Goal Weight Disappointment?

jordyngiulio

After more than 4 years, and (admittedly) varying levels of commitment, I am finally within 3 pounds of what I had always seen as my ‘goal weight.’ However, instead of being excited and proud, I am kind of . . . disappointed.

I have almost always been at least overweight and had never been below 175 pounds (I’m 5’8”) in my adult life. From early on, I had envisioned my goal weight at being 160 - just on the right side of 'healthy' but still achievable. Starting at 240 pounds, even this seemingly achievable goal felt pretty ambitious. I have started, stopped, stalled, and regressed with the best of them, but I have managed not to regain any significant amount of weight and always found my way back on track.

Finally, on my most recent weigh-in day I found myself tantalizingly close to goal; only 3 pounds to go! But I’m not as happy with my size as I always imagined I would be once I arrived here and the 3 pounds seems pretty unlikely to make a huge difference.

I know that it’s normal to need to re-evaluate but I can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by the prospect. The thought that I will need to lose even more is disheartening after coming this far. In some ways, what’s another 15 pounds after losing 80?? BUT, there’s also the fact that it’s more time I have to put in. I understand maintenance will be work too and that it never really ends, so I don't have any delusions about this getting easier - I was just looking forward to the change in goals and protocol. I guess I’m just kind of exhausted from the process?

Has anyone else found themselves in this position? How did you deal with it? If you chose to lose additional weight, how did you motivate yourself?

jemhh

From what I've observed, most people hit their weight loss goals and then need to spend time (a few years) continuing to work on improving their body compositions until they see what they want to see in the mirror. You've done a great job losing. I'd eat at maintenance and work on body composition. Do you do any resistance exercise? It makes a world of difference.

jordyngiulio

I am currently doing 3 days of HITT and following the "Strong" book after completing New Rules of Lifting for Women. I definitely love lifting and adding exercise has made a big difference in how I feel and has helped with back pain, but I haven't seen a big change in appearance.

Hopefully continuing with strength training at maintenance will help!

wizzybeth

I totally agree with strength-training exercising - working your abs, glutes, etc. Check this out...

In the first picture I weigh 245 lbs give or take. I did lose a lot of weight - got down to 199, but then I stopped tracking my food and gained most of it back - got to 240 before I said ENOUGH. However in the interim I have been working out at the gym - not just cardio, but strength training. The second pic is when I am at 237 and I think it looks quite amazing for what is only a 8 lb difference from the first pic.

cwolfman13

jemhh wrote: »

From what I've observed, most people hit their weight loss goals and then need to spend time (a few years) continuing to work on improving their body compositions until they see what they want to see in the mirror. You've done a great job losing. I'd eat at maintenance and work on body composition. Do you do any resistance exercise? It makes a world of difference.

Pretty much this...simply losing the weight often doesn't result in the kind of body people were actually shooting for.

The actual composition change takes time. From a composition standpoint, I look much better at 180 Lbs currently than I did when I hit that weight 4 years ago.

Stella3838

Agreeing with @jemhh I've read many other posts that after a long run at losing weight, people will eat at maintenance for a while and then hit it again. If just a recomp might work for you, awesome, there's something new to work at! If you'd like to lose more, maybe take a breather and get recharged. Either way, congrats on the loss so far!

junodog1

wizzybeth wrote: »

I totally agree with strength-training exercising - working your abs, glutes, etc. Check this out...

In the first picture I weigh 245 lbs give or take. I did lose a lot of weight - got down to 199, but then I stopped tracking my food and gained most of it back - got to 240 before I said ENOUGH. However in the interim I have been working out at the gym - not just cardio, but strength training. The second pic is when I am at 237 and I think it looks quite amazing for what is only a 8 lb difference from the first pic.

You must have had some awesome sauce!

wizzybeth

junodog1 wrote: »

wizzybeth wrote: »

I totally agree with strength-training exercising - working your abs, glutes, etc. Check this out...

In the first picture I weigh 245 lbs give or take. I did lose a lot of weight - got down to 199, but then I stopped tracking my food and gained most of it back - got to 240 before I said ENOUGH. However in the interim I have been working out at the gym - not just cardio, but strength training. The second pic is when I am at 237 and I think it looks quite amazing for what is only a 8 lb difference from the first pic.

You must have had some awesome sauce!

LOL lots of sweat! I am just mad I didn't take my measurements when I took the first pic.

Machka9

I reached my first goal, just within my normal BMI range and thought I might stop there.

I took a 1-month diet break where I didn't log anything I ate, and ate whatever I wanted, but exercised a lot because I love exercising and losing the weight made climbing mountains and cycling a 100 mile ride easier.

And then I commenced the logging and everything again, and dropped into the lower half of my normal BMI range.