Ever wonder what’s a Healthy Tipping Point?

 

I wasn’t always the healthiest person.  In fact, I spent most of my college years drinking beer and partyin’ way too hard.  I spent most days on the couch and many nights at the bar!  As a result, I was constantly exhausted and emotionally burnt out.  But in 2006, my best friend Lauren sat me down and told me enough was enough – I either needed to shape up or shut up.  I was inspired by her straightforward approach and went out on a short run with her.  I could barely go 1/4 a mile without stopping, but something about the experience appealed to me.    As I transitioned from a college student to a full time worker, I began to take exercise more seriously, and in two months, I trained for my first race.  When I crossed the finish line of my 10K, I felt proud, excited, and confident.  And I never looked back! 

 

With that first 10K, I had found my Healthy Tipping Point.  A Tipping Point refers to a sociological event during which a previously rare phenomenon becomes rapidly and dramatically more common. Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called The Tipping Point, and he describes the Tipping Point as "the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable."

 

To me, the Healthy Tipping Point is when we start to pay attention to our health and happiness and begin to make the positive changes necessary to live a longer, more fulfilling life.  We become proactive participants in our lives and strive to find balance in the way we approach diet and exercise.

 

A few years later, Lauren and I ran the Disney Marathon together, which was very emotionally significant for me.  It was like my Healthy Tipping Point had come full circle.

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My foodie Healthy Tipping Point came slowly as I began to read books and movies about our food industry.  Here’s a list of books and movies that changed the way I eat.

   

Over the years, I’ve profiled other women who had a significant Healthy Tipping Point, too.

 

Amy, a mother who lost 20 pounds and became a triathlete and runner:

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Jenny, who was inspired by Lance Armstrong to get fit and ride a Century race:

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Carrie H, who beat distorted thinking and eating and went on to run a marathon:

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My BFF Lauren, who had her own Healthy Tipping Point as she struggled to balance a busy job with triathlon training:

Beth, who’s friend’s serious illness made her realize that health is about more than being slender:

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Have you had a Healthy Tipping Point?  Was there a significant moment that triggered it, or was it a slow process?  Share your story – I’m collecting stories of HTPs!

 

PS – I’m flying back to the East Coast today! 

{ 138 comments }

 

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday May 25, 2010, 9:29 am

    My tipping point was probably my first year of university. That’s when I decided I had plenty of time to add exercise to my daily routine.
    …eating well only came about recently. It was slow and gradual and there was nothing that really pushed me to start eating better.

  • Amanda May 25, 2010, 9:29 am

    Right when you finished college, did you find a job right away? Do you have any tips for college graduates trying to find a job right out of college? Now that I’m home all day, it’s hard not to keep heading to the fridge! (PS my major was communications)

    • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin May 25, 2010, 9:48 am

      Hi Amanda! Not sure where you live, but you should check out temp agencies in your area if you have them. They are an awesome way to get exposure to different jobs, keep yourself busy while you’re looking, and also to possibly get a permanent job! I didn’t even know what a temp agency was when I graduated, and I applied for a job on Craig’s List and ended up going to one to interview – – and they hired me there! It was an awesome experience working there, and it was really rewarding finding other people jobs. In DC, there are several agencies and they do temp, temp-to-perm, and direct hire. You get paid hourly, and you can work at different places to try out different things. Just an idea!

    • Erin May 25, 2010, 10:00 am

      You could also look into a volunteer opportunity to get out of the house a day or two a week. It’s a great distraction from the monotony of job-hunting and always lets you meet new people.

    • Caitlin May 25, 2010, 1:05 pm

      I agree that volunteering is a great way to stay busy, network, and look good to employers. When I graduated in 2006, the market was completely different and I easily found a job. I would recommend reaching out to your schools career services department. Their resources are great!

  • Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker May 25, 2010, 9:30 am

    Oh I have a good one! Can’t wait to write it up and share with you!!! 🙂

  • Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly May 25, 2010, 9:31 am

    I have always been really healthy but a tipping point for me was when my mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a terminal form of bone marrow cancer) and she BEAT IT against all odds and much to the surprise of her doctor’s at the Mayo clinic. How? By changing her diet 100%. She gave up processed foods, gluten and soy…and today she is healthier than she ever has been! That showed me that the power to live a health life is in OUR hands and even though it can be hard work it is worth the effort!

  • Jenny May 25, 2010, 9:31 am

    My HTP was the fact that in order to make this lifestyle stick, I’d have to make it last a lifetime – I can’t go from being healthy to not and back again- everything in moderation is my key phrase, and I try to do the best I can with what I’ve got!

  • Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) May 25, 2010, 9:32 am

    I’ve been overweight all of my life, so when I was 26 and started thinking about 30 and all the health risks associated with obesity, that’s when my healthy tipping point occurred. I went on to lose 90+ lbs, gained back 30+ of it, but I am maintaining a 65+ lb loss for 2+ years now. I still have a long way to go, but I’m not in any hurry. I’m in this for life. I am more active and have healthier eating habits than ever before. I’m not perfect, but I strive for balance. 🙂

    Jenn

  • Jessica @ How Sweet May 25, 2010, 9:33 am

    I was actually thinking of this over the weekend. I started exercising at a very young age and can remember vividly something that triggered it. I was always a chubby kid, bigger than the rest, and I remember going to the zoo with a friend from class. Her older sister’s took us, and in the gift shop I bought one of those bright colored lollipops. I remember the sisters giving each other a look and one saying ‘of course she would buy FOOD.’

    So weird that I just remembered that the other day. It was probably the first time I became concious of my weight, even though I was so young. Other than that, my dad always exercised and ate great and I just wanted to be like him. That was probably the biggest tipping point for me.

  • Liz May 25, 2010, 9:34 am

    I think my first week on Weight Watchers about 4 years ago was the tipping point. The reason being that I finally learned to incorporate large amounts of fruits and veggies into my diet. That was the first step – and it taught me how treating my body well (eating healthy and eventually, exercising) makes all parts of my life better.

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin May 25, 2010, 9:35 am

    I did have a Healthy Tipping Point where I changed my life around completely. I was 70-80 pounds overweight, sluggish, unconfident, and just plain unhappy. I had always struggled with my weight and just chalked it up to genetics, being “big-boned” or not being as large as I really was. I lost a lot of weight through Atkins, then gained it back, and never really focused on exercise before that.

    Then, in late 2008, I was in at a routine doctor’s appointment and my doctor said to me, “What is going on with your weight?” I was really upset, angry, mortified, etc. but after I left, I realized I had let myself spiral out of control and I needed to stop watching my life from the sidelines and start living it. It took a few months, but then I joined Weight Watchers and started losing weight, but more importantly feeling good about myself. I started working out, focusing on nutrition, and not going out as much. Once I noticed the physical changes, the mental changes just came pouring down and I finally started to feel confident, healthy, and athletic. Since then, I’ve run in 7 races and just signed up for a half marathon. This is seriously a 180 from my life 1.5 years ago, and the 20+ years before that.

  • Lindsay @ The Ketchup Diaries May 25, 2010, 9:40 am

    I guess my HTP started after I graduated college. I, too, partied way too hard and had gained weight as a result. I went on to learn about healthy living, but it became an obsession of sorts. I limited myself way too much so that I could still “splurge” on the weekends. I didn’t understand the concept of balance. Overexercising was also a problem. I didn’t do it for fun, but to scour how many calories I hd burned. I was miserable. This continued for WAY too long until I discovered the world of food blogs. Bloggers like you and Tina completely changed my life. You guys were never counting calories or keeping food journals. You simply ate healthy food with a few indulgences and LIVED. After a few months of freeing myself from my old, unhealthy patterns, I decided to start my own blog. Not only would it help me, but I hoped it would inspire someone to break free of unhealthy thoughts like your blog had helped me!

  • Angela (ohsheglows) May 25, 2010, 9:40 am

    My HTP was standing on the scale in the doctor’s office in 1st year university. I was faced with a weight gain of approx 25 pounds. I tried to blame it on BCP’s, but my doctor quickly dismissed that and said it was more likely due to the university lifestyle- too much junk, alcohol, and not enough movement. That was a HUGE wake up call for me. I am thankful that he was so blunt with me that day.

  • Beth May 25, 2010, 9:40 am

    I thought I had one awhile ago. I’ve been feeling so sick lately, I’m in need of a new one.

  • RunToTheFinish May 25, 2010, 9:41 am

    I think my healthy tipping point was when I learned to enjoy feeding my body and running because it felt good, not because it was about my weight. Life was suddenly more enjoyable and amazingly the weight then started to come off more easily too.

  • Joey May 25, 2010, 9:45 am

    Could this be for another book idea??? 😀

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman May 25, 2010, 9:46 am

    Injuring both of my knees (patella femoral pain syndrome which moved on to chondromalacia) kicked off my healthy tipping point. I’m not sure I’ve crested that mountain yet, though. When my knee injuries got really serious, I knew I needed to get healthier, not only to recover (which I’m still working on) but to prevent future injuries and illnesses.

    I’ve been sidelined for six years but throughout I’ve been trying to get healthy despite not being able to walk much. I am devoted to physical therapy and one day I know I’ll fully have my healthy tipping point and start doing real workouts. I don’t think I’ll ever run with these knees, but I know one day I’ll walk a few miles. And I know that if I keep eating healthy and doing as much exercise as my broken body can, I can prevent future pain. At least that’s what I’m hoping!

  • Hedda May 25, 2010, 9:47 am

    I do believe you can call my experience a Healthy Tipping Point as well.
    For three years my life was controlled by anorexia. I ran around all day, eating close to nothing. Denying my body and mind the nutrition and love they both needed and deserved almost gave me an early death. I did see different therapists over these three years, but it felt like nothing helped. I was not able to mobilize the strength within to change my life, as I was so malnourished and confused.
    Last winter, with the help from my parents, I decided that enough was enough. I can not explain it, but it suddenly was so clear to me : I will not survive if I keep living like this. This is not Hedda, this is a very sick person. I did not want to live a life which hurted not only myself, but the people who loved me. I could no longer let the eating disorder control my life.
    I had to give up the control over my food intake and restrict excericise to a minimum. I had to give up University, in order to fully concentrate on recovery. In the beginning it was all dark and hopeless, I do not believe you can call my actions free. My mother had to force me to eat and sit still. Gradually though, as my mind got better and more food, both mind and body relaxed. Hedda was taking control over her own body and thoughts, the desire to get well increased each day. I want to live. The little monster telling me to restrict might never totally disappear, but I am not going to let it control my life. I have chosed life, and I love life. There is still a long way to go before I can call myself “recovered”, but seeing the progress the last months make me confident that I will make it through future challenges. Today I make my own meals, I take responsibility for myself through keep increasing my food intake and listen to my body. My healthy tipping point was a decision that saved my life, and since making it I have realized what a beautiful person I am, and what a beautiful and precious thing life is.

