Your "That's IT - I'm losing weight!" moment?

So what is it? Was it a nasty comment someone made or you overhead? Was it splitting your "fat" pants? Stepping on the scale and passing out from the shock? What was the turning point moment for you?

For me, it was a combination of things 3 days right in a row. I had a friend come visit for a long weekend - her first night here, we went out, and I swear to God I'm not joking, I split the pants I put on to wear out. Thankfully it was before we left but it was humiliating all the same. Then, going to the mall with this friend who has always been the same size as me, (or I had actually been smaller!), and I was miserable walking around that day not wanting to try anything on because I knew my regular sizes wouldn't fit and I'd look awful, while she looked great in everything she put on. I also had worn a rather unflattering shirt that is actually too small for me now (didn't know we'd end up at the mall when I got dressed), and a group of teen boys walked by and made snorting noises. Yes, actually, I did look like a stuffed pig.

I signed up here at PT the next day.

So what's all of your defining moments?

Wed. Jun 20, 2:26pm

great thread-

i had several things that happened that made the switch flip in my head. the first was watching my dad's deteriorating health due to poor food choices and poor lifestyle choices. everything that's wrong with him could be solved by changing his eating habits.so when i turned 30 i figured i'd better do something fast because it's not going to get any easier and i had spent most of my 20s chunky. the second being i weighed myself, i was always in the 175-185 range for several years and i hit 200. no wonder my clothes didn't fit. turning 30 and hitting 200 made me feel like i was backed into a corner. third, i was tired of being tired, depressed and sick all the time......... 3 months later, i'm down 30 pounds and feeling great even though i've got quite a few more to go but there's no turning back now!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 2:53 PM

good question!

I always worked out....but for me it was the healthy eating that caused my weight problems...It drove me crazy that I spent so much time working out and I still looked pretty chunky...my "it" moment came when I reduced myself to taking diet pills....I woke up one morning like "what the hell am I doing to myself??" That same day i threw out those diet pills and changed my eating habits and I have been doing great since!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:06 PM

A huge turning point for me was a young coworker was planning to have gastric bypass surgery. I had watched her grow up ...first as a patient in her teens to a young woman in her twenties. I was really upset about her decision to take this drastic step at such a young age Then I started to wonder if weight reduction surgery was the only thing I could do ...I had a long history of losing and gaining weight and my weight was quite high.

Another factor was my dad's uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and all his health problems. I could see the writing on the wall if I continued living the way I was.

The third factor was a new program sponsored by a local university affiliated medical clinic that focused on stress reduction through meditation (relaxation response), nutrition, exercise and cognitive distortions. Finding that class felt like a form of grace.

Somehow the combination of those 3 things pushed me forward. The class ended 3 years ago and I have continued to lose weight slowly during the last few years.

My mantra is ...you really can do it if you keep at it.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:15 PM

My "it" moment was totally different! It wasn't anything bad, but the exact opposite.

I had been feeling kind of down about myself in general, not just my looks. And then I met a guy -- much younger and better-looking than I! -- who thought I was da bomb, in every respect. His regard really inspired me to get hold of things and take care of myself.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:15 PM

I got a $6000 dollar racing bike from a client as partial payment for a catalog design. 16 pounds of carbon fiber everything- cranks, seatpost, derailleurs, shifters, handlebars- it was the best bike I'd ever had. I couldn't ride it- the racing position was too extreme for my bulky midsection. I was too heavy for the superlight carbon fiber parts. I was so dissapointed with myself that I lost 50 pounds.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:23 PM

I had been unhappy about my weight for years but didn't do much about it. The only time in my adult life that I had lost weight was when I kept a food log in a little notebook -- I wrote down EVERYTHING I ate. That was in 1989 and I kept the weight off until I married. Then the pounds started piling on, and they stayed on.

I read about PT (I think in the NY Times, but I'm not sure now) and went to the site. When I saw that the site provided a way to log my food + exercise on the computer, I immediately joined. I thought this was exactly what I needed. I started losing weight immediately, and 18 months later I'm still losing weight, albeit at a much slower rate.

Thank you PT!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:26 PM

A little bit of everything

I would not say I had one "IT" moment - but a combo of things. I am 28 and on blood pressure meds - we want another child - my clothes don't fit like I want - I am adopted and my husband is worried as we don't know what health problems either of my parents have/had. I am still not sure I have even hit the "IT" moment but I am starting to take the right steps to help myself live healthier - for some reason I am having a tough time with change even though I know what that change needs to be!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:34 PM

My moment

My moment wasn't really a "moment" actually. I started doing yoga about two months ago and it made me feel so good and so relaxed and just over all more healthy, I thought, why the hell don't I take this a step further and change my eating habits. So two months later and a few changes here and there, I'm already down 17 pounds and this is the most important part, I don't feel like I'm missing a thing! :)

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:38 PM

I'm not pregnant!!

