Pros and Cons of being short and trying to lose?
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I am 5'4, I think that is short.
Cons:
1) Even in maintenance mode for 130.2lbs I am at 1,660.
2) If I want to go to a fast food place I better not want to get a meal because If I do there goes at least half of my calories for the day.
3) People judge me based on the number of plates I get at a buffet. If I go to a buffet, people give me odd looks when I get 2 or 3 plates covered in food, randomly glance at me while I eat, and occasionally someone will make a comment about wasting food to me or that I can over here, then they give me looks of surprise when they see that I am going back for desert because there is nothing left on my plates.
Pro:
1) If I am at a restaurant and only eat half of my food everyone expects it, so I can eat the rest of my food at midnight when no one is around to judge my odd choice of snack.0 -
I'm 5'1 and trying to lose 40 pounds.
Cons:- 40 pounds may not sound like a lot to some people, but to me, it's 25% of my body weight!
- The percentage may come off as quickly but the total pounds come off slower. Tougher to stay motivated when the numbers are so small and sometimes undetectable by the bathroom scale.
- Spending my entire life sitting in chairs where my feet don't reach the ground, straining my back and neck at desks that are designed for tall men, not being able to reach the handlebars or ground on bicycles, not being able to see over the dashboard in cars... this is the stuff that leads to premature back problems, hip problems, muscle problems, etc. which can impede activity level later on.
- Being condescended to, not taken seriously, or treated like a child in professional and personal situations, even though I'm in my mid-30s.
- 1300 calories a day is really not a lot of food. I can't get away with even small cheats, since even one extra piece of chocolate will make a big difference.
- Getting strange looks from people for the small amount of food I order in restaurants, or getting dirty stares when I send two thirds of what's on my plate back.
- Even after losing the weight, I'm still not gonna ever look like the fashion models on TV, 'cause the media tells us that tall and leggy is the ideal standard of beauty. I may not be fat but I'm always going to be short. Clothes will never fit me properly no matter how thin I get.
Pros:- I can pull off "cute" even at an older age.
- The actual number of pounds to lose isn't nearly as daunting as it is for someone taller and heavier.
- Doing a killer karaoke rendition of "I'm a little teapot, short and stout".
- Being able to dress as a hobbit, or one of the munchkins, for Halloween.
- Um....?
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Lol at getting to dress as a hobbit at Halloween... I've actually done that, with my tall friend as Gandalf!
Pro- I don't have to duck under things that taller people smack their heads against.
- Long sleeve tops are never too short on my arms.
- Shorter legs... more steps in the day!
- Heels.
Con - Can't see a d**n thing at gigs because everyone in front is taller.
- Trousers need altered so they don't drag on the ground.
- Maxi-dress... no chance, faaaaar too much fabric, and too much effort to alter.
- Need something from the top cupboard, fetch step-ladder. Then again for the other cupboard. And again for that third item. I should get more step-ladders. Or keep nothing in the top of cupboards.0 -
Ugh, I *hate* not being able to see over people's heads at gigs and concerts. When I was younger, I used to line up for hours in advance so I could get a spot in the front row. These days I prefer old-people venues like arenas with seating.
And I forgot a pro: Being able to take a great lookalike photo with a penguin!
IMG_9645 by segacs, on Flickr 0 -
Ok - just stop it! There are no pros and cons to your height! It doesn't matter if your 4'7" or if your 7'4" if you need help losing weight then you need help. Yes, of course weight looks different on everyone. Take several people who are 5'2" at the same weight and they will look different. We all experience this. So the only con is what you make up in your mind, the pro is doing something to change it!0
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The spirit of this thread is just lighthearted and amusing. I don't think it's a competition.
Yes, everyone faces challenges of their own at any height. That doesn't mean it isn't fun to discuss this!0 -
BombshellPhoenix wrote: »I dunno. I'm 5'3.5 " 120 lbs and maintain at 2350 when I'm doing my lifting routine...not everyone has to eat little. Also, depends on your activity level on how much you can consume. It's not all about size Embrace being small.
Maintaining on similar calories I am short 5ft 2 have an active job go to the gym regularly am 7st 7 thats 105 pounds I now have to be really careful now I will still drop if I don't eat enough excersize calories back!! My problem is I under estimate what I burn off through excersize!! My calories without any excersize is 2010 my settings are set to very active to maintain
Jealouser and jealouser of both of you. You must be young.
At 48 years old, 5'3" and 175 lbs, I have to net under 1400 to lose weight. And I still want to lose at least 45 lbs more. By the time I get to my goal weight, I'll be even older. If I get there and turn 60, say, I'll have to net under 1400 just to maintain! I'm looking at a hungry old age.
