Adjusting my goal...do the last 10 lbs *really* make such a difference?
 

So I've been hanging out around a weight of 156-158 for the past 3 months -- I'm 5'7". Maintaining, I guess--I wasn't eating to lose, I was rather distracted w/work, though I'm pleased I didn't gain weight. But I'm ready to jump back in this and lose the rest! I'm annoyed that I've lost 55 lbs and still have such a round, protruding belly, so close to my goal! I literally have thin arms, legs, and face--and all the extra weight is sitting on my belly and sides. It literally hangs over--I'm not exaggerating. Luck of the build, I guess. I have scrawny little hips and butt--and a big belly, just like my dad. XD

I'm technicially 5 lbs from my ultimate beginning goal of 150--so I think I need to readjust--to 145, or 140. That's 10 or 15 lbs away. Will losing these last few lbs really make such huge difference? 10 lbs doesn't seem like a lot to me right now--though I know it'll be harder to lose than the earlier lbs, obviously. But I'm skeptical, I guess, that if I were to lose these 10-15 lbs--that I'd be at a point where I'd be happy. Thoughts?

I'm also antsy because right now--at 155--this *IS* the lowest weight I've ever been in my adult life. I weighed like 157 when I was 13 and had just started high school! I remember that because that was when I really started paying attention to my weight. So I'm in completely uncharted territory right now...I have no idea what I'll look like "thin"--because I've never seen it!

Hard to tell - I'm the same height and almost the same weight - I've still got a fluffy little belly and ginormous thighs. Surprises me that this is considered "normal" weight! I'm planning to pursue better fitness, because I have a lot more room to improve on that front - I put on muscle really fast and I need to gear my head toward lost inches over scale readings. When I was in the best shape of my life, I was at 150 lbs, but 9% body fat and a 26 inch waist - a size 14 on top and a 6/8 on the bottom. I don't want to go that far again (I can't swim 30000 yards a week anyway) - but I don't want to commit to number on the scale.

So I can't answer your question! Lots of the maintainers have said that the last 10 were the most satisfying - I really recommend reading a sticky in the Maintainer's forum that's titled something along the lines of "Goal Weight - did you pick it, or did it pick you?" Seems like the common advice is "go for it and see how you feel" - if it can't be maintained without misery, it's a pointless goal. But you won't know til you get there. Good luck!

I think it can make a difference, but I also think as long as you're at a healthy weight and happy, it will be your personal preference whether or not to drop.

Once people get smaller, even 8 to 10 pounds can be noticeable, whereas when we're bigger we can drop 10, 20 or more and people won't notice.

It will probably also be a lot tougher to drop the last few pounds, so might be worth consulting a trainer or fitness pro on how you can work out smarter and more targeted, if that's not something you've already done.

Some of what you are seeing is loose skin from having been larger. That may or may not go away--it is an individual thing. And, it takes time to go away if it's going to, like a couple of years.

Ten pounds really will make a difference, though--it's a bigger percentage of your total weight now that it was when you started.

I like the idea of working with a trainer! I've done so in the past and it's given me new ideas and new things to do.

Jay