How you know you're ready to maintain...

Up until now, I've really been avoiding this section of the forums because I haven't exactly felt like I've earned the right to post here.

My goal weight was 125 (I'm 5'7", my heaviest weight was about 140). But now that I've reached that goal, I feel like I want to lose more. 125 doesn't look as good on me as I thought it would.

I'm just wondering how you guys set your goal weights and how you knew that when you met them, that was the weight you wanted to stay at? Did you ever set a goal weight, meet it and then set a lower one because you weren't satisfied with the results?

your ready to maintain, tecically acording to C-C, you have a BMi of 19.6, which is slightly underweight. but only by a bit, where your fine.

i STRONGLY dont suggest you lose anymore weight, personally i just kept losing weight ( self esteem issues) even after i reached my goal weight of 123. i got all the way down to 110 and  became underweight...now im gaining weight back, ironic, huh?

i dont gueest you lose anymore, i think your ready to maintain. all that losing more weight will do is make you sick and hurt. gaining weight back is MUCH harder than losing weight, dont let your self lose anymore.

if you feel loose and flabby after losing, give your body time and tone your muscles with lifting, the connective tissue and left over fat cells will shrink, it took me a mounth or two.

I agree, you've lost enough.  If you're still not happy with how you look, it's probably a body fat %age issue.  If you've lost weight by cutting calories and/or doing cardio exercise, then your body fat %age probably hasn't changed much.  Try upping your calories to maintenance level and doing some more strengthening exercises, like weight lifting or yoga.

As far as setting a goal weight, I think the important thing is to have a goal that is healthy.  It's ok to revise and go lower IF you will still be at a healthy BMI.  If not, I think your goal should be improved fitness rather than additional weight loss.  And remember, it also takes a while for your eyes to adjust!

I think your body will let you know when you've lost enought weight.  Mine did - I simply stopped loosing any more!  (I have the same issues as you with feeling like I can loose more)

Another thing that made me realise it was time to accept that I have lost enough was seeing a photo of myself after not being in photos for about a year! That was a shock - It left me feeling like I'd definately lost enough! 

My suggestion is have a family photo taken and compare it to old photos of you with your family :) it puts it in a perspective that a mirror just cant do!

Bottom line you posted here becuase you suspect its time so it prolly is !! congratulations and good luck with the maintenance phase!

MM

Don't wait for a feeling to hit you that tells you you've finally made it. That feeling may never come. I know - I've been maintaining for a long time now and though I'm at my goal weight and maybe even a little under, there are still days that I feel like a beached whale!

I agree that moderate weight lifting does help to tone and tighten if you don't like how you look - especially the belly area. Lifting weights 3 days a week works for me. I do walk almost every day, though, as well.

Eating well helps, too. I think healthier foods help you to feel less bloated and "lighter". Don't pat me on the back, though; yesterday I ate 4 homemade chocolate chip cookies. Oh well - salad for me today.

You'll do fine - moderation - the key to everything.

-Scarlet

yes, waiting until you feel right may never come, thats one of reasons i kept loisng weight, and became too underweight. so take our advise and go by what the charts say, if your healthy, your healthy..