I've gotten to within 15-20 pounds of my goal - sometimes reaching 15, not going above 20 for, it seems, forever. I just can't seem to drive the stake in those last remaining pounds. I've lost and regained them more times than I can count. It seems that whenever I get real close, I get depressed about something or stress out and binge, erasing all the gains and I pack on another 10 pounds. Sometimes I have mini-binges where I lose it for only one or two days and eat cr*p all day long. You'd think one or two days wouldn't make a huge difference, but the scales and tape measure sniff it out like a shark sniffs out chum, and there goes my momentum.
I have heard that the visual difference between one's goal weight and, say, 20 lbs. above it, are very noticable. Those last few pounds are admittedly the hardest to lose, but when they do go, the muscle definition and body shape takes on a clarity that's like night and day (I understand).
I do learn from my mistakes, and I think my most important lesson is - prepare, prepare, prepare. Anticipate problems before they happen so I can stay on-track. For those of you who've reached your goal weight, I'm curious if you managed to stay on track to the end?