When do you know it's time to stop?

Your "normal" diet should still be a healthy one, for starters - but I'm assuming you know that, and you don't mean going back to a "crappy" diet

You're the only one who can decide when to stop! If you're satisfied with your body, health, and lifestyle, then it's a perfect time to stop dieting - however, if you still want more, or your nutrition/fitness isn't where it should be, strive for more. The important thing is balance as well as maintaining the weight loss if you decide to stop actively "dieting".

My diet has always been 'normal'. I just ate less & moved more. I shall continue to do so (at maintenance) for the rest of my life.

I lost 38lbs and got down comfortably into just below the mid-point of 'normal' BMI for my height/age (20.3).

fatboyno1 wrote: »

I have been dieting for a while and lost 30lbs in total. I have never looked so trim. However sometimes I feel like I've had enough!

When do you know it's time to return to a "normal diet"? Is it weight, how you see your figure or something else.

I depends on why you're wanting to lose weight. There's no absolute correct weight.

If, for example, you have athletic ambitions, your goal weight may depend on what is optimal for your sport. If you are losing weight for the sake of your appearance, then the mirror will tell you when to stop. If you are losing for your health, the BMI chart or your doctor can be a guide.

If you're sick of the process, there's no reason you can't just take a break from it and see what happens.

I knew it was time to stop when I went shopping for new jeans, and I fit into the smallest size of the particular brand I like (which isn't tiny, but I like the fit of this brand, and want to wear them forever ). Arbitrary? Yep, but I like what I see, I have tons of gained fitness, and am at a place that is sustainable for the long haul.

I stopped eating at a deficit when I was within a few pounds of my target weight and felt that I looked OK, and wasn't too small or between clothes sizes (I'm petite and in extra-small sizes - any smaller and it would start getting tough to find clothes in my size). I figured that if I want to revisit that then I can always lose a couple more pounds when I've thought about it for a while. It's not a choice that you only get to make once - you can always go back and change things if you want.

Also, I've just carried on eating the same healthy way I did when I was in a deficit, just more of it. I've forgotten how to eat any other way it's been so long.