When is enough, enough?

I grew up fat. When I got to my smallest weight back in my early 20s, I was shocked to find out that even at my idealized weight, I still had plenty of fat left to lose. I grew up just assuming I was a "big" guy and that the lowest weight I hit should have been enough for my goal look. It wasn't, even though I was technically no longer overweight.

Many, many people, especially the formerly overweight and obese, overestimate their body fat levels. They think because they hit the smallest weight they've ever been on a scale, it has some significance to visual appearance. That's often not the case. I know now, having been down before, that my goal weight range is SO much smaller than I ever thought before. Also that while I looked good enough (with my clothes on) as a "big" guy, I'm actually not at all. I'm built more like my dad in his youth, who wore a size 32, and this was back in the 50s-70s when clothes were cut more true to size.

When's enough enough? When the man staring back at me in the mirror matches the man in my mind.

If body recomp is what you want then I think you're going to have to find something to lift. Doesn't have to be actual weights, just heavy things.

I really realised enough was enough today when I was trying on the smallest clothes in the shop and finding that they were too big. Its going to be a real pain in the bum if I become as limited in my clothing choices as I was when I was bigger! I still have trouble spots-my inner thighs and my tummy overhang but I can't lose anymore weight and be healthy as I'm actually a couple of pounds underweight right now. My plan is to bulk and recomp although my body comp does seem to have changed on its own over the last month even though I wasn't exercising and was eating at maintenance so I'm finding this part of my journey quite interesting.

Maybe it shouldn't be about the scale at this point... I just want to look like I think I should. I've worked too hard and I'm not going to settle.

You're speaking my language. I went years without weighing but when I started to lose again I picked up the scale. I got way too tied into it, even weighing myself several times a day. I said hell no to this, put the scale away back in August (well asked my wife to hide it), and haven't stepped on it sense. I'm going by the mirror and two pairs of jeans I had back in the day to estimate progress. Decided not to step on the scale again until my lowest size jeans are loose. Then I'll know for sure I'm in the final stages. I estimate I've lost another 40-50 lbs since the last time I weighed. It's going to be a huge, welcome surprise when I step on the scale again.

I will never settle.

I hit my first goal and I'm still not happy, so I'm losing more. BUT... I honestly don't think that 9 more lbs will make me happy either. But I realize that my maintenance calories will be lower already... and at some point enough is enough... I don't really want to starve myself just to lose that small roll of fat. So I've decided that I will stop when I lose those 9 lbs, and I'm not driving myself nuts going there either... If I go over my goal by a bit, I'm not going to sweat it. I'm still under my TDEE. I'm healthy. It's what matters. I'll get there when I get there. With all the stretch marks and loose skin it's not like I'll ever get the body I want anyway.

Yep, body fat target . It will encourage your fitness regime. Weight doesn't say much... nor does clothing size. Too variable!

Ditto here. Found out what my body composition was (lean muscle versus fat) and am aiming for a body fat percentage of 20-25%. Whatever my weight or size is doesn't matter as long as my body fat percentage is in the healthy range.

I know I need to get to lifting some weights, but unless I buy some that's just not going to happen.

Look at sites like Craigs list, or a buy-sell-trade group on Facebook. I pieced together quite a bit of weight lifting equipment, and was even looking into building my own squat rack...and then we moved, paid off a loan, and I have a Y Membership now. Really the money I don't spend on cable goes to that. But, I lost the majority of my weight without a gym membership with equipment I bought for pennies or was just given away.

I have an old pair of jeans that is a nice happy medium among the weights I used to be. It's like 'thick' and slightly curvy nice and allows me to eat an amount I like each day. When those fit great, I should be good.

I can get thinner, but my problem spot (lower belly) sticks around until I get plain scrawny with no boobs -- and I can't eat as much. No, not worth it.

I do want to see how far it shrinks while it's shrinking (and nothing else is right now -- yay!). That looks to be 5 lbs maybe? So hard to tell, but when my other measurements start changing more instead of my tummy then I know I'm on the frustrating road to too skinny (for me) with the belly hanging in there, lol. I'm just not doing that again. I'll wear slightly high-waisted bikini bottoms and the problem is solved My ex loved my 'tiny Buddha belly' anyway, so pfffft. I don't have to hate it.

I'm not willing to go below normal BMI, so that will have to be enough. If I get there and am not happy with the results, I will focus on gaining muscle. (And lest someone taunt me about "SKINNYFAT," yes, I am doing weight training now.)