I had already started going to Curves trying to get back into shape. I knew I had gained quite a bit over the past couple of years, and most of it in the mid-section. However, my turning point was when I was at work and someone thought I was pregnant!! I knew right than that I had to turn things around!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:48 PM

My moment was when my son (4 at that time) looked at me and asked why I don't go swimming with him and daddy. I was too embarrassed to get into a bathing suit. I have lost 54 pounds so far and just bought a bathing suit two weeks ago.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 5:24 PM

I lost 50 pounds after my pregnancy, bound and determined to be a healthy, active mom. I maintained the loss for about 6 months, then put 35 lbs back on. This was not the first time I yo-yo'd but instead of sinking into self-pity and gaining *all the weight and then some* a friend told me about PT. I started logging my food as well as my feelings... I stopped being in denial that I was an "emotional eater". Who wants to be controlled by subconcious urges? I went to councelling and have re-lost 25 lbs. The good news is: I really think I have finally cut the yo-yo string. I may not be "hollywood skinny" but I am a healthy, active mom!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 6:16 PM

Just got sick and tired of it!

I have had "it" moments probably a dozen times in the past two years. I remember when I used to be attractive to men and would get stares and smiles and overall was treated better (I know that is horrible). I started noticing how men didn't look at me anymore (not that I needed them to), not to mention I was so self conscious. My pants didn't fit and I never wanted to go anywhere. I finally looked at pictures of myself now compared to pics from a couple of years ago and went "That's IT!" I am too young to feel so ashamed of my body. Now, I have only lost 7 pounds but it is enough to motivate me to try harder and really make a life change.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 9:04 PM

there were a few moments.... about 10 years ago, i had an amazing body (of course i didn't appreciate it at the time). i was mentioning to some new friends of mine that i used to be really fit and they gave me these blank incredulous stares like it couldn't be true..... i was shopping with my aunt in a store, and one of the employees went to get me another piece of clothing and brought back an XL size.....i looked in the mirror and caught myself off guard because i didn't realize what i really looked like.... i was going to the dr's for an annual checkup and i was dealthly afraid of what my cholesterol and overall lipid profile would be

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 2:05 AM

Dress didn't fit

I'd gone to another city especially for a party at my brother's. The dress I'd taken to wear wouldn't do up and I had to cobble together an outfit. I looked shocking and was determined to get back into that dress (nearly there - the zip doesn't quite do up all the way yet.... too bad it's out of fashion now!!).

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 5:52 AM

My moment wasn't really a big deal I guess - but it felt like it. A group of my friends and I were going to go shopping, and I was looking forward to it, but when I got up in the morning I realised I had nothing to wear - despite having a wardrobe FULL of clothes that I adored. Not one decent outfit fitted me. I was devastated that I just physically could not go out of the house because I had gotten too fat for my clothes.

Anyway, it's two months later and 20lbs down, and I have exactly the same problem - nothing fits me in my wardrobe, except this time they're all too big! A bit of an achievement :D

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 6:07 AM

I had come to believe the fallacy that 'this is what my body wants to weigh.' I wasn't really happy or unhappy with my weight - it just was. Then I read a fitness book that was pointed and left me no room for excuses. I read it cover to cover in a day and totally believed I could do it. And I did. Three months later I had lost 20 pounds and was in the best shape of my life. I maintained until I got pregnant and now I'm here with the goal to shed these last 10 pounds.

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 9:52 AM

hi 9:52 what was the name of that fitness book?

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 10:06 AM

For me it was a couple of things. First, I see family members who are no longer mobile and their problems can all be attributed to their weight and lack of activity. Second, I was having nosebleeds. It was because of my poor diet. I could be out with friends at a nice restaurant and blood would start to drip. Third, my best friend and I were out driving and we passed a hospital. I told him "If I go into a diabetic coma, that's where you need to take me." I realized that is stupid. I need to change my life!

Friday, June 22, 2007, 6:36 PM

My Fat is Brighter than Sunshine

I downloaded a couple of songs to my cel phone. One of them is "Brighter than Sunshine" by Aqualung. If the phone was in one of the front pockets in my jeans, and I bent over, my fat roll would hit Play. Since "Brighter than Sunshine" was first alphabetically, it would start to play... "I never understood before. I never knew what love was for. My heart was broke, my head was sore. What a feeling ."

This has been going on for a long time and I just thought it was a quirky note in my life. But I was at the mall and I heard "I never understood before... I never knew what love was for..." I thought "I'm not bending over! Am I that fat now?!" Turns out it was coming from the mall speaker system.

