Wanting to lose weight when not "Overweight".

starsarai720

Hello All,

I am currently 5'10" and flirting with 150lbs.

Two years ago, I was around 130-135 lbs, but felt amazing. Energized. Healthy. Happy.

Now, I am definitely addicted to food and don't move/ exercise nearly as much. Food consumes my life. I hate it.

I realize that numbers-wise (BMI, etc) that my goals are on the lower end, but this is about both asethetics and a feeling... I have yet to feel as able-bodied as I did then (though, for the record, I was never particularly athelictic or fit).

Most weight loss aides seem to be more conducive for individuals who are overweight, but I am looking for support for people who are more in my range in terms of their goals. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction?
Also, should I expect this weight loss to be a slower process than those who are losing larger amounts of body fat?


Thanks!

shadow2soul

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/113609/relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner

afatpersonwholikesfood

You can lose what you want assuming you're realistic, and the weight you pick is healthy for you as an individual. BMI is just one measure.

Your body only has so much fat that it can "eat" to fill in your deficit. You risk losing lean tissue if you go too aggressively. As far as your rate of weight loss, it's percentages. Someone who weighs 300 pounds and loses 1% body weight loses 3 pounds. Someone who is 150 loses 1.5 lbs. Additionally, aiming for a smaller deficit means that you have less room for logging errors.

starsarai720

afatpersonwholikesfood wrote: »

You can lose what you want assuming you're realistic, and the weight you pick is healthy for you as an individual. BMI is just one measure.

As for weight loss aides, I'm not sure what you mean. Anything OTC is garbage. Anything prescription is not indicated to be used in those who are a normal BMI.

Your body only has so much fat that it can "eat" to fill in your deficit. You risk losing lean tissue if you go too aggressively. As far as your rate of weight loss, it's percentages. Someone who weighs 300 pounds and loses 1% body weight loses 3 pounds. Someone who is 150 loses 1.5 lbs. Additionally, aiming for a smaller deficit means that you have less room for logging errors.

By aides I meant support, not drugs or supplements. Oops. :P. Thank you for the help! In the past, people have told me that my goals are unrealistic. I guess I don't really understand the science behind it.

rph2t

If feeling good is what is important, do things that make you feel good. Obsessing with the scale won't do that. If you start eating better and moving more, you'll feel better. If you lose weight, cool. If you get a little more muscular, you may not weigh less, but you'll probably look leaner. We all have different ideal BMIs, and it's not really meaningful to focus on the number when you're aiming for a look and feeling.

I think the "maintenance" groups would be helpful for you. Some of them are trying to lose five or ten pounds or so, and have a focus more in line with what you seem to be looking for, with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Logging food never hurts, though (unless you have history with disordered eating), and if you want to pursue losing a few pounds, that's the way to do it. But if it's just about looks and feelings, fitness and eating clean is probably going to be the best route for you.

lorrpb

Yes, it would be much slower for someone in your position. However, I would suggest that it's the lack of exercise and/or nutrition that are contributing to your sluggish feelings, rather than your weight. You acknowledge that your weight is healthy, but exercise and eating habits are not, so fix what's broken.

afatpersonwholikesfood

starsarai720 wrote: »

afatpersonwholikesfood wrote: »

You can lose what you want assuming you're realistic, and the weight you pick is healthy for you as an individual. BMI is just one measure.

As for weight loss aides, I'm not sure what you mean. Anything OTC is garbage. Anything prescription is not indicated to be used in those who are a normal BMI.

Your body only has so much fat that it can "eat" to fill in your deficit. You risk losing lean tissue if you go too aggressively. As far as your rate of weight loss, it's percentages. Someone who weighs 300 pounds and loses 1% body weight loses 3 pounds. Someone who is 150 loses 1.5 lbs. Additionally, aiming for a smaller deficit means that you have less room for logging errors.

By aides I meant support, not drugs or supplements. Oops. :P. Thank you for the help! In the past, people have told me that my goals are unrealistic. I guess I don't really understand the science behind it.

I read your post again and realized that I misunderstood. Edited before I saw your reply. Best person to ask about your intended weight is your doctor, but people can realistically fit into the lower end of normal BMI.

robininfl

starsarai720 wrote: »

Hello All,

I am currently 5'10" and flirting with 150lbs.

