5'2" Ladies who have gone from 140-115lbs

I'm 5'2" started at 153 this time around and I'm bouncing around 126 right now. I started with cardio and some strength training, but slowly moved into more strength training over time. I didn't focus on diet until I was 10 lbs down, but once I did I dropped the next 16 lbs faster. I've been at it since the end of May so about 8 months now. I am focusing on lifting 6x/week with short (20 min) cardio 2-3 times a week. I've been able to go from a size 12 to a 4 and have lost 8 inches from my midsection. I'm at about 22% BF and would like to get that down to 18-20%. Oh and I tried 1200 calories and felt like crap so I lost most of my weight at 1500 calories and a 500 calorie a day deficit (I have a BodyMedia Fit armband). I increased the intensity of my workouts in January and have been eating closer to 1800-1900 calories with a 250 cal deficit. I'm in no rush and if I can lose the fat without reducing my lean mass that would be perfect for me.

a little taller and started at a lower weight with a lower goal weight, but this is what i am doing.
i am 5'4". started at 127ish. i joined mfp last march but was starting to watch what i eat around a year ago in january 2012 (i had never been as high as 127 and felt gross so had to change).
now that is has been about a year, i am down to 102 lbs, about 25 lbs in a year. the biggest thing that has worked for me is being honest about what i eat, and switching up my exercise so my body doesn't get used to it. if i had a binge day or drank 1000 calories in alcohol, then i log it not matter what to the best i can. just running the same amount or doing the same walks after a while i stopped losing, so i started doing crunches pushups squats and then some strength training with dumbbells and started losing again.
hope this helps, and good luck to you with your loss.
also, not sure what mfp has for you for intake, prolly at like 1200 but it may help to calculate your tdee, subtract 15%-20% from that and that may help you lose a little better. sometimes our bodies need more to lose, some people 1200 works others it doesn't just do what your body feels is best. don't deprive yourself of food you love and don't leave yourself starving. you can still lose weight and eat pizza, pasta, chocolate etc. just depends how you fit it in your day.

That's me.

I'm 5'1 and went from 141 to 110.

The single item that made the BIGGEST difference for me was buying a food scale. Turns out, I am absolutely terrible at estimating portions. I got stuck at 130 for a long time, and the food scale helped me tremendously.

I did a ton of walking + the 30 day shred at first. I switched to a pilates/ballet type workout + walking for the last 15 pounds, and now I'm lifting to drop my body fat percentage.

Consistency, and being honest with yourself about calories is the best and only way to go.

EDIT: running every day is a big no-no for new runners. It should really only be a couple days a week when you're starting out.

I second the food scale! Buying a digital food scale was a great idea! Mine can count in grams or ounces, which is how most foods are weighed.

yes i third the food scale, i forgot to add that into my post. i got one a few months ago and i wasn't too bad at measuring but it helps so much more! now i know what 2 oz of pasta is supposed to look like haha. but yea that helps a lot too. i use it many times a day, most things i eat i measure first. also helps with recipes so i can cook with the right amount and not have too much or too little at the end.

I'm 5'3" and went from 154 to 113, took about 10 months (nice and slow). I found weight training made all the difference in the world for me. I also started running, but really noticed the changes when I started lifting. I ate around 1,300 on non-workout days and 1,500-1,600 on workout days. At maintenance I'm now eating about 1,600 on non and closer to 1,700-1,900 on workout days. Being short stinks, but you do what ya gotta do. Slow and steady is the way to go, much easier to make it a lifestyle change. I started out at about a 500 calorie a day deficit and when I got down to the last 15 I decreased to about 250 a day. I'm now trying to slowly increase to build some additional muscle.

Eat more protein to maintain your muscle, muscle burns more throughout the day and it's important to maintain as much as you can while eating at a deficit. I highly recommend changing your macros to 30% protein (MFP keeps it way too low).

bump

a little taller and started at a lower weight with a lower goal weight, but this is what i am doing.
i am 5'4". started at 127ish. i joined mfp last march but was starting to watch what i eat around a year ago in january 2012 (i had never been as high as 127 and felt gross so had to change).
now that is has been about a year, i am down to 102 lbs, about 25 lbs in a year. the biggest thing that has worked for me is being honest about what i eat, and switching up my exercise so my body doesn't get used to it. if i had a binge day or drank 1000 calories in alcohol, then i log it not matter what to the best i can. just running the same amount or doing the same walks after a while i stopped losing, so i started doing crunches pushups squats and then some strength training with dumbbells and started losing again.

Pretty much this. I am 5'2" and got up to 137.5 a few years back due to a combination of mindless snacking, attempts at crash diets followed by bingeing, and not being honest about the damage an indulgent night at the bar could do. Keeping an accurate log of my intake helped tremendously and kept me on task. It also helped me to lay out a full day's worth of meals instead of trying to eat a tiny breakfast and lunch and feeling deprived and wanting to chew my arm off by dinner (and then raiding the cupboards later!). I got down to 118.5 in about 6 months, and am now back on with a goal of 106-108.

I'm 5'2" and 3/4... I started at 136 pounds and am now about 129... When i first tried losing weight i would run every single day, and eat about 1,200 which was undereating... I got down to about 119 and then i got really depressed and tired all the time so i started eating more and being healthy (which i thought i already was, but nope) So that is just an example of what not to do

I gained all my weight back and discovered strength training... I upped my calories, and i never feel deprived, PLUS im losing weight! I love it! And with strength training your weight doesnt matter as much because you could weigh the same, but when you have more muscle youll have less fat! When i got down to 119 before i still thought i was fat.... well i was, "skinny fat". But strength training gives that "toned" look that women are after....

So find a weight lifting program!
-strength train 2-3x per week
-you can still do cardio on off days(preferably HIIT)
-And have at least 1-2 rest days!
-i think that you should eat about 1,300 - 1,500 calories per day... less wont help you!

If you want to see what strength training can do to women, look up "weight lifting results" and stuff like that for women... Its inspiring!

I'm 5' even, start in March 2012 at 150 and have been maintaining around 120 since August of 2012. I ate 1200 calories + exercise for the first 4 months, did the 30 DS and a lot of running (3-4 times per week). I bumped up to 1400, then 1500, then 1600 calories, always eating exercise calories back. Now I'm maintaining eating around 1750 plus exercise calories each day, and running an average of 5 days a week, plus yoga a few times a week.

I was amazed at how quickly I lost the weight, but now I'm mostly amazed that I ever subsisted on 1200 calories a day. I like food WAY too much for that to be sustainable in the long-term.

I'm 5'1" started at 142. Currently 136 and looking to get to 110. I've gotten down to 116 using this site, and am ready to do it again..... and always looking for new friends.

This is me exactly. 5'2, 140, want to be 115. I'd be happy with 120, but 115 is my end goal.

bump

bump

I am 5'1 and my starting weight 8/1/09 was 143lbs. My goal weight was 118lbs and I reached it in 12 weeks. Cardio 7 days a week, weight training 4 days a week and a 1,000 calorie deficit per day!

1000 calories from your TDEE?

bump

Bump!