How did you know???

bfanny
bfanny Posts: 440 Member
edited November 26 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
So finally I'm very close to my "ideal" weight "132" 40 y/o after losing 45lbs however... A part of me wants to keep going since there is more fat on my abdomen (not loose skin) I know, I know, I lift do cardio etc but is fat, time to rethink my "ideal" ???
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Replies

  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    If is time to maintain LOL
  • dhimaan
    dhimaan Posts: 774 Member
    I wasn't a number per se but the way my body looks. I still don't like the look of my body. There is more fat that I can cut.

    If you are a numbers person and are happy with the goal weight I guess you can stop. If you don't like the look of your body then keep going until you do. Only you can make that assessment.
  • Alassonde
    Alassonde Posts: 228 Member
    My weight is fine by the charts but for my own taste I still have too much of a belly. I was on maintenance for a while but wasn't happy so I'm trying to drop a few more.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    I'm still trying to figure that out myself, the dreaded belly fat is making me think I need to cut just a little while longer. I'm no help, I'm just in for the replies!
  • RaeBeeBaby
    RaeBeeBaby Posts: 4,246 Member
    edited November 2015
    A friend just told me last week that you really DO know when you're at your optimal weight and body condition. Even though I've recently reached my initial goal weight (set when I joined MFP), I KNOW I need to keep working on losing body fat. So I am re-assessing what that new goal should be.
  • riffraff2112
    riffraff2112 Posts: 1,756 Member
    When I stopped losing weight eating at an amount I was content with..I stopped.
    I had lost 45 lbs, and probably can get more lean, but for me it was more time and discipline necessary for the payoff.
    I love how I can enjoy life, and do not make nearly as many sacrifices as I would have thought were necessary. I guess everyone has their own image of themselves they want to see. Ultimately you gotta be happy with yourself!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I just stopped when I got to goal weight. Maintained for a while, reassessed, nibbled off a few more pounds, maintained for a while, nibbled a few more off in a series of steps over 15 months.

    Partly as my original "ideal weight" target probably suited me best 30 years ago but partly due to changing fitness and body composition goals.

    There is a danger that continuing past your goal weight just leads to being a smaller version of the body you aren't entirely happy with. Your body does continue to change in maintenance and it can also take a while for both your skin and your self-image to catch up.
  • xilka
    xilka Posts: 308 Member
    I got to the place where losing more required too much work - which I did for a while, but felt like I was neglecting other aspects of life to maintain it. I was happy enough with where I was at and now just focus on eating really well. I know how much I want to eat, how much I want to exercise, and what sacrifices I'm willing to make. Once you know those things, you will know you're where you should be.
  • BikeTourer
    BikeTourer Posts: 167 Member
    Too many people think you can get rid if the belly with diet alone. To get buff it requires exercise --cardio and strength training in addition to a healthy diet. Most aren't willing to give up what it takes to get there.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Most of the time people's "ideal" weight is based on look and not much else. We all do that.

    I have NEVER hit my goal weight of 180lbs, but was down to 190lbs, and I liked that weight. But the reality of enjoying life and balancing it with health, I have muddle around 195 to 200 pounds the last year +. It is where I am comfortable eating and exercising, and where my body tend to sit weight wise.

    That is now and who knows if I will get on a binge again to lose, or if I could maintain a lower body fat. I certainly don't look like that ideal I have of myself and I see of all those amazing bodies of people around here. But I can't say I am unhappy.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    BikeTourer wrote: »
    Too many people think you can get rid if the belly with diet alone. To get buff it requires exercise --cardio and strength training in addition to a healthy diet. Most aren't willing to give up what it takes to get there.

    Yep - unfortunately most people don't have the body of an athlete hidden under their fat.
  • SneakyWaff1es
    SneakyWaff1es Posts: 51 Member
    BikeTourer wrote: »
    Too many people think you can get rid if the belly with diet alone.

    You absolutely can.
    BikeTourer wrote: »
    To get buff it requires exercise

    Growing muscle requires weight training, that's true. But getting "buff" has nothing to do with losing a belly.

  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    Since I'm as skinny as one can be (arms-legs) thanks to my apple shape, I'm sure 5 lbs more or less in this case LOL are going to make a BIG difference in my middle, I'm not looking for a 6 pack
  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    But I want it "flat"... I'm almost there I can feel it
  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    Thanks everyone!!!
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,630 Member
    I'm getting close to the bottom end of my normal BMI range ... I'm not exactly sure when I'll switch to maintenance, but it will be at some point while I am still in my normal BMI range. I don't want to drop to underweight.

    One of my deciding factors were a few skirts which I haven't been able to wear in a long time. If I could wear those skirts comfortably, then I might go to maintenance ... I'm wearing one now!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    My last goal before I entered maintenance for the first time was 130. I couldn't make it there. I was struggling so gave up right at 133 and tried a recomp.