Nope, no pros to being short.
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nadiabear1 wrote: »@tall ladies, do you find dieting easy with the calories you get? Typically I need 1400 to lose .5lb/week, and I am usually pretty hungry if I make bad choices. I know some taller women can eat around 1900 (?) For the same results. Mu question is, does this seem like a lot of food to you (it would be GREAT for me) or do you have to watch yourself like I do lest you end up hungry?
1400 is a lot to me, I eat around 600 when trying to lose weight but some days I'll eat more like 1,000
you what??
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Double con -- being short and older -- 5'1.5" and 55 yo. I'm maintaining on around 1200 + exercise calories. It does get depressing at night to measure 3-4 oz. of fish on a plate, a veg., and 1/2 cup of cooked rice and say "I'm done for the day" while the males in my family load their plates. This is with exercise, too.
I've calculated the numbers and by the time I'm 60 I'll have to eat only around 1000 a day to stay the weight I am now.
Exactly! Didn't see your post before I posted mine. We're going to be hungry hungry old ladies.
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LauraPa1mer wrote: »Yeah... obviously most short women will not maintain at 2350. It's great if that works for you but not everyone lifts that much and not everyone wants to. And that's fine.
3x a week is a lot? I'm not saying that this should be the golden number.... I'm saying I'm an example of how being short doesn't necessarily mean eating fewer calories than someone taller....0 -
0somuchbetter0 wrote: »BombshellPhoenix wrote: »I dunno. I'm 5'3.5 " 120 lbs and maintain at 2350 when I'm doing my lifting routine...not everyone has to eat little. Also, depends on your activity level on how much you can consume. It's not all about size Embrace being small.
Maintaining on similar calories I am short 5ft 2 have an active job go to the gym regularly am 7st 7 thats 105 pounds I now have to be really careful now I will still drop if I don't eat enough excersize calories back!! My problem is I under estimate what I burn off through excersize!! My calories without any excersize is 2010 my settings are set to very active to maintain
Jealouser and jealouser of both of you. You must be young.
At 48 years old, 5'3" and 175 lbs, I have to net under 1400 to lose weight. And I still want to lose at least 45 lbs more. By the time I get to my goal weight, I'll be even older. If I get there and turn 60, say, I'll have to net under 1400 just to maintain! I'm looking at a hungry old age.
Nope, no pros to being short.
You must be young. At 52 years old, 5' 3 1/2" and (started at 232lbs) currently 176, I have to net about 1680 to lose weight.0 -
Pros
- While you're losing, you get through those sizes like there's no tomorrow! I went from 16/18 petite to 2 petite in less than a year. It was unbelievably motivating.
- I was able to lose on 1200 calories to start with and didn't feel deprived (actually it taught me a lot about getting nutrients into a calorie target, so it was a useful lesson)..
- ..Now, I'm just into maintenance, I'm realizing that I probably didn't need to go down to 1200 because I'm eating 1700 and still losing sloooowly.
- As long as I get my roots done, I easily get taken for someone 10 years younger
Cons- I might have to start taking an annual shopping trip to China if I get any smaller. I just don't want to wear kids' clothes. Actually that shopping trip would probably be pretty cool, so maybe not a con..
- It's just as tricky finding clothes to fit because I'm now a "healthy" petite size than when I was an obese petite size
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dopeysmelly wrote: »It's just as tricky finding clothes to fit because I'm now a "healthy" petite size than when I was an obese petite size
SO MUCH THIS! The average woman in North America is 5'3" or 5'4". The minimum cutoff to model clothes is 5'9" or 5'10".
This is why weight loss needs to be about being healthy and fit, not about looking like a runway model or being able to wear all the clothes you see at Fashion Week.0 -
dopeysmelly wrote: »It's just as tricky finding clothes to fit because I'm now a "healthy" petite size than when I was an obese petite size
SO MUCH THIS! The average woman in North America is 5'3" or 5'4". The minimum cutoff to model clothes is 5'9" or 5'10".
This is why weight loss needs to be about being healthy and fit, not about looking like a runway model or being able to wear all the clothes you see at Fashion Week.
I don't even waste my time with "regular" sizes any more. I order only petite sizes. I don't have time to waste trying on everything and getting everything altered. And I'm willing to spend my money at stores where they give a **** about women of average height.0 -
dopeysmelly wrote: »I don't even waste my time with "regular" sizes any more. I order only petite sizes. I don't have time to waste trying on everything and getting everything altered. And I'm willing to spend my money at stores where they give a **** about women of average height.
