Petite & confused!
copselily
Posts: 117
I’m 22 years old, 5’2 and 140lbs. I gained weight with depression and before that, I was about 115 and was happy at that weight and size. I’m pretty small boned, and 140 lbs looks a lot on my small frame. Lots of excess fat around the stomach, butt, and thigh area, and I would like to reduce it.
MFP put me at 1200 calories and I feel a bit uncomfortable with that. I’ve tried low calorie diets in the past and I just gained the weight back when I moved my calories up. However, I’ve been trying 1500 with no exercise and I’m not losing anything at all. I’m just maintaining. I don’t want to drop as low as 1200 because it was too hard and made me cranky.
Any suggestions at how I can reduce my body fat % at a steady rate? In a sustainable way? Thank you! ☺
MFP put me at 1200 calories and I feel a bit uncomfortable with that. I’ve tried low calorie diets in the past and I just gained the weight back when I moved my calories up. However, I’ve been trying 1500 with no exercise and I’m not losing anything at all. I’m just maintaining. I don’t want to drop as low as 1200 because it was too hard and made me cranky.
Any suggestions at how I can reduce my body fat % at a steady rate? In a sustainable way? Thank you! ☺
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If you are maintaining at 1500 calories, anything less than that will make you loose. The bigger the deficit, the faster the loss. Why don't you start with 1400 calories and see where that brings you?
In any case, try and get some exercise done. I'm not talking of heavy duty things, but just a little bit of movement (a walk? If you have to go places by car or public transport, find a way of walking a little more. Pak further away, or walk to the next stop. This will help "wake up" your metabolism).
Good luck on your new weight loss trip!0 -
If you are maintaining at 1500 calories, anything less than that will make you loose. The bigger the deficit, the faster the loss. Why don't you start with 1400 calories and see where that brings you?
In any case, try and get some exercise done. I'm not talking of heavy duty things, but just a little bit of movement (a walk? If you have to go places by car or public transport, find a way of walking a little more. Pak further away, or walk to the next stop. This will help "wake up" your metabolism).
Good luck on your new weight loss trip!
I've tried 1400 too, I seem to maintain on that also. I'm finding it very difficult to lose weight and I've been trying for about two years now...0 -
I would suggest adding some exercise. It has 2 benefits... first, you get to eat more and still lose weight. Second, you will FEEL a lot better.
You dont have to get into super-exercise mode... maybe half an hour a day, 2 or 3 days a week to start. Its not much, but it makes a difference.
Have you calculated your TDEE?0 -
If you can't eat less than 1500, just ad some cardio to make up the deficit you need?0
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Exercise!
I'm only 4'11 and eat about 16-1800 on days that I work out and have lost on average between 5-8 pounds a month since July.0 -
I would suggest adding some exercise. It has 2 benefits... first, you get to eat more and still lose weight. Second, you will FEEL a lot better.
You dont have to get into super-exercise mode... maybe half an hour a day, 2 or 3 days a week to start. Its not much, but it makes a difference.
Have you calculated your TDEE?
No I haven't... I'm not sure how to calculate the TDEE
I agree that I do need to start exercising, even though I don't like it and put it off... When I was exercising, I did notice a difference in my waist measurements but unfortunately I gained the weight back
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Exercise!
I'm only 4'11 and eat about 16-1800 on days that I work out and have lost on average between 5-8 pounds a month since July.
That's amazing!!! Congrats! :noway:0 -
The above advice is perfect.
I am 5'1" if I stand up really tall. After having kids I was not the size and shape I wanted to be, about 140 lbs as well. Which also looked thick, frumpy and a bit chubby. When I first began, I started hitting the gym. I could only get about 30 minutes of exercise in. What I started doing with my food intake was to watch my portions. At the time Jimmy Johns was my favorite. I would get the same sandwich, but would cut it in half and wrap up the second half. If I ate the first half I had to wait 20 mins before I could eat the 2nd half. I seldom needed the 2nd half until the next meal. I did silly things like making a normal plate but making a deal with myself to leave at least one bite of my serving on my plate at the end of the meal. I dropped the bulk of my 25 lbs just by doing that. The rest of my dedication to diet and fitness came after I was about the size I wanted to be.0 -
Strength train. It'll help to build your muscles to make you burn more calories while you do your everyday things like sleeping, moving and breathing. It'll also help you to burn through the fat and create an appealing body shape without getting super bulky.0
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Hey! I'm also 5'2 and started a few weeks ago at 145lb (now 136lb). I'm 23. Feel free to add me!
