What was the thing or moment that made you decide

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9/6/12 1:33 P

When my 18 year old daughter went away to boot camp to become a Marine. She inspires me. People kept asking her why didnt you just join the Army, or the Air Force. Her answer was, anyone can do that, but not everyone can be a Marine. If she can go and become a Marine, the toughest of the tough then I can get off my lazy butt and get healthy. :) She graduates September 14th and I will be there with a smile and 40 pounds less than when she seen me last. Oorah!

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9/6/12 1:00 P

my son. he is an addict and one night we had gotten into a fight. and the words he was saying to me were brutal. but i had long since realized that on the outside this young man looked like my son, but in reality, he was a stranger, a junkie. but on this nite, amidst the vile words spewing from his mouth like venom, came the plea for me to lose wt and to start taking care of myself becuz he didnt want him and his sisters to have to bury me. thru his anger i seen so much pain and fear. he asked me how i can always get after him to stop killing himself with the drugs when i was killing myself with the food and inactivity. he was right. so i committed to "getting clean" as of february this yr ive been taking care of myself, my health and so far have lost 80lbs and developed healthy lifestyle changes. my son is still an addict. but, he talks to me differently. he s listening to me now. he knows i know what its like to battle an addiction and keep everyday facing that challenge and not giving in. by my example he is starting to want a different way of life.

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9/6/12 10:37 A

I saw a picture of myself and I didn't look the way I picture myself in my head :-). So I began working out and eating healthy, but lost momentum and stopped for several months. When I was looking back at the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year, I realized that if I'd stuck with it, I would be at my goal weight and be in maintenance phase by now. In fact, even if I hadn't kept the same pace as I'd set in my initial goals ... even if I'd slowed the rate of weight loss considerably, still I'd be at my goals already. That was a lightbulb moment for me ... if I keep going, even if I keep going slowly ... I'm one step closer and eventually I'll get there. It's when I give up completely that I'm not getting anywhere.

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9/6/12 5:20 A

hiding behind jackets when it was hot out. I had put my life on hold and now needed to start living.

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9/6/12 4:40 A

When my blood work numbers came back too high.....

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9/6/12 4:37 A

When the doc put me on metformin for sugar control.

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9/6/12 2:17 A

My moment came three months ago after dumping my live-in boyfriend when I found out he was cheating on me. I knew my weight didn't have anything to do with the cheating but it was the reason I had stayed in such an unsatisfying and soul-sucking relationship. I knew I was settling because of my weight. I stayed because I didn't think looking the way I did anyone else would want me or love me the way he did.

The problem was I never felt that spark with him. He didn't excite me in any way and I never even really admired or respected him as a person. He was immature, had no car, no friends, a job that paid practically nothing and when I met him he still lived with his parents. (He later moved in with me and mooched off me) We fought constantly because I was so unhappy with him.

I stayed because he was willing to be in a serious relationship with me. That was my only requirement. How sad! I decided I would no longer settle and I would become the person I wanted to be.

Edited by: LANEYTHEGIRL at: 9/6/2012 (02:20)

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9/6/12 1:50 A

Wow, these are some powerful stories! I think I'll have to make this board a favorite!

For me it was two things:
I developed edema in one leg - the sight of that puffy ankle and foot just scared me!

Then, I got my first hemorrhoid! It was so uncomfortable and I knew that if I were at a proper weight, I wouldn't be suffering.

As a single, middle aged woman it seemed like my future choices were narrowing and narrowing because of my weight. I couldn't stand it!

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9/5/12 11:10 P

Congrats! Keep it up! I'm glad you are here on Spark People! I'm just at the beginning of my journey, but down 7 pounds - and my clothes fit better! Today, I didn't have to stretch out my shirt before putting it on. :) Not long for you, either.

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9/5/12 11:07 P

When my always kind, loving husband told me he thought I had "let myself go". Even though I try to look attractive and dress well, apparently the weight qualifies me for that phrase.

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9/5/12 11:04 P

that moment I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin

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9/5/12 11:03 P

What finally got me moving? My annual exam. I decided that I was tired of the scale going up by 10 lbs each year. I joined a gym and found SparkPeople about a week later.

Things that got me thinking:
- My mom, after neglecting type 2 diabetes, is losing her eye sight. I will do everything in my power to make sure I don't get diabetes because of my lifestyle choices.
- Seeing pictures of me with my nephew. WOW!
- My "big" work clothes were all getting to be too small.

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9/5/12 7:31 P

I decided when I was trying on my clothes from the previous school year (I'm a teacher), and hardly any of the pants would fit! I was tired of this process every year and wasting money on clothes that don't get worn that much.

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9/5/12 6:38 P

Being diagnosed with high blood pressure.

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9/5/12 6:25 P

I don't know that I had one moment that made me change, it was a series of things. I couldn't go through a turn style I had to use the handicap entrance, was to big for rides at the fair, seatbelt would no longer fit...But mostly I had a pretty severe fall in the shower and in my early 30's had to be helped up. I was so bruised up I looked as if I had been in a car accident. I found out that day, my weight was causing my hip joint to separate and if I didn't change I would need a hip replacement in my 30's.