    • Wei-Wei May 25, 2010, 11:46 am

      I’m with you, Hedda. <3

    • Sarah May 25, 2010, 12:27 pm

      Simply beautiful!!! You have made such a courageous choice and I wish you continued strength on your journey to fully becoming yourself again.

    • Hedda May 25, 2010, 4:25 pm

      Thank you both for your words of support and encouragement.
      I do not know you, but your words still made me feel warm inside, and motivate me this evening to make the right choices.

  • Jennifer May 25, 2010, 9:48 am

    Thank you for sharing your reading list. I am always looking to exand my bookshelf! 🙂 I def. had my healthy tipping point this year, when I finally decided that 25 is WAY too young to be sick all of the time. I stopped drinking, stopped eating fast food, and started working out. While each day is still a struggle, I feel like a whole new person!

  • Corinne (breathe and savor) May 25, 2010, 9:50 am

    Yes Yes Yes. My HS days were filled with strict diet and exercise, college was filled with beer and late night pizza! Weight watchers and my mom’s “intervention” definitely started the healthy momentum. It was not until recently training for a half-marathon that I became an active participant in my own life (as you wrote above) :). The words of Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture” and Don Miguel Ruiz’s “The Four Agreements” together with eating to FUEL my body for the half-marathon tipped me over and poured ME out!! Now, not only am I eating for my body, I also feel and know I am healthy, beautiful, and conscious. This is living 🙂 Thank you for another motivational post. Love your blog Caitlin!!

  • Johanna B May 25, 2010, 9:52 am

    My healthy tipping point was long time coming. I first started to get a feeling of wanting to change when my mother died about 18 months ago. She lived to be 90 and I knew that I wouldn’t make it anywhere near 90 unless I made some major changes in my life. I’ve taken things one small change at a time since then. My life is totally different. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and I exercise nearly every day, When I started walking I could barely make it around the block and this weekend I walked for 90 minutes without stopping. I’ve lost 60 lbs and I have so much energy. The journey isn’t over but I’m certainly enjoying it more these days.

  • Gavi @ GaviGetsGoing! May 25, 2010, 9:54 am

    My HTP was when I came back from my semester abroad in Spain in 2007 and realized that I was unhappy with my behaviors, practices, and weight. I was still in college at that point, but I decided to try Weight Watchers so that I could learn how to eat healthfully and sustainably. I successfully lost more than 50 pounds with the program, but more importantly I learned how to eat well to support my body.

    My second HTP came in August of 2009 when I realized that I had lost sight of healthful eating and become too engrossed with being thin. My weight sunk to an all-time low, and I deprived my body of important nutrients. I am now on the road towards full emotional and physical recovery, but it is a challenging process.

    I love the idea of a HTP, and I think that life is a series of tipping points that motivate us to change our minds and behaviors. Thanks for sharing yours with us and allowing us to reflect on our own! 🙂

  • Sarah (GF vegan) May 25, 2010, 9:55 am

    Hello there!

    I don’t think I had a HTP, that moment of turn around. Mine’s been a gradual journey to gaining greater health and more energy through struggling with disordered eating, body dysmorphia, being diagnosed with coeliac disease and IBS. With each hurdle I just decided to strive for wellness/health (physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological), balance and peace. And, boy does it feel good to be getting there! I love that it’s a journey and through it I have been so blessed, and have discovered my love of food, yoga, and just generally being active.

    Sorry, i’m just reflecting over what i’ve written and sounds a bit wishy-washy doesn’t it. Ah well! There’s only so much space one can take up in the comments sections of blogs 🙂

  • Catie May 25, 2010, 9:55 am

    My healthy tipping point was when I needed all new clothes! I couldn’t fit into anything I owned. I also was almost the same weight as my boyfriend. That was when I realized I really needed to get my act together. Since then I have been reading health magazines and blogs. I have completely changed my lifestyle. I have some more weight I would like to lose, but at the same time I am proud to look back at how far I have come!

  • Bella (Stilettos on the Streetcar) May 25, 2010, 9:56 am

    I’ve been a yo-yo dieter for years. I bought into the no carb, then fat free, then no sugar added marketing campaigns. Basically if it was gimmicky and promised quick results I tried it. My healthy tipping point happened in November. I was hit in the head with a softball and suffered a serious concussion. The accident made me realize how fragile my body is. I now treat my body with respect. Working out and eating well are much easier when the goal is health and not weight loss. I’ve learned about nutrition. I exercise regularly and even started running! I will be healthier after the injury than I was before it.

  • Therese May 25, 2010, 9:57 am

    5 years ago I weighed 250lbs, worked a part time job I hated to struggle for the rent and felt like a failure at EVERYTHING so I didn’t bother trying for anything. I was also terrified to move away from my family. I felt worthless and like I didn’t matter.

    One day, I’m not entirely sure how, I opened my eyes and saw that MANY of my family members were in the same boat I was in but they were older than me. Some of them were so scared of life that they never moved away from their parents. Others were so unfit and unhealthy that they walked with a cane were only in their ’50’s. It scared the living bajeezus out of me because I wasn’t just *heading* on that path, I *was* on that path.

    The next day I put my notice in at work and at my apartment, moved in with a friend and her then fiance in the city. I cut back on the amount of processed foods in my diet (did I mention we have a history of heart disease and genetically high cholesteral – which I have) and started walking. I then decided I would learn to run and run a 5k race. So my walking turned into a slow run which then progressed into more running and I completed my 5k race in October 2008. Since then I’ve run several 5ks, an 8k, two 10ks and next month will be training for my first half marathon in September! I’ve lost 90lbs so far and my life couldn’t be better! I found a strength, determination, worth and love of myself that I never knew I had.

    My HTP was seeing the path I was heading down and realizing that was NOT the path I wanted to be on.

  • Katie @ Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Journey May 25, 2010, 10:00 am

    I’ve always been pretty healthy – or what I thought was healthy. My diet was filled with “low carb” “sugar free” “low fat” processed crap in an attempt for skinniness. In the last year I discovered healthy living blogs and earlier this year I think it finally sunk in that “healthy” is more important than “skinny.” Would I still like to be small? Of course. But the most important thing is fueling my body with clean eats and working it out to feel better. I am so thankful to blogs like yours for encouraging me!!

  • Kilee May 25, 2010, 10:08 am

    I started to relalize that “diets” we not making me a healthy being, but rather creating an unhealthy lifestyle. When I started to eat “real food” and enjoy treats occasionally, I began my road to being my best self. I also want to thank healthy eating blogs for showing me the everything in moderation approach. Thank you Caitlin, for showing us how to live a healthy, beautiful life! Take care, Kilee

  • Sarah @ cocoanutshakes May 25, 2010, 10:10 am

    My HTP happened the summer after I returned from a semester abroad in Italy. I had eaten SO MUCH (obviously) in Italy, and although I didn’t really think about it at the time I had gained a lot of weight. That summer I worked so much that I barely had time to eat. I ended up losing 20 pounds because I would dedicate at least an hour every week to studying the nutrition facts of the things I was buying to make sure that I would be fueled for my insane work schedule. Of course a lot of it was processed stuff, but that was definitely the tipping point. I also developed the habit of walking everywhere (it was the summer when gas was like $4.00)! Ever since then it’s been a slow and steady transition to loving clean food and exercise.

  • Karen @ Not Just Celery May 25, 2010, 10:16 am

    I know health isn’t all about the number on the scale, but I was overweight most of my adolescent life and when I saw the number 251 on the scale for the first time it shocked me into action. For good this time, no more yo-yoing! I started to watch what I eat and a few months later started exercising. I went to Weight Watchers (I love their program because no food is off limits, it’s more about balance and portions). I lost 107 lbs and was so close to my “goal” weight when some stuff happened in my personal life and I gained 15 back. I’ve been maintaining here with a 93 lbs loss for a year now and I am re-assessing my “goal” weight. I am happy where I am. I am in the best shape of my life. (run races from 5k to half marathon, spin class, strength training) My diet is 80% whole, unprocessed foods and the other 20% is treats (dessert, the occasional frozen meal when pressed for time, dinners/drinks out with friends). It takes hard work and dedication but the results are worth it!

  • Claire May 25, 2010, 10:16 am

    I grew up with such a healthy mindset from my family that food is to be enjoyed but that it should be whole, natural ingredients primarily. We never ate sugary cereals or other really processed foods. In high school, I was very thin (because of my genes and cross country) but for some reason when I went to college I lost 15 pounds instead of gaining the freshman 15. I completely forgot about myself that first year. I was sad because I went to a big ten university where I couldn’t run (and was too burned out from high school) and I let my boyfriend’s eating schedule affect mine. I ate 1-2 times a day in the dining hall, usually salads, omelets, english muffins, and came home over the holidays to an appalled family. I can’t believe I was so oblivious at the time but everyone was shocked because I was always so fit and healthy. I had let myself go and it took me transferring and a few years to figure out what makes me feel good. I started running again which helped with my appetite and fueling myself to the best I can. Vegetarianism also made its way in my life in the last few years from the same books, and I can’t imagine ever looking back!

  • Mary May 25, 2010, 10:18 am

    I think that my HTP was my sophomore year of college when I maxed out at my high of 185. it was a huge wake up call for me. from there I decided to get myself into “fighting shape” and began my journey to a healthier lifestyle… of course there were bumps along the way, like overcoming an ED, and yes I relapse from time to time, but it’s a slow process and I’m getting there one day at a time 🙂

  • Samantha May 25, 2010, 10:22 am

    Love your post!! I don’t think I have hit my HTP yet. I still binge on the weekends and don’t always make exercise a priority. I can be sitting around at night, and even though I am not hungry and I know I don’t need the food, I will eat anyways. There are other things in my life that I never thought would happen. I never thought I would grow long hair. I never thought I would stop biting my nails. Both these have happened. I figure its only a matter of time before I don’t want the junk anymore, when I don’t need to mindlessly eat and I look forward to my workouts every day. This dream is becoming a reality because of all the wonderful bloggers I look up to and read about every day. You all inspire me. I know I’ll reach my goals. I just haven’t gotten there yet. Thank you so much for sharing your stories, inspiration, and strength.

