I might raise my goal weight..

[OurLuvsFromAbove]

I almost feel like its selling out.. I was so set on being 130lbs.. I really wanted to be.. buttttttttttt
I also said when my goal pants fit that i'd call goal..
so what to do...
I tried them on today, got them up and buttoned and zippered.. but they dont look quite good yet.. so maybe 5 more lbs? should I just go for the 130?
what does everyone else think?

[Ailuros]

Go by the way you look, and don't worry about the number.

Congratulations on fitting into the trousers .

[YampyPie]

Originally Posted by Ailuros

Go by the way you look, and don't worry about the number.

Congratulations on fitting into the trousers .

I agree. I would just focus on exercise to help "tone" more if you're moreso concerned about how you look in the pants. You've done awesome so far!

[Remykins]

I would still go for the 130, you are so close! and that way you have some wiggle room come TOM and you can still fit in your sexy pants

[julieboolie]

Scales are NOT the best measure of size, fat % and health. If you're the size and shape you want, and your goal jeans fit, that sounds like GOAL to me!! Switching over to maintenance is a challenge too, but you can certainly celebrate! Congrats!! Very inspiring and impressive!!

[ItsNot2L8]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

Scales are NOT the best measure of size, fat % and health. If you're the size and shape you want, and your goal jeans fit, that sounds like GOAL to me!! Switching over to maintenance is a challenge too, but you can certainly celebrate! Congrats!! Very inspiring and impressive!!

^^This. If you're eating healthy, feeling good, and feel good about how you look then it doesn't matter what the scales or BMI charts say. You made it!

[Sharis]

I agree with the others who think that having a number on a scale rule your life may not be the best way to go. I mean no disrespect but it seems to be that demanding your body weigh a certain amount before you will be happy is sort of juvenile or immature. It's just not a fully-developed way to look at the matter, know what I mean? If you break it down, how does that make any real sense? You are most definitely not selling out if you decide to abandon that idea. It is about how you look and how you feel. That's all that that should matter.

Congratulations on how far you have come. You have a lot to be proud of.

[KellBell1234]

I say if you feel good and your goal pants fit, the number on the scale shouldn't matter. Congrats on your success!

[Leo41]

Someone posted recently that women should think of their 'goal weight' in terms of a decade. For example, you might think of the 130s as your goal, so that 135 would be good, but anytime you see yourself getting close to the end of the decade, i.e., 138 or 39, you know it's time to take action. In the same way, you need to be careful when you see the scale at 131 0r 130 because the habit of dieting can lead to unhealthy low weights.

The idea of a ten-pound span is helpful because most women will retain water to some degree and weight can fluctuate as much as 5 pounds within a day. Focusing on only one number is unrealistic. And it's OK to say, "I weigh 130" when the scale read 135 that morning because sometime during that day, you probably did weigh 130:-)

[Blood Sugar 101]

Because you have lost so much weight, you have put some permanent "infrastructure" onto your body that isn't going to go away, both extra bone and some extra muscle.

So you may be at goal at a higher weight than you would have been in the past.

If you have to get extreme to lose that last 5 pounds, you may end up with a much slower metabolism after you get there which will make it easier to gain on the same input you are maintaining at now. I did that to myself, so in retrospect I think it is best to stay at a goal where you can maintain without a lot of self-denial.

I maintained easily at 142 for years. Then I dropped down to 137 a few years ago thanks to a stomach ailment that made eating really not fun for several months. When I could eat normally again, I shot up to 150 eating what I used to eat to maintain at 142.

It took me forever to get back to 142 and it is tougher to maintain there now than it used to be. Lesson learned.

[Keptewe]

Basically, I'd ask myself, "What am I going to do differently if I declare myself at goal right now?" Are you going to start eating more calories or carbs? Are you going to stop exercising?
At this point (within 5 lbs of goal) you are probably already determining a maintenance plan. If you keep on eating and moving like you have been you probably will still lose a few more pounds although it might take a month or more to do so. If not, you will stay were you are. I guess I am saying that the idea of reaching goal can be a little tricky if it is accompanied by unhealthy reversion to old ways....just thinking, "Ahhh I've arrived!" can lead to a relaxation that can result in weight gain.

So...my advice? Don't worry about whether 130 or 135 is going to be your "goal". Just keep doing what you are already doing and let your body decide what is "doable" for you. I hope that makes sense? Believe me, I am speaking from experience here.

[tinatina]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Someone posted recently that women should think of their 'goal weight' in terms of a decade. For example, you might think of the 130s as your goal, so that 135 would be good, but anytime you see yourself getting close to the end of the decade, i.e., 138 or 39, you know it's time to take action. In the same way, you need to be careful when you see the scale at 131 0r 130 because the habit of dieting can lead to unhealthy low weights.

The idea of a ten-pound span is helpful because most women will retain water to some degree and weight can fluctuate as much as 5 pounds within a day. Focusing on only one number is unrealistic. And it's OK to say, "I weigh 130" when the scale read 135 that morning because sometime during that day, you probably did weigh 130:-)

I like this idea!

[fawn]

Work on maintaining what you've lost and re-evaluate. Have you found your critical carb level? Do you know what your triggers are? Do you know what foods cannot be tolerated? Would you be able to face an uncomfortable situation and work with or around it? Would you be able to go off plan for some unknown reason and get right back on at the next meal?

Goal is so much more than the number on the scale. Just something for you to think about.

[Blood Sugar 101]

Originally Posted by fawn

Work on maintaining what you've lost and re-evaluate. Have you found your critical carb level? Do you know what your triggers are? Do you know what foods cannot be tolerated? Would you be able to face an uncomfortable situation and work with or around it? Would you be able to go off plan for some unknown reason and get right back on at the next meal?

Goal is so much more than the number on the scale. Just something for you to think about.

That's it in a nutshell. Brilliantly put.