I usually manage 1100-1500 calories per day, and do a lot of exercise when i can It's a pretty steady weight loss so far (9lb in 6 weeks) but i'm fine with that! And i've had plenty of 'days off' too 0 -
I can totally relate. I'm 22 and 5'2 aswell, I sit on my bum at work all day and my TDEE is around 1,650-1,850, depending on how active I am.
It is possible to lose the weight without exercise. I wouldn't recomment it though because your body will lose a fair amount of muscle aswell as fat. Strength training and eating enough protein will help you minimize muscle loss while eating under maintenance. Cardio will help you burn some calories so you can eat more.
Anyhow, you said you maintained with 1,400 cals aswell as with 1,500. Have you been consistent with any calorie goal so far?0 -
I can totally relate. I'm 22 and 5'2 aswell, I sit on my bum at work all day and my TDEE is around 1,650-1,850, depending on how active I am.
It is possible to lose the weight without exercise. I wouldn't recomment it though because your body will lose a fair amount of muscle aswell as fat. Strength training and eating enough protein will help you minimize muscle loss while eating under maintenance. Cardio will help you burn some calories so you can eat more.
Anyhow, you said you maintained with 1,400 cals aswell as with 1,500. Have you been consistent with any calorie goal so far?
Not really! I tried 1,200 and I got down to 134lbs within about 4 weeks. Then I fell off the wagon and gained it all back, to 140lbs again. But I gained it back within about 2 weeks and the idea of it coming back so fast as scary, so I tried around 1400-1500 with the intention to exercise and not eat the calories back, but I never bothered with the workouts so now I'm just maintaining at this number of cals and I'm still an unhappy 140lbs.
I think I need to get up off my *kitten*.0 -
Hmm not too sure, I've struggled for a long time trying to lose weight but this year I used MFP and was told to have 1200 a day and I've dropped 24lbs since. I'm 5"5 and now 139lbs0
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Hmm not too sure, I've struggled for a long time trying to lose weight but this year I used MFP and was told to have 1200 a day and I've dropped 24lbs since. I'm 5"5 and now 139lbs
1200 does work, I lost weight on it too It just didn't agree with me when I went back to eating normal calories... 0 -
I’m 22 years old, 5’2 and 140lbs. I gained weight with depression and before that, I was about 115 and was happy at that weight and size. I’m pretty small boned, and 140 lbs looks a lot on my small frame. Lots of excess fat around the stomach, butt, and thigh area, and I would like to reduce it.
MFP put me at 1200 calories and I feel a bit uncomfortable with that. I’ve tried low calorie diets in the past and I just gained the weight back when I moved my calories up. However, I’ve been trying 1500 with no exercise and I’m not losing anything at all. I’m just maintaining. I don’t want to drop as low as 1200 because it was too hard and made me cranky.
Any suggestions at how I can reduce my body fat % at a steady rate? In a sustainable way? Thank you! ☺
I'll say this without having a F of what others will say and think:
I began my journey here at 1200 Calories during summer 2012. Within the next summer, I have manage to lose 30 pounds (With cheat days and walking). Tired of counting, my guess is I have been around 2000 calories from summer 2013 to maybe a month ago or so.. My weight stayed the same.
The 1200 cal might work for some, might not for others. It worked for me. Not only to lose weight, but to make different choices when it comes to food. While I wasn't counting, I continued with lots of veggies, low fat low sugar products and so on.
It wont work it you go from 1200 to 3000 when you reach you goal, unless you are super active.
Bottom line, you go with what works for YOU, not for others.
Yes, at the end, the basic is all the same. So if I had one advice to give you, is make better choices for food, and stay with it for the rest of your life. And get active once in a while!0 -
A good place to start if you are not even sure what TDEE is would be to READ THIS:-
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
Hmm not too sure, I've struggled for a long time trying to lose weight but this year I used MFP and was told to have 1200 a day and I've dropped 24lbs since. I'm 5"5 and now 139lbs
1200 does work, I lost weight on it too It just didn't agree with me when I went back to eating normal calories...
Keep in mind, probably 5 pounds of that is water weight.0 -
I would suggest adding some exercise. It has 2 benefits... first, you get to eat more and still lose weight. Second, you will FEEL a lot better.
You dont have to get into super-exercise mode... maybe half an hour a day, 2 or 3 days a week to start. Its not much, but it makes a difference.
Have you calculated your TDEE?
No I haven't... I'm not sure how to calculate the TDEE
I agree that I do need to start exercising, even though I don't like it and put it off... When I was exercising, I did notice a difference in my waist measurements but unfortunately I gained the weight back
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/0 -
You are focussing on scales only.
Take pics and measurements.
Start exercising. (combo of resistance training and cardio)
???
Profit0 -
You are focussing on scales only.
Take pics and measurements.
Start exercising. (combo of resistance training and cardio)
???