    • Caitlin May 25, 2010, 1:12 pm

      No one is perfect! My HTP definitely included realizing the little stuff add up. For example, if you’re struggling to make exercise a priority, do push ups at night while watching TV!

      • Samantha May 25, 2010, 1:16 pm

        I try to stretch during the commercial breaks. I have a hard time not snacking at night. Lol, I really need a hobby to keep my hands busy!!

    • Lauren May 25, 2010, 4:55 pm

      I’m in the same boat as you, Samantha! I’m struggling to hit my HTP. From December 2008 to last September I had lost about 75 pounds, the first 50 of them being healthy and the rest related to anorexia . Since then, I’ve gained that 25 back and now I’m struggling with binge eating/overexercising/guilt. I’m sure that in time I’m going to hit my HTP. I just won’t desire to eat even when I’m not hungry, I won’t feel guilty after I eat, and I won’t consciously or unconsciously count calories.
      Keep pressing on, girl. You’re beautiful.

      • Samantha May 25, 2010, 5:05 pm

        Wow, congrats on your weight loss!! I have never stuck with a program long enough to see more than 20 lbs loss. Frustration is the name of the game with me. I have very little patience, and that’s not good when it comes to the weigh loss game. I am done with feeling guilty as well. Thanks you for your support!!

        • Lauren May 25, 2010, 7:57 pm

          I get frustrated too. I also always do badly with eating one day, and then say “screw it” and just continue to eat badly for the rest of the day. Or I’ll tell myself, “I’ll do better tomorrow,” and that everything will change the next day but it never does. I know that’s because part of me is realllllly lazy, but it’s also part of me that’s eager to overdo it with counting calories/exercising so I just take everything one day at a time. 🙂

  • Camille May 25, 2010, 10:23 am

    My Healthy Tipping Point was when I realized that unless I started taking care of my health I would never be able to do all the things I want to do in life (have kids, get married, etc). Plus, I hated going out with people and always being the person who sat by myself so I didn’t have to eat anything.

  • Carolyn @ lovinlosing May 25, 2010, 10:27 am

    I can’t name one point in my life where I decided to live healthier, but it probably started in 2005 when I started Weight Watchers. While I still struggle (I love soda and junk food) at least I am continuously trying to improve. Actually that’s pretty much my motto in life, which is why I have a Japanese Kanji tatoo that says “student of life.”

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter May 25, 2010, 10:28 am

    I was actually drawn to your blog because of the “tipping point” in your name. I had guessed that it was from reading “The Tipping Point” which I loved!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) May 25, 2010, 10:29 am

    my healthy tipping point is still going on right now…but the main reason being that i’ve realized that this one life? the only one i have? i want it to be a GOOD one, a HEALTHY one, and a LONG one. i’m in the process of changing my thoughts and behaviors, and it’s not easy, but it’s been completely and totally worth it so far!

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) May 25, 2010, 10:38 am

    I’ve had a couple healthy tipping points. I don’t talk about this often on my blog, but in high school, I was anorxeic. I was in church one morning, and almost passed out from being so malnourished. I went to the bathroom, blacked out a little, and sat down in a chair. It was my healthy tipping point and I began eating again.
    My senior year of highschool, I had gone back to eating junk and exercising minimally. It continued throughout college, and I was partying too much, too. My senior year of college, I got some results back from the OBGYN saying that I had moderate-high level precancerous cells and I needed to have them removed. I knew I needed to alter my lifestyle because minimal stress, exercises, and a healthy diet can drasticly decrease the chance of the cells coming back. This was in February of 2007, and I haven’t had to have another procedure yet:)

  • Brittany May 25, 2010, 10:39 am

    My healthy tipping point was my first year of college when I realized that if I gained the freshman 15 I would be more than just chubby but actually overweight. I started working out and eating healthier and the pounds melted off. I lost 20 lbs my freshman year- which put me at a healthy weight for my frame. I have maintained that weight for 6 years now!

    Running, something I loathed in high school, became easy and fun once I lose the weight so I started doing road races. Everything came full circle when I completed my first Half Marathon in 2008 with my cousin- the same girl I used to eat Big Macs with! The funniest part is that McDonald’s was actually the sponsor for the race. 🙂

  • Emmanuelle May 25, 2010, 10:39 am

    Living a healthy lifestyle was not a decision I made in one night, it was (and dare I say still is) a slow process.
    But I think what really started it in the first place was what made me overcome binge eating. Binge eating had started the classical way for me: restricting on food because I thought I was too fat, and then bam! big breakdown. Eating very clean at breakfast and lunch and then the afternoon would be a disaster, ending in tears of guilt and bellyache. And the next day it would start all over again: very clean at breakfast and lunch to make up for the previous afternoon, then again bingeing.
    After almost two years like this, while I was visiting friends in Germany and my mind was completely thinking of something else than food, I realized that having a slice of pizza or a few cookies would not hurt, and that I could just stop eating when I was full. Stop eating when you’re full, I mean could it get even simpler? Well we all know that for a lot of people it’s not, and I had an epiphany then. And I stopped binge eating, without struggling, without even thinking about it. I started eating when I was hungry, and when I wasn’t, well, I didn’t eat.

    It took a few more years to feed my body the proper nutrients, then start working out, and start practicing yoga. Today my weight is not at its lowest point, to be completely honest I don’t really know what my weight is, and I don’t really care, because my body is strong and fit, and I feel GOOD in it 🙂

  • Sarah for Real May 25, 2010, 10:42 am

    My tipping point has been a slow process. And I’d definitely say I am smack in the middle of it! I also got tired of feeling gross in college. My senior year I took a deep breath and signed up for a lap swimming PE class. Turns out, I loved it! I did really well too. Feeling great in that swimming class translated into treating myself better all around. My favorite book is Real Food by Nina Plank. She writes about the health benefits of traditional foods, like grass fed and pastured meats, and unprocessed foods all around. I’d already learned about the environmental and economic benefits as well.

    I especially loved the idea of just eating food. Real Food. And not obsessing about it.

  • Laura@keepingslimandgettingstylish May 25, 2010, 10:46 am

    I think I’ve had a couple of healthy tipping points over the last year and a half, my first was January 2009 when I realised that I was 206 pounds and extremely unhappy. I lost 66 pounds over the year In Jan I started to read health and fitness blogs and I realised that there was more to health than just been thinner, I’ve started my own blog, I’m doing my first half marathon this September and I’ve never eaten such healthy, delicious food!x

  • Shannon May 25, 2010, 10:48 am

    I had always been overweight, and have been on and off diets and gym memberships since I was 8. My HTP was when I started adding running to my workouts. Before that, I was just plodding away on the elliptical or walking on the treadmill, wasting my time on low-intensity workouts. Once I added some run intervals, the weight started slowly coming off, and I felt better. I signed up for a 5k, and fell in love with races. Now I try to see food as fuel and love reading running magazines and blogs for inspiration. I still need to lose another 20 pounds because I still need to deal with my emotional eating issues, but 6 days out of 7 I live a healthy lifestyle and I love it 🙂

  • Jessica May 25, 2010, 10:50 am

    my Healthy Tipping Point I think came to me this past week when I decided to TAKE A BREAK!!!! I have been walking for FIVE years and although I have devoted myself to a healthier lifestyle but lately my body is screaming to take a break….I did the math and found that I have walked 586 miles…I am proud but I think its time to sit back and rest…and find something new in a few months, Walking isnt fun anymore and when it isnt fun it time to stop….

  • Scargosun May 25, 2010, 10:53 am

    My HTP came when I read “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver for my bookclub. I really started to understand the local food movement and why CAFO’s were…ok…evil. The more research I did, the more I ate healthier things. When I say healthier, I mean healthy for me, the environment and the people making the healthy food. The exercise came when I realized my arches hurt from just walking my doggies and my back hurt from excess weight.

    • Maura May 25, 2010, 1:55 pm

      I love that book! It definitely aided my HTP!

  • Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story May 25, 2010, 10:54 am

    My HTP came to me when I realized I was uncomfortable in jeans and walking up 1 flight of stairs left me winded and exhausted. I was 209lbs and that wasn’t even my all time highest weight. I’ve lost 53lbs now and I live a balanced life. I made a healthy lifestyle fit my life. I have learned to enjoy activity and exercise. I’ve opened up a new world of possibility and interests. For the first time in my life I genuinely like myself. My HTP was the best thing to ever happen to me.

  • Joanne May 25, 2010, 10:54 am

    I’ve always paid attention to my weight. Almost in an obsessive way. Like you, college was really fun time with heavy duty drinking, but luckily, my stomach didn’t like it so the “cookie tossing” that followed kind of turned me off it.
    My tipping point came in 2 phases: 1. My husband and I worked with a body builder. That turned me onto eating more protein in my diet and building muscle. I turned vegetarian 8 years ago but was still fearful (so to speak) of protein. Never felt better nor stronger since I added protein to my diet.
    2. Now I’m not trying to make points here, but since reading your blog, which i found when you were training for the Disney Marathon, that changed my whole outlook on running. It motivated me to run longer distances and eat to promote those long runs. I’m still going and have completed 2 half marathons and will do my first MARATHON in October.

  • Heather May 25, 2010, 10:59 am

    aweosme post, I love hearing other people’s success stories! My point was at the 2009 Disney marathon. Some friends and I flew down for a big meet up fun girls weekend, and 2 of our friends were running the Full. So, that morning, another girl and I went to watch at Disney Hollywood studios. Standing there with all the fans, cheering for people they didn’t even know by name, it brought tears to my eyes and was so inspiring. I saw people of all ages and sizes, (and in all costumes!) running together for health. Some were raising money for foundations, illnesses, and some were running for a friend or family member who couldn’t run.
    I was a 3 sport high school athlete and very competitive, and I started thinking..if that 65 year old man can get out there and do it and be healthy, why can’t I? The truth of the matter came down to laziness. I know I can physicially do anything I set my mind too, but it’s the mental part I struggle with. With the help of my awesome husband, we began running and changing the way we eat. Now we have completed two half marathons, several 5k-10k distances, and are planning to run a full at the beginning of 2011. I have so much more energy, and am a much happier person now that I have found what works for me and is best for my body!