Two years ago, I was around 130-135 lbs, but felt amazing. Energized. Healthy. Happy.

Now, I am definitely addicted to food and don't move/ exercise nearly as much. Food consumes my life. I hate it.

I realize that numbers-wise (BMI, etc) that my goals are on the lower end, but this is about both asethetics and a feeling... I have yet to feel as able-bodied as I did then (though, for the record, I was never particularly athelictic or fit).

Most weight loss aides seem to be more conducive for individuals who are overweight, but I am looking for support for people who are more in my range in terms of their goals. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction?
Also, should I expect this weight loss to be a slower process than those who are losing larger amounts of body fat?


Thanks!

There is a thread somewhere called "relatively lean people trying to get leaner" that's good, but to me it sounds like the problem is just that you are eating too much and feel like you can't stop? If you can address that, you will more than likely just settle back to a lighter weight naturally. Maybe try starting at the other end, with exercise? If that makes you feel better, perhaps the rest will fall into place.

If you are dieting to lose just a small amount, yes that is slow, because the difference between what you need to eat to maintain the 150lb and what is a healthy minimum to eat and lose weight without harm are so close to each other that there isn't a large margin, you can't have such a big deficit. But if you are really overeating substantially, then maybe you have enough play in your diet to do it faster.

But in the end, to maintain the 130lb, you would need to have the same lifestyle that you had, or something similar in terms of eating and doing, calories in and out.

And I do understand, btw. I like to maintain at the lower end of the healthy range and feel best when light.

starsarai720

robininfl wrote: »

starsarai720 wrote: »

Hello All,

I am currently 5'10" and flirting with 150lbs.

Two years ago, I was around 130-135 lbs, but felt amazing. Energized. Healthy. Happy.

Now, I am definitely addicted to food and don't move/ exercise nearly as much. Food consumes my life. I hate it.

I realize that numbers-wise (BMI, etc) that my goals are on the lower end, but this is about both asethetics and a feeling... I have yet to feel as able-bodied as I did then (though, for the record, I was never particularly athelictic or fit).

Most weight loss aides seem to be more conducive for individuals who are overweight, but I am looking for support for people who are more in my range in terms of their goals. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction?
Also, should I expect this weight loss to be a slower process than those who are losing larger amounts of body fat?


Thanks!

There is a thread somewhere called "relatively lean people trying to get leaner" that's good, but to me it sounds like the problem is just that you are eating too much and feel like you can't stop? If you can address that, you will more than likely just settle back to a lighter weight naturally. Maybe try starting at the other end, with exercise? If that makes you feel better, perhaps the rest will fall into place.

If you are dieting to lose just a small amount, yes that is slow, because the difference between what you need to eat to maintain the 150lb and what is a healthy minimum to eat and lose weight without harm are so close to each other that there isn't a large margin, you can't have such a big deficit. But if you are really overeating substantially, then maybe you have enough play in your diet to do it faster.

But in the end, to maintain the 130lb, you would need to have the same lifestyle that you had, or something similar in terms of eating and doing, calories in and out.

And I do understand, btw. I like to maintain at the lower end of the healthy range and feel best when light.

Definitely binging. I'm trying to drink more water, which has helped a little, but I am still just eating so. Much. Unnecessarily.

Also, I am not the best with logging because I have a history of being very unhealthy with it. Though it has been several years and I think this round would go better.

_piaffe

I'm similar to you. 5'11, starting weight was 166. Now maintaining my vanity goal weight of 145(ish), and it takes vigilance and work - because I love eating.

I'm focused on recomposition - progress pics are in my profile. My TDEE (age 41) is around 2200-2300, but if I don't keep up the strength training and cardio, my allowance drops to a very unsatisfying 1700.

In my experience, height hides weight well, so it's super easy for weight to creep back on. I was on vacation last week and haven't weighed in since (I need at least a few more days to recover). I'm back to deficit for the next few weeks to undo the damage - likely just a few pounds, but when you're lean, they are REALLY hard to move.

