Being short sucks for dieting

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Replies

  • iangelab
    iangelab Posts: 42 Member
    I am 5'8" and I CAN'T EAT WHATEVER I WANT... I tried that and got up to 217 so the problem is the same for everyone....... we all have different issues and that is why we are here, to learn to not eat everything we want...... advantage to being short-you lose 5 pounds and everyone notices, when your tall, you lose 10 pounds and NO ONE notices........
  • iangelab
    iangelab Posts: 42 Member
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    What sucks for me is restaurant portions and trying to fit in eating out. They don't make a "short persons" menu, and while a 700 calorie plate is only 1/3 of my bf's quota, it's 1/2 of mine. So, it's a matter of trying to figure out how much to leave on the plate (which can be tricky), or just accepting that I'm going to have to skip the accompanying cocktail and order water while he gets to indulge in two sodas.

    Some restaurants will offer an a la carte menu. Those places rock. It's so much easier to order small (when you can) then try and figure out how much of your wrap you'd have to leave behind to equal 200 calorie

    my bf and I split a meal, that seems to work really well. that way I can eat a few bites of the high calorie stuff, stick to the lower calorie for the bulk and we have no leftovers! of course, you have to want to eat the same thing....
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    Using height as an excuse that weight loss is more difficult, isn't really valid.

    Glad to know I'm not the only one thinking this.

    I'm 5' 1.75" and 139#. I maintain on 1900 calories. Saying "I'm a shortie and am so limited on how much I can eat!" is an excuse. It's as bad as females b!tching about not being able to eat as much as males. Stop it. The only reason being short sucks is the inability to reach the top shelf without climbing on the counters.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I'm 5'8, 134 and my BMR is 1330sh and tdee in the 1600 range (I am chronically ill so sedentary). I lift 3x a week no cardio (except walking as transportation) so I definitely can't eat whatever I want. I also have never fit into any clothes below size 4 even when anorexic at bmi 16.0. Size zero is an impossibility even though I know shorter people who weight more than me (I'm 134) who can wear much smaller clothes :(
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    iangelab wrote: »
    ManiacalLaughManiacalLaugh
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    What sucks for me is restaurant portions and trying to fit in eating out. They don't make a "short persons" menu, and while a 700 calorie plate is only 1/3 of my bf's quota, it's 1/2 of mine. So, it's a matter of trying to figure out how much to leave on the plate (which can be tricky), or just accepting that I'm going to have to skip the accompanying cocktail and order water while he gets to indulge in two sodas.

    Some restaurants will offer an a la carte menu. Those places rock. It's so much easier to order small (when you can) then try and figure out how much of your wrap you'd have to leave behind to equal 200 calorie

    my bf and I split a meal, that seems to work really well. that way I can eat a few bites of the high calorie stuff, stick to the lower calorie for the bulk and we have no leftovers! of course, you have to want to eat the same thing....

    Yes, because my almost 6 foot husband wants to split his meal? um no. Not happening.

    I get those that are 5'5 can't eat the same as someone that is 6 feet tall. I get that. So reduce that weight by another half a foot lol. Now you are really having to reduce the allowance on calories daily.

    I don't think anyone said anything about those that are taller being able to eat whatever they want?!?. unless I missed that part. You might be reading into things that are not even posted.

    I can't drop 5 lbs in one week like my friends who are taller. I can drop maybe .5 a lbs when I push hard. The BMI drop will be around the same, but the lbs wont be. So we will both take the same amount (BMI wise) to drop the same "look" amount. I just have to work harder and eat way less then her :/ boo

    And you are exactly right! No one notices if you go up or down 10 pounds, but EVERYONE notices if I go up 10 lbs when you are under 5 feet!
    You know those dreaded 10 lbs taller people complain are so hard to drop? That is pretty much what weight loss feels for most short people. That part of dieting when you have to push the hardest constantly to get any wiggle out of the weight. That..

    someone this short can't just reduce how much they eat to drop the weight. I have to also add in workout. Period. I have seem MANY friends drop calories to 1500 a day ( omg I could never afford that many in a day) and still drop 1 lbs a week without changing any other lifestyle habits. I would have to drop to 700 cals a day to do that lol Just not viable.

