I made it to my goal weight in just under 8 months:thumbup: Back when I started this process (@285lbs), losing a significant amount of weight seemed possible but remote. I really didn’t know what my final weight would be, so I based my goal on BMI. As you all are very aware, a BMI of less than 25 is considered “normal”, so I set my goal to 184lbs, which is a BMI of 24.9 given that I am 6’ tall.

Now that I am here and am “normal” am I done:confused: Heck no! First the good news:

- I look pretty good in clothes

- Most people that know me now but not then, cannot believe I was fat

- I don’t look anything like my Drivers License picture

- I look younger

- I have way more energy than ever before

- I don’t have much loose skin (just a little around the belly button)

- My man boobs are gone

- My restriction is still good, and I have no complications

- Good food choices are now a habit

- With all the fat gone, I am starting to see muscles in my arms, chest and abs

Bad news:

- I didn’t eat enough protein or exercise the first 5 months which caused me lose muscle along with fat

- Because of the muscle loss, I’m pretty weak in the gym (that is improving)

- I am a bit obsessive about weight loss and being healthy. I have to remind myself that most people don’t care about it that much and don’t want to hear about it all the time

- I have to be careful to not judge people that are still overweight, I have to fight the urge to tell them there is a better way

The new goal? Well it’s not really new. I figured out about 20lbs ago that I wouldn’t be satisfied at 184lbs. So I have set my new goal to a Body Fat of 15% rather than BMI. Many of you know that BMI is only an estimate of proper weight. Body Fat Percentage is much more accurate (if measured correctly) because it calculates your actual Fat Mass relative to Lean Mass. When I started checking it 2 months ago I was at 22%, I just had it checked last week and am now at 17.3% 17% is good by all standards and I could stop here, but I have a desire to get something I never had before – an “athletic” look. Heck, my body is cooperating, so I might as well go with it.

Good luck on your goals!

Congratulation

Congratulations!! :wink2:

Congratulations! This is awesome and I am so happy for you.

I had to laugh at these comments:

I am a bit obsessive about weight loss and being healthy. I have to remind myself that most people don’t care about it that much and don’t want to hear about it all the time

- I have to be careful to not judge people that are still overweight, I have to fight the urge to tell them there is a better way

I can so relate to this.

Good for you!

I had a good laugh at this. I recently hit my goal as well with in eight months. I am thrilled.

But I find myself wanting to bite my tongue when I see other overweight people. I just want to go up to them and say hey, look at this and show them my before and after photo. I want to help them so much but have to remember they are on their own time frame.

My original goal was 170. Now I think as long as I stay between 160-170 I will be fine.

Congrats on your goal....how's your maintaining going?

I forgot about this post, maybe an update is in order. I am now hovering at around 173lbs, which is a good weight for me. Some people actually think I’m a little too thin, imagine that :biggrin: . I have surpassed my Body Fat Goal, I am now right about 13% which is considered “Athletic” on most charts. I am still working on muscle definition, 3-4 days a week in the gym helps with that. I am wearing size M shirts and size 30 pants. I still can’t believe that, I’ve never worn clothes this size in my whole life. Food choices are still pretty easy and restriction is good. I find that I have to watch myself with soup/chili – I love them but I tend to overindulge on them. And Frozen Yogurt :thumbup: I don’t know if you have those self serve places where you live (they are evil), So Cal is full of them and I can way overdo it on that stuff.