I want to lose weight because:

1. I am tired of having "Is there someone fatter than I am?" popping in my head whenever I am in a place. I am basically tired of viewing myself as nothing more than a fat person.

2. I want people to see me as more than just a fat person. A lot of people know me online and they respect me a lot, and the way I think and what I do.. but people in real life take a LONG time to see that because I am fat. They're not bad people, it's just you don't really think of fat people as successful or having their stuff together. I am just tired of being fat, and I want people to respect me.

3. I look at pretty dresses in amazing trendy stores and I know I could NEVER fit into ANYTHING they have because those trendy stores? They stop at size 8 US/12 UK. I want to dress my own age for a change.

4. I don't want to get diabetes. My waist is too big, and I am so scared.

Like another poster said: Vanity & Health. There are so many beautiful clothes I want to wear and I want to feel like I look beautiful and sexy and vivacious. But I also want to lose weight to take the pressure off of my knees (i've got patellofemeral syndrome). I want to be able to go up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath. And I want to play soccer again, and not feel like a fatty flubbing up and down the pitch.

I've been lucky enough thus far to not suffer from any (known) obesity-related health issues, but I want to prevent any from setting in. This is the fattest I've ever been and I don't want it to get worse.

This!!

Some days vanity wins other days health!

Health has been my motivator. Diagnosed with metabolic disorder (my body was turning against me :P which included diabetes, gout, high bp, high cholesterol. This is the first time I've actually felt like it is a life style change and not a temporary fix to a lifelong problem.

I've been low carb gluten free since June and my bp was 120/62 last week! I haven't had a gout attack since the end of May. My blood sugar is under control and I am feeling so much better!!

I've been at a stall for the past 2 months but I'm maintaining so it's not all bad (did the same thing in the 240's)

I want to lose more weight because:

I don't want to get diabetes and I was prediabetic before losing weight.

I want a flat stomach.

I want to be able to go into stores and buy whatever I want to wear without having to wonder how it will actually LOOK on me.

I want to be around for a very long time without the health problems that set in with growing older. I want to be that little old lady who jogs down the street, not the little old lady who can't get out of her chair.

I have a bad amount of lower back spine injuries and I want the rest of me to be healthy and strong and perhaps mitigate some of what's coming down the line as I age with a damaged back.

I plan on visiting the Czech Republic to do genealogy work when I'm older and I want to be as healthy and strong as I can be to traipse around the little villages, churches and cemeteries in search of my family.

I REFUSE to re-gain this weight and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep this weight off. I will NOT be any fatter than I am right now.

I'm not comfortable in my body. That's a big one for me. It's not at all that I hate my body or how it looks (I've never felt that), it just feels awkward living in it, and I don't feel at peace in it. It could be healthier, and I want to make it that way. And feeling that uncomfortable so often puts a damper on some aspects of my life (which frustrates me).

Of course I have some vanity reasons, but as I go on, those are less important to me than feeling comfortable in my own skin.

One thing that is normally vain but for me is about comfort is not to have my thighs rub (light brushing is fine, just not like now). This gives me rashes if I've been swimming (especially in saltwater) that are VERY painful. It is very limiting when I go to the beach. I don't give two craps about a "thigh gap," I just don't want those rashes! I might be able to achieve this, since my legs don't carry most of my weight. However, my hips aren't very wide. We'll see, I guess.

for me, it's about the future. I'm 25, and my husband and daughter are my world right now. When I was 21, I was told by my gastroenterologist ( I have UC) that if I didn't eat right and heal myself, I'll "have an ostomy in my 40's, if I'm not already dead". What a shock, especially with a family history of intestinal and colon cancers taking loved ones young. I have an extensive family history of loads of scary diseases and problems, and I just don't want it to happen to me.

Also, we want to have another child. I want to live to meet my grandkids, and if I'm so lucky, my great grand children. Finish college. Have a career outside of my home. Travel. Retire. Live long enough to embrace my grays. I want to have a long, happy and prosperous- but mostly HEALTHY- life.

I could have written this (with the exception of never hating my body, which I REALLY did as a curvy teen). I love the feeling of waking up lighter on my feet. Getting dressed isn't so daunting and I can just throw on jeans and a t-shirt and look good. It's all vanity, but it's the feeling I get, where everything is just a little brighter.

When you are skinny, everything looks good on you. I live in a hot climate and its hard to dress comfortably and attractively when you are overweight here.

