Short new girl looking for friends!

PaulaPalooza
PaulaPalooza Posts: 137 Member
edited September 26 in Introduce Yourself
Hi Myfitnesspal world of fun!

So I'm 5'1 and starting at 133.5 pounds. And in the past, I've experienced that it takes a bit more for us smaller women to lose weight. I was wondering if there's some other ladies on the short side out there who'd share their experiences with me.

1200 calories is pretty much what all these types of websites set me at. But, other awesome women who come in small packages, do you guys think we can go lower since we're littler??? 1200 is the number set for a person of average size... what about us? Should it be the same or should we go a tad lower for effective and healthy weight loss?

Just interested to hear other opinions!!!

Thanks,
Paula

Replies

  • musica814
    musica814 Posts: 301 Member
    Welcome Paula! I'm new here as well. I'm 5'3" and 150 pounds... and I agree that it definitely takes more for us shorties to lose weight, or at least enough to make a noticeable difference. I'm not really sure about the 1200 calorie limit, I know that myfitnesspal doesn't advise going any lower than 1200, but I'm not sure if it would be different if it was personalized for more petite bodies. I'll be looking forward to other answers! Feel free to add me if you like :)
  • rosec005
    rosec005 Posts: 67 Member
    If you're concerned about eating too much, I would ask a nutritionist what they would recommend. I know 1200 calories is the minimum you need to make sure you're getting all the nutrients your body needs.
  • Lightjulesloves2run
    Lightjulesloves2run Posts: 91 Member
    How small do u want to be? My goodness at 135..I'll be partying..I am 5'1 and 187 right now...final goal is 140. I do envy my tall friends..they can lose the weight and their height makes them thinner. If I was just a lil taller:)
  • fatmama4
    fatmama4 Posts: 39 Member
    Hi Ladies! I am 4'10" and run between 135lbs-138lbs. I lose inches before that scale will ever budge. I never eat the 1200, and have not had a ton of luck, I keep hoping the scale will all of a sudden start to move. If you go to livestrong.com, you can enter your height and weight and lifestyle and it will give you lower calorie caps, I believe mine was around 800 something, and that was per my dr's advice also. Good luck to us all, and feel free to add me if you'd like.
  • PaulaPalooza
    PaulaPalooza Posts: 137 Member
    Ooh, good point on that. I'm sure it's really hard to get all your nutrients in less than 1200. Also thought I'd add that I'm a vegetarian, too. Which certainly changes the nutrition values in the foods I'm eating.

    Thanks for responding so fast!
  • midwesthiker
    midwesthiker Posts: 144
    So I can blame being 5' 1" tall as the reason my pounds take soooooo long to leave? I sometimes hate being short!
  • srp2011
    srp2011 Posts: 1,829 Member
    Welcome Paula! I just started a similar thread :-) I'm 5'0", and I aim for 1100-1200 calories a day, and I don't eat back my exercise calories in general (unless I have a really serious workout - then I may eat some of them). Some days I go over when I'm traveling or eat out, so I figure it all works out. I definitely can't lose if I go above 1200 - even at that, without exercise, MFP put me at a target of like .3 pounds per week, which just doesn't work for me. So, I think we shorter women can go a little lower, but it's even more important for us to then make sure the foods we do eat are nutritionally dense - no room for junk :-)
  • christina_theresa
    christina_theresa Posts: 290 Member
    I am 5'2! You can add me as a friend if you'd like :D
  • bogle34
    bogle34 Posts: 107 Member
    I'm 5'3 with heels..yes us shorter people is more noticble when we gain or loose..good luck!
  • MichRam
    MichRam Posts: 2
    Hi,
    I'm also very short (4'10"), and while I find it hard to drop the weight, shedding just a few lbs makes a big difference on a small frame. But I find it hard to consume less than 1200 calories. For me, exercise is the key. Vigorous exercise such as running, cardio-kickboxing, etc, for at least 30 minutes most days of the week will build muscle and increase your metabolism. This also allows you to ingest more calories :)
  • Perfectlycrooked
    Perfectlycrooked Posts: 275 Member
    Those were pretty much my exact stats when I started(:
  • Perfectlycrooked
    Perfectlycrooked Posts: 275 Member
    My doctor actually recomended around 800-900 for my to lose weight :P
    It sucks being short when I want so much food!
  • JEK717
    JEK717 Posts: 1,497
    Woop woop give a shout out to all the short girls in the house.

    I am in between 5'2 and 5'3 and very proud to be between the two. I am roughly 100.

