How do you know when you're done losing weight?

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Replies

  • andrewjuu
    andrewjuu Posts: 76 Member
    I was wondering the same thing after I've blown thru 2 of my "target" weights (so far) on my way down. I'm inclined not to use a stat (like BMI) or a generic height/weight chart. I decided I will go by a combination of the following factors (listed in no particular order of importance):

    1) What I look like in the mirror w/ no clothes on,
    2) What I feel like,
    2) What my wife & close friends & family think,
    3) A professional medical opinion, ie., what my GP says when I see him next. He may set me a new target since I blew thru the one he set for me when I started. Or (going by exam results & metrics he gets via blood work, etc.), he may tell me I'm at a healthy weight already.

    That's my strategy for now though I reserve the right to change based on what I read here later tonight when i have time to read the whole comversation.
  • Camera_BagintheUK
    Camera_BagintheUK Posts: 707 Member
    Well, according to this BMI calculator, http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tools/bmi_calculator/bmi.shtml you've still got 15lbs to go to reach your healthy BMI - but even that's not foolproof! But it suggests your instinct is correct and you need to lose more weight.

    BMI has flaws. According to this he is now in a healthy BMI : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9816596/Interactive-calculator-do-you-win-or-lose-with-the-new-BMI.html

    IMO BMI is a garbage stat..I have 13% body fat but BMI says I am "overweight" ....really??

    Well I did say it's not foolproof :smile:
  • LiminalAscendance
    LiminalAscendance Posts: 489 Member
    Hi everyone,
    Been dieting now for 11 months. Down from 322 pound to 210 pounds. (I'm 41 years old and 6 feet 3 inches tall).
    This website and the wonderful people here have been a huge help to me on the way. I'm very happy with my loss but I was aiming to lose at least another 10 to bring it down to a nice round number.
    That was until I went home over the weekend and saw the pictures that were taken by my family. Must admit, I was surprised to see how much slimmer I looked. Funny how the mirror can lie, but the camera never does.
    For a while now people have been telling me that I've lost enough and should stop but I ignored them.
    My question is, how do you know when you're done? Should I take the advice of my friends and family and maintain here or push on with the weight loss?
    Here is a before/after pic I just made using photojoiner.net
    Have a great day everyone,
    Paul

    First off, great work!

    I was interested in this topic, since I've been thinking the same thing myself.

    I was hoping to see my abs a bit more clearly, but I think perhaps I need a "cleaner" diet for that to happen. Since I won't be doing that, I may decide to start relaxing what I eat.
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    You 'stop' when YOU are satisfied. But it's not really stopping, you actually move to maintenance or decide on a new goal: definition, strength, endurance...whatever.
  • zacharydeveaux
    zacharydeveaux Posts: 17 Member
    I'm also 6 foot 3 and have lost quite a bit (started 296 - now at 203). I've been getting the same kind of comments from people saying I don't need to lose more. Not that I care what they think, but I have noticed the comments....

    Anyway, I had set my initial goal weight for 180 (middle of the BMI - I know...I know....BMI is inaccurate, etc....) - though I plan to re-evaluate it soon if necessary. I'm basically just waiting for my weight loss trend to taper off or to hit my goal. Whatever comes first.

    I'll worry about 'toning' once I'm satisfied with the bulk weight loss. I find I look like I lost some muscle along with some fat, which was probably due to my exercise being 100% cardio.
  • suzyfj8
    suzyfj8 Posts: 257 Member
    I agree with everyone else when you are happy with your body and how you look then stop dieting and start maintaining, but we are always a work in progress so maybe make fitness goals instead?
    CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss, it is incredible you should be very very proud of yourself, you are an inspiration!
  • harlanJEN
    harlanJEN Posts: 1,089 Member
    IMO you are never "done"..there is always a new goal whether it be body fat %, strength, bulk etc....

    Once you let off the gas then old habits come back and next thing you know you have gained ten pounds..

    So keep finding new goals...lose the last ten pounds, then focus on getting to 15% body fat or something..

    ^^^ THIS. ultimately, you go with what YOU feel like. It's truly not the scale , or even what folks say. Although its FAB getting that feedback. I will never be DONE. However, I am done with chasing scale numbers. I'm going for SLEEKER. More muscle definition, strength, less body fat , spectacular Delts, etc. will always be something! I am sooo competitive. Challenge is FUN.

    You look spectacular BTW. I groove on the before pic too. Totally diff look though! Def younger looking now. Woot!
  • paxbfl
    paxbfl Posts: 391 Member
    As others have said, BMI is not worth much. It's an "ignorant" number because it doesn't know how much muscle you have when it makes it's calculations. I'm also around 13% body fat and "overweight" according to BMI because I have a decent amount of muscle mass.

