My motivation is plain and simple, I know I need to do something about my weight and I absolutely positively do not want to have surgery. My lowest remembered weight was 260 in highschool. I had been 300 in high school, starved myself and exercised and got down to 260, but then emotions let in and I went back up to 300. Slowly I gained 64 more lbs putting me at 364 a few years ago. I lost 30 lbs, then gained 16 lbs to be at 350. I'm now down to 343.

I would love to be 300 lbs again. Then I would love to be at/below 260. If this weight loss thing doesn't keep working, I will talk to the doctor about what pills are available to me and then in a few years, I will consider surgery.

I really want to lose the weight by myself though so I hope I continue losing weight and I will try my best. I have a totally different frame of mind now than I ever did before. This is my life, I need to improve it, that is my motivation.

Hello All! I am new to the board, but thought I would jump right in. My motivation occurred over the Christmas holidays. I was visiting my parents, who live on a farm. They walk around the parameter of it every day (weather permitting). I decided to walk with them while I was there. I COULD NOT keep up. I was lagging about 20 feet behind them. I was huffing and puffing while they were talking and breathing normally. That situation opened my eyes to what the weight was doing to my body. You see, I have very few health problems. I do have occasional knee and ankle problems; but no problems with blood pressure, blood sugar or cholestrol. I needed an eye opener.

I started my plan on Jan. 1st at 266 lbs. Today, I am at 256 lbs and it feels wonderful. Every time I think about going off plan, I remember how I felt about being left behind. It keeps me straight (for the time being.) :lol:

Snowball, you are an inspiration!!!!!

My motivation is that I'm sick of looking how I look and I want my kids to be proud of me. I still do all the things I did when I was 150lbs, but I did them better then. I also feel pretty, but when I look in the mirror I just don't think I look that way. It is depressing. I have been looking at old pics of me when I was 150lbs and I miss that. I will do everything possible to get there. I don't care if it takes me 10 years, I will be that way again!

Bella23

my motivation began at christmas when my three year old asked me "mommy are you fat?". before i could even answer her, she nodded and said "yes, you are fat aren't you...". i was in tears! it has taken me a good month to get it together but i start at weight watchers tomorrow, have worked a bit with a personal trainer to develop a good exercise plan that i know i can stick with and look forward to a weight loss as successful as snowball's!!!

together we can do this!!!

Well, now my motivation is also my health. I was diagnosed w/polycystic kidneys, as some of you know. Now it's not just for cosmetic reasons, for health reasons, too.

Right now, for me, it's reading of all the success stories here on 3FC. So many stressful things going on in my life right now that I could easily have chucked the whole thing. I'm not doing my absolute best but I have been hanging in and, to me, that's an amazing thing in itself. Posting, lurking, cheering have all helped me not stray quite so far away as I would have based on emotions alone.

Sandi, did you collect your $20?!?! :D

I sure did!! :D

Very motivational!
 

Thanks, Jacob's Mom, for starting this! It's been very motivational!

I have to say that I want to lose weight so that I can be healthy again. I have PCOS, and I need to take off the weight so that I don't get diabetes, and so that I can maybe have a baby someday! I have a wonderful DBF, and I look forward to a very happy future. We're not engaged yet, but I don't want to wait until I have a wedding motviating me to loose, I want it NOW! I want to be able to buy my clothes at Ann Taylor!

So, thanks everyone for being here! I know we can do this!!

:balloons:

There's lots of motivation out there by the sound of it!

Snowball... CONGRATULATIONS on losing 100 pounds - that's so wonderful for you!!

Sandi - saving years of my life does motivate me but I'm also motivated by feeling good and how much BETTER I can live RIGHT now bu losing weight. Last year, after losing 33 pounds and getting to 300 even, I was able to walk in amusement parks for 4 straight days with my almost 5 year old daughter without being tired or sore or needing a break to rest - and THAT felt good.

I'm motivated by my feet because at 39 pounds lost, they no longer ache and beg me to sit down. I can sleep a bit better and do not toss and turn as much. I'm able to fit into my clothes better and I don't huff going up the stairs anymore. I can walk for 45 minutes on the treadmill with ease.

My future motivations are -

wanting to feel EVEN better than I do now! LOL : ) wanting to ADD years to my life, not take them away, wanting to run a small marathon or heck... even walk one! Wanting to feel youthful and playful and not have to worry about all the things "fat people" need to worry about.

There's so much motivation there!

And I agree, sometimes seeing someone will spark you! One of the ladies I follow online, Courtney who can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/cng091877/cng091877.html has just lost 150 pounds and those kinds of things just inspire me to watch : )

Thanks to everyone here who is brave enough to share their story of losing weight.

Hugs to all

Goals..... Setting small goals and making them. I have hung on to each one with a death grip because the quality of life I have sacrificed to be fat over the years took a giant hit on my health as well as other physical issues. The other medical issues are all totally strengthened by the excess weight. Always strong and feeling like weight did not affect my health much at all. My God , what illusions we can create for ourselves. Time passes and the damage to bone and body is devastating to life. To being minimually functional. Oh my God the price we pay in the long run.......is beyond belief. I have existed for a long time as I am not easy to kill, but my Darlins existance and living are two different things. Opposite universes. I will fight for you, beside you, toe to toe with you in order for you not to do as I have done. Existed as I have existed. I would freely give my life for anyone who sat where I did if it would give one person the wisdom to reach out and reclaim living, really living. Yes after so many years I finally got it but know that I let slip away from me years which I can not go back and retrieve. Years ....of being on the outside looking in, taking the scraps from lifes table. No more!
I will not leave this earth without reclaiming my life. The rest of my life I will free myself from the prison of fat and live life to the fullest. I pray with every fiber of my being to pass that on to as many as possible along the way.
I am reclaiming my life nearly 100 lbs down, you will be the first to know when I reach that major goal, but the most amazing thing is I found out an hour ago that some exciting facts.......
When I began I could not use a tape measure....they only go to 60 inches as near as I could figure with a tape measure I was 52
Under the breast 58 over, 52 in the waist and between 64 and 68 in the hips. I was embarassed to admit this. But my Daer ones as large as it may yet be I am proud to say........my measurements today are: 45 across the breast
41 under the breast
41 waist
52 1/2 HIPS
I have lost a foot or more off my hips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first part of this weight loss was the hardest but after a certain amount of sucess it becomes easier and I have my self pride back. I wish for everyone on this board total success and joy as you reclaim the fullness of life inside and out.
This is what keeps me going. God Bless.
Pam

Pam, your post was beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. And congrats on your success thus far, you're an inspiration.

My biggest motivation was pretty superficial. We were going to New York in October 2003 and I wanted to go shopping and wear "real" clothes. I've become hooked on Sex and the City and I pictured myself buying Manolo Blahnik (sp?) shoes (although I really hate heels!) and a really cool outfit and going to the theater. I was even going to color my hair! Tee hee!

Now the trip is off because my husband is going to Asia instead. Bummer! But, like so many others, I'm just sick of being fat and huffing and puffing. I have a chronic health problem that isn't related to weight and it's bad enough without having extra weight thrown in.