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

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First off, how long have you been lifting for? Water retention is going to happen if you just started so it will hide fat loss from the scale for a little while.

Also, 3 weeks puts you at a very different point in your monthly cycle, which again can screw with scale weight (and how clothes fit).

You have seen some loss so I would just stick with it for another couple of weeks and see how things shake out. Changing your game plan everytime you don't see the loss you expect is not going to be consistent. Your weight will fluctuate, any change you make needs time to settle down before you can tell if you are getting results.

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.

i'm an inch taller, older, and weigh less... and i eat more and still lose. you are NOT eating too little. i would recommend a food scale and measuring so that you are accurately logging - but this is good for everyone.

the math works, but isn't always linear. don't be impatient.

I'm 5'3 as well, 35 years old, current weight 145 (down from 208). From my experience, I think you are probably in the right range calorie wise, but as others have stated, either overestimating your burn or underestimating your intake. I lift heavy 3 days a week, have for several months, and run 3 days a week. I'm able to eat approximately 1800-1900 a day and maintain my weight. I would think if you were figuring intake/output correctly you should be losing. 1500-1600 is not a lot of food for people our height...lol...I'd be starving if that was my limit for the day.

I didn't read all the responses sorry. I am 5'1", start weight 156 on MFP in May, current weight 132, I eat 1350 baseline (net) and I eat back exercise calories. I have lost 24 pounds in exactly 24 weeks. I have logged my food for 165 days in a row. I think 1350 should be just about right for you + exercise calories.
Make sure you are weighing your food, I weigh absolutely everything and log as accurately as possible.

Just be patient It sounds to me like your goals are right on.

Weighing your food is incredibly important, though

wait, did I hear panda express? Takeout and fast food are your enemies. Drop them like a hot potato. And eat the potato instead.... with fat free sour cream.

I'm 5ft 3.75 (and I usually round that number up... lol) but anyway I've been sticking with 1200 calories and losing pretty steadily (22.4lbs in about 2.5 months). I can lose weight at 1300-1400 calories but more slowly. I pretty much maintain at 1500 (which stinks). I don't exercise a lot but when I do I don't usually log or eat back the calories... I just take them as a bonus deficit.

I highly recommend double checking everything you log with the package label + weighing (don't trust measuring cups/spoons) and/or by cross referencing with the USDA database. http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list

With restaurant servings I kinda assume they're giving me a bigger portion than what they list on their website... If I can't verify the size by weighing I usually leave a little (maybe 10% of the meal) on my plate just to be safe. Or I leave an extra 50-100 calories "unused" at the end of the day if I'm unsure about anything I've logged

Its pretty shocking how totally off some of the calculations that pop up in MFP are so don't trust them till you've physically checked them to be sure they're correct!

Keep working at it you'll do great!