I thought to myself "My fat is brighter than sunshine."

Friday, June 22, 2007, 6:44 PM

I went to my daughters pre-k graduation. I thought I looked pretty good. My dad took some pictures of me and my daughter. He sent them to me. I looked at them the next day and was sickened about how fat I looked. There was no hiding how horrible I looked. No kid in front of me during the pictures can hide my horrible size. It was hideous. I started PT shortly after that and have been here ever since.

Friday, June 22, 2007, 8:32 PM

A few "thats it" moments!

I have always been trying to lose weight for years and the only way I would try and start to lose weight is if I saw new stretch marks on my body. I would be in tears over it and try and workout but my will power was never strong enough to lose more than 10 pounds. Then last year I made a bet with my cousin who is over weight that in 6 month whom ever lost the most weight would win $500 so I put up $500 and so did she. Will I extended the 6months to 9 months and she agreed its was horrible. In the end she wanted to qiut and just give me $200 and I agreed. I ended up only loseing like 10 or 12 pounds and she gained weight. After is was all over I ate whatever, got on the scale and it read 235 and that was my first "IT" moment. I felt like if I keep eating I will eventually be 500 or 800 pounds one day and won't even realizes what or how much I am eating! So my quest to lose weight was on but I knew I needed more and BAM I got more. More information and great diet and this time I had a PLAN! Now I fully understand why I didn't lose the weight last year. that was another "IT" moment. Now I did myweigh in today and I have lost 27.6 pounds. I HAVE NEVER LOST THAT MUCH WEIGHT BEFORE! Now there is no way I can gain it back and thats another "IT" for me! I a very greatfull for joining this site because I have learned so much!

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 3:51 PM

My it moment(s)

1) My sugar was borderline diabetic and since most people in my family end up having diabetes eventually, I knew I had to do something NOW;
2) I developed plantar fasciitis - foot problems - and, other than pain meds/anit-inflammatories, the only cure was to lose weight;
3) I found out that my husband was having an affair. Although I didn't blame myself for his choices/decisions, I couldn't help but think that my weiught and general unhappiness with myself could have been an extra push. Besides, looking good now is the best revenge!

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 9:37 AM

I just wanted to say that reading these stories is really inspirational, and everyone here should be so proud of themselves. Whether you've lost 5, or 50, or 150 lbs, or even if you've not lost weight yet but have made the first step in joining this site and making the effort to change and be healthier, I think you all deserve a hug, or a round of applause or something.
I know I'm being kind of lame, but reading your stories just made me feel a bit emotional, and happy for you guys. I hope you feel great about yourselves; you certainly deserve to.

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 11:33 AM

about 18 months ago i went on my semi-annual shopping spree and stopped by my favorite stores. i couldn't find anything in my size. when i didn't, it just didn't look good. i realized that if things kept going in the same direction, i would only be able to shop at lane bryant. at about the same time my in-laws emailed copies of graduation pictures (from a few months earlier) and i looked horrible!

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 12:27 PM

My "It" Moment

I had a hysterectomy in October '06 and when you have surgery you think you're whole life is going to change. Well, reality set in and I did nothing about my weight or more importantly my horrible eating habits. Then I had to find a new doctor. The first time I saw her, she said if my cholesterol had gone down even a few points, there would be no medication. By the time I got home, the test results were in and it wasn't good. She put me on medication immediately. I changed my eating habits but haven't been able to get as much exercise in as I would like. The thing is I've had family members with heart disease and diabetes and I don't want to be like them. So for 3 1/2 months now I've changed my eating habits and have lost 27 lbs. As an added bonus by knees and hips don't hurt like they used to, some of the pain is age related but losing weight really makes a difference.

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 1:52 PM

when I got out of my car and walking toward the house my boyfriend was sitting on the porch smiling.

"what are you smiling at?" I asked

"the way you just waddled over to me." he smiled

That was the beginning of the end...

Monday, June 25, 2007, 12:29 AM

I saw a picture of myself...UGH. That did it. I bought a book I had heard about and read it cover to cover in a weekend. I bought a notebook to start a food journal, I clipped that gawd-awful picture to the front and I wrote down every bite and calculated every calorie. I was a woman possessed and I was absolutely sure I would lose the weight. And I did - I lost weight every week for 12 weeks, I continued to lose weight on a 2 week vacation and kept losing until I eventually reached my goal weight. I stayed there unitl I got pregnant. Now i'm back and certain I will be losing these last few pregnancy pounds once and for all.

Monday, June 25, 2007, 8:06 PM

Hi, I'm new here, just joined this week.