So my reasons are mostly vanity. My health hasn't become an issue as yet but if i were to continue the way i was going, it was a possibility.

But certainly being a healthy weight is physically a lot more comfortable too. Its definitely a good reason to lose weight.

Nothing wrong with vanity! It's the answer to why did you buy that dress, those shoes? Why did you cut your hair or why did you put on that makeup. I sometimes think we are bashful about saying I want to be hot because health should be our number 1 priority. And to a certain degree that's true, we shouldn't put vanity above health if its going to make us do things that are not healthy (disordered eating, self-harm, exercise bulimia, etc.).

But I think for the vast majority of us, The "I want to be a size x and where a sexy dress" is just fine

I won't lie, it's mostly for vanity. But also, like LiannaKole said above, I'm just not comfortable in my body, and this discomfort and awkwardness has resulted in me stunting myself in many ways and passing on a lot of potentially great opportunities. Oh, and respect! I feel that I'm often not respected or taken seriously because of my size and the stereotypes/misconceptions about people of a certain size.

Well it has been an amazing 11 months. Amazing. Health wise and overall well-being wise, the most unbelievable journey I've ever had. Beyond my wildest expectations.

But I very much remember why I started the journey. First and foremost health. Diabetes runs in my family and my uncle now has dementia. Many researchers are calling this the third type of diabetes.

We also adopted our daughter a couple of years ago. We were infertile, possibly weight related? I'll never know. In any case we choose foster to adopt. Our first placement we fell in love with but he went back to relatives. So you are a parent, then you aren't. Cannot imagine unless you go through it. But our second placement is now our forever daughter.

The thought of being unhealthy for her, I am 48, she is three. I could not stand that any longer. Then I was tired. So TIRED of always being hungry. I was a slave to hunger. I knew there had to be a better way. Lastly being overweight is not fun. Aches, pains, simple things that should be no problem, being a problem.

Well I found my way. I post a lot in Carb Counters if anyone is interested. It worked for me. I believe especially for people with weight around the middle and any family history of diabetes, most can be helped tremendously by low carb high fat.

So how is it now? And I still do have a bit to go. When I hit 190 I will probably shoot for 180-175. Not vanity, to be my healthiest. I am a little over 5'9".

I feel AMAZING. Rarely if ever hungry. Grain free now but I enjoy foods more because I am eating whole foods and foods that make me feel strong and energized and wonderful. Along my journey I remember someone saying fruit and veggies are the ultimate fast food. They are, aren't day? It doesn't get much easier than popping a grape tomato in your mouth or eating an apple. I have embraced whole foods.

The hunger free is great. I am also back pain free, never wake up with pains in the morning. I haven't gotten sick in well over 6 months. My allergies are gone. Playing tennis I glide now instead of lumber. I joined my company basketball league and can hold my own with 20 somethings.

I am a runner now. Last August I couldn't run 30 seconds now I do 5Ks. Just did my second one this past Sunday at 33 minutes. Unbelievable for me. I could never run before. I don't feel as good as in my 20s, I feel better than ever at 48.

I've gotten tons of compliments at work. Oh and one of the best, best things. You become a 'change agent' for your family and friends. My wife has embraced the changes now and lost 25 pounds since January. Her dad and sister have also. A co-worker lost 30 pounds seeing what I was doing and talking to me.

We have a team breakfast once a week. That has changed a lot. A lot more healthy choices now. Everyone likes that more. Still doughnuts, but more healthy choices that everyone seems to embrace and go for.

- First and foremost, I want to live a long, healthy life so I can be here with my kids as long as possible!

- I want my kids to see that you can set a goal for anything you want and make it happen!

- I want to be able to buy cute clothes, bathing suits, etc. from an actual store instead of having to guess at sizes online or pay so much more at big girl stores.

- I want my body to be able to do all the things my heart and mind want to do! I am an outdoors person and would love to be able to hike, bicycle, etc. without feeling like the fat girl who looks out of place. I also don't want to have to sit down a hundred times while I am trying to hike!

- I don't want to worry anymore about if I will fit into a booth at a restaurant, a seat on a plane, a seat on a roller coaster or any other sitting place.

- I want my boobs to stick out further than my tummy!!!

I want to be able to buy affordable clothes in any store that I walk into. I also travel a lot and want to be more comfortable in the airplane seats.