    • Jenny May 25, 2010, 4:04 pm

      It’s funny–while I don’t really believe I’ve ever had a SINGLE healthy tipping point, since it’s been such a process for me–I also had a definite shift in my physical activity after supporting friends in a race. In my case it was only a 5K that I just happened to catch while I was visiting friends(actually Caitlin, I think you were there, since it was in Orlando and it was last fall), but I LOVED the energy of the race, and all those people coming together for a good cause. Plus I wanted to join my friends! So after watching everyone run, I myself started running and haven’t stopped since 😉 I hope to run a half marathon sometime soon but, more importantly, I FEEL so much stronger and energetic. Like Heather wrote, I am comfortable with the fact that I’m doing what’s best for my body.

  • Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy May 25, 2010, 11:03 am

    My healthy tipping point came when I started to pay more attention to my health and less attention to my weight. In the past, I would only eat things or work out in order to lose weight, regardless of its impact on my health. Now I focus on my health and know that my weight will figure itself out in the process!

  • Kristin May 25, 2010, 11:13 am

    I’ve played organized sports since age 4 and inherited my dad’s love of exercise and the outdoors, so I was always thin and fit. But after college (I played Division III tennis), I took on my first full-time job and met the man who would become my husband — and the pounds started to creep on as we settled into a life of watching movies, sleeping in late and going out to breakfast and dinner. (My husband, the entire time I’ve known him, has been on the border between being overweight and obese.) There was a scale in the work bathroom and I remember getting on it one day and seeing a number I’d never seen before. I thought to myself, “This ends. Now.”
    So that was the official restart of my healthy lifestyle. I started to get back into a regular workout routine and monitored my eating more closely. I lost about 15 pounds of extra weight and put on some muscle. It hasn’t been perfectly consistent this whole time — I’ve had plenty of setbacks and some injuries — but for the most part, I’ve been good about working out and eating healthfully, although I still never met a french fry I didn’t like.
    Currently I run, walk my dog, practice yoga and lift weights regularly. I try to play tennis and bike when I can, and I am trying to do more fun stuff — I’m taking sand volleyball lessons for the first time, for example. I try to be a healthy influence on my husband’s struggle with weight by inviting him to work out with me and preparing healthy dinners and snacks. Past experience, plus a recent diagnosis of celiac disease, has made me very aware of how I feel when I treat my body right vs. how I feel when I don’t. I much prefer an active, healthy lifestyle.
    (Sorry for the book I wrote — haha.)

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople May 25, 2010, 11:16 am

    I’m not really sure what my set point was. I just know that my husband and I made new year’s resolutions in 2007 right after we got married that we wanted to be healthier.

    A friend mentioned sparkpeople.com and I started tracking my food intake and my fitness there and realized my exercise was zero while my food intake was about three times what it should have been. Maybe that reality is what really clinched it for me?

    But as I’ve lost over 95 pounds I’m glad that I took those initial steps in reading and learning as much as I could about the nutrition of the food I ate. I am trying to eat clean now, mostly because I had hit a weight plateau for about a year and was sick of it. Since changing a few things in my diet I’ve lost a few more pounds.

    I might never be as small as I’d like, but for now I’m proud to be a size 12/14. It certainly beats the size 26/28 I used to be!

  • Gwen May 25, 2010, 11:17 am

    My healthy tipping point came in 2005, when after an incredibly fun weekend with girlfriends, I looked at the pictures and realized that at 323 pounds I was bigger than two of them put together. I was wildly happy, loving life, but when I looked at those pictures, I realized there was so much of life that I wasn’t experiencing because of my weight and that down the road, if I kept gaining, I wouldn’t be around to share these incredible weekends with my girlfriends. Those pictures. That one weekend. I knew I had to make a dramatic change. It started by overhauling my diet and the way I ate and continued to moving more and eventually crossing the finish line at the Marine Corp Marathon.

    I will never be as skinny as my friends. I’m not trying to be, and that’s okay. I am going to be the healthiest Gwen that I can be. And I think I’ve done pretty great so far 🙂

    • Caitlin May 25, 2010, 1:17 pm

      You are epic!

      • Gwen May 25, 2010, 3:14 pm

        Why thank you! I like to think so 🙂 The journey thus far surely has been!

  • Lisa May 25, 2010, 11:21 am

    Great post- I love seeing the profiles you showed on your blog.
    I have had a couple ‘htp’s
    The first was after my first semester of college; I went to a yearly checkup at the dr to find out that I had gained over 15lbs. I was mortified standing on that scale and I took a slow approach to really improving my diet. However, I lost a lot of weight the unhealthy way–starving myself for over a year. I ended up gaining all the weight back.

    I had my second tipping point after attending a formal event; I was unhappy in my body and did not feel happy; I had stopped working out and eating well, and fell into an awful routine… Now I’ve really experienced what it’s like to be at both ends of the spectrum; neither ‘happy places’…I have found a great sense of balance and couldn’t be happier.

  • kayla@ Lets Live Wholesome May 25, 2010, 11:22 am

    Warning, my HTP story is a bit long 🙂

    My HTP came right after high school. Upon graduation, I topped out the scale at 200+ lbs. Two weeks after graduation, I went to the eye doctor for a routine checkup. She told me with a worried look that my optic nerves were terribly swollen. My doc took about a hundred photos of my eyes, then told me to drive straight to the ER. After testing, MRIs, and so on, I was diagnosed with a disease called Pseudo Tumor Cerebrii. Basically, it is a disease which strictly affects obese women, and left untreated it can cause blindness.

    The neurologist put me on a 2 pills a day dosage to help with my condition. My eye doctor was the one who told me I needed to lose weight. So, after shaping up my diet and joining a local gym, the weight began to come off. Finally, a bit over one year later, I was able to completely come off medication, run a few 5Ks, be infinitely happier and healthier, and be PTC free. To this day I have had zero symptoms from my disease, and will never look back.

  • Jenna (Hello, I Love You) May 25, 2010, 11:23 am

    My HTP came in 2005 when I started practicing yoga. I danced my whole life and then I was a cardio junkie but until I started regularly practicing yoga, I didn’t have a strong appreciation for my body and what it was capable of doing. I used to always think about what my body isn’t (perfect, skinny)–now I realize what it is and that is strong. I love all forms of movement now but I always look to yoga when I need to get back into a groove. I am not only healthy in body, but also in mind and I haven’t looked back since. 🙂

  • Julie May 25, 2010, 11:24 am

    My healthy tipping point came when my body stopped working on me! I had just moved to Baltimore (from MA) to attend grad school. I didn’t know anyone. I think the stress of the move and being so far away from everyone I knew triggered my stomach/digestion issues. I’ve always had stomach problems (IBS, ulcers) but what I began to experience was HELL compared to what I went through in college and prior. I couldn’t digest ANYTHING. It started gradually but then became so severe. I dropped weight, lost my period for 6 months, and always had a bloated, painful stomach. I couldn’t be around people, it was that bad!

    I saw a couple GI doctors who recommended going gluten free. I resisted at first b/c I was already limited (i.e. trying to eat “healthy” which to me at the time was low fat…and also I’m lactose intolerant) So anyway, it finally got soooooo bad that I decided to give up gluten. In one day (ONE DAY!!!!) I started to feel better. A fews days later, I realized that soy was also causing me problems.

    So now I’m gluten, soy, and dairy free (well I do eat greek yogurt but that’s about it). I put back the 10 lbs I lost, which at first was hard but now I am sooo much healthier. When I was at my sickest, I had 3 separate professors tell me I look like sh*t (one actually said that)…which was disconcerting b/c I didn’t realize I looked so bad.

    I now realize what a healthy diet consists of and I eat as much unprocessed food as possible and tons of fruit and veggies. I have so much more to say…but I don’t want to hijack your comment section lol. 🙂

    • Kristin May 26, 2010, 11:23 am

      Julie, I’m also recently gluten-free (I’m comment 48) and it’s almost a blessing because you can eat about 1 percent of processed foods or pay an exhorbitant amount for specialty things. So although, we have to eat healthy and clean by requirement, not choice, we end up giving our bodies good stuff anyway. I hope your healing continues!

  • Krystina May 25, 2010, 11:34 am

    I just wanted to thank you. You inspired me to sign up for my first 5K and it means a lot that I can have inspirations like you to motivate me. You’re awesome. My “healthy tipping point” can be found here: http://organicallyme.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-food-journey.html

    Basically, over the past year I’ve lost 200lbs with just changing my diet and getting regular exercise. I’m finally at a happy and healthy place in my life. 🙂

  • emily May 25, 2010, 11:35 am

    I had a sort of body image tipping point recently. I don’t want to write a 5paragraph comment so I’ll link to the post, which I thought you would appreciate for it’s anti-fat-talk feeling anyways. http://eatventures.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/weight-gain-4000-beefcake/

  • Heather C May 25, 2010, 11:37 am

    My FIRST Tipping point definitely came when I crossed the Finish Line of my first 1/2 marathon (which was also the first race I trained for and ran). This was during my last semester in College, as I was about to get a degree in Nutrition. Even with all of the science and education, I had never thought SO much about how food fuels my body. Running put that into perspective in a way that nothing else could. I have since run 7+ 1/2m, tons of shorter races, and 1 Full. In the meantime, I became so enthralled with food blogs and expanding my horizons with cooking, trying NEW foods (what a concept) and realizing that with the Registered Dietitian behind my name comes a big responsibility. I have to be a credible source; I have to practice what I preach if I expect other people to do so. Your blog, among others, has been a huge voice to me. I have never had any trouble eating veggies, I love them! But, I also never thought of any ways to eat them but the usual – as a side, steamed, or raw. little did I know they could be used in so many other ways 🙂 as well as a lot of other foods! Anyway, my eating habits (post-college and running) have always been pretty healthy, but in the past year I continue to learn more, experiment with foods, try NEW foods, and really develop my passion for it all. So, Thanks for that 🙂

  • kalli@fitandfortysomething May 25, 2010, 11:38 am

    oh i love this!
    i always battled 20 pounds or so up and down. i would eat and eat and no workouts and the weight would come on. then i would workout and diet down and then weight would come off.
    i finally realized that eating right and exercising was something i GOT to do instead of something i HAD to do. i am happy now and enjoy life and also keep those pesky pounds away for good 🙂

  • tasha - the clean eating mama May 25, 2010, 11:41 am

    Thank you for sharing those wonderful stories! =)
    Mine came when I became pregnant, and then another when I had my son. I talk in detail about it on my About Me page on my blog but to sum it up: I was always concerned with my weight. When I became pregant I took a break from my hatred for food and ate pretty much whatever I wanted. It was glorious! Yes, I gained a bit mroe weight than I would have hoped but I felt free! After I had my son I knew that I needed to get back on track again. I started eating healthy again, then I found the world of food blogs. It helped me understand that I was not the only one that was eating healthy and this helped me stay on track.
    Today I am vegan, a running machine (when I am not injured) and loving food!

