I can definitely sympathise with you...everyone has different bodies and their ideal weight...i'm 5'9 fairly slim have always been around 118-120, and recently put on some weight so now i'm at 128 :( although some see this as a 'healthy' weight i feel as though I'm living in a foreign body and want to get back dow to 120... So good luck, I'm sure you'll feel/look fab when you reach your goal :)

Isabella- Thanks for explaining. I like to hear everyone's story about goal weight, b/c I find mine to be so tricky to "cope with". My brain sees my body and knows this weight is great for me, but I am fighting major number-phobia. :-( Congrats on the loss!!

I was BAD this evening. Buffalo Chicken Dip and I do not get along, which is why I just apss on it. But I had some with 7 or 8 tortilla chips. Not horrible except I had seconds, and a bigger portion the 2nd time. Doh!! I don't have mnay food wekanesses, but that is definately one of them.

I haven't weighed in for a few days. I like to do it early a.m., with no clothes, etc, and it is just so darn cold in my house! LOL

Isabella - congrats! I understand completely. My BMI is about 22 currently but I'm really unsatisfied with my shape. I also carry all my weight in my middle and constantly look preggers...I've lost count of the number of times people have asked me. I think I'd have to get down to 120 to feel better. There is also a lot of diabetes in my family and everyone is apple shaped.

Have you guys thought about working on body recomposition (i.e. lifting)? Switching up exercise routines. Both of you guys are at wonderfully healthy weights and speaking from experience I know how painstaking (and often futile) it is to try to squeeze those last few pounds off.

I too wanted to lose 7 more lbs. But I was stuck at 124-122 for FIVE MONTHS while in a caloric deficit and exercising regularly. It just wasn't going to happen, not without extreme methods

I'm working on lifting now. I don't think reducing what I have is going to work. I've dropped a cup size but my thighs are as wide as ever. For me, it' not about getting smaller, it's about reshaping myself. And it sounds like that's what you guys are most interested in too.

To be honest I stopped posting regularly in the Featherweights section because it made me focus too much on dropping pounds... everyone else around me was a little taller, a little thinner, and losing. It made me feel like I was doing something wrong. I WAS doing something wrong, it turns out... I shouldn't have continued trying to lose weight! Part of what I needed was to refocus my energy on strength training, part was to refocus my BRAIN on being happy with my bodies quirks and imperfections.

I'm saying this only because I think it's important to add a voice in the Feathers group to say there is a point when enough is enough and lower isn't better. Everyone in the Feathers boards are so wonderful and supportive, but I do think there sometimes is an unspoken pressure we put on ourselves to keep up with everyone else who just keeps losing. Nothing wrong with that, I just want to say there IS a point when losing more isn't going to do anything... reshaping our bodies and our mentalities is :)

indiblue - I can't count the number of times I've questioned my goal weight because I see so many here who are taller than me and wishing to weigh less (or already do) and I wonder if I should go lower. Meanwhile when I look in the mirror I'm pretty satisfied with myself. I'm not expecting perfection by any means. Can I go down to 125? Maybe, but I'm not sure what it would accomplish. I know I'm still at the high end of the normal BMI, but I kind of like where I am.

I've been lifting since before I began losing weight and it does wonders for the body. I love it. Unfortunately I have neglected my core and it shows. I've trained my upper and lower body and those are both toned and muscular with just a little fat...while my core is flabby! I attribute it to my own neglect, but I'm working on that and hopefully can reshape that area of my body (I'm sure some of it is extra skin, actually...).

Even though I just got here, I can kind of feel my body fighting me. I'm hungrier all of a sudden and I wasn't this way just a few pounds ago. For the first time it's become very difficult for me to stay within my calorie allotment! I don't want to gain the weight back, so I really don't want to push myself down much further and risk eating everything in sight. I think 135 will be it and then I will focus on maintaining and losing any additional inches through strength training.

