I don't know how to stop....and don't know if I want to!

I have reached & changed my goal numerous times....I'm scared to stop, I like losing weight & I don't look the way I would like to yet! I have so many mixed feelings & the fact that I've never hit a plateau makes me think my body still wants to lose! Technically, 112 used to be heavy for me....when I got married 5 years ago I was about 95 lbs. But, I'm scared that I'm going to become nasty-skinny without even knowing it! Should I go for 105? Would I actually stop when I got there?

It kind of depends on why you're doing this, but if aesthetics is the reason, I vote that you stop where you're at.

No one likes "nasty-skinny", and you're only 112. Even if you're super short (which I imagine you might be), you're going to hit that territory very soon.

Congratulations on reaching your goals. Don't worry about losing any more. I guarantee you, no one is going to look at you and say, "EWWW, gross. You must be, what, like... a full 112 lbs?" It's probably going to be more along the lines of "daaaaamnmmnnnn, that's hot."

At 6ft 2in tall and my "ideal weight" according to various sites ranges from 160-192. Although my weight history on this site says I am 190 I actually *always* weigh in with full clothes, steel-toed shoes, cellphone etc.. so I am actually about 185 -- I have some that say I should stop losing as I am looking too skinny but I think that is more because I have not bought new clothes yet and the old all look ridiculously loose. (I wear my shirts untucked to cover my jeans that I have a belt racheted around to keep on. (I've gone from 38 to 32 so far)

I feel that mid 170's would be ideal for me but with the exercise I do and healthy eating if I want to experience the lower end of those ideal weight amounts then I see no issue going for it. Who knows if I will feel even more incredible at the lower end? Anyways, as long as I am doing this in a healthy manner then I figure it's all good.


Brooke, How did you feel/look at 95lbs ? If you remeber feeling good at that weight then you'll probably feel fine at it again.

PS ... My wife is 5 ft and she has recently gone from 128 lbs down to 112 lbs and looks great at 112 but I also recall her 20 years ago when she was 88-100. At 88 lbs she was too light and it was not good. I would say her ideal was 100lbs based on looks alone.

I echo finding the place where you body "feels" good, and you feel healthy.

Unfortunately, for some people with eating disorders, that place is nebulous.

I'm going to assume that you don't have an eating disorder, because you raise the questions that you do.
(Disordered thinking seldom doubts, but defends.)

Although the scale is a nice barometer in making us aware, I think that the way you look and feel are paramount.

You write,"...makes me think my body still wants to lose." Yes, if you are being healthy and your body is still dropping weight, I think you can trust what's happening.

Celebrate your body's wisdom! How wonderful!

if you are 5' or shorter, i would say you could definitley go lower.
I have a friend who is 4'11" and her weight fluctuates around 95 lbs, and she looks healthy.

I say, if your body wants to keep going, let it!

Wow, thank yall sooo much! I think I might go with the flow & just go along with whatever my body feels like doing (as long as it doesn't decide to gain 50 lbs!) If I plateau then I'll know that I'm finished! I'm still well within the normal range for my height (especially because BMI doesn't take build into account) If I start to look boney I'm sure somebody will say something & I can re-evaluate my plan! (So far, nobody has even mentioned the weight loss) My worst fear is developing an ED & so I'm always "checking myself" to make sure I'm mentally stable!

I keep changing my goal weight, still have not reached the current one, but now I'm re-thinking my goal weight again! I'm 5'0, my original goal weight was 120, I changed it to 140 because after having 3 kids I didn't know if 120 was an attainable goal or how I'd look because I do love my curves...I guess I'll see how i look at 140 and go from there!

Brooke- I would keep going as long as you're comftorable going so and unti you're happy with how you look without going overboard!

Yeah, it would be kind of silly to keep weight that my body doesn't want...just because I reached a number that I set in my head! Now, I really don't think I'm ready for maintenance, mentally or physically! But, if I post pictures & look gross yall will tell me, right? (Not gross in the face, gross as in too skinny! Haha)

I would wonder, what is it that you don't like about your current body and will losing weight fix it? I relate to this post myself. I'm reaching my goal (I know we're in totally different worlds here, lol! I'd be dead at your weight, but I'm tall!) anyway, there are still things about my body I feel I could improve. I think, maybe 170? But I've done this before. And the things I see that aren't "perfect" won't be perfect at 170 either. Or 160 and by then I'm into the dangerously low weight territory (for my frame)
So instead of lowering my goal, I'm just going to change my focus from weight loss to body improvement. Will I lose a few more pounds? Maybe. But I'm going to focus more on strength training, yoga and toning type exercises than on "losing weight" I'm going to keep my clean and healthy diet (for life) but I'm going to raise my calories to support building muscle.

Basically, I'm just saying, the improvements you want to see on your body may not be attained simply by losing pounds. Really evaluate what you look like and what would help your "problem" areas.

I guarantee if you post your picture now, everyone will tell you you can stop losing weight. But only YOU know what's best for your body. Just remember, if perfection is the goal, there's no attaining it. Even models don't look like that without airbrushing.

I like your perspective k8, right now I feel fine with my body....but I want to awesome & accomplished! There are really only 2 problem areas that losing more could help with....but, they are also areas with scars so I'll never be happy with them (without a lot of Dr bills) I would never expect myself to look perfect, that would just be crazy. After pregnancy all hopes of having a perfect body went down the tubes! Another challenge I have is I generally bulk up from the slightest bit of exercise, even walking! My father was a body builder & a lot of the traits were passed on to me (I know It's weird, but one time my power steering went out & a few weeks later my arms wouldn't fit into my sleeves)

I know exactly how you feel. I am in the same boat...I dont feel normal or okay with the weight that I am at. I dont have an eating disorder, I just know what feels comfortable for me..I would say do what feels comfortable for you...people at our weight get a lot of animosity just bc we are unhappy with where we are with our weight.

I would suggest getting a checkup with your Doctor Congrats