Good luck, MarliQQ. Sometimes it helps to dream that 'six months in the future, I'll be able to wear X dress at X party' to keep you going... but slow and steady can win the race too :) I attribute my lack of loose skin and ability to maintain to the fact that I did it quite gradually.
But like I said, envisioning the future can be a useful motivation tool irregardless of how fast it actually happens :)

It took me 18 weeks to get to my original goal weight and I lost around 68 lbs. I have lowered my goal weight two lbs and it took me 19 weeks to lose 70 pounds or so.

There is a clinical study that says faster weight loss helps keep the weight off long term.

I know some people/websites say that slow and steady wins the race too ;)

Originally Posted by Sheila53:
I lost 60 lbs. the first year, then the rest over 3 years. Maintained since 2006.

I too lost about 60 the first year and about 30 the year after. I've lost maybe 4 or 5 pounds in the last 6 or 7 months. I'm pretty much past goal at this point.

I lost 50 lbs. in about 8 months. South Beach is what finally worked for me after countless other diets. I think I lost most of it in the first 6 months. Still maintaining but will always be worried about regaining it back.