When I started Atkins in October, I weighed 196.5 pounds. According to the scale this morning, I weigh 160.5. I am 5’ 4” with a medium to large frame upper body and a large frame lower body, long legs and a short torso. (Yes, I have the dreaded pear shape.) My beginning measurements were 42-38-50; now they are 40-33-43. I have gone from a size 18 to a size 14 in jeans.

Here is my quandary: I originally set my goal weight at 140. I’ve been overweight since I was about seven, so that goal was based on the charts, not on personal experience. Now that I am 20.5 pounds from goal, though, it looks to me like I am still carrying more excess fat than that. Don’t get me wrong; I can see how much better I look in the mirror. (I am actually entertaining the idea of getting a swimsuit this summer.) But looking at my thighs, etc., makes me think that I may need to lose more than 20 pounds.

Actually, I don’t care how much I weigh, really, as long as I can make it to a size 10 (or even 8!). I guess I’m just trying to figure out what weight would correlate with those sizes on my frame.

For those of you out there who made it to goal weight/size, how did you think you looked at 20 pounds over goal? What does 20 pounds overweight (especially on a bottom-heavy woman’s frame) look like? Do I just think I am fatter than I really am?

I have never reached my goal but I'm going to throw in my $.02 anyway

I'm 5'4", too, and set my goal for 140 based on charts, not memory of what I looked/felt like many years ago when I actually weighed that . I have no idea what I'll look like at that point, but figured I'd aim at something. Anyway, why not wait until you're actually there or a few pounds away, rather than 20, before you think about changing it?

Also, seems like you're looking at the 'bad' rather than the good--make sure you take note of how much better you're looking and feeling and give yourself a pat on the back for how far you've come already.

nicole

I can't help you much either, but I always think size is more important than weight. So my goal is to be a size 8. I have no idea what I would weigh then, but I don't really care, as long as I can get comfortably into a size 8.

I am pretty proud of myself, actually. I have lost the equivalent of one four-year-old girl, and that feels great! I guess I'm really just trying to figure out if I'm being realistic.

I would have to say to pick a size, instead of a weight for your goal. When I got to my goal weight, I thought about losing more, but friends and family were very honest with me, saying I didn't need to drop more pounds. I took a hard look at my after pic, and agree with what they told me. I'm now concentrating on maintaining my weight, and as soon as it gets warmer outside, I'll be walking again everyday. THAT is what will help me to get into the size jeans I want (size 10).

Hope this helps!
melissa

I agree with nikkil, wait till you get to 140 to decide if you want to go farther. I started out with a goal weight of 190 based on what I thought was a good weight for me. When I got there I decided that while I looked and felt much better at that weight, I could do better and adjusted my goal down to 185. I'd hate to see you set an unrealistic goal, not be able to reach it and feel like a failure. Much better to set an attainable goal, reach that, get that feeling of accomplishment and then set a new goal if you feel the need.

I agree with the other folks who are saying how about waiting to see what you actually look like at 140 before making the decision. If nothing else, it will give you a sense of accomplishment that you made it to your goal. Then, if you want to keep losing, you can set a new goal. However, I think I'd achieve your first goal before making it that much harder!

For the record, my daughter is just under 5'4", weighs 140, and wears a 6 or 8. Of course, she is 17 and has a more boyish build, so that makes a difference!

I agree with the previous posters who say you can reassess when you get closer to goal. You will know when you feel "right."

Kind of like how you recognize love when you feel it?

Thanks, guys. I knew I could count on you. I'll wait till I get closer to change my goal if needed. Hopefully, I won't need to change it at all, but if I do, that's OK. Heck, if I made it to a size 8 and still weighed 160—not likely, I realize—I would be perfectly fine with that.

I started with similar stats as you. I now am 152 lbs and a nice size 9. I know that my goal of 140 will make me look great (take your height, bone structure, age into consideration whenever setting a goal weight). I know that if I went down to 125 I'd be pathetically thin.

If I get to 140 and feel I can still go lower and not look sickly, I will. But 140 is a very reasonable goal.