Readers Respond: What Motivated You to Change Your Diet?

Have you lost weight for the sake of your health or your appearance? Have you changed your diet for ethical reasons? If so, tell us what your "a ha!" moment was - what made you decide you were going to change your diet for good. Share Your Story

Food is Powerful

When I became a lunch lady two things happened: I lost a little weight due to the physical activity, and I noticed how unhealthy the school cafeteria food is. I discovered good activism, began making as much of my own food (bread, pasta, even tortillas) as possible. Banned fast food and school lunches for my own family. I went from 180 to 141. My husband went from 330 to 300. It's slow progress but we're getting there. The most important thing I had to learn was to prioritize my health and recognizing that I can take care of my family better if I am healthier. And more importantly my kids learn how to cook and eat right. It's the responsible thing to do. We have a huge respect for food, now. It's powerful. Food can nourish and energize, or harm. It's so much more than a momentary sensation in your mouth.

—Guest Liz

My decision

I have always had to watch my weight. I was in the military and was in the best shape of my life. When I decided to go back to school I was on the 10 lbs/semester plan. I was talking health and fitness to my patients, but was not "walking the walk" so to speak. My health was deteriorating and I was falling further into the abyss of obesity. The decision to begin walking was a long time coming. My friend and I began slowly, walking for 30 minutes. Now we are training for a half marathon in March and I am so excited. Now, the "power" has been turned on and I am now on the road to being a smaller version of me. The biggest battlefield occurs in the space between your ears. You can do anything you put your mind to! I hope my story helps someone make the decision to get healthy and begin moving. Sincerely, Dr. L. Stock, DC

—Guest Dr. S

why I decided to lose weight

I'm 58 and about 100 Lbs overweight. I injured my knee(s) and it took a long time recovering. It is stil in the process. X-rays show mild osteoarthritis. I do not want to spend the rest of my life feeling so physically disabled. Healing my knees with rest contributed to weaker muscles. I got myfitnesspal a free app and started counting calories so that I ate less to lose aprox 2 # a week. So far I have lost 10#s and now I am working on balance in the food. My blood pressure dropped to an acceptable low range as well. I am focusing on keeping the calories counted and the app helps tremendously. It also gives me a 'You will weigh 150 #s in 5 weeks if you continue at this rate' when I complete the count for the day, which is very encouraging....

—Guest linda

Why I Changed My Diet

I went to the doctor in January of this year and my cholesterol was 330. My triglycerides were equally high. I did have a thyroid problem which could have contributed to the high numbers, but I was overweight at 173. I decided to bring down levels by diet and exercise. I have lost 23 pounds now and only eat fruit, vegetables, fish and turkey. I have given up red meats, fats, and mostly sweets. I feel much better and run or walk daily and do weights. I have more energy and my vision has improved by making these lifestyle changes which I hope to always keep.

—Guest Sheila

never getting girls

As a teenage boy you are all about getting girls, it's all that's on your mind. By my sophomore year in high school I weighed a whopping 241 pounds at 5 foot 4, I was pretty damn huge. I always knew that being fat was the reason i never got girls but i figured I could work around it. I got sick for a week once and I lost 5 pounds; I guess that inspired me to keep losing weight. I started playing badminton at school, stopped drinking soda, stopped eating fast food so often (I used to eat Jack in the Box on a daily basis) and lost about 30 pounds by the end of the year. Now in the beginning of my junior year I've lost about 60 pounds. I am running cross country now and feel great, and i can actually get girls. It's pretty tight.

—Guest Julian

staying off medication

My doctor was threatening to put me on blood pressure medication. I resisted as I did not want to take it and asked about alternatives. She advised me to lose 25lbs. and we would re evaluate in 6 months. In six months I lost 35 pounds and my blood pressure returned to a normal range 118/72 at last checkup. My cholesterol also dropped 30 points. I have now lost 50.6 pounds and I feel great, look better and avoided medications. I am really fortunate as I am a 56 year old male and take only a baby aspirin and a OTC antihistamine and no other medications. I now exercise regularly. I have committed to making these lifestyle changes permanent.

—Guest Al

High cholesterol at a young age.

