Anyone else trying to lose 20 lbs or less?

Short answer: yes, around 15 pounds.

Ok, I feel a little foolish posting this since my goals are nowhere near most peoples on this site. I have always been a ittle obsessive about my health and have never had a "weight problem" I am 5' 10 and have always been around 165-170 pounds. Yes, I am lucky, much of which comes from a high metabolism and jobs which always kept me moving; not necessarily "exercise". FIve years ago I took a desk job that has be sitting on my butt for 8-10 hours per day. Also, I have just turned 50 and have found that my metabolism has changed a lot since I was 25! (duh!) One day I got on the scale and my weight was 186. Not really bad, but higher than I like and high enough to put my BMI into the overweight category (for twhatever that calculation is worth). Well, that shocked me since it was the heaviest I had ever been, althoug it admittedly is not all that "heavy". And it gave me a felling os loss of control, which is a big deal with me when it comes to weight/health.

Anyway, I rapidly lost 18 pounds by sever calorie restriction Not a smart tthing; I had days where I felt weak and times when I felt like I was going to pass out. I am sure my blood sugars were going crazy! Also, when I began eating "normal" again, my weight crept up to around 178. Now 178 is not really bad, but I wanted to be arouind 165, which gives me "eating wiggle room", and I wanted to be eaeting healthier. Wanting to make more of a life change, not a weight loss change, I turned to myfitnesspal.

So the short answer is, yes, I am trying to lose around 15 pounds; not just lose it, but eat and live in a way that I maintain the weight I want and imprve my nutrition. This site/program has been great. Being blessed with a "high metabolism, at least in my younger years, I never paid a lot of attention to what I was eating or really how much. Regardless of weight loss or not, now for the first time I understand what a single portion is, how many calories, sugar, fiber, fat, etc. are in certain foods. It has been eye opening.

As for losing weight, it has amazed me at how hard it can be. In my current situation, my body wants to stay at 178-180. I can get it down to around 170 and then when I ease off, it climbs right back up. One thing this site/program has made me realize is that for the calories I consume, my exercise level (almost non-existent) is too low. So, to eat more "normal" for me and to maintain a weight I am happier with, I have come to understand that my activity level must increase. Health is not just a diet program.

I know that many peole may read this and say, "Stop whining you obsessive, skinny, lucky jerk ." However, I write this just to frame one persons experience in trying to lose 10-20 pounds. This experience has taught me how hard losing weight can be and how hard it is to change your diet and eat healthier. To all of you trying to lose a significant amount of weight, I have a new understanding of how hard it must be. I completely admire those of you have have lost any amount of weight and especially those of you have have lost large amounts of weight.

I'm in the same boat - trying to lose 20 pounds that have crept over over the past 6-7 years. I am also in my mid-40's and have a desk job and a long 3 hour commute a day so lots of time sitting on my *kitten*! It shouldn't be so hard, right????

I only have 4/5 left to go but my last 10 lbs are the hardest, change some foods or workouts, more calories or less..you have to find that balance that will work What they say is true those last few lbs are hard and I want to tone as well, that to me is even harder!

When I began I wanted to lose 60lbs. I've lost 55 and am currently aiming for 10 more lbs on top of some tonight and inch loss!! You can do it!!!

I have 14lbs to lose. I can use all the help I can get...
Add me if you would like....

These last few pounds are purely for vanity, not really health, so sometimes I lose the motivation and just say I'm "fine" where I am. But I know I feel and look better at a lower weight so trying to stick to it this time.

This is so me. Sometimes I think to myself, "Why are you obsessing about 3 pounds? Statistically speaking it's nothing." But it's the point. Darn it, those three pounds have GOT to GO!

Most of my life I was pretty fit, and my body's happy weight was 128. I could maintain that by making (generally) healthy choices and working out on a schedule I could maintain.

As of this week I'm hovering right at or slightly below 145, which is 7 pounds down from where I started, but still leaves me 17 pounds to go.

On my 5'7" (all legs) frame, I've never been categorized as "overweight" - but with the way I carry excess fat, at my recent high, I literally have rolls and "fat creases." It may not be overweight by some general standard, but for my body, it definitely is. Lethargy was also a huge issue at my heaviest, although I'm already noticing a difference there with just a few pounds!

True story.... the last of the weight is the hardest. I have lost a total of 73lbs and I have 7lbs to go. I log everyday and I am always on MFP. All is welcome to add me

I want to be 140 and it was a 23 pound goal. So far I've lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. I see it as "If I had kept going all the times I quit, I would be there already"

I have 5lbs to go and it's taking weeks and weeks to lose even half a pound at this point

If I reach my goal by the summer I will be happy. I like how I feel at this weight so I don't sweat it. But it sure is a slow process

Good luck!

I'm trying to lose a fair bit less than 20lb and it's a bit of an ordeal. It's so much easier when you've not made any improvements to diet or exercise schedule - because as soon as you do you see those quick wins. When diet and exercise is operating as you intended and you've already achieved a fair bit, that last stage totally draggggggggggsssssss.

That's my experience anyway. :smiles:

last 10 - 14 lbs here and I know it is going to be hard....stubborn body is pretty happy at this weight :grumble:

Plan to lose another 10 lbs. this year. I lost 20 lbs and it took me about 1 1/2 years to do it. Now I've been at the same weight for over 2 years which means I've really learned how to maintain, but my ultimate goal is to be down another 10. I really have to get on it this year. I definitely know how to maintain now, but losing is a challenge. I'm 5'1" and currently at 130. Have a cruise planned in a couple weeks so I'm just going to hope to maintain since I think I know how to do that but as soon as I get back, it's time to get these last 10 lbs gone for good. 2014 is my year to do it. Good luck to everyone and please keep me in the group. :happy:

Yes, my current goal is 10 lbs... I too feel like I could just drop the weight whenever I want, however this is so untrue.

I'm not a spring chicken anymore which means I actually have to get my butt to the gym.. It's so hard balancing work, life, kids,etc...

Need some major motivation!! I started eating clean, no no to packaged anything and wow I lost 3-4 lbs almost immediately.

Now if I can just lose 10 lbs I can be back to pre-pregnancy weight. xo Karin