Has anyone reached their goal weight and then realized that they're not as thin as they thought they'd be!?

This is a topic I originally posted in my journal, but I wanted to put it out for the masses to comment on. So I'm asking...has anyone else lost all that weight and then thought 'hmmm...I not as thin as I thought I would be'. For example, since 2004 I've lost a little over 50lbs. 50lbs! That's A LOT of friggin' weight.  Back then when I had thought of myself 50 lbs lighter I pictured a combo between Tyra Banks (mid to late 90s Tyra) and Naomi Campbell. But I'm not nearly as thin as I thought I'd be and I'm a bit...well, I'm not sure if 'disappointed' is the word, but I'm a bit something. Confused perhaps? Anyway, am I alone in this feeling?

NOTE: I realize that it's not all about being thin....it's about being healthy and feeling good and Lord knows I feel about 1 million percent better than I did 4 years ago, but this little part of me...the vain part...that's kind of like 'that's it?' Please don't think I'm a horrible person.

Ah...this is one of my greatest fears!  One of my big goals in reaching 135 pounds is fitting in a size 6 (I'm 5'7.5") and if I don't I know I'll be disappointed.  I don't think this will happen since I'm at 152 and a size 10, but I definitely know where you're coming from!

Is it possible that you need to build up some muscle at this point, instead of trying to lose more fat?

Copied in from other thread of same topic:

Being very overweight covers up a lot of the muscle, body shape, etc.  Its not too surprising to get to a certain number and then not have the body you would think goes with that number.  The last few pounds are always hardest to lose, and when you are right at your goal your focus changes from losing losing losing to more about toning, losing a bit here and there, and finding the right comfortable weight for yourself as well as trying to find a look you are happy with.

The hardest part (lots of weight loss) seems like its over.. now its just the nuances to fret over. :)   Good luck!

Thank you! I know that now my battle is going to be toning and maintenance from now on. I don't know...it's just thought I'd look different, you know? But I've come this far and I'm certainly not going to give up.

hey tcole03, I feel exactly the same way... I totally understand your frustration.  I spent the last 2 weeks trying to think of whether I just need to lose another 5lbs or try to do more weight lifting, or something.  There is still some jiggle in my stomach, arms, butt that I am not really liking... this sucks. When I was in my early 20s I weighted more than now but everything was pretty tight, now everything is just soooooo flabby.

What are you going to do?  Let me know if it works.

This is one of the reasons why I didn't bother setting a "final" weight loss goal when I started trying to lose weight.  I'd go in milestones... Get under 200 first.  Then get to a "healthy" BMI weight of 185.  And even now, I figured my "final" goal would be 170, but I know I've still got some belly fat to lose.  So I'll likely keep going for a bit longer.

But good luck, with whatever your goal is! :)

Clint

Please don't take this the wrong way, but this is how anorexia started for me. I began by losing weight the healthy way and then, when I got to my goal weight, still didn't have a boyfriend, and didn't look like a supermodel, I decided the answer was to continue on my quest to lose weight until my dreams were furfilled.

Maybe at somepoint it's better to let someone else (friend, doctor, ect) tell you when you're done losing weight. Just my expirence. Hand in there, 50 lb was a long way to come and you should be very proud! 8)

Same thing happened to me.  I think it's a matter of perspective.  At 175, 135 seemed like a skinny-minnie to me.  At 140, I realized that 5lbs wasn't going to transform me into that ideal.  I bumped my goal down to 125, but I'm not really pursuing it right now.  I'm just doing what feels right.  Like the person above me said, it's a tricky slope trying to achieve too much with weight loss.  I've had to accept that there are things about my appearance which aren't weight-related and will never be changed by diet.

Happened to me too.  I'm definately happier with my body but still not satisfied.  Another 15 ought to get me closer to comfortable.

I can totally relate, I have lost a total of 95lbs and still don't feel like I am where I should be.  I am only 5'2 so like an idea weight is 114-120 ish and I am at 135 from 235, I keep a 5lb buffer just in case.

I continue to work-out 5 days a week eat right and have stalled on the whole weight lose but continue to tone so even though I don't look how I envisioned I am hopefull it is under there somewhere.

Great job on the 50lbs!!!!!!!!

I know what you mean, but try to realise you are your biggest critic. In 2007 I had lost 52 lbs to make shipping weight for the Marines. A month before my ship date I was in a motorcycle accident and in 2 months gained all the weight back and more. When I was down to 210 I felt like I looked the same as I was at 260, just in a bit better shape. Now that I look back and feel, like I've done this before I realise that It's not about a day that will arrive when i'm satisfied, it truly is a change in lifestyle. I'm back on the weight dropping and know i'm going to keep it off this time.

50lbs is alot, and you should be tremendously proud of that, now use that motivation to hit the gym and tone up. If you want to look like Tyra banks then maybe dropping the fat is half the battle.

You've come this far, there's no turning back now.

Yes. Sigh. I'm 5"8 and at 139 (down from 165 in February). My goal is 132. Finding the 130s tough. When I first started to lose the weight, I'd get so excited with each drop on the scales. I find it strange that now, even when I get on and have lost weight, I don't get that 'rush' anymore. Like you, I feel better etc, but I still have stomach and thigh issues... I wonder if it is a mental thing though... having been used to being solid, it's hard to imagine yourself being thin. I don't feel thin now and am starting to wonder that if and when I achieve my magic goal weight, if I'll feel thin then. I know this is probably not a very mentally healthy way to think... Sorry no help, but I hear you...

Yeah, that excitement is gone! You're so right.  When I first started losing weight every pound lose was cause for celebration. Now I'm just stressed the hell out about it! 

I only weigh in once a week now (I was doing it everyday for a minute there and drove myself absolutely INSANE doing that), but maybe I'll chill for a minute and take some time to reevaluate why I'm really doing this and to be proud of how far I've come already.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice!

Yes my original goal was 175...

Well ive lost 90 pounds im at 172 and feel like i need to lose 15 to 20 more pounds.


I still weigh every day.Ive lost another 4 pounds this week yay.
Only day i dont lose weight is the night after i eat my boiled chicken breast guess it takes longer for meat to get through the system .

Im goen to atleast 160 maybe 155

Original Post by pbear999:

This is one of the reasons why I didn't bother setting a "final" weight loss goal when I started trying to lose weight.  I'd go in milestones... Get under 200 first.  Then get to a "healthy" BMI weight of 185.  And even now, I figured my "final" goal would be 170, but I know I've still got some belly fat to lose.  So I'll likely keep going for a bit longer.

But good luck, with whatever your goal is! :)

Clint

 so true.

i started from 220 (male/ 5'11''/ 27) and set my initial goal as 175 as i was dreaming that i will be all fit and wearing 32inch low rise jeans (talk about being shallow hahaha) but when i reached 184, i realised that no, no, no, i still have the jiggly/protruding belly and 175 won't cut it. so keeping this in mind i moved my goal to 165. ...

.......

.......

and now that i am at 176 it seems that 165 will also not be enough for my belly to go flat. so finally i have forgotten about any fix goal and instead going for when I feel and look right. maybe i need some toning now as my belly has of course shrunk (from 38 to 33) and i have reduced like 40 pounds and i feel a LOT better and happier but it is definitely not something that i envisioned when i started. yes, the disappointment is there. my initial expectations, i guess, were too unrealistic (or human beings are ungrateful by nature :P, we always want more more more more...).

*pardon my grammar as english is not my first language.