I have a question. I have a friend from college who I have known for years. Her and I have always been overweight and would confide in each other about our battles with the weight. I always found her comforting to talk to because at times she heavier than me (sad to say). We moved away from each other but kept in contact sporadically. Recently I’ve seen new pictures of her and she looks great. She has lost ALOT of weight and looks fabulous


I know she lost the weight through a couple of surgeries including gastric bypass, a tummy tucks and lipo. I am not at a weight where surgery would be and option for me but I am really motivated to do something about my weight now. I feel if she can do it I can do it, Right. So my question is: Have you ever been motivated by a friends or families weight loss? If you have been did it help you reach goal or at least part of it?? I would really like your input

Well I'm just starting out here, but yeah, I have been motivated by others in my life. For example, my mom gained a lot of weight in her early 40s and has lost like forty pounds over the last year. Seeing that makes me think "Geez, she's had kids and is dealing with a slowing metabolism...What's my excuse?" Plus, I just got done writing another post about how my boyfriend is pretty healthy and goes to the gym a lot...he hasn't LOST weight recently, but just his habits inspire me to want to make better choices.

Whatever inspires you to be healthier, more power to you I guess. As long as you remember that you're already beautiful!

I am motivated by anyone's weight loss, whether it's friends, family, or blogs on the internet.
I do a lot of reading of people's blogs to help keep me motivated.

I start out every day thinking I'm going to do great today and then I always fall off the wagon. Then I hate myself.

I'm not even that heavy. I just want to eat well and be healthy. I can tell when I eat the bad stuff I feel bloated and crummy but it doesn't seem to stop me from eating it. What is wrong with me?

I really admire those of you who can stick with it day after day. Does eating well ever become a habit that you don't have to constantly think about?

I've only been on (this time) for about a month, but I was just saying yesterday how I feel like my head has finally switched about food and it really is a healthy habit for me now. I saw someone eating things I used to love (processed food) and instead of feeling deprived, I felt sicked out. When I made our lunch last night, it didn't even occur to me to put cheese on our tuna wraps. Little things like that. I think the detox period really did me a world of good and if you can get through 2 weeks without the junk, it makes a difference.

For me, it depends on the person's attitude whether I will be motivated by their weight loss. If they have the attitude of 'this is how I did it-it's the only way-you have to do it my way or you'll never succeed' I simply can't be motivated by them, because I know everyone's different and what works for one may not work for another. But, I recently got to visit an aunt who I hadn't seen in 20 years. I knew she had lost a looooooooot of weight, but never knew how much she weighed at her heaviest and hadn't seen the end result. She looked incredible (even at nearly 80 years old!). She lost probably over 150 pounds and has kept it off for over 20 years. She never lectured me once over the years (we keep in touch by e-mail), but when I mentioned I was finally able to lose weight, she simply smiled and said "wonderful!" That's the type of person who inspires me to keep on my plan.

And, to melx- I don't know whether the healthy eating ever becomes a habit, but I know, right now, for me, I have to consciously think all day about my choices and what is right for me to eat. I do know that it's said that it takes 7 times longer to overcome a habit than it took to establish that habit, so I figure that since I was in the habit of eating poorly for 45 years, I won't live long enough to ever actually NOT have to fight that habit!

Best advice I have is to keep visiting 3fc. I have found so much support and good advice here that I know I'll be able to reach my goal!

reading the success stories on 3FC has been very motivational to me. I have to admit I'm getting quite addicted to this website. but I never turn it on till after I have worked out. That would be counter productive if I did because I would never move. which means I wouldnt eat what I need to in a day and i wouldnt get exercise. Motivation comes in many packages. You will find yours.

I don't know a lot of people in my real life who have lost weight and kept it off. Well, 4, I guess....and they eat healthy and incorporate exercise and have occasional off plan times and get back on their plans. I do get inspiration from them, but I get most of my inspiration from 3FC.

Melx, eating well has become a habit for me....mostly. Planning is key ("eating healthy doesn't happen by accident"....is that Glory or Robin's saying? I think both would agree!), but it does get easier. Practice makes things easier. Practicing saying "That food is not an option" or practicing incorporating things into your planned calories.

The Biggest Loser has motivated me a lot. I've even gotten to know some of the contestants from the show, and they are very helpful and motivational.

I used to try and be motivated by other people, but the only thing that seems to work is to motivate myself because otherwise I get frustrated by "why can they do it and I can't" type thinking.

like midwife, my greatest motivation comes from those at 3fc

I have been motivated by a friend of mine... but not in the positive way you mention. She is quite heavy (I think around 250 lbs, but I'm not really sure). She used to live very near to me but has moved to another area almost a year ago, and now I only see her once a month or so.

I saw her again lately and I thought "It never really was so in my face when she still lived here, but my god, she is enormous". I hope the more heavy people in here don't feel offended by this, but this was the thought I had. Then I thought "But once, she must've been the size I am now. And she did not stop there, no, she kept gaining. The same might happen to me if I don't do something now!" I think this was the moment I decided to lose some.

Said friend is going into dieting too by the way. She has bought a hometrainer last week-end and intends to use it an hour every day. It's hard for her to find time to exercise as she works a very busy job and lives alone. But I'm sure she can do it . Maybe I motivated her a little with my loss so far; I don't know, actually.

I have definatly been motivated by others, when me and my best friend joined a gym, we used to go together all the time but she stopped going after a while, then because I was on my own I eventually stopped going to. I can see how you are feeling, I mean it must be hard to think how far she has come but I don't think surgery is the option, just try to eat a balanced diet and excercise, that will get the weight off in no time

Thank you so much for your input. 3fatchicks motivates me everyday. But weight loss sometimes feels more attainable when you see someone that you knew for years attain it. That doesn’t mean that it is easy to maintain but to see it happening is very inspiring.