What made you decide to lose the weight? - Page 2

billeejean · 10-07-2003, 10:06 PM

I guess the turning point for me was just a couple of weeks ago when my DH said he really wants us to have a baby. We have talked about it in the past but always just left it up to nature. (nature and a few rounds of clomid) Well after 4 years nothing has happened. I know from the experiences of my mom and aunts (who also have PCOS) that the only way the got preg was after losing weight. My aunt did 13 years of meds but after losing 60lbs on weight watchers finally conceived. So it seems to me that should be my fist step.
I never really considered myself overweight, but recent photos has proven that I need to get this under control now. I want my body to look and feel good and to function like a normal women. I just bought the IR diet book online so I can't wait for it to arrive.

Keep up the great work everybody!!!

WE CAN DO IT!!!!!
I'm so encouraged by the post of the awesome women on this board

hillbillycyster · 10-07-2003, 10:10 PM

Thank you so much for your responses.

I thought I had my reason for losing weight, but I guess something changed and that reason isn't so important now.

I'm having a hard time finding something about myself that is worth losing the weight for. Sure, I want to be healthy and I want to be there for my kids and dh. But I need to do this for me, and honestly, I can't think of anything about me worth doing it for. I have a whole list of reasons why I *should* do it; I just can't think of any reason why I *want* to.

Maybe I just need to do it to prove to myself that I can.

I guess I need to do a little more soul-searching. I want to kick this thing in the butt, but my leg just doesn't want to go that high.

You all have given me some things to think about and I'm so glad I'm not alone.

Thanks again!!

ProudPCOMom · 10-08-2003, 01:33 AM

I have to say that I have a selfish reason for wanting to lose weight - although it's been a dream for a long time.

The night before my daughter was born, my OB and the Perinatologist both told me that after her delivery (at < 24 weeks the next morning) she didn't stand a chance and I should never get pregnant again - due to HELLP syndrome. I was devistated! But knew that I had no choice but to allow my daughter to die so that my son would have a mommy.

The day I was dismissed, my OB and I discussed briefly that if I lost weight she would consider allowing me to get pregnant one more time. At my 4 week post-natal appointment we discussed it further (she had kinda forgotten the conversation). She agreed that if I lost 50 lbs and maintained for 2 months, we could try again.

So, long story short (too late) - my daughter has motivated this change so that her big brother will not be an only child forever. So far, I've lost 25 lbs and want to lose 30 more before going back to the OB.

I also don't want my blood pressure to stay elevated and don't want to be diabetic (both run on my Mom's side) - plus I need to be able to keep up with my 3 year-old son and husband (who is also losing weight with me - although typical male, he loses much faster).

Longing · 10-08-2003, 05:57 PM

1. Seeing myself in a New Year's Day photograph.

2. Diabetes also runs in my immediate family.

3. Want to look good in my wedding dress next month!

4. I want to beat this PCOS thing!!

What keeps me motivated: the great results I've gotten so far, feeling and looking better. and being able to shop in misses and petites...NO more plus sizes!

Congrats to you all on your great progress also. Keep up the great work!!

hillbillycyster · 10-08-2003, 06:18 PM

My little sister (she's 12) is showing signs of PCOS. I would hate for her to have to go through what I have. So we've decided to take care of our health together. I *HAVE* to be an example for her.

I want to show myself also that I can do this!! I'm ready to see myself without the fat, without the sad eyes, without the shame that I feel whenever I can't walk up the stairs!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR POSTS--YOU'VE TRULY BEEN A BIG HELP AND I APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU!!

For all of you that have reached your goal weight--CONGRATULATIONS!!

For the rest of us that have a ways to go--LET'S DO THIS!! We can and we are sooo worth it!!

Hugs to all,
Nettie

Maddy · 10-08-2003, 07:29 PM

Christy! you keep coming out with these beautiful sentences; I have to tell you I love that one too....

"You haven't changed......your response to yourself has!"

that is so profound. I think that is going to become one of my new mantras. Every time I feel a little self conscious I will remember it........... and yes, I need to work on my response to myself

Susan.......... I feel vain and humbled after reading your post. You have been through a lot! And you have used that to give you the determination to get healthy.

Ladies, I have to say, I read through this thread again last night, and it made me tear up, so I had to come back today before I could respond. And it still does!