Reason I joined? I sat on the sidelines at the beach while on vacation over the 4th, and watched my family play in the water and I refused to put on a bathing suit. Right then and there I decided that by next summer I wouldn't be watching life, I'd be enjoying it!

Saturday, July 7, 2007, 10:24 AM

OP- this was a great question!
my defining moment was when my 4 year old niece asked me why i wouldn't swim in the pool with her. the only reason was because i didn't want to get into a bathing suit. it made me sad that i am missing out.
anytime i'm feeling especially low i will read this thread because the stories are inspirational!

Saturday, July 7, 2007, 5:26 PM

Great Thread

I could say I've had a few moments. My mom passed away at an early age due to health complications (arthiritis, thyroid etc) and I hated not having my mom there for me during my wedding, my daughter's birth and to celebrate my college graduation. I always wished that if she had taken better care of herself, perhaps, she would be here with me. There are always the dreaded pictures and not being able to wear the fashionable cloths. I hated wearing the XL or the biggest size in the store. I realized that I am getting older and if I don't take care of myself now, I'll never do it. THere will never be enough time to do everything around the house, work , with kids, so I need to make sure that I am ok, so that I can be there for them.

Sunday, July 8, 2007, 9:21 AM

Bumping because I find this thread inspirational.

Monday, July 9, 2007, 8:27 PM

When I could not wear most of my clothes becasue they looked too tight on me, and I did not want to buy clothes in a bigger size and spend money.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 12:31 PM

For me is was pretty basic...my clothes didn't fit and I refused to go to a bigger size...I have lost over 25 pounds and I am still going, a bit over 40 left!!

Thank you so much for your stories, I agree, they are inspirational!!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 3:55 PM

As superficial as this sounds, the day I found a stretch mark on my lower stomach, I decided to lose weight. I'd always had them on my hips, but as soon as they hit my stomach, it was go time.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 9:18 PM

I had always eaten fairly healthy most of the time and been somewhat active, but was about 40 or so pounds overweight. I ended up having some crazy hormonal stuff happen after taking depo provera and gained 70 pounds in a year despite working out every day and eating 1500 calories a day. I kept going up and down the same 30 pounds for years and had horrible health problems. Then last year I had a horrible episode of fibromyalgia- it was a blessing since it gave me a diagnosis finally after years of issues, but it was scary- I got to where I could hardly walk. I felt like I was dying half the time. All conventional doctors could offer were strong anti-inflammatories that ruined my stomach and pain meds and muscle relaxers which knocked me out. I made a decision that I was going to find a doctor who could treat me and then do whatever I had to do to lose the weight because I knew that if I could lose my weight, it would make dealing with the fibro much easier. I have lost 37 pounds so far and I am well on my way to losing the rest! More importantly though, I control my fibro better and feel better. Although, I have to say I can't wait until I get all the weight off and look as good as I feel!! lol

Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 10:25 PM

Stuck in the Dressing room- literally

Ok, so I was trying on a dress at dress barn. I got the dress over my head and my arms in- you would think I would have backed out before that point but I didn't....I still thought I could pull the dress down and be fine. Well, no...I was seriously stuck with the dress wrapped around my boobs and cutting off my circulation. I could not FOR THE LIFE OF ME get the stupid dress off my body. I sat there for about a minute (felt like an hour) trying to figure out what the heck I was going to do. I seriously thought I was going to have to get some scissors and cut myself out of it.....however, my mom was there with me that day. I had her help me get it off. I laugh about it now but I was seriously freaking out at the time.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007, 3:26 PM

I haven't felt attractive in a few years; have gradually been putting the weight on, hate pictures of myself, can't get into any of the clothes in my closet except a few elastic waist ones, popping the buttons on blouses, then my son that is 5' 10'' told me how much he weighted last weekend and it was less than me. That did it, I am committed.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007, 4:03 PM

Running into an old friend who said, "I didn't know you were pregnant!" wasn't enough. The doctor putting me on high blood pressure and cholesterol meds wasn't enough. Only fitting into plus-size blouses and elastic waist band pants wasn't enough. Wearing a swim suit for only 1 day of a 10 day Hawaiian vacation wasn't enough. Or, was it all adding up to my ah ha moment? A family picture at a wedding: 1. At 39 I looked older/worse than my husband's aunts in their fifties, and 2. at 5'2" standing next to a fit 6'3" nephew, I realized I must weigh more than him. So... Here I am!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007, 5:29 PM

I just joined here and found this thread such an inspiration. I suppose I´m just fed up of yet one more pair of pants or dress in the back of the wardrobe that I´ll get back into "one day" and these "love handles" that I´ve never seen before are driving me crazy!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 2:06 PM

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