[ki2006]

Well for me its a new jounery and my decided factor was during the summer i was feeling very sick with joint pains but i kept working because im so used to taking care of people but that day i could not walk at all and i fell on the floor how embarressing i have a daughter and two sons who had to figure out how to get me off the floor i thought i was going to die it turned out i had a herniated disc in my lower back whic kills me every time i walk and like some of the others have said i want to have fun again so right now im just going back to work and planing for my surgery in the coming year of 2012 and since then have lost 35lbs and feeling great right now my children now are very supportive since i fell i guess they dont want to pick mama off the floor anymore

[Iteacheagles]

I was blessed with fact the I did not have any health problems other than PCOS and arthritis in my knees, now I am only 27 years old and I have arthritis. Plus, I am a school teacher in a high school and I see kids that are overweight all the time. I hope to be an inspiration to them as well as a motivation for them to lose weight.

But the biggest deciding factor(s) for me is 2 fold. My father passed away in January due to cancer and i wanted to decrease my risks as much as possible. The second reason is I have 4 nephews and 3 nieces that I want to be around for a long time for.

[reese]

DIABETES....Ugh, I had gestational diabetes with both kids and it came back full force when I hit 30. I moved to PA last year and decided I was going to get fit...I started going to the gym, eating all sorts of uber healthy, focused everything on getting healthy and fit. At first it was great, but then the oddest thing started happeneing, I wasn't losing an ounce of weight, not only that, but my weight would flucuate dramatically 10lbs or so a week no matter what I ate. I couldn't believe this, I was running a mile every other day and hitting the gym on the other days. My diabetes was not under control at all and the experimental drugs were making me sick. The deciding factor was the day I realized I take more pills (diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol) than any one person my age should be..and the doc wanted to add another! I couldn't afford it anymore..literally. I was done.

[Butterfly312]

My deciding factor (although I haven't had it yet), my joints always hurt, I can't walk much without pain in my knees and ankles, I'm tired of saying "I can't", and I'm starting nursing school. As a nurse, I need to be in shape, a fat nurse is no good to anyone.

[dsptchr571]

We were vacationing on a lake and I jumped off the pontoon to swim. I couldn't get back in the boat. I had to swim 1/4 mile to a dock to get back in. Made me realize if my kids had an emergency in the water we would be screwed cause my hubby doesn't swim.

[Kozar]

August 23,2010: The day a fine judge signed the adoption papers for my handicapped daughter. It was then I wanted to be alive as long as possible for her and her Mom.

[AnnMarie]

You would think it would have been because I take 13 different medications just trying to manage diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, or having a torn meniscus repaired, back epidural injections every 4-5 months because of the tremendous amounts of back pain and then there is reading about my older sister run marathons all the while knowing I couldn’t run down the street.

It was the love I have for my husband and son. I want to be around to see my son grow, mature and get married, see and play with any grandchildren that are in my future. My husband however has an illness that could develop and become "something" major. It's fine for now and I pray that God will keep him healthy and strong. However most important I want to be healthy to take care of him and that's why I am taking this journey to good health.