Petite girls : 5ft or under

I didn't woo you, and I didn't laugh at you @Sunnybrooke99, I did a smile so you might know I was being friendly.

Being petite myself, (note I weigh the same as you) I understand how little we get to eat compared to an average size woman.
If your calories are keeping you in maintenance and you are not overly tired after work, you are eating enough.

Cheers, h.

5'0", 58 years old. I'm bulking so my calories are 2200. My maintenance calories are probably closer to 2000? I lift 4 days/week and do NO cardio. I never eat back my earned exercise calories.

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

Nony_Mouse wrote: »

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

I can’t imagine why anyone would mock and laugh at me for my size and maintenance calories. I’m 36 and I’ve been this size since 18, which little fluctuation. I’m not even skinny. I’m just really short and small.

1) I doubt anyone is mocking you for your size. If they are, they're jerks;

2) You also cannot assume that anyone is 'mocking' you for your calorie intake, you are reading an emotion into that that may not exist. More likely, they are questioning what is a very low calorie intake.

The fact is, at your height and activity level, you should be able to eat several hundred more calories to maintain. Even at sedentary you should be able to eat more than that. So, something is off: either you're eating more than you think, you are one hell of an outlier, or something is very, very wrong. Personally, I would want to know if it were the latter rather than just accepting it.

Not mocking you in any way, actually trying to be helpful.

I just put my stats into a calorie caluculator. At 103, it says I need 1275 to maintain if I’m sedentary (which I am if I don’t work or exercise. I consider my work to be exercise.) I could see that being possible. But then it’s normal for me to be 97 lbs also. I’m really small. Like a 12 year old. I was only 101, when I was in the army.

Are you eating 1000-1200 calories all up (including exercise calories) or that amount net? I can not see how it could be that amount all up if your job is physically demanding and not be losing weight at a rapid rate unless there is a medical issue or your logging is very inaccurate. Eating thatlus exercise calories makes sense though.

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

Nony_Mouse wrote: »

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

I can’t imagine why anyone would mock and laugh at me for my size and maintenance calories. I’m 36 and I’ve been this size since 18, which little fluctuation. I’m not even skinny. I’m just really short and small.

1) I doubt anyone is mocking you for your size. If they are, they're jerks;

2) You also cannot assume that anyone is 'mocking' you for your calorie intake, you are reading an emotion into that that may not exist. More likely, they are questioning what is a very low calorie intake.

The fact is, at your height and activity level, you should be able to eat several hundred more calories to maintain. Even at sedentary you should be able to eat more than that. So, something is off: either you're eating more than you think, you are one hell of an outlier, or something is very, very wrong. Personally, I would want to know if it were the latter rather than just accepting it.

Not mocking you in any way, actually trying to be helpful.

I just put my stats into a calorie caluculator. At 103, it says I need 1275 to maintain if I’m sedentary (which I am if I don’t work or exercise. I consider my work to be exercise.) I could see that being possible. But then it’s normal for me to be 97 lbs also. I’m really small. Like a 12 year old. I was only 101, when I was in the army.

Are you eating 1000-1200 calories all up (including exercise calories) or that amount net? I can not see how it could be that amount all up if your job is physically demanding and not be losing weight at a rapid rate unless there is a medical issue or your logging is very inaccurate. Eating thatlus exercise calories makes sense though.

1000-1200 doesn’t include exercise. I’d say it’s my mean tho. I don’t burn much when I exercise bc my weight is already so low. Maybe 300 for an hour at the gym. I’d say I eat back ab 2/3 of that currently, but 103 is still a little heavy for me. At 19/20 BMI, I’m ab 98 lbs. I’m actually a little under 4’11”. my job is physically demanding, but I only work a few days per week, and I mostly lie around when not working. I’m not starving, and I usually have a couple glasses of wine per day. I get physicals yearly through the va. My Dr. said I’m just small, and that it’s normal. Every woman in my family is small like me, and I grew up eating small portions, and avoiding high calorie foods. I never get a full burger, a side of fries, more than two pieces of pizza, or anything more than a child scoop of ice cream. My mom and I still split all meals if we go out.

