Being "petite"

randimarie1125
randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so let me start this by saying I'm right at or a little under 5'3. Ive always been kind of petite at 120. which was a perfectly healthy weight for my height. Well after having my son, i was weighing in at 144. Obviously thats a shock for me, considering the heaviest i had ever, ever been was 129. Well now that i have set a goal of 120, people keep telling me, im thin enough and that i dont need to lose weight? Is it really so bad, to want the "body" back? Dont get me wrong, i know several people who would die for 140, but 140 is not ideal for my frame. Am i crazy? technically 140 is overweight on a med frame, short height. Whats so wrong with getting healthy? And getting my prebaby body back? Any input from anyone?
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Replies

  • kyleesartwell
    kyleesartwell Posts: 145
    I think that that is a great goal for somebody of your age and height. I did a google search and this is what I found!

    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_average_weight_of_a_5'_3_22-year-old_woman
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    Life is a lot easier when you stop worrying about other people's opinions of what you should look like.
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    thank you for the link!! : ) My original goal was 115-118, but people were so rude, saying that was too thin! But im glad its actually average!
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I think that's a great goal. People are just trying to be supportive by telling you you look fine now (and you probably do)! But there's nothing wrong with wanting your old shape back. I was almost the exact same, I'm 5'4" and I got up to 145. I wasn't really overweight so people were confused about why I wanted to lose weight... but I used to be 125 and I wanted to get back down to that. Now I've reached my goal and everyone says I look amazing!
  • sunshine_gem
    sunshine_gem Posts: 390 Member
    I'm one of those people who would kill to be at 140 (and would consider that pretty slim) but I totally get where you're coming from. If you're used to being smaller and you know that it looks healthy then there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying to get back there. For your height 120 is perfectly healthy so I would ignore all those people and do what feels best for you. If you're not comfortable in your skin then that's the only thing that matters.
  • LivDixon
    LivDixon Posts: 22 Member
    I have a petite frame as well (5"2.5) although I'm overweight for it, and I intend to drop down to 125. Maybe you carry the weight well at 144, but if you feel that you were healthier and felt better about yourself at 120, go for it! As long as you're not hurting anyone it's nobody's business but yours.
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    See thats my thing, i by NO means think im fat! But i do have a few "problem areas! If i didnt my pants would fit lol.
    And i know i guess in a way that people just want to be supportive, but at the same time, People always tell me, i wish i weighed that,....Well diet and exercise, and just be happy for me for doing it the right way!
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    Thank you!, and i do somewhat carry the weight well, I have big hips, and a majority of the extra, is hiding in my thighs lol
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Unless you're made of muscle, 140 is quite a bit on a 5'2'' frame. Set a reasonable goal for yourself and see how you feel when you get there.
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member
    Life is a lot easier when you stop worrying about other people's opinions of what you should look like.

    THIS. the sooner this happens, the happier you will be regardless of your weight. Just do your thing.
  • MissFitee
    MissFitee Posts: 106 Member
    I always get the same thing: If im normal I'm told im too skinny. If I gain weight, nobody notices and then when I want to lose the weight again they think im anorexic... =/
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    I'm one of those people who would kill to be at 140 (and would consider that pretty slim) but I totally get where you're coming from. If you're used to being smaller and you know that it looks healthy then there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying to get back there. For your height 120 is perfectly healthy so I would ignore all those people and do what feels best for you. If you're not comfortable in your skin then that's the only thing that matters.


    Thank you, and thats all i want is to be comfortable, and not ashamed, of letting myself go after baby. Ill proudly rock my stretchies, no problem, but i can do without the muffin top!
  • birdforbeans
    birdforbeans Posts: 4 Member
    I hear you on the being petite, bit. I am 5'1" and fairly small boned. I have found that 5 pounds in either direction makes a huge difference if you are short (when I am on my upper end, my hips and thighs are curvier and my breasts get bigger, when I am on my lower end, my arm muscles are more defined and my breasts shrink). I have often gotten flack for eating healthy and exercising, but I feel a huge drop in my emotional well-being, when I'm not in my "healthy" range. The numbers are not going to mean the same thing for someone who is 5 inches taller.

    I know that my body is happiest somewhere between 105 and 115, and for me that's a huge range, depending on how much muscle I have. If I'm training more it goes down (half-marathon, here I come), if I go out to eat a lot it goes up (yes, I love diner food). Right now, I am on the lower end, and It's fun to see muscle definition, but I know that when I'm not training for something specific, I will soften up again.
  • 3RachaelFaith3
    3RachaelFaith3 Posts: 283 Member
    That is a healthy weight, but 140 isn't huge either and maybe some of the people in your life actually think you look nice at 140. But I will say that people sometimes have ulterior motives for suggesting you not lose weight. Won't go into detail on what I suspect those reasons are, but I'm sure you catch my drift. Do what makes you happy and what makes you feel healthy.
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    Oh im not made of muscle lol! And thats how i feel exactly! If i was taller 140 wouldnt be a bad weight, but im just too stinking short!
  • ohyousillygirl
    ohyousillygirl Posts: 76 Member
    I think that goal is perfectly acceptable. A lot of people just get stuck on the number and don’t really think about how tall you are and what that would look like on your frame. I’m the same height as you, an even 5’3’ my starting weight was 155 and my original goal was 135 because I thought that physically that would put me where I wanted to be. Well, I’m here now and it turns out it isn’t really where I want to be so I’m lowering my goal. You should just lose as much as it takes you for you to feel comfortable in your own skin again.
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    That is a healthy weight, but 140 isn't huge either and maybe some of the people in your life actually think you look nice at 140. But I will say that people sometimes have ulterior motives for suggesting you not lose weight. Won't go into detail on what I suspect those reasons are, but I'm sure you catch my drift. Do what makes you happy and what makes you feel healthy.