That was 5 years ago, I since lost all the weight and I am dedicated to my fitness routine and healthy eating.

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9/5/12 6:02 P

When the other day, I looked at my feet and they were swollen so much that it didnt look like feet, just pluff with toes. I looked down and I could see knees with a little leg sticking out but the fat was covering the rest of the upper leg when I sit down. I realized Id gained so much weight in so few months. My doctor warning me that I will be on blood pressure meds soon if I cant get things in order.

They were eye openers and I am finally ready.

Edited by: ABUTTERFLYWISH at: 9/5/2012 (18:04)

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9/5/12 4:20 P

When my pulmonary physician told me I need to lose 60 pounds or be on medication for blood pressure, cholesterol, and asthma for the rest of my life.

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9/5/12 4:19 P

When I went for an MRI and found I had gained so much weight that I was no longer able to be put into machine without having a severe panic attack bc I could feel the walls and my face was just couple inches from touching top of tube. I am not claustrophobic (At least I never was before). I was unable to get it done. I then went to the "Open Mri". Was unable to finish that one bc of the amount of pain I was in from lying on my back.

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9/5/12 3:39 P

When a checkout girl at a local store asked me when I would be ready to deliver twins.

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9/5/12 1:07 P

Waking up one morning and realizing that my kids (ages 20, 22 and 23) have never seen me thin...

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9/5/12 1:04 P

T2 diabetes will kill ya

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9/5/12 11:06 A

I knew that I was gaining weight and kept thinking, yeah I will do something about it tomorrow. THEN I say a photo of my work group...I was the fat girl. When did that happen??? That was two weeks and two days ago. I have lost four pounds do far and I am not stopping until this weight is gone!

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9/5/12 10:05 A

Stepping on a scale and seeing how close to 180 the numbers were! I told myself there was NO WAY I was going to hit 180! (which incidentally is the target weight for my husband!!)

I am now 164 and counting down...

Edited by: MICKEYMAB at: 9/5/2012 (10:05)

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9/5/12 8:33 A

after always being fit, not skinny, totally fit, had hysterectomy 2 years ago and didnt realize what was going on till i looked in mirror and saw the fat face, omg did the panic set in, but road to recovery for my body is underway and thats totally important move maker.

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9/5/12 8:32 A

getting "winded" by just moving my husband from his recliner to his bed with the hoya lift.

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9/5/12 6:44 A

It is a daily decision for the last forty years for me to exercise. I prefer to be trim, healthy, and have the strength and energy from a healthy lifestyle. At age 50, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol, even though I was not overweight, and had been jogging, swimming, and doing aerobics for the previous 35 years! That motivates me to continue....daily.

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9/5/12 6:11 A

Photograph showing an unbelievable stomach

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9/5/12 6:03 A

Stretch marks. Dark stretch marks on my stomach. That was enough for me.

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9/5/12 3:54 A

doing a 20 minute dance set had me out of puff - I decided right then to get in shape and get fit!

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9/4/12 9:03 P

i decided that it is time to change after being sent and admitted to the hospital for the second time in 4 months for asthma related issues. i'm also diabetic and i needed to be put on prednisone which of course raises my blood sugar. i am in a vicious circle and if i can lose the weight i will be healthy in every way.

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9/4/12 8:50 P

I decided that it is time to change when I was starting to be held back by my weight(something Id never had happen before). I was out of breath, tired all the time, didnt want to get out of bed and was just totally sick of myself! I want to be healthy for my husband and animals so that Im around for a long, long time!

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9/4/12 8:32 P

moving and getting a new environment. I got sick of being unhealthy.

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9/4/12 8:08 P

I had every reason to be blissfully happy - a fantastic husband, 4 great kids, a growing business and I live in paradise. But I was miserable. When the scales hit 150kg it was the last straw. I found sparkpeople and yesterday I ran for the first time in over 20 years!

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9/4/12 7:20 P

Cherrytarte, I'm so sorry about your dad. My dad passed away in June, two weeks after his 83rd birthday. It's been very hard, even knowing he's with my mom, who passed away in 2005. I miss them both very much. Hugs and prayers for you.

Lisa

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9/4/12 7:18 P

My daughter asked me to go with her to Weight WAtchers to get off the baby weight. I told her I was too old and it didn't work for me any more. She said if I'd go 3 months and it didn't work, she'd leave me alone about it. It worked!!

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9/4/12 7:13 P

I knew I needed to change my eating and exercising habits (I had no exercising habits at that point), when I saw my doctor in February for the results of my blood work done at my physical. She had ordered a special lipid panel that measures level of risk of heart disease. Most of my levels were really high, with one in particular being the highest my doctor had ever seen.

I decided then and there that if I wanted to be around to see my grandkids grow up, I'd better make some changes and fast. I started eating healthy, stopped eating fast foods, fried foods, sweets, got off of diet sodas and now just drink water.

I've lost 35 lbs since February (and a total of 70 since 2009 when I weighed 265!) and still have about 55 more lbs to go to hit my goal weight of 140. I exercise every day and eat healthy foods; and even though I have a lot more to go, I feel healthier than I ever have.

