Newbie! Mother of 2, 14lbs ish to lose for wedding

nadinewhitley
nadinewhitley Posts: 14
in Introduce Yourself
Ok, I'm 5'9 and I weigh 150 lb's, I would like to get down to 9 st 12 /138 lbs ish. I was always very slender, and weight seems to have just crept on without me even noticing. I know I'm not overweight now but I don't feel comfortable how I am and I'm getting married next December.

I think I have odd measurements too ! 34" bust 30" waist 36-37" hips??! My waist needs to be smaller for sure! Does anyone else have a similar amount of weight to lose ?

And MFP has set my calories to 1200 a day to lose 2lbs a week, this seems so low! Should I eat back any calories I burn in exercise?

Replies

  • rebeccahug
    rebeccahug Posts: 5 Member
    Hi there!

    I have a really similar weight and measurements!! I have been on and off this bloody thing since about March time! If I stick to it religiously and put in everything I eat and excercise I do lose about 2 to 3 pounds over a few weeks! Thats if I try to stick to the 1200 calories and I do feel skinnier when I excercise!! It was the only thing that works to help me lose weight at the minute! My problem is that I keep having a cheat day..that turns into 2, or 3! Mostly at the weekend and put on everything I have lost! I don't seem to put on weight though...but I really want about 3 or 4 pound even off for Christmas! So I am back on it! If I excercise I have a wee cheat! But still stay below the 1200!

    I do find it really hard! I was about 91/2 stone before I had my kids! I don't think I eat much more than I did then...but I would have excercised!

    Would be happy with 144 ish so just above 10 stone! I hate having to be good...just want it off and to maintain it! Grrr! Finding it so hard to excercise with the girls and working! Need a few more hours in the day! DEFINATELY finding it harder to get toned and the weight off second time round!!!!

    xx Good luck
  • complicateme86
    complicateme86 Posts: 20 Member
    1200 calories is too low for your height and weight!!! Your body burns a basic amount of calories per day if you just stayed in bed all day (this is called your Basal Metabolic Rate or Resting Metabolic Rate). For me, being 5'1 and 140 lbs, I burn about 1430 calories if I did nothing but stay in bed all day. Most women need an average of 1500-1800 calories/day to cover your basic needs and any calories you burn doing your daily activities, not including exercise. Healthy wt loss is 1-2 lbs a week, but the 2 lbs may be a little on the drastic side since you don't have much to lose. Just my personal opinion as a registered dietitian! Good luck with your goal and if you feel hungry, don't be afraid to eat!!
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    If you only have 14lbs to lose, 2lbs a week is too aggressive of a goal. I'd aim for 0.5-1lb a week. I'm 5'9" as well (but 160). I eat about 2000 to lose.
  • kennacoconut
    kennacoconut Posts: 62 Member
    Two pounds a week is actually really fast! The biggest problem for me is sodium. It reatains water like a mofo and then makes you all bloated.

    I say don't eat back your calories unless you are hungry and feel like you need to.

    With 14 lbs to lose, you might reach your goal in as little as 2 months... so I would reccomend slowing down a bit so you can turn this into a lifestyle, and therefore won't accidentally stress out before the wedding and gain it back.
  • namluv
    namluv Posts: 194 Member
    I am 5'9" too and never could sustain losing at such low calories! I agree with BusyLady - 2lb a week is too aggressive, plus if your weight is already in the decent range you are more likely to get results by eating closer to maintenance and lifting weights. Weight loss does not always equal body fat loss which I am guessing from your saying you are uncomfortable is more the problem, not really weight but size. I was close to 200 lb and no-one would believe it because I was muscle-dense and therefore didn't look or feel "big"
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I have about 13lbs to lose, and then once I lose that i'd like to lose another 7!

    I'm only 5'6 and weigh 167lbs, and my measurements are: boobs 38" (that's over boobs, not back), waist 30.5", hips 41". Once I lose 11lbs my BMI will be under 25, and already my body fat percentage is in the healthy range. At my slimmest ever (UK size 10/12 when I was 25) I was 147lbs (10.5 stone) and size wise I am not far off that now. I think if I got to 147lbs again I would be thinner than a 10/12.

    I don't expect to lose more than 1lb a week (it has taken me 16 months to lose 51lbs), but I am now focussing more on buidling muscle and toning.

    I'd say that losing 14lbs is most definitely doable by next Dec! In the 10 months before my wedding i lost around 42lbs! I put weight on in both my pregnancies and i'm now thinner than when i got married.

    I'd aim for around 1500 calories a day and a combination of cardio and strength training.
  • nadinewhitley
    nadinewhitley Posts: 14
    thanks for your advise everyone, I have changed calorie goal to 1lb a week which is 1490, much more doable! Now i have just got to get off my lazy behind and exercise!
  • beautmel
    beautmel Posts: 56
    Good luck Nadine, you can do it! As long as you have a realistic goal and a little bit of willpower, you're half way there.

    I lost over two stone with weight watchers a few years back. It was very slow and frustrating at times but because I lost the weight slowly, it was easy to maintain. Never did any exercise during that period and only just started.

    It's my 30th birthday in 4 weeks and as a pressie for myself I've decided on a flat stomach. Seems impossible though!

    Took my measurements for the first time ever last night:
    hips- 35.4"
    waist-29.5
    boobs-36.2

    I've been doing the 30 day shred but this belly or "pooch" as Jillian calls it just won't budge!

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