OK, I've pretty much made up my mind that I'm going to move into premaintenance. I'm really nervous, but excited at the same time. I had originally set my goal as 160, but from talking to friends and my dear boyfriend, I think I'm going to settle on 170, which is 4 pounds away, and focus more on maintenance and exercise to tone. 170 still sounds like a huge number to me, but I think the low carb way of eating has really molded my body into a smaller version than even when I weighed less 7 years ago. I'm 5'9 with a large Scandinavian bone structure, and at 42, I don't want to lose too much more in my face and look "drawn".

any help, advice, tips, etc are MORE than welcome. I'll be hanging out in here reading all the threads and trying to get my head around the fact that I AM thin.

Wish me luck!

Good for you and Congrats!!

IMO...I'd start out by re-assessing your food plan. M&E. and move onto OWL phase and begin to eat more good carbs according to your Atkins plan.

hi-
sounds like a good decision. BTW- I'd listen to Judy. Part of maintaining is, well, maintaining. It is a different skill set than losing. You have to be able to make this a WOL for the long haul.

It still does not sink in that I am thin. People say that to me- I feel 'normal'. I was reading old posts yesterday (yes, I do that too) and saw one of mine from 3 years ago. I had spent a month abroad and had not seen myself in a full length mirror for that time- when I got home I was walking past a mirror and caught a glimpse and did a double take- THAT"S ME!! I'M SO LITTLE!. Reading that post helped me remember that feeling.

So keep posting, keep track of your eating, add in exercise if you don't already, and have fun and enjoy this amazing body you have given yourself!

E

Congrats on reaching this point. I've come to the same conclusion over the last couple of days.

Congrats on your achievement! wow! you must be so proud of yourself. We can suffer through this together!!!!

I am very proud of myself...it's taken alot of hard work to get here! But you know all about that. I have just had such a hard time "seeing" myself as I really am that I kept lowering my goal weight and it wasn't until a girlfriend of mine who I've always seen as "smaller" than me and the "ideal" size in my head shared her weight and measurements with me. She's the same height, I'm 14 lbs heavier than she is but all my measurements are smaller by about 3 inches in each area. That's when it finally hit me that I was already where I wanted to be. My DH says it took long enough to sink in

I just realized you and I are the same age too!

That's awesome! I wish I had thought to do the whole measurements thing. I'm 5'9, how tall are you?

I'm 5-8" so not much shorter than you. I'm also in an 8 or a 10 depending on what it is....my chest is still big at a 34F so I need the 10 tops if they button and sometimes a 12 if it needs a bit more room.

ugh, bras. That's an issue. I tried on 8 last night, none of them fit. I have to go to a Victoria's Secret or a department store and get fitted, I guess. I was a 36DD, don't have a clue what I am now...I'm guessing a 34D. who knows. All I know is they're smaller.

hi Daisy-
go to a good department store (I like Belks- if you have them) or a SOMA (it is part of Chicos) or whatever. I'd skip Victorias Secret. I find their bras to be uncomfortable and made to shall we say flaunt and enhance rather than support in comfort.

I went from a 38ddd to a 34dd- and I had been wearing 36d before getting measured after losing the weight. THe 34dd were MUCH better.

Enjoy and have fun with your new body!
E

Hey Eno...

I too, am now wearing a 34 DD...used to be a 40 DD and tried to go to a 36D but it never fit right. I was stunned to wear a 34 DD because its so comfy!!

I agree that VS is not the best place to try them on. Any large dept store will have a much broader selection. Don't be afraid to go down a chest size and up a cup size.

I allow myself two halves of an entire small granny smith apple, two hours apart, when I haven't eaten a piece of fruit in a while. I'm always surprised at how sweet, in addition to tart that apple is.

I also eat chili with beans. Add some shredded cheese, extra tallow, okra or other high-fiber veggie, and I've got a blissful meal.

But I still don't go out to eat.