Just reached my goal weight! Want to start a group for people like me who have reached their goal this week!

Hey I have just reached my goal weight. I am 5'2 and weighed 123lbs back in July. My goal was to reach 110lbs by my Bday (sept 22). Didn't quite make it, but I hit 108.5 today when I weighed. So I'm done. Now I need to maintain and learn how to stop counting calories and not gain the weight back. I think it would really help to start a group for people like me who have just reached their goal and need some accountability to help them maintain. Just to share ideas and tell each other what's working and what's not. If you're in just reply with your stats and anything else you want to add.

Here's mine

sarahgdyck - age 30, 5'2 - 108.5lb (goal 110lb)

I look forward to your input x17star17x. You've done so well on your weight loss, I'm sure you'll be great at maintaining too.

Excellent and totally awesome x17start17x.  I am so happy and excited for you.  I can hardly wait to see you offering advice and helping in this maintaining forum.  Maybe you can start putting in your two cents now.  : )

Thanks figurethefat.  Maybe a day off from counting would do the trick.  Whoa on the bit-o-honeys -500 calories for 20 little peices.  I hope they tasted really good.  Make every last calorie a tasteful one. Today's another day, so I am sure you'll work off the calories.

I do put in my two cents whenever I can, but I just feel like "what do I really know.." when I can't say I know where you guys are coming from. I just watch what you guys say and you give eachother great advice. When need be, I'll pull up an article with facts, but I can't wait to give my personal experience to help.

I've learned there are 2 approaches:

Those that continue to count to maintain

Those that eat when they're hungry, but don't count anymore

I have a feeling I'll be a counter until I can get ahold of maintaining.

How often do you guys weigh in? And how do you reward yourself for maintaining your weight? Just curious :) 

Hey, nice couple of cents x17starx.

Yep, there are two approaches for sure and I still don't know which one is absolute. So much debate I have read.  Counting can help you and hold you back all at once.  I haven't figured out the true method.  For now, I don't think I can give it up. 

I can't give up counting for fear.  My biggest fear of losing control and going back to unhealthy foods that got me at a very unhealthy weight to start with.  I was very heavy for my height.  I don't ever want to see that again.

Then there is a mental self image that losing another 5 lbs. will help me look slimmer. I know I don't need the other 5 pounds, however I still see the same over weight person in the mirror, though my clothing says much differently as other people outside of my household.  I need to let go of that self image thing and that is the most difficult.

Much more than you asked x17start17x, I know.  Just being honest about my feelings right now. 

As for weighing I do weigh daily in the morning.  I tape measure once a week.  Reward, good question. I think the reward idea may be a great idea x17star17x.  : )

I weigh in every morning now that I'm maintaining. I feel rewarded everyday if I eat healthy and get in some exercise.

Hmm, eating can be a tricky thing when I'm out of my routine. Today was off before 8 to go on the big hike, so only had the first breakfast. I took a few snacks, but only a box of raisins and some corn thins. I had my water, too so that was good.

Kid didn't want to eat out for breakfast because he "hates American breakfast with all that eggs and bacon," so although I pointed out he could have oatmeal, we skipped it. I could have gone for a fortifying poached egg with a few slices of dry wholewheat, but no...

So we hike for 3 hours, eat our meager snacks and get back to the station restaurant. No veggie burger offered, no veggie sandwich offered, but there was a nice margharita pizza and some green salad so I had a slice and the salad. The kid was put out because I wouldn't share some Chicken Tortilla soup :( I pointed out that I don't eat chicken now which caused a bit more pouting.

Anyway to cut this long story short, I didn't eat very many calories. So when I got home I had to start making up for the missed! I came in at just under 1,600 but I really can't eat anymore now. Sometimes when I expend calories being active, I'm too tired to be bothered to eat. Or when I'm away and don't have access to my regular food, same saga.

Had plenty of protein and fibre today though so that's a good thing!

Jeez!  You guys make me feel fat!  I am 5'1" and weighed 144 when I started.  My goal was 125 for a high school reunion.  I almost made it and just reached it today.  But with the weight loss and my Spanx, I looked pretty darn good!

Those of you who are aiming at 105 make me feel that my goal weight should have been lower!  I got inspired to lose weight when I found this site and started keeping a food log.  That's all I did - just kept track of what I ate and it is surprising just how many calories we consume daily.  Anyway, I started cutting back and pretty soon I didn't even get hungry.  Every morning, I would measure out 1/4 cup of raw almonds and between munching on them all day and drinking diet pepsi max, I had to practically force myself to eat.  I also made Dr. Oz's magical smoothie and drank that which also helped to fill me up.  I really didn't eat any bread, potatoes, pasta, etc. and I only ate chicken or ground turkey.  You can substitute those for practically any recipe.  My downfall is sweets so I've had to concoct some low-cal desserts.  I will try to just eat sensibly and see what happens.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll lose more!

Hi timmychoo and welcome.  Congratulations on reaching your goal and weight loss !!!

I am in the similar place you are, in that I sound like I am heavier than everyone else.  At 5'1", 38, I weigh in at 118.  I have personally struggled a bit reading some posts where people weigh less at the same height and a few inches taller.

It's all about where we are.  Are we healthy ? Are we in the healthy BMI scale ? Do we look and feel better ?  Is this a weight that we can maintain ?  I answer "yes" to all these questions, so there is no reason to go any lower in weight.  Be happy timmychoo for acheiving a healthy weight and a weight you will be able to maintain.