So - I hear you. My unsolicited advice is to do the math, figure out your current numbers and deficit for 1 lb a week weight loss (I wouldn't be more aggressive than that) and ramp up the strength training. You might benefit from recomp.

p.s. I will also send you a friend request!

Edited to add:

I have a history of binging and being slightly obsessive / compulsive with tracking as well. I would "starve" through restriction (e.g. 1500 calories) to "bank" or save up for cheat meals. The problem was that my cheat meals often wen over 3000 calories - and worse, it just created a whole binge / deprive cycle. A more moderate approach (and no more blanket "cheat" free-for-all mentality) helped tremendously. I also find that weighing often and using Trendweight helps with scale anxiety. No more Weigh In Day stress syndrome for me. It's just data. I skip things like post-vacation weigh ins, to spare myself the horror. But the more data I accumulate, the less emotional I am about the process.

Kdp2015

I'm 5'10 and 146, aiming for 140 but might go lower - feel free to add my

tulips_and_tea

Most of your questions / concerns have been addressed, but what I'm curious about is why the food obsession lately? Have you had a change in lifestyle or what do you think started it? Finding the source can be helpful to finding a solution.

What is your home situation? Do you do the shopping and cooking or does someone else? Determining the extent of control you have as to the food in the house is important so that we can offer more helpful ideas.

starsarai720

BZAH10 wrote: »

Most of your questions / concerns have been addressed, but what I'm curious about is why the food obsession lately? Have you had a change in lifestyle or what do you think started it? Finding the source can be helpful to finding a solution.

What is your home situation? Do you do the shopping and cooking or does someone else? Determining the extent of control you have as to the food in the house is important so that we can offer more helpful ideas.

There was definitely a lifestyle change with a change in job and household. I have a very inactive desk job when I used to have a very high energy and active job that allowed me to frequently travel, so eating was more like refueling and was never something I had to plan or provide.
Now I do most of the shopping/ meal planning. My job requires a lot of business meetings which are always over lunch/drinks/coffee, etc. these are not triggers for me, but late night eating definitely is, as well as emotional eating. Or eating after a night out.

I think the obsession with food is pared with the extreme changes in my life, including a rather bad breakup that completely shifted my life.

frankiesgirlie

I relate to so much about you and your post.
I'm much older than you but at 5" 9" I like myself at a little lower on the BMI range.
I feel more energetic and just happier in my body at 140 lbs. Actually, I like 138 better, but haven't been able to reach it in like 20 years.
I also struggle with night time eating.
I used to call it "binge" eating because I consumed most of my calories at night.
But a very smart person told me if you are staying within your calories in/calories out goals, then it is not a binge. It's just fitting your calories into your preferences and lifestyle.
I still may go over my goal here and there, but I don't try to "atone" for my bad day in any way by starving the next day or working out like a mad woman. I treat every day individually and just move on.
I practice a modified 16/8 intermittent fasting, and don't know if that would work for you, but you may want to look into it.
I do believe that exercise is an important component to weight loss. Not so much because you can't lose weight without it, because you most certainly can. But because it helps improve your moods and your body image for a lot of people. It is, in effect, honoring and taking care of your body and just makes you feel better.
That in turn, may not make you a stellar eater, but you may begin to make healthier choices.
Exercise doesn't have to mean all or nothing. You can start with a goal to get in more steps per day, and go from there.
If I can be of any help, please friend me or message me.
I'm down 5 lbs with 10 lbs to go to get to my goal of 140.
I weigh almost daily and log my weight on happy scale app so that the fluctuations don't freak me out.

LauraCoth

I think some of us have a body image that is so much a part of our sense of self that we feel a deep and pervasive sense of wrongness when we gain weight, and there's nothing we can do about it. It's the way our brains are programmed.

I have always been slender, at 59 years old, 5'6" and weighing between 112 and 118 most of my adult life.

18 months ago I was put on medication that made my weight shoot up 15-20 pounds, most of it on my bust. Everyone tells me I look awesome, but I feel like I'm wearing someone else's body. I feel as though I'm carrying bowling balls on my chest. My clothes don't fit. I look like a cow. I can't stand to look in the mirror.

Perhaps this is obsessive, or vanity, or delusional. All I know is that until I am back to the weight that my brain tells me is the correct weight, I will not feel like myself.