What exactly inspired you?

[geetey]

Or was that *turning* moment for you??

Yesterday's Oprah show is still running through my head and each of the people spoke of a defining moment when they realized they had to do something.

For me, I was surfing the Budget boards, searching for AP rates or codes for WDW in July, when I saw a WISH clippie. And then another. Then there was one with a link included. I followed the link to the WISH board and was amazed at the people here! WOW! What an unbelieveable group of people! It made me start thinking about pulling out that WW info I had stashed in the junk drawer.

After surfing, I went to the couch, sat down to watch some TV, pulled off my socks because I was feeling warm, and noticed..... for the first time..... my socks had left a 'mark' on my ankles. These aren't tight socks either. Just simple white cotton anklet cuff socks. But my ankles above the sock line were puffed out. :( How sad that I had never noticed that I had reached a weight where even socks would be cutting into myself.

What an eye-opener for me!! :earseek: So I got myself OFF the couch, came back in and read more WISH threads, pulled that WW info out, started a journal right then, dug out the WATP tapes I have had since before Christmas and got started!!

I feel so motivated and enpowered! I am doing this for ME! I will make it too!! WE will ALL do it!!!!! Thanks to WISH for giving me the power. THANKS to whomever had that link in their siggy. I don't even know who it was or I would thank them in a PM as well. Thanks to my PM Buddies too!!!!!

Onward and downward we will all goooooooo!!!!
:Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce:

[DiznEeyore]

I can't exactly say that it inspired me, even though I joined WW Online right afterward, but it was going on a wonderful Disney cruise with my dh and ds and seeing the photos they'd taken up in Shutters. I yanked them down as quickly as possible, went into a far corner and just about cried. We chose the ones I could tolerate, and I bought one more that I hated so I'd have something to motivate me.

Apparently it wasn't motivation enough, though, because I only stayed with the program 'til right before Christmas. Then at the end of March, I was like you, Terry -- seeing all those WISH banners. And I happened to click on an invitation to visit the forum ... signed onto the challenge April 1, and here I am, motivated *and* losing! And now I even belong to to a fitness club -- who'd ever have believed it?? :teeth:

[tlgoblue]

Princess Vija!

I was on the CB and she had posted something there, and I thought it would be a great Idea to have a WISH type board, but had never even noticed that it was already there!:rolleyes:
(I have my favorite board set to pop up as soon as I log on, so it just went right to the DCL board, and I simply didn't pay much attention to anything else. I have since changed to the WISH, which is why I didn't even know we had our very own board until I started reading through the threads) Anyway, Princess Vija, you're the one!:) You got me started, and the rest of you keep me hangin' on! Thanks!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

[wovenwonder]

GLO

I've tried everything! And while trying all those 'diets' I managed to gain up to my current weight. I was at my wits end and was reading a post that mentioned Glo's succcess with Atkins. I thought -- there is NO WAY I can do 'Atkins' (that was an unhealthy word in my book). Like what I was doing was healthy:rolleyes: . So I thought that I would just cut out starchy veggies, rice, potatoes, noodles, sugar and see how I would feel. I would eat healthy meats, salad, and veggies and just see how I feel.

Imagine my surprise when I realized that what I was doing was about as close to 'Atkins' as I could get!:eek:

I am so glad that I was reading that success story of Glo's!
:D

[babar]

well, it would be silly to call this an inspiration, but I'll tell you guys anyway.

It's as simple as this little cute skirt I see in store window everyday on my way on and off the EL(what i take to work). I want it sooo bad, and I can picture myself in it, but just not the way I look now! So I decided to do something about it, and it's great because I see it everyday so it keeps me going, and I'm going to buy it this weekend and hang it on my closet door.

That way I'll have to lose my 10-15 pounds or I'll have wasted my money!!

Great luck everyone!!!!

this is exciting!!:p

andrea

[tlgoblue]

Originally quoted by babar
I'm going to buy it this weekend and hang it on my closet door.

That way I'll have to lose my 10-15 pounds or I'll have wasted my money!!

What a great Idea! I have a dress that I would really love to wear again! I'm going to dig it out, try it on, :eek: and then put it up front and center on the bathroom door to remind me every day, how good I could look! Maybe I'll really torture myself and take a picture of me in it today and tape it to the fridge! OMG! ROFLMBO!!! What a vivid picture I'm conjuring!
Thanks for the inspiration and a giggle!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

[Spirit Feather]

We got our pictures back from our last WDW trip. There is a pic of my 6 y/o son getting an autograph from a character and in the picture is a fat lady with her back to the camera. I thought, “Geez, John (DH) could have tried to keep that fat lady out of the picture.” Upon further inspection of the photo, I realized that they fat lady was ME! I had a huge laugh over that one---and then I thought at 33 years old, I do not want to be a fat lady!.

