How do you know when to stop

normadavy3

I know this probably seems a stupid question but now that I have been successful in losing a considerable amount of weight I am struggling to know when to stop. Initially I just wanted to get to a healthy BMI for my height and although I have now achieved that I am still towards the upper end of the normal scale. I feel like it would be safer to be nearer the middle of the range to allow for fluctuation but I have dropped two dress sizes, lost over 20% of my body weight and my body shape has changed quite drastically. It wasn't until I started using MFP that I realised how excessive my carb intake was and cutting this has caused me to lose weight from areas like my tummy and thighs which has never happened with general dieting before. I still get a shock when I catch sight of myself in a mirror, as if it's not me. There's a part of me that wants to stop and adjust to this but another part of me that wants a safer BMI. Does anyone have any advice from their own personal experience?

DemoraFairy

I would say stop when you're happy (unless you're getting down to an unhealthy weight, of course!). If you're happy where you are and you're healthy, then that's fine. You don't have to put yourself right in the middle because each person's ideal weight will be different. BMI is just a guideline, some people's ideal weight will be in the higher half and some will be in the lower half. If you're happy where you are then I'd say stay where you are. You can always ask your doctor if they feel you'd be better off losing a bit more weight.

NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner

I know when I get to 10 1/2 stone that I have gone far enough for ME. Yep at 5ft2 I should be something ridiculous like 8st3 to be classed as "healthy" but for me, that would be too difficult to maintain and I would look ill. I have always had quite a curvy heavy set figure and I just couldn't cut it as slim. So I know for me where both myself and my body feel happy.

BMI charts should imo be taken with a bit of a pinch of salt. Some athletes are classed as obese on BMI charts because of their weight even though they are fit, muscular and far from fat. BMI is massively flawed so I'm concentrating on my body fat % and my measurements.

If you are happy with where you are at. Don't fret an out dated and not massively reliable chart.

kindrabbit

I think if you're within the safe BMI, and you are happy, then you are OK to stop and focus on maintaining. The thing with a range is that ANYWHERE in the range is good. If you're range is 10-20 (for example) then 20 is just as fine as 10 or 15. 21 is not fine, nor is 9.

From your post you don't sound like you are quite ready to stop. If you'd be more comfortable in the middle of the range then that's fine, but be aware that as far as health goes the top end of the range is fine. Also remember BMI is a notoriously flakey way to test your overall stats