How do you know when you have lost enough weight?

Given how near the calculated BMI goal already is, a DEXA scan could give clearer targets than BMI alone before choosing maintenance steps.

Can you already make out a six-pack on the stomach?

BMI loses value once muscle has been added. Health and future weight control improve with that muscle, yet the number on the chart ends up higher than it would without it. Around age 50 the body feels different from ten years earlier even at similar weights. After losing a quarter of peak weight there is more muscle but also more looseness because skin has changed. BMI sits near 21 now.

It's wild catching sight of those stomach muscles standing out and then running my hands over how solid they feel.

The only target is how you see yourself, which may not be the healthiest approach; speaking with a professional could help. A partner already accepts the current look. Pushing further might stir unexpected reactions. Weight goals are better handled as a joint decision. BMI becomes less meaningful with added muscle and remains a population statistic rather than an individual one. Strong fitness levels are possible at BMI 25, as seen in many athletes. Better markers include being able to swim steadily for an hour or completing a run test without major discomfort.

In the sixties, the target weight was adjusted downward four times. Once the final number was reached the dose was lowered and calories increased using a TDEE estimate plus light lifting. The body ultimately settled where it wanted despite the changes. Nearly half the starting weight came off and BMI is now 21, holding steady within three pounds for eight months. Abs became visible, yet a hernia on one side of the lower abdomen also appeared and will need surgery.

BMI is outdated; waist-to-hip ratio works better. Measure waist at the navel, divide by the widest hip measurement. Aim near 0.90 for men; check online for female values.

Still five pounds from the current goal and already unsatisfied; the number will probably shift again. Toning work needs to increase because the body at 170 now differs from twenty years ago. Planning to hold reta at 5 mg for a while and observe results.

After two years on the medication and 100 pounds lost, skin stays somewhat loose. Avoiding further loss helps keep a ripped appearance possible. Tightening reached about 80 percent over time but the body still would not be shown at a pool. Overall feeling is excellent even though BMI reads 26, which matters less given bone structure and lack of athletic background.

Ignore BMI, check the mirror instead to judge whether the current shape feels right. So much weight has already come off that obsessing over the scale is unnecessary.

Mirror feedback is the way to go. Planning to hold weight once stomach muscles start to appear, not aiming for full definition but some visible shape. Lower body fat paired with higher muscle supports long-term health.

Blood pressure tracking adds another useful signal. Readings should settle near or below 120/80 at an optimal weight. If pressure stays high once a comfortable weight is reached, a doctor visit is worthwhile to rule out skinny-fat issues.

If abs are even partly visible then another 25 pounds of pure fat is unlikely. Losing that amount could remove equal parts muscle and fat, which offers little health gain. Objective fat-percentage data helps; waist-and-neck calculations or a DEXA scan provide it. Lower BMI achieved only by losing muscle is questionable for health.

Will know the stopping point once the view in the shower shows definition. Until then the focus stays on how the body feels. Even starting from much higher weight, comfort and maximizing remaining years matter more than any chart or ratio.

Personal rule is to stop at a plateau. Roughly 20 pounds above high-school athletic weight remains, so a plateau is expected before year-end and will prompt more gym time for strength and slimming. Goal is functional fitness: decent mile pace, no breathlessness on stairs, ability to jump. Dose will stay at 7.5 rather than increase; daily walks of one to two miles are already part of the routine.