when you reach your goal weight.

carolmcgov

I would love to know how many of you who have reached your goal weight and were happy with it. How many of you felt like you still need to lose a bit more and maybe even how many of you felt you reached your goal body before your target weight goal.

TavistockToad

i was happy with my goal weight for about 9 months, then i decided i wanted to lose a bit more bodyfat, and am about 10lbs heavier than my original goal, but with a lower bf%

PunyPete

I reached my goal weight about August last year, and I quite liked the way I looked. I was (and still am) in the best shape of my life so it felt great. Over time though, you'll probably start hating the way you look again (I still look the same as I did in August) and now I hate the way I look more than I did when I was a fatty. Now I'm trying to gain 20lbs but finding it much harder to do than lose it.

carolmcgov

Good work! Im 2lbs from my goal weight and like you I think I will then work on reducing body fat/adding lean muscle rather than losing anymore

TavistockToad

I reached my goal weight about August last year, and I quite liked the way I looked. I was (and still am) in the best shape of my life so it felt great. Over time though, you'll probably start hating the way you look again (I still look the same as I did in August) and now I hate the way I look more than I did when I was a fatty. Now I'm trying to gain 20lbs but finding it much harder to do than lose it.

your post makes me sad....

drusilla126

Ooh good question. Now that I'm getting close I'm worrying I may never be happy but we'll see. I'm still far better off than a year ago.

carolmcgov

I reached my goal weight about August last year, and I quite liked the way I looked. I was (and still am) in the best shape of my life so it felt great. Over time though, you'll probably start hating the way you look again (I still look the same as I did in August) and now I hate the way I look more than I did when I was a fatty. Now I'm trying to gain 20lbs but finding it much harder to do than lose it.

I put on about a stone after having two children bringing me up to 9stone so I was never actually big, I'll never be truly happy with my body again but it has def improved. Mostly thanks to lifting weights

carolmcgov

Ooh good question. Now that I'm getting close I'm worrying I may never be happy but we'll see. I'm still far better off than a year ago.

You look great in your avi!

alpine1994

I am happy with my weight, but I am not happy with the amount of fat that I still have. Right now I am working on reducing body fat while maintaining this weight, so I upped my calories and am doing more weight training. I won't sweat it if I go up or down a few lbs to achieve that.

birdsncrabs

Carol, I'm glad you asked this question. It's something that was going through my mind as well. I'm 1 pound away now from my goal, so I've been thinking about this. I'm thinking that I need to shift into maintenance, reduce flab and increase muscle mass. Then after a few months re-evaluate.

Pete, I think I understand where you're coming from. Compared to where I was, I am very happy with the progress I've made. But when your current body becomes the standard you compare yourself with, you can become somewhat harsher. For me, I know that I need to tone up the midsection, and re-add muscle mass that I've lost in the arms and chest. I hope that you gain your weight through muscle and not fat.

Rick

carolmcgov

I am happy with my weight, but I am not happy with the amount of fat that I still have. Right now I am working on reducing body fat while maintaining this weight, so I upped my calories and am doing more weight training. I won't sweat it if I go up or down a few lbs to achieve that.

This is what I need to do aswel. I think I just fear the scales reading a higher number!

acogg

I have reset my goals everytime I have reached one. Currently I am aiming toward a fitness level rather than weight loss. I know if I let myself quit because I have achieved an end goal, I will go back to my old habits. Always having a goal keeps me focused on health.

majope

Two years ago I went from 200 pounds to the 160s and decided to stop there, in part to give my body a break after eating at a deficit for six months, but also because I was thrilled with my new shape and wanted to make sure I could maintain it. I felt normal. I usually wore a 12, sometimes even a 10, which meant clothes from the regular section of the store instead of plus sizes, my car seat belt fit totally differently, and my hips were now comfortable in an airplane seat. It was great!

However, I was still technically overweight, even though not obese anymore. And I'm a slow runner. After about a year and a half at my new weight, I decided to lose some more in hopes of getting faster and getting rid of belly and back fat. Now 8 pounds from my new goal weight, and will probably stop again for a while when I get there and see how it feels.

carolmcgov

Carol, I'm glad you asked this question. It's something that was going through my mind as well. I'm 1 pound away now from my goal, so I've been thinking about this. I'm thinking that I need to shift into maintenance, reduce flab and increase muscle mass. Then after a few months re-evaluate.

Rick

Good work! This is the same as me. I need to do more weights and eat a bit more. I think it will be hard for me menatally to stop losing, I will miss that feeling seeing the number on the scale go down

carolmcgov

I have reset my goals everytime I have reached one. Currently I am aiming toward a fitness level rather than weight loss. I know if I let myself quit because I have achieved an end goal, I will go back to my old habits. Always having a goal keeps me focused on health.

