What prompted YOU to lose weight? Need inspiration!

[BettyButterknife]

I am 5'6" and weigh over 13 stone. This is 3 stone heavier than I was before I got pregnant with DS1, 4.5 years ago.

My clothes don't fit me, I look dreadful - my reflection has reduced me to tears on several occasions recently - and I feel so heavy and achey and fat.

In November I started using Food Focus for a fortnight or so and lost 5lb. But then I got ill, kids were ill, then it was Christmas and it all went to pot. And now I can't muster up the willpower to start again.

So what was it that kick-started you into action? Is it something very personal or can you transmit your motivation to me via mumsnet?? The only times before when I managed to lose a lot of weight were when I went to University and became in charge of my food for the first time (but I did take it a bit far then), and when I saw a herbalist about a physical problem and he put me on an exclusion diet (no wheat/dairy/sugar/meat/alcohol etc) but I don't feel I want to go to such extremes this time.

Can anyone offer their wisdom or tips? Thank you :)

I'm same size and weight as you
I was motivated before Xmas and got down to 12.2 but then after Xmas it felt like all the pressure was off until the summer ifswim or until another family event shudder

What prompted me to start dieting on Nov. 2nd was a fairisle dress I wanted to buy. I got stuck in the biggest size (18).
I bought it in a size 14 in the January sale!

But I had been thinking about having a better relationship with food since DD was born. I want to be a good role model for her!

Seeing photos of myself always works.

I have pinned them up on the fridge before.

no one else can makeyou do it. i weighed myself on teh 3rd of january adn joined weightwatchers online that day. i am not 1/2 stone lighter.

i like weightwatchers because it is easy to track points. food focus is the same tbh but more of a fiddle.

sorry i am NOW 1/2 stone lighter

You are the same height as me, OP, and I have put weight on since having my third child. About 2 months ago I finally snapped and had had enough of being fat. Obese actually. I bought From Pig to Twig and reading that completely sorted my emotional eating and my major issues I had. I have lost 15lbs. I have been mainlining chocolate this weekend but refuse to feel guilty. I have given it to dh though as I have now slipped into I hate me mode and will eat it all otherwise.

Tomorrow I am starting exercising again in the hope it will kick start some weight loss as I stayed the same in this weeks weigh in.

One of the mum's at DS1's school asked me if I was pregnant on Monday. have lost 4lbs since then!

This is a really hard time of year, so don't be too tough on yourself.

I started low-carbing last March after we'd booked a summer beach holiday - it gave me something concrete to aim for, to not feel like a beached whale. It worked, and even on holiday when I gave myself permission to eat anything I liked, I found myself sticking to salads and grilled meat a bit has gone back on my hips and bum now, but it's still the festive season until at least the end of February in my books. This time of year is dreary enough without denting yourself pleasures.

*denying

I just thought about the negative energy I wasted being upset about being fat. It seemed to dominate everything.

It was necessary to do something about it in order not to waste the rest of my life feeling crap about the way I looked.

Now I am thinner I really don't think about it that much, I just get on with living my life. It is much better.

Wow, these are great! Thank you. Perhaps I need to engineer getting myself stuck in a dress to give myself a kick up the bum??

I took my DD to be weighed (5 mths old), I stuggles getting her out the car in the car seat and then into the room, they told me she had reached a stone! Was very proud but then realised I was 6 of her overweight. I had struggled picking her up and thought she was so heavy and I was carrying 6 of her around with me. It kind of put a perspective on it for me and then I started weight watchers and have lost 10lb so far.

None of my lovely clothes fit and I can't afford new ones, so here I am, low-carbing.

prospect of visiting a nudist beach on holiday with friends in Spain

at GeorgeEliot! That would definitely make me do something. Have you been yet or is it coming up? Perhaps I should book myself on a nudist holiday...

sparkle that is SUCH a great visualisation. DS is 20lbs, and I am carrying two of him around daily compared to my pre-preggers weight. When I reach for the giant buttons next time I'll try to imagine hoiking one of him onto each hip, and maybe it will sort out the craving! He feels like a giant to pick up! No wonder I have backache... lol

My moment came last weekend, was reading the hungry caterpillar to DD2 (aged 3)got to the bit where "he's not a hungry caterpillar any more - he's a big fat caterpillar) and she said "like mummy"

Have been on a mission since and intend to stay on it. Have signed up for the Race for life in June too, something to aim for, and will run in my lovely grandparents memory.

mil losing a stone on slimming world imspired me, cant be fatter then mil can i ?
iv lost about 8lb in 3 weeks doing slimming world .

It was a few years ago Betty - it really worked. Atkins diet. Then turned out DH and his mate had been winding me up all along and there was never any intention to visit the nudist beach. But I put the weight back on again after the holiday, and vowed never to go on another diet again. Because they never work long term.

being told you've got type 2 diabetes is a pretty good starting point. Lost 3 stone in 12 months cutting all sugars and fats...not that hard when the other option is going blind or having a foot amputated. Told you can have the disease 10 years before diagnosis or symptoms develop, so check your sugar levels sooner rather than later!

Mine was the Christmas photos. There was a pic of me in a doorway and I filled it :( I've lost a stone so far and have another 7 to go. This year I WILL do it

I lost over a stone last year. Still have a few more to go but had completely given up before Xmas. Kept moaning about how I'd lost motivation and I wished I had it back.
My wonderful parents bought me 3 months worth of personal training for Xmas! Has given me the kick up the arse I needed. Have lost another half stone since jan 1st! My personal trainer is great, and I know I have to stick to it this time, or my parents spent their hard earned money on my health!

Because, not or (duh)

Being asked when the next one is due - the first is only six months old!
And having a gorgeous three year old stroke my podgy unbaked bread belly and "that's a lovely tummy". I want my 43 year old to admire it instead!