Anyone...5'1" and small boned...calorie level for results?

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sparkyval
sparkyval Posts: 32
in Food and Nutrition
Hi. I am 5'1" and small boned with still a lot of weight to lose. I have lost 57.8 pounds of my goal of around 124, but the last couple of months have been at a stalemate.
I followed the MFP for the last month, but I have only lost 1.4 pounds during that time even though the projected loss would be higher and I do use the BodyMedia Fit band so there is no estimating involved.
I think I need to stop eating my exercise calories back to see results even though that does put me well below my BMR. I am 49 and I started strong, but now even though I have upped my activity level, I am moving at a snail's pace.

I was wondering what others who are smaller inside eat to see results....Since we are smaller framed isn't it okay that we eat less? Right now my target is set for 1200 calories but as I said I do eat some of the exercise calories back most days, though still mostly under what MFP has determined for me.

Any info regarding what is working for you would be greatly appreciated. Of course I want to do this a healthy way but I think even one pound a week is not too much to ask from a health standpoint and two pounds per week would be ideal.

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  • Molly_Maguire
    Molly_Maguire Posts: 1,103 Member
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    I was stuck at a plateau for three stinking months. Also at 1200 cals. There's nothing you can really do other than just wait it out and in the meantime, don't you dare give up or slack off!

    Some people swear by calorie cycling, or carb cycling, but I personally finds that gimmicky ideas like that just tend to derail me more than actually help. Everyone's different, though.

    If you can stay satisfied, you can always NOT eat back your exercise cals and see if that gets things going again. Other than that, just continue eating at a deficit and STICK WITH IT. It's up to you to show your plateau who's the more stubborn: it or you!
  • cats121
    cats121 Posts: 21 Member
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    I'm round up to be 5'1", am 41 years old, I sit at a desk all day, and am also small-boned. I eat less than 1200 calories but that's because that's what works for me and I've been working with my doctor on this as well. Age, height, medical conditions, how sedentary your life is, all impact what *your* body can do so the 1200 calories isn't an absolute. I eat back some of my calories from exercise but not all of them - there are some days when I'm legit hungry so I eat back more of the calories and other days I'm not. I know when I'm not eating enough calories because I'll feel a bit light headed and maybe feel a bit foggy so I eat more but overall, I keep my calories at around 1000. My doctor (whose a weight-loss specialist) says that the 1200 "rule" isn't a rule but a guide and eating under it won't make you unhealthy. I am really careful about the foods I eat because of the lower calories - I make every calorie count - lots of veggies, lean protein, limit processed foods, etc.

    As the other poster said, don't give up! You're doing fantastic!! Maybe try to reduce your calories or don't eat back your exercise calories and keep paying attention to how you actually feel! Oh and the "project weight loss" stuff on MFP and BodyMedia can drive you crazy *your* the best expert on your body and your feeling so listen to yourself first!!
  • mowree
    mowree Posts: 74 Member
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    I'm 4'11" and have my calories set to 1000 per day. I had mine set to 1300 for months. No results. Now, I am slowly getting results. I don't have much more to lose and getting the scale to move is nearly impossible now. I'm not sure this is what you need to do, but at least you know someone is doing it and getting results. Small people don't need as many calories as you would think.

    Good luck to you.
  • 2KMILLER
    2KMILLER Posts: 6 Member
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    Although I'm taller, my sister is 4'11" and has struggled with plateaus her entire life! She has to stay around 900 calories a day to lose weight. There's no way I could ever do 1000 calories or less so more power to you shorter folks! Seriously, amazing! Also, as my doctor has reminded me a million times: it's not just how much you eat, it's what you eat. High protein works great for me: weight just melts away. And my sister finally turned her weight around by eating a big lunch and only a small 200 calorie or less dinner several hours before bedtime. Another friend of mine was working out too much and as soon as she took time off to nurse an injury, years of stubborn weight disappeared. Try different "techniques": Mediterranean diet, high protein, low fat, smaller dinner, and/or more water. Maybe you'll find one that kick starts your weight loss again.
  • sparkyval
    sparkyval Posts: 32
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    Okay so then all of these people screaming at me that I have to eat my BMR ...they are full of bonk? Just as I have suspected...so you guys are eating lower amounts and not dying huh? Well good to know...as long as I can do it lol. This fat has to go...lowering the calories...for starters...not eating back any workout calories and seeing what that does.

    Thanks to all of you guys....I am so frustrated!!!
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
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    I'm 5'2", 55 yrs old and maintain between 115 & 120 lbs on 1300 calories without eating any exercise back. My BMR is 1094. When you don't get a lot to eat you have to make sure that what you do eat is nutritious. We don't really have room for junk.

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