Dear short people -- we don't need to starve ourselves!

FitFabFlirty92

I'm 5'3, and have been able to lose steadily eating 1600 calories a day, sometimes more. if you're short, your calorie goal will be smaller than someone who's taller, but not by the huge amount some people think. People who are 5'2 or 5'3 do not HAVE TO eat 1200 calories to lose. If you do that, and it works for you, great! But it's misleading to make people think that if they're short they have to set their calorie goal incredibly low to make any progress. It's simply not true for everyone.

BinaryPulsar

I agree!

TurtleRunnerNC

Yup. I'm 5'3'' and I eat 1400-1700 a day and am losing.

islandnutshel

same height. I lose weight eating between 1300-1600 a day. The weight loss has be consistant for 5 months now.

jfrankic

So true!! I'm 5'8 so I don't fall into the "short" category, but I want to share this post. It helps to explain how to calculate how many calories you need for a good FAT burning program. Yes....yes....yes....it's a long read, not too long though. But totally worth it.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

happypath101

Dear God Almighty - this needs to be said. I have a sedentary job and am only 5'1". I canNOT eat only 1200 calories a day - even netting that is difficult. But, 1400 - 1500 calories a day is entirely do-able and still keeps me slim. I think the important thing to know is that just a couple of hundred calories can make the difference between feeling dizzy and starved and feeling healthy and strong. Just because 1200 is too hard doesn't mean you have to chuck out the entire idea and be eating 2000 a day. :)D

DenyseMarieL

I tried the 1200 and was starving! I am 5'3" and now I'm at 1480. Much better for me! Still losing .5 lbs a week.

barbaramitchell101

I'm 4'10' and keeping it near 1200 or less and don't seem to be getting anywhere....maybe I should increase my calories...thanks for the tip

FitFabFlirty92

I'm 4'10' and keeping it near 1200 or less and don't seem to be getting anywhere....maybe I should increase my calories...thanks for the tip

You're welcome! Try upping it in small increments and see what happens...maybe do 1300 calories consistently for a few weeks, and then if you're still not seeing results, make it 1400. Often when weight loss stalls, the problem is that we're eating too little rather than too much.

barbaramitchell101

I'm 4'10' and keeping it near 1200 or less and don't seem to be getting anywhere....maybe I should increase my calories...thanks for the tip

You're welcome! Try upping it in small increments and see what happens...maybe do 1300 calories consistently for a few weeks, and then if you're still not seeing results, make it 1400. Often when weight loss stalls, the problem is that we're eating too little rather than too much.

for awhile there I went out to dinner every night (about 1800 cals per day) and gained 5 lbs over 2 weeks (I did have more energy after eating that dinner out ,also, which is why I did that)...then went to what I am now and lost it all but am stalled right now

I will try your tip, thanks

jellybeanmusic

Do you work out to build up extra cals that you can eat? Or just eat that much and no fitness and still lose?

lindsy721

Woohoo go shorties!!

We are not "short", so much, as we are "FUN SIZE"!!! :-D

I like to say we are concentrated awesomeness. Fitting, isn't it? :-)

FitFabFlirty92

Do you work out to build up extra cals that you can eat? Or just eat that much and no fitness and still lose?

I can eat 1600 a day with no exercise and lose each week. If I exercise, I eat back at least half of my exercise calories, so on those days I'm eating 1700-1800 calories depending on how much I'm burning.

cutiepieinchi

I eat 1300 when on a rest day but I eat some of my calories back when I work out sometimes..It all depends for me. I am 5'4

fortheheart

I'm 5'2. My doctor said he wanted me go down to 1000 calories a day. But I thouht that was ridiculous. So, I went up to 1200. I had more progress when I was eating 1600 months ago. But now that I have trained myself to stay around 1200- 1300 I don't think I could eat much more. But I'm not seeing the weight loss like I used to. So, I'm confused.

ToughTulip

I'm 5ft3 and eat 2200 calories to lose.
1200 would kill me xD

cardozojoann

I'm 5'3 1/2 and I consume 2000 calories a day due to me breastfeeding. But my daily calories is at 1580 before I add the breastfeeding

cutiepieinchi

I have a sedentary lifestyle(office style and besides working out) so I try to balance out the days when I am less sedentary.

SexyLovinmeCook

TRUTH!!! I have eaten majority of my journey 80% of my MFP Cals and exercise...IT is about WHAT you eat..I am not going to say eat them back of whatever you want...because it won't work successfully...Eating healthy loses weight...


OH BTW...5'4 came from 207 now to 152-153pds....still finding the balance... been here 595 days today...It can be done

FitFabFlirty92

I'm 5'2. My doctor said he wanted me go down to 1000 calories a day. But I thouht that was ridiculous. So, I went up to 1200. I had more progress when I was eating 1600 months ago. But now that I have trained myself to stay around 1200- 1300 I don't think I could eat much more. But I'm not seeing the weight loss like I used to. So, I'm confused.

