Does anyone ever want to just take a breather from all the calorie counting and inner pressure to reach your goal? For about 2 weeks now, since I reached the 40lb mark, I've had a panicky feeling... my goal is on the horizon and for some reason that is freaking me out!

Throughout my weight loss I've taken my foot off the gas a few times, especially when I've reached a milestone like this. I always hopped back on with the same gusto as before. I know in a few days my head will clear. I'm not binging on burgers and Twinkies or whatever... I eat and exercise as always, but without the inner drive to push myself to the finish line.

The reality of how close I am is a bit overwhelming... it's like my mind needs to catch up with my body, to catch my breath! Is it bad just to stay in auto pilot mode until I wake up & smell the coffee?
Sorry, I just realized this is a rant!!

I didn't read this as a rant at all. You know yourself best. If this has worked for you in the best, it just may be the best course of action. It actually sounds like a reasonable thing to do. It's like a test drive for maintenance.

Sarah

I see we have the same goal weight!

Well, this is tricky. Sure you could just try to maintain for awhile. I did for around 8 weeks over the summer, (but still lost some) and then decided to get serious and finish what I started. I'll tell you though, the last ten is WAY harder to lose than the first ten. (Though at my starting weight, I lost almost 10 pounds my first week!) It's taken me over a month to lose the last 5, and I'm thinking it might be even longer to take off the final 5.

Whatever you do, just don't give up! Your mind will catch up.

The last ten pounds can be a real bear. I took my foot off the gas and ended up practice maintaining for the last year. I've gotten serious about getting to goal again, but the pounds still aren't coming off any easier.

I guess it took me all that time to decide I really really wanted it enough to knuckle down and do what was necessary.

It's no disaster to maintain, but I do wish had gotten serious about getting to goal sooner.

I have heard from multiple sources knowledgeable on the subject that maintaining for bouts of time, intentionally, during your weight loss journey is actually the BEST thing you can do for your body and mind. It lets your body adjust and proves to your brain that you CAN maintain your loss without a fight, and that it is indeed REAL and you are a smaller person, permanently, than you were before.

Tell yourself you can do it, but that coasting for awhile is beneficial and useful, and I think you'll be fine. The longer you can maintain a given loss, even along your journey, the more likely it is that you won't backslide into bad habits.

CONGRATULATIONS on your losses thus far, it is inspiring!

There are no time goals you need to meet. You can certainly practice maintenance and then gear up for the last 10 at any time.

This is a lifestyle change. And, at your current weight, you are most likely at a healthy weight for yourself. So - do what you think is best.

But, as has been said above - I found that the last 10 lbs took a LONG time - over two months - to lose. Creating a large calorie deficit is very difficult when you are ate a healthy weight. So, don't get discouraged if, when you do kick back into gear, it seems to take forever to reach your final goal.

on your loss so far - you look GREAT!

I've forgotten where the gas is . I've been 5 lbs. over goal for well over a year and can't seem to muster the initiative to get there. I know I can do it but don't want to yet.

I've always used my weight (which has never been a serious problem - just that 10-15 extra lbs.) as an excuse to not do things. Haven't done that in years either but sometimes our brains fall into ruts (crevasse for me ) that are difficult to climb out of.

Take all the time you need. Practice maintenance until you are comfortable with losing again. And, since each of us is different, maybe your mental goal weight and physical one don't quite match up.

I initially wanted to get to 125 but soon realized that my body would fight me every day to get there and maintain that weight. 130 is much more realistic for my size, body composition, and lifestyle.

Dagmar

OMG thanks everyone for your much-needed support! I am so grateful for 3FC & that I was lucky enough to stumble upon it early in my weight loss.

I'm taking your advice and putting the diet in neutral for now. Actually I am pretty excited to practice the art of maintenance... a good challenge to take the place of the go go go path I was on.

I'm going to read through past maintenance forum posts... until now this forum seemed like a million miles away. Again, thanks for your warm support!