realizing that i have clothes in my closet that i avoided looking at because i knew i couldnt even pull the jeans all the way up not to mention i hated even looking at myself in the mirror. in addition I realized how much of a hypocrite i would be with my future patients if i was counseling them about being healthy, exercise and weight loss while sitting there with a BMI higher than theirs. i don't want to be that doctor at all.

For me it was a combination of things. First off, I'm young, 22 and I would really like to not spend the rest of this decade of my life as a chunky girl. Second, I have two sons. Very crazy, hyper little boys that run me wild all day long, and without a healthy diet and regular exercise I am just too darn tired to care for them like I want to. Another reason is that I have bipolar and a anxiety disorder and exercise is the only therapy I have found that helps to ease my symptoms without medication. One of the biggest triggers was seeing how much of a problem I had with eating, I wanted more than anything to just have a healthy relationship with food. I wanted to learn to cope with the feelings that usually cause me to eat until my stomach feels like it will explode.

One last one! I found a pair of jeans that I've kept since I was about 16 or so, I bought them brand new without trying them on and they were far to small. Way back then I resolved that I would be able to fit into them one day, I tried them on a couple weeks ago and they fit! I was so blown away!

My trigger was hearing about all the things my friends were doing (softball game, ultimate frisbee, roller derby, sprint triathlon) and realizing I would feel uncomfortable doing any of those things with the spare tire I have now. I want to do fun things! I haven't played a sport in YEARS!

Last summer I took some online classes because my family decided not to go on vacation since my father wanted to have some things worked on with our house and yard. So instead of being really bored I did a few online classes to get some things out of the way. One was a speech class and I could do things on my own and record it and send it in. So I did that. My last speech was with a crowd I didn't know.

The speech class went well and I passed with a B. When I reviewed the video to make sure everything was okay that's when I really saw myself. I didn't recognize who I was anymore. It's different when you're looking at yourself in the mirror. So that evening I made the decision to start looking at my diet better. To listen to my obgyn from earlier in the yr who suggested I watch my calories. So I did and lost five pounds in the first week. :) Now it's a yr later and I'm still going.

Originally Posted by alisonlerae:
I'm sort of an introvert. I rarely go out to the bars like other 22-year-olds do, but one of my closest friends was having a going away party since he was moving out of state. My fiancé wanted to go. So I agreed. We went to this bar that was packed, wall to wall with people. Everyone bumping into one another. I tried to stay out of everyone's way, but it's impossible when you're in a place that busy. Even if you weigh 120 lbs. So, while I was making my way through the crowd, coming back from the bathroom. Some guy turned around and said "Hold on dude, SOME FAT CHICK IS PUSHING ME!" Oh, so the five other people within the 3 feet we were in weren't pushing him? Just the fat chick. I felt devastated. I couldn't even do something as normal as go to the freaking bar with friends without being terrified that someone's going to make me feel like crap for being over weight. I decided I wanted to be able to socialize without being terrified of other people making fun of me. I mean, I'm 22. I'm an adult. I should be able to quit making excuses.

Alisonlerae, I totally could have written this too (and I'm from Omaha originally!). I generally do not have a very good memory for details, but I remember one experience from high school, more than 20 years ago, when I was a 9th grader and walking behind two older boys. They turned around, looked at me, and then said they were going to form a "no fat chicks" club. I was only marginally chubby in high school, but this scarred me so much. I let it tear down my self esteem for years. Now I'm almost 36, with 3 kids, and it's time for me to stop making excuses and start living the life I want to live for myself and set the example I want to set for my family.

And let me just say that had I been at that party, I would have punched that guy in the nose for the way he treated you!

I was going shopping with my sister not too long ago and I realized that my favorite stores (Old Navy, Gap, and New York and Co) were only my favorites because the sizes run big. I was shopping for a 14 that fit my booty rather than making sure my booty was a healthy size. Luckily, with 20 odd lbs gone I can fit into a 14 anywhere and a 12 upon occasion! My new goal is a no muffin top sz10 somewhere where I truly like the clothing styles and not just the sizing.

I couldn't stand feeling like a fat freaking loser anymore with no friends. People are so shallow at 17 and a lot of people weren't willing to get to know me because of my weight. It annoyed me and depressed me, so I figured I would try to lose weight.

Also I was a prediabetic, but sadly that didn't motivate me as much as my desire to shop at Forever 21 lol.

I realized that I was the fattest of my friends, that I always ate the most, that at 22 I could change things now and live the life I had imagined.

Originally Posted by alisonlerae:
I mean, I'm 22. I'm an adult. I should be able to quit making excuses.

I'm 20, not 22...but, still, I'm there! I'm ready to be the "hot one" and not the fat friend people take places because I'm responsible or I make them laugh! I also want to travel and make my dreams come true. No more excuses!!! I've only just started...but these threads and posts are fueling my fire and boosting my confidence. I can do it! :D