me feel bad about myself. When I first met my husband 7 years ago I was about 175lbs (still overweight but only a little bigger than I am now)...and by the time we got married I had gained a lot of weight without realizing it. I was feeling bad for 2 years...2001 up to 2003...and as I looked back, I made things difficult in the marriage sometimes. For those 2 years I thought about starting a diet but didn't know how or where to start. Last year my mom said she and her boyfriend had tried Atkins after seeing my uncles weight loss. I was skeptical of course but I looked into it online and did some research and realized I could do it. So, I told my husband I was going to try it and I bought the book.

I feel so much better about myself now and even though I've had a great marriage all this time...things seem so much better.

[Squintz]

I have been tired and lazy for a long time now. I just had a new born son and i have a 3 year old daughter. I find myself being very mean towards my fiance and my daughter and i think that a change in my size and health will result in a change in my attitude. Plus i dont want to be afraid to take my shirt off at the beach this summer and i want to look good for my wedding which is comming up. I have a stunningly beautiful fiance and she loves me for who i am and has for 10 years(ever since we were 11) It wasnt until 02/02/03 that she finally gave me the time of day and i was the happiest man for about two months and now i still have the same love for her but i dont have the energy to show it. She deserves the old me and i am wanting to give it to her.

[Granadino]

Like being compared with Mountain Fiji from that 80's program Glow, that hurted me a lot...

But what made me start with LC was actually when I met my stepson 4 years ago, and I had with me some videos from my country, so he wanted to watch them, he saw me there at my brother's wedding ('97, when I was on my healthy weight of 165), I told him that was me - he didn't recognize me - and then asked me: and what happened with you?

He didn't mean to be mean, he adores me, now years later he even calls me mother... but it hurted a lot back then... took me a while to get the courage to start losing weight, and I fell off the wagon big, big time a couple of times since then, but when this - now fully grown teenager - comes visiting every couple of weeks and sees the changes and lets me know, feels like mana from heaven.

[sucralose]

On summer not long ago a girl I was fairly obsessed with told me I was the nicest guy she ever met but that she could never date me because she didn't find me physically attractive.

I decided then that I didn't want to be an unnatractive "nice guy" .... went from 325 to 198, met my girlfriend, went back up to 243, now I'm back at 215, looking to go down to 185 and stay there.

Now that I'm recently broken up, my former obsession is all over me, but I'm the one that doesn't find her attractive anymore.

Atkins rules.

[dixiemamma]

As stupid as this sounds.. I checked my hubbies email awhile back and someone had sent him and email. I noticed the date was from awhile back.. like he didn't erase it. It was pics of some almost-necked hottie chicks. It hurt my feelings because he hadn't erased it after he opened it. He said it was becuase he kept meaning to send it to someone else.. anyway, my feelings got hurt and I went through some "maybe he doesn't like what I look like and he wishes he had a hottie wife like that" crap and I finally decided to do something with my huge self. Still have lots of self image issues... trying to make it better though.. :(

[potatofree]

I was accumulating a lot of little grievances... tired of waddling, tired of my feet hurting, of the snickers, the stares, the jeopardy to my health.

I could have died from complications of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, and I remember the (400 lbs himself if anything) doctor, not known for his bedside manner, patting my stomach while removing the stitches saying to my (skinny) then-husband. "It was the weight that got in the way of finding it before it was almost too late!" Even THAT wasn't enough..combined with the loss of the baby and dealing with a disintegrating marriage, caring for 2 children (one with a disability) it was a spiral of emotion-driven eating that led me up to almost 300 lbs, and the whole time I'm in denial.

It took a nightmare about dying in my sleep, leaving my disabled son lying there crying for me to wake me up and make me do something. I'm getting very close to the age my Dad died at, from complications of gastric bypass. THAT WILL NOT BE ME!

[lillykins]

Five people have asked me "When's it due?" and it breaks my heart every time. The trouble is I can see where they are coming from. I have a photo of myself at nine months pregnant. I have another photo of myself that was taken recently. You would struggle to guess which is which.

[stoop411]

I have so many reasons why I finally started to do this. The main one was for myself, I was tired of never being able to find decent clothes for myself and when I did paying 3 times what they were worth at a big and tall mens store.

I have four small children (7,7,9 and 12) and I really want to see them grow up.

I know it seems like a silly reason but we live close to Wild Adventures, a theme park in Valdosta, Ga. My son goes there a lot with my ex-wife and her new hubby and he has been asking me for over two years now to take him and ride the rides with him. (btw ive lost 61 lbs so far and me and my oldest (jacob) rode the log flume together, it was a VERY VERY special moment for both of us, we were both almost in tears. He said one of the coolest things he has ever said to me "Daddy you did it, we are riding a ride together" It will never be forgotten. I just cant wait till I lose the rest of my weight so there are no limitations as to what we can do.


I love my family so much guys, there are so many things I want to do for the first time. It is going to be like reliving my life all over again, the way I have always wanted to.


Sorry for the long post, got really emotional talking about that day with my son at the amusement park.

[dixiemamma]

wow.. that about made me cry. That is awesome!

[Hellistile]

After having a stroke at age 46, I spent 7 years dieting without success (low-fat). One day, feeling tired, depressed, hopeless, full of grief, miserable, weak, in pain, did I mention miserable, grumpy, irritable, miserable, miserable, miserable, I got up, waddled to the car, drove to the shopping centre, waddled to the book store, with the purpose of buying a new-diet book, any new-diet book (I didn't have a computer), that wasn't low-fat or any version of low-fat. The first book that caught my eye was Protein Power which I purchased. This was my first introduction to low-carb. Within 24 hours I had read the Protein Power book and had started on low-carb. Since then, I have read everything I can lay my hands on on low carb and have never looked back. My only regret has been that it took so long for me to discover low-carbing.

[vicki w]

good for you for finding a WOL that will work for you - You are on the first step of the ladder that will pave the way for the rest of your life - I hope that the support that you find here will make it easier for you. xxx

[LondonIan]

And If I'm truthful.

Last Winter I started having angina symptoms. I had a treadmill stress test which was inconclusive - they dragged me off after a while because I 'wasn't responding to stimuli'. Read zoned out. I gave up smoking - 80 a day almost at once. I was so ashamed I couldn't do the test. My weight has been up and down like a yo-yo.
Bottom line - first thing women see if a fat guy. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life alone.

