How to know when to stop?

[foreverondiet]

I have been dieting since October when I stopped breastfeeding when DS2 was 6 months old. This the 4th time I have dieted, the others being after I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid/pcos, and then after DD and DS1.

I have lost 3 stone. Orginally I planned to loose 2.5 stone to be back at the weight I was when I conceived DS2 but instead decided to go back to the weight I was when I conceived DD, and what I was when I got married in 1997.

Now that I am there I am thinking, maybe a little more? I am 5 foot 4, weight is now 9 stone 3.5lbs (target was 9 stone 5lbs)... am size 10 on top and 10/12 bottom. Body fat now 25% was 40%. I am toned... and doing triathlon in June, plus doing shred (although only started this in last month). Annoyingly thighs still rub together when wearing skirt with no tights....

How do you know when to stop? I am used to my diet now, but if I want to stop loosing will need to add more carbs.... (although weight loss now slow, eg 1bs per week.

Well done on getting so far forever - you sound pretty fit too . How would you like your body to change now - apart from the thighs?! Has anyone else expressed an opinion about it - eg DH, what does he think? Not, before anyone attacks me for it, that we should pander to our partners' preferences but often they will give us honest opinions - eg - you look great and have lost enough, any more and you will look gaunt, or maybe just a couple more pounds would be amazing...

FWIW it sounds to me like you are in great shape weight wise and fat% is good, you should be able to relax with the diet, allow yourself some good carbs and be less restrictive generally (change your name ), but keep up the exercise which should continue to alter fat % but perhaps not weight, so you will look slimmer and get rid of the thigh issue!

I am kind of in a similar position to you - just 3lbs away from what was my target (wedding) weight of 9st5lbs. I have lost 1st 4lbs since 5 Jan and I am also thinking perhaps another 5lbs after that would be good. But I think I do start to look too thin in my face and that it would be too much effort diet-wise to maintain that weight and I hate myself and other people obsessing continuously about what they eat! I also need to get my body fat down, it is about 28% at the moment - I have muscles from the weight training but need to get rid of the flab around them on upper arms and tummy, hopefully this will just take time as I keep up the training.

I agree with sleep. What do people around you think? For me, your weight would make me look very slim indeed, but my tiny boned friend feels overweight if she goes over about 8st 10 Everyone is so different.

I think it's sometimes counter productive to go too far. I've done that before and then got really disillusioned when I couldn't maintain it (working out every day, sticking to limited cals etc) and put it back on. Natalie whatsit from Eastenders is the classic example of someone who went too far - she was never meant to be that thin so couldn't keep it up.

If you're finding it easy, and not depriving yourself of anything, maybe keep going and your body will probably settle where it wants to. I think the key is to still weigh yourself once a week or so and have an upper limit so you don't stray. Lovely position to be in though

Thanks for input. DH isn't saying much - he has been supportive while I have dieted, says I looked fine at 12 5 (hmm] says I look great now and says up to me if I want to loose any more.

I def do want to get more toned, would like to get under 25% but def don't want to have a gaunt face. I am obviously slimmer than I was but I am def not thin (eg have wobbly thighs/bum).

Ate lots today, out at friends for lunch and dinner.

Am thinking about it... I weigh the same as I did when I got married at 22 (and same as I did at 18) but I wasn't happy with my weight then...