I do that wherever possible, too. Trouble is, most of the stores here in Quebec don't carry petites sizes. And most US chain stores don't ship here, or if they do, it costs a fortune.
I try to make an annual shopping trip south of the border to a major US city and buy stuff then. Otherwise, though, the tailor is my best friend. And I'm taking sewing classes in attempt to learn how to do some basic alterations, like hems and sleeves.
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Pro: You'll never NEED to eat as much as someone taller. $$$ at the grocer!
Pro: Your clothes will tend to be smaller. $$$ at the department store! [I still have to buy 3x shirts, and there is usually a small premium to that size and larger]
Con: You have to be more conscious of how much you eat, because you don't need as much. My wife's about your height, and she tries to eat as much as I do when we eat out, or split things 1/2 and 1/2. It's too many cals for her, really. At least she doesn't do every day.0 -
Great_Mazinga wrote: »Pro: Your clothes will tend to be smaller. $$$ at the department store!
Actually that's a misconception. Petites is considered "specialty" sizing for women (even though the average height for women in the US falls in the petite range) and petites sizes tend to cost more. For really tiny women, the clothes that fit best are often the higher-end designer ones, which cost even more than that.
You'd think that less fabric = lower price. But nope. It comes down to production runs. Regular missus sizes are mass-produced in large volume runs, sold everywhere, and are cheap to produce and face high competition. Whereas the few stores that carry petites know they can charge a premium, so they do.
Add the cost of getting *everything* altered / hemmed / tailored -- and it's even more expensive than that! Especially since tailors and seamstresses charge a premium to alter women's clothing.0 -
[*]Being able to dress as a hobbit, or one of the munchkins, for Halloween.
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This made me laugh out loud. I'm not going as a Hobbit or a Munchkin, but I am going as Hit Girl from Kick *kitten* (the character is a child). 5'2" here.
I love my height. And the more I lose and curvier I get, the more offers I get to come change my light bulbs/help me reach the top shelf/clean the gutters or whatever they think I might not be able to do.
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4'11 here and I cannot think of a single con to being shorter than pretty much everyone commenting in this thread. You don't need to starve yourself due to being vertically challenged - I'm up to 2000 kcals a day, with 3 hours weightlifting a week and am maintaining on this. Ladies you can do it....just lift!0
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Love the positivity, @gemmamummy! That's the spirit!
I should note that just because you're able to maintain on 2000 calories a day while lifting 3 hours a week doesn't mean that will work for everyone. Like you say in your profile tag, you do what works for you.
Still, way to go!0 -
Love the positivity, @gemmamummy! That's the spirit!
I should note that just because you're able to maintain on 2000 calories a day while lifting 3 hours a week doesn't mean that will work for everyone. Like you say in your profile tag, you do what works for you.
Still, way to go!
Absolutely! Just want to let peeps know that sometimes your body can surprise you. I was once a 1200 a day girl......and also a grumpy/hungry girl. I never believed I could do what I'm doing. Just saying us little folk don't need to be 'hangry'.0 -
gemmamummy wrote: »Just saying us little folk don't need to be 'hangry'.
OMG THIS! Yes! I'm definitely prone to hangriness (and it's a real word, folks!) when I don't eat enough. I find my solution is to eat constantly -- snack on broccoli at my desk, etc. and make the calories I do eat as filling as possible.
I've never been able to stick with a weight training program, but it's great that you've seen such good results with it. I may try again yet!0 -
I'm 4'11, and I feel your pain. Every pound gained shows. My goal right now is only 10 lbs and it's not easy!0
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The only problem I have with being short is needing a chair to reach things. Other than that, as far as weight loss, I don't feel like my height really has much of an effect on how much I lose or how fast I lose it. Weight loss is weight loss.0
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Try being 5ft 0in and 63 years old. I walk around 10 miles a day so my TDEE is around 1800 to 2000. So I can eat around 1400 and still lose weight.
Lose this weight whilst you are young. The older you get the harder it gets. DO IT NOW. Trust me.
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Pro:....Us short people almost NEVER bump our heads on anything!
Con....I never seem to fit into the "Height" requirement for women in online personals (even from from the short women!) Grrrrrrrr.....0 -
Pros: a pound lost looks like 5+ pounds.
Cons: Vice versa, a pound gained looks like 5+.
I'm 5'0", 115 lbs (pregnant)0 -
me too! im super short! However, my tall friend always tells me she wishes she was shorter because apparently a) taller women can't wear heels ( i don't see why not..what about models?) b) most men like shorter girls (?) I have no idea if any of this is true....0
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