Well done on reaching your goals! I think this is what I need to do aswel. Get my mind off weight loss and on to fitness and building muscle

ratherbeskiing

I hit it last year- I gained over the winter (10lbs) and am trying to get rid of the last 10 but I have no desire to go lower I think it would look nasty. I am happy with where I am

carolmcgov

Two years ago I went from 200 pounds to the 160s and decided to stop there, in part to give my body a break after eating at a deficit for six months, but also because I was thrilled with my new shape and wanted to make sure I could maintain it. I felt normal. I usually wore a 12, sometimes even a 10, which meant clothes from the regular section of the store instead of plus sizes, my car seat belt fit totally differently, and my hips were now comfortable in an airplane seat. It was great!

However, I was still technically overweight, even though not obese anymore. And I'm a slow runner. After about a year and a half at my new weight, I decided to lose some more in hopes of getting faster and getting rid of belly and back fat. Now 8 pounds from my new goal weight, and will probably stop again for a while when I get there and see how it feels.

Good work!

jmuller06

I'm about 4 lbs from my goal weight and could be happy here....I think. My next mini goal is to quit smoking and I expect to put a little weight back on. So, my theory is once I lose these last 4 the no smoking starts. In the meantime, I'm focusing more on toning now and training for a race or two this year.

Melissakay1222

I hit my goal weight about a month ago and then decided to drop just a couple more pounds. Right now I'm maintaining and loving this phase! This morning I actually weighed in a few pounds below my goal weight so I now have some wiggle room for the weekend. Now that the hard part is behind me, I can concentrate on toning more. I find that you just have to keep tweaking as you go . . . until you are happy!

carolmcgov

I'm about 4 lbs from my goal weight and could be happy here....I think. My next mini goal is to quit smoking and I expect to put a little weight back on. So, my theory is once I lose these last 4 the no smoking starts. In the meantime, I'm focusing more on toning now and training for a race or two this year.

Congrats ! You look great

BlessedMommy3x

Last January I weighed the highest I ever had of 242lbs. I set a goal weight of 170 last year (lose 72lbs) because that put me in a healthy BMI range. When I acheived that weight (took only 5 months) it looked healthy....but I still had areas that I needed to slim down. From there I stopped cal counting, but continued to exercise and lost a additional 17 lbs and hit 153lbs (89lbs total lost) . AT that weight I was 100% happy, I just wanted to tighten up/add muscle. BUT the exact month I hit that weight I found out I was pregnant again.Fast forward to now.. I just had my little girl just about a week ago, and am not cleared to exercise... But my plan is to not only get down to 153lbs again, but actually exceed it and hit 150 :-)

carolmcgov

I hit my goal weight about a month ago and then decided to drop just a couple more pounds. Right now I'm maintaining and loving this phase! This morning I actually weighed in a few pounds below my goal weight so I now have some wiggle room for the weekend. Now that the hard part is behind me, I can concentrate on toning more. I find that you just have to keep tweaking as you go . . . until you are happy!

You look great in your avi, well done ! Love your arms !

vypeters

I overshot my goal weight by quite a bit, and think I look too thin. I am not trying to deliberately gain back because I know bounce backs happen, but won't resist gaining up to 10 lbs from where I am (I'm quite large framed and look a little bony).

I had a hard time seeing how thin I had gotten. I think that's a danger - we still have a 'fat' image of ourselves. I find that photographs do more than the mirror to show you how you really look. I think something about a picture helps us distance and evaluate more objectively. Have someone point their phone at you periodically to get a more realistic view of your appearance.

carolmcgov

I set a goal weight of 170 last year because that put me in a healthy BMI range. When I acheived that weight it looked healthy....but I still had areas that I needed to slim down. From there I stopped cal counting, but continued to exercise and lost a additional 17 lbs and hit 153lbs. AT that weight I was 100% happy, I just wanted to tighten up/add muscle. BUT the exact month I hit that weight I found out I was pregnant again.Fast forward to now.. I just had my little girl just about a week ago, and am not cleared to exercise... But my plan is to not only get down to 153lbs again, but actually exceed it and hit 150 :-)

Congrats on the weight loss and on your little girl! I have two little girls , 5 and 3 ! If your little one is like mine she will want to join in your exercise before you know it!

carolmcgov

I overshot my goal weight by quite a bit, and think I look too thin. I am not trying to deliberately gain back because I know bounce backs happen, but won't resist gaining up to 10 lbs from where I am (I'm quite large framed and look a little bony).