I'm not on a diet. This is the way I eat and the way I live now. And I know I can keep the weight off. My only wish is that I had done this years ago. (Especially since my skin isn't bouncing back like it did when I was younger, and I'm ending up with wrinkles!)

Lisa

Edited by: SHASHI11962 at: 9/4/2012 (19:21)

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9/4/12 6:26 P

My father passed away this February. Our family held his memorial service on a mountain in March. I was so out of shape that I was out of breath after less than a mile of hiking the trail to the spot we had chosen. I felt awful, and decided it was time to overhaul my habits. Funny thing was, I'd joined Spark just two days before I had that realization.

I still have lots of weight left to lose, but I'm much fitter--I can now swim faster than I could when I was on the varsity team in high school.

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9/4/12 6:21 P

After a miscarriage this summer, I decided that if (and when) we decided to try again, it would be much better for me and and a little one if I were lighter and felt better.

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9/4/12 5:55 P

the ah-ha moment for me was when i weighed in at my local TOPS meeting and i was up to 282 lbs....i had joined about a year earlier and had gained 40 pounds instead of losing any! i decided right then and there i was going to do something about it if i didn't want o be over 300 pounds...i have lost over 80 pounds and well on my "weigh" to my goal!!

Edited by: PRSPLACE at: 9/4/2012 (17:56)

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9/4/12 5:20 P

I haven't gotten that ah-ha moment yet. I know what I should do and what I should eat; but knowing and doing are VERY different!

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9/4/12 5:02 P

I was unhappy with my body and weight for a few years. I did little about it. Mostly just felt bad about myself. Then I would comfort myself with food. Then I got a dog. I lived in a small apartment. I knew to be a good dog owner I needed her to get her exercise. (Plus, an exercised dog, is often a more behaved dog). So, I started to run with her. Now I am happy to run and even run more than she should and will have to leave her home.

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9/4/12 4:49 P

when I saw myself on a picture. I can never really tell that much by looking in the mirror, but a picture I can.

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9/4/12 4:24 P

When I was about to have to make the transition from a 38" pant size to a 40". Even though I am 6' 5'' and, at the time, weighed 240 lbs, I still looked rather heavy. I realized it would be never-ending if I didn't put a stop to it. I started cycling and was more aware of my caloric intake. As a result, in 6 months, I lost 35 lbs that I've kept off for the last 5 years with only minor fluctuations of about 5 lbs. every so often, generally in the winter, when I'm less active.

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9/4/12 4:20 P

My last appointment with my doctor "sparked" me to get serious about my weight. She told me that my fasting blood sugar reading put me in the diabetic range and, unless I did something, my classification would change from pre-diabetic to Diabetic. That scared me into getting back on this site and actually using it!

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9/4/12 3:44 P

The straw that broke the camel's back was my disrupted sleep. When I went on a cruise with my mother a few months ago, she expressed concern with my breathing while I slept. I had stopped sleeping on my back at that point because every time I did, I woke up several times a night so startled and thinking I had swallowed something! After several nights in a row of waking up dramatically 5 or six times per night, I'd had it. I started researching sleep apnea only to find it mostly affects obese people, which I am. The first step in treatment would be to lose weight! So I told my husband I was hiring a personal trainer because our health insurance probably wouldn't cover the sleep specialist & I was going to have to lose weight anyway. I see the trainer twice a week, do 1/2 hour of cardio three times per week & have been put on a 1,200 calorie diet. After my first week, my sleep improved. I'm only three weeks in, but I have lost 10 lbs. already! That is a huge incentive! Only 40 more to go to meet my goal of 50 lbs. by my 50th birthday!

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9/4/12 3:22 P

When my doctor handed me a Pre-filled insulin syringe and told me I had to start injecting myself every night. I said "No Thank you", since then I have lost 46 pounds.

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9/4/12 3:13 P

That thing was looking at my son in the van and deciding we were not going to die today, so I did not break and drove slowly into the turn lane. out of the way of this incoming driver.

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9/4/12 3:12 P

In theory, I start paying attention to my diet & exercise when I'm not being the best I can be.

In practice, my pants are uncomfortable. I don't like elastic waistbands and I don't like replacing my wardrobe all at once, so.... tight pants, gotta move more!

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9/4/12 2:43 P

I guess after re-starting about a million times and my husband finally saying he needed to do something about his weight helped me take control of all food in the house - go healthy.

I saw myself in pictures (yikes!), looked at the smaller clothes in my closet that are literally gathering dust, and just took an inventory of how I really feel about myself (not great). I decided all the excuses in the world weren't going to make me smaller or healthier. I realized I am fully in control of my intake and my exercise, so I'd better hop to it!

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9/4/12 2:38 P

There wasn't really *a* moment, but several moments combined, I guess. Like realizing that, yes, I am going to have health issues if I don't change. Or the time I got stuck while ziplining and wasn't able to pull myself to the platform (SO embarrassing!). Or being too disgusted with how I look to continue doing things I previously enjoyed doing. Stuff like that. Incidents added up and I'm finally sick of it, so I'm going to change.