^^ This! ^^

It was thinking, "I only need to lose ten more pounds!" which caused my relapse each time it happened. Because my body would resist and weight loss became very difficult even with an extreme low-carb, vlc/CRON diet. Eventually I became discouraged and just gave up, gaining all the weight back and then some, each time.

So this time I am doing it differently. Yes, I still want to lose a few pounds. But I look pretty good with my clothes on. It's my flab and saggy skin that's the problem when I am unclothed or in a bathing suit.

I decided not to focus on the last thirteen pounds. Rather, I am focusing on learning to maintain. I am focusing on building a new muscle base for metabolism so I can eat a reasonable amount of food for maintenance - forever. I am focusing on developing the machinery to process calories, by building muscles and re-setting my BMR using JUDDD. I am focusing on feeling great, getting strong, and improving my heart health as I enter my mid-life and menopause. I am focusing on how my body can improve as I build it into a fit vehicle for my soul. Because my soul deserves a fit body. :)

I went from being a daily weigher to weighing once a week. I have a feeling if I just stopped weighing for a few months, but diligently kept up low-carb JUDDD and my gym program, I'd find myself very near my goal weight as a natural consequence of developing permanent, healthy habits FOR LIFE. I re-read the Atkins book sections on maintenance (I hadn't read about Atkins maintenance in years, since I always tried to OWL right up to my goal weight). Now I realize THAT was what was causing my failure!

I am a HUGE fan of weight lifting, either all along or added in the pre-maintenance phase, as a final touch to a person's weight-loss journey. I think making a permanent habit of fitness and healthy, controlled eating is key to maintenance.

OK I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

indiblue - those are great points and I always like your posts...I do find that it's a lot in my head that I need to be 125 lbs and that I'm actually at a very healthy weight.

indiblue- I'm so glad you posted! I've been having the number struggle, but if i can't eat less than 1800 cals without dang near fainting, it's obviously my body's way of telling me that this is the bottom for me. I'm going around the 23rd of this month to get my body fat tested again, and as long as it is 20% still, I will know that this weight/size is where I'm meant to be. I love working out, I love muscle definition....but I can't do either of these at a calorie deficit anymore.

I wonder if the Featherweights section needs a Maintainers thread.

I realize there is a whole section for Maintainers who are wise and supportive and wonderful. But that doesn't preclude us from having one here. Many of us have never been overweight, or significantly overweight, or only overweight during/after pregnancy, etc. We haven't gone through the whole journey of losing 100 lbs and keeping it off for years.

And maybe a Maintainers thread will help keep the Featherweights board more balanced in terms of coping with our imperfections and body image issues. It gets easy here to compare yourself to others since we're all clumped together on the weight spectrum, only a few pounds separating us. Sometimes I here feel like I'm in a room of really thin people who are all getting thinner and maybe we need to have at least one area for people who are happy where they are.... or working on being happy where they are :)

I also want to say I'm really happy to hear that a lot of other people feel the same way I do... that we are caught up in the numbers game but KNOW that's not the right way of doing things. And that being strong and building muscle can't be done in a calorie deficit. And that there are more important things than the number on the scale.... being really happy with our bodies is one of them!

PS Here is my whole struggle recently... lots of longterm maintainers gave me great advice. It helped me a lot, maybe it can help others as well: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/livi...ng-myself.html

indiblue - I think a maintainers thread is a great idea. I do find I compare myself to others who weight a lot less and are still losing too.

I have been a hot mess since the end of October...barely losing, struggling with feeling like I'm eating a lot, and barely keeping up with workouts, etc. I just feel constantly fatigued. I wanted to let you all know that i am checking into my iron levels and even SAD, which makes the short winter days affect your mood and energy. I was tanning 1-2x a week until the end of October, so maybe it isn't a coincidence? So...I've been taking iron pills for 3 days and will start back at the tan center once a week until Spring. Also, per recommendation of others on here who have lost a lot of weight, and subsequently lost a lot of hair, I've also starting taking a Biotin supplement. I'll let you all know what happens...I'm a science experiment! LOL But something just doesn't feel right, and I don't think it is b/c of my weight loss efforts...

I'm anemic as well chickiechicks, I used to take pills for it but I stopped because of the side effects. I've heard the new supplements are better though so I may try them. It sucks to be tired and cold all the time!

I used to be borderline anemic when I was a teenager because of my heavy periods....not fun. I had to take iron supplements too, but my mother would always make sure to make foods high in iron when I was on my period.

I always felt tired though. There were sometimes I would almost pass out at school because I was so fatigued. Not fun! :(

Hi everyone,
I haven't been around in awhile, but I decided to post anyway. I'm noticing a trend in "stuckness" and dissatisfaction with body image (and dissatisfaction in general). Could some of it be due to dark, inactive winter months? I live in Southern California, and know that I'm a real wimp when it comes to cold and darkness. I find myself indoors a lot, not doing the things I usually enjoy (and which make me feel better). I also feel like I've plateau'd, but I'm giving myself til the end of January before I start complaining about that. I know that sometimes I may look identical to the way I did another day, but because of my bad mindset, I somehow look worse.

Just a thought.

133.8 this morning..getting there! Have to stick with the no night eating and the running...

I seem to be bouncing between 135 and 136. What a tease :)

i was 132.8 when i got on the scale this morning, and a few minutes ago out of curiosity it said 131.8, lol so either way im almost done with these stupid 130's!

Not feeling any better on the supplements, but I also have a terrible cold/flu, so what can I expect?? LOL

Congrats, aware! The 130s are stupid. LOL ;)

I am profoundly affected in the winter-time. I just started light therapy and hopefully that will help. My father swears by it, and my mood can't get much worse (despite nothing TRULY being wrong), so it's worth a try! :hug:

I seriously am missing the sunshine right now. It gets dark to early and its too cold to do anything outside! everyone here complains about the heat in the summer but i miss the warmth!

New to forum
 

Hello everyone :D I am new to the forum I was wondering what everyone thinks ideal weight for a female who is 5'5....

It really depends on a number of factors including how much you exercise and what exercise you're doing. For example: if you strength train you will weigh more but look smaller (like me. I'm 135 pounds but fit into a size 2/4)

What is your frame size? If you're larger framed you won't be able to get down to the weight a small-framed person would. Paradoxically a small-framed person might be overweight at the same weight that the large-framed person wouldn't.

Going by BMI a 5'5" woman can weigh 112-149 pounds.

When you factor in frame size, you get the following:
Small Frame: 117-130lbs
Medium Frame: 127-141lbs
Large Frame: 137-155lbs

130 :(
 

Hi everyone!
Trying to get back into shape during the holidays is not easy! I go through spurts of going in and out of the gym. It's been hard for me to stay consistent with the gym and eating healthy. I'm at a plateau of 130, though I know if I once I start a steady schedule of gym time and healthy dieting it will go down. My motivation is just NOT there! I am so sick of this unhappy feeling with my body. I want my lean mean body back!

Down to 133.4 this morning...inching my way down...

Hey Guys,
Welcome new people :)
I'm down to 135, hopefully it'll stick!

Hey guys! I haven't been on here in a couple of months--school got a hold of me :( I was down to 127 at my lowest this year! I've gained back to ~131 and I'm looking to GET OUT of the 130's again by the time school begins again in a month. Looking forward to being back on here :)

Welcome back, RachelAnne! You can do it!

After declaring my GOAL at 59 pounds, I finally saw 60 today. LOL Down to 127. Yippee!

So it's been a pretty crazy week for me so far... I got my wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday, and it's been very slow recovery since then. Also, a problem I've discovered in the past, the pain medication I was prescribed has no effect on me other than making me feel a little drowsy and nauseous. What a bummer!