I really want to make this a sticky for a while. There are some really good comments from Christy and KY who have reached their weight loss goals and some really motivating comments from others who are still pursuing theirs.

I also think stickying it will serve as a reminder to those who have posted; when they have a down day and wonder if they can keep on keeping on.

I know I have a lot of stickies, but I have "unstuck" a post to make room for this one!

lotodaisies77 · 10-08-2003, 08:20 PM

1) Tired of feeling depressed and discouraged about my weight and using it as an excuse not to do things or participate in certain activities.

2) Fear of getting diabetes or heart disease.

3) Help with ttc

4) Wanting to have more energy and feel healthy

What keeps me going? I feel so much better now that I don't want to go back to feeling the way I did before.

StarMaiden · 10-08-2003, 08:37 PM

Well, I DID get diabetes. So, I either lose weight, or I die, sooner than I should have and maybe horribly.

I didn't realize until a year or so ago that PCOS was insulin resistance related. Since I wasn't really concerned with having kids anymore, I quit keeping up with developments in the PCOS world about ten years ago. And I've never tried (not even one time, honestly) to diet before at all. So I wasn't paying any attention to that angle on research and insulin resistance. My Dad developed diabetes a while back, and in my research for his sake, I learned of the connection to PCOS. In August when I was diagnosed, I had even casually asked my doc if he knew anything about treating PCOS with met. I didn't mean it as a serious conversation, but it became one when I got my test results back.

snoopy24 · 10-08-2003, 08:48 PM

I’m only a week into my diet/fitness journey and I’m still not sure I’ll stick with it, but some of the things on the list below have been eating away at me (no pun intended!

) for a long time.

1. The first time I weighed myself and saw that I was over 250 lbs. (252 to be exact. This was just last week).

2. Realizing I’ve gained 40 pounds in just 3 years since I graduated from college.

3. A variety of things related to my mother:
- After 25 years, finally finding out how much my mother weighed. She has been obese my whole life but would never admit an actual number. I was with her at the dr.’s office a few weeks ago and she finally told me she is 325. Realizing I was only 75 pounds away from her made me really stop and think about how BIG I really am. I’ve always thought “Oh, I’m heavy, but it’s nothing compared to Mom.” WRONG!
- She has been diagnosed with high blood pressure for 7 years and Type II diabetes for 2 years. I know what’s coming if I continue down the path I’m on.
- She is recuperating from a cellulitis infection in her leg. This is a severely painful and dangerous infection and people with diabetes are at a much higher risk for it. I’ve watched her go through this whole thing since the beginning and I don’t want to ever go through this myself. NEVER EVER!

4. The disgust and frustration I feel every time I try on clothes, whether at home or when I’m out shopping. How many times I’ve wanted to sit down in the dressing room and just bawl because nothing fits. Never being able to wear something form-fitting because of the bulges and fat rolls.

5. All the PCOS/IR symptoms that just keep getting worse the heavier I get. Especially the acanthosis nigricans. And growing hair in places where women shouldn't have hair. Irregular periods that last for six weeks.

6. Being sweaty and out of breath from the simplest of tasks – climbing a long flight of stairs or walking to the mailbox and back.

I know there’s more but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head.

Edited to add:
7. Feeling like a contortionist just trying to do simple things like paint my toenails or shave my legs.

christyz · 10-08-2003, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Christy! you keep coming out with these beautiful sentences; I have to tell you I love that one too...."You haven't changed......your response to yourself has!"

that is so profound. I think that is going to become one of my new mantras. Every time I feel a little self conscious I will remember it........... and yes, I need to work on my response to myself

Believe me Maddy...from a girl that has been thin and then obese and back to thin again (to stay! )..I haven't changed. I made some bad decisions and blamed being fat, but in hindsight I wasn't different. My perception of myself was different and it coloured the way I saw life, but fundamentally who we are desn't change when we change our external carrying case.

KY and I were still mouthy and warped as we are now, just less compact! LOL

Tracyarts · 10-13-2003, 10:57 AM

In regards to weight gain or weight loss not being able to fundamentally change who you are...

True, but with a big caveat.

After a certain point, obesity can get so out of control that it starts to affect your health and mobility and physical activity in such a way that while you may still be the same person, you are physically unable to live authentically as "you".

That's what happened to me. I have always been active. Dance classes since age 4, active athletic leisure time pursuits, walking around and exploring my surroundings a lot, etc...

