What is a good, healthy weight for a woman who is 5'2"?
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Sounds like you're already doing awesome!! My only thoughts are not to put too much stock in what is considered an average range. I know for me personally, a healthy comfortable weight is slightly lower than what my height would advise just because my legs are weirdly long. So your frame has a lot to do with it. I'd give weight lifting a whirl at this point:) good luck OP!
This is me as well. I have a very short torso. Makes shopping for fitted dresses a real pain in the you-know-what.
I'd hoped I'd be good around 120 (I'm 5'3"), but no. Still had significant fat around my middle, and a decent amount to spare on my lower half. Upper half doesn't need to get any leaner. I'd have probably needed to get down to 110, maybe a couple of pounds lower to get as lean as I'd like at the time, but I got tired of cutting at a whopping 1 lb/mo and switched to maintenance. Then did a bulk (117 -> 124 lbs at 2 lbs per mo). Probably my %BF was a bit high to do an optimal bulk, but WTH. Just started cutting to see what progress I've made. Should be some - I can see growth in my thighs, shoulders, biceps, triceps, hamstrings - and it isn't fat. I think also in my glutes but it's hard to tell because they completely changed shape.
Now I'm thinking with a couple of bulk/cut cycles I'll probably end up somewhere in the 115-120 range. Overall goal is <= 20% BF. I'm probably somewhere around 24-25% right now.0 -
I am going to swim against the crowd here that seems to suggest to just keep losing weight. I mean by all means add more exercise etc to your life, but people post about their dissatisfaction with their post-diet body quite frequently here, so ask yourself this:
What do you want your body to look like? Is it a realistic image? The thing is I look at my stomach after 2 children and think 'hmm, could be better', but tbh it'll never look like the stomach of a supermodel regardless of how much I'd diet and exercise (yes I get I could much exercise more, but in the long run that is also not sustainable for me). I am not saying that you have aspirations for your stomach to look like that, but sometimes we have unrealistic aspirations and expectations of what our body should look like, especially women.
Will it be maintainable? How did you diet to get to your goal weight? When is the last time you were this weight?
Just because we lose weight we don't automatically start to love ourselves more. Somehow it takes a while for us to actually 'see' the weight loss in the mirror. Good luck :flowerforyou:
I can agree with making sure your goals are realistic and maintainable. However, since looking at other people's real-world success on here, there's not a whole lot that doesn't seem achievable if you are willing to put in the work. Some of it with less work and eating more food than I would have thought.
Of course, there are issues that can't be improved by anything but surgery and some can't even be improved very much that way, but some poking around the forums ought to let you distinguish realistic goals from fantasy.0 -
I'm 5'2" with a small frame (age 43), and I can still rock a bikini at 115, but I'm pretty happy at 118-120 too (size 4). Right now I'm about 125 (size 6) and trying to lose a few pounds.
A few years ago I dropped down to 110 due to a medication side effect, but that was too waif-like for me. I like my muscles and curves. That wasn't a sustainable place for me.
I'm 43 with two kids, if that makes a difference.0 -
Wow well done on the loss im not sure on weight as I ditched my scales in frustration id say keep going until youre happy0
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That is great. I am simply trying to get to a moderate healthy weight. I have been working out with a trainer and he helps me make good decision on my workout for where I am at physically. Adding weights and floor excercises helps a lot. I hope this helps.
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I was also in the same boat. I am 5'3 and started at 170lbs. I got all the way down to 117 for a while but I still didn't like my body. After talking with some ladies on here I decided the best option for me was to start heavy lifting to build back up muscles that I lost during my weight loss. I am now between 121 and 124 depending on the day. I have been heavy lifting for just a couple months or less. I can really feel my body changing and looking different. Not by a lot yet but it is starting to take shape of what I want my body to look like. Just my experience.0
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Thanks for all the replies (and friend requests!). I don't have expectations of looking like a super model. I do feel very flabby in the stomach area. That's pretty much the only area I'm unhappy about. I was doing well with cardio but I'm also a full time student and really just don't have much time these days. I've started looking online about lifting weights but there is a lot of info out there and I feel a little overwhelmed and intimidated by it. When I'm dressed, I look okay but with my shirt off, you can tell I could definitely stand to lose some fat in that area. Not that I go around not wearing a shirt, really. It just makes me unhappy when I see it. Are there any good exercises to do specifically for the stomach?