Anyways, I'm finally rounding the corner on health - my cheeks are much less puffy today, but I have to go into work starting today. Really dreading to see how this shift is going to go. I hope I don't become sick on anything :(

As far as eating goes, I've been eating very low calories since Tuesday. Usually anywhere between 600 and 1100 a day, but I'm still trying to get in as much nutrition as possible (lots of roasted sweet potatos, greek yogurt, tuna, etc.). I really haven't been hungry for much more.

I know that it's not "real" weight-loss, but my scale showed me at 131.8 this morning. I double and triple checked, just to be sure. I wonder if there's a way for me to slowly re-incorporate real food in order to maintain the loss, or if it's just inevitable for me to gain it all back (4 or 5 lbs, yeesh), once I start eating normally again.

Either way, still a food more days of liquid foods for me!

Hello everyone! Do any of you seem to get stuck every 5 pounds you lose? I have been at 130ish for months. I yoyo. Before that I was stuck at 135 to 140 for years! :( I'm an extreamly active person 2 hrs of weights and cardio atleast 6 days a week. I also take wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu and compete in MMA. So I guess I must still eat to many cals? Even though I monitor them. P.S. I still have belly fat. So It's not just muscle weight lol.

Hi everyone! I haven't been too active since I met my goal 4 weeks ago. Just the holidays and increased work schedule keeping me from posting but I enjoy reading everyone's progress. Since I met my goal I've been maintaining pretty steady, staying within 3 pounds or so. Today I nearly fell over when I saw 127.4 on the scale. However, mom sent me a care package of sweets today. Some kind of toffee something covered in chocolate that I nearly ate half an 8 to 10 oz package of. Yum. Will have to work that off tomorrow!

Good luck to everyone with your short term goals this week if you are going to be around temptations of the yummy kind!

Kidjng - congrats on meeting your goal!
jujubunny - I totally get stuck every 5lbs.

I'm currently at 135, hoping I can maintain this til after new years and then start working out and try and lose the last 10 lbs.

I'm ludicrously happy to be at 134. I'm finally less than my age :P (I mean the 34 part ;) )... The 130's are killing me, and I can't wait to be out of them. For some reason, it never dawned on me that eating four fruits a day was still 500 calories, and that that simply was not going to work... I'm going to try protein powder mixed in with my coffee in the morning for something a little more nutritious...

Hows that for rambling
:)

Back again... Some months ago I got down to 129, got totally excited, fell off the wagon, and regained about 3 lbs of water weight. Then 4 more came on... and I'm back. I do want to get down to at least 125, and stay there!

So I'm at 136 after the holidays and I've been here for a couple of weeks. I'm kicking my self into high gear tomorrow by eating 1100-1300 calories a day of healthy food. Hopefully I can get out of the 130's by Valentines Day :)

I just got into the 130s, but I am going to join in here. I am breastfeeding and the weight is coming off fast. I never thought it wuld come off like this! Anyhoo, I was down two more pounds yesterday putting me at 134! Normally it would have taken me at least 2 months to lose 2 pounds. I hope this keeps up. I will be back in my skinny jeans in no time.

Wow kwinkle, that's amazing it's going so well for you! To be honest I've been scared of getting pregnant because I'm afraid I won't be able to lose the baby weight. Welcome :)

Had gotten down to 133, then went back up to 138.2 after the holidays..hoping some of it is water, back down to 136.6 after a few days of good eating and a great 5.5 mile run last night.

ugh 131 when will it go away lol. really kicking up the exercise next week, hopefully ill get to the 120's

I've been at 139 for months now. Mostly because I wasnt paying attention to my food, after I lost a lot of weigth last summer. I am pretty happy that it's an easy weight to maintain but I need to get out of here now! So, hello! And hopefully goodbye quite quickly!

130.4 today. I feel like i always plateau at numbers ending in 0.. i did at 160, 150 and 140, and now again at 130. I really hope its a short stay though i want to see the 120s so badly lol.