[aricketts]

I've been wanting to loose weight for a long time! I got sick of looking at pictures of me at our monthly lampwork (glass beadmaking) meetings!! I'm heavier now then when I was full term pregnant with my last child! I feel older than I am (will be 42 next week) My knees hurt and I want to wear sleeveless shirts again!! I can't get up off the floor without help! My mom even says snide remarks seeing pics of me! So I'm down 12 pounds as of today and hopefully I'll be close to my goal weight by Sept. when I see my mom again so then I can go "neener neener!" LOL!

[LcMamaInFL]

I guess it was a number of things adding up over the years:

Eight years ago I was with my then hubby and then best friend
at SAMs Club and this very overweight woman walked by us.
Once the woman had passed by and was out of earshot, I asked
my then friend "Don't ever let me get that big, ok?" to which she
replied "Um...dear...you're bigger than SHE is..." I wanted to
die, I was so mortified. Incidentally, that comment was *not*
what led up to her going from being my best friend to being my
*then* best friend. But that's fodder for the 'cheating spouses
of LCers' thread.

About 3 1/2 years ago, I was just a couple months pregnant
with my second son -- not enough to even show yet -- and my
DH and I were at Hops restaurant. I went into the ladies room
and as I was washing up, this woman and her little girl walked
in and the little girl (all of about 3 years old or so) asked her
mother "Mommy...why is that lady so fat?" The woman was as
embarrassed as I was, but the look in her eyes echoed her
daughter's words -- "Why *are* you so fat?" Of course, SHE
herself was a skinny little hardbody, which made it all the more
humiliating. I went back and sat down w/ DH and ate my salad
with tears streaming down my face and plopping onto my plate.

Less than a year ago, I was at the beach with my mother and
my 2 sons. I bit the bullet and actually put on a bathing suit
and my mother, without thinking, told me I looked like a big ol'
grape. I guess she must have seen the shock and hurt in my
eyes because she followed up by saying "I didn't intend for that
to sound mean" I just looked at her and said "Tell me how that
can sound any other way BUT mean?"

And then there's the ongoing things:

- tired of having to worry about whether the movie theater we
go to has stadium seating or not

- DH has no interest in being intimate (he *says* it's because
he doesn't want to risk a pregnancy until I lose the weight, but
ya know -- there's OTHER ways to prevent that)

- Tired of feeling like a non-person

I could probably go on and on, but I guess that's enough for now.

Hugs!

Cynthia :roll:

[DarthRaidr]

My kickstart (this time) is I want to get a breast reduction, so I want ot loose all the wait I can to make sure I even will still need one.
The last time I did the Atkins, was after having my son..in total I lost 30lbs (i gained 27 w/ him) and my chest stayed the same ..so.. I am trying very hard this time to make goal.

[dazzlin182]

stupid reason but when i cant really wear tank top that flash little tummy lol ---> esp. night out with the girls (or at parties)

its crucial ---> 24th b'day pic ----> shocked of my life didnt know i was that chubby when i've always been sporty and athletic in hs and college (some close people e.g. old-friends, family etc "my have you put on weight?") and

my mum was actually sayin to me "don't worry about your weight shooting up, it's a sign of getting old (i knew she was joking but the word "fat" and "old" kinda got me!) i dont mind getting old everybody does but i want to grow old-er in good shape.

[momof4boys]

I guess what did it for me, well a few things actually, when I was pregnant with my now 4month old son, I was gestational diabetic, (I don't want to get type II it runs in my family) anyway that's the main reason,
but I do have a sort of "revenge" driving me to do this. My best friend who is now going through a divorce, is losing weight,(she lost 20lbs) although she wasn't as big as me not even close, but she's much taller (5'7") I'm 5'2" anyway, I was telling her that I had saved a pair of shorts from when I was thinner, and I'm determined to get back into them (a size 4) She says to me "If I can't wear a size 4 you'll never be able to" Well I did when I met my husband, yeah that was about 10 years ago, and 4children too. but I'm determined to get back into those shorts, I want so bad to rub it into her face.
I weigh 192 right now, she weighes 146, and when she was 166, she wore the same size I wear now. so I know I can get back into a size 4. maybe even smaller by the time I'm down to 125.
Tammy

[Dagger]

I mentioned this is another post but it was truly inspiring to me. After a recent move from up North to now living in the South, it's no longer 9 months of cover my fat up winter...it's now 9 months of everyone here is thin summer and I was fed up! Discouraged though, I didn't do anything about it...until running into and meeting a series of people who lost lots of weight living a LC lifestyle. They truly inspired me and now I feel determined now more than ever...mostly because I'm not giving up eating, I still feel full every day, and I don't have to exercise if I don't want to :D

[teriland1]

My underwear had started to hurt! Can you imagine?! Too tight! Not to mention my cute little dresses looked ridiculous on me now, and the capris ect..all my clothes just look stupid. My cutest outfit - black capris and top that I thought made me look sooo slim - I saw a picture of myself in it and can you say "porkety pork pork"? My boss even said "put that picture away" (because it was making me cry and he knew it was a bad one of me) I wanted so much to look great in my son's graduation celebration pics. I am the youngest mother of his class and wanted to look good...felt like a young petunia pig.

My husband has stopped saying "I love your tummy".

I have 2 chins.

I lived without looking at the scale...I should have...i wieghed 10 lbs more than i thought.

My good friend at work started lc - she lost 25 lbs! I am so proud of her! We had both been low cal. dieting during the beginning of the year. This LC really worked for her.

And the number one reason for teri getting off her BIG duff and starting lc???
My oldest sister at 400lbs died this year after complications from a gastric bi-pass surgery. I think of her everyday and miss her terribly. I have spent almost a year with out her...i think she would want me to be healthy.

[Nasira]

I am just sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I was in denial.

I thought to myself, "why can't you wear 89% of your summer wardrobe?"

I wondered "why are you looking for the largest t-shirts you own? How come you can't wear any of those cute summer outfits you bought last year?"

THEN I went home for Fathers Day. My 2 sisters and I took a picture with Dad. He was so proud! He took his digital camera downstairs to the basement - his technological lair - and instantly printed out copies of the picture for everyone to take home.