Nope. Only losing overall body fat will help that - I am assuming it's not loose skin you're talking about.
If you'd like to look at weight training, best is to pick one of the following beginner programs and google it for info and instructions. All are good, so pick the one you like.
Starting Strength
StrongLifts
New Rules of Lifting for Women
All Pro's Beginner Workout
You also might be interested in bodyweight programs if you're not a gym member and don't have the necessary equipment at home. Just remember the important thing is to continually make the movements harder (progressive overloading). Take a look at Convict Conditioning and Body By You.
Also, go to the Gaining Weight or Fitness forums and ask there for a more comprehensive list no matter if you pick barbells or bodyweight.0 -
Hi Kim! supposedly a good weight for a woman this height is 105-110 lbs (5 lbs for every inch over 5'?) but it certainly varies. I'm the same height and my normal weight is 120-125 which is usually when I'm happiest with my body. At one point I dropped to 110 and sadly it was one of the most unhappiest times of my life due to external reasons. Therefore I concluded that health is not just the physical but appreciating and being content with what i already had. Just keep in mind that that there are PLENTY of women who would love to be at your weight and if you do continue to lose weight, keep it healthy and keep happy!
I personally think the 5lbs for every inch thing is misleading. It isn't an ideal weight, it's just a weight. It's very low for those under 5'5 or so. It may be healthy, but it's probably not for everyone.
I'm 5'0 and 100lbs is not my "ideal" weight by any means. That's 3 lbs off from underweight and would simply not work.0 -
I say forget body weight... get thee to the gym and start picking things up and putting them down.. then add weight when the current weight no longer makes you sweat and grunt... then stop when you start getting scared about how much weigh you are holding above your head... MOST folk think lifting weights is just for adding muscle and definition... totally untrue... lifting weights is for increasing strength... and within that context and through that process lifting weights also improves and activates the endocrine and exocrine systems of the body... in essence strength training excites our internal chemistries so that every gland, every mucous membrane begins to work the way it was meant to... and once you get that happening... your physical and mental states begin to harmonize and you begin to discover a more balanced attitude... SO... off to the gym with you... lift heavy... and in 6 months or so.. you will not recognize that person in the mirror BUT you will be so in love with her.. you won't be able to stand it.0
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I'm 5'1", and my goal weight is 105. I unfortunately have lost more than that while trying to maintain, and I think at 102 I'm too thin (my bones are too close to my skin in places for my liking, plus my hormones have begun to change in ways I am pretty sure are connected to being too thin). I do still have a bit of tummy fat. . . but am trying to gain.
I think the ranges of a healthy weight can be very wide depending on how you like yourself, what you think is attractive, how it makes you feel, and your frame size. It seems to me that lot of people think a "healthy" weight, at least by appearances, is one at which a person is actually still a little plump, because we in this society are so used to seeing those who are carrying around a lot of extra fat.
I would guess anywhere from 110 to 120-130 would be a healthy weight for someone your height, depending on frame size, etc.0 -
It honestly depends on your body type. I am 5'5 and about 135 and don't like the way I look.
I could weigh about 110 and still look alright. However, some that height might look way too skinny at that weight. It really depends on you!0 -
It sounds like it's time to ditch the scale, shift to maintenance, and work on some strength training for your BF% and body image.0
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I'm 5'4" and currently 113 lbs. I waver within a few pounds of that and have for years, this is a bit on the low side for me and friends start telling me to eat cheeseburgers but its a comfortable weight for me so I think as long as you're making healthy choices and feel good, weight is a number. It's more about how I feel in clothes but that's just me.0
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You have gotten some good advice in here about frame size, a small deficit, strength training. When I joined mfp I ate at maintenance and strength trained. I may have been eating at a slight deficit, and did not know because I did lose weight and got fitter, so I slowly increased my calories.
