Got to goal!! Pics, and need some advice

Pickles11

I can't believe it but I finally met my goal. I have never done that before. Sure, I've had success before, but I've never made a weight loss goal and actually met it.

How I did it:
I started off last year (around sept or oct 2011) on my own, and wasnt' very successful. Knowing what I know now about weight loss etc, I know I was very clueless.

Somehow I found MFP in about Nov. I wanted to lose weight fast, so I set my calories to 1200. That also didn't work. I was working out SO hard, hungry all the time, and lost nothing. It made no sense. Instead of giving up, I kept going, and read some advice that I needed more calories. I decided to up my calories to 1lb loss a week, so I was eating around 1500 calories. I also learned how important eating back my exercise calories are. I finally started seeing results. I was doing random workouts like Turbo Fire and going to the gym.

I kicked it up a notch when I got a HRM and realized how little I burn. I am for some reason really weird and burn WAY less than other people. It sucks, but now I know.

I started a 10k training program in January and ran my first 10k in April 15th in 57 mins.

Now, I am training for a half marathon. I'm really excited.

Pics:









Ok, so if you've made it this far, I need some advice. And trust me, I can take it so please be honest.

Should I: Keep my calorie deficit (half lb a week) and lose 5 more lbs?
OR
Should I: Go to maintenance and continue my lifting and half training?
OR
Any other advice?

SWilland

I Vote for go to maintenance and continue your lifting and half training, but ease into the calorie upping. Lifting will do lovely things to your body (not that you need it, you look damn good now). If your not super happy with the results after a month or two you can always go back to deficit. Listen to you body, it will tell you what it wants :bigsmile:

pspetralia

First, congratulations!!! I vote for maintenance & weight lifting. From what my MFP friends say that is the way to go. Congrats & good luck on whatever path you choose!!!

bitty1taz

I think keep what your doing and just do more weights....

Oh, and congrats on meeting your goal!!

madmex569

congrats. looks great. it's time to hit the weights and not care so much about the scale. building muscle will burn calories. awesome work

Takes2long

I'm with everyone else. Maintence and lifting! You look great. Congrats!!!:bigsmile:

SergeantSunshine_reused

I would stay in a deficit and lose maybe 3-4 more pounds. Then look hot for summer and keep lifting and maintain! Maybe a surplus for a while in the fall.

Sublog

I would stay in a deficit and lose maybe 3-4 more pounds. Then look hot for summer and keep lifting and maintain! Maybe a surplus for a while in the fall.

Agree with Sunshine...

jenj1313

I think you could go either way. Personally, I would probably find it harder to go to maintenance, then switch back to deficit if I decided I needed to lose more later, but that's just me. Lifting should help you keep losing inches, though, so I'd say do what you feel is going to fit into your lifestyle the best.

Good luck!
Jen

bobbi_jo2

I would say slowly move into maintenance, like increasing your calories by 100-200 per week until you are there. So that could take some time and allow you to shed a few more pounds. Plus, I think even once you are in maintenance, if you are doing serious weight lifting (heavy and not just little 5 lb dumb bells), then you will continue to lose inches and still continue to look even more amazing.

Great job on your success so far! You look incredible!

tabulator32

I vote for keeping the half-pound deficit and start working our gradually. If you feel tired, gradually up your calories to get the strength you need.

(Just my humble opinion.)

Whatever you do, I hope it works well for you and CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING YOUR GOAL!!

That's awesome!!

Pickles11

Thanks guys, you're so kind! I definitely feel great but agree I could lose a few more inches. I think I will do the heavy lifting! I am afraid to do maintenance calories, but you're right, I should up them slowly.

Oh, and for some reason this pic didn't seem to show up properly: