Thread: How do you know when to stop?

Not sure this thread is in the right place or even if it'll make any sense but here goes!

How did you all know when to stop dieting & start on the road of maintenance?

Did you choose a weight to reach? A dress size? A BMI?

I'm only asking because I always thought I'd be happy at a dress size 12.

To be honest I think I probably thought this because I never, ever in my wildest dreams imagined I'd ever be a dress size 12 but I've nearly done it!!

I know that perhaps my head hasn't yet caught up with how I really look but when I look in the mirror I'm still not happy with what I see.

My worry is that I'll never be happy with what I see, so do I just stop at the 12 I'd originally planned to be or do I try to lose a bit more & get to a size 10 & see how I feel?

Logically my head knows I look a million times better now that I did when I was a dress size 24 at the start of my journey but I guess I thought when I got "there" I'd look at myself in the mirror each morning & be jumping for joy & I'm not!

Any help advice from those who reached goal would be very much appreciated. x x

Originally Posted by JAMES50

You must trust urself and ur instincts as when to stop, I know its easier said than done but u are the best person to make that decision as to when to stop!

Thanks James. I hope you're right. Maybe because I'm "not quite" there yet I'm worrying over nothing. A few more pounds gone may make all the difference to how I feel about thing.

Are you just staring on your journey?

Have a great day. x x

I think im going to find this difficult because i keep moving my goal.

First i wanted to lose 1 stone, then 2, 3 now 4 1/2! i know once i get there ill want to lose more thankfully i know my mum will tell me its time to stop, she's already told me she thinks i should just go for a size 16 and then stop! i want to be a 14!

Originally Posted by Ria.

I think im going to find this difficult because i keep moving my goal.

First i wanted to lose 1 stone, then 2, 3 now 4 1/2! i know once i get there ill want to lose more thankfully i know my mum will tell me its time to stop, she's already told me she thinks i should just go for a size 16 and then stop! i want to be a 14!

Hiya Ria. We'll I've already lost a lot of weight so people are already telling me I don't need to lose anymore!

Like you I'm aiming for another dress size. I'm currently a size 14 but having been a size 24 when I started I can see how people think I've probably lost enough. Once I get to a size 12 I'll give myself a few months to get used to the "new me" & then see how I feel about things. x x

yeah i was a 24 now currently a 18/20, i just wanna get to a 14 then see how i feel, i wouldnt want to be any lower than a size 12 as im quite broad lol

I tell ya it's so hard as im thinking i need to loose more weight.!

Everyday im thinking weight, weight , weight.!

Must be slimmer. don't understand y? x

Originally Posted by Ria.

yeah i was a 24 now currently a 18/20, i just wanna get to a 14 then see how i feel, i wouldnt want to be any lower than a size 12 as im quite broad lol

Same with me I think/hope. We'll see when I get there. x

Originally Posted by *Shanny*

I tell ya it's so hard as im thinking i need to loose more weight.!

Everyday im thinking weight, weight , weight.!

Must be slimmer. don't understand y? x

I'm kinda hoping I'll wake up one day & think "that's it, I look great, I'm happy now"!!! x

Originally Posted by AnnieCH

You ask such a good question. It's definitely something I've been thinking about a lot lately myself. I do think that sometimes we get too wrapped up in numbers and that maybe it's a good idea to think a little more about other indicators like fitness level or BMI (not that BMI doesn't have a lot of issues as well).

It is easy to feel like you should keep on going forever. But, most of us will always have some amount of fat on our bodies that we don't love. Have you thought about taking a little break and maintaining your current weight for a little bit while maybe working on some other health-related goals at the same time? It could provide some perspective but help you keep your focus on being healthy.

Also, congratulations on your amazing success so far! It feels good to be thinking about maintenance even if you decide to go for a little more first, doesn't it?

Thanks Annie. Yes I think I've decided that's what I'm going to do. Give myself a good 5 or 6 months to get used to the new me. Enjoy the summer in new smaller clothes & then see how I feel after that.

I'm going to get back to my jogging/running so that will give me another goal to focus on for a while too.

Congrats on your losses too. Are you still aiming to shift that last 2lbs then? x x

This is a really thought provoking thread and something I've been asking myself a lot recently.

I was aiming for a 'healthy BMI', but this is still more than 1 stone away for me and I'm a comfortable size 12 now (for the first time in my life!)

On the one hand I think 'Wow! Amazing - size 12, still got some boobs, might as well stay here where I can realistically maintain' on the other I am still finding it hard to adjust to my new body. Like I haven't let go of my fatter-self if that makes sense? I still 'feel' chubby - when I'm out I'm still convinced that I'm the 'fattest' of all my friends and people are judging me. Suddenly I glance in a shop window and I'm surprised that it's me!

