I confess a tiny part of me feels like I'm just being lazy, but a larger part is just darn proud that I'm learning to be happy and love myself NOW, instead of waiting until I'm "finished".

What I'm getting at is, I've decided to change my goal weight from 125 to 135. I like the way I look now, and would just prefer to be a little smaller, and more toned.

And you know, if the toning means I build muscle and weigh the same while becoming a smaller size, that's fine too. I'm not a "thin" person, and I don't need to be; I just want to be a healthy person, and I'm definitely getting there!

Any opinions? I'll attach a photo as a frame of reference; I'm afraid I'm losing perspective on my size.


[later removed photos]

tipsygypsy

Congratulations.. you look fantastic in the photo. I don't know what you looked like before, unfortunately. It would be interesting to see. I love before/after pics!

Hey, don't feel like a sell out. If you are happy the way you are, then be so. Big deal. So you are happy the way you are, nothing wrong with that! Just work to keep what you have and I bet you'll lose even a couple of more as time goes on. What you have done is nothing to consider yourself in any way a sell out.

You look smokin'! I have a lower goal than some because that was the high in my normal weight range in my twenties. But I am so far from there its immaterial. Right now at a plateau I would be happy to see onederland. Do you have any losing tips that worked well for you?

You are not a sell out tipsygypsy. If this is the weight you are happy at then go for it! You look great in that photo!

I decided to change my goal weight too and focus more on being fit and feeling good.

Thank you all so much. I do feel better now.

Deb, I have to confess that about twenty pounds was NOT lost in a healthy way. I was pressuring myself to lose the weight and decided to do so by any means necessary, so I really restricted my calories heavily (I mean less than 1000 per day--NOT recommended), and was doing far too much activity--I have lupus, and while exercise is a good thing, overstrenuous exercise can bring on a flare in nothing flat.

However, the majority and healthy part of my weight loss occurred with a controlled-carb diet; kind of a cross between Atkins and South Beach. It seems to help with the joint pain brought on by my lupus as well, and I really noticed a negative impact on my health when I would cheat in the past and have sugar or white flour. So no more of that!

Again, thank you all sooooo much. It was hard coming to this decision, but you're really helping me reconcile myself to it.

You look fantastic and aren't selling out at all. You have lost an incredible amount of weight and look great where you are. I had those same feelings. I set my goal at 145 but always thought I wanted to get to 135, my high school weight. But the closer I got to goal, the more I realized that I didn't need to go that low. I haven't been a teenager in almost 30 yrs. and I didn't realize how happy I would be in the 140's. Stick to whatever makes you feel most comfortable. Most of us are trying to be healthy and look healthy and I think you look very healthy. Congratulations on an Awesome Job.

You aren't selling out. You look wonderful, great job. I have set my goal at 150 first and the next one at 140. 140.5 pounds puts me at the very top of the "normal" catagory for my height. What is "normal" anyways!! That may be as low as I go. I've been 115 at 5'3" and I look better with a few more pounds on me and its much more manageable to maintain. Be happy with what you have accomplished and strive to be healthy not rail thin.

I wouldn't call that selling out at all. Being healthy is a much tougher goal than simply being thin. I had to be both to learn that. Go you!

I DON'T THINK YOU ARE SELLING OUT IN THE LEAST!! YOU HAVE OVERCOME SUCH A HUGE OBSTACLE AND YOU LOOK AWSOME ! I THINK THAT WE ALL PERCEIEVE OURSELVES AS HAVING TO BE A PERFECT WEIGHT BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS HOW YOU FEEL WHEN YOU GET TO THE WEIGHT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. I PERSONALLY AM SOOOOOOOOO JEALOUS OF YOU RIGHT NOW. BUT IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT GIVE US HOPE AND STRENGTH THAT WE CAN ALL DO IT!!!

AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE POSE IN YOUR AFTER PICTURE...STRUT YOUR STUFF GIRL!!!

When you have a lot of weight to lose, it's hard to predict the exact weight you should end up at. Now that you've lost your weight, you're better able to see what's right for you. You didn't sell out -- you reassessed.

you look amazing!!! congratulations!!

Ok, you need to let your brain catch up with your body. What I mean by this is that you might be seeing yourself through a self-perception that you are still "fat" at 135 lbs. It takes a while to adjust and a certain amount of strength to adjust UP from a goal or "ideal" weight. Remember that your goal was originally theoretical, and now you are dealing with reality. As for numbers on the scale vs. reality, well, the usual "muscle weighs more than fat" argument holds up. You could even shoot for 140lbs vice 135lbs and then tone up with exercise. At THAT point, focus on your clothes size, not your scale size. There are LOTS of fitness models (NO I'm not suggesting this as YOUR role model!) with 8% body fat at 5'4" who weigh more than 140 lbs, and they are still incredibly small. At this point - and at the way you look now - the numbers on the scale don't really matter - what matters is your overall size. Congratulations!!!!!

tipsygypsy

Hey now I see the 'before' pic is there.. I didn't see it when i was here earlier. WOW you have changed for sure!! Although you say it was not done in the best manner.. well, true enough it shouldn't be done by using such harsh measures but now that you are where you are, it's done, right?

Congratulations on your big WL and don't discount the work you've put into it, it was a lot of work.

My goal number that I put down.. sheesh I'm not really even looking at that number as being official.. I just picked a number. When I get within 25 pounds of it, then I'll start considering what the true number should be. I just put it there to have a number there really. How would you know what your goal would be until you were near it, I think. Boy I haven't seen that kind of number since I was in high school, and that was a while ago for me.

You look great!!! If this is what you are happy with then I think that you are doing the right thing! Never feel bad about your choice!
Congrats

Don't feel that your selling out. You have overcome a huge obstacle and you look great. Congrats on being so succesful!!