Now I have to explain why that was soooooo horrific. My father is a very handsome man, fit and trim; and both of my sisters are gorgeous, very fit, shapely 9-10's with flat stomaches. I, on the other hand, am a size 18.

The next weekend I visited home again. Guess which picture was BLOWN UP and placed in a frame on the mantle? You guessed it. Obviously my father is proud of the picture and loves us all, but my vanity won't let it rest. I refuse to have friends and family see that picture as the most recent depiction of me. I refuse to take Thanksgiving pictures and STILL look like that.

So, I am resolved.

This WOE + exercise = new picture
:wave:

[mae_west]

I went to the doctor to see if I could get some new medication to take for the ligament problem in my foot. i happened to mention that the tylenol-3/vioxx combo I had been taking had been helping me sleep. The doctor probed that comment and figured out that I was depressed and put me on anti-depressants. Coming out of that fog helped me to approach an old friend about getting together (he being newly single), and although he did not mind me being overweight (????weird huh?), I have found that each day just gets sunnier and sunnier (just like those prozac ads say) since I have been taking the antidepressants, so I started lc'ing after starting the antidepressants... stopped last winter when new boyfriend wanted to come over and watch movies and eat chocolate. I gained 35 pounds.... Snapped out of it this past spring and have been able to do a full 14 day induction with almost no cheats ( I just had to have some strawberries and raspberries- they were in season!). New boyfriend came over last weekend to watch a movie and brought me wine gums ..."look, they are low fat!" he says. Sweet. I told him high fat, low carb is how I eat (Next time bring whipped cream!) At least he is trying to be helpful. He brought chips too, but I did not eat any. Or the coke either, but that was never something I would drink anyway.
He thinks its impressive that I can eat a 12 oz steak (not everytime- just when I am too low in calories) and a salad. I think it is impressive too. Man I love this way of eating!!!!
Mae

[Dylan]

I moved to another country to teach English and the school is constantly taking pictures to send home for the parents. Each pictues, I looked bigger an bigger and then i saw a class photo and didnt even recognize my self! I started exerciing like mad and still not managing my eating patterns. About a months and a half after that I cut out breads and pasta and have the occasional rice bowl BUT was consuming far too many fruits and veggies (whole watermelons, 3 packages of tomatoes etc..)and still with little loss-this is where i stalled and my mood, fatigue were slowly catching up on me. I researched and researched other methods to help and started Atkins 3 weeks ago. This is where I found true success mentally and physically. I have not been as active as I should but I figured Ill start with this WOE first and then incorporate more. ITs great. I still eat real food only in portions and my self esteem is soo much better. I have a only 8 pounds until my goal and then thats it-on to maintenence. Its not the "diet" its a lifestyle, I dont feel so much depreived as i do empowered. Knowing this feeling makes me more conscious of how and what i eat. Its great.

[dramaq0607]

I stepped on a scale at the gym while i was up at the university in April. I weighed in a little over 200. I decided at that point that i had to do something for myself. I lost almost 50lbs and it was the best thing i could have ever done. I don't even know where that motivation came from, but man it feels good to feel normal.

[MariJaneTN]

I looked in the mirror and i broke into tears.

[BabyPhat]

I would have to say my kick start was the birth of my 2nd child... there was no way in the world I was going to be able to keep up with an active 4 yr. old, and attend to the needs of a new born being 300 lbs. It just was not going to happen. They need a healthy energetic mommie, and I need to make sure that I can actually find "clothes" to wear at the mall... so I made up my mind the day I " gave birth" my "over weight" days were very limited...

it's the best decision I could have made and I feel great!
I have a long way to go...

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE! :thup:

[realdeal31]

The fact that people told me i was to old at 30 years old to lose the weight i add to lose, and more.

Guess that behing now down to 182 pounds from 231 will really show them.

Ho and i feel so much better too LOL

[cheryle]

1. I will not allow myself to be photographed. I only have a few pictures of me with my kids! This is not normal!
2. I feel like crap all the time.
3. I avoid having sex with my husband because I'm so ashamed of my stomach.
4. I can't ever find anything to wear...the largest size in the petite dept. no longer fits and 16 misses and 16W are too big!
5. My 8 year old told me I was the warmest,squishiest person she knows! Sweet, but...
6. I live in the land of Barbie Dolls...has anyone been to the Atlanta suburbs lately!
7. I have two chins and my neck is even gaining weight!

I am actually a small person screaming to be let out of this fat trap! I am mad as hell and I'm not gonna eat it anymore!
God as my witness, I will lose 45 by next Spring!

Thanks for listening! :clap:

[Carina8]

For me it was a few events...

I had a few pair of pants that were getting to tight to be near comfortable... I quit wearing them.. and then noticed in the ones that were still comfortable to wear to work they were leaving red marks on my inner thigh were the seams were, around my waist, the zipper too.. all red from pressing in on me so hard.. I was about to bust outta them!

I refused to buy a bigger size but I did need shirts.. so I bought some and took them to my Grandma to have her cut a slit in the side seem so they will lay against my HUGE bubble butt w/ out riding up to my waist in the back.
I said "boy, I need to loose a lil I think Grandma". and she said "Yes hunny, you definatly do... you are just getting to big and I don't want to see you unhealthy!" OUCH... I know she's an honest lady and she loves me.. but dang the truth hurt.
I started reading Atkins a couple days later and was on it by the end of that week...

Thank goodness for grandma's honesty!

:rheart:
Carina

I also have 2 motivators for staying on this WOE (other than feeling great, losing weight and looking better! haha) which are my sister's wedding in 12 days (I started like 15 weeks ago) and also my bf and I have been looking for rings :) So.. I'll have my own wedding I'll need to look drop-dead georgous for too! haha but I'm sure there's a couple years before that one!

[Mommyof3]

Here goes Mine….

At thanksgiving of 2003 we was discussing flexibility, and I said I could touch my foot to my forehead. My mom with out thinking said As fat as you are you can do that?? I was so hurt and still am.

Then at the 4th of July, my mom said she had talked to my uncle that I haven seen since I was a Young child. He asked how we all was, and how Little Misty was, my mom said she told him she isn’t little any more, she is as wide as she is tall.

I was at Wal-Mart and some lady asked me how many months I was, I told her I was 5 months pregnant, she said my your really big., I didn’t have the courage to tell her I was just fat. I never told anyone that it happen I was so embarrassed.

