Jldsgirl--- OMG reading your post made me think. at my son's preschool graduation last year they presented the parents with a scrap book type thing of pictures from different times and events through the year. there was a few pics of me in there and i was nearly sick to my stomach seeing it. i had always hid from cameras and now i know why! but it helped seeing that picture though.

I don't guess I really had a definite moment when I decided that it was time. My husband had been talking to me about my weight because he was worried about me, and finally I just decided that it was time that I did something about it!!! I also know what it is like to look at pictures of yourself. And everytime I was like "OMG am I really that fat? I must just be standing weird" God what a wake up call.
:) Sam

Wonderful thread Jen! ;)

I think my biggest moment was when I was putting a bunch of old pictures into photo albums, saw how thin I was and how nice I looked... then I came across some very recent pictures and seriously, I don't know what it is about pictures, but from looking in a mirror everyday - I didn't think I was as heavy as I actually was. So the picture moment was a critical turning factor, as well as shopping... I hate going shopping as I can't fit into everything I want to wear and right now I only have the option of shopping at a few stores (plus sizes, of course). I also, just want to get in shape so I'm not embarrassed to go out and do things... another "aha" moment. It was coming to the point where I was not going out because I was embarrassed of how I looked.. I'm a very sociable person and love being out and about... there is no way I am going to let that die! :D

Mine was after my vacation to florida earlier this year..(Feb). I never realized how big I got until after vacation. My husband and I took our Harley's to Daytona for bike week. We stayed with my best friend. She loves taking pictures. (I hated that before but now am happy she took pictures of me there.) She was following us in her car taking pictures of us riding our bikes with our digital camera. We thought that would make a nice memory for the trip. We got home, and put the pictures up on our big screen... life size like. I didn't even recognize myself. I was in such shock over what I looked like. I actually cried. I knew I wanted to lose weight but I never realized that I was obese. I checked out my bmi and couldn't believe that I was in the 2nd highest obesity category. I was in such devistation. I can't believe I didn't realize it before. Rather than sulking in my own misery, I decided that I was going to create a plan of attack.. That's what I did. 6 months later I am 14 lbs away from normal weight range (bmi). I feel great and thank heavens that she is a photo freak because if I wouldn't have seen myself on that screen, I don't know how long I would have gone on thinking that I looked ok. Another thing that happened, my sister planned on getting married (this was a year ago- she's getting married this october). My mom ordered my dress.. Size 18.. no problem, I'd fit it.. NOT. I couldn't even get the zipper up. You would have thought that this would have big the big tip off for me. I kept putting it off and off.. Finally I realized I had 8 months to get in that dress. Not only did I get in the dress, I had to take it back for resizing down to a 12! What a great feeling. For anyone out there that thinks that it cant be done, IT CAN. No matter how long it takes, please, keep at it, keep your chin up and stay positive. Attitude has a lot to do with this. Some may not agree. But It worked for me!

:moo: Its amazing how brutal pictures are. I am going to invent a film that takes 30lbs off of fat girls and adds 30lbs to skinny ones LOL.

Even when you look in the mirror I don't think you see what others do. It's like, you know how to stand, you know what face to make...when someone just snaps a picture of you, you have no time to PREPARE...therefore, I always end up looking like a :moo:

:) Sam

Facing my rapidly approaching 30th birthday. Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to my thirties, but never did I imagine I could still be fat when they arrived!