Once my weight passed a certain point, it caused mobility and physical ability problems which made it impossible to live in a way that expressed my inner self outwardly. It exacerbated a back injury to the point where I needed a wheelchair or electric scooter cart when outside of the home and I was so sick and weak and exhausted from trying to breathe, hauling my bulk around the apartment, etc... that I was no longer leaving my home for up to a week or more at a time.

Now, that I have lost enough weight that I can be on foot for a half hour at a stretch before having to rest my back, and I am able to fit behind the wheel of my vehicle again, I find myself very shy around crowds and overwhelmed in public places.

In a sense, I have lost that part of myself which valued and enjoyed getting out and being independent and exploring and experiencing life in a very active and direct way. After more than two years of mobility compromization and leaving home only with assistance, I am having a very hard time adjusting to independence and I have not just went back to the way I was before my weight limited me so.

I am beginning to find myself again, but it's not coming easily and it's not coming as quickly as I had hoped. I'm taking baby steps back to me. Venturing out on my own on the weekends for a few hours at a time. Testing the waters so to speak. I am just now comfortable with driving again.

So, while I really hope my "authentic me" is still somewhere, hidden and waiting to be re-discovered, I have completely changed because of the limits and complications incurred through obesity. Whether that change turns out to be temporary, I don't yet know.

Tracy

southie · 10-13-2003, 12:34 PM

My reasons for loosing weight

(1) As just about everyone else has said, getting a wake-up call that IR could well become diabetes and be life threatening.

(2) Snoopy, I can identify with your comparison to your mom. I have also always said "well yes I'm fat, but not as fat as her", but recently I had to be honest with myself and admit that the difference is not all that big anymore.

(3) The real me inside me was objecting that I can no longer manage the things I like to do, like going on 3 day hiking trails or dancing all night.

(4) Wanting to fall pregnant.

I was diagnosed with PCOS/IR 6 only weeks ago and immediately started with an IR diet and 1500mg glucophage. I have so far lost 15 lbs and have another 110 to go. This seems like a lot but already it is going better then most of my other attempts to lose.

Here's holding thumbs for all of us.

lincolnshire--girl · 10-13-2003, 01:18 PM

hi

the reason I wanted to lose weight

1 wanting a baby

2 heart problems and dibiatics runs in family

3 my bladder was hurting so much knew I had got to do something about my weight and finnally stick to it

in just 8 weeks Iv'e lost 1 stone (14 lbs) im going to slimming world with my friend. also I think I ''O''
last week thought it was A/F coming but had all the signs of oing from what ive read on here. so hopefully lose anther stone and i might get A/F next month on my own would be a great acheivement and not having to take provera.

I am getting fitter because the wallk I used to do with my dogs took me 45 mins but now doing the same walk only takes me 30 mins i was shocked it took me less time so now we go futher for our walks.

take care and good luck to you all trying to lose the weight.

p.s since not having hardly any sugar I dont need to pluck my chin quite so often no thats a relif

Ann xx

jbriner2 · 10-13-2003, 01:50 PM

I am trying to lose weight also. my reasons are because my husband and I would like to have a baby. Also, I want to be healthy before i get pregnant. Also, diabetes run in my family and I would like to avoid that as much as possible.

What got me motivated to lose weight was that I went to a state fair and had trouble walking the whole thing. We had to park far away from the park and by the time we went through part of the fair I was out of breath and my face was very very red. I knew right there that i had to do something. That I didnt want to live this kind of life. So 7 weeks ago I started weight watchers. When I first started I had to lose 130 lbs. I have already lost 21 lbs. I am starting to feel better, I can do more things, and my clothes are starting to get loser.
I still have a long way to go but I feel great.

Jennifer

~Tonia~ · 10-13-2003, 04:06 PM

My reasons for losing weight are

(1) When I'm pregnant, I want to enjoy every moment of it. I don't want to be on bed rest & have to deal with high blood pressure & other such problems. I want to look pregnant & not just fat.

(2) I want to live to see Allyson, my 4 year old niece, grow up. I want to shop for clothes with her where we can both try on the same things. I want to be an inspiration for her so she won't know the burden of being overweight.

(3) I want to do be the best me I can be & am finally doing this for myself, not some glorified thoughts of stardom reasons.

(4) I want to be active all my life & not be on a walker when I'm 60 because of carrying extra weight, etc.