I don't mean the reasons we want to lose weight.
I don't mean the last straw glimpse in the mirror/rude comment or the upcoming wedding/event.
I know about all these things but what actually made you start?
October 2007 I found I was getting a sabbatical in Germany in May 2008.
I was ticking along at around 200 - 210lbs.
Great, I thought, 7 months, that could make a real difference, I could definitely move from very fat to cuddly in that time.
And I started, on again, off again.
Christmas 2007 was on the horizon. I hadn't lost anything but hadn't gained either.
I'll wait 'til after Christmas, I thought. January's a new start.
And I started, on again, off again.
About 2 months from the sabbatical, I hadn't lost anything but hadn't gained either.
8 weeks, I thought. A nice round period of time to lose some weight in. At least enough so I don't get stuck in a plane seat.
And I started, on again, off again.
My sabbatical lasted 3 months, the first 2 were in Germany. I walked and walked and walked miles.
Great, I thought, it'll be good to show people when I get back that I've lost wieght.
And I started, on again, off again.
When I got back to England, I was 205 - I suppose compared to many trips abroad, it wasn't bad but really, what a cop out again.
As soon as I was back, I applied for a new job. The interviews were in September.
Great, I thought, 2 months to lose a bit of weight, I tend to think people make assumptions about the capabilities of fat people.
And I started, on again, off again.
I didn't lose any weight but I did get the job, with a start date in January 09.
4 months! I could lose a lot in that time, show people the difference.
And I started, on again, off again.
I gained weight, up to, I estimate 220, I left the scales behind in the old house, going back for them on Friday. My ceremonial robes (I'm a minister of religion) didn't fit right.
Life is settling down in the new job. A fortnight ago I booked a holiday in Spain with a platonic male friend. It's not a beach holiday but I'd still want to
look as good as I can.
Great, I thought, 4.5 months, that could make a good difference.
And for a week I ate.
I'd already started eating frugal and semi-vegetarian - love the food, love the interest making the food gives me.
On February 3rd I typed my day's food into an old version of DietPower on an old computer. It was about 3,000 calories. Which was a surprise.
On February 4th I upgraded my DietPower programme.
From February 4th I've eaten under 1500 calories a day. Although I don't have scales, I can tell in my uniform shirts, seriously button-up ones, that I'm shrinking.
I'm taking a bit more exercise.
I'm choosing healthy options and enjoying the calorie juggle.
After all grand starting moments, and plenty of good reasons for every one of them, not least my health, this weightlosing time just slid in one day. Just one day I realized I was doing it, like a kid riding a bike. Strange.