My loving DH, use to call me his Princess, now he calls me his pork butt.

I don’t want to be Fat Misty, or Pork butt.

[dee66044]

Jumping on the scales! Before I had my last baby i had done a low calorie diet and exercised 3 to 6 times a week. I had lost 46 pounds and then found I was pregnant. I weighed myself this july and noticed that I had gained back all but 10 pounds of the 46 I had lost. I remembered how uncomfortable I was before I lost the weight and I had no idea that I had managed to gain back all that weight. It was shocking to see the numbers on the scale up that high again. It motivated me to start atkins right away.

[hifive]

Wow this is a great thread! I will probably come back and look at it again if I ever need motivation.

For me it was a lot of little things--the blue jeans that progressively got too tight until I found that while wearing them I had to pee every fifteen minutes because of the pressure on my bladder--the bigger jeans I finally broke down and purchased "just until I lose the weight"--then one day not being able to get into the bigger jeans!--visiting my family (sis and bro); all of us have had eating disorders and weight issues but they are kind people and would never say anything about my weight gain (I have always been kind of thin, since high school); it was more the absence of any commentary and then seeing myself on a videotape after the visit [yikes!:eek:]--not wanting to go visit anybody (most of my friends live far away) because I didn't want them to see my fatness--making a visit to my best friend who had moved across country and seeing that he had lost ALL of the weight he had struggled with for the past few years. He had done it doing Atkins. I started Atkins (for the 2nd time) while visiting him and this time I refuse to get impatient or discouraged.

I hate not being the "me" I used to be. How much water you displace (a measure of volume) should have no bearing on your self-esteem or how others perceive you, but it DOES. I like the thin me better--she is more fun and more energetic.

I just don't want to get there by starving. LC seems the most rational "diet" I have ever been on!

Here's to all of us--may all of our dreams come true! :)

[DaPeach]

I was pushing the largest jeans I have...enough is enough. My brother & his wife are having a baby...what comes along w/ that? Pictures :help:

I absolutely hate to have my picture taken...

Looking at pictures from my 20's...I was hot, & I'm bound & determined to be there. I'm tired of telling people how good I used to look, I wanna show 'em :cool: I didn't have a weight problem until I met my SO...we partied for a good few years & we're both paying dearly, guess it's time to grow up & be responsible...

[Cobbystock]

In January 2004 I ws planning my daughters wedding. I was dreading the reception as I knew I wouldn't be able to find something wonderful to wear at 312lbs. So I started Atkins. Stuck to it religiously & exercised daily. Well the wedding was last Saturday. It was a wonderful day & I enjoyed every single minute of it (80lbs down) & feeling fantastic in my new outfit. I'm not giving up now, for the first time in my life i'll get to my proper weight & stick to it. I love this WOE. :) :)

[rissa]

For me, it was really a culmination of things. I have always struggled with my weight - yoyo'd up and down. I remember being in 8th grade and having to cut the sleeves in my basketball jersey so my arms would fit - I didn't really think much of it then but i really do now. See, before then, I was skinny as a rail - but that was because I didn't eat. That's another long story of a childhood gone wrong and something that did make me stronger, and unfortunately, hungrier. I did notice in my senior pictures that I couldn't tell where my chin ended and my neck began. I refused to wear a short sleeved dress without a jacket for graduation. I was so freaking hot in that jacket, I thought I was going to sweat to death! After that, I decided it was time to do something. I started riding my bike about 10 miles a day and cutting down on the junkfood I was eating. No more mountain dew, but drank enough diet pop to choke a horse. I lost quite a bit of weight, but not enough. I then started seeing this guy and I wanted so badly to be thin. I started starving myself. Not intentionally at first. I was working 3 jobs and honestly, when you're that busy, and that tired, you really can forget to eat! Well, I noticed that my weight was dropping. I started just eating a few crackers a day, and maybe a small meal. I realized that wasn't working when I kept passing out. So I'm yoyoing at this point. But I'm starting to eat again. I realized after I got divorced that it was time to do something about it. I saw a picture of myself and I about died. I went to the doctor and I stood backward on the scale so I wouldn't see what it said. The nurse wrote it down for me and put it in an envelope and I took it home with me. She said I could look at it when I was ready. I did. It said 265 lbs. Since then I"ve yoyo'd between 206 and 245. I'm done yoyoing. Its getting harder and harder to lose because of it. And I'm not a disposable toy. I'm a person that has a place in this world. I'm not to be discarded- especially by myself. The real kicker this time was when my boyfriend and I were intimate and he touched my stomach and I felt like I was going to throw up. My obesity makes me actually physically ill. I got to thinking about it. Ya know, I'm allergic to nuts - so I don't eat them - they make me sick. I'm allergic to penicillin - I don't take it - it'll kill me. Why would I continue to be obese when it makes me sick and will kill me?

[zedneser]

My kick butt moment was when I couldn't fit into any of my clothes and started to wear my husband's shirts and pants with elastic bands. I refused to buy the next size up and decided to do something about it.

[starz3540]

My kick-start happened over two years ago when my 18s were getting too tight. It wasn't anything that anyone else said or did to me. I've always been heavy but when I reached the point where the 18s were getting tight, I refused to go into the 20s sizes. At that time, I started a low calorie, low fat diet. That didn't work so well but I got down to 185. I went to Spain a year later for a semester of college and stayed at that weight but once I got back I went up to 205. Then, this past January, I started seeing a guy who's a skinny 145 pounds. Here I was, meeting his family, all members who are very skinny and healthy, and here I am at 205 and definitely not healthy. So, since then, I've read the Atkin's book and have been following that plan. I've lost down to about 168 and have been exercising so that I can now run 3 miles on the treadmill at the gym. I've still got over 25 pounds to go for my goal of 140 but I know that I will make it this time and I will not do any yo-yo dieting again. I guess that would be how I got this big kick in the butt.

Kristy

[beejereeno]

I put on quite a few pounds when I met my ex-fiance. He worked nights and additionally was giving me horror stories about his uncle having cancer and other issues related to over consumption of aspartame. So because of his work hours we would go out to eat at Denny's, Perkins or other late night places (bread bowls, french fries, muffins, pasta, ugh!), and because of the sweetener horror stories, I quit drinking diet sodas and drank sugared ones instead, buying into that whole rose-colored story we all love so, called 'Sugar = Natural'. Then I dumped him after 2 1/2 years of his crap. Put on more weight. Quit smoking. Ten lbs. more. Dad dies. Heavier still.