Again, congratulations timmychoo.

*Note:  Not pointing anyone out, just feelings I feel and perhaps some other people may feel.  We are all on the same page being at a healthy BMI for ourselves, personally. : )

Oh man do I feel you too. Everyone has a different frame size and shape, so someone may be at a healthy BMI at a desired weight even if it doesn't meet the standards that others are trying to achieve. I am 143 pounds, and I'm working to get right at 140. Now my original goal was 150, but after reading posts it seemed to be too big. THEN I didnt want to put 140 on my drivers license, so I lowered the number to 132. Now I'm trying to figure out if I should maintain at 140, or if I should get down to 132. I look at my body and try to imagine how 3 pounds is really going to make a difference. Heck how is 11 pounds going to make THAT much of a difference?

My starting weight was 294 pounds, so all these little numbers make me a little nervous :)

When I hit goal weight, I'm going to buy myself a milestone charm bracelet. Every quarter of a year I maintain my weight (within range of course) I'll get myself a new charm :) Kinda marks my progress. Heck its a lot better than a keychain. 

Very nice x17starx for the idea of a milestone charm bracelet : ) I may put that on my Christmas list. x17start17x, 140 puts you in the healthy BMI range and from what I had read on your profile, you are looking at excess skin removal; that in and of itself should take another 10-20 pounds off.  You are good to yourself both in eating right and your emotions by giving yourself rewards.  You are a real inspiration.  Congratulations !

Star- you Really Shine!!!

Good Point about the skin removal... that would be a BIG difference!!! If it's difficult in recovery/appetite/etc., you might not want to be too small when you do it! Don't lose too much!

I have also really struggled with keeping a goal weight.  I am WAAAY heavier than anybody else I've seen on CC who is at their goal.  I am looking into a total body lift right now to remove all my yucky skin.  Does anybody out there know what kind of pounds are lost in that kind of surgery?

PS - Thanks for all the great posts!

hi hollymama. Congratulations on whatever your weight loss goal is !  I read your profile - hollymama, five children !  Commendable, and yet scarey all at once.  I think in reading your profile, I may look back at losing more weight in about three months.  Not knowing your stats (height, weight, where you started at, age ... ) it's difficult to tell.  Are you at a healthy BMI ?  Step one of all this.  Being healthy.

On surgery, I personally am not a beleiver or a fan of surgery;  Unless it is absoultely neccessary.  Talk with your doctor and see where you are with your weight and what he/she recommends. I am looking foward to hearing what th doctor has recommended.

The best to you hollymama.

Hi Playergirl!  My stats are:  5'2" tall, 155 lbs., started CC at 178 (I think).  Overall, I have lost over one hundred pounds.  I am at the weight my bariatric surgeon recommended for a goal weight (lowest weight maintained for a year as an adult, this is what I weighed coming out of high school and when I got married until my first pregnancy).  As I say in my profile, I have never been "thin".  I am wearing a size 6 (some eights) now.  My BMI is 28 I think.  Doing body fat calculations with a caliper test, my friend (who is an exercise physiologist), says I have about 22% body fat.

My biggest reason for wanting surgery is the huge amount of loose skin I have.  It is very common for post weight loss surgery (there is even little shorthand like "post MWL" massive weight loss). 

Anyway, loved hearing from you.  I have come across your name in a number of threads.  BTW, your profile lacks in the  way of stats as well (as in, love to know more about you!).

Hi Holly. Just keep an eye on x17star17x! She's lost 150 lbs and is interested in the surgery too! Well done on losing so many pounds, and keeping it off too.

hi hollymamma,

You made tremendous strides - congratulations !

(FYI:   I updated my profile with basic facts - hope that helps you)

Nice job on the profile playergirl!

I would just love to join something like this, however I have to struggle to read the latest posts, searching for the last page to keep up, is there an easier way to display the latest posts first?

yes tequila. When you see the threads listed in the forum, if there is more than one page, there are page numbers following the title. Just click to the last page listed and you will go directly to the page with the last post. You do need to scroll down to the bottom. Hope this helps.

Hmm, on Sunday I had to give up counting/posting etc. I had weighed in at 108.5. Not sure why because I have been eating plenty and keeping the surplus/deficit at nearly nothing. So either I'm underestimating my activity, or overestimating my calorie intake, or some of both.

Whatever it was nice to have a break and my weight did pop back up this morning probably because of sodium from yesterday. I went out to brekkie and basically ate whatever I wanted :) Which was great, but then I really didn't feel like eating the rest of the day because I was still full. Ended up eating a healthy dinner of lentil soup sprinkled with feta. I may have been eating too much fibre this past week. I felt fine, but evidently if you eat too much fibre it you don't absorb other nutrients. Not sure but this week will try to keep the fibre in the 35 - 40 range, rather than in the 60s. He he.

Hi tequila.  Welcome.  Join in and let us know where you're at in maintaining.  : )

Hmmmm, figurethefat, good questions.  LOL, don't get the non counters going now. ; ) I am just playing, you all have to know that (I hope you do).  Could you have underestimated / undereat the day you stopped counting ? Just a thought.  Maybe you need to take a day or two off from whatever workout you do, or eat some more.  Your choice, you're in control.  I hope you're able to get in under control.  You know what you are doing.  It's the trial and error that's enough to drive one crazy $%#*.

Relax.  Tomorrow's another day.  Smile, can't be amiss when you smile.