What one thing made you "snap" into weight loss mode?

I reckon most of us have a last straw type of moment that set us off on this weight loss odyssey, and I'm curious about what did it for you. This is different from why you are dieting/exercising in general...it's about one incident that woke you up and got you moving.

For me, it was meeting a client who shared his "Biggest Loser" type of challenge from his coworkers: to lose 50 lbs in 100 days (he was 70 lbs overweight at the time). He won the bet with a pound to spare purely by eating right and exercising - took no pills, ate from all food groups, and did nothing crazy or extreme. Now I love The Biggest Loser but questioned its ability to work in the real world...however, I was staring at stunning blue-eyed living proof that it could.

So I too have 70 lbs to lose, and now I'm working out like a demon and keeping my calories under control. Maybe I'll email him after 100 days and thank him. Heck, maybe I'll be stunning blue-eyed living proof by then too.

Fri. Dec 16, 5:41pm

The Mayo Healthy Weight Plan

Five years ago I wanted to lose "a few pounds", but really didn't know how to do it except to cut down on food across the board. I knew that this could be a rather unpleasant process from experience as a wrestler in college when I had to cut weight.

My moment of enlightment came when I saw a newspaper article about the "Mayo Healthy Weight Plan". I thought it must be some huckester trying to sell a fad diet based on mayonnaise, and read it out of incredulity ---no one could be dumb enogh to do a diet on mayonnaise! Could they?

Turned out it was about a change-of-lifestyle plan sponsored by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. I was familiar with the excellent reputation of the Mayo Clinic, I ordered the book, and my "few pounds" turned into nominally 35 before I was done.

The link below leads to the current version of the Mayo Healthy Weight Plan.

Digby

Link

Friday, December 16, 2005, 7:17 PM

Bad Numbers

My wake-up call happened a little over a month ago. Although I've been overweight and dieting all my life I never thought I was in any danger. You see, I got away with it for over 30 years! I was "morbidly obese" but didn't have high blood pressure or cholesterol, had loads of energy and didn't hurt any where. Up until a couple years ago. Then all the extra weight starting getting to my knees and ankles.

I finally decided in November that it was time to take off the weight for good. I went to my doctor and he ran extensive tests. He had me come back in the next day to get my test results in person (instead of at the 2 week return visit I already had booked). That wasn't a good sign.

My numbers were all bad: blood pressure was high (I'm on meds now), cholesterol and triglycerides high, and dangerously high inflammation (normal is 0-5 units and mine was 35). After doing some research I found that inflammation is the Number 1 indicator of heart disease and cancer.

My hubby and I went into serious "attack mode". We did a bunch of research on healthy heart and inflammation lowering diets and came up with a plan we can live with. We got our new eating program "blessed" by my doctor and a nutritionist and have been eating healthy for a month now. I've lost over 20 lbs and Bob has dropped 15 lbs so far. We feel great and are excited about our weight loss journey.

Here's hoping that it won't take getting bad news from the doctor to get you on your track to lifelong healthy eating!

Many Blessing! - Trish

Saturday, December 17, 2005, 12:00 AM

I hit a new high at the doctor's office about a month ago and came home saying - I've got to do something! Something! Anything! I'm not waiting until I'm motivated, I'm just going to start doing something, and that's when I found peertrainer. It's not miraculous, but I found a group I really like and it helps me think more about what I'm doing and making better choices and I'm glad to say it lookes like I've lost about five pounds in the last month! I'm not perfect, I make some bad choices still, but more and more good ones.

Saturday, December 17, 2005, 7:15 AM

My husband decided to have weight loss surgery last May. He had the lap band procedure. I just couldn't see having surgery to lose weight. I'd lost weight in the past and knew I could do it. Since he had to start out on a liquid diet and gradually work himself back to eating normal foods over an 8 week period I thought it would be a great time for me to start on myself and support him. I mean, how could he lose weight and get skinny and I stay fat??? Now, I've lost 45 pounds and he's lost about 60, so I'm really catching up to him! And I'm doing it the old fashioned way with diet and exercise! As one of my girlfriends said to me, "how antiquated". LOL

Sunday, December 18, 2005, 9:13 AM

For me, it was a really GOOD experience. I spent a night out dancing, and I had a great time. The most fun I've had in years. And I thought, "If I liked the way I looked more, and if I practiced more and was stronger, I would have even MORE fun doing this."

Sunday, December 18, 2005, 4:32 PM

I graduated college and somehow finally realized I'd gained thirty pounds over those four years, I was the highest weight I'd ever been-- almost 180 pounds. I decided I wasn't going to let myself go any higher and joined the gym in august. Have been eating MOSTLY healthy since and trying to hit the gym at least 3 times a week.

Monday, December 19, 2005, 9:56 AM

I'm getting married next year. Enough said! But, additionally, I know how much my mother weighed when she got married, and know that if I weigh more than that (she was 5'5" and 120 lbs, I'm 5'1" and 121 as of today), I'll be hearing about it for the rest of my life!! Maybe not the best reasons, but they're good enough for me! And I was so sick of gaining weight every single year; though I hadn't hit "too heavy," after a certain age, if you still gain every year, you're kind of doomed!!

Monday, December 19, 2005, 11:27 AM

For some reason being married, rather than getting married, helped me get over the hump and change my habits. I didn't lose weight for the wedding, but have since started losing weight. My husband is much healthier than my family of origin and I think creating a new family with him helped me break free from their bad habits.

Monday, December 19, 2005, 12:49 PM

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