Well this is a wake up call

Lounmoun

See how you feel as you go and don't get stuck on a particular number. You may find your loss slows as you get closer to a healthy weight and that you don't need to be exactly at 135 lbs to feel good. You can lift heavy while you lose weight.

For me, I was about 100 lbs at 18 years. I was my ideal weight of 125 at 25 years. I got up to 180 lbs. I'd like to go back to 125 lbs but I haven't weighed that for 17 years though. My goal is to be between 125-145 lbs. I feel that anywhere in that range will probably be comfortable and healthy for me.

size102b

Go by clothes size bmi and scales are really out dated

crooked_left_hook

Maybe not focus on a number? Just focus on losing and when you get to a spot that feels good to you then stop losing. That's what I did about 6 years back. I actually got to my goal but decided to lose a few pounds more. 5 less than goal felt right even though I could have lost an additional 10 and still be healthy. It's not always about a number on the scale and the weight that feels good in your 30's may or may not be the same as what felt good in your teens. How much you exercise and how much muscle you have/but LS can also play a part in what that end weight ends up being. A fit, toned 150 might wear the same size less toned 135. It's always good to have a plan when starting a weight loss journey, but more often than not I've found that the end goal will evolve along the way and being flexible helps me get the results I want.

AnnPT77

thebestyear2017 wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

OK, since most people are weighing in on one side here:

My lowest weight at full adult height was 113 at 5'6". That was a bit too low. I'd been sick (stomach bug), dropped from 118-ish. I was 18 or 19, don't remember - early college.

My lowest weight on this round of weight loss was 116, now at more like 5'5". I headed back up to goal, which was 120. I was 60 years old.

At first, I had a little bit of saggy skin on my face, and (as far as I can tell & confirmed by remarks people have made to me) it has shrunk back in the year I've been on maintenance (as some other areas where I had loose skin have also largely done). People who didn't know me before weight loss are surprised to learn that I used to be obese - it's not obvious.

I don't have more facial wrinkles than I did before losing weight. I don't believe I look worse than I did before I lost weight (different, yes - and overall, better: I look more muscular, even though I'm not). I will never have "womanly curves" - under the fat rolls I was, and am, built like a 14-year-old boy: No hips, no booty, not much waist indent, broad shoulders, no breasts (used to be small ones, but now bilateral mastectomies).

I'm not a vain or looks-focused person at all, not very interested in my appearance, so I doubt I'm deluding myself. My weight loss was about some very specific health goals.

OP is not going to lose all that weight overnight. She will have plenty of time to see and evaluate various intermediate weights, and - if appropriate - decide to stay at a higher weight if she feels & looks good there, or if that calorie level is simply more sustainable for her. Moreover, if she decides she's at too low a weight she can . . . shock! . . . gain some back.

When I started, I thought I'd be better off weighing a bit more than I had in my youth (people always say that! ), so my initial weight loss goal was higher - 130. But I always planned to re-evaluate when I got within 10 pounds or so of that, and maybe stop sooner, or go on further. It was pretty obvious to me that I should go on a bit further.

OP, just be you. Keep your eyes open, be honest with yourself, take photos periodically & look at them, etc. Our body composition changes over the years. You may be fine at your youthful weight, or you may find that you feel best a little higher. If you're paying attention, and are honest with yourself, and consider your health as well as your appearance, you'll reach the right conclusion.

P.S. I'm another vote for starting to lift weights now. Without some muscle stimulus, we're virtually certain to lose more than the minimum of muscle in a calorie deficit. It's hard, slow work for women to build muscle (without performance enhancing drugs), and it gets harder & slower the older we get. It makes excellent sense to hang onto as much as we can while losing weight, and avoid the effort of regaining it later.

My mother had breast cancer twice, and is one of the least vain people I've ever known - she has no idea how beautiful she is, before or after cancer - she is just happy to be alive. Thank you for your honesty and advice. You, your achievements and outlook are inspiring

That's so, so sweet of you - I appreciate it. I hope your mom is OK now! That said, I want to underscore this: We all do what we need to do. Cancer treatment is one. The other truly needful things . . . are things we choose, and set our minds to. Please: Thrive - all! You're beautiful, you're worth it.

AnvilHead

size102b wrote: »

Go by clothes size bmi and scales are really out dated

What?

Clothes sizes are inconsistent and fluctuate from manufacturer to manufacturer. Not to mention that "vanity sizing" has completely skewed the picture.