That is why you were getting wooed. People assumed you were eating only 1000-1200 all up which is definately undereating, even for someone our size. That as a net amount is quite normal.

5ft here. I eat 800-1000 to lose. I don't generally eat excersise calories unless Im hungry, in which case I might have a small snack. I don't do much exercise though.

I'm a 5'0" flat college senior and weigh 102. I eat a goal of about 1200 per day to lose weight and try not to eat back my exercise calories. I'm trying to get back to around 95 lbs (my weight at the start of college) but I'm having a hard time losing weight because I don't have much time to exercise.

@Sunnybrooke99 - I looked at an on-line TDEE Calculator and guessed your age to be 23. Here are the results:

Basal Metabolic Rate 1,063 calories per day
Sedentary 1,275 calories per day
Light Exercise 1,461 calories per day
Moderate Exercise 1,647 calories per day
Heavy Exercise 1,833 calories per day
Athlete 2,019 calories per day

So, keep in mind that this is maintenance and that this is based on a generic formula. Use it as a starting point. You would need to play with nutrition for a few weeks to see how this works out for you....read: to get your real numbers.

I would wonder aloud if a Dr. is the right person to be asking about nutrition. They honestly have little idea about this stuff - generally speaking.

So, based on these numbers (again, keep in mind that they are simply a starting point) you are close to your BMR, which is likely not a good thing. On paper, anyway.

So, besides your job, how often do you train? And, if I might ask, how many nights do you work a week. I do not think folks really understand the amount energy required by your job. I am friendly with a couple of the girls (no, nothing like that....) and have taken a couple of pole dancing classes offered by one of the top performers there. WOW! Give me HEAVY bench, dead lifts and squats on one day with 90 seconds rest in between each set! Those classes were tough!

So, you might want to revisit your logging? And weighing your foods? You might be eating more than you think! I find that when I was starting out with logging (I do not use mfp for that, sorry....just don't) and with weighing | portioning (is that even a word? It is now!) that I was close some times but not so close other times. And, the times where I was not close was on the dense foods - read: I was way off!

Just a suggestion. Stay strong and lean!

EDITED> Saw her age and ran the TDEE Calculator again. So, upped age from 23 to 36 (dang, my bad!)

CWShultz27105 wrote: »

@Sunnybrooke99 - I looked at an on-line TDEE Calculator and guessed your age to be 23. Here are the results:

Basal Metabolic Rate 1,063 calories per day
Sedentary 1,275 calories per day
Light Exercise 1,461 calories per day
Moderate Exercise 1,647 calories per day
Heavy Exercise 1,833 calories per day
Athlete 2,019 calories per day

So, keep in mind that this is maintenance and that this is based on a generic formula. Use it as a starting point. You would need to play with nutrition for a few weeks to see how this works out for you....read: to get your real numbers.

I would wonder aloud if a Dr. is the right person to be asking about nutrition. They honestly have little idea about this stuff - generally speaking.

So, based on these numbers (again, keep in mind that they are simply a starting point) you are close to your BMR, which is likely not a good thing. On paper, anyway.

So, besides your job, how often do you train? And, if I might ask, how many nights do you work a week. I do not think folks really understand the amount energy required by your job. I am friendly with a couple of the girls (no, nothing like that....) and have taken a couple of pole dancing classes offered by one of the top performers there. WOW! Give me HEAVY bench, dead lifts and squats on one day with 90 seconds rest in between each set! Those classes were tough!

So, you might want to revisit your logging? And weighing your foods? You might be eating more than you think! I find that when I was starting out with logging (I do not use mfp for that, sorry....just don't) and with weighing | portioning (is that even a word? It is now!) that I was close some times but not so close other times. And, the times where I was not close was on the dense foods - read: I was way off!