    Feel free to add me!
  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    Being shorter definitely makes the weight come off slower. We have a smaller "safe deficit" zone.

    http://www.burnthefat.com/how_to_fix_slow_female_fat_loss.html
  • mollymoo89
    mollymoo89 Posts: 202
    I'm 5'2" and started this journey at 128. I'm now down to 121.8 I've hit a little plateu and recently upped my calories to 1400 calories. It takes me forever to lose weight, about 2 pounds a month so I know what it means to have to work hard to lose just a pound. Feel free to add me.

    Personally I wouldn't go lower than 1200.
  • RTricia
    RTricia Posts: 720
    wow. I need you as my friend!! I'm 5'1 135
  • BeGreat25
    BeGreat25 Posts: 78
    Hi. I am 4"10 and I try to stay at 1,200 because I actually am seeing a difference. Hopefully we can make friends. I get in all my veggies and fruits and eat meat and good foods, drink my water, and I'm down to 108...so far.
  • heatherlh83
    heatherlh83 Posts: 76 Member
    I'm 5'0.5"/122. Sending you a friend request!
  • w0rksweatachieve
    w0rksweatachieve Posts: 5
    Hey! I'm 5'1, 120 pounds, and hoping to lose about 20 pounds before Prom.

    I was wondering the EXACT same thing! I was thinking of dropping my calorie intake to 1000, but I'm guessing it's safer/healthier to stick with 1200.
    I've had a lot of difficulty losing weight as well, it's so hard to control portion sizes when you're short!

    Good luck to everyone!
  • heatherlh83
    heatherlh83 Posts: 76 Member
    As far as the calories go, I'd freaking starve eating less than that but I've heard that it's ok for some petite women to net a little less than 1200 calories as long as they're eating very healthy foods. Even if you're small it's difficult to squeeze necessary nutrients in and maintain proper nutrition when you're working with such a small number of calories. But I'm no expert, that's just what I've read. I eat 1200+ exercise calories.
  • BeGreat25
    BeGreat25 Posts: 78
    Also don't forget there is some small amazing things called vitamins lol...I take daily vitamins that would fill in for the calories that I cut back. But everybody is different, just do what will make you happy in the end.
  • nuemmedigg
    nuemmedigg Posts: 220 Member
    Hi, I'm 4'10" and do remember how difficult it was not to put on weight as a teen and colllege student. Mine came on with pregnancies and working night shifts. The most helpful thing then was exercise and drinking water, oh and vitamins.
    Feel free to add me as a friend.
  • PaulaPalooza
    PaulaPalooza Posts: 137 Member
    So I can blame being 5' 1" tall as the reason my pounds take soooooo long to leave? I sometimes hate being short!

    Abso-freakin-lutely. Sometimes I think being short is awesome, but it's not great at all for dropping the pounds. I once did weight watchers for a week with my mom- i followed the rules to a t. she cheated all over the place. She lost 3 pounds. I lost zero. hahaha.
  • significance
    significance Posts: 436 Member
    I'm just over 5'1". I've set my net calorie goal to 1000 calories per day, but make sure I never eat fewer than 1200 calories (usually 1600-2000 in fact). I exercise away the difference. That allows me to get a balanced diet and still lose weight. I've been doing this since the second week of January, have lost 24 lbs so far, and I'm feeling fit and healthy.
  • baderis07
    baderis07 Posts: 35
    Hey! 5'1 3/4 here, and yes I count the 3/4 inch lol. Feel free to add me.
  • DietCow
    DietCow Posts: 1
    Hi. I'm new to this so excuse me if I don't know the etiquette of forums. I'm only 5ft tall and vegetarian. Totally agree on how hard it is to shift weight when you are short. Any extra weight seems to 'show' alot more than on a taller person too. i'm dieting alone so if anyone wants to add me as fellow dieter, feel free. It may take me awhile to 'find my feet' thou.
  • KCzing
    KCzing Posts: 10
    Honestly I have always stuck to about 1000-1200. Yes they say not to go below 1200 because of nutrients and all that but even when I eat under my daily nutrients are always right around where they should be and this site helps me see exactly how many I'm getting in the different categories each day. I do take a multivitamin and a calcium supplement daily and I eat pretty healthy most of the time. If I eat over 1200 regularly I either don't move or I gain and to lose weight sooner than months from now I do go under the 1200. My doctor said it's perfectly fine as long as I am not starving myself and I am eating nutritious food so I'm going with him.

    Short people know how hard it is to lose!
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