Anyway...I was at work. I'm a contractor (temporary) at the office I'm currently working in, so not only do few people know who I am, being that I'm a temp (the lowliest of the lowly) but also, the 3rd floor is divided into two sections of staff, each side barely knowing the staff of the other side. There are a few folks who come over to our side to visit now and then, and vice versa, however.

After finishing a 12 week project, I moved to another cube, closer to the main entry and mailroom. My first week in the new cube was great 'cause it was quieter over there. I work at a county government office, and all those people do (when they're not playing computer solitaire) is loudly yick-yack all day--mostly about their 3rd trip to China or Rome, either that or they're bitching about Bush. So there I sit in my new cube, working quietly, when I hear a woman's voice say 'Hey there'. Before I turn around, I smile and say "Hello" back to the voice and as I'm turning around I see a woman I don't recognize, smiling and pointing to my desk, saying, "They put you in a new spot?" and when she looks up at me from pointing, her face falls. "Oh! I thought you were someone else.", and then she kind of has a small embarassed giggle which she tries to cover up with her hand, says "Sorry!" and then takes off. I get up and look around my cube to see where she is going, and I see her walk up to the cube belonging to the 2nd hugest woman in the BUILDING, to whom I heard her say "There she is!". I wanted to shrink under my desk for the day.

[Mia-Chloe]

I gained weight in the last 2 years due to extreme stress. I won't list what I went through, but it's mind boggling.

Once I started getting severly obese, there were a lot of incidences that should of motivated me to lose weight, but did not, such as:

- my bf's mom being CONVINCED I was pregnant, even after I denied it
- guys not noticing me anymore
- realizing I can't cross my legs anymore when I go to the movies
- my bf never calling me beautiful anymore
- my bf's mother telling me ppl mentioned to her that I have gained a LOT of weight lately and then trying to force me to go on walks with her
- ppl i haven't seen in a while glancing up and down my body and the awkward silence that follows
- being horrified by pictures of myself -- how fat and puffy and disgusting i look

But the one moment in time that finally pushed me to do it: My bf's mom told me that my bf told her he refuses to be intimate with me because of my weight (yes, my bf's mom is an insensitive cow). I suspected he didn't find me attractive, but I didn't know for sure until I heard the words from her mouth. That one moment I wanted to burst out crying. But I grit my teeth and held it in and turned that pain into anger and, eventually, into determination.

My motivation is revenge based. I decided I would lose the weight and then dump that jerk of a bf for being so shallow. I want to delay breaking up with him for when I am slim and sexy so his heart will SHATTER. It's what he deserves for rejecting me when I needed him most.

[jjbswest]

Mia-Chloe, I just want to say congrats on deciding to lose weight and the motivation that you have to do so. But, on the other hand, have you asked your bf if he said that? He may not have said that at all and your bf's mother may just be trying to break you guys up because she just keeps on at you all the time it seems. Just get it from the horse's mouth. And if you find out that he did say that, get rid of him because with your new body, you won't have any problems getting a new man. But, hang in there!

As for me, I work at a restaurant, and one of our regulars was a BIG guy! Well, over the course of months, I noticed him losing alot of weight and fast it seemed to me. I noticed he ordered salads, or ribs and salads, etc. So, I asked him what he was doing and let him know that I noticed and how great he was doing. He told me he was lowcarbing and I thought "If he can do it, I can do it". So, it more of an inspiration thing with me than something bad happening. But, after I started, I was thinking of how my life will change if I did lose weight. Like others here, I hate my picture being taken, I would love to play ball with others at family functions but I won't, I know my sex life with hubby would improve (he says it doesn't matter to him) but we all know it would be different if the weight was gone, and I could go on and on. But, hopefully, I will be able to stick with it. Good luck to you all!

[susan34]

For me it was a video. In Cancun, I did a Dolphin swim. They have trained dolphins and you swim and do tricks with them. Of course, they video the whole thing then sell it to you for $50. Anyway, I could not believe how fat I looked! When I look in the mirror, I stand tall and suck in my belly. I still look pretty good then. But I could not believe that fat person was really me.

I've always been a little chubby. What is amazing, though, is how close my goal weight, 135, is to my teenage weigt of 140. Then the goal for all girls was 100lbs.

[TXAimee]

My kick-start was seeing my grandma's health deteriorate over the past few years. She's had diabetes for almost 30 years and the past few haven't been the greatest for her. Since diabetes is hereditary and the fact that I have gained a significant amount of weight in my waist (i'm an apple) the past few years is putting me at a bigger risk of getting diabetes. Even though I have worked out religiously for 10 year and used to be "low-fat" nothing helped. So now, I'm a die hard low-carb believer. Even my high cholesterol (which is also hereditary) has gone down 25 points.

[Jiggerz]

Every morning when I look in the closet my goal is to cover myself up to become invisible to the world. My self esteem is totally shot, I have no friends any more. Something has to change, and I made a commitment to myself.. this is it.

[pammie30]

For me, there were several things that made me get serious this time. I just turned 30, i have two very active children that i want to be around to raise, my dad is a diabetic, but for some reason...it was my mom this time. My mom passed away 4 years ago, of cancer. It was devestating to me and my entire family. She was always the healthy active and fit one in the family...always healthy. She was around 5 foot 3 and 115 pounds....i was 25 when she died and people thought she was my sister! Anyway, She always worried about me, her baby girl, and tried to help me to become fit and healthy. Back then, i took it as an insult, even though she did it in a VERY loving way. She was a GREAT mom, and always told you about your good qualities...Her birthday was Sept. 3rd, and for some reason, my weight has been bothering me ALOT latley, and so on Sept. 1, 2004, i dedicated my weightloss vourney to my mom, as a "birthday" gift for her. I know she would be proud. I am doing allright on it...i get frustrated, and seem to be at a standstill right now...i havn't told that story about the weight loss inspiration to anyone else..not even my husband. with friends like you online, i believe i will do good on this, and stick to it this time. I want to do it for myself, my kids, and my sweet, sweet mom!

