Reached target - what now?

congrats on all your hard work. I would suggest trying to tone up rather than losing more weight:flowerforyou:

That's awesome!!!! I want to be like you.

Now, you get to eat at Maintenance.. and eat back exercise calories with NO fear. I can't wait to be you some day

Make a new target

Great job on your loss. Now you need to set new goals. I reached my goal and decided I wanted MORE. Toning (for me) was it! Now I cut back on cardio and do a lot more weights. If toning isn't your thing than mabe look into advanced nutrition? What else can you come up with (new recipes, newdifferent foods you've never thought about??) to keep yourself interested. I think keeping yourself interested/motivated is key.

Congratulations on reaching your target now the hard work begins staying there! That is the hardest part I can tell you that from experience. I'd would just set new targets such as body fat %, or fitness targets and keep weighing yourself at least every other week to keep an eye on things.

For today though just enjoy the fact that you got there and be proud of yourself!

My body doesn't look how I imagined it would!

I bet. I don't understand those weight targets as they just focus on weight not bodyfat percentages. (I only keep my sig there for amusement value - I busted through my target and kept losing but still didn't look like what I wanted to.) Do you just look like a smaller version of the original you?

What do you want to achieve? Athletic look? Waif?

Congratulations. I'm almost at a similar point to you. I think the way to keep going is to set new targets. Maybe they are not weight targets. Maybe its "run a half marathon" or "do a pull up" or something else but I think making new fitness and health goals is a good way to proceed away from the scale

Well done!

Congratulations! What about setting some fitness goals that have nothing to do with weight loss, but everything to do with doing things you enjoy, things you've always wanted to try? Maybe things like competing in runs, biking, dance, hiking (the Appalachian Trail is one of my future goals), things like that. Shift focus from changing your body to enjoying it.

I'm following program for "weight loss". The quotes are because we don't have a weight loss goal. The ultimate goal is more like getting rid of visceral fat, and be in better shape.

But everyone in the group has some goal that has nothing to do with numbers, weight or anything.
Mine was to be able to jog, and to do some martial art.

When I started, I was at 345 lbs, so I couldn't jog or do any martial art.

Right not, at 283lbs, I can jog. Slowly, it doesn't last long, but i'm getting there. I subscribed to two runs this summer : one 5km and one 10km. I might not even jog all the time but I don't care.

I know I'm not ready for martial arts. Not supple, still too heavy. That's my next goal. It'll happen when it'll happen, and has nothing to do with the number of pounds I lost.

Hope it helps

I have been on my weight loss journey for almost 3 years, I gave myself small targets and when I reached them reset, I am now down to 124lbs from 171lbs, i'm 5ft 2ins. Very proud of what I have achieved but I feel lost now. I'm worried with no target to aim for I will start to regain the weight.
My body doesn't look how I imagined it would! Should I try and lose another 7lbs and see how I feel or try to tone up more by lifting more weights?

Decisions, decisions.
:huh: :huh: :huh:

Go to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate, then be back to 130 again. Then you will have your 124lb goal to get to again.

It would be my guess that the eating and exercise habits you have developed since you started are now an integral part of your lifestyle.

So, put away the scale!

Replace this with body measurements and fitness goals/achievements of some sort. Speed, distance, resistance weight, etc. etc. etc. Walk, bike, run, dance, yoga,etc., etc., etc.,

"There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." Bruce Lee

And, remember to have fun and enjoy the process of reaching what ever new goal you set for yourself!

Hearty and sincere congratulations to you on meeting your goal weight! :drinker:

A couple of lifelong goals:

1) Shed body fat by a realistic amount and then maintain your new body fat percentage for life.

2) In tandem with goal 2, lift heavy. Then lift heavier on a regular basis. Create a chart to track the size of weights you use.

I reached my target weight more than a year ago and these two goals have been my lifestyle habits since Feb 18, 2012.

Best wishes. :flowerforyou:

Awesome reply Bejaem!

Kellster11- we have similar situations. I started MFP when I was 185 lbs., my goal weight was 125 lbs. and it took me about 9 1/2 months of tracking food and jogging to get here. I started maintenance in mid-December 2012 and am still getting used to it. In addition to MFP, I did the couch to 5K program, then worked up to a 10K and am now training for a 1/2 marathon.

Remember to get to the point where you are at and to stay there, it has to be a lifestyle change, not a diet. I think this change in mindset is what will help me be successful this time around. (This is the 3rd time in my adult life that I have gained a lot of weight and then lost it).

Enjoy your accomplishments and focus on things that you'd like to do that maybe you couldn't before whether it be running a race, going hiking, bike riding, etc. If you want to tone up, go for it! And remember muscle weighs more than fat so the scale might move up a bit, but in a good way. Go by how your clothes fit, buy yourself something new. Who wants to spend money on larger clothes?

Take it day by day and continue to track your calories honestly. Congratulations on how far you have come and enjoy the rest of the journey. It is the beginning of your new, healthier life!

Thank you for all your replies, I think the lifting goals is the way to go.

I run lots and completed a half marathon last year, which was itself a goal reached, I have started lifting over the last few months and have noticed a huge change in body shape. I took measurements when I started 3 yaers ago and I have lost 13 inches off my waist!

I ttok some time out 18 months ago to maintain so i know I can do that, but I just feel I need something to work towards or I might lose focus and slip back.

Weights here I come.

How about a different challenge that comes from a different sport? Pick a sport you've always fancied doing.