    lol, yes i think i know a "few" who would gladly see me gain 20lbs lol
    And i'm definitely trying, I am doing this to be happy, and i appreciate everyones input!
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    Thank you, 120 is my goal, 118 would be nice, but im just gonna have to see where im at at 120!
  • sarahertzberger
    sarahertzberger Posts: 534 Member
    no, not at all, after having my 3 kids I am now at 173 after losing about 9 pounds so far and the most I want to weigh is 120 my perfect goal is going to be 115 that's what I should weigh for my height too so I'm right there with you everyone tells me I shouldn't get that small but by my age and height that's what I'm supposed to weigh not what they've seen me weigh the past few years.
  • Skinny_minny_mo
    Skinny_minny_mo Posts: 1,272 Member
    dont let other people decide your goals for you. in fact, dont even tell them your weight!

    i;m 5ft and currently weight 45kg's or 99lbs. that sounds quite low but if you met me you'll see that im still curvy and in fact i plan to really tone up and lose more fat.

    do what makes you happy!
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    its definitely easier to understand when your a short person! I agree that maybe its the weight number people are hearing, and not the height!! That would make sense!
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Unless you're made of muscle, 140 is quite a bit on a 5'2'' frame. Set a reasonable goal for yourself and see how you feel when you get there.

    Yep. My goal is 140 but I'm 5' 7". And I might go lower than that; we'll see how I look. I haven't weighed 140 in 15 years so my fat might be distributed differently now.

    Maybe you should stop discussing specific numbers with people and just tell them you're trying to lose the baby weight and get back to where you were before. It's hard to argue with that. And if you want to go even lower, do it but don't talk about it.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I imagine they're just trying to be nice and encourage you to be comfortable with your body.

    Just do your own thing and don't worry about other people. I don't even share my goals about my body with other people, other than my husband, because I don't want input.
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    no, not at all, after having my 3 kids I am now at 173 after losing about 9 pounds so far and the most I want to weigh is 120 my perfect goal is going to be 115 that's what I should weigh for my height too so I'm right there with you everyone tells me I shouldn't get that small but by my age and height that's what I'm supposed to weigh not what they've seen me weigh the past few years.

    Yea i think people, just dont understand, that even if a person doesnt look "big" you can still fall in the overweight category for your height and bone structure!
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    Unless you're made of muscle, 140 is quite a bit on a 5'2'' frame. Set a reasonable goal for yourself and see how you feel when you get there.

    Yep. My goal is 140 but I'm 5' 7". And I might go lower than that; we'll see how I look. I haven't weighed 140 in 15 years so my fat might be distributed differently now.

    Maybe you should stop discussing specific numbers with people and just tell them you're trying to lose the baby weight and get back to where you were before. It's hard to argue with that. And if you want to go even lower, do it but don't talk about it.

    Yes, i think telling people my ideal weight, is probably the problem, because all they hear is the #, and fail to realize, that thats how much i weighed pre baby!
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I am 5'2" and 132 pounds now. I feel like I look pretty good, I am in a size of clothing that I am happy with, but it still isn't exactly the body I want. My goal weight was 130. I have a fair amount of muscle and because of that people always guess me to actually be a lot lighter than I really am (even though I don't see why right now because I still feel squishier). That said, my focus at this point is body recomposition through weightlifting rather than trying to lose more weight. I ended up getting sick the middle of last year and had to stop exercising for a while, but I had surgery and should be cleared to start up again in about 2 weeks. Anyhow, between January and June of last year I only lost 2 pounds but I went down from a size 10 jeans to a size 6 just from weightlifting. If you aren't already doing it, you should consider it! Measurements and the fit of clothing are far more important than a number on the scale anyway!

    Edited to add: Don't listen to the other people, haha, your goal weight is totally reasonable! I had people call me skinny when I was 20 pounds heavier than now because I had already lost 30 pounds, but skinny is definitely not the word for what I was then :)
  • randimarie1125
    randimarie1125 Posts: 147 Member
    thanks everyone for your input!! Much appreciated, dont feel so crazy now : )
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I think that's a perfectly acceptable goal weight for your height. (I'm 5'2", so I know what it's like to carry extra weight on a short body). As long as you are doing the weight loss in a healthy way, don't worry about what anyone else says.
  • llkilgore
    llkilgore Posts: 1,169 Member
    There would be people around who would tell you you're thin enough and don't need to lose weight even if you were 30 pounds heavier, if that's the way they're used to seeing you. Don't worry about it. I think people are instinctively a little bit alarmed when people they care about start shrinking because for most of human history that hasn't been a positive sign.
  • ambootcamp
    ambootcamp Posts: 27 Member
    I am your exact height and weigh 138 - and my goal is to lose 10 lbs. I am also way older than you - 50's :) I too carry the weight in my hips and thighs. People have actually told me my face looks too gaunt and that I shouldn't lose the weight - lol. Well, I have started a great exercise program and I LOVE it and I feel healthier and fitter than I have for a long time. Do what makes you happiest and makes you feel good about yourself.
    I did not have the time to exercise like I am now when my kids were young - but we were always an active family - so, keep up the good work and try and fit fun activities into family life. Don't worry what others say - you know your body :)

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