    Recomp was fun because I could eat a bit more, but too boring for me. I decided to cut a bit more so I could really bulk. It's really up to you. You can always take a maintenance break and get back at it. Just because you choose to maintain for a bit doesn't mean you can't go back to losing in a month or so. Might be a nice break for the holidays too.
  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    WOW great advice!!!
  • jessicarobinson00
    jessicarobinson00 Posts: 414 Member
    I am sitting in a maintenance "break." I'm 133.4 and have been here for nearly 2 months. I have my calorie goal set at 1500...but I normally eat between 1800 and 2000 calories. I would love to get down to 128, but right now I just don't know that it's worth it...AND to be honest, my body is STILL changing: my stomach has tightened and legs have toned. Maybe I'm recomping and don't even know it...
  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    My goal weight was 125 lbs and at 5'5", I thought that was a good goal, especially since that is what I was in college. However, I just slid on past that until I settled around 118-120 lbs. My body decided that was where it wanted to be. Now at a size 4 pants (never wore that size before), I still have this little belly pooch mocking me. My abs are strong underneath that layer of fat and yet it is stubborn. My trainer says I am doing everything right in terms of cardio and weight lifting so the only thing left is diet. My diet is actually good but I do consume more wheat/gluten and sugar than I should. My New Year's resolution will be to try and slowly eliminate the wheat and see how my belly responds.
  • mirrim52
    mirrim52 Posts: 763 Member
    rhtexasgal wrote: »
    My goal weight was 125 lbs and at 5'5", I thought that was a good goal, especially since that is what I was in college. However, I just slid on past that until I settled around 118-120 lbs. My body decided that was where it wanted to be. Now at a size 4 pants (never wore that size before), I still have this little belly pooch mocking me. My abs are strong underneath that layer of fat and yet it is stubborn. My trainer says I am doing everything right in terms of cardio and weight lifting so the only thing left is diet. My diet is actually good but I do consume more wheat/gluten and sugar than I should. My New Year's resolution will be to try and slowly eliminate the wheat and see how my belly responds.

    Eliminating wheat would reduce bloating if you are truly intolerant, but it won't do anything to get rid of belly fat, unless it results in reducing calories along with it.
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,399 Member
    bfanny wrote: »
    So finally I'm very close to my "ideal" weight "132" 40 y/o after losing 45lbs however... A part of me wants to keep going since there is more fat on my abdomen (not loose skin) I know, I know, I lift do cardio etc but is fat, time to rethink my "ideal" ???

    I'll let you know when I know. I did similar, dropping my initial goal weight of 190 to 180. And now I've hit 180, and might drop some more. I'm doing some body weight stuff but really at this point more in weight loss mode and trying not to lose much muscle.

    But it's hard to pick a number and think "that is where I want to be". I think depending on fitness and overall health goals, the weight itself might be a moving number. But I'm ok with that myself. When I get where I want to be, I'll worry about maintaining in that range for weight/build/how I feel/fitness.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    mirrim52 wrote: »
    rhtexasgal wrote: »
    My goal weight was 125 lbs and at 5'5", I thought that was a good goal, especially since that is what I was in college. However, I just slid on past that until I settled around 118-120 lbs. My body decided that was where it wanted to be. Now at a size 4 pants (never wore that size before), I still have this little belly pooch mocking me. My abs are strong underneath that layer of fat and yet it is stubborn. My trainer says I am doing everything right in terms of cardio and weight lifting so the only thing left is diet. My diet is actually good but I do consume more wheat/gluten and sugar than I should. My New Year's resolution will be to try and slowly eliminate the wheat and see how my belly responds.

    Eliminating wheat would reduce bloating if you are truly intolerant, but it won't do anything to get rid of belly fat, unless it results in reducing calories along with it.

    Yep. Wheat & gluten calories are no more fattening than any other calorie.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    My goal doesn't have a number attached to it. It's whenever I'm satisfied with what I see in the mirror and how I feel. I don't know what/where it is, but I'll know when I get there.
  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    I was wondering because a lot of people get to "their" number and start adding cals to maintain...I'm just not there yet :/ but at the same time don't want to keep chasing a lower # again and again and again
  • ExRelaySprinter
    ExRelaySprinter Posts: 874 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    There is a danger that continuing past your goal weight just leads to being a smaller version of the body you aren't entirely happy with.

    Yes, totally agree.
    I'm 128lbs now (and maintaining nicely), but i have been 119 and didn't look too good. :/
    My bust was non-existant and i my top half just looked scrawny!
    Maybe you need to do a Recomp rather than lose more weight.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited November 2015
    I'm far from maintenance, but I already have a plan. Regardless of how my body looks at my goal weight, the most important thing to me is to be at a calorie intake I can successfully maintain, so by the time I'm at goal weight I plan to increase my intake gradually from my usual deficit until I'm at a point where I don't feel like I'm missing much if I don't increase any further, after that wherever my weight stops will be my ideal weight, be it a bit of loss or a bit of gain. Preventing weight regain is much more important to me than anything else, but everyone is different, so evaluate what is important to you and work on that.
  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    Recomp is the way to go, once I'm at my goal weight ;)
  • tracoleman99
    tracoleman99 Posts: 51 Member
    When you are close to your goal weight or at your goal weight, you really can experiment with different strategies to lose body fat. I tried intermittent fasting for a while and will give that a go around again. It's hard to sustain and for me, I couldn't do it for more than two days in a row because of the way my metabolism is. I find doing it on alternating days, taking the weekend off from it works best for me. You can also adjust your macros and increase your protein, while decreasing carbs, which helped me until I was riding my bike 100 miles / week and needed more carbs.

    traceyfit.blogspot.com
  • bfanny
    bfanny Posts: 440 Member
    I love my carbs A LOT but what I've been doing these couple weeks is Keto and I really can see a diference on my stubborn fat
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