I like that people are understanding that there is a range of healthy weights depending on many factors.
I am 5'2" and very small framed, but I do have a curvy shape. Before kids I was always at 98 pounds, and a professional dancer, and I never dieted and I ate a lot. After kids my weight went right back down to around 103. It seems my weight fluctuates between 100 to 104. But, usually pretty much around 102. If it goes up, I am fine with that. I focus on fitness.0 -
Im 5'1" and my goal is 120, Google BMI calculator and it can show you a healthy weigh for your height, I think you should be right about in the middle if I remember(since your shorter like me). So the 119 should be good, our bodies will never be super model style, you cant air brush in real life 0
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Hi! I'm exactly 5" tall and I have a fairly small frame. I've been down as low as 104 lbs., but I looked and felt my best at 115-120 lbs. (most of my weight is in the boob dept.). Everybody's body is different. Someone else my height may be able to carry 130 lbs. You will know when you are at your right weight. And if you feel that even after weight loss and exercise that your tummy is still a bit full, or you've got a "problem area", liposuction or other procedures may be a great option. Bottom line-- always be happy and proud of yourself!0
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I am 5'2" and my weight fluctuates from 116-120, my goal was 110 but I'm happy with where I am at now!0
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I was 100 pounds (at 5'4") and flabby, my body fat percentage was probably 25%. Now I'm 115 pounds and my body fat percentage is around 19% and continuing to improve/go down. The number on the scale means NADA. Same jeans size and my thigh size has actually decreased although I added 15 pounds to my frame. Lifting heavy works!0
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I also am 5'2" but I wouldnt go by weight at all. I wear a size 4 pants now. I've never worn a size 4- ever. (I went from children's to a size 7 in my early teens). My goal used to be 125 and a size 8. My current weight is 138 and a size 4. I would like to lose some more fat by replacing with muscle. I weight train 4x weekly and hiit cardio 1or2x and sprint 1x.0
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I'm also 5'2", currently 127lbs. 105-135 is pretty healthy for women of our height, but how you look and how you feel about yourself may be different. I'm still not totally happy with 127, but this is pretty much the lowest weight I've been at my adult height so I can't complain that much.
My goal right now is 115-120lbs, based on my BF%. Right now I'm hovering around 24-26%, but if I don't lose lean mass but I lose body fat, I'd be 18-20% BF within that range. Doing some weight training and upping my food slightly (but still below maintenance) til I get there.0 -
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! What a great weight loss!
I started my weight loss journey back in February with slow and steady success. Then I read that if you just diet, you will be a smaller you in the same body shape. Trust me I did not want to have the same body shape!
Ten weeks ago I joined a gym call Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping and I love it. M,W,F Kick boxing and T,TH, S strength training with resistance bands. 45 minute work outs and i have not missed a workout to date. I have only lost six pounds so far, yet I have gone down three sizes in my jeans. I have lost 4.7% of my body fat and I feel great! I have now signed up for an additional year! Sorry if I sound like I am bragging, I don't mean to, I just want to confirm that exercise does work.
No matter what form of exercise you choose, be sure to use carido and strength training. Even 30 minutes a day will have a big pay off.
Your weights lost is inspiring, thanks for sharing with us.0 -
Having read many of your goal weights, I'm starting to think perhaps mine is a bit higher than it should be?
I'm just under 5'3, with a small build, but at my heaviest was 152. I've only started focusing losing the weight in the past two months and am currently at 139.
My goal weight has been 122 with 118 ultimate goal weight.
Should it perhaps be less if I've got a small build?
