The opinions of others would help
JennNH12
Posts: 56
I started my fat loss journey back in 2009. I lost 38lbs and was feeling pretty good about it all. My Step Dad was in and out of ICU and rehab hospitals when I started. I was busy working out, running to see him, raising my family and trying to keep my little farm going for the sake of my family. It was a very stressful period in my life. I think shedding fat and working out everyday was really the only thing that helped me through all of it. Then my Dad came home......to die. Together as a family my sisters, Mom and I all gathered around to honor his wishes. He was dying of pancreatic cancer. He had 6 cancers all together, but that one was the monster. He caught a tiny cold, one you or I could easily get over in a few days. The cold did him in. For a week I went to my parents everyday to take care of Dad while Mom tied up loose HR ends at work so she could be home with him until he died. Very long story short.......that week took the wind out of my sails. I stayed strong for him all day. In the middle of panic attacks and breathing issues (he had lung cancer as well). I saw grown men white as sheets while they visited. My Uncle even passed out in the middle of my Dad's struggles because he thought it was the end. I would stay strong all day, then come home and have nothing left for my family. I did not bother to eat, I cried all night long and then tried to sleep so I could go back and handle it all again the next day. When Dad passed I stopped working out, eating or caring about anything when it came to taking care of myself. I ended up getting back into poor eating, and forgetting that I had goals. This was 2 years ago. I am currently working my tail off and shedding the pounds. Back then I did not see the "end" result at all. I never got there and figured it was to far away to even worry. As of right now I am 24lbs away from my current "goal". I have to be honest here. I have no idea what my real goal should be. (as far as the scale goes) I am really aiming for a fitness goal rather than a weight goal, but would also like to be with in a healthy weight range. My current "goal" is about 10lbs above what the charts claim is a healthy, non over weight goal. If I aim for the chart goal of not over weight I have another 32lbs to go. Well, after talking to friends and family who do nothing but be brutally honest, most think the chart is not for me. That it does not account for women of a muscular structure. Others think I should shoot for the non over weight goal. In 2009 I was 226lbs, now down to 169 and the charts say that at 5'2" I should weigh between 102 and 137 to be in the healthy range. I was aiming more for 145-ish at the start of all this. I am in such "fat loss mode" that I am unsure when to slam the breaks on. LOL. If anyone has any experience or an opinion about this issue please shed some light on this for me. At this point in time I do think it is about time for me to set my eyes on the prize and figure out what is a good end point for me. Once I figure that out then I can start reading up on how to maintain that goal. I am happy that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, just a bit overwhelmed with the idea. Much thanks for anyone who can help me figure this out
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Replies
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First of all my condolences and congratulations on getting back on track and losing that weight. I'm also 5'2". My starting weight was 155lbs (December 2011). I set mini goals for myself. I wanted to be 135 before Mother's day (last year) and I got it. Now I currently weigh in between 122-124. For me it's more of how I feel and not what the chart says. My new goal is to tone up. Which means that my weight will probably go up some but I'll be more toned and muscular.
If you get to 145 and you feel great and are happy then perfect! If not, then set another small goal. I feelt hat smaller goals are more doable and you tend to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Feel free to add me if you'd like. I'm always on!
Best of luck to you!!! :flowerforyou:0 -
At 145, you will be amazingly more healthy than you were at 226, even if you aren't hitting an arbitrary number on a chart. My suggestion: when you get there, go to maintenance for several months and then reassess. Are you happy with how you feel and look? Is it a comfortable weight to maintain for you? If everything is fine, stay there. If you decide you want to lose a few more pounds and think it will be healthy for you to do so, go for it.
I'm speaking from experience here, by the way. I went from 200 to the 160s in 2011, and stayed there within a few pounds until this January. At first I was very pleased with how much I'd lost, but over time decided to lose a little more. I think I needed the time in between to get used to not being obese, and to convince myself I could maintain a 30-pound loss. So give yourself a little time to decide once you get to your first goal weight. It might be your final stopping point, but it doesn't have to be. You'll figure it out!0 -
Yep. You won't know until you get there. And you don't even have to decide right away when you do. Everyone looks a little uneven when they first lose weight - it's not a bad idea to take a little maintenance break when you hit your first goal, let everything settle, and see what you think then. And if you do decide to lose more, you might even like doing a bulk cycle to rebuild some of your muscle before you start losing weight again.
The only person you have to please is yourself.0 -
Thanks guys. Sounds advice from all. Small goals have worked for me so far But I think I enjoy the idea of getting to 145 and then siting and seeing how I feel and then decide if should drop more, or stay. I hope the answer is more clear as I move in on that goal!!0
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I'm 5'2" as well- and even in high school as a muti-sport athlete I never made it down under 145! My goal right now is between 140 and 150, and as long as I hoover around there, I'll be happy. I hate the charts- they don't take into account things like bf%. One of my friends is absolutely ripped- (she's preparing for a figure competition this fall) and she loves to tell the story of how the last time she went for a physical, they set the scale at 130 and she laughed hysterically because she's well into the 160's. Stop when you feel comfortable about where you are- whether that ends up being 145 or not :flowerforyou:0
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