OMG! I am probably in someone else's WDW photos and they are turning to their spouse right now and saying, "Gee, couldn't you have gotten that fat lady out of the shot?"

When we go back in 2005 (so long from now-BooHoo!) I want someone to turn to their hubby and say, "Gee, you could have waited until that hot lookin' mama was out of the shot!" when they go through those pictures.

Regina

[tlgoblue]

Spirit Feather,
You're funny!:)

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

[PRINCESS VIJA]

tlgoblue,
WOW, My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw my name!!!:earseek: I had no idea. Amazing how we can touch peoples lives. I wonder what it was that I posted on the CB? I am glad that it helped find your way over to WISH!!!! I love this place!! It is filled with loving people who will do just about anything to help each other out. Congrats on the 5# clippie, I know you are moving onward and downward too!!!!

[tlgoblue]

I don't recall what it was, but it obviously had some health reated issue. I felt really stupid after I found out what WISH was. The great people here have since made me feel welcome and inspired. Yup! Onward and Downward!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I had 2 motivating factors...one motivator was ALEX!!!!

It all came about when I was thinking about putting up a WW challenge thread. It was an "inspired by thread" because of the challenge Alex had given the Atkins group, and I wanted to join into the "fun". I was "primed" for commiting to myself, because of a long road of soul searching and years of trying to get going. I had posted a confessional and the amount of people and wishes that came my way to help me COMPLETELY overwhelmed me!!!! I finally felt "worthy" of it. BUt, by posting the thread for the challenge, I felt like I was leading instead of following. I wanted to be an example of a "good little WW soldier" ;) And I knew I had it in me to do it.

The other factor that really prepared me to be ready to change was the change in itinerary for our upcoming trip. We are to fly now, and we will go on our familie's FIRST family cruise!!!!! I am so excited. I knew that I needed to change and get focused, because I was afraid of how uncomfortable the airplane ride would be, and I wanted to "shine" on the ship, not just look about me, wishing I could be thinner.

April 23rd was my first official day, but April 22nd will always be my "banner day" because it is the day I posted the challenge thread, AND the day I booked our cruise, flight and WDW resort ressies!!!!

So thanks to Alex, thanks to DCL, (thanks to the Travel channel for having on the DCL show!;) ) and thanks to everyone on the WISH, you guys are amazing to me!

[Luvinit]

Katholyn!!! and Alex

I was reading the Wish Boards for a few weeks..(lurking). I really thought that it seem like a great bunch of people...but it was really hard for me to post.

I didn't realize that the Wish'ers had highjacked the Monday night Chat room...I love signing in at 9 pm just to say hi. I popped in and popped out. (lost my nerve). Then I came back and you guys were talking to Alex about his challenge...and I knew he was right. And I knew I could do it!!!

Katholyn was in there and for some reason...I felt like she put her arms around me and held on to me, told me I could do it and told me to join the WISH'ers. And I did. It was really a collective effort that night for me but Katholyn really was the one who made me feel the most secure! Between Kelsie pushing me the Lurker out of hiding and wovenwonder keeping me believing in Atkins how could I not feel motivated!!!

OH YEAH...thanks Jodi for that AWESOME Rootbeer thingy!!! LOL

Tracy

[FOJMO]

I have two very big reasons --

ONE - my health! I am diabetic and have a high cholesterol/triglycerides problem. I need to get the numbers down so I don't end up in the hospital for 4 months again with pancreatitis!

TWO - I'm very involved in acting and singing in community theatre and, although I can't do anything about my age, I can do something about my weight. I may be eliminated because I'm too old for some parts, but I refuse to be eliminated because I'm overweight. I can't let that happen. Plus, I need the stamina for all of those rehearsals and dancing!!!

I went to Jenny Craig last night to sign up and was told because of my diabetes, I have to wait about 5-7 days until my doctor is contacted before I start their program. Can't wait!

[ohMom]

in order or pretty close to it:

WISH (yea you all - I have talked the talk for 5 yrs now)


Booking our family trip to the world in Dec
Tight jeans :)
Not feeling good about how I looked anymore

I have tried several times in the past five years to get back to pre-pregnancy weight of my 6 yr old DD! I have yo-yoed the same 8 lbs for 5 years! WISH makes me feel like I really can do it for real this time! Just not feeling alone................