I'm a twenty year old college student who often ate "on the go." Although I was aware my eating habits weren't the best, I always said, "When I'm older I'll be sure to eat right!" Recently, I found out I have high cholesterol. After this, I changed my poor mentality of "when I'm older" and changed my diet. No more fatty foods, fast foods, or sugary foods. Now my diet consists of fruits, vegetables, humus, fish, and at times, turkey. I've never felt better!

—Guest College Student

Wholeness

I was diagnosed as diabetic 1986. Ignorance lead me through 24 yrs of health problems. Prescriptions do not cure problems, they cause other health problems. I felt bad most days.Then I found a vitamin & herb store that changed my near death living into gaining control of my system for health. I have always had a food addiction & weight problem. Excess of up to 50 lbs overweight at times. Poor health led to constant yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and mold in our home & air has caused me other infection problems. No Doctor ever told me that mold could be my problem & not diabetes. My hair was falling out,so thin,would not grow any length or fullness. My nails were brittle, breaking & peeling & my skin was dull, flappy, old looking; not toned or firm. My eyes were getting weaker, hearing getting less. I had mood swings,some depression, little drive to exercise,walk,stretching,or other physical activities.

—rightlife10

THE Picture

My husband and I had our pictures taken just before Thanksgiving. When we went in to pick out the ones we wanted, I could not believe it. I was so fat. I was out of control, 62 years old, couldn't climb stairs or see my feet. I weighted 242.5 lbs.I cried and cried. January 4th, I started to count calories, watch what I ate and when the weather broke, started to walk. Six months later and 55 lbs lighter, I not only feel and look better but I can now see my feet! My goal is to lose another 40 lbs.

—Guest KathyinIndiana

loose wieght

To lose weight for my own satisfaction need to loose 3kg.

—Guest oliva

what helped me change my diet

I had stopped smoking(finally), I had emphysema. One of the best things I learned to do was to pre-prepare packages of finger foods from fresh fruit and vegetables. I can now watch TV or do other items all evening and still get my five colors, or more per day. I have always exercised and didn't have a weight problem. But I can sure tell the difference in adding the above, along with nuts and grains, how much better I feel. Sure helped with the horrible, long, smoking crave.

—Guest Sue Randol

wake up call

I've always been health conscious both from a diet and excerise standpoint. At 5'11" and around 180 pounds I thought I was among the very healthy for my age until a quadruple bypass derailed me about 7 years ago. Am quite convinced that stress was the trigger as I worked in an extremely stressful corporate job. Upon arriving home after my bypass I vowed I would change my eating habits immediately and became a vegetarian and have been symptom free and very active physically ever since. I know this isn't weight/obesity related but fear that many of my obese/excercise challenged friends and relatives are likely headed for a wake up call sooner than they might think. I celebrated my 70th birthday Dec 8th with all the gusto I could have hoped for.......

—Guest Sid M

Motivation from Others:)

From watching Youtube(you learn a lot on there) and finding people's blogs who were motivated to lose weight. They motivated and inspired me to follow their lead. I am currently on a raw-food diet and loving it !

—Guest Sonia

Metabolic syndrome and holiday pictures

I read and heard in news reports about metabolic syndrome, the four factors that lead to heart disease. 1. high blood pressure, 2. high triglycerides, 3. fat in the abdominal area, and 4.high fasting blood sugar. At the young age of 44 years old, in December of 2008, I had 3 out of 4 factors already. High blood pressure started in my late 30s. At first I tried to control my blood pressure without medication, but after a year of unsuccessful attempts at lowering it, I started taking medication when I was 38. I had my third year of high triglycerides in my physical in April 2008. Abdominal fat was also on the rise in my body. My home scale measured it at 35% and my waistline was 37 inches, over half my height in inches. I reached the tipping point when my husband and I had holiday photographs taken in December 2008. I didn't recognize myself in those photos. My husband and I started a change in our food and exercise program and I lost 21 pounds in 11 mos.

—azeilman

October 4, 2006 at 11.00am

That was the date and time when I stood on the scales in the medical officer's office at work. The scales were saying, ouch, 409lbs and he was telling me I had to lose weight if I wished to have a permanent job rather than be a temp. I had been on lots of diets before with only limited success. So this time I made sure I enjoyed what I ate, that it was healthy and that I exercised. After all I knew that I would be doing this for the rest of my life. I went down to 214lb by Nov 2008. I have gained 15lb in the last year which could be getting the balance or maintenance right. Anyway I am determined to lose them again.

—Choppin55