(FYI my profile picture is an old one...inspiration, rather than what I actually look like!)0 -
Hmm..It really all depends I'd say? I'm 5'2" bordering 5'3", my weight fluctuates constantly between 130-140, however I'm always told that I look like I am 115-120. I have a naturally athletic build, and have always been naturally muscular, though. So really, when it comes to BMI I pay almost no attention, because according to mine I am bordering over weight which to me, is ridiculous.0
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I do have a small frame. This may be a stupid question, but how do I focus on fat loss instead of just weight loss? I do have some weights here but I don't really know what to do with them. Honestly, I'm mostly happy with my body at this point. It's just that my stomach is still bothering me. And yes, I have 7 kids. Life is crazy here.
First, retain your muscle by eating 1g protein per pound of lean body mass. Then maybe look into some at home body weight lifting programme ( maybe use the kids as dumbbells!).
Then eat like 100 cals under your calorie requirements per day. Melt the fat off slowly slowly.0 -
I say forget body weight... get thee to the gym and start picking things up and putting them down.. then add weight when the current weight no longer makes you sweat and grunt... then stop when you start getting scared about how much weigh you are holding above your head... MOST folk think lifting weights is just for adding muscle and definition... totally untrue... lifting weights is for increasing strength... and within that context and through that process lifting weights also improves and activates the endocrine and exocrine systems of the body... in essence strength training excites our internal chemistries so that every gland, every mucous membrane begins to work the way it was meant to... and once you get that happening... your physical and mental states begin to harmonize and you begin to discover a more balanced attitude... SO... off to the gym with you... lift heavy... and in 6 months or so.. you will not recognize that person in the mirror BUT you will be so in love with her.. you won't be able to stand it.
I'm in love with this post!!0 -
I am 5'4" and i weight 133 pounds. My goal is 114 because i am a small frame so that it were i should be.0
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My grandma's 5'2 and 115 and she's happy with that.0
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Congratulations on your amazing weight loss. I do understand how you feel. Only my area of discomfort is my stomach. I went from 164 to 119 and really felt that to be too little weight for me at my age. I'm 5' 1" and have a large frame but I'm 70 years old. My doctors told me that 130 to 132 was a good weight for me. Well, I didn't think so. I also felt 120 to be a good number.
But frankly, were I younger (and I think you are probably young) I'd shoot for about 113 to 115 but you need to make sure that's right for your frame and general condition.
Now you need to muscle up your upper body so it matches the rest of you and you'll be happier with yourself. I also had to do that and now my shoulders are slightly wider than my hips. You do not have to settle for a small upper body.
But there is no magic number as to what you should weigh. Strictly from a weight stand point, you're about perfect now. Perhaps all you need is more muscle. And look, don't go through life unhappy with how you look. Too many women expect perfection and it's not going to happen. We need to learn to be happy at some point with our bodies and not expect more of ourselves than we can deliver. Being fit and healthy should be our goal. Not being at a specific weight.0 -
Im 5'2 and 120-ish..
I was 108 and being of medium build, I looked skeletal..I would love to get back down to 117-ish..but after completly stripping myself to 108..I started encorporating strength into my HIIT and I feel better..put weight back on, but feel alot of it is muscle versus flab.0 -
I'm 5'2 and 42 y.o. and very curvy...Natural D breasts with an athletic/muscular build. My goal is 135 because anything under is not sustainable for me without disordered eating...and ppl freak out that I am too skinny...also, even at 174, my BFF% is 29 (measured by bioelectrical impedance, not simply calculation) ...so you really need to pay attention to that # as well...it is possible to be 120 and be unfit/unhealthy...my bestie has a tiny frame (wears size 0-2), we are the same height, and at 120 she looks positively pudgy whereas I would look skeletal. Remember body builders, if just assessed by calculation height/weight, would measure as "obsese" but clearly they are not. Here is a chart from Fitday.com:
Women Body Fat Percentages:
Ages 20-39: 21% to 32%
Ages 40-59: 23% to 33%
Ages 60-79: 24% to 35%
I agree with everyone else...you are probably in a healthy range now, and if you still feel "soft" I would focus on weight-bearing/resistance exercises as opposed to diet and the scale.
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