Just a suggestion. Stay strong and lean!

EDITED> Saw her age and ran the TDEE Calculator again. So, upped age from 23 to 36 (dang, my bad!)

Interesting. That’s not too far off from what I figured. Between 1000-1200 not counting exercise. I only work three or four day a week at work, and it really is a work out, if it’s a busy day. I think it might balance out with the lazing around I do on days off though. I just recently joined a gym, which is why I got back on here. I didn’t want to go overboard (by eating too little) if I was burning more and needed more food. Yes, most dancers are deceptively strong. It’s like belly dancing while doing squats and all the while trying to look sexy :P

As far as when I logging goes, I actully have the habit of over estimating calories in food. My issue is drinking too much wine, partly bc it’s so nice to drink at work, but then I want some to unwind at home too. Being more accountable ab drinking, and not overdoing dieting is why I’m here.

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

Nony_Mouse wrote: »

Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »

I can’t imagine why anyone would mock and laugh at me for my size and maintenance calories. I’m 36 and I’ve been this size since 18, which little fluctuation. I’m not even skinny. I’m just really short and small.

1) I doubt anyone is mocking you for your size. If they are, they're jerks;

2) You also cannot assume that anyone is 'mocking' you for your calorie intake, you are reading an emotion into that that may not exist. More likely, they are questioning what is a very low calorie intake.

The fact is, at your height and activity level, you should be able to eat several hundred more calories to maintain. Even at sedentary you should be able to eat more than that. So, something is off: either you're eating more than you think, you are one hell of an outlier, or something is very, very wrong. Personally, I would want to know if it were the latter rather than just accepting it.

Not mocking you in any way, actually trying to be helpful.

I just put my stats into a calorie caluculator. At 103, it says I need 1275 to maintain if I’m sedentary (which I am if I don’t work or exercise. I consider my work to be exercise.) I could see that being possible. But then it’s normal for me to be 97 lbs also. I’m really small. Like a 12 year old. I was only 101, when I was in the army.

Are you eating 1000-1200 calories all up (including exercise calories) or that amount net? I can not see how it could be that amount all up if your job is physically demanding and not be losing weight at a rapid rate unless there is a medical issue or your logging is very inaccurate. Eating thatlus exercise calories makes sense though.

1000-1200 doesn’t include exercise. I’d say it’s my mean tho. I don’t burn much when I exercise bc my weight is already so low. Maybe 300 for an hour at the gym. I’d say I eat back ab 2/3 of that currently, but 103 is still a little heavy for me. At 19/20 BMI, I’m ab 98 lbs. I’m actually a little under 4’11”. my job is physically demanding, but I only work a few days per week, and I mostly lie around when not working. I’m not starving, and I usually have a couple glasses of wine per day. I get physicals yearly through the va. My Dr. said I’m just small, and that it’s normal. Every woman in my family is small like me, and I grew up eating small portions, and avoiding high calorie foods. I never get a full burger, a side of fries, more than two pieces of pizza, or anything more than a child scoop of ice cream. My mom and I still split all meals if we go out.

That is why you were getting wooed. People assumed you were eating only 1000-1200 all up which is definately undereating, even for someone our size. That as a net amount is quite normal.

That’s still a pretty jacked up reason to laugh in someone’s face. Thank you to anyone who bothered to ask for clarification and didn’t just mock me.

I'm 5 feet exactly, currently 164 lbs. Calories are at 1440 for 0.5 lb/week loss though it is actually dropping a bit faster than that.
I don't do lower calories than that - I'd be much more likely to snap and binge if I tried to stick at 1200 for instance. I'm comfortable at 14-1500.

I rarely eat back more than 1/3 of my exercise calories - my main exercise is low intensity walking. I know a lot of calculators overestimate calorie burn, so since I'm not burning much I don't need to eat to fuel extra exercise.