To those of you who have found success:

I am not close to my goals but I am thinking about getting there in the next 6--8 months.
Most people I have chatted with say that they are/plan to continue tracking their food and calories. Some people don't track every meal, but they do continue tracking at least periodically.

I think staying active and accountable to our On-Line Family will be a big part of maintaining our success once we reach our Goal Weights. After all, SUCCESS is a Journey, NOT a Destination.

Ok... Here are some questions that have been brewing in my mind lately... feel free to answer as many as you'd like. :happy:

What's your life like now that you've met your weightloss goal? How are you managing your weight? Are you still counting your calories? On that note, what are you eating for calories? Any words of advice you'd like to share?

I'm getting close to my goal and want to start planning on how to do things after I actually meet that weight loss goal.

What other types of goals have you set for yourself other than weight loss goals?

I think these are all things that many people wonder who have been on that weightloss journey. If you have any insight... any at all... please feel free to share!!!

Wow! Those are some excellent questions! While not at my goal yet, I am very close, like you. These last few pounds just don't want to budge. But I feel I have made the lifestyle change successfully. I have no desire to return to my former eating habits. Exercise has become a standard part of my daily routine and I find myself lost without it. I have not given up eating anything that I am not willing to give up for the rest of my life. I stil watch my colories in and calories burned through MFP and stay on track.

I am planning to retire later this year and that will be a real test. I will lose access to the Fitness Facility and find myself with more time on my hands. I am planning now on how to use that time wisely to enjoy retirement without regaining any of the weight lost. But I will find ways to keep exercise and eating in moderation as part of my life because this is a lifestyle change and not a diet.

My future goals include travel, additional rounds of golf, more days of skiing, and possibly community service as a volunteer at some organization that can use my talents to improve the lives of others on this planet.

Those are some very complicated questions. These are my thoughts & advice, as a thin person who has never been overweight, but consistently maintains-

How are you managing your weight? You will always need to hold yourself accountable for what you eat and how much you exercise, regardless of reaching your goal. You will still need to keep a system where you can tally your daily consumption and burn. You must exercise consistently and be thoughtful of what you eat for the rest of your life. I personally think this site is fantastic for that.

Are you still counting your calories? YES. Think Risk vs. Reward. I count daily, but for maintenance you should really consider a weekly count, because you should allow yourself to indulge from time to time but know that one bad night out to dinner means one extra day at the gym and salad for lunch the next 5 days.

On that note, what are you eating for calories? Squeeze as much lean protein, fruits, and veggies into your life as possible. These foods not only are filling with less calories, they are body transforming. Just by changing the types of foods you eat, your entire body shape and composition can change.

Any words of advice you'd like to share? Don't ever give up or listen to haters and naysayers. It's not just about being thin or physical beauty. Diet and fitness are important for a healthy long life with strength, flexibility, speed, & endurance. And don't even get me started on the preventability of osteoporosis and heart disease among other popular ailments in women.

What other types of goals have you set for yourself other than weight loss goals? The best way to not think about food and dieting is to spend time doing other things to improve yourself and have pride in. One goal is to further my education so I'm working on studying for my gmat to get my MBA, another goal is to be a better mom and have more quality time with my family, so I try to set goals for us as a family to really spend quality time together not just live around each other.

Good luck with everything.

First, it depends on your definition of success! I feel anyone who starts a better way of eating and living........along with adding exercise to each day.............is already successful!

For me I needed small goals to reach.....losing 40-50 pounds was too daunting of a task for me to even fathom.

What's your life like now that you've met your weightloss goal? I am still meeting my goals! This allows me to celebrate and appreciate each day of my life. I feel healthier and more confident.

How are you managing your weight? I have my food set at maint. cals and exercise each day.

Are you still counting your calories? yes. Absolutely

On that note, what are you eating for calories? Getting back to normal now after the holidays, but I just try to avoid any thing white, fried, or baked in butter. Eat 5 veg/fruit a day and hitting my protien goals

Any words of advice you'd like to share? YES!!

*Enjoy! Enjoy today....did you log every cal and work out? Or take the stairs instead of the elevator? Savour those moments.........they will bring you back when you fall off the wagon.

*Make friends! I got back on the wagon from making great friends here on MFP....if not for Marla or Lori or all of the Black Team....I may be in a sugar induced coma by now :laugh: Their support is priceless!

*Live! you will not stick to it if you do not allow life to go on. Eating a salad everyday at lunch is great but having that burger with buds is also important. Plan for it and have fun!

*Move! Take the stairs, park in the back, take a lap around the grocery store with a cart load, carry your kid up the stairs, walk in the grass.............just move! You will be surprised how much exercise you get in doing these simple things.

* Educate youself! If you do not know the answer look it up, ask a friend, post a thread........but education is key to keeping it off. I KNOW that friend chicken breast is 500 calories..........so do I choose to eat it and have a salad for dinner.......or exercise extra hard that day? KNOWING is the key !!

What other types of goals have you set for yourself other than weight loss goals? I have been set on maint goals since hitting 30 pounds. I am happy at that weight, but my body wanted to lose more so 4-6 came off without thinking about it. I kept to maint cals without eating my exercise cals unless they were heavy...like over 400. This kept me losing about 1/2 a month ( WOOT!)
I have set a goal of running 1 mile within 6 months. I have a goal and that truly helps me

Jeannie