Do you feel like as you get closer to your goal, that you do not want to work as hard? Lately I have not felt like doing much exercising and I have been eating like a cow. I know some of that is because I was sick for a week. But I also look a lot better than I did 5 months ago, so I feel like I don't need to be as strict. I do want to lose the last 20 pounds. I guess my self esteem is getting better. I don't mind going out and wearing a tight fitting top anymore. I like going shopping and buying a medium top and 7/8 jeans, rather than an XL top and size 14 pants. It has been about 3 years since I have been this size.

Is anyone else feeling like this, or I am I just getting lazy? I know these last 20 pounds are going to be difficult to lose, so I don't really want to be in this happy mindset, but on the other hand, It is nice to feel good again.

I definitly do before I gained 15 lbs...that I lost about a year and a half ago. I got down to 150 and just stayed there for a long time...and all of a sudden POOF* I gained and shot up to 168. it SUCKS! I wish I would have just worked at it and lost more, which is what I originally wanted. and instead I got comfortable and gained...which is NOT waht I had planned at all...YOU can do it! just try to stick to a plan, and add fun things like shopping, or treats (like manicure, massage etc) when you lose 5-10 lbs. Goodluck!
Julie

uhhh...yeah i can feel your pain!! i have about 10 pound to lose before i reach goal, and i have been trying to lose them for about 6 months with minimal progress. i feel exactly like you...i feel like since I have been watching what I eat for so long that I deserve little treats almost every day! i don't know what the solution to the problem is...i have found that logging my food every day in fitday helps. maybe you could try that???

I totally feel like that. I've still been doing well with my eating for the most part, but I am soooo NOT motivated to go to the gym. I really can't stand this feeling!

YES, totally. I completely slacked off on working out this entire semester (I use school as my excuse, but I probably could have found more time for it). Luckily I've managed to keep my eating under control. I'm starting to get worried about "portion creep" though, since I feel like I've been eating a lot more than usual, but I really don't want to gain at all.

The other confusing thing is that I always seem to lose weight after a few days where I don't work out and I eat crap. Like, this morning the scale said 128 (I think my scale is broken or something, I was like "no way!"), but I ate two helpings of dinner last night even though I wasn't hungry after the first one, I had McDonald's for dinner Friday, I didn't work out between Wednesday and yesterday, and I made brownies and ate a huge amount of them this weekend.

So since eating poorly and not working out is so often related to a loss for me, it makes it even harder to convince myself to eat right and work out! I know for a fact that if I always eat bad and I never work out, I will gain (or obviously I would never have gotten fat in the first place). But I feel like I'm getting to know my body for the first time!

I have the exact opposite problem, but maybe that's because I'm still a little over 30 pounds from my goal. But at this point, I'm trying to work my butt off because I want to get to my goal SO bad. It seems that other people are going through the same thing, so their advice will probably be more helpful. But, just remember how great you feel when you reached each of your goals along the way for your weightloss. And think about how amazing it will feel when you get to your goal weight and see that number staring up at you from the scale. It's worth it.

Yes. I'm currently slacking off a bit because I'm far closer to goal than I thought I'd be by this time of year, and I want to enjoy myself and celebrate what I've achieved rather than the few pounds I haven't lost yet. Which is OK, as long as I can get back on the wagon in january...

For me, I'm getting geared up to -plan- some slack.
As of this morning, I've lost 50% to goal weight.
In about 3 weeks I'm moving to Louisville and I'll have a free fitness center at my apartment. My plan is to stop counting calories when I move, and to look to just portion control until I have enough time to 'solidify' some lifting routine that I'd like to do there. So I'll do weights and cardio and track those carefully, but let the food work itself out for a while.

Oh, I know exactly how you feel! I have been trying to lose these last 20 or so pounds for at least a year now. I'll lose a few, gain a few, lose a few. Repeat over and over and over. I guess I've just gotten comfortable with where I am at. I sure look and feel better about myself than I did at 215. But, I do know that I would look and feel even better at my goal weight. I just need to find that "ooomph" to lose these last 20 pounds.

Wow I never imagined so many of you felt the same as me. I always thought everyone worked harder as you got closer to goal. Paperclippy- I also have days like that. I eat junk and don't work out but yet I lose weight. I think sometimes my body needs that grease from Mickey D's. LOL! Well I wish everyone great success. I know I can make goal. I am working this week on getting back on track. I know Christmas is coming and I will be splurging that weekend. I bake homemade goods for our family, of course I have to test them all! I guess I will just take each day as it comes. My husband wants me to buy some size 6 clothes, knowing that I will be there soon. I think I may do that- it is fun to try things on to see how close you are. That is a huge motivator for me! I still would like to meet my goal by Feb. 1st, so I better get my butt in gear!

Thanks all for the great responses.

I let myself go on a little vacation after just 10 lbs lost. But now I’m back on track. I think it’s perfectly normal to want to give yourself a little break after you’ve worked so hard and accomplished so much, and I think it’s OK to do some of that. As long as you know you have to get back to that hard work again to lose those last few ponds to reach your goal.

It is great to feel good! While it may be difficult to lose those last few, there’s no reason you can’t keep that upbeat attitude the whole way. In fact, it just might help.

Good luck and congratulations on how far you’ve come!

You can always take a break and maintain for a while. Then eventually you will re-evaluate your goal weight and why you want to be there and be motivated to start losing again.