How can scale weight be "outdated"? It's an objective number which tells you how much you weigh.

BMI, although not the be all and end all, is at least a valid ballpark figure for the vast majority of people.

jemhh

goingoffthegrid135 wrote: »

annacole94 wrote: »

"May or may not" LITERALLY says it might be ok and it might not.

I doubt she'll want to get that low once she gets to a healthy BMI, but that is a far future problem.

I'm not saying it might or might not be ok. I'm saying I may not reach my goal. And I DO want to get that low. I was there before. Can I ask why it seems everyone is nitpicking? Sorry to sound mean but I did not ask for advice. Everyone is different. Only I know my body. And it is not a "far future problem". It's my problem now and it will not take me more than 18 months.

125 lbs in 18 months would be pretty speedy. It's important to be aware that weight loss slows significantly as you get lighter. It's not uncommon to lose just a couple of pounds a month for the last 10 or so pounds, for example. I'd plan on 2.5-3 years, including maintenance breaks. Regardless, best of luck to you.

tapwaters

Good luck! I went from 250 to 130 in about a year and a half, it's doable.

Psychgrrl

I think people are just expressing concern for what might be both an unrealistic timeframe to lose the weight and possibly unhealthy goal weight. Those things can lead to some drastic measures which we've seen people fall into.

The goal is to lose weight in a healthy, sustainable way so you can maintain the loss once you've achieved your goals. Being healthy means adequate nutrition, enough rest and treating yourself with the same patience and grace you'd extend to others.

My suggestion is to get to a healthy BMI and see how you feel. I would not go by clothing size. I have everything from a 2 to a 10. Find an activity you like and set some fitness goals. They can help you appreciate what your body can do as opposed to how thin it is or isn't. Do something that will help preserve lean muscle as you eat at a deficit. You can get to a healthy weight and feel you need to lose more because you think you look "soft." That's not necessarily a weight-loss issue.

And one more thing to think about ... consider if getting back to that 18 year-old weight has anything to do with your life back then. Could there be something you're subconsciously trying to recreate? The idea of feeling like your whole life is ahead of you? Or of not having all the adult responsibilities you have now (not matter how much you love them)?

Sure, your life, your body, your decision. Folks here have been obese, morbidly obese (raises hand) and lost over 100 pounds (raises hand again) and kept it off (2.5 years and counting). Many of us did not have a good approach (yep!) and we really do just want you to learn from our mistakes and maybe not have some of the issues we've had which can range from the comical (search for the "Alli" threads) to the serious (hair loss, hormone problems, heart issues).

savithny

Yeah, at 18, many women aren't fully mature, and the last phase of late puberty often involves a growth spurt with hips widening and more body fat being tucked away in breasts and hips. All part of the "ready to reproduce now!" thing.

Yes, it's not accurate to say you "can't" get to your high school weight. If you were an overweight adolescent, you probably can get to it and below it. But 135 at 5'10" is low end of normal, and may be aspirational.

cbelc2

170 would be a realistic goal, or ask your doctor. I had to get away from the 'diet' mindset. I love my Mediterranean way if eating and I can do it for life, although eventually I won't count calories. Having 'kid food' around is a temptation to eat it with them. The whole family dynamic has to change from quick filling food to quick healthy filling food. Family exercise has to become a fun habit. Water is the best thirst quenched for everyone. Make a plan and include the kids.

Duchy82

I weigh less now than I did when I was 14 so is it doable? yes, but, I had more muscle then than I do now as I was swimming competitively 5-7 times a week so size wise I was smaller then than I am now. Must look at doing a recomp soon....

enterdanger

Pregnancy and the stress of caring for little monkeys always makes me feel ok about making excuses for eating all the food and drinking all the drinks. A year after #2 was born I realized I weighed 230 and was 5'3"...and I didn't even weight that much when I was pregnant. I got down to 185 lbs on here before I got pregnant with #3 who is 11 weeks old. This time, I'm being mindful that I like to make excuses.

I'm not saying you did the same, but a lot of days I just felt like "I survived work and 2 kids and I DESERVE to eat and drink whatever makes me happy." But, it only made me happy temporarily. I'm about 9lbs away from pre-pregnancy weight and then I'd like to lose another 30lbs and see how I feel.

You can do this. It's important I think to figure out why you are eating. For me, it was a reward, stress relief kinda thing.