Your 'Moment'

[Em_]

Hi there, I'm new to FitBit. I'm a graduate student who has struggled with my weight for quite some time. In recent years, I've gained almost 60lb during my last 4 years of school. I'm excited to join the FitBit community and am looking for some help..

What was your 'moment' that made you want to make health changes?

What 'moment' (idea, quote, person) encouraged you through a time when you struggled to find motivation?

I'm 5'6, and currently around 220lb. This is the heaviest I've weighed, and aside from the number I just feel out of shape. I've joined the gym, have begun attending classes (cycling 3-4 times a week, yoga 1x), and have been trying to be more mindful of what I'm eating - have the space to do so on this is great!

BUT! I still find myself struggling mentally with being present, or feeling accomplished after pushing myself after a workout. I get stuck in thinking of how active and strong I used to be - how much flexibility I've lost over just a few years.

Right now, I'm looking to figure out a way to get through this block and be as mentally productive as I've been with other parts of these health changes. I know that sometimes the biggest hurdle can be your own mental focus, so I'm reaching out to the community for advice from your own experiences.

Any advice is much appreciated! 🙂

[SunsetRunner]

I have moved your post here so it will get more attention.  🙂

[Em_]

Thank you so much!!

[RonnieP]

Your issue is common to a lot of people.  At least you're trying and headed in the right direction.  Keep that in mind when you find yourself struggling.  I have no great words of advice; maybe someone else will.  I'll just leave you with this...don't live in the past, look forward to the future.  Easier said than done, I know.  Good luck.

[MissSharon]

Hi-

Staying motivated is hard - I know this from experience. You mentioned you joined a gym-that is really great. Do you like music or dance?  If so check out a Zumba class. The hour goes by quickly and you can really burn up some calories. Remember--we all had to start somewhere so try it. It doesn't feel like exercise and we have all different types in our class at the gym. Go for it!!

[kelfran]

My moment was when I had a strange 'episode' and later found out that my symptoms matched those of a mild heart attack. That was an eye-opener that I needed to start taking better care of myself!  

I was also a graduate student at the time and I guess I knew that I wasn't being very healthy (working 6-7 days a week, 11-14 hour days with no meal breaks; coffee for breakfast, nothing for lunch and crap food for dinner at 9 or 10pm; no exercise save for running back and forth between different labs in my building - I'm sure you know how it is). I started to realize that I was doing terrible harm to my body, especially my organs and that I needed to change my act - pronto! Interestingly, I also had gained a bit of girth and weight, despite only eating one meal per day. When I was younger, I never had an issue with weight, so this was new for me.

So I started tracking all my food on a website called MyFitnessPal and saw that my calories were woefully short (600-900/day) and I was lacking nutrients but my sodium intake was through the roof (darn convenient ramen noodle bowls). Obviously this was an unsustainiable way to live so I made changes. Now when I lose motivation to prepare a healthy meal after a long day or to get some exercise when I'm tired, I think about how many years I spent racing toward an early grave. Now I'd rather race away.

I guess what I'm saying is this: We can't change anything about our past. All we can do is be better today because of the knowledge and lessons we've gained from it. Try not to dwell on how you were before and focus on how you will be when you reach your goal. It also might help to remember that exercise helps keep your brain healthy...so by taking time to workout, you are helping your graduate work too! 

Good luck with both your degree and your fitness goals.

[TBC]

Hi there 

My 'moment' was when a doctor reccomended bariatric surgery.

See my blog, i am writing about my journey.

Here's the first one there are 34 others.

The Baggy Cantona - In the beginning...

[youngWerther]

My 'moment' came when I had two days of flue end january, five days more and I would have got my summer weight ... why stop? Now that I am started I have decided to stop someday before december.

[Txrn123]

Knowing that I was turning 50 this year. Something about that milestone age made me decide to turn over a new leak and get serious about wt loss. In the past I've had thyroid issues that I ignored for years and years and in the past 6 months I've gotten it to normal range so I figured the next step was to get to a healthy weight.

[kaelarenee7]

I've struggled with my weight for years and never really had just one moment that stuck out to me. I've had ups and downs over the last few years of wanting to do better and be healthier. Unfortunately, I had a coupe injuries in the last couple of years that have derailed my progress and I've had to start again after each one.

If I had to pick a "moment" that really motivated me to do better was the middle of last month when I realized that even though I'd had my Fitbit Flex for a month and a half at that point, I wasn't seeing progress because I wasn't doing much as far as making changes. I was logging my food and wearing the Fitbit, but I was doing the same things I had been doing for the last several months after getting derailed by a back injury.

That's when I decided to do something about the data that Fitbit was giving me and really focus more on making sure I was hitting my calorie goals and not going over whenever I felt like it. I started exercising more and I bought a cheap notebook and made some weekly and monthly goals rather than just looking at what my Fitbit was telling me each day and not doing anything about it. After I did that, I've started noticing the scale finally moving and improvements in what I'm able to do physically.

