Well it appears my loss has slowed down quite drastically over the last 1.5 weeks. While I am still losing it isn't happening very fast and that makes it hard to look forward to Thanksgiving and trying to stay OP. I am still doing very well at not eating the cookies/brownies etc people with kids always seem to be around but it's frustrating that the weight is not coming off as fast. My only struggle has been getting enough water for sure, I don't think that is affecting me however, I think it is more because my goal weight is fairly low given my build (big bones, huge head).

I am going for about what I weighed as a starving college student...is 155 too low? I don't have as much muscle now as I did then.

It's possible - we are the same height and I am in a similar boat, I was 155 as a college student but as we get older our body makeup changes - I had kids, and I'm staring 40 in the face, so I am pretty sure that 155 isn't maintainable for me anymore. I am also busty, which is going to put my "ideal" weight higher too. I was going to stop at 170 but I decided to see how close I can get to 160. If my body stops losing at any point, and I'm happy with the size I'm in, I'll stop before then.

If you are getting closer to where your body should stop, it's VERY likely that you'll see a slowdown in your losses - the last 10-15 pounds do not always fall off the way the previous pounds do. Pay attention to the big picture - not just the number, but how you feel, how your clothes feel, and what your body is telling you. Aim for healthy adult, not starving college student

I agree with scorbett1103 100%.

When I started IP, I set my goal weight to 142. I have recently come to the realization (as a 40 year old mother of two very young children) that I may need to adjust my expectations. I, too, plan on listening to my body, and when I get to a size that I am comfortable in, or if my body becomes resistant to losing, then I will move on to Phase 2/3. It is no longer a number to me.

What is a reasonable weight that you think you could easily maintain? That's where I set my goal. I know 150 is the top end of the normal weight range for my height. But I believe I have a better shot at maintaining this weight then something lower.

See where you feel comfortable. It is very hard to maintain a weight that's too low.

I originally hoped for 140, but I am also large boned an muscular. At 145 I am a size small, and a small 6, large 4. Even staying around 145 is a challenge. I don't expect to see 140.

I am almost 41 and have 2 kids too!

I set mine really low too. And all of you young 40 yr olds r making me laugh! but you are also right......My goal may be abt 20 lbs too low. Right now Im at a small stall. Or at least Im hoping its a small stall

Wuv - Thanks so much for sharing that week 5 is usually a stall. I just had #5 WI yesterday and didn't lose anything. I was a little disappointed, but have heard you and others talk so often about the scale being only one factor among many that our weight loss encompasses. I'm 100% no cheat, and knew I hadn't done anything "wrong" but it does help to know that this is normal for week 5. Thanks again, Jen