Hi Cincygal,

I'm looking at the same issues myself. I've hit the initial goal weight that I set for myself, but still want to lose some more weight. Earlier on this journey, I initially dropped about 50 pounds almost effortlessly, and then sat-sat-sat for about a year and a half around 220-225. Much as I wanted to lose more, I didn't push it. Past experience has taught me that `plateau busting', for me, was a quick ticket to a regain. And I was so grateful to be under 240 for the first time in years that I felt pretty good about that. Getting under 200 seemed like a distant dream, and there was so much more I could do at my new weight than I could before. I also felt that the longer I stayed around that weight, the more it became the new norm instead of my previous higher setpoint.

Then stress and complacency converged, and I found myself at 232. That was my moment of truth, and I stopped eating the crap foods and started eating out of hunger instead of habit or stimulus/availability. This time my body was ready, and over the last seven months about 70 pounds rolled off pretty effortlessly.

When I got to around 160, the rate of loss suddenly slowed down, and I'm only dropping around a pound every week or two. But things are firming up. I'm not convinced that I'm gaining muscle at a replacement rate, but I think my cells are adjusting and letting things go, because I am tightening up.

I'm also eating a little bit more this week. Technically on plan, but not planned, if you will. Someone brought in sandwich makings to share at work a few days ago, so I had a bowl of bacon and avocado to add to my regular salad. My body wasn't used to the bacon, and I ate it out of appetite, not hunger, and could feel the difference it made to me. I made a lovely stew over the weekends, chock-full of stuff that's good for me, but now I'm eating a portion of that along with the rest of the things I eat. I'm not worried about the changes, but I am watchful.

As before, I'm determined to listen to the wisdom of the body this time. It wants to sit at 154 for a year or so? Everyone who's posted in this thread gets it, knows how much harder it is to be heavier. So I'm appreciating being at this weight, trying to learn to see myself as smaller, and looking around for wisdom and experience of others regarding body image, maintenance, adjustment.

Instead of waiting for life to begin at 132, I celebrate, celebrate, celebrate. And by that, mostly I mean I notice. I notice how I move, how I look, how I dress, how I can do things with ease that once were a struggle. I move with poise, suppleness, fluidity. Sometimes I feel like my head is just floating like a balloon, it's so easy to move. I ran up the stairs at my house a few days ago. I.ran.up.the.stairs. It's probably been seven years since I last did that.

I dealt with disability for several years, at one point being unable to even negotiate the stairs for about three months. Then I went up and down on my bottom, one laborious step at a time. Then one-step-step, one-step-step like a toddler just learning. And now I just fly.

I pay attention to these things because I want to own them. I want them to become the new norm, something I've claimed so that I own them. I don't want to get into a mode where I'm willing to surrender them because I never quite wrapped my head around feeling like this.

I also look for the things that make me happy and do them daily. For me, that's swimming and music and being relaxed and happy in my home. I need that as a way of releasing the frustration and petty annoyances that we all encounter. Twenty minutes in the pool, and like clockwork, the stress eases and I am smiling again. Forty minutes and I'm euphoric; an hour and I can take on anything.

Same with the music. I play every day. Even if it's at the end of the day and I'm ready to head for bed, I remember that I made myself that promise. Sometimes I'm so tired it's only for ten minutes or so, but sometimes I play a lot longer because I don't feel tired anymore.

Evenings are a weak time for me, as well. So when I get home, I deal with the evening chores: feeding or starting a fire, feeding the cats, cleaning their boxes. Sometimes I find myself opening the frig just to see if there's a party going on. Then I remember that I have the option of a cup of tea, and I head upstairs. I've got a little tea-spot in my bedroom, a low dresser with an electric tea kettle, tea, sweetener, a container of lemon slices. I make myself a big mug and by the time I drink that I'm ready to brush my teeth, wash my face, and then the desire to eat is a speck in the rear-view mirror.

Wins build on wins. Nothing succeeds like success; nothing fails like failure. We turn our lives around by one shaky decision at a time. We keep trying, failing, trying again until something clicks. And then later we can look back in gratitude and wonder and say I did that. I changed my life. It's really real this time.

So. Is today your day? You're the only one who can answer that question.

ETA Are you keeping up with clothing-size changes? I think that can help. As stuff gets too big, move it along. Give it away. Go to the thrift store and buy things that fit you now and in which you feel good.

You can buy high-end (read well-made, supportive) new-with-tags bras on ebay for a fraction of what they cost in stores. A well-fitting bra makes a big difference in how your clothes fit and in how you feel. And your sizes there will change quickly, so keeping up with that helps. Also, you can find unusual sizes there that might not be easy to find in a local store. Get out the measuring tape, use an online bra-size calculator, and go bra-shopping in the evenings instead of eating.

Unpack those boxes of clothes you promised yourself you'd wear again. Pamper yourself in any other ways you appreciate. And as said above, be patient and kind with yourself. This change is huge. Support yourself as best you can through this. Learn daily.

I just realized yesterday that I'm practically at the weight that my driver's license says I am--funny! Find your own things like that to keep your spirits up during this journey.