Tips please, from those who've reached their goal weight!

My advice:
Lift with heavy weight. The scale number is not important. I've gone down a dress size without losing a lb since November (September - end of December was primarily cardio) with lifting as my primary exercise since January.

Good for you!

Just at the moment I'm working with the scale number, using calorie counting, healthy eating, and exercise. It's each to their own on this one, but I've decided to get to my goal... once there, though, as well as shifting to maintenance eating I do intend to try heavy lifting, some of the stories on here are very inspiring!

Super; to each their own. You asked for advice and recommendations, and I gave you mine. I interpret your response as a.."thanks, but no".

No harm no foul. Though, your profile says: "I'm near the point where I want to change from targetting weight loss to maintenance and building strength, and measure inches and bodyfat% with as much interest as I currently take in the scale."

Why not do that now? If you're still eating at a deficit and strength training, you will lose weight and bf%, preserve LBM, and look much better than with cardio alone.

I'm not looking to argue, so I apologize for my curt dialogue. But strength training NOW is key to get you where you want to be.

This! Strength train and don't put complete blind faith into MFP calorie goals - particularly if you don't have much to lose.

I started out using MFP numbers set for losing 1 lb per week, sedentary, which gave me around 1460, and I ate most of my exercise calories. I lost way too fast - about 17 pounds in 2 months. I also kept getting colds - seriously I think I had four different colds in two months. And then I plateaued. So I changed to half a pound per week and lightly active (1770 cal) in the third month, and lost a couple more.Then I changed to maintenance for the holidays (2010 cal) and came back from vacation to my goal weight.

Now I'm still at maintenance calories but upped my activity setting again to "active" (2150 cal :bigsmile: ), still eat back my exercise calories, and have gotten more serious/diligent with my heavy lifting. (Yesterday I burned about 900 calories, it was the day after my strength day, I ate every bit of those 3000 calories, and was still ravenous this morning.) I'm the same weight but clearly tightening up and getting smaller.

I really wish I would have started out eating more calories and lifting heavy. If I had, I'm confident I would be rocking my goal body right now instead of my goal weight.

Oh - I'm 6'0" and weigh 153 - 155, 38 years old.

First of all, if that is your current picture, You are gorgeous. I don't think you need to worry about addional weight loss. But, if you are talking about weight maintenance, you are just going to have to look at the labels and switch the snacks you eat to something less. Again, I know we all fear putting pounds back on once we have ditched em, but you look great. Congrats by the way.