    If you haven't been there since you were 10-11 years old, you can't relate and understand. Sorry.

    And gawd, let us horizontally challenged complain a bit! Is it that hard to just empathize with someone these days and let them get it off their chest without chastising them and trying to prove a point?

    oi. :D

    I just want a thread to complain .. mutually, with others that feel they want to complain about being short lol so hard.. so hard..



  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    I'm 5'7" and so fine boned and small framed that I can't go over 130lb without losing shape, even though I have a low body fat percentage.
    I also have to resist food all the time, have a young son who has dinners twice the size of mine and needs constant high calorie snacks.
    I also get a lot of comfort from food, or used to!
    My appetite is ginormous!
    The struggle is real for all of us....short or tall.
  • RAinWA
    RAinWA Posts: 1,980 Member
    This has been an entertaining thread to follow this morning!

    I'm 5'1" (almost) and maintain on around 1700 a day. My 6'2" husband needs to put on weight so he's getting about 3500. He can't cook so I do all the shopping, food prep, etc. Normally doesn't bother me to serve him up double my portion, add extra cheese, butter, etc. to his food. but the ice cream makes me so sad - dishing up his 2 cups and my 1/2 cup... it just looks rather pathetic.
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    There are not too many people that can eat whatever they want, regardless of their height, gender, age.
    We probably all know people that eat a lot more than we do and there is nothing that anyone can do about that, it is just the way it is. It is all about choices. Choose to eat more and probably gain weight, or stay within your calorie allotment and lose weight or maintain depending on where you are at.
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    edited March 2016
    I'm 5'0" and 120 lbs and I maintain at approx. 1650 calories. I really wish I could eat more, but alas...
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    I'm 5'7" and so fine boned and small framed that I can't go over 130lb without losing shape, even though I have a low body fat percentage.
    I also have to resist food all the time, have a young son who has dinners twice the size of mine and needs constant high calorie snacks.
    I also get a lot of comfort from food, or used to!
    My appetite is ginormous!
    The struggle is real for all of us....short or tall.



    THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

    It sucks. It really does.



  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    RAinWA wrote: »
    This has been an entertaining thread to follow this morning!

    I'm 5'1" (almost) and maintain on around 1700 a day. My 6'2" husband needs to put on weight so he's getting about 3500. He can't cook so I do all the shopping, food prep, etc. Normally doesn't bother me to serve him up double my portion, add extra cheese, butter, etc. to his food. but the ice cream makes me so sad - dishing up his 2 cups and my 1/2 cup... it just looks rather pathetic.

    Yes! the ice cream!
    My husband gets 3 regular scoops. If I have calculated in for ice cream, it's 1/2 a scoop at best lol.

    Making sure you keep all your nutritional requirements on a diet of 1000-1100 can be tricky. I wish I could do 1700 cals a day. I know my hubby doesn't eat 3500 cals a day. That has to suck to watch lol

  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    5'2 here, 46 years old...I LOVE being short! For many reasons! I don't know if being tall would have made losing the 80 lbs I've lost easier or not, but I doubt it. I know quite a few taller people, family included, who can't (won't) lose weight. In the end, the battle is real, regardless of your height. Eat less, move more, and be thoughtful about what, and how much of it, you are consuming. Don't worry about the other (taller) girl, she's wishing she were YOU. xo
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    I would look at it from another perspective: I'm 5'3", if I lose 5 lbs it makes a big difference in my appearance. One of my siblings is 5'9" he needs to tell people he lost 5 lbs because nobody notices it...

    This exactly...7 lbs off my frame is very noticeable, whereas my much bigger siblings could knock off 20, and not be able to see the change as well.
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    I'm 5'0" and 120 lbs and I maintain at approx. 1650 calories. I really wish I could eat more, but alas...

