[vexy]

Hello Everyone,

I'm usually a lurker and comment every once in a while but I've been having some issues lately that I'd like to address and ask for advice.

I started my weight loss journey in May 2010 and have since lost 85 lbs (39 kg, where I am), needless to say I feel amazing. I haven't been this little in over 11 years, I'm down to a UK size 12 (US 10) from a rattling 22 (US 20).

Originally my goal was 154 lbs, then I adjusted it to 147, and now I'm entirely confused. My BMI is 25.7 so I'm not that far from being 'normal' weight.

I don't want to be skinny, I love me some curves on a woman, but I don't want to still be 'fat' either. So I seriously don't know how far to go. Motivation and sticking to my diet has never been a problem, I might have a slip up once in a while but generally I always find my way back to proper eating and excercise.

I should probably add that I'm quite toned and that my guess is, quite some weight is actually muscles...

I'm rambling, I know, I'm just pretty confused right now on how far to go/not to go.

Thanks in advance for any kind of advice.

I have attached an after and a before picture.

[rainbowstripe]

I think you look great now! Congratulations on your wonderful results, you have done an amazing job!

Now onto your query...BMI and all that kind of thing exist as some sort of generic thing for which we can measure our height/weight/age against. I'm not educated in science/medicine or anything, but I kind of think not really the most accurate of scales to be measuring yourself against.

My advice is this - stop when you feel comfortable. I made my goal weight based on BMI as I've never been smaller than I currently am now as an adult and have no idea what I'll look like or feel like or what size I'll be at the weight I put as a goal - but I know that the main thing I'm going to be going off as I get closer is how I feel, how comfortable I am in my body. I could get there at 58kg...or I might feel like I need to get down to 50kg to have the body I want - which, like you, is not going to be super skinny - I like to have some curves, and even a bit of tummy!

So yeah..I know I probably waffled on a bit, but I think the only one who can really decide is you! If you feel great now, and you're healthy etc - then why keep going?

Congratulations again on your awesome results

[niafabo]

I honestly I think you look great. If you wanna stop where your at you should stop where your at. BMI charts are great and all but they do not take muscles into account and professional athletes are usually considered obese or morbidly obese on their scale when we all know they are in fantastic shape. If you're comfortable where your at stay there, after all the point of a weightloss journey isn't to see a certain number on the scale its to see yourself transform into the person you want to be.

[Michou]

You look great. BMI does not take into consideration your percentage of muscle, neither does the scale. With weight lifting I noticed that pound for pound comparaison I am much smaller now compared to a weight loss in the past with no exercise. I take body measurements now it is a better indication of how my body is dealing with the changes. I use hip to waist ratio you can read about it on the internet.

You are in charge so no matter what the scale and bmi show you might be skinnier than you think.

[sept15lija]

I think you look great too!! I've started to have this conversation in my head too. It seems finding goal can be quite a process because I am pretty confused too, although I am certain I want to lose at least 10 more pounds. Maybe it's a good time to try maintenance out, I've heard that once you start maintenance your body may decide at some point to shed a few more pounds anyways. Or you can decide later and lose a bit more. In any event, you look wonderful - maybe you should post over at the maintainer's forum, the lovely ladies there would probably have some good advice for you too!

[stacygee]

WOW! You look great.

What I know... my trainer doesn't pay any attention to BMI, especially if you are muscular. For anyone with muscle the BMI chart makes them over weight and obese.

[Lori Bell]

You look Fabulous. Congratulations on your weight loss.

Have you talked with your doctor lately about a good weight for you? What does she/he say? How is your blood work, (blood sugar/cholesterol levels/triglycerides) is it all in a normal range? Optimal health should be the deciding factor on your goal weight in my humble opinion, not "looks".

If you haven't done so, make an appointment with your GP. Let a medical professional help you with this decision.

[Eliana]

I struggled with this decision. Because I was struggling, I decided to keep going and am not unhappy that I did. Now I will get to normal BMI in just about 5 more pounds. I'm not as worried about the last 10 after that. I'm still in wait-and-see mode.

I feel like BMI is meaningless to me because I know I have a lot of muscle. You look terrific, and could just take a wait-and-see attitude as well. It takes the mental pressure off.