By the way!!!! I have lost 20 pounds, i just don't know how to change my stats! I am new to this! :thup:

[rissa]

congrats on the 20 lbs! To change your stats, at the top of the page in the bar that goes across, click on User CP - then on the menu on the left, click on User Profile I believe - you can change it there.


actually, its edit profile on the left :)
then save changes at the bottom!

[CherylAust]

I've been sick of my weight for years, but last January on my 39th birthday when the size 16 tshirts my DH bought for me were too tight I made the decision to lose weight for my 40th. I took the tshirts back and changed them for exercise pants. Started lc and lost 12 pounds. Went off lc and put all but 1 of those pounds back on. The final straw came when I had to buy size 18 pants to wear to a wedding and 2 weeks later I split a seam while bending over. 2 weeks later, I restitched that seam and have no worries about bending over.

[HoneyBones]

I've been up and down a lot since I was twelve, finally tapering out at around 150 when I was 20.

What did it this year was when I went over 160, which is the weight that I decided at 20 that I would never allow myself to get heavier then again.

Basically all my size 12 pants started feeling uncomfortable to wear and I freaked out. I also saw photos of myself and realized that I was a lot bigger than I thought I was.

So for me it was a combo of tight clothing and the cold reality of photography. I also finally reached my limit of not being able to wear all the cute outfits that I saw at my favorite stores... I'd have to rig together some "fat girl" version of the outfit I really wanted to wear and I got too tired of doing that.

[lisaissa]

For me it was because I have now have a baby who is very active and I want to keep up with her. Plus for the past few years I have very little social life because I don't know what to wear and when I do go out I feel uncomfortable with what I am wearing especially if I go to a party and all the other females are wearing skin sucking pants and tops.

[PamBee]

For me it was going in the doctors office and getting on the dreaded scale. That did me in, I couldnt believe what I weighed! So my journey began that very same day and I have been going strong ever since. Btw, I will be turning 40 in April, thats enough incentive right there! I am going to lose this weight this time, I know it :)

[EXLarge]

I don't know what started me? I'm still trying to figure it out. I've always been overweight, since I was 8. Not extreme, but usually the top 3 heaviest in my class. Years went by, and for a time 18-22 years old. I was in great shape. Ate terrible and often, but spend 3 hrs and day 7 days a week in the gym. It was my escape. Even then, I still felt overweight, even though I wasn't (hard to admit at this point).

I have never been successful on any diet, or weight management program. I can't tell you how much money I've lost on weight loss bets. I just never could find the will power. But ever since I was 8 I've wanted to know what it was like to be thin.

In Nov 2002 my job ended. I had an incredible resume and a MBA and thought I'd find a job within a couple months. Well months turned into years. I spent every day searching for jobs sending resumes, sitting in front of the computer and TV depressed as hell. I started smoking after 3 years to deal with the stress. I would chat with a friend of mine on line on Thur and Fri. since he worked from home. He told me he was on Atkins and had lost weight. We got talking and I realized, I didn't have any control over someone calling me for an interview but I could control my weight. Something I had been wanting to do my whole life. So I read everything I could on-line and started the day I felt I had enough info. I was diligent for 6 months and lost 30lbs. Since I had to do induction for 6 months, I'm a terrible looser, I figured I could go on OWL.

Then I got a job!!!!! I started to go to lunch with my new co-workers and boss. Everyday it was lunch out, and the low carb thing was hard to do. I gained back 10 lbs. About a month after I started the new job I remembered a promise I had made to myself. I would quit smoking when I found a job. So one day I did. Then I realized, is all I have to do is put my mind to it and I can do anything? So I started induction again. I learned alot about myself over the past 2 years. I know it sometimes takes something that is life altering to make you see the light, and that's exactly what I felt happened to me. I don't wish bad fortune on anyone, but sometimes it is the wake up call that we all need.

[ellie2]

For me, it was going to the doctors and her telling me "'i'd like you at LEAST ten pounds lighter" and going to the guy i was seeing for reassurance and him telling me " well yeah you should". Well i'm ten pounds lighter...170 pounds lighter if you count the guy!!!!

[thebigloss]

I am currently 15 and was about 50 lbs over weight....

Being in high school and being over weight would be so much harder if you had no friends. I'm so thankful that i have lots a friends and kidna in the "in" croud. I actully have friends that say im not fat. Haha its amazing how much friends can help you out...

Well if you couldent tell from the pictures i have a case of the good ol' "man boobs" lmfao. So there is of course always an upper class men that will point it out. And of course me being me i will blush like a lil school girl...lol. So one day when im talking to this girl who i like he walks by and calls me titties lol. Thinking back its kinda funny but, at the very moment i wanted to curl up and ball and die. She didnt understand it. When i talked to her about it she was so nice about it lol. That was about 3 months ago....

So far i have lost about a good 30 lbs or so since the highest i have ever been, and i still get fat jokes but, hey i just laugh it off cuz in a couple a months i'll be skinny and having more of a social life then they could ever dream of... :D

[North_Guy]

I hate to say it But i started for the wrong reasons I did it because everyone else in the family wanted to, but hey at least i did it!! Out of us all who started,Im the only one still doing it, strange how things works out. i did however learn part way through it that i had to be doing it for myself if i wanted to succeed with it.

[pammie30]

Just wanted to respond to THEBIGLOSS and Northguy..... you both look great! For whatever reason you started, you did the right thing...NorthGuy, your face looks so masculine, and handsome! way to go..

and bigloss.... the guys are going to continue to tease you for awhile, because they see that you are "lookin good" and they are worried about you being a threat to them...believe me, i know..I work at a school....and when there is nothing left for them to tease you about, they feel powerless....just smile at them and give them a thumbs up.... :thup: and if they ever ask why you aren't upset about it, just thank them for helping you decided to change your life for the better......you look like you could be on TV...i am for real!