[Tash79au]

Hi Em_

My "moment" came just before Christmas last year. At work I walked up ONE flight of stairs to speak with my manager and I was trying to talk to him but I couldn't breath. That, and when I saw myself in a mirror I reminded myself of the dude in the movie Beetlejuice. Big body, teeny little head.

I decided on 20 December 2014 that my 2015 NY resolution was to go onto a mealplan in Australia called Lite n Easy and to be more active.

I love it and have since lost 12.3kg (27 lbs).

My main aim was to just eat healthy but as it turns out I've become so much more active as well due to the weight loss.

I have since inspired my mum, neice, co-worker, sister and brother-in-law to also join Lite n Easy and become more active in the attempt to (mainly) get healthy. To lose weight is one heck of a bonus though.

[Techoutside]

I too am embarking on my 50th birthday in April which is what motivated me to do more. I have always fought with my weight and have always exercised to some extent, but I am more serious than ever today. Over the last 10 years devoting myself to the job had taken it's toll. Hotels and travelling really hit the body hard if not planned for, so in my mind, there is absolutley NOTHING more important than my fitness. Not the job, not the bills, not the family's birthday party for XXX nephew, aunt, daughter.. NOTHING. 

If they can't wait for me to prepare or plan my food, or my exercise, then I guess they'll have to go on without me. Pretty harsh, and self centered, I know, but I have devoted my life to everyone else to be protected and well fed, now it's my turn. This is about me and what I need. 

[Maithuna]

I have actually had two "moments" now, with ups and downs thanks to life and its foibles. the first one was inspired about 5 years ago by a book series that is now my number 1 favourites... The sword of truth by Terry Goodkind (yes, I know, I am a nerd.)

At that point in time when I first read those words, I was 490 lbs, 21 and hadn't finished high school. I finished reading that series, finished school and started losing weight.

I proceeded to lose 240 lbs in the next 2.5 years, and then I plateaued hard and was stuck at 250 for a while. In the process of trying to get myself off that plateau, I tore up muscles in my right foot and ended up first on light work/heavy rest, and then on complete disability for almost 2 years. Because of that situation, I gained back a significant portion of what I had lost, and rebounded back to 425 lbs. Starting last summer, my wonderful and amazing husband (who's been with me for the entire disability and regaining of weight, and all the depression that included) has pushed me to start working for what I want again. He has been nothing but an enabler, and thanks to him, since last summer I started university and gained my driver's license. I also started with very light excercise, and getting out for short walks to start rebuilding the lost muscle and rehabilitating my foot muscles. Because I was still eating horribly however, I didn't lose any weight with that excercise. I started dieting on December 26/2014. since then, I have lost 30 lbs and intend to keep on going until I reach my goal... I have given myself until I finish my Bachelor's degree (approx June 2019) to drop 275 lbs and get to my goal of 150. and This round, It's all because of my wonderful husband... a constant source of motivation, and a little bit of needling whenever I start complaining 🙂

[EmilyH]

Cancer took my best friend 3 and a half months ago.  I have a healthy body under this extra weight and I deserve to bring it out.  She did not have the priviledge of health.  I do.

I joined a gym, and got motivated.  I have lost 20 pounds and have about 40 more to go.

[Em_]

I wanted to thank everyone for sharing their stories with me (and each other). It's so wonderful to be surrounded by a community that not only is making changes in their own lives, but also providing enouragement & support to others.

I've been journaling, and while stress happens I've been trying to focus on the things I am grateful for. The changes in my food have really transfored how I feel overall. I notice that I eat to nourish my body - taking the time for myself in order to make healthy choices - and am in turn more motivated to head over to the gym for my workouts.

I still have my cravings - For me, Ice Cream is it's own food group - but I've found some less guilty alternatives (Skinny Cow, etc) so I don't feel deprived.

I've lost almost 10lb so far and have begun to actually feel strong(er) for the first time in almost 5 years.

Thank you all so much!

[smhermione]

I had two moments. The first when I first got my fitbit was looking at a coworker who always was going to start losing weight but would get sick or have a cheat day everyday, etc. I could see myself becoming like her in a few years and decided that now was the time to act. I lost about 45lbs at that time then gained 15lbs back after a break up with my boyfriend/best friend. My second moment was when I realized that I shouldn't let him dictate my worth and that the time for being depressed was over. Then I lost 35lbs more, a grand total of 65 lbs. For the first time in my life I like the way I look in the mirror. It's changing how I think about myself as I'm not the fat girl anymore. It has been a huge journey for me, but I'm glad I took the first step.

[Haleigh]

What amazing accomplishments for you!!!  Keep on moving!

[MissSharon]

My moment was when I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes.  Going to the gym is a great start.  I got bored with machines and started taking a Zumba class---that really helped a lot. Try one if it is available at your gym.  As far as the food goes there is a wonderful diet out recommended to me by my doctor called the 17 day diet--easy to follow, normal food and it works!!

[awood08]

I started out June 16, 2015 at 235 pounds. I was a pack a day smoker, could barely walk up a flight of stairs at work without feeling out of breath. Miserable, hated myself, and had my kids (2 & 6) bring everything to me as I sat my butt in the chair every night. My son (6 year old) made a joke, not being malicious but just being a goofy and honest 6 year old boy.