  • Paige (Two Runners And A Brown Dog) May 25, 2010, 11:43 am

    My healthy tipping point came when I realized that all of the running in the world wouldn’t make a “fit” body if I continued to eat unhealthy/fatty foods. When I started thinking of food as fuel rather than something fun to do, I began my journey to a happier, healthier, stronger person!

  • Steph-exercise physiologist and artist! May 25, 2010, 11:43 am

    Soooo many great posts!
    My healthy tipping point wasn’t really a point is has definitely been an up and down thing with the trend moving up more than down (does that make sense??) I have lost 60 POUNDS!! It is still crazy to me that I did that b/c it took me about 5 years of 2 steps forward 1 step back to get there.
    I still struggle so much with negative self talk and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This the whole reason I started my blog, it’s also why I read yours and many others.
    You all inspire me to be a better person to others and to myself.
    Thank you for that!!

  • Wei-Wei May 25, 2010, 11:44 am

    My healthy tipping point was on my fifteenth birthday. I decided to (try to) abandon anorexia and what marked that day for me was that I stopped counting calories. I’ve moved on ever since and I’m glad to say that I gladly eat foods for its nutrition content, not for its lack of calories. As I’ve said multiple times before, your blog has been an endless inspiration to me; same goes for Operation Beautiful.

    I wasn’t the healthiest person, either. I used to eat french fries in McD’s cheeseburgers. When I was a kid I ate margarine with my fingers straight out of the tub. I listed fries as my favourite food. Then, I abandoned all that and started to eat less, and less, starving my body. I hate how I went from unhealthy diet to unhealthy diet, and how I never paused to think about what I was actually putting into my body.

    I’ve never been athletic, either. I’m trying to kick-start my inner athlete (dormant in my family for generations now) by committing myself to a workout DVD. I’m hoping for more toned muscles, and I’ve promised myself to fuel myself before and after workouts to optimize my workouts. I’ve learned a lot from you guys. Thank you so much.

    <3

    Wei-Wei

  • Susan May 25, 2010, 11:44 am

    My HTP was a long time coming!! During my teenage years, I was downright awful to my body. Smoked, drank, did drugs. I had absolutely no respect for myself, and would find some weird comfort in treating it so poorly (and risking my life in doing so). I had a bad experience that led me to stop doing drugs. I quit smoking a few years later as a promise to my best friend’s mom, and then I quit binge drinking as a way to lose weight. That last step is what really did it for me. Once all those toxins were out of my body, I realized that it was possible to not be cranky and lethargic all the time. It used to actually pain me to move my body, and now I can leap up and work away at tasks. As for the food, I reverted back to a meat-eating diet as a way to eliminate processed foods and the animal protein gives me more energy. I became hooked on endorphins and I learned to use exercise as a way to help me cope with my anxiety instead of drugs and alcohol. Oh, and now I’m a personal trainer trying to help other find their healthy tipping points!

    Consider that the very condensed version 🙂

  • Tina May 25, 2010, 11:49 am

    I always loved your title but never quite understood all the meaning behind it. It’s so great!

    I would say my healthy tipping point was when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Before then I was in a vicious binge and restrict cycle. I hated my body and was way too obsessed with calories, the weight on the scale, and all the other ridiculous things that don’t show our health.

    When I realized I was pregnant, I knew I was eating for more than myself. I was creating a life. The responsibility of that opened me up to being okay with eating more. And I grew to realize I enjoy eating healthy because it makes me feel good and gives me fuel, but that I can also enjoy treats on occasion and be okay. I had a very healthy pregnancy and my daughter was born thriving.

    I continued the healthier mindset with food after I gave birth and got in the best shape of my life within 9 months of having her. I went on to compete in a figure competition 2 weeks after her first birthday and now continue to strive towards HEALTH instead of how I look as I face my second pregnancy. I fully plan on living a fit life and getting back in shape after this one so I can be an example for my kids.

    The love for a child (unborn or not) was my healthy tipping point. It brought it all in perspective and I am every so grateful for that positive pregnancy test today…for more reasons than one.

  • Mary @ What's Cookin' with Mary May 25, 2010, 11:53 am

    My healthy tipping point went a little like this…
    I’m walking up 3 flights of stairs after smoking a cig. on the way over to my friend (now husband) Brian’s house to hang out… I weighed 252 lbs and as I trudged up those steps, red faced… out of breath after first floor… struggling to catch my breath before I knocked on his door (because I would be totally crushed if he saw me huffing and puffing from the stairs)… I realized that I didn’t want to live like that anymore! I was worth it & deserved to be healthy and happy!! It has been a LONG road, but with about 20 lbs to go, I am happy to say that I can RUN up three flights of stairs withOUT getting out of breath. I can ride my bike 20 plus miles, easily. I can do 45 minute weight lifting/ cardio sessions keeping my heart at 150+. I learned to cook healthy foods… And married my best friend, who encouraged me ( and still encourages me) every step of the way. I think that’s the first time I’m ever typed that out… and to strangers. 🙂 Kind of feels good. Thanks for this post Caitlin!

  • Amanda @ Eat to Live, Live to Run May 25, 2010, 11:56 am

    My tipping point came after I had my son. I wanted to be able to be the kind of mom that could keep up with her children and not just parent from the couch. I also wanted to set a good example to my children and help them not grow up obese. My eating tipping point didn’t come until January of this year. It took a long time to realize there is more to eating than fat free, zero calorie, sugar free crap. I’ve never been happier or healthier.

  • VeggieGirl May 25, 2010, 12:00 pm

    I suffered a massive panic attack this past February that landed me in the ER – my blood sugar was also low. I was also 25 pounds UNDERweight. That was a major turning point because I finally got serious about getting healthy. I’m now only 5 pounds away from my “minimum goal weight” of 105, and can’t wait to get there so I can be at my optimum healthiest point. At least I’m finally tipping in the right direction though, and I feel worlds better already.

  • Merry May 25, 2010, 12:01 pm

    My tipping point came last summer when my Dad confessed that his cancer was terminal and asked me to move home to help him through his final stages of life. I made two decisions leading up to the move.
    1. That I could not let my Dad see me mistreat my body/life. That it would be unfair to him to watch me neglect what he was so quickly losing.
    2. I knew that I was transitioning into the hardest time of my life to date and that I had a choice – I could choose to feel sorry for myself and allow my every want i.e. cakes and cookies and chips and watching TV in bed. Or, I could choose to challenge myself further, go whole hog and make healthy changes during this trying time. I opted for the latter knowing that if I could make changes during that ordeal I could make changes that lasted forever.
    It wasn’t easy. But I am thankful to myself everyday for the choice I made and continue to make. I know my Dad would be proud, even if I eat “hippy food” and have turned into a “real gym rat.”
    I’m about to run my first 5K next month and really would not have even considered such a thing if it weren’t for your blog in particular as well as a handful of others. Thanks Caitlin.

    • Julie May 25, 2010, 3:05 pm

      wow what an inspiration! Good luck on your first 5k…enjoy every minute of it!

  • Nicole Y. @ An Adventurous life May 25, 2010, 12:04 pm

    My Healthy Tipping Point was definitely when I found out that my Mom was battling terminal cancer. I was absolutely terrified for her so I began researching holistic ways to try and battle cancer when I stumbled upon a lot of information about ways to help reduce your cancer risk. I ended up taking a long, hard look at myself and realized that I didn’t want to have to go through what she was, so I overhauled my life and got healthy. In total I’ve lost between 55-60 pounds (maybe more, I know that at one point I was at 200 but I may have been heavier, lol). I have my full before & after along with photos, here: http://adventurouslife.wordpress.com/before-after/

    My mom’s struggle gave me the jolt I needed to get healthy and the loss of her life continues to be my inspiration.

  • Retta @ RunRettaRun May 25, 2010, 12:07 pm

    My tipping point was when I turned 30 and after having 2 children. I admire all the 20-somethings that are so health-concious b/c I SO wasn’t in my 20s. I was tired of feeling terrible, about my looks, my weight, my energy – of a lot of things. It was affecting my marriage and my kiddos. I had to treat myself w/ love and respect and it changed my relationship with The Lover as well as my children. My eating didn’t change until almost 5 months ago and I haven’t looked back. I don’t regret my decision to go veggie one bit!

  • Jen May 25, 2010, 12:10 pm

    My HTP happened in 2008 after picking up the book “skinny bitch” from the library. I read this and thought “I’m tired of being fat and unhappy.” I started exercising and eating healthy good and lost 85 pounds! I ran my first 5K in May of 2009 and now I’m training for a 15K. 🙂

  • Courtney May 25, 2010, 12:10 pm

    My tipping point was when I went to grad school for public health. I remember thinking who is going to respect what I have to say if I’m not healthy? I lost 55 pounds and still counting. I went from a size 14 to just this weekend a size 2. I have run 2 5ks and I am going to run a half in November and I am seriously contemplating the Disney Marathon in January. You can see before and after pictures on my site.

  • Lisa May 25, 2010, 12:15 pm

    This is a good topic. I suppose mine was being 250 pounds. Unhealthy and unhappy. I made a change and never looked back! After I lost the weight (110 pounds) I got stuck in an unhealthy cycle on the other end of the spectrum: I wanted to lose MORE weight. I wasn’t satisfied. I was obsessed with the number on the scale. But I finally realized I’m never going to be skinny. I’m athletic. I work out all the time. I need big muscles to bike and run and do the things I love to do.