It has made me realise that:
a) for some of us, a healthy BMI means going a lot smaller (in dress sizes) than we originally thought we'd have to
b) being slim isn't going to be the miracle cure for confidence that we initially think it will

I'm sorry I can't give you a decent answer but I just thought I'd pop my 2p in - this issue is really bugging me at the moment!

Originally Posted by DopeyAngel

This is a really thought provoking thread and something I've been asking myself a lot recently.

I was aiming for a 'healthy BMI', but this is still more than 1 stone away for me and I'm a comfortable size 12 now (for the first time in my life!)

On the one hand I think 'Wow! Amazing - size 12, still got some boobs, might as well stay here where I can realistically maintain' on the other I am still finding it hard to adjust to my new body. Like I haven't let go of my fatter-self if that makes sense? I still 'feel' chubby - when I'm out I'm still convinced that I'm the 'fattest' of all my friends and people are judging me. Suddenly I glance in a shop window and I'm surprised that it's me!

It has made me realise that:
a) for some of us, a healthy BMI means going a lot smaller (in dress sizes) than we originally thought we'd have to
b) being slim isn't going to be the miracle cure for confidence that we initially think it will

I'm sorry I can't give you a decent answer but I just thought I'd pop my 2p in - this issue is really bugging me at the moment!

It makes perfect sense hun. To be honest from the replies I've had from this thread & other similar ones it seems to be a female problem which I guess means (apart from the obvious - that we're never happy!!) it is all in our heads really and it's something that we may or may not get used to!

Maybe I just need to accept the fact I may or may not ever be happy, and be happy with that!! x

I wanted to be a healthy BMI - so that put me at just over 10 stone. I intially set my target at 10 stone 7lb but as soon as I got there I knew I wasn't happy so dropped it to 10 stone.
I've been there or thereabouts for almost 2 years but I'm still not truly happy. I'd love to lose another 7lbs and be a comfortable size 10 but I get told all the time that I don't need to lose any more.
I'm not sure at 9st7lb/size 10 I'd be completely happy though, I guess then I'd want to be 9stone.....

I'd say get used to where you are and see how you feel in a few months time. Sometimes it's about acceptance of the new you, I still think of myself as overweight, I still take a 14 into the changing room and I still get a shock when I see myself in a mirror. After all this time I haven't quite got used to being 3 stone lighter!

You have done fantastically well, just give it some time at your target weight and see how you feel when you have lived at that weight for some time.

It's a bit rambling, but hope this helps!

Be aware of the disapproving comments from others when they tell you to stop losing weight..people said it to me even though I was still quite overweight. Sometimes (not in a malicious way) people have in their minds a picture of how you look and they don't like it when this picture changes. Be at a weight that is in the healthy BMI range that feels right for you and no one else...you might end up recieving the disapproval of others as a result but it's your body and you need to do what's right for you. I've spent my whole life being a people pleaser and it's only ever served the purpose of keeping me fat!

Originally Posted by jaylou

I wanted to be a healthy BMI - so that put me at just over 10 stone. I intially set my target at 10 stone 7lb but as soon as I got there I knew I wasn't happy so dropped it to 10 stone.
I've been there or thereabouts for almost 2 years but I'm still not truly happy. I'd love to lose another 7lbs and be a comfortable size 10 but I get told all the time that I don't need to lose any more.
I'm not sure at 9st7lb/size 10 I'd be completely happy though, I guess then I'd want to be 9stone.....

I'd say get used to where you are and see how you feel in a few months time. Sometimes it's about acceptance of the new you, I still think of myself as overweight, I still take a 14 into the changing room and I still get a shock when I see myself in a mirror. After all this time I haven't quite got used to being 3 stone lighter!

You have done fantastically well, just give it some time at your target weight and see how you feel when you have lived at that weight for some time.

It's a bit rambling, but hope this helps!

Thanks hun. You've done great too. I know what you mean about thinking you're still fatter than you are but then catching a glimpse in a mirror or window & thinking "oh wow, that's me isn't it?"!!

I will give it some time before making any more decisions. x

Originally Posted by Fat2ThinGirl

Be aware of the comment from others when they tell you to stop losing weight..people said it to me even though I was still quite overweight. Sometimes (not in a malicious way) people have in their minds a picture of how you look and they don't like it when this picture changes. Be at a weight that is in the healthy BMI range that feels right for you and no one else...you might end up recieving the disapproval of others as a result but it's your body and you need to do what's right for you. I've spent my whole life being a people pleaser and it's only ever served the purpose of keeping me fat!

Thanks hun, that's very true & I've already come across it. A lady at work told me ages ago I didn't need to lose anymore & I was still a size 18 at that point!

We'll get there. x

well done so far xx

Originally Posted by mrsblobby38

well done so far xx

Thanks.

Well done on your first great weigh in result. x