I had a hard time seeing how thin I had gotten. I think that's a danger - we still have a 'fat' image of ourselves. I find that photographs do more than the mirror to show you how you really look. I think something about a picture helps us distance and evaluate more objectively. Have someone point their phone at you periodically to get a more realistic view of your appearance.

Totally agree different weights look so different on different people. Even two people of the same height, I think its all about what you feel the best and most comfortable at.

amiscci

I overshot my goal weight by quite a bit, and think I look too thin. I am not trying to deliberately gain back because I know bounce backs happen, but won't resist gaining up to 10 lbs from where I am (I'm quite large framed and look a little bony).

I had a hard time seeing how thin I had gotten. I think that's a danger - we still have a 'fat' image of ourselves. I find that photographs do more than the mirror to show you how you really look. I think something about a picture helps us distance and evaluate more objectively. Have someone point their phone at you periodically to get a more realistic view of your appearance.

^^^ This! First of all, huge props to your incredible accomplishment!
I too ended up about 10 lbs below my original, never thought I'd get to, goal point. I am happy with the result, but
realize I am struggling with a body image issue. As you see yourself very slowly change, it's hard to know it's enough
and I was telling my husband just yesterday I don't feel like I "look" very thin even though I know (pants size etc) that I am.
When a few people tell you "gone too far", it's time to relax and take a breath, and decide the next challenge. For me, that's to gain a few back and measure that as a successful next goal. And then maintain that :-) I'll still be thin at 5 lbs more-- that's my new goal.

BodyCombatGirl73

I had an original goal of low 140's since I knew that was a good weight for me but when I got there, it was so easy to keep going that I ended up resetting my goal to mid-130's and finally landed at 133 by mid-summer last year (started MFP in May 2012 and I'm 5'8"). What I would say about listening to those around you is very important and it took awhile for me to really "hear" them...at that weight I was too thin, especially on the upper part of my body and face. My bones were sticking out and I kept getting asked if I was tired! :yawn: :frown:

So thankfully, living in a northestern climate means we hibernate a little in the winter and I was able to slowly gain about 5 lbs over the course of the Fall/Winter and find myself at a much "better looking" weight! My clothes all still fit the same because I am quite active and do a variety of things to stay in shape.

So in short, switching from "lose" to "maintenance" can be tough and you constantly have to re-evaluate. I am setting fitness goals for myself and have just added running to my repertoire and have my first 5K race this weekend! Thinking of a 10K for the Fall. But in general, just loving life at the moment!

snooj

My first goal weight was 125 at 5'3". I got down to it, was happy about the weight loss but still wasn't happy with how I looked. I was probably about 25% body fat by then. I'm now about 115 with a goal of 110, and I'll reevaluate then. I'm pretty happy right now with my body, and think 110 will be pretty awesome.

carolmcgov

You're around the same as me. Im 5ft5 and 114. Goal is 112

BlessedMommy3x

I set a goal weight of 170 last year because that put me in a healthy BMI range. When I acheived that weight it looked healthy....but I still had areas that I needed to slim down. From there I stopped cal counting, but continued to exercise and lost a additional 17 lbs and hit 153lbs. AT that weight I was 100% happy, I just wanted to tighten up/add muscle. BUT the exact month I hit that weight I found out I was pregnant again.Fast forward to now.. I just had my little girl just about a week ago, and am not cleared to exercise... But my plan is to not only get down to 153lbs again, but actually exceed it and hit 150 :-)

Congrats on the weight loss and on your little girl! I have two little girls , 5 and 3 ! If your little one is like mine she will want to join in your exercise before you know it!

Thank you.. This is my third little one. my other two (3 & 4 yr old) already workout with me :-)

Etienne54

Carol, I'm glad you asked this question. It's something that was going through my mind as well. I'm 1 pound away now from my goal, so I've been thinking about this. I'm thinking that I need to shift into maintenance, reduce flab and increase muscle mass. Then after a few months re-evaluate.

Pete, I think I understand where you're coming from. Compared to where I was, I am very happy with the progress I've made. But when your current body becomes the standard you compare yourself with, you can become somewhat harsher. For me, I know that I need to tone up the midsection, and re-add muscle mass that I've lost in the arms and chest. I hope that you gain your weight through muscle and not fat.

Rick

That's exactly what I understood from him too. Like you guys, once I hit my goal, i'll need to gain 20kgs in lean mass which would take me around.. 3-5 years of training (Bulking/cutting). Quite a journey but it'll be fun i'm sure.