I'm not sure when I realized exactly, because I have known that I need to lose some weight for quite some time. Lately, though, it's become more and more apparent that my life has turned from being healthy and fun, to lazy and lethargic. That's how I know I need to get back into shape and reclaim my healthy, fun life!
I had been so proud of myself when I had trimmed down from 140 to 135 and, because I got fit in the process, went from a size 12 to a 6.
I started skipping the gym and not skipping dessert and the weight crept back on with friends... until I felt physical pain if I left my size 12 pants buttoned and the pain did not go away by simply changing into baggy sweats. Motivation by sausage casing, I guess!
For me it was a variety of things that finally woke me up.
1. I was about to turn 30 and didn't want to be unhealthy for another decade.
2. DH and I are talking about having kids soon and I didn't want a high risk pregnancy because of my weight.
3. I realized that I was angry at both of my parents for not taking care of themselves (they died fairly young from diseases of "affluence".) How could I have children if I was going to make those same mistakes that made me so angry?
4. I was starting to have knee pain and my cholesterol was borderline.
When I looked at picture of myself from my honeymoon, in a bathing suit, and was disgusted with myself. That is not how I wanted to be remembered by my husband on the vacation of our lives. I gained 15 lbs in about 2 months... and that was in addition to what I saw in the honeymoon pictures. My hubby and I started talking about the cruise we are taking this coming summer and I was like... I WILL NOT be FAT in my bathing suit for that trip. That's what did it for me... but my tight khaki work pants that show the dimples in my @$$ help too...
When I hit my 3rd consecutive week at 224+ lbs, something just clicked and I started to do something about it; this was back in February '07. Fortunately for me, although overweight, I was still pretty healthy and reasonably fit, so I haven't had to deal with a lot of the problems I read about here on the forum.
