[valpal23]

Originally Posted by CatherineM

Regret of a life I hadn't lived because I had always put off doing things until I lost weight.

Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis helped me realize I need to truly seize the moment every day because I dont want to regret my life before it really begins.

[RealCdn]

Mine was stepping on a scale and finding out I was over 400 pounds. I knew I was somewhere over 330 (the max the old scale went to), but really didn't think it was that much. I wonder if I would have ever started if I hadn't known? I mean, I got up each day, went to work, spent a lot of time walking around all day. It was the actual number that made me realize I had to do something.

I didn't learn though, even when I no longer had access to that scale, and my weight crept up again. I lived with the same denial (that I was only a few pounds over) for a while. Then I bought a new scale!

[KimInVirginia]

How cool to spatter one's thoughts on a thread in the morning before heading out to work to come home in the evening to all these great thoughts and insights..... This place is full of wise women! I know its going to help me. I know it all boils down to my head and my heart and staying the course, through ups and downs. I'm determined to be more upbeat and positive about this journey, with your inspiration to help.

As a start, I've changed my tag line from the downbeat "Here I go again...." to an optimistic "Whatever it takes!

Thank you.

[AmbieP]

Well I just don't know where to start. I love this site too. It helps me everyday with different struggles some not even weight related. My inspiration came from a couple different areas. First I want to have a baby. I want to be a mother so deep from in my soul it hurts. I feel that my weight is keeping me from getting pregnant. It hurts so much because I let myself get as fat as I am. Second my husband is super active and super physical and I sometimes feel like I hold him back from things he really wants to do. His is a wonderful husband and so supportive of me and would never ever say anything but I know I hold him back. And third I needed to do this for myself. I don't have to be super skinny but I would love to feel healthier. To feel like I could go for a long walk with my husband and stepson and not be worried about not making it. I have to do this for me. If I fall off the wagon for a day that is ok. If I fall off the wagon for a week that is ok. I will get back on and I will keep going. If I only lose one pound a week that is one pound I will never have to worry about again.

[jtammy]

Whatever it takes... That was pretty much my mantra at the very beginning. I was shocked, shocked to see how much I actually weighed, and I knew that I couldn't continue like that and remain healthy. I decided that I had to do "whatever it takes to lose the weight". I didn't have a scale at home that went over 300 lbs, so I bought a scale that went up to 330 - the highest I could find at the time. The weeks that it took for me to lose from 346 - 330 were painfully long. I had no idea if what I was doing was working or not, but I told myself to give it a couple of months, and if it didn't work, I would have to do something different because I had to do whatever it takes to lose weight. I literally cried when the scale changed from ERR to 330 lbs. I was probably more emotional than the day I reached "one-derland".

After those 16 lbs came off, I was able to start envisioning myself at a smaller weight. I would visualize how great it would be to wear a smaller size, to see a smaller number on the scale, to not be embarrassed to wear a swimsuit with my children, to be able to walk a distance without getting out of breath, to be able to feel feminine again, etc. Just seeing myself do this in my mind was a huge part of being successful in the early part.

I am concerned about gaining the weight back. I've never really lost much weight before now, so I don't have the experience of losing and re-gaining. I have spent a lot of time reading in the maintaining forum on this board and I feel like I have learned a lot about the LIFELONG effort we will have to make to keep the weight off. BUT it will be completely worth it and I believe that I have the power to make it happen.

[nelie]

In a couple months, I will have the 4 year anniversary of when I started. It has taken me a while to get where I'm at but I've lost, then maintained, then lost, etc.

What really made the difference was knowing that going down on the scale was the only option (or maintaining for a period of time). I also rethought about what I really wanted which was to eat better and feel better. Really once you know there is no other option (and failure is not an option), then you just do what you need to do.

I won't lie and say I don't struggle. We all struggle but really the struggle is worth it to feel better about yourself and start losing the weight.

[Idealmuse]

I had previously lost up to 50lbs but never kept it off and never stayed at it more then 3 months or so. The 3 - 4 times I lost any chunk of weight I never kept it off.

The difference for me this time... (Almost 10 months out now) is a few things. One was taking a look at and treating my depression. It actually was holding me back in a way I never really quite realized. Body was trying to self medicate itself so now I take proper meds and I feel like I have normal self control now.

Also I had to make exercise a daily thing. Not a few times a week. I just do it now no excuses so it's not an argument with myself.

Other then that I've just determined I'm not stopping. No matter what. If I keep going I will eventually get there but if I stop I surely won't. I'm just DONE I'm done being tired and obese. I just want to be fit and healthy.