[goneriding]

Ok. For me it was gaining the 20 pounds, plus 10 that I had lost previously during my move from CA to OK. Then it turned into a stress factor, new place, new friends, etc. To top it all off, after getting situated into our new home/life - I went to put on my jeans to ride my motorcycle and they would not fit at all. Luckily, I did not throw my old jeans away and pulled them out of the box. My husband noticed my weight gain as he too put on some pounds. We were weight watchers before and decided to try atkins. We have since lost weight and feel really good. At least now when I ride my bike in a tank top, my arms won't look like an eagle flapping its wings. :lol:

[thebigloss]

Just wanted to respond to THEBIGLOSS and Northguy..... you both look great! For whatever reason you started, you did the right thing...NorthGuy, your face looks so masculine, and handsome! way to go..

and bigloss.... the guys are going to continue to tease you for awhile, because they see that you are "lookin good" and they are worried about you being a threat to them...believe me, i know..I work at a school....and when there is nothing left for them to tease you about, they feel powerless....just smile at them and give them a thumbs up.... :thup: and if they ever ask why you aren't upset about it, just thank them for helping you decided to change your life for the better......you look like you could be on TV...i am for real!
:blush: Thank you so much, that made my day :)

[BBQgal]

I had a couple of things happen to me that really made me try again. My doctor is pressuring me to have a gastric bypass and I dont want to go thru the surgery. A couple times when I have been out shopping with my daughter, comments have been made by other people who thought I was her grandmother instead of mother. Next year is going to be my 50th birthday and I want to be 50 and fabulous not 50 and FAT. I am reading everything I can to lose weight during this stressful part of my life.

[nutsnseeds]

Get another doctor!!!! Nobody at your weight should be considering such extreme surgery.

In a year's time you could be 50 or 75 pounds lighter - everyone is unique. Just take the plunge and get started. Make sure you read the book and stock up for the first couple of weeks. Commit yourself to finishing a clean induction and you will have a great start and probably feel a whole lot better. Best of luck. I know how much harder it is for us middle age ladies - the men (any age) and the younger women do tend to lose faster and easier but not doing it now will only make it harder later. It is definitely worth it and so are you!

[rissa]

I had a couple of things happen to me that really made me try again. My doctor is pressuring me to have a gastric bypass and I dont want to go thru the surgery. A couple times when I have been out shopping with my daughter, comments have been made by other people who thought I was her grandmother instead of mother. Next year is going to be my 50th birthday and I want to be 50 and fabulous not 50 and FAT. I am reading everything I can to lose weight during this stressful part of my life.
I would be cautioned by any doctor recommending gastric bypass for someone who isn't at least 100 lbs overweight - in fact, BARIX the largest specialty clinic won't even do the surgery if you're less than 100 lbs overweight.

Anyway - good luck on 50 and fabulous! You can do it!

[rosencooki]

My wake up was the fact that I felt horrible......

I had high insulin, thyroid desiese and high colesterol.....at 42 I felt ancient, achy joints you name it.....

although my DH loved me as I was he even admits I am much nicer to be with now........A pic from last year stung a bit too as I thought I looked fairly good! LOL, dont we all think that at some point!

anyway, my insulin is now normal, chol is going down ( doctor put me on meds but I can not tolerate them at all)...no more achy joints and as a bonus I have not had a yeast infection in MONTHS...........I want t o turn heads again, even iof it is just my DH's! :)

[North_Guy]

.......For whatever reason you started, you did the right thing...NorthGuy, your face looks so masculine, and handsome! way to go..


*Blushing here* thank you so much! :agree: :wave:

[Galadriell]

My 2002 Christmas picture.... See my "Before" pic in my gallery. (No, I was NOT pregnant....)

I kept the same comfortable weight (135-140 lb) most of my adult life. Then around my 43th birthday as a first sign of aging my metabolism had slowed down. It was very subtle - 1/2-1 lbs/month - nothing sudden change, AND no other symptoms. I still lived happily. But in three years I had gained 35-40 lbs. Beside seeing that picture, as a second sign of aging I experienced the first sign of insomnia....
After 4 sleepless night I started my new WOL....

[PilotGal]

I was at a friends party and sitting on the back patio facing the lake. someone came thru the doors, and something made me look up. I saw my reflection in the glass sliding doors, and I was mortified at how large I looked.

That was the nail in the board.

[actionjack]

My wake up call was when my body turned against me, I developed type 2 diabetes and read all the bad news about it, i.e. a life time of drugs, blindness, amputations, heart disease, stroke, etc. I just thought I ain't going out like that.

[joy2lose]

It was when I made an application vidoe to extreme makeover, I bared my soul, and my body (uhhh) nasty! Then I watched it and was HORRIFIED. You could call it the naked truth even though I wasn't but you know you think in your mind just cause you suck you stomach in, hit a more slenderizing pose, staighten up a bit (and do it all at the same time) each time you glance in the mirror, that things just aren't that bad! How can we actually lie to ourselsves and believe it? we have become masters of our reality in a awful, sick way! Do any of us realize we truly are ill? Just the same way anorexics look in the mirror and see a fat person when they are nothing but a skeleton with skin, so did and (still so some of us) refuse to see a hudge protuding stomach, with strech marks and fat rolls hanging one on top of another. How can our minds trick our eyes to believe what we see is "not THAT bad" could be worse" or "not as bad as the next person over". Wake yourself up, make a video, have your husband or wife record you as you talk about your body and disect it on film area by area roll by disgusting roll and see if you don't start a new wol the next day!

[Aussie_Gal]

When i realised that i was being mocked and ridiculed behind my back by my so called "friends". I was unaware i was nicknamed the "beached whale" when we would go to the beach, or that everything i ate was analysed and was commented on.

[madmike]

This was always fun post so I thought I would get it cranking again for the newbies....

[Citruskiss]

I got tired of my clothes not fitting, and I wasn't willing to go out and buy new clothes in the larger size.

I was down to a few outfits that still fit and I was getting very frustrated with my lack of choices in what I could wear - kinda silly because I *could* have gone out and bought more clothes, but I had this "thing" about it all - I couldn't stand the idea of spending money on clothes that I didn't like (not too fond of the clothing in the plus size stores) and that I didn't feel good in.

I didn't feel good in any of my clothes - I tried shopping, but each shopping trip only made me feel bad about myself because I felt like I looked awful in just about anything I tried.

I have more clothes now - and that's because I've lost some weight, and I had lots of clothing in my closet in smaller sizes. It's kind of neat to try stuff on every few weeks and "get my clothes back".

I've got a long way to go though...geez...

I was quite slim awhile back and got derailed by a bunch of relationship problems, stress and so on. I quickly piled on the pounds. And since I was going to school full time, I didn't have much money to buy newer clothes.