My goal almost seems attainable now :) I'm still working on accepting that I can do it and maintain it; not giving up!

[Debbie]

I actually had joined an email ring for teachers walking their way to health after Christmas. After a month, (of me deleting posts-I didn't have time to read them I says to meself) THEY were all congratulating themselves on their progress. While I was just emptying my trash, getting nowhere and STILL stuck in the rut.http://www.diamondtalk.com/forums/images/smilies/moresmiles/yel.gif I'd had an email from my friend who has lost mega weight on WW, I checked out the WW meetings around me (no go, the times just didn't jive), was researching WW online, ediets etc, when the WISH banner started popping up. I looked in, and I was hooked.
I felt like she put her arms around me and held on to me, told me I could do it and told me to join the WISH'ers.

I wonder how many of us have had that feeling? How many are on your list, Kath? That's how many, I would guess. Thank you to everyone on the Board, you motivate me to stay with it, to move, and to post. We are all winners at losing! http://www.diamondtalk.com/forums/images/smilies/trophy.gif

[Beanie]

<b>Katholyn!!</b>

She inspired me one day by telling me all about WISH and how much she loved the board! I came over to here to check it out and saw how wonderful this board was and haven't left since! :):)

Definitely Kath though, she has a way with words!!! :):):)

[ahutton]

Glo was my inspiration to come to WISH. I saw a picture of her and how incredible she looked. I had been going to an endocrinologist because of PCOS and started taking medication to help get my hormones (including insulin) doing what they were supposed to. I saw this as a place where so many people who have been so kind, made me laugh and share such a special interest to me - who better to offer my support to and to seek support from...

And all of you keep inspiring me - and keep me coming back!

[CrzyforPiglet]

Two things inspired me to start. First was a picture from our December 2003 trip dinner at V&A's. I was posing on the WL dock trying to position myself to be as thin looking as possible and I still looked huge. I couldn't believe it was me - except for the fact no one else was around ;) - but still!!

Second was a woman I work with who is much larger than me. I think I always took comfort that I wasn't the biggest girl in the office. Well she started a diet and lost 8 lbs. and I thought if she can do it then I can do it!! And I did! I started and haven't looked back. Some of me healthy changes are now habits and some I'm still working on!

What keeps me going is this board. I love all of you guys/girls and am so thankful I found all of you. When I needed a pick-me-up you were there for me. When I feel like giving up I come read about your successes and determination to succeed and I feel I can go on. Thank you!

[PAdisMOM]

I feel like I have been dieting forever. My sister and I diet and exercise together. This should be ideal, but one of us is always falling off the wagon (usually her). I couldn't always count on her support.

Then... I was on the disboards...and I came upon WISH. I was so re-inspired immediately!! I really felt that if you all could do it, I could too. It has helped me to stop eating all night long. When I'm really hungry, I think of all of you and know that you are feeling it too.

I feel really silly getting this kind of inspiration from strangers, but it's working and it makes me feel good. So I'm going to keep using these boards.

[TigH]

Well, I had taken the WISH challenge and I was doing my own thing for just a few weeks. The scale went the wrong way and I was so disappointed! I also hadn't been taking measurements, so I had no idea if I was losing inches or not. I kept reading about Tiggerlover's success with WW and all her posts were so positive and exciting to read! :) Then the warm Florida weather crept in early and none of my warm weather clothes fit! :eek: Tiggerlover's (Debbi's) WW success and my desire to FIT into the clothes I already own were two major factors in getting my butt in gear. Also, reading all the other wonderful WISH success stories (WW, Atkins, other programs) got me thinking that I wanted to be a success story too! :)

[house_of_princesses]

finally got me into gear. I was starting to think obsessively about food, trying NOT to eat it. Not to grab the snack, eat all the Freedom Fries on the plate. I was always looking around me, was I the heaviest one in the room? Usually, yes. Then I saw pics of myself while at WDW last October. I looked to Mr. Atkins, but I didn't feel well and knew I'd needed something else. I wanted to change my lifestyle now, and for good. I looked to WW, thanks to a friend of mine from Karate. That was so hard for me!! To admit I needed outside help! In my mind, I should have been able to do this on my own (and with my God). Wasn't happenin'. So, I started going to the meetings. I feel like I'm out of the closet! And then I found all of you, and you keep me going in between WW meetings. I'm just grinnin' ear to ear, from sharing with all of you!:Pinkbounc

[Lynn CC]

I remember! It was on March 20...when I went into the kitchen on the morning of our 21st Anniversary,there sitting on the counter,were two pretty boxes with bows from Talbots. DH bought me two outfits for this Spring and they were size 12 (uggh). I tried them on and they were tight. That is the largest I've ever been. So I was feeling really down about my weight and I was on the Community Board (instead of excercising)and WISH was mentioned, so I thought I'd pop over....(I lurked)
It's been like a bunch of buddies holding my hand, every step I've taken to get me motivated and to help me through the tough times I've had since I started Atkins on April 1.

