When to stop your Diet?

anewme

I am not on a "diet" per se, did slimming world last year and lost a stone and a half, put 10 lbs back on and since Christmas have lost a stone, not through slimming world, but through a combination of healthy eating, a lot lot less alcohol and gym work.

I am now only 3 lbs off having over 2 stone gone. My question is, how do you know when to stop! Anyone who's lost weight will know that once people start telling you "you look great", etc etc that is an incentive to keep going.

I am concious that I am not 20 any more. (42) I dont want to become one of these skinny people with a scrawney neck. Figure wise, I have quite a broad ribcage and am never going to be a size 8 as I am just too wide.

At the moment, I am between a 10 and a 12 (5ft 7) and look more "athletic" looking than slim and think I look better this way, even though I was initially going to push and lose another half stone.

So to anyone who has lost the weight, when do you know enough is enough?

I am working out in the gym and was perhaps thinking of pushing this a bit, more definition on the arms, abs? Perhaps this is the way to go for me.

Thanks for reading!

Dotcomdolly

You sound very like me! I'd say a size 10-12 at our age (I'm a bit younger at 38) is great, I think unless you are naturally slim, that you can get too gaunt in the face.
I'm 5'3 and have gone from 11'7 to 9'2 and am happy to look slim & fit rather then skinny, to be honest I never thought I'd ever get this far. I'd love too lose 2.1 lbs just to be 8stsomething, even for a day:D but I'm now focussed on my physique & hitting fitness goals (body weight squat, sub 60 10k race etc) than trying to lose any significant amount of weight.

Well done on your success.

EileenG

The bad news is that you never really stop. Whatever you did to lose weight, you have to continue to do to keep the weight off. You can't return to your old way of eating or you'll put the weight back on.

You can be a bit more relaxed, allow yourself a few more calories/points/carbs, but you can't go back to eating whatever you fancy.

Dotcomdolly

Of course you are right Eileen. I read stopping the diet as stopping trying to lose more, rather than going back to ones old ways.

Gummy Panda

If you are in a calorie deficit, a diet break after 12 weeks is recommended by Lyle McDonald. If you reached your goal, just go to maintence calories

anewme

Yes, sorry, just to clarify, I meant stopping the Diet and going to maintenance as opposed to going back to the old unhealthy ways. I am aware that is a no no.

Personally I feel maintenance is going to be much harder.

I just wanted to make sure I stopped the diet at the ideal point between looking good and a bit scraggy.

For me, I think it's somewhere in the next half stone!

Thanks for your help all!

EileenG

It's up to you when you feel happy with your body and lifestyle.

And yes, maintenance is much harder. People cheer you on when you are losing, and try to help you. When you are at your ideal weight, they'll be shoving cake at you again saying "Aw, sure, you don't need to worry about the calories now."