"Wow mom, are you too fat to get up and get it yourself?"

I laughed it off and bawled my eyes out later when I was in the room alone, I quit smoking cold turkey. Dropped my calorie diet from probably 3000+ calories a day to 1200 and started walking a mile after work every day. Here it is, just over 100 days later and I am now 200 pounds! That's 35 pounds gone. I have dropped 4 clothing sizes and I am training for a 5k (I run at least 2 miles each day at the gym or in my neighborhood).

My advice is you have to want it for yourself, YOU have to WANT to do this. It cannot come from anyone else, I never had anyone question my weight, not even when I was buying bigger and bigger and bigger clothing and eating more and more helpings at dinner and family functions. Everyone in my family kept silent, except my 6 year old and that's exactly the motivation I needed. I have found also that Fitbit and MyFitnessPal helped me tremendously with support and motivation. Since there are so many other people out there struggling like me. I joined a challenge in this community and now we all do routine challenges every upcoming holiday. It's wonderful!

[divedragon]

Hope this won't be too long, but context is important.

I was never a super athletic person.  I played basketball and ran track in high school, but wasn't really good at either.  In College, I gained the freshman 15 and picked up many bad habits like smoking and drinking.  Then came ROTC to get through college financially and quite the smoking (cause those bas**rds made me run) as I started getting in shape again.  During the 7 years in the Army I went further physically than I thought possible for myself.  I was able to run close to 6 minute miles, do hundreds of pushups and run all day.  I kept the running up after the army and my weigh never fluctuated more than about 10 lbs until I went back to school to learn computers.  Prior to that I was in food manufacturing and did a lot of walking throughout the plants.  Now, suddently, I'm sitting at a computer screen all day long.  Add to that, I'm in a consulting role and I start to travel - say eating out 5 days a week.

So I gained weight and exercise slowed to a stop (difficult to do on the road and as a consultant).  I started yoyo dieting, but even then I maintained it within 20 lbs for a while.  Then I worked for a huge company who's expectation was deliver, deliver, deliver and we own your soul so work, work, work.  I was miserable and met up with some fellow workers with whom we coped by heavy drinking every night (work til 7pm, then drink til 2 am and back in the office at 8 am.).  My normal weight was 175, my highest 20 lb variance shot me to 195, but then this pattern shot me to 220.  It was during this time I lost my dad (he lived a long good life to 86) and although it wasn't unexpected at his age, it hit me harder than I imagined it would.  I also got a few projects that had me working from home (and I live alone).  I had also lost my dog 3 months prior to my dad and then my mom 18 months after dad.  By this time I was at 240, depressed and super sedentary moving only when I absolutely had to. 

I left the company that made me miserable and joined a great, smaller company.  I loved the work and the people and things began to look up.  My depression gradually cleared and I saw just how "sorry" I'd let myself become.  Last Christmas, one of my sisters gave me a fitbit flex (I'd actually never even heard of this before).  I started the next day trying to get my 10k steps in and watching my diet.  I had already begun to eat better foods, but didn't restrict the calories so I was still very heavy.  Gradually the weight began to come off.

I set a goal of 180 by end of May (my birthday) and did well until about April, getting down to 208.  My exercise gradually tapered off and I got fewer and fewer steps.  Up to this point I had also stayed in hotels with kitchets and did a lot of my own cooking on the road, but at the new project, those were not available, so more resturant eating.  Gradually my weight crept back to 221. 

About 8 weeks ago, I jumped back on the wagon and started watching my intake and increasing my exercise.  I did even better with steps during the day and over the first 4 weeks I lost 5.5 lbs and then stalled, losing only .5 lbs in the next 3 weeks.  At the end of week 7 I started practicing intermittent fasting (see several other posts I've made about this protocol).  Since then, I've lost 3 lbs a week for 3 weeks and as of yesterday, I am down to 205.5. 

My goal is till 180.  I've lost a solid 35 lbs since the beginning of the year (13 of it twice) and I feel really good.  I've gotten motivated and done work around the house that has been languishing for years.  Cleaned the garage and basement and had a truck load of junk hauled away.  Organized my life and seem to have boundless energy once again.  I am looking forward to projects leading to hobbies and maybe even in another year to strapping on some running shoes and feeling like I can run all day again (most probably not at a 6 min pace). 

So for me, it wasn't as much of a 'moment' as it was a journey.  Overcoming one obsticle after another that let up to a placed where I became active and took charge and then the journey of loosing weight and getting fit (which I'm still in).  I suffered through a setback and re-energized myself to get up and keep going.  When I look back over the Jan-Apr period where I believed I was doing good, I see it wasn't as good as I thought.  In the last two months I've done even better with very few days not hitting my goals and most of the days far exceding them.  This is how we have to think of this process - not as something we have to do today, but only a journey we have to start today and recognize each step along the way takes us closer to our goal and our goal is a milestone and not an end and the road extends far beyond that point.!