  • Marie May 25, 2010, 12:15 pm

    My HTP was very recent– about 2 months ago. In February I started reading a friend’s vegan cooking blog, and after doing a lot of reading and movie-watching, like yourself, I decided to switch to a vegetarian diet (I’m now considered a “pescatarian,” but like you, I also don’t like labels). I found your blog and others like it around March ‘10, and have since been incredibly inspired (particularly by you and http://britchickruns.wordpress.com/ -Freya!) to work out and simply live a healthier lifestyle.
    Growing up through to almost the end of high school I had what I consider to be “toxic” friends. They were all very thin (I was a very early bloomer and a little chubby), very fake, mean, and constantly talked about each other behind the others’ backs. Yes, I’m including myself in this. My best friend become anorexic and bulimic (she was more the outsider of the group and similar to my body type) in middle school, and I started wondering about my body and what I could do to “fix” it. I also became very anorexic- I was 5’3” (still am) in the 8th grade and despite my muscular frame, I got down to 105 pounds through only eating a very small meal at dinner, and maybe an apple or candy bar at lunch. When I started playing field hockey in the 9th grade, I started eating normally again—because I had to! I stayed very healthy all throughout high school through field hockey, softball, and marching band (flute does your abs a lot of good!). After moving to a new state before my senior year, I dropped these friends like a bad habit. Enter college, where I had good intentions my freshman year, and really let myself eat how I please the rest of college. The very toxic “best friend” I intentionally stopped paying attention to, as her eating disorders were still really taking a toll on me. She dropped me completely, and I deserved it, but that was the true beginning of my depression and anxiety issues. I went thought about a years’ time where I was, I guess, bulimic. The stress and anxiety of current relationships at the time, along with school, made me feel like I had to expunge myself of all the bad feelings, and making myself throw up was freeing, and also terrifying at the same time. Around this time, I was really struggling with school, and a professor of a class I didn’t finish let me have an Incomplete, but the catch was that I had to start going to therapy, which he kept track of. I got an A when I was finished .
    Enter more toxic friends who fueled unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise, and I continued to feel terrible about myself, but my grades improved. My senior year (+1 more semester) my therapist moved, I decided I was done with therapy, and went on an antidepressant. This combined with my bad diet, drinking, and lack of exercise sent me up to 151 pounds, my heaviest weight (that I know of, I’m rarely around a scale). The shock of my weight and seeing myself in photos looking like someone else (it wasn’t me—I swear!) didn’t push me a whole lot, because I felt helpless. I lost about 6 pounds and got down to around 145 where I’ve been hovering for about the last 2 years. Living with my boyfriend hasn’t helped much—we let ourselves eat badly if the other is! However, like I said, about 2 months ago I really started to take charge of what I was eating and started to run! I started off huffing and puffing my way to one mile, and somehow quickly managed to bust out two miles, and I think I’m at the point now where 3 would be very doable, but I’m scared to push myself too hard .
    Woo! That was long, and probably TMI, but it’s all had a tremendous effect on my life and consequently, my health. Caitlin your blog, especially, has helped me tremendously. I’ve never had the courage to share all of this before, but it’s a now-or-never type of feeling for me right now. I still feel badly about my weight. I’m around 135 now—feels great! But there is still more to go—I think 125 would be my good weight, as I have very muscular legs. Your blog has really helped me see that just treating your body well, getting up and moving and taking charge of my life (and allowing indulgences! I love beer!) can make what I want for myself come true. I’ve spent a long time feeling bad about myself, and I think it’s time I start to feel great about myself. I want to be happy, healthy, love myself, and live a long life, and I think I’m halfway there.

    • Marie May 25, 2010, 12:17 pm

      OMG that was too long, I’m sorry! I didn’t realize I wrote so much, I should have emailed it. Sorry guys :/

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing May 25, 2010, 12:20 pm

    I think my healthy tipping point was after my stress fracture. Before, I had a major case of disordered eating. I barely fueled my body and then forced it to crank out 25 miles a week.. on nothing. I was starving myself in essence.. I thank the Lord that the worse thing that happened was my stress fracture. It woke me up. I realize now how precious life is and how fragile the human body is.. it’s so amazing and can do SO much, but you have to treat it with respect and love!

  • Hayley H May 25, 2010, 12:23 pm

    I am loving the HTP stories!!

    My first HTP came my junior year of high school. My good friend was on the cheerleading squad and had specific workouts to complete over the summer to stay in shape. I started doing them with her and loved how exercise made me feel!

    My next HTP happened about a year ago, when I realized I was taking “health” way too far- to the point of disordered eating and too much rigorous exercise (for my body, anyway). A hip injury that wouldn’t heal and a diet yoyo between restriction and binging told me I needed a change.

    Now, I feel balanced and my healthiest ever!

  • Alicia May 25, 2010, 12:25 pm

    My HTP was my freshman year of college: I joined a sorority and was so happy. I got my photos developed and saw the pics of myself – freshman fifteen and then some. I decided then and there that I would make slow changes in my life to get healthier. I was 250 pounds back then in January 2002. Today, I’m maintaining at 135 lbs.

    You can see my weight loss photos on my blog: http://poiseinparma.wordpress.com/weight-loss-photos/

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs May 25, 2010, 12:29 pm

    I think my HTP was a slow and gradual one, that came with reading blogs; they helped me overcome my ED as I realised there was more to life than being miserable and skinny – calories weren’t everything! I actually don’t know where I’d be today if it wasn’t for blogs…
    Oh, and Vegan Freak: Being a Vegan in a Non-Vegan World changed my life too!

  • Mama Pea May 25, 2010, 12:35 pm

    Pea Daddy has read every Malcolm Gladwell book ever written. He loves.

    Having children was definitely a tipping point for me, but then again, so was my back injury. I think my life is just a series of tipping points, and I would change a one.

  • Vanessa May 25, 2010, 12:44 pm

    My healthy tipping point came on gradually. I had recently been married, and the rumors are mostly true. You DO gain weight in that first year. My pants were tight and I felt terrible on the inside and out. But that wasn’t the only issue. I had spent my whole life surrounded by junk food and negative thinking. What a combination, huh? The “Gosh, I’m too fat. Here, let me have more ice cream” mantra permeated my adolescence — from both myself and my family. Although I know it wasn’t always their intention, my parents often put me down, whether passive aggressively or directly. I think all of this built up to form the person I became. At one point in late high school I read Marya Horbacher’s book, Wasted. It’s a memoir of her anorexic/bulimic days. Rather than using this as a tool to open my eyes to the downward spiral that is an eating disorder, I envied Marya’s ability to go without. I secretly wanted to be like her. Maybe if I let my disordered eating get really bad, I’d have to be hospitalized. That would be scary and tragic and cool.
    At one point, my days consisted of three rice cakes and half a piece of cheese. Maybe throw some graham crackers or a banana in there if I was feeling generous with myself. I got down to 106 and my 5’1 frame was thanking me for all the cute clothes I could now fit into. But I was miserable to the core. Fast forward a few years later, and I was up to 132. Still technically in the normal BMI range (barely), but again, I was miserable. My eating habits left much to be desired and I had weeks where I ate really well. Then I tricked myself into thinking that this bowl of ice cream or those Oreos don’t count because I had been a healthy eater. Pretty soon, it would add up and the pattern I had created for myself was destructive.
    My desire to change this part of my life coincided with my discovery of healthy living blogs like this one. It was a match made in Heaven! Suddenly I realized that life is not one big diet, that exercise can be empowering and that I deserve to treat my body kindly. The disordered eating and lack of exercise were doing nothing for me, but this — this was a lifestyle approach that made for one strong-willed and healthy woman! God has blessed me with this life, and I was doing nothing to take care of myself. My husband deserves a wife and best friend who will hold fast next to him. My future kids need a mom who will be safe haven. Do I have it all together? No. Will I ever? No. But that’s the fun part of the adventure!

    **follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NessaJosephine**
    **read my blog: http://www.swift-as-shadows.blogspot.com**

  • Kelly May 25, 2010, 12:46 pm

    In February of 2009 my ex bf and I were preparing for a skiing trip, and I had to get weighed to get my rental skis. I was shocked by the number I saw on the scale, I knew I had gained weight but had no idea it was so much. A week later I signed up for a 10 mile race, started training, and lost 15 lbs by the time it rolled around in May. By July I was down 25 lbs and have never looked back. It’s been over a year and the weight is still off!

  • Evan Thomas May 25, 2010, 12:48 pm

    Great post! I think my tipping point was graduating high school. With all that stress gone, I realized I really had a lot to work on for inner peace and health and that I had let that go.

  • Catherine May 25, 2010, 12:54 pm

    My HTP came the summer before my senior year of college when I went to Hawaii with my then bf and his family. I was struggling with disordered eating and in the middle of a grueling hike with the bf I had to turn back because I physically couldn’t handle it. My bf and I had a long talk and I set up an appointment with a nutritionist for the week I got back. It was tough at first, but I started changing the way I thought about my body and my whole approach towards exercise. It’s been a few years now, but since then I have finally ended the fat talk, run 2 marathons and a number of races, become very comfortable with food and my body and am considering becoming a nutritionist now myself! Oh and the lovely then bf who helped me on my journey? We’re engaged to be married next year. 🙂

  • kate May 25, 2010, 1:14 pm

    I love these stories from real women – you all are so inspiring! I also really need to get my hands on Eating Animals.

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie May 25, 2010, 1:17 pm

    This is a great post. I never thought about that title much but now I see it’s significance.

    My tipping point came when I was diagnosed with endometriosis. It inspired (and forced!) me to change how I view food and fitness.

  • Sonia @ Master of Her Romaine May 25, 2010, 2:00 pm

    Hi Caitlin!
    My HTP happened last year. I was overweight, unhappy, and didn’t look forward to anything. I was ashamed of the way I looked and decided to SHAPE UP!
    My story is on my blog here:
    http://masterofherromaine.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-weight-loss-story.html

    And also in that post is the FIRST Operation Beautiful note I wrote!! Thought you would like that 🙂

    Now, I am always working on improving myself and I think there is always room to make progress so you could say I’m still on the journey and I am loving every minute of it!

  • Kimberly Lee May 25, 2010, 2:00 pm

    I can not pinpoint my healthy tipping point, because there are two moments that stand out in my mind, and ironically enough they both occurred in a bathroom.

    The first was December 2005. My boyfriend at the time and I were sharing a lovely meal with a couple of friends. In between the appetizer and our entrée, I excused myself from the table and made my way into a stall. My boyfriend and the friends assumed that I needed to use the facilities due to the copious amount of diet coke I has just consumed (5 glasses). Nothing could have been farther from the truth. I was in that dimly bathroom stall for the single purpose of making myself throw up. I was 23, an successful college graduate who seemed to have it all – but was in the midst of a desperate battle with bullima. For reasons, that my friend can not even explain, she followed me into the restroom that night – and in that moment my dirty little secret came to light. Her discovery and the ensuring confrontation would become the catalyst that led to therapy.

