It has been just over ten months and I hit my goal weight today - I have lost over 52 lbs and will now need to begin maintenance. I know this can be just as difficult as the journey of the weight loss and my hope is the good things I have done in the past 10 months will guide me through the next years. I plan to continue to keep a food log as this is what keeps me in line. It is odd though that the difference in the amount to eat to lose and the amount to eat to maintain are not that far apart. I hope to maintain for 3 months and then evaluate where my weight is to determine if I should stay where I am or if I need to lose more. I am 46 yr old female. My starting weight was 186.4 - my goal was 135 (this morning weighed in at 134.3). I am 5'7" tall. I still have a hard time seeing myself as I really am right now. Has anyone else had this problem? I know it is a lot of weight and I know I look very different but it doesn't feel to me what other people seem to think it looks like. Does that make sense? I guess I have to settle into this weight to be comfortable and I have spent so much time heavy that to finally not be is a transition.
I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! You lost over 52 lbs - that's amazing! I'm starting my journey so I can't really comment on your question but I just wanted to say great job. 
Congrats!!!! That is super exciting! My problem has always been the reverse :-( Since I have only gained my weight in the last 7 years or so I still see myself (in my head) as the weight I was most of my life - about fifty pounds less. I am looking forward to matching my mental image to real life.
Good luck on your journey. You can do it. I have been heavy most of my life. I have lost as much as 40 lb before and slowly put it back on. I never actually hit my goal though. I decided at 45 that it was going to only get harder and if I was going to do it - no time like the present. Some months were really slow - only a couple pounds but some were really good. I didn't take my measurements when I started but I wish I had. You should do that. If you are not seeing the scale move, you may still see the inches lost. Measure your chest, waist, hips, arms and thighs. Losing inches can be a great motivator!! Good luck and thanks for the congrats!
Congrats! I'm still going at it after a couple years here but inching ever closer, my goal is also 135.
It's hard to notice the gradual progress, but after you get used to your new weight and allow for some time, you will realize the subtle differences that really make all the difference.
meganchip - I know exactly what you mean. When I first started, I never thought I looked as heavy as what I was. In fact I thought I looked pretty darn good. Now it is strange that I have the reverse image and don't think I look like I have lost over 50 lbs - probably because I never thought I needed to lose 50 lbs!! 
I don't have any deep insights, since I haven't hit my goal or had to maintain yet. Really I just wanted to say a huge CONGRATS to you!!!! Losing weight is harder than anything I have ever had to do in my entire life, and you've done it!
I think you should take a few days to celebrate your accomplishment (not with a large cake, of course) before you start worrying about your mental image matching your real one. The reality is there, and it will sink in, and you have plenty of maintenance work to remind you of that fact in your forseeable future. For now, be happy that you have done it, even if you can't exactly "see" it yet! CONGRATULATIONS!
PS. It might help to see yourself in pictures, that's what made me realize how big I was, so maybe it works the other way around, and you'll see how much smaller you look to a disinterested 3rd party (ie: the camera lens).
Wow, fantastic. Well done. I cant wait until I get near to my goal, cant imagine when I will get there at the moment. So just take a bit of time to congratulate yourself. You have done so well, am sure in time it will become a reality in your self image also. Enjoy.
thats awesome. congrats!
Congratulations Kir, that's awesome! Well done on reaching your target, that's a fantastic effort. I understand what you mean by mental image, except mine's in reverse too - I see myself the way I was before I gained weight.
Still a long way to go for me, but I'm keeping myself motivated. Lost 66.1lb so far from overhauling my lifestyle. On track to hit my goal weight of 121lb late next year. Feels like I've been stuck in a fat suit for years and I've just found the zipper.
:D
A big congrats to you!
We have been on a similar goal the past few months. I started 9 months ago at 176 and got to my goal weight last week of 135. I'm a 5"4"guy.
For me I guess I feel pretty normal at my new weight but most people I know that I haven't seen for a while kind of have to do a double take to figure out who I am. I've started running about 3 months ago and have really enjoyed being more physically active!
So far so good on a weeks worth of maintenance. I've stopped keeping my food log at this point to see how I do but do weigh every day so I can keep a handle on things. If I start to go up more than 3 pounds I'll start the food log again.
Again way to go! Man those last 5 pounds were hard for me!
Hey - wow! Congratulations!
It's a super effort to lose weight, so you've done such a great job, I'm sure you'll be able to maintain. I have a maintenance day once a week, and you're right, there's not too much difference! It does allow you to have slightly larger portions, and maybe a little treat or extra take-out coffee (which is and ever will be my downfall with calorie counting). I think you've got a good sense of things, keeping track for a few months. Good idea.
I'm having a mini-celebratory day - I just got to the 1/4 way mark today. Lost 6kg (a bit over 13lbs).
That's great! I hope to be able to say the same in 10 months. I kind of know what you mean about not fully grasping what you look like now. I lost weight a few years ago for some unknown reason, I was 5'2" and 105 lbs, and although I knew I had lost weight, I just didn't get how skinny I was. And so I still wasn't satisfied with myself. Since then I've gained the weight back and am trying to lose it again. But I have heard of other people having this problem and it really interfering with their enjoyment of their new self and that seeing a therapist can help. Definitely doesn't mean to say you're crazy by going to a therapist (some ppl don't understand that so I just wanted to clarify), but it could give you the help you need to look at yourself objectively and build your confidence to match. That is a very important thing to have I believe in order to successfully mantain. Congrats again, keep us updated!
Congratulations! What an accomplishment! You must feel fabulous!
I noticed that what I eat to lose and what I will eat to maintain are also not that far apart, but part of healthy eating is developing good habits. So my previous mentality of losing weight and then going back to eating whatever my little heart desires - well, that's a thing of the past. I find that i now crave the healthy foods, and I can have a cookie now and then, or a small ice cream, without gaining a ton of weight. Hopefully you will find the happy balance and being able to find a maintenance food plan that satisfies you. You can always exercise more if you anticipate eating more - that's always a nice thing to be able to fall back on. If I know I am going to a wedding or a party where food is the focus, I'll just add some exercise that day (or eat less and take some home!)
I also look at myself, now that I have lost 28 pounds, and think I still look fat around my middle - but my waist is considerably smaller. Try this -instead of looking in the mirror, have someone take several pictures of you, and compare them to pictures of you when you weighed more - i wonder if you might see the dramatic change a little better. I always look different in pictures than when I look in the mirror.
Yay for you! If you out up some before/after pics, we can comment on how much more awesome you look now 
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