How did you feel when you reached your goal?

just happy not very emotional

I felt like I still had work to do and that the "goal" that I had in mind (a number on the scale) wasn't as satisfying as I had imagined. But all of that was ok because it meant that I had no excuse to feel "done" and to quit. So I reassessed my goals, started a new routine, started working with a trainer, etc. I'm a work in progress and may always be so, but being ok with that took some time. However, realizing that took a lot of the pressure off that I was feeling from being at "goal" but not 100% satisfied yet. Now I take one day, one meal and one workout at a time and am working toward health, strength and fitness. It's good.

mamatothelils wrote: »

Anyone felt like me after reaching their goal....happy, but also really emotionally about the whole experience? Well wishes to you all on your weight loss journey!

Yes I felt this way..and made a transnational video on YouTube to get it all the emotion out. It was a life change...something I didn't think that could happen so fast. This is normal...so is the fear of reverting. I challenge you to set new goals...even if it is to maintain what you have achieved...and hey....once you go on maintenance you get to EAT MORE as you are not at a deficit...so have a family date night and cheat once a week...it is something I started a year ago and it works out great for everyone. It is something we look forward to.

Congratulations on your weight loss! Keep going...

Robert

Maybe I didn't feel that emotional because it didn't approach my weight loss the way you do. And haven't approached my maintenance that way (almost 3 years). So congratulations! And some thoughts.

My goal was to lose weight to stay healthy. In particular, I didn't want to get diabetes, which runs in my family. I had an immediate goal (back to healthy BMI), a hoped for goal (back to what I was after I finished nursing my youngest), and a 'no way am I ever going to do that' goal of getting back to my college weight. I wound up doing all three and have maintained.

To hit my goal I needed to STAY at weight, which is different than just getting there. But all I did was ready my diary really careful and pick and choose what I ate from my normal diet. I DO eat what everyone else in my family eats - just less than my kids (who are growing boys) and less than my son. I have ice cream every night - just 1/4 cup around 9 instead of a bowl.

I realized looking at my diary that I could drop just a few things back in what I was eating and save hundreds of calories. For me it was big glasses of milk, 2 slices of good bread with my sandwiches, and cheese. Dropped that and I basically had my deficit. Now I eat low carb tortillas and have rollups, drink more water, and save cheese for when I really want some.

I stopped snacking on nuts and figs (that's a LOT of dense calories) and ate them in smaller amounts. I learned that protein had a lot fewer calories than I thought and rice and potatoes had a lot more.

I eat pizza by the slice not the pie.

So the changes in my diet weren't that big. I always go out with buddies to eat when I want to. I split lunches with my husband out a couple of times a week. And I eat anything that I want to - in smaller amounts than I used to.

As you're making the transition to maintenance - which is FOREVER - maybe you should go through your diary to see where your big calorie sops are. Then you can make some small adjustments when you hit that goal you worked so hard to get to, up your calories, and get out and enjoy being with your family. You want to keep off that weight you fought so hard for.

I was frozen I. After 7 months, I finally saw that magic number appear... My heart was pounding so hard. Now I am in maintenance, and doing well- still working out 6 days a week and eating 1200 to 1600 calories a day. I feel proud to that I did it on my own, and stayed the course. Won't ever go back.

sijomial wrote: »

Happy, proud, satisfied, slightly surprised, optimistic for the future as I've learned a new skill.

Also annoyed with myself for staying fat for 20 years.

This...super annoyed as it wasn't as hard as I expected...I just set new goals for myself.

I stayed in range of my last goal for about 6 months then went on vacation...hehe.

Decided for a new goal this time just to see if I like it better (only 5 extra lbs) and once I reach that I will go into maintenance/recomp mode again......and wait till next years vacation....

Chrysalid2014 wrote: »

I've reached my goal a couple of times in the past, but it was always a letdown. I always felt that it was never enough and that I still didn't look or feel the way I had expected to. When people complimented me on my appearance I felt nothing, and I was irritated when men I had known as friends for several years were all of a sudden 'interested' in me.

Hopefully I've become a bit wiser (as well as older) and will enjoy it this time around. I've realised a few things along the way: (a) getting skinny doesn't change your body shape; (b) ... and therefore just because you can fit into smaller sizes it doesn't mean everything you try on is going to look great; (c) when your entire focus is on losing weight you can oddly empty and aimless once the mission is accomplished; and finally, (d) thin people have bad days too!

So relate to this -thank you!

It _is_ emotional. For me, it was all about learning to keep myself psychology and emotionally healthy. Most weight loss happens between your ears when you rewrite those old electro-chemical neural pathways that were entrenched bad habits. Now get ready for difficult part. You have chosen a healthier and better lifestyle. Once, you reach your goal it will be very tempting to go back to old habits. Do not. The longer you stick with the new habits the easier they will be to stick with them.

Hello, @mamatothelils congratulations on your achievement!
Your post made ME emotional, as I can partly relate. I don't know why, but I feel happier about other people's stories than mine own.
I, too, am just a few "grams" (sorry, being Italian I think in kilos) away from my goal and although I know I ought to feel satisfied I can't really FEEL it.
What I'm grateful for is the journey that led me to lose weight - the self-consciousness I aquired through yoga and exercise in general. I wouldn't have made it without MFP.
Still, when I look at myself in the mirror I don't quite realize how the weight-loss affected my body, since I was so focused on feeling better and reaching a goal that - ironically - I made it all about the mental journey. It doesn't really make sense to me, not yet.
I reckon it takes time to either accept your current image and make it actually yours. But I'm sure we'll do it eventually, just as we managed to lose weight: will-power, time and commitment.
Good luck!

rainbow198 wrote: »

Reaching my goal actually made me want to keep going, stay focused and not gain the weight back.

This.

It's like chasing a carrot on a stick. When you actually grab the carrot it's time to get a bigger stick and start the game again. New goals. New opportunities for improvement.

I felt good, but eager to set a new goal!

I reached my goal over a year ago, and I still feel pretty emotional when I think about it. I lost 123 pounds and sometimes I still can't believe I actually did it. After almost 20 years of obesity, I think I am still in shock lol.