    This is the point where I would like to tell you that as I moved away from my ED, I began to enjoy all types of food – focusing on variety, and learning to embrace moderation. I would love to tell you that I ran, lifted weights, and played tennis because I enjoyed those activities not because I was concerned with calorie burn. But I can not. December 2010, will mark 5 years since I had a bulimic episode, but it was my 2nd tipping point that prompted me to leave behind disordered eating and focus instead on health.

    July 4th, 2009 – my husband and I took a home pregnancy test. We were both certain that I was NOT pregnant. But fatigue, mild nausua, and a few other symptoms had my sister-in-law and best friend convinced that I was an expectant mother. Therefore, I took the test to just quiet her. You can imagine my surprise when I saw the word “Pregnant”. Excitement, joy, and a little terror coursed thru my brain. As I sat on the floor of my bathroom, test in hand, staring at my husband the thought kept coursing thru my brain “It’s not about you anymore.”

    Discovering I was pregnant brought out protective instincts that I did not even know that I had. I wanted to do everything I could to protect this new life within me – for the first time in nearly 7 years I was not thinking about calories, minutes of exercise, but rather what was best for my baby. My doctor was fantastic – knowing my history of ED – she had a lengthy consultation with me regarding weight gain, food choices, and exercise. Together, we develop a simple plan for me to follow: 1. Eat as healthy as possible, 2. Indulge in moderation, and 3. Move as much as possible.

    And the result??? 12 weeks ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The last 9 months have given me a deep appreciation for my body and all that it can do. And now, as I look at my daughter, I want to be a model of healthy living for her. It is my hope (and prayer) that she will grow up knowing that she is beautiful no matter her shape or size.

  • Ilana May 25, 2010, 2:03 pm

    I’ve struggled with depression nearly my entire life – I remember feeling alienated and sad and alone straight back to elementary school. I absolutely never liked myself. I was insecure, I always felt nervous and uncomfortable with myself, I struggled with a seriously distorted self image, and fell into a lot of negative habits and behaviors, ended up in a lot of really bad situations including a damaging relationship with a guy who was mentally abusive and controlling – and because I didn’t have any sort of sense of self, I didn’t feel like there was anything I could do to change it, to control it. Life sort of drifted onwards, and although I left a lot of my bad past behind me, I still was just depressed. I knew I was mentally strong – I had dumped my ex, overcome a lot of personal obstacles, started working out for the first time in my life, found a relationship with a guy who truly cared and respected me and even understood my depression. But every day felt like a dark cloud – even getting out of bed most days took hours. Everything suffered – my social life, my relationships with my family, my schoolwork, my job. I didn’t eat right, I didn’t take care of myself, and I couldn’t bring myself to care. Then one day – literally, just one random day, nothing special – I just couldn’t do it anymore. I was sick of it. I felt like I was killing myself like that and I needed to change. If everyone around me can function normally, why do I find it so difficult? I wondered. And then I decided that the only obstacle to me was ME. So I decided to stop getting in my way. I woke up one morning, fixed myself the first breakfast I’d had in years, and just went about my day. One day turned into two, then a week, then a few months. I’m still on the path – not every day is perfect, sometimes finding motivation is still difficult, but for the first time in my life I actually can identify myself as “satisfied” and “happy” regularly, which are things I’ve never been able to say about myself. I really had sat around for so many years just waiting for my depression to just magically go away, but I never realized I had the power to do it myself.

  • Kellie May 25, 2010, 2:21 pm

    Mine was when I realized I was the same size as my husband. I knew it was time to get in shape. I started eating right, running and working out. Now I make working out a priority and I eat a vegeterian diet. I am much healthier, and 30 plus pounds lighter.

  • Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl May 25, 2010, 2:26 pm

    My healthy tipping point came when I was 300 pounds and my doctor told me if I didn’t do something I was going to die. My blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, hormone, etc., levels were out of control – and bad.

    I ended up in that situation because I had barely survived domestic violence and as a result, I’d developed a LOT of health issues (some injuries due to the abuse (like terrible back problems), some from stress, and even had a lot of side effects from medication).

    Of course, I didn’t eat the healthiest of diets, but I didn’t eat anywhere near what people thought I did.

    When that doctor told me I probably wouldn’t live to see 30, it hit home. I knew only I held the key to my health, my future.

    And even with people saying I’d never be able to shed the weight (due to hormone issues/a complete hysterectomy, etc.) – I did.

    I’m pretty stubborn. 😉

    I knew I had to start somewhere. So I did just that.

    I’ve now lost over 100 pounds and eat a high-raw, mostly vegan/vegetarian diet. I’ve found yoga to be a true passion of mine.

    I’m still limited in the exercise I can do (my back issues) but I have become so much healthier and stronger.

    Life is good. 😀

  • Nicole, RD May 25, 2010, 2:27 pm

    What a great post! My healthy tipping point was being an obese teen not able to do much of anything or fit into much of anything. It’s been a complete 180 since then, even though I still struggle with my weight.

  • Lauren May 25, 2010, 2:36 pm

    Does Beth have a blog? if so, what’s the URL? 🙂

    • BethT May 25, 2010, 4:07 pm

      I do have a blog…Pretty By the Bay (www.prettybythebay.com) 🙂

  • Sandra May 25, 2010, 2:40 pm

    Change really does beget change. My healthy tipping point came about sometime last fall — I made the decision to lose weight. That quickly turned into a decision to take more care with the food that I put into my body, which led to the decision to start exercising – after all if I was taking care of my body by putting only good fuel into it, I should take care of it in other ways, too. That same thinking led to me quitting smoking, taking better care of my skin, evaluating my stress levels, caring more about my environment and recycling. The more I tipped toward healthy the more momentum I gained, and the more changes I made!

  • Meredith @ An Epic Change May 25, 2010, 2:52 pm

    shortly after the unexpected death of my father, I realized exactly how miserable I truly was. I was so unhappy so I decided to start making changes to make myself happier. one thing I really didn’t like was the fact that I weighed 250 lbs. so I made some changes and slowly my new life started to unfold. I still have some progress and goals I want to reach, but I think my HTP came when I realized my unhappiness and the opportunity I had to change it.

  • Krista May 25, 2010, 2:56 pm

    My HTP came after having my kids and very shortly there after a hysterectomy at the age of 30. I knew that I had to get myself back into shape to avoid more health problems and to have the energy to keep up with 2 very busy, active children.

  • Grapeful May 25, 2010, 2:58 pm

    Oooh, are HTP stories going to be the focus of your second book? Can’t wait until your first one comes out! 😉

  • Courtney May 25, 2010, 3:02 pm

    When I was growing up, I knew nothing about food or calories or health, for that matter. I grew up eating southern food and thought fried chicken and macaroni were good for me. In high school, my mom worked a late job and wouldn’t be able to feed us until 10 PM, and then she could only pick up fast food on the way home. No one ever told me I was getting bigger or should change my eating habits, and once I got some knowledge about health and moved out, I took everything into my own hands and refused to let anyone dictate what I ate ever again, I became a control freak about it and probably a little disordered. The weight came off, but controlling my health became a burden that I put on myself and a weight on my shoulders.

    Then, at the beginning of this year, I moved abroad for 5 months and my life was stripped to what I could fit into a less than 50 pound suitcase – which means the scale stayed at home. On top of that, I lived with a family who prepared my meals for me – I couldn’t shop for my own food or count a single calorie. I worried that without my usual tools or crutches, I would lose everything I’d worked for. When I came home and weighed myself for the first time, I realized I had dropped the 10 pounds that were the last “stubborn” ones I hadn’t been able to get rid of after 5 years of dieting. So, I decided to put my scale in storage – if HEALTH is going to be for life, then it can’t be a burden on your back, or it will cripple you before you get too far down the road.

  • Ellen May 25, 2010, 3:22 pm

    I’ve always exercised quite a bit, so I’m pretty good on that front, although I know I need to take it to the next level and push myself harder by signing up for races, etc. I am fit and have a lot of potential, but I’m having a hard time taking that next step.I don’t know why?? With eating, I have made quit a bit of progress over the years, but I have certainly NOT reached my tipping point in that arena. I have issues with emotional eating, and while it’s gotten better, I still binge on ice cream or pizza from time to time when I’m sad and even sometimes happy (?!?)

    http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/

  • Rachel @ Suburban Yogini May 25, 2010, 3:32 pm

    My big tipping point came when I realised that person with chronic fatigue and back problems should not be sitting at a desk all day and trying to run a yoga teaching businesss. I quit my lucrative career as a paralegal and started teaching full time and honestly, although I do have bad health days, I’ve never been happier or fitter in my life 😀

  • Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion May 25, 2010, 4:10 pm

    I had a healthy tipping point when I realized i was far too young to be unhappy with my body and life. I quite smoking cold turkey, changed the way I ate and started running. All of these changes led to me writing my blog! I am so much happier now that I made the changes!!!

  • Britton May 25, 2010, 4:10 pm

    I feel like my healthy tipping point has just happened, although I’ve been trying to reach it for years. I lost about 130 pounds in college and have managed to keep it off for the last 6 years but I wasn’t always healthy about it. I ate a lot of “fake” processed foods. I discovered a love of exercise which has helped me to keep the wait off, but after watching Food Inc., I became a vegetarian. I’ve really become interested in nutrition in the past 6 monthes. I have never felt better in my life.
    Your blog has really helped. I love it!

  • Helen May 25, 2010, 4:59 pm

    It’s really interesting finding out about other peoples HTPs. I think I’m still in the process of my HTP. Whilst I was at uni, like you I partied hard and didn’t eat very well or very much. I developed an unheathy exercise routine of not eating very much and running a lot – running to lose weight. I used to be so scared of putting on weight and was so scared of food.
    But since I finished uni in 2008, it’s taken me about a year to start my HTP. With the help and support of my bf and reading your, and other, blogs, came to realise that food is the fuel for life and exercise is a way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I also discovered the joys of cooking and baking healthy meals. This really pushed me on my way to changing my lifestyle. Now I really enjoy food and exercise to maintain a balanced lifestyle. It’s been a gradual process and at the moment I feel so much better than I did 6 months ago. I think it will come full circle when I run a 5k on 20th June, something that I could never have done before as I was so unfit!
    I must say though that your blog is a really inspiration to me (and others!)

