As I was wondering around in blogland yesterday, a fellow blogger (www.jackfit.blogspot.com) asked the question WHY. He said he reads blogs because he is interested in the WHY - why did someone gain weight, why did they think it was time to lose, and why was this time going to be the real deal. So of course I wrote my own post about my WHY (http://wp.me/p6Y5B-hS).
Now I want to know your WHY. I think that looking back can help us move forward, and reading your own WHY might help you unlock some clues to your own weight loss success.
Why did you gain weight and why did you decide to lose it?
Forums / Encouragement and Support
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jdighton replied on: 3/18/10I gained weight after having my son. I was able to lose all my baby weight when I was nursing, but once I stopped and started anti-depressants, I started to gain it back. I thought I could still eat like I did when I was nursing. ( I was constantly hungry and felt it was okay to eat since I was feeding my son) I then stopped gaining, but didn't try to lose. I then went off my anti-depressants a year later and gained 15 pounds. When I couldn't fit into my pants that I bought three months earlier, I decided that I needed to lose weight. My sister is also getting married this summer and I don't want to look horrible for her wedding pictures. I also want to lose the weight so that when my husband and I decide to have another kid, I would be back at my pre-pregnancy weight before gaining it back again (for a good reason).
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justify1 replied on: 3/18/10The why started when I had my first daughter. I gained 40 pounds and lost 35. Then I had a second daughter and gained 40 pounds and lost 35. And, yup. You guessed it. Had a son, gained 40 pounds and lost 35. He is four now, and during those four years I put on another 10 pounds all on my own - no children involved. Part of it happened because I have (had maybe?) this nasty habit of cleaning their plates off for them. Part of it is because I was eating so quickly that I didn't even k now what was going in my mouth. Part of it is because I was having trouble getting any kind of exercise at all while my guys were still so little. And part of it is my voracious sweet tooth.
Why did I decide it was time to get rid of it? We live near the beach, and last summer I never went without being completely covered up. Too embarrassed. I was also just about ready to need the next size up in jeans. That was the last straw. I decided I was NOT buying that size...period. It took me months to figure out what I needed to do (not a real quick draw here), and here I am. And closing in on 20 pounds lighter. And very, very happy about that.
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angieo replied on: 3/18/10I think that for me the why is about years of feeling gross about myself. I have an extremely skinny sister, and she has always received all of the attention in our family, at school, etc. I have been jealous for most of my life for that.
But yes, I did have the baby-weight gain as well. Mostly things just shifted around on me, and then with all of these little kids there was no time to exercise. Even now I have to get up way early to exercise just so I can have some time alone! I also have my sweet tooth to thank for the weight!
I am losing very slowly, but I'm encouraged by the loss and by the changes I have seen in my diet, exercise pattern, and the shape of my body. Things are fitting much better, which is huge for me.
Someday - and I'm getting there - I want to see my reflection in the mirror or in a store window and be proud rather than pick apart all of my faults. I think that will come with a lower body weight, a leaner and more toned body, and a whole different mental attitude about myself. Fortunately, I've found the tools that I need to accomplish my goals on iChange. Thank you!
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dsbride replied on: 3/19/10My "why" is because I was born into an Italian family where food was a big thing. My earliest pictures were of a chubby baby. All thru school, I was the biggest in my class. My Mom had me on a diet constantly when I was growing up but I just didn't care and even when I did, I couldn't lose enough to make me thin.
When I met my husband, I had been on a diet for a few weeks and continued it for months later. It was the smallest I had ever been, a size 16. When I got pregnant the year after we were married, I gained a ton of weight and it just never stopped. Yes, I dieted, up and down but never really getting thin. Then this January, I realized that my health was suffering because of my weight. I just want to be like everyone else. Able to eat whatever I want but in moderation. Knowing that I can have whatever I want, I have stayed away from sugar since the last week in Jan. when I started this program. I have not had any cravings for it so I am not eating it. If ever the time comes, I know that I can have it in moderation but for right now, I am satisfied with what I am having.
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TiffanyT74 replied on: 3/19/10I had a very rapid weight gain my first year of grad school. I gained about 40 pounds because I started dating a guy that had his first "legit" job, so he had some money and he took us out for dinner all of the time. I liked being taken out so much, that sometimes I would go out with him and have more dinner even though I had already eaten! The weight crept up on me, I lost a little of it, but gained it all back and then more when I took my first professional job in a tiny town where I knew no one. I was alone except when I was at work. There was a Dairy Queen within walking distance of my office and I hit that place a few times a week. I also developed a love for fried food, something I had never gotten into before. So it was a combination of boredom, loneliness, and eating new foods that really got me.