Maybe you could gradually up your calories and see if it helps? If eating at 1600 worked for you in the past, there's a good chance it can work for you again. You may see a slight uptick on the scale at first, but after that there should be a steady loss again.

FitFabFlirty92

I'm 5ft3 and eat 2200 calories to lose.
1200 would kill me xD

O.O Wow, that's amazing! I don't think I've ever seen someone our height on here who is able to eat that amount. Lucky you!!!

curvygirl77

I had to increase my calories to start losing; eating 1200 was not doing anything for me---decided to increase my calorie to 1400 and finally the scale started moving

sapphireswi

You are absolutely right. I bought a diet book which had some calculations to determine how many calories you should eat . . I am 5'1" and according to the book I should have just 900 calories.

Crazzzzy meeee ...I went ahead with it for 2 weeks at first I lost 4 pounds quick like in 10 days and then it just stopped. I was weak, cranky and almost always had a headache . . . Now I eat 1300 calories on rest days and 1400-1500 on workout days. . .When you lose weight slow and steady . . It doesn't fluctuate, it's safer and healthier.

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: Love yourself !

ToughTulip

I'm 5ft3 and eat 2200 calories to lose.
1200 would kill me xD

O.O Wow, that's amazing! I don't think I've ever seen someone our height on here who is able to eat that amount. Lucky you!!!

Eh 2 jobs, full time student. army physical training, and walk everywhere I go xD Constantly moving!

DebbieLyn63

I'm 4'10' and keeping it near 1200 or less and don't seem to be getting anywhere....maybe I should increase my calories...thanks for the tip

You're welcome! Try upping it in small increments and see what happens...maybe do 1300 calories consistently for a few weeks, and then if you're still not seeing results, make it 1400. Often when weight loss stalls, the problem is that we're eating too little rather than too much.

for awhile there I went out to dinner every night (about 1800 cals per day) and gained 5 lbs over 2 weeks (I did have more energy after eating that dinner out ,also, which is why I did that)...then went to what I am now and lost it all but am stalled right now

I will try your tip, thanks

So according to your recent experience- 1800 per day caused you to gain 2 1/2 pounds per week. Since it takes 500 cals less per day to LOSE one pound in a week, 1300 cals per day would still result in a GAIN of 1 1/2 pounds per week. Not sure if I would try adding MORE calories at this point.

Most likely, you are not measuring and logging accurately, and are under-estimating what you are actually eating. Try being more diligent on measuring and weighing everything, and make sure you log every thing you eat or drink.

Also, add some physical activity, but do NOT eat back your exercise calories. If you are exercising HARD, and are getting hungry by the end of the day, then you can have a few more healthy calories (few=50 -100) (healthy=lean protein, fruit, nuts. NOT junk food)

If you have more than 20-30 pounds to lose, you have plenty of extra stored fat to fuel your body without going into the dreaded 'starvation mode'. Your metabolism will not slow down that drastically, that quickly when you have extra weight and are only 2 weeks into your program. Give it more time before you start panicking and start eating more calories, and possibly gaining even more weight.

jellybeanmusic

Do you work out to build up extra cals that you can eat? Or just eat that much and no fitness and still lose?

I can eat 1600 a day with no exercise and lose each week. If I exercise, I eat back at least half of my exercise calories, so on those days I'm eating 1700-1800 calories depending on how much I'm burning.

Cool, thanks for answering. I've always struggled to lose no matter how much or little I eat, think I just need to experiment with different amounts more and work out what's right for me. Good for you!

Moveit80

SO true!!! I was at 1,200 calories or about there a lot in the beginning. I actually kept gaining weight!! YIKES!! My body just stored fat. It's hard enough having imbalanced hormones too. I'd rather eat more. :]

DebbieLyn63

I'm 4'10' and keeping it near 1200 or less and don't seem to be getting anywhere....maybe I should increase my calories...thanks for the tip

I just checked your profile and saw your age is 61. At your height and your age, you will most like have to eat BELOW 1200 per day to see any significant weightloss, unless you are exercising at a very high level. Sorry, but your metabolism is quite a bit slower than a 20 yr old's. Look for other women your age on here who have lost weight and find out what their calorie level is. I have a few on my friend list in their 50s or more, and I am 49 myself. Feel free to friend request me if you like.

tedsmama

I am 5'3. I started out at 1200 and stalled. I am now netting 1400-1500 and am back on track!! And much much happier!!

melusinagr

I am 5'3" and have been maintaining my weight (since December) at about 1800-1900 calories a day (with a minimal loss of about 7 pounds over the course of this year).

sweetalker

Try upping it in small increments and see what happens...maybe do 1300 calories consistently for a few weeks, and then if you're still not seeing results, make it 1400. Often when weight loss stalls, the problem is that we're eating too little rather than too much.

Bears repeating... I wish more people realized this.