Nah whatever for Joy? If you look & feel good NOW, be happy with that & in my honest opinion- there is no need to go lower, this ain't a limbo contest yanno! YANNO, How low can you go???? ha ha ha ha Although opinions are like @ssholes, everyones got one, so it is up to you, but girl I think you look FABU & outta be DONE! That a true story & I'm stickin to it...

Thanks for all your comments!

My Mom's over for the next few days! To my surprise...she didn't tell me I was too skinny...she thinks I look 25 yrs younger and FABU!!! She says my skin also improved and looks glowing and very youthful. I'm stoked.

That said...sorry so many of you seem to get in an "uproar" over maintenance being "easy" for me. It really is EASY for me...and I want other people out there who read this to KNOW that this journey totally does NOT have to be painful.

Lastly...I didn't imply anything. I think I speak direct in my opinions here on this board and in real life actually. Lori - Everything you said just further proves why it is so important to "fix our heads" or, for lack of a better word READJUST our THINKING when it comes to food. Sorry that maintenance is hard for you...I really am. You've come along way and think you should do whatever makes you happy. I know I am...and will speak about it whenever possible. I mean...I don't want to be bitter...I like being joyful. It makes this process much more fun!

Thanks again ladies for your comments and support.

joy-
I am immensely grateful for the fact that I lost easily, quickly, do not have body issues at all (as mentioned by my physical therapist for TMJ today), and have found maintenance pleasurable. I attribute this ease to my food choices in large part. Will this change for me over time- who knows, I certainly do not know nor do I need to know. Today is what I have. I can also avoid the "isle of denial" as best I can. So if it changes, I will make an active decision about my plan of action.

Joy, I pretty much took the same approach, facing my issues head on, and forcing myself to take control, to get stronger... it took me a couple years to heal my broken relationship with food, but the time and effort were totally worth it.

Good for you!

everybody is different. what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another, and that’s OK

joy, go for the 5! why not?

I have lost 5lbs past goal and am at the bottom of my maintenance range. I've been trying to decide if I want to go lower or not. The five lbs I've lost since hitting goal have been totally unintentional. I met my now boyfriend less than a week after I reached goal. We started going out and I've just continued to lose. He's very active, we go on a lot of walks, some hikes, and ride bikes together. AND he eats well: loves veggies, fruit, and is a very good cook. He does have a bit of a sweet tooth, but sweets have never been an issue for me. I have been trying to decide if I'm going to actively TRY not to lose more weight OR just go-with-the-flow as long as I stay under 135. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do.

And I'd also like to say, I think it's awesome maintenance has been easy for you! I haven't felt like it's been difficult at all either and I'm glad no one has harassed me for it. I also know I haven't been maintaining as long as some people have. But I lost weight in a way that was not drastic or too restrictive. I genuinely built good habits over a long period of time.

I've been maintaining for a few months now, and recently started training for a marathon which took my weekly mileage from about 15 to closer to 35. I dropped 7 lbs. and 1% body fat relatively quickly (2.5 weeks) and I seem to be hovering about there. I really go by how my body feels. I'm eating plenty, staying hydrated and maintaining my energy levels without the use of caffeine or stimulants, so I figure, why not?! I do enjoy having a bit more wiggle room until I would hit my red-line weight too

zeffryn-that's great! Not to hijack this thread, but I am also training for a marathon in Dec., and I am in maintenance for a few months now after losing over 100 lbs. I have been running about 25 miles a week and now I am upping it to around 40. I haven't lost any additional weight, but I am eating like a horse. Healthy stuff, but eating a lot just the same. Running makes me very hungry.

Each of us has to decide where we want to be. I prefer right where I am, even though there is always that nagging little voice telling me that I could be thinner. Yes, I could be, but the attention to every calorie that even losing 5 additional pounds would take, FOR ME, is more than I am willing to put up with.

We can get support and advice/opinions from everyone here, but the journey really is so individual, just like all of us.

Joy, Just wondering how long you have been maintaining and how long did you diet.

I'm concerned about going under my lowest reasonable weight of 105 because of the restricted diet that I'm on for acid reflux where I can't eat any fat. I'm making sure I'm eating 'good fats' like avocados, salmon, and olive oil.

But I've had to cut out all dairy except fat free and 1% milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt. So red meat, peanut butter, and nuts are off the table for now. And last September, I stopped eating anything with sugar because it's just a trigger to eat more, more, more of everything.