  • Julia @ www.britbride.com May 25, 2010, 5:25 pm

    Caitlin – you are like a mind reader – I was just blogging abbout this yesterday (in fact, I linked your blog!) see my post Why I love running from yesterday.

    My health tipping point comes when to do another lap feels better than going in, and when I would rather have cherries than chocolate. Its all about MOMENTUM for me.

    Thanks for another great post

    Julia
    http://www.britbride.com

  • Mindy May 25, 2010, 5:33 pm

    I think I am just now truly reaching my HTP. Over the course of the past few years, I’ve lost about 65 pounds, but it’s in recent months that I’m really learning to balance it all and focus on an overall healthy life. I’m just not learning that it’s not just about the number on the scale, but living the best kind of life. I live a life now that I never thought I would full of running, vegetarianism, and even starting my own “healthy living” blog.

  • Michal May 25, 2010, 5:46 pm

    I’ve had a few HTPs in my life… one was reading “Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders” by Aimee Liu. It gave me the courage to finally talk with my roommate, who I recognized as sharing the same struggle I did… and that was the first time I was able to tell someone who not only understood, but was strong enough that we could support one another in healing and growing. I was brought up to believe that telling others that you had that kind of weakness would marginalize you in their eyes (and I still believe that to a large extent, this comment is difficult to write!)… it was liberating to have someone who could see me as a whole person, both weak and strong. It allowed me to see myself that way.

  • Katherine May 25, 2010, 6:39 pm

    I am so in a valley right now; you are really inspiring
    I think the tipping point is coming soon

  • Katie May 25, 2010, 6:52 pm

    My HTP came this past November, when I decided that I was going to run in the 25K 5/3 Riverbank Run in Grand Rapids, MI. I had talked about training and running in this race for 3 years and never actually did anything but talk about doing it. Something was holding me back, keeping me from accomplishing my goal. And that something was bulimia. I had struggled with bulimia for the past 4 years and was never able to run far or long because my body literally had no fuel. I would throw up every single thing I ate, sometimes up to 7 times a day, exercise and food became the enemy. But This November something changed, I was tired of hiding behind bulimia and was ready to conquer my fears. The day I had my first counseling appointment was the very same day I signed up to run the race. Training for the run really helped me in my recovery, I had no choice but to eat and eat well in order to give my body what it needed in order to run. Training for the 25K helped me restore my love of cooking and feeding others, it showed be the beauty of fruits and veggies and local foods, it helped me realize that running does not have to be a punishment, that race showed me that I am stronger than I though, that I can push through the hard things and still come out on top. I ran that race with all that I had on May 8, 2010 and I loved every second of it. Running pushed me through one of the hardest times in my life and left me changed for the better, for good.

  • Gretchen May 26, 2010, 12:01 am

    My HTP… I had turned 30 last year, married, and have 2 kids. I was 200 pounds. I found some old college friends on Facebook and planned a reunion last July, and I had not seen them in about 12 years because we only went to school together as freshman. They were all skinny and looked great, I looked like a frumpy mom, and we were at the river in swim suits. Clothes shopping for that trip and being on that trip changed my life… finally. The next weekend I threw out all of the junk food we had and went shopping and bought nothing but fresh foods and I had some new cookbooks to actually cook instead of “heating stuff up”. At the same time I started reading alot of food blogs, as well as keeping a blog (journal of sorts) to make myself accountable for my weight loss. My eating is so very different, but in a good way, but I do still splurge here and there. I have finally learned to balance. And I discovered that I love to walk and run, and so far have completed 5k and 10k walks and planning a 5k that I will mostly run. I’m now down almost 40 pounds (with a little more to go), and down 4 pant sizes and 3 shirt sizes. I’m thankful that I did this, I’m thankful to have found an online community that is all about balancing a healthy lifestyle, and I’m thankful that I’m not only changing my life but my family’s as well. This is important to me, and I’m glad that I found my HTP.

  • Marieke May 26, 2010, 8:47 am

    My HTP was when I broke my ankle last year, I was overweight and unfit and gained even more due to the broken ankle. Then my mum passed away of cancer. It made me think I should not push my luck. Even though she was a healthy person in general, I figured that if I am ever that unlucky to get a horrible disease like that I want my body to be the healthiest it can be to fight it. I started exercising once my ankle could take it, eating healthy, cutting down alcohol and I am slowly but surely losing weight and getting fitter. I lost 10 kilo (22 pounds) so far in about 4 months and I exercise 4-5 times a week now. I am feeling so much more confident and happy this way.

  • Susan @ Journey for Health May 26, 2010, 12:41 pm

    I don’t know if this is a HTP yet, but I do know what was the catalyst for my change. I’m still overweight (I am still at almost my heaviest), but I have changed the way I eat and try to be more active. I’m a recent college graduate (and going to be a grad student) and I know that my eating and activity played a HUGE part in gaining weight. I know it started when I took a bank teller job, which required me to sit for half the day. This coincided with living on my own for the first time. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I gained a huge amount of wait over a few years. A few years later, my situation had changed, but the weight kept coming. I moved a few times, and then was about to start school up again after a few years off. I knew then that I wanted to change, but still didn’t do much about it.

    Over the past three years I’ve been in school, I gained about 25 lbs. My most recent catalyst for change is a combination of things – I was sick of being winded by walking up the stairs to the break room at my old job and by walking from the parking lot to my classes. I was sick of always feeling tired and run-down. I was also sick of having to buy the baggy clothes and larger size clothes when I actually bought some clothes.

    The most recent thing was the search for clothes for graduation day. I resorted to wearing something I didn’t really want to wear because I could’t find anything that fit or looked good. It was awful and stressful. I HATE shopping for myself because of this. I would like to be able to be confident and strong, but that is something I am working towards and have not achieved yet.

  • Kaci May 27, 2010, 7:32 am

    My HTP was when my husband finally took his health into his own hands…not only did he used to weigh 364lbs, he went on to have gastric bypass surgery. Lost too much weight, was diagnosed with anorexia and beat that to successfully run a marathon. He’s my inspiration my everything. I’m training now to run a 1/2…love your website!! =)

  • Melissa @ For the Love of Health May 27, 2010, 11:19 pm

    I was definitely overweight most of my younger years and throughout high school. Not just a little overweight- very much so. It was hard because I was from an active family but my eating habits were terrible. I was (and in some ways still am) an emotional eater. There were definitely points in my younger years that I starved my body because I was not educated enough but I would always gain weight back. However, in Grade 12 knowing that university was around the corner, I decided to turn things around. Because I had a lot to lose, it definitely did not happen overnight. In fact, it took pretty much 2 years. Once in my first year of university, I discovered running and if you read my blog you’ll know that I absolutely love running! During my first two years of university I probably loved running a little too much because I developed a running injury and had to stop for a year. That, of course, was emotionally and mentally devastating and the weight creeped back on. However, I never came close to what I was in high school. I have definitely struggled over the years but I would say about 2- 2.5 years ago I really reached my tipping point after being out of school for about 3 years and in the work world. As nice it is to be able to buy small sizes and look a certain way, I realized that my health is of utmost importance and how I feel is equally relevant. Since then I have really focused on what is healthy in terms of food and diet and even started running half-marathons! I could probably write much more because that definitely does not cover all the ups and downs. 🙂 And trust me, I am still learning to be strong and in control!

  • Jaclyn May 29, 2010, 1:12 pm

    I started making healthy changes around one New Year’s – I know, I know – and I did fairly well with eating better foods and exercising more consistently, including running several times a week and lifting weights. I think my healthy tipping point came a few months later, when I was involved in an extremely stressful, upsetting encounter. I came home and my husband wanted me to relax because I was clearly distraught, but I said, “No, I need to RUN!” He tried to talk me into just staying home and vegging, but I knew the only thing that was going to relieve my stress that day was if I ran it off. By the time I got home, I felt infinitely better and I realized that exercise had gone from something that I liked doing because it made me feel good and gave me endorphins to something that was necessary for me to feel stable and balanced. Obviously I still make poor decisions occasionally (like this morning, I couldn’t think of what to have for breakfast so I had crackers) but since that day I have been eating more whole foods and working out almost every day, and I’m signed up for a 5K in a few weeks. I have to think that awful day, when the only thing that would make me feel better was to SWEAT, was probably my healthy tipping point.

  • Krista May 30, 2010, 9:10 pm

    My healthy tipping point was when my husband and I changed our honeymoon plans from a trip to Maine to a camping/hiking trip to Havasupai which is an indian reservation in the Grand Canyon area. Before then the thought of hiking and camping was forest preserves and campgrounds. Now it was going to be a 10 mile hike just to get to camp and then more hikes to various trails and waterfalls. I decided beforehand that I could no longer just make due with walking and eating whatever. I started taking fitness classes and eating healthier. The trip also pushed my limits of what I thought I could do and my own personal strength.

  • Veronica @ Navy Wife on a Diet June 1, 2010, 1:38 pm

    I linked to your page on my blog. My full post is there.

    I’ve always been “health conscious.” I started reading Prevention magazine when I was 9 and I’ve been interested in health ever since. But I thought health = being miserable. I thought it was Lean Cuisine, rabbit food, and workouts that you hate. I thought it was doing all these things because you HAD to, rather than actually wanting to.

    It made me grumpy, desperate and unhappy. But I was thin! Isn’t that all that mattered? After doing all these things I hated to do, I would “reward” and “love” myself back to happiness with ice cream or baked goods. Then I’d get disgusted with my lack of willpower and resolve to go back to doing what I hated. from the age of 15 to 25 I was caught in that vicious cycle.
    What a life to live right?

    My HTP came recently this past March. When I realized that I was feeding my kids better than I was feeding myself! It wasn’t a revolutionary discovery, but it opened my eyes. I’ve finally made my peace with food,I’m running because I want to, and I’m treating myself how I treat others.

    It took 10 years to get here, but at least I get to live the next 50 years (God willing) with a healthy outlook!

  • Ally June 7, 2010, 1:03 pm

    Caitlin,

    YOu and your blog are such an inspiration to me! I lost close to 70 pounds about two years ago but it spiraled out of control. I am currently in the final stages of recovery for an unspecified eating disorder, and have found solace in healthy eating and normal exercise routines. Your blog and others like it have spawned in me a love of running, and I’m hoping to compete in races by the end of the year! You can find my story at my blog, Girl Vs. Food, here:

    http://girlvfood.blogspot.com/2010/05/late-post-about-me.html

Healthy Tipping Point