Unfortunately, my bottom is not as hard as a rock, but I think it would be interesting to see posts from other folks about what was the straw that broke the camel's back and provided the determination to lose weight either with low carbing or on diets used in the past. Here's one of my rock bottoms.

When I was about 19 my mother and father had recently divorced and my mother wanted to get back into circulation. She wanted me to go out with her one night. I had told her I would, but when it came time to get ready, I couldn't fit into any of my going out clothes. For that matter, I couldn't fit into any of hers, either. My mother was all ready to go and looked absolutely beautiful and I felt like I looked like a big blob of ugly fat so I refused to go. I didn't tell my mother the real reason I decided not to go out with her. She thought I was ashamed to be seen with her but it was me I was ashamed to be seen with. I started a diet at that moment and lost about 35 pounds, that time.

asugar

My 'fed up' moment was last winter. I no longer fit into most of my clothes, except the elasticy ones; but I had a hard time getting motivated to change things because the weather was cold and I was bundled in baggy clothes, anyway. I think it really hit me when I saw a pic of an old friend online - I had moved to a new city a few months before. She used to be a tad on the heavy side; I was quite thin. Well, she had lost a heckuvalotta weight. We had switched places. It was depressing. The rest, as they say, is history.

For me there wasn't one particular moment but a combination of things. I was so tired of wearing the same old clothes over and over again (elastic pants and big, long shirts). My self esteem was shot, I didn't want to go out socially with friends especially.
I was tired all the time and didn't do any excercise.
I need to remember how miserable I felt being fat and how good it feels to have control over my food and not letting food have control over me.

I've been there so many times though.. I can't remember them all..

lol anyways, my *Most recent* one is when I stepped on the scale and seen the highest number I have ever seen in my life (other then holding my dog with clothes on and weighing like 180 lol)....

Looking in the mirror and my stomach was bloated and sticking out.... I prolley look pregnant..

My jeans didn't fit... and my BAGGY adidas pants weren't as baggy and loose...

*got back on track little by little within the next couple of days, and now I'm totally back into it*

Within 3 months my mother died, then dog died of cancer, then ex-husband attempted suicide.

I was indeed fat, but that was the least of my challenges.

Throwing in the towel was not an option. My life seemed so messy that low-carbing was one of the things that kept me sane. I discovered my core strength.

And low-carbing still keeps me sane!

Karen

For me it was my health. I knew what I needed to do for over a year, but I kept dragging my feet. It finally got so bad, I had to start low-carbing. And when I did, it was all or nothing, I cleaned out my kitchen in two weekends and haven't looked back. I was never so motivated before, and I still am, which is the remarkable thing.

As to hard and soft backsides: Have you noticed that as you have lost weight, your tush is not so cushy? I swear chairs are getting more and more hard and uncomfortable to sit in and my car is just about torture after about an hour of driving anymore. I used to be able to drive for hours without discomfort.

;-Deb

I was walking to my train during rush hour, thinking I was looking pretty darn good with this fabulous new purse that I had finally splurged on. Two people walked by and I overheard one of them say "see - that's the purse I was telling you about - the one that the big girl over there is carrying". In college I had been a rower and captain of the varisty fencing team. I've always been a large-framed and strong person but it was once I got to graduate school to start work on my PhD that my lifestyle became a matter of sitting 14 hours a day and stuffing myself with quick foods like Cheetos, candy bars, etc. I bought Atkins' book on the way home that day and the rest is history