Well I'm closing in on my initial goal of 150lbs - whoohoo! After 5 months of dieting (ie. better eating) and enormous amounts of exercise I've lost around 25 lbs. I look completely different, almost skinny in comparison, and much more healthy. Muscles are popping out everywhere and I have to go pant-shopping again soon. I've dropped a full 2 waist sizes (down to my highschool waistline again), and even had to poke a new, smaller hole in my favourite belt in order to keep using it.

Losing the weight is a great feeling, but honestly it's a little bittersweet. I thought by this weight I'd be totally comfortable with how I look and wouldn't need to lose much more. I'm dumbfounded at how much flab I still have on my body. I can easily feel my fat layer just about anywhere, the chunky kind. It's most noticable on my thighs, chest, and love handles - where I first put on the weight. Reaching 150lbs was really tough work, but by my best guess I'm probably going to have lose another 10lbs of fat before I'm as lean and cut as I'd like to be. I weighed around 145lbs at the end of highschool, and I don't plan on going below that very much, rather I plan to continue losing fat and at the same time be gaining muscle.

Lately I've had trouble staying on track, I think I need to change things around. On an ideal week this is what my workout routine look like:

Saturday: gym (legs)
Sunday: gym (abs, triceps)
Monday: run for 20min in morning, swim 1.5miles in evening
Tuesday: gym (shoulders, back)
Wednesday: run for 20min in morning, swim 1.5miles in evening
Thursday: gym (chest, arms)
Friday: run for 20min in morning, swim 1.5miles in evening

I'm not able to do all this week after week, often I'll skip a couple days a week if I'm not up to it. I got sick this past weekend, and that threw me off course big time. Lately I have trouble getting enough sleep, and then I'm often too tired to run in the mornings very anymore. I don't know, it just feels like I'm falling apart at the seams and won't be able to keep it up.

Perhaps I'm overtraining. I know I was losing weight a lot faster when I wasn't swimming but was running every day. Then again I was heavier back then. Winter is coming up soon and I'd like to get as much running in before it gets too cold. For the next couple weeks I think I'm going to ease up on the swimming and weights and put more effort into running while I still can. Hopefully that'll bring me out of my rutt.

I'd like to hear suggestions from people that have reached or even exceeded their goals. How did you overcome that "I can't keep this up" feeling and continued on?

Wow, what an exercise routine! If you love to exercise and feel energized that is great, but it sounds like the intensity is getting to you. Often times it is helpful to alternate days in relation to aerobic exercise and weight training. What worked for me was to work on the machines and do several parts of my body. I only did maybe 30 reps on each machine but I made each one count with an appropriate weight. Aerobic exercise using both arms and legs can target several areas and burn calories too. In the long run perhaps it would work better for you to work out a little less so that you don't get burned out. I found going with a friend to the gym to be helpful. We would talk on the treadmill, stairmaster, bikes. Even floor exercises and aerobic exercises seemed more fun with a friend. (It would be hard to do machines together perhaps.) I know the feeling about reaching a certain goal weight and not expecting the flabbiness to still be there. Outwardly I look pretty good, because I hide the fat and I suck it in! I am hoping that as I lose alittle more I will be more satisfied. I know I will have to tone and tighten everything. It takes time to reach our goals. We have to remember all of the years we neglected our bodies not making good food choices and not exercising. What helps me is to look back at the old pictures and remember what I have done so far. Let's face it-we look a whole heck of alot better than we did. We are on the right track so don't give up!

Well bowl me over. The past few days I've been getting back into gear coming off my summer flu. I ate just a little less than usual and today I weighed in at exactly 150. I did it!! I feel great and I'm pretty confident I'll be able to manage losing a few more pounds.

CJL you're right that exercising with a buddy is great. I swim with a friend, and that makes it fun and good for keeping pace. And it's a great workout for the exact reason you state - it's aerobic for both your arms and legs. I don't really want to stop swimming, as I plan to swim all through winter and want to be able keep up my 1.5mi practice until then.

I think my main problem is just sleep. Thursday night I got a full 8 hours which is unusual for me. And I felt fantastic, although I didn't get up for a run in the morning. Next week I'm planning to go full tilt - I'm going to run every morning unless I feel like I'm going to die. Since I lost 1 pound this week without even trying hard I expect to lose at least another pound next week.

What I will allow myself is to skip the weight training in the gym, at least for next week. I tend to work very hard on the machines and often end up with sore muscles practically everywhere which makes getting up in the mornings even more difficult.

Wish me luck!

Hi Wavephorm.
congratulations on your success so far. you have done great!
come over and check out the goal forum there is a thread there called my daily battle to stay at goal... a lot of us goalers or maintainers post there.
we would love to see you there.
hugs bell :)

Congratulations on reaching your goal! Don't you feel fantastic! You have established a routine for yourself which is great. Don't hesitate to change your program or routine as your needs change. If you gradually up your reps or the weight you won't get as sore. Trainers recommend that you do machines every other day so that the muscle microscopic tears can heal. (or of course target different body parts each day.) You know your body, your limits and your goals so establish a program that will keep you motivated and is challenging without wearing yourself out. If you get burnt out you won't want to do as much.Sleep is important too along with healthy eatting. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the support! At the gym today I got 100% confirmation on the platform scale. With my shorts, shirt, shoes and a baseball cap on I was exactly 150 - at home I weigh in the buck! I'm still amazed. Strange though, I'm not able to tell where my last 5 lbs came off of.

Bell, I'm certainly going to join you in the Goal & Maintainance forum, I think I've graduated. I'm back at 100% energy now (I felt very strong at the gym today) and ready to tackle my next goal: to get lean & toned.