    Everyone should make it a goal to be in the healthy body fat range for their age. Beyond that, it's very personal and depends on what you want to do. My goal was to get to 12% body fat but I'm starting to rethink that a bit. As I approach that goal I don't feel quite as good as I did before - I'm losing strength and energy. So I may just stay around 15% body fat for a while... work on building muscle. Maybe later I'll cut body fat at a higher overall body weight and see if that helps.

    I found this article helpful, as well as the links the article contains. It can help you choose a goal as well as chart your progress to this point.

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/
  • clownfear_7
    clownfear_7 Posts: 59
    Brother, you look great! Just had to get that out of the way.
    We are quite similar. I am 42, 6' tall, started out at 310 (the most I have weighed was 330), and I am now down to 239.
    It is very hard to look in the mirror and think I still look fat. Yeah, I know that I am smaller than before, but I don't see it as very drastic. It's a twisted trick of the mind that when I was fat I saw myself as not being that bad and now that I am much smaller I see myself as needing to lose more.
    I am actually quite content at my current weight, but there are some activities and events that I would like to participate in and weighing less is definitely going to help me be more successful. An example is that in a month in my area we have a 10 mile man vs. horse marathon. I know that my success in that run is going to be dependent on losing more weight.
    So, to answer your question I guess you have to 1. be healthy, 2. have goals and see if where you are at is going to get you there, and 3. seek to be content with your success.
    Keep up the fight, but please don't allow your struggle to be mentally unhealthy.
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    IMO you are never "done"..there is always a new goal whether it be body fat %, strength, bulk etc....

    Once you let off the gas then old habits come back and next thing you know you have gained ten pounds..

    So keep finding new goals...lose the last ten pounds, then focus on getting to 15% body fat or something..

    This. We are all in AA.

    Both guys look like nice guys--the one on the right seems a touch happier.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    in my world, you are never done.
    you have to keep with it and maintain.
  • SteveHunt113
    SteveHunt113 Posts: 648 Member
    Well done! You should be proud of what you've accomplished!

    I agree that you are never truly done. There should always be a goal.

    I would not let others influence what you decide. It's about what makes you happy ... so long as you are staying healthy. And you look very healthy!
  • Mitzigan94
    Mitzigan94 Posts: 393 Member
    your doone once u feel the positiveness in your personalirty?

    by the way u look much younger on your after photos!
  • nicolen160
    nicolen160 Posts: 197 Member
    You look awesome and I think you are fine, but I think it is up to you how much you lose and what are comfortable with. I have people tell me all the time that I need to stop but I know I am not where I want to be yet, even though I have lost 105 lbs. I think they just say that since they are not use to seeing you that way and it's weird to them. Keep up the good work! Congrats!
  • Happyme2009
    Happyme2009 Posts: 233 Member
    Well, according to me, you are "done". :)
    Done losing weight, done getting younger, and done a good job!
    Congrats! now maintain! awesome result.
  • gloriaqzhao
    gloriaqzhao Posts: 40 Member
    IMO you are never "done"..there is always a new goal whether it be body fat %, strength, bulk etc....

    Once you let off the gas then old habits come back and next thing you know you have gained ten pounds..

    So keep finding new goals...lose the last ten pounds, then focus on getting to 15% body fat or something..

    Could not agree more! If you relax and switch back to your old eating habits, you may lose all your hard work and gain the lbs back. Also it will be even more difficult and take longer to lose the same amount of weight next time, as your metabolism may slowed with aging, and with calorie restriction. If you are happy with your weight, you can aim for toning and muscle building next.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    You look fantastic.

    I also wanted to get to a nice round number, but mostly I looked in the mirror and the camera and just decided - that's enough. It was four pounds over my ultimate goal, but in the middle of the 5 pound range the NIH identifies as my 'ideal weight'.

    I went on maintenance. And, interestingly, slowly went down to that nice round number without trying. I even dipped below. I am working on maintaining my weight but increasing my fitness. I also found I dropped inches for months after I stopped dropping weight.
  • gloriaqzhao
    gloriaqzhao Posts: 40 Member
    You look fantastic.

    I also wanted to get to a nice round number, but mostly I looked in the mirror and the camera and just decided - that's enough. It was four pounds over my ultimate goal, but in the middle of the 5 pound range the NIH identifies as my 'ideal weight'.

    I went on maintenance. And, interestingly, slowly went down to that nice round number without trying. I even dipped below. I am working on maintaining my weight but increasing my fitness. I also found I dropped inches for months after I stopped dropping weight.

    Congratulations! the additional muscle you built up worked wonders!
  • Rage_Phish
    Rage_Phish Posts: 1,507 Member
    looking awfully relaxed and mellow in the before pic
  • Fivepts
    Fivepts Posts: 517 Member
    Well, according to me, you are "done". :)
    Done losing weight, done getting younger, and done a good job!
    Congrats! now maintain! awesome result.


    Me too. I think you're done (focusing on weight loss). You look great. Do a happy dance. Your stats are the same as my husbands and he looks great. If you want to be muscled then there you go...not done.

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