New Year - for the past 41 years I told myself this was the year. This was the one where I was going to lose the weight once and for all.

2014 WAS THE YEAR...

I am 3 pounds from my doctor's goal weight - I reached my goal of a size 8 last month.

So my questions / comment - now what? Other than maintain the weight and tone....I almost feel lost. I mean I've had the same un-reached goal for 41 years... This is the first year since I was 11 years old that the new year doesn't bring a new start feeling.

For those of you that have reached or are close to goal do you have new goals?

Did you have to get used to not having that weight loss goal?

If you didn't set any new goals - how does that make you feel?

I love how I feel and how I look.Just wondering how others have dealt with the fact that New Year's resolutions no longer revolve around weight, especially since it's been such a big part of my life for so long.

@@Terribj I just want to congratulate you on doing such an awesome job! That an inspiration! .

@@Terribj

You will be at you're goal before you know it. I am almost to my surgery goal. Then 10 more to my personal goal. I started working with a trainer. I plan on keeping up with my exercise and building up to complete a 10k running. Then challenge myself to longer races. It is getting strange to get out of weight loss mode. My trainer has me cutting my cardio in half..my mind tells me I still need to do more. I'm going to continue to go to my local support group to keep on track.

Congratulations on you're success

Jenn

Terribj,

All I can say is-- just soak it up and enjoy the wonder of it all! I am in my third New Year's since surgery, but THIS year is the first where it has really hit me that I NEVER AGAIN have to chase and face the dissapointment of failing at the New Year's resolution to lose weight. It's so good to read your post and your feelings that I can absolutely relate to. It's hard to wrap your head around after all those years.

It's not too late to still have that "new start feeling" with something new that is super special to you. Hope you find it, cherish it, and know that you are now wide open to have so many new choices every year and not be "weighed down" (no pun intended) by the losing weight resolution! Congrats!

Decades ago I gave up new years weight loss resolutions..haha.

i got to goal in Feb 2013 and then in 2014 decided I wanted to reduce my body fat percentage while maintaining my weight. I decided to hire a personal trainer. That began a process of injuries, physical therapy and discouragement. I am once again planning to improve my fitness this year - but tackling it MYSELF since I no longer trust the alledged experts.

Anyway, for me, I am regularly staying focused on maintenance, good health, trying to eat a bit more naturally (ie less and less processed foods) etc. Normal people do this - continually work on improving! Lets just say it is alot easier to do now that i am no longer obese.

congrats on yoru success!!!

My New Years resolutions the past few years have centered on 3 things:

1. Being creative and learning new things

2. Fitness -- this year's is to run a marathon

3. My bucket list -- going zip lining and skydiving this year

There are lots of things you can shoot for.

At year 4, I find I have to look at the scale every day, and write everythind down to see the same number day after day. Now the goal is to see the same number.... believe me, its just as much work as losing!

I reached my surgeon's goal last month and hope to reach my new personal goal by Valentine's Day. That's only four pounds away so I am almost ready for maintenance. But I don't feel the same let-down that you report. To me the big challenge for 2015 will be learning how to eat and exercise for long term health. In the past, I lost as much weight as I did in 2014 only to gain it all back. I'm a great dieter but when I get tired of dieting, things go haywire.

I'm now focusing on ending 2015 at my goal weight. I'm hoping that by January 2016, I'll have trained myself to eat and exercise like a thin person. No more backsliding.