expectations vs reality (of goal weight)

Yeah! Like...what if my thunder thighs are just part of my genetics. GAHG! I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, I guess.

Yes. I have no expectations of having a perfect tight body by the end and I know that I'll still be infinitely happier and healthier at goal.. I just know I won't be 'in love' with my body, hopefully I'll just hate it a bit less.

As soon as I got about 5lbs from my goal weight I realised it wasn't a weight I desired but a look, which was to have defined stomach, trim legs and a little arm muscle.
Since I've started trying to develop that, I've lost the additional 5lbs and hit my goal weigh but still haven't hit my ideal physique yet... so I definitely think you can get to your goal weight and not be happy with what you see.

I think goal weights are great if you have over 10lbs to lose. It motivates you and gives you something to focus on. But I think most of the time it's only half the battle.

An odd one, but does anyone feel a little worried about hitting goal weight and not liking the body you got, or for those who have hit their goal how look did it take to get used to your new body.

Hit my goal weight in March and it was very anti-climatic. After months of focusing so much on losing the weight, it was unsettling to be at goal and not really know what to do next. Body wise-I was happy with how I looked, but I definitely didn't have my dream body yet.

Since then I've started walking and doing Mark Lauren's strength training program. I also have lost around 10 more pounds from my goal weight. I've technically been in maintenance for three months and I can finally say that I love how my body looks, and now I'm very happy with everything I still have moments though, where I can't believe I've come this far-last night walking into a store I saw my reflection in the glass doors and I was like, 'whoah-that's me?!' My husband thinks I'm a nut lol.

eta: as for chunky thighs-I'm very pear shaped and at my goal weight I still had oomph in my thigh area. I started briskly walking 10-12 miles a week (in 2 mile a day increments) and started Mark Lauren's strength training program, laid out in his book Body By You. In three months time my calves, thighs and bum have totally changed. When I hit goal, I was wearing a size 6 jean. I'm now wearing size 4 jeans/size 2 skirts and shorts. Last October, before I started losing weight I was wearing size 14 jeans. I still have a bit of extra on the outside of my thigh area, but I know after more walking and strength training it will either be gone or transition to muscle

I know exactly what you mean. I don't even have a true goal weight yet; I'm just trying to get down to my maximum desired weight/a normal BMI. When I reach that, I'll focus more attention on body fat% and determine my real goal weight. Since I'm pear-shaped and losing inches mostly true to that proportion, there's no telling what I may have to prop up (lol), snap down, or build up by then. Whatever the case, I'll be grateful because I know it will be wayyyyyyyyy better than now.

Goal weight is just an arbitrary number. When I was 145lb I had no idea what my body would be like at 125lb, I just choose that because it was a nice round number and I thought 20lb weight loss before summmer would be a realistic goal.

I'm almost at my goal weight but no where near my goal body. When I hit "goal weight" then body fat recomposition starts because I still have wobbly bits that need to disappear. I'll do whatever it takes to get to that.

Agree that my goal is about looks, not weight. I did have a goal weight in mind initially, but I abandoned it a long time ago because I realized that weight is not as important as body composition in terms of appearance.

I don't have a goal weight. I have goal measurements and goal pants. Cuz I don't really know what weight to shoot for with the strength I am trying to build.

I was a bit unhappy with my shrinking butt, but then I started going to the gym... no worries anymoarrr

Hit my goal weight about 2 months ago and I must say that I am not completely satisfied with the way I look. It is sooooo much better than before, but for those that have lost 100 lbs give or take the amount of extra skin is a bit disheartening when you bust your *kitten* and then still have the constant reminder. It is totally worth it, but it is definitely a reality check when you get there.

A goal BF% is far more meaningful than a goal weight IMHO.

I'd also add that when people neglect to do resistance training while they are "dieting" they lose a lot of muscle along with the fat...this often leaves them at some arbitrary goal weight that sounded good and looks good in motivation pictures of other people...but with a higher BF% relative to that weight due to ignoring their muscle.

I am 6lbs away from my goal weight of 125lbs, and don't want to lose any lower than that, however I can see that I still have a lot of work to do to get everything tightened up the way I would like. I have been doing Jillian Micheals videos at home every night and they have certainly helped be get on the right track, but I plan to step up my workouts soon and really focus hard on toning and building strength. I may gain some weight back in the process but it's really not about the number to me.

I think this was one of the mental blocks that kept me from succeeding in the past - the unknown of what I'd look like, if I could accept loose skin, etc. As I've gotten older, I guess I've become more accepting that I'll never have the "perfect" body. Right now I don't have a goal weight. I plugged something into MFP to make it happy but I don't know if that obtainable or susteainable for me. I'm more focused on how I look in the mirror and what size clothing I'm able to wear. I want to be able to shop in the non-plus section and I want single digit clothing.

The goal weight I picked was just a number that I thought would be healthy but not too small. I am actually focused more on how my body looks and feels. I want a lower body fat percentage and I want my jiggly bits around my hips and upper thighs to go down more. My hips are not jiggly on the lower part like most people complain of, its more on my upper hips or love handle area. So I know the only way to lose it is more fat loss.