Short Girl (5'3") wondering if I am eating too little

Maybe just don't eat back all of what you burn. Those machines and heart rate monitors are not 100% accurate.

I'm your height but about twice your age. Frankly, I have MFP set to 1200 calories and I usually eat back about 75% of my exercise calories so most days I'm eating 1400-1500. I run 3 - 4 days per week and I also lift on the days between. I give myself some extra calories on lifting days. My loss has been slow but I'm finally starting to see real results from lifting in the form of muscle definition.

It's really as simple as "calories in, calories out" when it comes to weight loss. If you're eating less than you're burning, you should be losing weight. As to eating more, are you hungry? Be honest about that. If you're not, then there's no reason to eat more. There's also no reason why you can't try eating a little less and judging the results yourself.

You may also need to decide how accurate your logging is. It's very possible that you're eating more than you really think you are and that could be the cause of the problem. If you aren't weighing your food portions, you should be and you want to use MFP entries which go by weight for foods which are not in predefined portions.

I'm also 5'3" and also twice your age and I'm sad to know that to lose these last 40+ lbs I'm going to have to eat a lot less. I've been really sick for the last 5 weeks and haven't been able to exercise, but I'm getting better and I know I have to work out daily or else be VERY hungry. And me hungry is not good for anyone, especially the poor loving people who live with me. LOL

Honestly, you are probably overestimating calories burned. Try eating back a portion of your calories burned. The biggest thing that helped my appetite was increasing my protein intake. I'm 5'3/125lbs and lift 3 days a week. I eat at least 100 grams of protein on non-lifting days and close to 150 on lifting days.

I am 5ft 3 and 53 years old. I know I am older and active lifting fairly heavy to most and maintaining not loosing. My base is 1500 and with exercise I can depending on calories burned eat 2500 so if you think of that a safe rate is dropping 300.

You probably can eat 1500-1600 calories and lose weight (that's my goal and I'm shorter, older, and weigh less than you), but unless you're using a food scale to weigh all your food, you're likely eating much more than that. So, you can either keep your calorie goal at 1500-1600 and become a more accurate tracker, or you can just lower your calorie goal to account for underestimating food calories.

I am almost 5'3", almost twice your age. I lost almost 20 lbs since the beginning of the year and 7 of those from the last 8 weeks -- I started Couch-to-5k 6 weeks ago and do some strength training (not regularly yet). On most days, I eat more like 1,300-1,400 Cal. Almost always eat back at least 90% of the calories I burnt.

Every body's make is different and my theory is that I have not exercise for my whole life so these "running" is probably more challenging to my body than someone who has been exercising, therefore, burn more calories than estimated. Perhaps, you can add more intensity to your exercise?

Also, the scale does not go down at the rate of 1 lb a week. There was a time I thought it is going to plateau but then I lose 2 lbs the following week I check.

It might help to make more measurements too. I measure my waistline, my hip, even my arm and calf. Sometimes, my weight doesn't change but I measure less in my hip or waist. It takes time to show in clothing sometimes, especially when they are too tight or too loose start with.

I also believe in drinking enough water, having enough fiber and protein. I think it makes eating less easier.