I had a co-worker ask me to go to weight loss meetings with her, and I decided what the heck. I had begun to either avoid having pictures taken of myself or hid in the back so people couldn't see me. I was very embarrassed of how I looked.
I lost a lot of weight, about 54 pounds total. But I was working myself very hard. I thought my relationship with the guy (the same one who "helped" me put on the weight) would improve, but I continued to be nonexistent to him. Splitting with him sent me into a bit of a funk. I gained some of the weight back-I've fluctuated about 25 pounds over the last 10 years. The gains and the losses affected me but I just hadn't gotten into the right headspace to make any changes last.
My trip to the doctor last October was my sobering moment; I don't think I would have really motivated myself to make a real change-except that my health is very important to me and I want to avoid making choices that will shorten my life.
I'm with a man now that accepts me exactly as I am, and that has made me able to make choices for my health just for me. I know I'm not being judged no matter where my weight goes, and that empowers me even more. Plus, I want to ensure that I have as many years with him as possible.
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coll90 replied on: 3/19/10The how is easy, i love food. i eat when i am bored, happy, sad,
full, hungry, mad, i love the taste, texture, and i am super social, so
i love to eat with friend, family, and i love to eat alone. I never feel full.
I am so one whom can almost eat while throwing up....i am sorry for that gross example, but pretty true...i hear people say, Oh, i forgot to eat lunch. NEVER could i understand that, i usually say, Crap, i forgot i ate lunch, and eat again! so, between having babies and being happy, the weight creeps up every time. lose alittle, gain alittle...and so it goes. The reason i want to LOSE and feel its time is i am feeling bad. Besides feeling ugly and fat, and not in control of my life,
my knees hurt. my joints hurt. My kids are aware and not so happy.
Its affecting my health and some of my head. It feels powerful to be able to harness this, and i am so positive i can (and most of us can) do this if we really want to. Its in our power and reach!
So, like i've said before quiet simply, I have been eating everything,
and i want to wear everything!
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hollyalp replied on: 4/1/10What a question! This one took some thoughts, but here are my answers:
I was always a little heavier, maybe at an overweight BMI. I grew up in a very poor home with three siblings where healthy food was scarce and what food was there was a competition to get your hands on. When I moved away to school, it was an all you can eat buffet all the time - I had my own money and could buy whatever I wanted. My freshman year I was also homesick and adjusted to a completely different environment. I ballooned from my typical 150 pounds to 185 pounds. I had no idea I was even heavy until I realized that none of my clothes fit anymore.
Why I decided to try to lose: shame, embarassment, and anger at myself for letting it happen. The process has helped me look at myself in a completely different light. I am my own salvation and a source of strength if I only let myself get there. So I'm working on getting there for me and my creative and emotional freedom more than for the shame, embarassment or anger that once ruled my motivation.
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madeline53092 replied on: 4/13/10WHY.
I gained weight for a multitude of reasons. I had previously lost about 10 lbs unintentionally and wasn't ever keeping track of eating healthfully or exercising. I got mononucleosis, which made me initially lose weight but then I put it all back on and more in my months of resting. I faced my first real rejection from a male, and it ripped apart my self-esteem. For these reasons, 18 lbs have crept on. Now I'm here to feel strong, affirm my willpower, boost my confidence, and feel beautiful again.
I offer my support and encouragement to everyone on here...its so great that you are deciding to make that lifestyle change. We're all in it together! If anyone ever wants support, message me! :)
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LOvsPLUTO replied on: 4/25/10I've always struggled with my weight, but I was very physically active throughout middle and high school, so I was able to eat what I wanted. Then, I dated a boy. It's really funny because I read that other people had this same thing happen to them. I became very comfortable with him and he took me out all the time. Unfortunately, I had a knee injury my junior year of high school and I wasn't able to play sports aggressively again. That was when my working out pretty much ceased. I gained weight through college and grad school. At one point, I decided to become a vegetarian and that allowed me to lose about 45 lbs. without even working out much.
Diabetes is something that runs in my family and I am terrified that I will become diabetic. But sometimes, it's just not a serious enough situation to motivate me. But now, I'm 25, I'm at the age where I DO need to be fit. I know I'll never have a skinny figure, as I'm 5'10" with strong features, if I lose too much weight, I could run the risk of just looking ill and not necessarily healthy. I want to feel better, look better and fight disease and other health related obstacles.
