100 REASONS TO LOSE WEIGHT

1. To be better in tune with the person God has intended me to be.
2. To be able to wear “normal” necklaces without having to use an extender.
3. To not feel like (or be) the largest person in a group of people.
4. To be able to sit up straight and cross my legs comfortably.
5. To walk into a “normal” clothing store and be able to shop there.
6. To have more energy in my day-to-day life
7. To be able to wear pants that rest comfortably on the hip – no more turtle neck pants!
8. To be able to bend over and touch my toes
9. To do physical activities with my family and not have to stop because of discomfort
10. To be able to comfortably pass by another person in stairwells/narrow pathways.
11. To wear clothes that are form fitting, flattering, tank tops, short sleeves.
12. To avoid health complications that come from being overweight (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc.)
13. To go into public and not be paranoid that everyone is staring at me because I’m fat.
14. To not have to wear wide-width shoes anymore, to be able to wear high heel shoes, high heel boots, and knee high boots.
15. To have extra space in “normal” seats (buses, planes, movie theatres, etc.)
16. To be able to go straight through a turn style and not have to turn and shuffle through sideways.
17. To be happy with candid pictures of myself – not feel like a giant blob.
18. To feel comfortable being in pictures so that I can take pictures of myself with my kids and husband.
19. To be able to sit and not feel as if the waistband on my pants are digging into my fat.
20. To fit into booths in restaurants and actually have extra space
21. To be able to sit down and stand up gracefully
22. To not have to worry about weight limits
23. To be part of the most in “one size fits most”
24. To be comfortable in the summertime, and not feel the need to wear a sweatshirt and knit pants wherever I go.
25. Thighs that don’t rub one another
26. To be healthy enough to play with my future grandchildren.
27. To not feel personally attacked whenever someone makes a fat joke.
28. To no longer need the extra large blood pressure cuff at the doctor.
29. For the doctor/nurse to no longer be surprised that I do not have high blood pressure. They always assume that since I am fat, I must have high blood pressure too, I do not.
30. To eat in public without feeling embarrassed
31. To eat in front of Mark’s family and our friends without feeling embarrassed.
32. To not be ashamed of my reflection in mirrors/windows.
33. To worry about what I’m going to wear because I look good in clothes and have so many to choose from, not because I look horrible in everything.
34. To be able to be comfortable and relax in a bathtub.
35. To keep up with people who walk faster than me.
36. No more double chin
37. To wear shorts.
38. To no longer be considered “plus-sized” or “full-figured”
39. To feel generally stronger and more energized.
40. To climb stairs without running out of breath
41. To go out dancing and not feel self-conscious
42. To wash dishes without the front of my shirt getting wet because I have to press up against the edge of the sink.
43. To not need assistance getting up from sitting on the floor.
44. To not need two gowns at the doctors in order to be covered up.
45. So that I am not ashamed of what’s in my cart at the grocery store. Even when buying healthy foods, I feel as if everyone is scrutinizing me for what I am purchasing.
46. To not be embarrassed of the number on the scale at the doctor’s office.
47. To spend time in nature without my size impeding me
48. To be able to shave my legs easily
49. To wrap a regular towel around myself and have it cover me completely
50. To reduce the size of my chest.
51. To be able to have my husband pick me up and be able to sit on his lap without smooshing him.
52. To no longer be associated with the negative stigma that comes with being overweight – you know, obese people are always lazy, slobs, pigs, unsuccessful, unlovable, and generally second-class citizens (I don’t think this at all, but unfortunately much of society does).
53. To go to the gym and be seen as athletic, not as the fat girl trying to loose weight.
54. For all of those people who, through my life, have told me that it is inevitable that I am going to be fat for the rest of my life, because it’s in my “genes”
55. To be the best possible example for my children as to what it means to live a healthy life.
56. To be healthy enough to go indoor rock climbing
57. To be able to sit in the back seat of a vehicle with two other people without feeling like I am going to die. To be able to sit in the passenger seat of a car without feeling like I am blocking the driver’s view.
58. To actually have definable features (cheeks, chin, neck, waist, and not just feel like a blob
59. So that I don’t feel the need to hide behind people in group pictures
60. To feel beautiful while out with my drop-dead gorgeous friends!
61. To not feel the6 need to use the handicapped stall in public restrooms.
62. To one day be asked to be a bridesmaid, and look good in the dress.
63. So that I actually weigh less than my husband, the man in the relationship.
64. To no longer have difficulty putting on my socks or painting my toe nails.
65. To be able to ride a bike without being afraid I am going to pop the tires.
66. To be able to go boating and not feel like I will sink the boat
67. To buy underwear that doesn’t resemble something a grandmother would wear
68. To no longer have people joke about how it must be nice having extra insulation in cold weather.
69. To have a healthy relationship with food.
70. To not think about food/worry about food 24 hours a day
71. One pound of excess weight puts 4 extra pounds of pressure on your knees. I want to give my knees a break!
72. Thinner fingers, so my hands look feminine with my wedding ring on.
73. I want to climb Long’s Peak in Colorado
74. So that when people hug me, they can actually wrap their arms around me.
75. To be able to sit on the floor Indian style
76. To do yoga or Pilates
77. I want the way I look on the outside to mirror the joy of the Lord that I feel on the inside.
78. To sit in a lawn chair or wooden bench without being afraid of breaking it
79. To not have to constantly adjust my clothing because my body is fighting against it
80. To be able to shimmy past people in rows of seats (church, movies, sporting events, etc.) without them having to stand up and squeeze out of my way
81. When my husband or other people compliment me, I want to believe him instead of mentally second-guessing his motives.
82. To find out what my body looks like under the many layers of fat, and to actually have muscle tone
83. I don’t want to be the girl with the “great personality” anymore
84. So that in the future I can buy a beautiful dress from somewhere other than Omar’s Tent and Awning.
85. To be able to wear a formal gown, get dressed up and enjoy a formal evening with my husband.
86. To have my children not be embarrassed to introduce their fat mom to their friends
87. To be able to wear a belt without it digging into my stomach every time I sit.
88. I want to feel comfortable showing my knees and calves in public
89. to wear jeans again
90. to be an “after”
91. to be able to ride the rides at amusement parks with my kids
92. to go to the pools or beach and feel comfortable in a bathing suit
93. to be healthy enough to chase after and play with my children and grandchildren
94. To not feel as if I am constantly judged for my size.
95. To no longer ridicule and judge myself for my size.
96. To finally love me, every part of me.
97. To jump up and down during Praise and Worship without being afraid of what it looks like or who will see me. To lift both hands in Praise and Worship and not worry about my shirt coming up to show my big butt.
98. To get out there and play sports for fun when in a group of people
99. To prove to myself and anyone who doubts me that I am capable of anything I put my mind to.
100. To feel happy about who I am mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. (I know this won’t come solely from losing weight, but through the journey itself, I will get there).