Motivators for weight loss

Dan T.
on 9/30/08 2:28 am - Logan, UT
I am sure we all have our own motivations.  Many of mine have to do with my family

See a pic here: http://www.obesityhelp.com/photos/albumId,60033/uzone,photos /action,gallery/

For years I tried to lose weight for them.  Well now I am doing it for ME so i can be with THEM. 
I want to play with my kids and not get tired after a few minutes.
I want to take them camping and hiking like my father did with me.
I want to play catch with them
I want to ride bikes with them
I want to be a good example of health and fitness for my kids.
I want to be able to be closer to my wife when i hold her.
I want to enjoy my life with them and have it last longer.
I want to go the movies and sit next to my wife
I want to go to church and sit in the middle of the bench with my kids
I want to go with my oldest son when he goes on Scout outings
I want to feel good at least some of the time.

I had a few eye openers that it was time to get dedicated to the cause of changing for the better.  The most recent was a near fatal accident.  Not sure why I lived and in fact why my injuries weren't worse.  I was on a quad going about 20-25 miles an hour in the very rural mountains of Northern Arizona.  When I went over a hill for the first time and flew head first into a rock.  My scalp split in 2 and I have a 10 inch scar on my head.  My dear wife was the first to my aid and put my scalp back together and put pressure to stop the bleeding.  We were on a family campout and 2 of my brother in laws drove me 30 minutes to the small town of Strawberry where an ambulance was waiting.  Another 30 min drive to Payson where they flew me in a fixed wing (i was too big for a helicopter) to Sky Harbor Airport and was put in another ambulance.  All told it was 6 hours before they stitched my head (they had to wait for MRI results - MRI's suck when you are big like me too).  My head was spared any brain damage and no fractures to the skull.  Trauma doc was incredulous.  I had fractures to my C3 and C4 vertebrae.  I wore a neck collar for 3 months.  During this recovery time I filled out my 25 page application and submitted it to Scottsdale Bariatric.

For a view of my war wound go here (it is graphic): http://livingthecrazywonderful.blogspot.com/2008/06/graphic- images.html

This is a follow up to Doc, they had to reopen part of my head to remove infection.  This is my wife's blog so please don't leave any comments but feel free to look around.

What are some things that motivate you all?
Clapton
on 9/30/08 3:31 am - Ankeny, IA
Glad you were able to live to tell the story - great motivation.
Clapton   
PB6
on 9/30/08 7:36 am - West Valley, UT
PB6
on 9/30/08 7:47 am, edited 9/30/08 7:49 am - West Valley, UT
First, what a beautiful family.  Treasure them always.
And what a wake up call.  Someone is watching over you.
You will soon be able to enjoy all of the things that your heart desires.
I also had a terrible wake up call.
Three years ago I was just recovering from radiation therapy for cancer.  I was as big as a house and life was miserable.
We have had season tickets to  U of U football for over 20 years, and the walk from our parcking spot to the stadium nearly killed me.  I would have to stop every 100 feet (not yards) to catch my breath.
Last Saturday we went to the game and I nearly skipped up the hill.  I think that they must have moved the stadium about five miles, and flatened out the hill.  Or, maybe it is the fact that I am not packing 130 usless pounds with me any more.
I haven't felt this good since I was 23.
And remember, if you want to stay  young, lead the scouts, if you want to die young, try to stay up with them.  I did scouting for 14 years, but I don't have the time to go with them like I used to now.
Stay the course and enjoy the ride, there is a reason that you were spared.
Paul


 The Incredble Shrinking Man!
Boner
on 9/30/08 10:53 pm - South of Boulder, CO
"Stay the course and enjoy the ride, there is a reason that you were spared."

Yes indeedy, Paul. Very profound my good man.

Boner
jdm511
on 9/30/08 8:23 am - Ballston spa, NY
Congratulations on making this decision, your life will change dramatically for the better!  I personally believe that in order to be successful, you have to be very self centered.  Like your motivations mine were very family oriented also.  I feel that by focusing on making our life better, it will have a positive effect on the lives of our family.

I had many of the same reasons for having surgery that you have listed.  If you want to add

I want to be healthy and active enough to play with my grandchildren.

I want to be healthy enough to see my children graduate from college.

I want to be healthy enough to enjoy my boys wedding.


good luck,

make sure to ask about any questions you have.  Too much of  the WLS information is from a female perspective and I feel things are a little different for the men.

Jim
bullyanky
on 9/30/08 10:00 am - Woodstock, IL
Welcome to the pool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations on your decision.... I guess we've all had our life changing moment. But, Im sorry you had to go through that to get here..................
DreTheDog
on 9/30/08 10:10 am - Keller, TX
I want to be healthy and not huf and puf to get anywhere.
I want to enjoy doing active fun things with my friends.
I want to have children (or to breed in general )
I want to have fun and long life with the children that may spawn from breeding.
I want to buy better clothing.
I want more self-confidence.

I'm sure I can think of more, but those are the basics.
BamaBob54
on 9/30/08 10:20 am - Meridianville, AL
Great looking family Dan! what better motivation to be healthier and live longer than that?  Glad they got your head patched up and the damage wasn't any worse too!
BamaBob54    756997.jpg picture by BamaVulcan04   ROLL TIDE!!!
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/BamaVulcan04/2661045004_3d63fb2244.jpg[/IMG]
[
Boner
on 9/30/08 10:51 pm - South of Boulder, CO
Great thread, Dan. Thanks. My primary motivator for WLS was to become a real father, not just a provider. It worked!!

Boner
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