You know, the one that didn't just click but literally exploded in your head that this was it, there were no more excuses, and you had to change NOW?
Mine was a picture. I know, I know, we all see pictures of ourselves and think "ugh, I should do something". I had been doing that for years but, no matter how miserable I was, I could always come up with some excuse why I "can't do it now" (I was going on vacation, or to a party, or I just didn't have time) or why "that diet won't work for me". I rationalized that "I'm genetically predisposed to being fat" or "I'm going through menopause". Even going to the doctor and being threatened with a laundry list of meds if I didn't improve things wasn't quite enough for me to believe I had to, or could do it NOW. During all this rationalizing and excuse making I was consoling myself - now this part doesn't speak very well of me as a person, but in my defense, I never once said it out loud to a single soul - by comparing myself to a coworker and telling myself "at least I'm not THAT out of shape, I don't look as bad as SHE does". Then came the picture. I was looking through some pictures of the company Christmas party and came across a candid group shot and thought "oh look, there's 'so and so'." Then it hit me - slammed into me actually. 'so and so' hadn't been at that party - that was ME! I had mistaken myself for the person I thought looked soooo much worse than me! I swear the room actually spun.
Signed up at 3FC that day. That was a little over 20 lbs ago and there's no looking back. Any time I have a weak moment, find something unhealthy in my hand and headed for my mouth, or think of skipping my workout, all I have to do is remember that horrible, horrible feeling of seeing that picture. Amazing what we can do when we stop telling ourselves we can't