    Well, we can.. we just have to work out extra hard to account for those calories :/

    but yes!! I hear you!! sucks !! lol

  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    localgrr wrote: »
    Yeah we don't need as many calories I get that but eating is pleasurable so it's fun to do it, do I need to explain that?

    You don't need to explain that...lol...the majority of people on this site feel the same way, most of the time. That's how we got here to begin with...lol
  • RAinWA
    RAinWA Posts: 1,980 Member
    majigurl wrote: »
    RAinWA wrote: »
    This has been an entertaining thread to follow this morning!

    I'm 5'1" (almost) and maintain on around 1700 a day. My 6'2" husband needs to put on weight so he's getting about 3500. He can't cook so I do all the shopping, food prep, etc. Normally doesn't bother me to serve him up double my portion, add extra cheese, butter, etc. to his food. but the ice cream makes me so sad - dishing up his 2 cups and my 1/2 cup... it just looks rather pathetic.

    Yes! the ice cream!
    My husband gets 3 regular scoops. If I have calculated in for ice cream, it's 1/2 a scoop at best lol.

    Making sure you keep all your nutritional requirements on a diet of 1000-1100 can be tricky. I wish I could do 1700 cals a day. I know my hubby doesn't eat 3500 cals a day. That has to suck to watch lol

    When I was losing (I lost 125+ pounds) I was really careful with nutrition, pretty much made every calorie count. It was a little harder then to try to keep his calories up and mine down - now I'm pretty used to it. It was good training for maintenance!
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    clhoward6 wrote: »

    That doesn't even make any sense. We shorties can't eat very large amounts of food without getting fat, but we get full on smaller amounts. Tall people eat more because they need more.

    Tell that to my stomach! Height has nothing to do with how quickly you get full. Which is why there are obese short people.

    I agree with the original sentiment it sucks being short. I need more calories! lol

    I'm assuming my stomach will get used to having less in it and shrink appropriately. Please let this be soon!

    It will.....keep moving, and keep doing what you're doing; your body has no choice but to respond eventually xo
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    RAinWA wrote: »
    majigurl wrote: »
    RAinWA wrote: »
    This has been an entertaining thread to follow this morning!

    I'm 5'1" (almost) and maintain on around 1700 a day. My 6'2" husband needs to put on weight so he's getting about 3500. He can't cook so I do all the shopping, food prep, etc. Normally doesn't bother me to serve him up double my portion, add extra cheese, butter, etc. to his food. but the ice cream makes me so sad - dishing up his 2 cups and my 1/2 cup... it just looks rather pathetic.

    Yes! the ice cream!
    My husband gets 3 regular scoops. If I have calculated in for ice cream, it's 1/2 a scoop at best lol.

    Making sure you keep all your nutritional requirements on a diet of 1000-1100 can be tricky. I wish I could do 1700 cals a day. I know my hubby doesn't eat 3500 cals a day. That has to suck to watch lol

    When I was losing (I lost 125+ pounds) I was really careful with nutrition, pretty much made every calorie count. It was a little harder then to try to keep his calories up and mine down - now I'm pretty used to it. It was good training for maintenance!

    Awesome job!!! :) Love the attitude!

    I'm think I'm still hangry over here haha.. going to go have half an apple because a full one has too many calories for my pettiness.. :p

  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,187 Member
    Reading these posts I came to the conclusion that height is not the real problem. Loving food too much, wanting to eat all the time, having a big appetite THAT is the problem!

    What about eating to live instead of living to eat? What about controlling eating habits instead of felling overwhelmed because one can't eat everything all the time? What about doing someproductive when one is bored instead of just thinking about food?

    I find that for me being short and small sucks because I can't reach for things, because I can't find clothes that fit me properly and I have to pay extra to have them altered. Because I can't wear too many prints and designs without looking like a clown. Because I can't lift as heavy as I would like. But it never occurred to me that being short sucked because I couldn't eat like a bigger/tall person.

