So here I am and I can see goal right around the corner. I still have 10-11 lbs to lose before I hit goal. But when I look at my belly it looks like I have a little more than 10 of belly fat to lose. I have looked online to find what ones ideal weight should be (within range that is). It kinda varies but they all are around 115-155 for ideal weight. For me though I think 120-130 would be more ideal I think. I do have a smallish bone structure tho you can tell that by my wrist bones and such . Even when I was 160 my wrists and such stayed small. All my weight was belly, butt and thighs mostly.

Ok so here is my question. Once I get to 130 should I just stop and maintain for a while. Or should I just continue with what I am doing to see if my body naturally wants to go lower than 130. I have heard it said around here that your body has a predetermined weight it wants to be. Such as if you go to low it will be either really hard to get to that lower weight or if you get there your body will naturally try to get back to its natural weight. And it will be a big struggle to stay at that low weight.

So how do I know what to do once I hit that goal weight.

I say, 10lbs or so can make a fair difference especially if you do toning exercises and plenty of cardio, so I'd say

1. Wait until you get to goal
2. Evaluate how you like what you look, and how you feel. Give it a while. Suss out how you really feel, enjoy your success, remind yourself you are great and good enough right now.
3. Then decide if you want to lose any more weight
4. If you do, make sure its not because you've developed that "must be thinner, I'm never satisfied" mentality...
5. If losing weight lower than 130 is hard, consider it may well be because your body doesn't want to go lower. If so
6. Continue living healthily, and accept that thats your maintainence weight!

emily
xxx

I agree 100% with Emily. You can decide when you get there and see what you look like. No use in worrying about it now

Emily, I've appointed myself your defacto internet den mother: when are you going to start listening to your own, excellent, advice???

I'd agree with Emily, too. That's because, as you see, I'm at my goal and maintaining right now--but this certainly isn't my final weight. I'm still "overweight" at this weight.

I decided I needed a rest from losing weight. It's been a long several months, and I've been pushing really hard at this. 5-6 days a week at the gym, always down around 1300 cals... I feel like my body is pretty stressed. So, I want to remain stable for awhile, eat enough to stay the same weight, build up my body a bit (muscle repair, etc.) and then I'll try for a lower weight.

Jay

I had the lower tummy pouch terribly. I was AMAZED at what a difference just 10 pounds made. At 5 pounds from my goal, I already knew that once I reached it, if I DID decide to change it, I'd only need to drop another 5. It was THAT much of a difference. I was doing a lot of situps and crunches at this point too. So yes, 10 pounds CAN make a difference in the tummy. It's often the last place to lose for many of us.

I was in a very similar situation. I had lost about 25 pounds and was close to goal, but still had a belly. I decided to focus more on maintaining (not gaining) and good habits than on actively losing. I slowly lost a few more pounds over the past few months and am now in my goal range between 140 and 150 (at 5'7"). I still have a little belly but I am so much more accepting of it and my body in general.

A few pounds can make a huge difference! In the last 5 lb, I've lost:
2.5" off my waist
1.5" off my hips
0.5" off my thigh

I find that as I'm getting closer to goal, I'm seeing movement in NSV's while the scale stays nearly the same.

So, it may very well be that you will tone up in those last 10 lb.

And if not, well, it never hurts to stop and maintain for a bit...or you can always switch your focus to toning rather than the numbers on the scale.

My two cents!

I'm a lot better at giving than taking advice lol