I'm down to a size 10 (which happened rather quickly) now the 10's are getting loose. My goal is to be a size 8 by the end of May.
Sorry this is so long, but I feel if I type it again, it just makes me stick to my plan and I know someone is truly interested to read this.

Thanks fellow WISHers:D

[Desiree]

Well the first is rather silly. Last Saturday I took Dev to see "Bend It Like Beckham" and "What A Girl Wants". While sitting through BILB, I sat there thinking that I used to be lean and athletic and how much I wanted to get there and be that person again. I saw the girls on the movie working out and just having fun and I really wanted to be doing that too!

Secondly, I discovered WISH just this week and already I firmly feel that this time will be different. I've tried dieting before and have managed to shed some weight, but I always manage to put it back on. I am determined now. And I have the support of you guys to back me up!

I can do this! We <B>ALL</B> can do this!!!!!!!!!! :cool:

[nativetxn]

You are so right, Des, we all <b>can</b> do this! What is amazing to me is the sheer number of people in this support group on different types of eating plans, some with lots of weight to lose (like me) some with just a little bit to lose, and we are all doing this <b>together</b>. The people here on WISH are the magical ingredient that makes WISH such a help to me.

What was my turning point? Well, there were a couple of them. It's sort of a long story (like I am capable of telling a short story :rolleyes: ).

First, I saw photographs of myself at DISCON. Talk about embarrassing. I felt like I might just as well go ahead and change my user name from nativetxn to YES I'M OLD AND FAT SO GET OVER IT. Then my mother became very ill and was diagnosed with stomach cancer and had her stomach removed. My sister flew up to Michigan for this, it was Christmas Eve, I'll never forget it.

At any rate, my sister is about 4 inches taller than I am and about 60 pounds lighter than I am but she wanted to lose weight and wanted me to do it with her. She wanted to do Atkins and I gave her the same response a lot of people give <i>me</i> about that way of eating. I said, "Atkins will kill you." LOL, it's hard to believe that now. She told me that it wouldn't kill me in 3 months so I agreed to trying it for 3 months.

I lost 18 pounds the first three weeks. Now <b>that</b> is a turning point :teeth: Then in January, wovenwonder posted on the cb asking for some of us to come over here to WISH and bug Kelsie about some surprise she was cooking up. So I did, it's just so much fun to bug Kelsie ;)

When Kels finally posted about the WISH Challenge, I sent her a pm and told her that I wanted to create a "fake" name and take the challenge. I was too embarrassed to have my other DIS pals and comoderators to know I was such a mess :( I thought I might have a better chance of people replying to me if they didn't know it was actually me posting. Can you believe it?

Anyway, I knew that Kelsie could check my IP if I posted on WISH and I didn't want her to bust me so I sent her the pm and told her what I wanted to do. She sent me a pm in return that basically said, "Are you nuts? Why would you want to do that?"

So, I used my real name and took the WISH challenge. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself. Everyone here is just <b>nice</b>. Everyone is encouraging and caring.

Y'all are the best bunch of <b>losers</b> I could ever hope to know. One thing I hope to do someday is to actually meet every single one of you. I'm going to start working toward that goal :)

I really enjoy seeing new faces here on WISH. It always means, to me, that I have a new friend. That's why I always want people to delurk, I badly want them to be my friend, too. I'll just keep working on that :teeth:

If I was able to help anyone find the joy that is WISH I feel very, very proud.

Katholyn

[Beanie]

Kath, that is a wonderful post and truly inspiring!! I get misty just reading it!! What a terrific story about you and your sister!!

I am so glad you didn't use any other name!! :):)

[WebmasterKathy]

Originally posted by nativetxn
When Kels finally posted about the WISH Challenge, I sent her a pm and told her that I wanted to create a "fake" name and take the challenge.

You were going to join WISH undercover??? :p

That's priceless, Katholyn! I love the user name you considered...but I like the real one better!!!:teeth:

[nativetxn]

Kathy, I didn't know how nice everyone is here. I'm so glad I didn't use an alias :)