Profit
I do take pics and measurements, I'm literally staying the same. I rarely weigh myself, maybe once a month. I do need to exercise though, I think that's the push I need 0 -
I am 24, 5ft 3 and really small framed, my weight fluctuates between 99-103lbs. My diary goal is set to 1200cals but I almost always eat quite a few hundred more, it works for me to keep my diary set at 1200 as I tend to plan my food to fit around that goal but then if I fancy extra helpings or an evening snack I'll have it & I might end up being several hundred over but that is fine, works better for me than planning to eat 1500/1600 in the first place because then I'd probably eat more like 2000+ (still do that occasionally anyway )
At the moment my goal is to maintain or actually gain weight but lower bf% but when I was focused purely on losing weight, I did find that being so small if doing no exercise or workouts and only relying on calorie restriction, I found I could not lose weight unless I ate at 1200 or below, anything over that I just seemed to maintain. I found it a much better idea to workout (mix of strength training, fitness dvds, walking, boxing) and then eat back about half my exercise cals on top of the 1200 i was already eating and I pretty easily lost around 18lbs doing it that way with a start weight of 121lbs which was my heaviest adult weight. Sounds pretty reasonable for my height but I did not carry it well on my frame at all.0 -
I am also peitite-and 5'4-I Would suggest working out-I go to the gym and have done it for 5 years-when I went on maintince-when I went back to eating more-and adding more I did gain alittle back- but then I upped my workout and my body adjusted -but if you even just go for a walk it works-it gives your body a jump start-I use to eat over depression-now I just find other things to do-before I did 1200 calories I had a nuturist tell me I was starving my body I was only doing a 1000 a day for 5 years-so know I am doing 1200 at first my weight went back up 5 pounds-now it has come off-and my body adjusted-I was unconfotrable also increasing calories-I lost a total of 90 pounds 5 years ago-and have kept it off-going to the gym writing before biting- (you need to find what works for you-good luck on your journey0
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My two cents.....start lifting weights if you dont already. Its a sture-fire way to change your body composition. I'm the same height and currently weigh a little bit more than you. Im not going to assume you want to look a certain way, but these are my progress pictures from lifting....the first pic I weighed around 135lbs, the middle I weighed about 120lbs and in the third picture I weigh around 145lbs. I got to the second picture by doing 5x5 and not counting calories (though I did eat paleo 90% of the time). By the final picture I had been drinking a lot of milk, and lifting/beginning crossfit. Ideally Id like to be a little leaner, but am quite happy with how I look. I guess Im sharing this because I weigh more in the last picture than I do in the first, but I dont think it necessarily looks that way.....lifting will change your body composition slowly but surely
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Hmm not too sure, I've struggled for a long time trying to lose weight but this year I used MFP and was told to have 1200 a day and I've dropped 24lbs since. I'm 5"5 and now 139lbs
1200 does work, I lost weight on it too It just didn't agree with me when I went back to eating normal calories...
Yes worked for me too over and over and over which is why I'm here doing it with more calories this time so it stays off.0 -
My two cents.....start lifting weights if you dont already. Its a sture-fire way to change your body composition. I'm the same height and currently weigh a little bit more than you. Im not going to assume you want to look a certain way, but these are my progress pictures from lifting....the first pic I weighed around 135lbs, the middle I weighed about 120lbs and in the third picture I weigh around 145lbs. I got to the second picture by doing 5x5 and not counting calories (though I did eat paleo 90% of the time). By the final picture I had been drinking a lot of milk, and lifting/beginning crossfit. Ideally Id like to be a little leaner, but am quite happy with how I look. I guess Im sharing this because I weigh more in the last picture than I do in the first, but I dont think it necessarily looks that way.....lifting will change your body composition slowly but surely]
Thanks for the advice! Ugh you look PERFECT
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I'm 26 and 5ft2 and currently ~133lbs. I maintain on 1400/1500 calories. I'd like to get down to 120lbs.
I find the only way for me to lose weight is to NET 1200. This could be by eating less or by eating more and exercising. Either way, you need a bigger calorie deficit if you are maintaing. Achieve this through diet or through exercise, or a mix of both. 0 -
Any suggestions at how I can reduce my body fat % at a steady rate? In a sustainable way? Thank you! ☺
What kind of physical activities do you do? Calorie intake can be modified depending on your activity level. Different types of activities WILL change the shape of your body.
Other people have mentioned lifting.0 -
I don't know of any way around exercising if you're going to loose weight and stay healthy. I'd stick with the 1500 but find a local friend who likes the gym or something and change your routine - as much as your responsibilities allow.0
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Exercise! You'll be able to eat an amount you can handle, and still create a deficit to lose weight 0
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