    I think that instead of ranting about our size, we need to have a change of attitude toward food.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    majigurl wrote: »
    iangelab wrote: »
    ManiacalLaughManiacalLaugh
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    What sucks for me is restaurant portions and trying to fit in eating out. They don't make a "short persons" menu, and while a 700 calorie plate is only 1/3 of my bf's quota, it's 1/2 of mine. So, it's a matter of trying to figure out how much to leave on the plate (which can be tricky), or just accepting that I'm going to have to skip the accompanying cocktail and order water while he gets to indulge in two sodas.

    Some restaurants will offer an a la carte menu. Those places rock. It's so much easier to order small (when you can) then try and figure out how much of your wrap you'd have to leave behind to equal 200 calorie

    my bf and I split a meal, that seems to work really well. that way I can eat a few bites of the high calorie stuff, stick to the lower calorie for the bulk and we have no leftovers! of course, you have to want to eat the same thing....

    Yes, because my almost 6 foot husband wants to split his meal? um no. Not happening.

    I get those that are 5'5 can't eat the same as someone that is 6 feet tall. I get that. So reduce that weight by another half a foot lol. Now you are really having to reduce the allowance on calories daily.

    I don't think anyone said anything about those that are taller being able to eat whatever they want?!?. unless I missed that part. You might be reading into things that are not even posted.

    I can't drop 5 lbs in one week like my friends who are taller. I can drop maybe .5 a lbs when I push hard. The BMI drop will be around the same, but the lbs wont be. So we will both take the same amount (BMI wise) to drop the same "look" amount. I just have to work harder and eat way less then her :/ boo

    And you are exactly right! No one notices if you go up or down 10 pounds, but EVERYONE notices if I go up 10 lbs when you are under 5 feet!
    You know those dreaded 10 lbs taller people complain are so hard to drop? That is pretty much what weight loss feels for most short people. That part of dieting when you have to push the hardest constantly to get any wiggle out of the weight. That..

    someone this short can't just reduce how much they eat to drop the weight. I have to also add in workout. Period. I have seem MANY friends drop calories to 1500 a day ( omg I could never afford that many in a day) and still drop 1 lbs a week without changing any other lifestyle habits. I would have to drop to 700 cals a day to do that lol Just not viable.

    If you haven't been there since you were 10-11 years old, you can't relate and understand. Sorry.

    And gawd, let us horizontally challenged complain a bit! Is it that hard to just empathize with someone these days and let them get it off their chest without chastising them and trying to prove a point?

    oi. :D

    I just want a thread to complain .. mutually, with others that feel they want to complain about being short lol so hard.. so hard..



    Sounds rough! Still not sure how an adult can complain about their height..lol...you've never been taller, so it's not like you've lost anything! If we're heavy, at any height, it's because we ate too much AT OUR HEIGHT. Eat less, move more....log faithfully, lift weights if you can....it works the same for everyone.
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    omg.. seriously guys.. those that are complaining about the shorts complaining, are taking this WAY too seriously.. B)

    It's ranting.. about ... weight loss.. yeah.. so it's height deprived people complaining and possibly laughing a bit about it..

    lol Chill out!!! have fun a bit..

    Complaining and moaning CAN be just that, complaining and moaning.. but it can be fun if you don't' take yourself so seriously. Helps ease this weight loss journey. :D

  • Alarae21
    Alarae21 Posts: 171 Member
    I'm 5'3, and while having a smaller calorie goal sucks (mine is 1200... Purely because it can't go lower!) I'm making it work. If anything, I play it like a game. Even fit in a Mcdonalds- i went for the 20 chicken nuggets instead of a meal which was less calories but still filled me up. Left a bit of wiggle room for a snack later as well.

    I've found that as I have restricted my eating my appetite has decreased as well. I've stepped it up on the working out side as well so I'm plodding along at 1-1.5lbs a week loss. The numbers on the scale and how I look and feel trump any desire for a chocolate bar!