It was awful.

I had a closetful of beautiful clothes and nothing to wear!

I think it was discovering that I had to keep wearing the same outfit for dressier occasions - a black pantsuit - I loved it, but uh..I hated having to wear it to every single function...

You get the idea.

[carrot-top]

I had a stroke and it was a true wake up call. No food is worth dying for. I still have a ways to go and have since had brain surgery and am facing another one in June. Really - no food is worth all of this !

[LondonIan]

Hey carrot! Long time no see! I'm sorry to hear that you are having health problems. Good luck with it all.

[Citruskiss]

I had a stroke and it was a true wake up call. No food is worth dying for. I still have a ways to go and have since had brain surgery and am facing another one in June. Really - no food is worth all of this !

Hi carrot-top,

I'm really sorry to hear that you had such an awful wake-up call...

I sure feel like an idiot whining about clothes.

I hope you're feeling much better again soon :)

[LOWCARBR]

I gained weight in the last 2 years due to extreme stress. I won't list what I went through, but it's mind boggling.

Once I started getting severly obese, there were a lot of incidences that should of motivated me to lose weight, but did not, such as:

- my bf's mom being CONVINCED I was pregnant, even after I denied it
- guys not noticing me anymore
- realizing I can't cross my legs anymore when I go to the movies
- my bf never calling me beautiful anymore
- my bf's mother telling me ppl mentioned to her that I have gained a LOT of weight lately and then trying to force me to go on walks with her
- ppl i haven't seen in a while glancing up and down my body and the awkward silence that follows
- being horrified by pictures of myself -- how fat and puffy and disgusting i look

But the one moment in time that finally pushed me to do it: My bf's mom told me that my bf told her he refuses to be intimate with me because of my weight (yes, my bf's mom is an insensitive cow). I suspected he didn't find me attractive, but I didn't know for sure until I heard the words from her mouth. That one moment I wanted to burst out crying. But I grit my teeth and held it in and turned that pain into anger and, eventually, into determination.

My motivation is revenge based. I decided I would lose the weight and then dump that jerk of a bf for being so shallow. I want to delay breaking up with him for when I am slim and sexy so his heart will SHATTER. It's what he deserves for rejecting me when I needed him most.


too funny!! but yet i know this hurts. i too want to lose a lot of weight and then dump my jerk, lying, pathetic excuse of the so-called bf. yep
!! it's revenge in the best of way!! LOL!! :lol: :lol: i plan on losing until i reach my goal. this summer i should lose even faster..i live in az. and then i plan to see what other men are out there. i deservie a good guy. i am a professional, 3 degrees, good hearted person--i expect more than crap!!

[misskimbee]

My biggest motivations:

1. My 2002 Halloween picture in my Gallery at my absolute healthiest (toned, strong, enthusiastic for life).

2. The FIVE (yes, FIVE) boxes of work, club, dressy clothes that used to fit me in 2002.

3. My own need to feel sexy and desirable again. (I mean, I feel sexy now and i like my shape, but if I could downsize it, I'd feel even hotter!)

[LOWCARBR]

my story is first, seeing pics of me from my co-worker that she passed out for me to keep. i was horrified. the other thing was that i am getting older -45 yo to be exact in march and i have so many more years to live, and i had wasted so many years on deadbeat men, being huge, being depressed, being insecure, and i wanted to live these next many many years looking younger and feeling younger...healthier especially. and the topper was being in a trashy relationship with my bf that i hope to leave in a few month ..with myself being thin and beautiful and wearing some of the most sexy clothes i can find. in search of someone more deserving of me. :D

[haileydawg]

My 3 kick starts were:

1.) Recent pictures of myself
2). Watching the movie Super Size Me
3.) Hating the big clothes I had to wear

[Citruskiss]

2). Watching the movie Super Size Me


I was very surprised watching this movie - even though I knew what it was about, and I must say, it turned me off fast food. I saw it on DVD last summer and haven't been able to eat at those places since.

It was unbelievable - the way that guy's cholesterol went up, the depression and the weight gain - all in just a month. Yikes!!!

[haileydawg]

Yeah, no wonder my triglycerides were so shockingly high when I would eat fast food every day. Since watching the movie, I have not eaten at a burger or taco joint since. My cholesterol level is now normal and my triglycerides are 60 percent lower in just 5 months!

[carrottop2]

and hi! carrot-top...you are the reason i had to sign in as carrottop2..nice to see you. :lol:

i've been yoyoing with my weight for years..gonna be 70 in may and i just figured to heck with it...i like to eat. the dr. announced.."YOU ARE A DIABETIC"!!! bless his heart! so i figured, this is it. found a nutritionist and she put me on the south beach diet....and it does seem to be working. i'm very lucky, dh is committed to eating what i eat so i don't have to cook special...i do walk a lot, my dog kc, has gained some weight so this will be good for both of us. nice to see you all...ct

[fitchic]

I was very surprised watching this movie - even though I knew what it was about, and I must say, it turned me off fast food. I saw it on DVD last summer and haven't been able to eat at those places since.

It was unbelievable - the way that guy's cholesterol went up, the depression and the weight gain - all in just a month. Yikes!!!

This movie didn't necessarily turn me off of fast food, just showed me the importance of exercize and not overeating.

Its not so much what you eat, but how much you eat. I mean, just look at the french.

[nikkil]

my story is first, seeing pics of me from my co-worker that she passed out for me to keep. i was horrified. the other thing was that i am getting older -45 yo to be exact in march and i have so many more years to live, and i had wasted so many years on deadbeat men, being huge, being depressed, being insecure, and i wanted to live these next many many years looking younger and feeling younger...healthier especially. and the topper was being in a trashy relationship with my bf that i hope to leave in a few month ..with myself being thin and beautiful and wearing some of the most sexy clothes i can find. in search of someone more deserving of me. :D


Why wait?? Dump him now and arrange to bump into him when you're at goal - and maybe with a new boyfriend at your side :D Honestly, unloading that baggage (and the bag of a mother :lol: ) will be an even bigger weight off your shoulders and a great step in the right direction to feel positive about yourself and your future.

Like Dr. Phil says (I know, I know :lol: )... "the only thing worse that wasting <x amount of time> is wasting <x amount of time> PLUS ONE DAY".

Think about it, hon. You're worth it :agree: