What is/was your motivation for losing weight?

[cleochatra]

For me, there are several factors:

1. 9/11. Now, you might be thinking, WTH is she talking about? They didn't fly a fat girl into the World Trade Centers. Well, no they didn't. But you know what really got to me? At 325 pounds could I have helped someone else out of the building? Would I have been someone the firefighters or someone else could help get out of the building? Would I have been strong enough, healthy enough, spry enough during a vast disaster such as that at 325? No. I decided then and there I would have to do something about my weight. If I don't have health on my side, I endanger those around me during a disaster, be it natural or otherwise. And I must be strong for my family and myself!

2. Vanity. Face it. Putting houndstooth over my frame at 325 would make me look like I done ate the hound. If you haven't seen my really BAD before pictures before, I'll post them sometime. They are truly a horror to behold. I miss shopping at thrift stores and buying the cute retro clothes! I miss shopping for shoes and not having feet so fat that I had to look for the Fred Flintstone model. I miss being able to wear lipstick and not look like the fat witch in the Little Mermaid. I want to be pretty, ding dang it!

3. Health. I really miss running 3 miles a day! I miss jumping. Yes. Jumping! At 325, there was no way I could jump. Even now, if I jump, I blind myself with a flailing arm flap. That's no fun. I might even knock someone out with an airborn breast. It's not a pretty sight! I want to be limber, be able to jump around. I want to do a somersault again!

4. I want to teach my kids good habits and to be adults who don't respond to crisis or emotion with food. Our kids are made up of half OUR DNA. If we have issues with food and blood sugars, more than likely so do they. If we're predisposed to being fat--guess what! So are they. Since I've begun Atkins, the junk foods have been filtering out of my house very slowly. Now the kids begs me to make devilled eggs as an afternoon snack, when once we all sat around foisting chips into our mouths. My kids have been trimming down. We go out and play croquet or basketball! We even moved near a park and walking trail for access to more exercise! We've never been happier since we've changed! But, as the mom, it was really up to me. And looking at how I used to manage this family with regards to food and lack of exercise breaks my heart. Never again! My kids are learning to talk when frustrated, to sleep when tired, or to come and read with me or we'll spend time together when they're bored. And we no longer center birthdays and holidays around food. And you know what? They don't care! Because we're all together. So who's teaching them that food is so important in our lives? I was. No more.

Thank you Dr A!

Thank you, ADBB!

[cruiser gal]

My motivations for losing weight were:

(1) Everytime I passed a mirror, I would hate what I saw! A FAT PERSON, that could not possibly be me in my mind!

(2) I was limited in the type of clothes I could wear. Fat Girl Shops, were the only places I could buy clothes in, and their styles were always so matronly looking. I would never go shopping with friends, as I was always too embarassed to try on clothes, and show them. Most of my blubber was always hanging out from one end or another!

(3) My knees and back were a wreck, and walking up and down the stairs in my home was a real toll on my aching body. I was always huffing and puffing as well when moving abit quicker. Running was a definate no no, and exercising was a real effort.

(4) I was always hungry, and never fully satisfied after eating all the junk food I had packed away in the cupboards! I just kept shoving my face with countless carbs that kept increasing my appetite to no avail!

(5) People would think that I am older than what I am, and that used to bother me, added weight also seems to add years onto a person, at least it did to me!

I can probably go on and on, but I will stop here and say I am thrilled that I have found this WOE. Dr Atkins has sure made alot of people both healthy and happy, and fortunately I am one of them! I feel real good about myself now, and know this is my way for good! Of course this board has been detrimental in my success, and I hope I can give back to everyone what I have received from them!

[ttdriver]

My #1 motivation was to be healthy, particularly as I headed for my 50s, an age where most people (including me) expect to have those age-related aches and pains that seem inevitable.

In fact, it *is* possible to age well. After 4 years following this plan along with regular rigorous exercise, I can attest to being stronger and healthier than ever.

For me, the weight loss has been secondary to the amazing tranformation in my physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Betty

[not2late]

1. Bad family health history: Both sides of the family either die from heart disease or diabetes related problems. In fact, it's quite normal for us to be on medications by the time we're in our 40s.

2. 9/11 (like Cleo): I live in a weird area. To the north of me is Washington DC. To the north east of me is the air force base where they keep Air Force 1. To east of me is a nuclear power plant. To the southeast of me is a US naval station. To the southwest of me is a naval ordinance base. And supposedly, the whole area is peppered with "government safehouses"--classified areas where members of Congress and other high ranking government officials are evacuated to if DC is threatened. So 9/11 worried me too. Would I have been able to run down those flights of stairs? Would I have been able to help someone else? Would I have been able to run a couple of blocks to safety? If I was at the Pentagon, would I have been able to run to safety? The answers to those questions in 2001 was a firm "no".

3. Myself: I want to be able to do things, like go hiking through the woods during spring or in the autumn. I want to be healthy.

[Isabeau]

For me it was all about health. I seriously thought that if I didn't do something, I'd be dying at too young of an age. Now that my fitness level is better then I ever imagined (with lots of goals to still accomplish) I have to admit that like Cleo, a bit of vanity is coming into play as I'm able to wear things that before I never thought possible. Thank you Dr. Atkins!

[Moochiecat]

Medical reasons: Not that it was a surprise to me to be called obese, but I was told I my obesity made it impossible for doctors to see anything in a CAT scan I had done.
It was when I looked at my body to see if I could see any lumps in my abdominal area from where my pain was coming from that I truly saw what I had turned into. Quite honestly I was so deep in denial about my weight that it was a shock to me. I knew I was heavy, but I had never truly looked at my body in ...well....gee..forever.

Clothing and vanity: Being five feet tall and 194 pounds I was in a weird place when it came to clothes. Most shirts came halfway down my thighs...pants were always too long or too baggy in the leg. When I would find something that fit me I'd buy up one in each colour. For many years I just ignored fashion but I never used to be that way! I used to have all sorts of cute trendy clothes and I long for those days again.

Normality: I just want to feel normal. Normal as in blending in with other people. It upset me when we'd be in a crowded restaurant and people would see me coming and start moving their chairs before I got there, or pulling their kids out of the way like I was going to steam roll them. "OH, here comes that FAT LADY!! We'd better make way!!" You know what I mean?

[Kent]

1.) Seeing my former unit be deployed without me.
2.) Health - sleep apnea, lack of fitness, poor knees
3.) Seeing my brother's success - belief that I could indeed do it. I little faith and good inspiration is a powerful thing.

[cleochatra]

Thank you so much for saying what motivates you! It really helps me line my ducks up and think about what is really important. It also shows me I'm not the only one who wants to feel pretty!

And I'm sorry megs that you have to have a real concern because of your location. That really is something to think about.

{{{cruiser, moochie, ttdriver, not2late, Isabeau}}}

[CalvinFish]

Thirty Eight.

Yup (sorry, yep) 38 was the last straw for me. I started my journey a couple days before my 38th birthday. I spent about ten years, 18-28 as healthy as could be. When I was in those later years, I would out work, out run kids that were 14-18. Then I moved to admin and slowed way down. Ten years after moving from field jobs to admin ones, I was fat!

I used to be called "outdoor, daniel boone M***** F*****" by one friend who now works for a major TV news network. I also wanted to just feel good about myself.

I am getting there! My weight is going in the right direction!

Dave

[BikerGoddess]

My reason for starting was pure vanity. I had been dieting (off and on) for the 3 years prior to starting Atkins and just wasn't making any progress. I tried Atkins after seeing a coworker's success. She'd be in another office for several months, and when she returned, she looked completely different. I asked her secret and heard "Atkins."

I didn't actually expect it to work.

Health benefits came later, and I didn't really expect those, either. I thought my aches and pains were just from getting older, and that the asthma was hereditary. Since I'd been jogging, I figured that was the best I was gonna do.

But, yeah, all I really wanted was to be thinner...

Laura