    If I want chocolate though, I'll make it work ;)
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    Alarae21 wrote: »
    I'm 5'3, and while having a smaller calorie goal sucks (mine is 1200... Purely because it can't go lower!) I'm making it work. If anything, I play it like a game. Even fit in a Mcdonalds- i went for the 20 chicken nuggets instead of a meal which was less calories but still filled me up. Left a bit of wiggle room for a snack later as well.

    I've found that as I have restricted my eating my appetite has decreased as well. I've stepped it up on the working out side as well so I'm plodding along at 1-1.5lbs a week loss. The numbers on the scale and how I look and feel trump any desire for a chocolate bar!

    If I want chocolate though, I'll make it work ;)

    I avoid mc donalds now, because ordering the kids meal makes me feel ridiculous lol

    But honestly, I have their wraps with no fries and water. That's it. You DO get used to it. Though I do miss the big macs, fries and coke, I don't think anyone should eat that much in one sitting lol

    Can I have your chocolate?! lol

    I haven't had a chocolate bar in months. I did have a piece of chocolate on valentines day woot!!

    You really do have to eat more like a child though than what most adults should be eating ( I say should, because most adults eat more than they should be also )



  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    majigurl wrote: »
    I'm 5'0" and 120 lbs and I maintain at approx. 1650 calories. I really wish I could eat more, but alas...

    Well, we can.. we just have to work out extra hard to account for those calories :/

    but yes!! I hear you!! sucks !! lol
    True, on workout days I can eat anywhere from 200-300 extra calories. But darn it takes a lot to earn it. LOL.

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Gosh I don't get why people are not getting it. Prepackaged foods or restaurant food doesn't come in 'short' size. It's the same size for everyone. The same donut for a 5' woman will have much more of an impact than for a 6' man.

    Why is that so hard to get? And don't come tell me that they don't have to eat the whole donut...

    I'm 5'5" and average and feel for the shorter ladies, I really do.
  • ManiacalLaugh
    ManiacalLaugh Posts: 1,048 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Gosh I don't get why people are not getting it. Prepackaged foods or restaurant food doesn't come in 'short' size. It's the same size for everyone. The same donut for a 5' woman will have much more of an impact than for a 6' man.

    Why is that so hard to get? And don't come tell me that they don't have to eat the whole donut...

    I'm 5'5" and average and feel for the shorter ladies, I really do.

    This is what I was trying to say. OF COURSE it's easy to trim the portions down to "short size" when you're making your own food. When you're going out, it's an issue, and it usually takes "guess work" by leaving some of your portion on your plate, or cutting something out elsewhere. Not impossible, but it's a little gripe-worthy when your partner can shovel down the whole serving plus dessert with the same proportional impact to their calorie count.
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Gosh I don't get why people are not getting it. Prepackaged foods or restaurant food doesn't come in 'short' size. It's the same size for everyone. The same donut for a 5' woman will have much more of an impact than for a 6' man.

    Why is that so hard to get? And don't come tell me that they don't have to eat the whole donut...

    I'm 5'5" and average and feel for the shorter ladies, I really do.

    lol @ "don't eat the whole donut"

    If I get The Donut, I'm eating The Donut. :D

  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    zyxst wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    Using height as an excuse that weight loss is more difficult, isn't really valid.

    Glad to know I'm not the only one thinking this.

    I'm 5' 1.75" and 139#. I maintain on 1900 calories. Saying "I'm a shortie and am so limited on how much I can eat!" is an excuse. It's as bad as females b!tching about not being able to eat as much as males. Stop it. The only reason being short sucks is the inability to reach the top shelf without climbing on the counters.

    This. It is right up there with my other pet peeve of women who complain about or are seemingly surprised about weight fluctuations due to their period.

    I always find the belief that if you are a petite female of a certain age that you are doomed to a lifetime of eating 1200 cals in order to lose weight to be really disheartening to hear because it is so prevalent on this site.

    I'm 5'2, 41 years old, and I lost 30 lbs eating between 1500-1900 cals. I'm now maintaining around 120 lbs and my TDEE is 2200 per my FitBit. I have a desk job and my exercise is walking (15K steps/day) and light weights a couple times a week.

  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    zyxst wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    Using height as an excuse that weight loss is more difficult, isn't really valid.

    Glad to know I'm not the only one thinking this.

    I'm 5' 1.75" and 139#. I maintain on 1900 calories. Saying "I'm a shortie and am so limited on how much I can eat!" is an excuse. It's as bad as females b!tching about not being able to eat as much as males. Stop it. The only reason being short sucks is the inability to reach the top shelf without climbing on the counters.

    This. It is right up there with my other pet peeve of women who complain about or are seemingly surprised about weight fluctuations due to their period.

    I always find the belief that if you are a petite female of a certain age that you are doomed to a lifetime of eating 1200 cals in order to lose weight to be really disheartening to hear because it is so prevalent on this site.

    I'm 5'2, 41 years old, and I lost 30 lbs eating between 1500-1900 cals. I'm now maintaining around 120 lbs and my TDEE is 2200 per my FitBit. I have a desk job and my exercise is walking (15K steps/day) and light weights a couple times a week.

    You tower over me lol

    I would make you feel like a giant :D haha.


  • iangelab
    iangelab Posts: 42 Member

    majigurl wrote: »
    iangelab wrote: »
    ManiacalLaughManiacalLaugh
    Posts: 1,028
    Member
    What sucks for me is restaurant portions and trying to fit in eating out. They don't make a "short persons" menu, and while a 700 calorie plate is only 1/3 of my bf's quota, it's 1/2 of mine. So, it's a matter of trying to figure out how much to leave on the plate (which can be tricky), or just accepting that I'm going to have to skip the accompanying cocktail and order water while he gets to indulge in two sodas.

    Some restaurants will offer an a la carte menu. Those places rock. It's so much easier to order small (when you can) then try and figure out how much of your wrap you'd have to leave behind to equal 200 calorie

    my bf and I split a meal, that seems to work really well. that way I can eat a few bites of the high calorie stuff, stick to the lower calorie for the bulk and we have no leftovers! of course, you have to want to eat the same thing....

    Yes, because my almost 6 foot husband wants to split his meal? um no. Not happening.

    I get those that are 5'5 can't eat the same as someone that is 6 feet tall. I get that. So reduce that weight by another half a foot lol. Now you are really having to reduce the allowance on calories daily.

    I don't think anyone said anything about those that are taller being able to eat whatever they want?!?. unless I missed that part. You might be reading into things that are not even posted.

    I can't drop 5 lbs in one week like my friends who are taller. I can drop maybe .5 a lbs when I push hard. The BMI drop will be around the same, but the lbs wont be. So we will both take the same amount (BMI wise) to drop the same "look" amount. I just have to work harder and eat way less then her :/ boo

    And you are exactly right! No one notices if you go up or down 10 pounds, but EVERYONE notices if I go up 10 lbs when you are under 5 feet!
    You know those dreaded 10 lbs taller people complain are so hard to drop? That is pretty much what weight loss feels for most short people. That part of dieting when you have to push the hardest constantly to get any wiggle out of the weight. That..

    someone this short can't just reduce how much they eat to drop the weight. I have to also add in workout. Period. I have seem MANY friends drop calories to 1500 a day ( omg I could never afford that many in a day) and still drop 1 lbs a week without changing any other lifestyle habits. I would have to drop to 700 cals a day to do that lol Just not viable.

    If you haven't been there since you were 10-11 years old, you can't relate and understand. Sorry.

    And gawd, let us horizontally challenged complain a bit! Is it that hard to just empathize with someone these days and let them get it off their chest without chastising them and trying to prove a point?

    oi. :D

    I just want a thread to complain .. mutually, with others that feel they want to complain about being short lol so hard.. so hard..



    complain away..... just realize us tall people have the same struggles...... and my bf is 6'2" fyi..... (he is one of those can't gain a pound guys so it works for us)