If you're a size 8...

[Needmorewine]

What do you eat ?! I'm averaging a 12 at the moment and as in only 5'1 feel I'm getting too big for my height. Starting f/t work in sept and I'm worried stress/general business will only lead to me getting bigger. I think low carb may be the only way forward as I can seemingly eat lots of nice fresh food on that but will really help cut out the crap. I'm fairly fit, run 2-3x p/week but I don't think it's doing anything. Anyone who is a size 8 / 10 but has to work at it iyswim care to share what works for them ?

[pullingmyhairout1]

Sadly calorie counting via my fitness pal and running. Only thing that works for me.

[Needmorewine]

Can I ask what amount of calories you try & stick to pulling? I just find calorie counting so blardy restrictive & have tried and failed too many times argh but maybe I just need to accept that boring as is it works !

[Caramelslice]

I used to be an 8, I'm a 10 now... After being slack this summer a big 10. Keeping the weight off as a parent who works is hard.

For me, exercise is more about tone.

Keeping weight off is about food. I weigh myself every single day, never eat any white carbs (have extra veg with sauce instead of rice, pasta when eating with family, always order chicken salad when eating out etc). I also try to just have a spoonful of the kids puddings rather than having one myself.

My weakness is alcohol. I find it hard not to drink, but have to avoid beer as one pint is enough to push the scales up the next day.

I think if you are small it is really hard to keep the weight off, especially as you get older. Better women than me have just made their peace with getting a bit bigger, but I just am not comfortable with myself when I get bigger, it doesn't suit my face.

Good luck.

[GemmaB78]

I don't really keep a close eye what I eat. Fairly balanced, vegetarian diet. Minimal snacks. And I exercise. Not as much as I used to pre-child, but 4 x runs a week, ride my horse 3 or 4 times a week, and a couple of yoga sessions as well.

[thelmafitzgerald]

I am a size 8 but I suspect I may be naturally this size because my diet and exercise don't really have an impact on my size. The only thing that changes is tone really, the size stays the same.

So with a bad diet and no exercise I am a flabby, cellulite-y size 8, with good food and exercise I am a toned size 8, iyswim!

[SallyontheUB40]

Size 6. I don't really eat unless I'm physically hungry. I stop eating when I'm full (don't clear plate just for the sake of it).

I don't eat for 'fun'. I'm always bemused at people who enjoy eating/foodie types. It's never really interested me. Not to say it's a bad thing but food has never really interested me.

[brandyandsummergloves]

I'm a size 8 and the same height as you. I tend to eat smallish meals and take salad with eggs or tuna for my work lunches. I do eat (and drink wine!), more at weekends but I think this is balanced out by being careful in the week.
Im nearly 55 though, and have noticed that a couple of pounds have crept on that I can't seem to shift recently

[Needmorewine]

Yes I just think I need to be more careful. Low carb has worked well for me in the past & if I could shift about 8/9 lb I think that would make a big difference. Thinking of buying a kettlebell to do in conjunction with running - anyone done it ? My plus to working f/t is I figured it will stop the boredom eating and I'll be on my feet all day...

[cathyandclare]

I'm a size 8, although would like to be a slimmer one at the moment. I gave up sugar and most non veggie/fruit carbs 4 years ago and that was brilliant.
There's been a bit of carb creep this summer so back to it now.

[loosechange]

I'm size 8 and have been for ten years or so. Prior to that I was a twelve.

My weight started creeping up from there, and I made done gradual changes which became habit. I cut down on red meat, swapped all cream based sauces for tomato based ones and portion restricted, stopping before I felt full to give my stomach a chance to catch up as I ate fast. I didn't stop whilst I was still hungry, but if it's a meal I like I would often eat it all fast, then feel over full.

With chocolate or biscuits I would consciously ask myself if I really wanted it before I ate it. Often the answer was no and I was bored/fed up.

Agree with exercise and tone. I used to swim give times a week and walk six miles a day at my biggest, and it really wasn't muscle.

That got me down to a ten, where I hovered for a while.

The other change I later made was to drink less. Rather than drink half the bottle of wine if it's open I gave smaller glasses, so probably manage about a third of it. I also rarely drink during the week, started for financial reasons but I recall pre children when I dropped more and drank cocktails etc my weight crept up.

I suspect pre vanity sizing at my current size I would be ten.

I now exercise for tone, as otherwise I am a size 8 with no muscle.

Long, but HTH.

[twocultures]

I was a size 8 about 3 years ago when I used to do about 6-7hrs of exercise (dancing) a week, never had any sort of diet and had a real big sweet tooth.

I admit I've not really done any sort of exercise for a while and I'm now a 10 or even a 12 in some clothes and want to get fit again I can't even run .
however my DM has recently gotten in extremely good shape (looks 1/2 sizes smaller) and when I asked her about it she said she's doing some sort of work out from home (from a DVD) with this trainer who's currently blowing up in her home country and she focuses on toning muscles rather than just burning fat.
Honestly I'm surprised she looks like she's lost weight but she says she's exactly the same weight as she was before but she's just toned.

[loosechange]

Forgot to say the useful bit. The diet changes became habit, so I didn't notice them after a while, even with alcohol.

[grannycake]

Size 8. I did the 5:2 diet a couple of years ago and now just fast one day a week to maintain. Always struggled with weight since a child and at my heaviest was a size 16 and I'm just 5 foot tall. Don't snack at all though

[bomfunk]

Whatever I like. My friends hate me lol! Although like a pp - only eat when I'm hungry, really struggle to clear a plate, never breakfast, usually a bag of crisps or something on the day and then tea later (sometimes healthy, say steak and avocado salad, sometimes junky like packet pasta). I drink quite a bit - maybe 3 bottles of wine a week. My diet could be a lot better. I don't exercise as a rule, but go through fits and starts of working out.

[murphys]

Was size 8, now a 6.. but that is just due to a very stressful year. I have always been a 8 though all through adulthood (I'm 46 now).

The thing that I have noticed, or that people have commented on:

I eat slowly. I am always the last to finish my meal. I just cannot shove it all in in huge amounts like the rest of my family

I really only eat when I am hungry, I don't do a set 3 meals a day thing. If I am hungry in the morning, I will eat breakfast, if not I don't. Same with other meals.

I also rarely finish every single thing on my plate. When I am full, I stop. Used to drive exh mad as I would leave two chips or 3 peas etc.

I do try to get to pilates once or twice a week, it doesny make a difference to weight really, but for toning up. I am not a gym freak by any means, but if I haven't been to class for a while, I can feel it.

BUT.... and I think this is the most important part. I have a very small frame and bone structure. My dd, for eg, who is 14 already wears the same or sometimes bigger size in clothes to me. Not because she is overweight by any stretch, she is built like her dad, muscular and heavier boned.

I believe that as long as you eat well, exercise moderately, don't drink alcohol in excess etc, then you will be the size that you are meant to be. Not everyone is meant to be a size 8. Of course there are exceptions here, stress, health conditions, medications etc.

[Poptart27]

I'm an 8-10, depending on who makes it and what it is. But I used to be a 10-12. I follow a paleo-ish diet. Meat, veg, fruit. Not a lot of carbs although I do eat rice or gluten free pasta once a week and gluten free bread 2-3 times per week. Breakfasts usually consist of eggs, lunch is usually protein such as chorizo or chicken, and dinner is always chicken and veg. I don't eat a lot of red meat. No dairy. When I was super strict paleo I was thinner. I just cannot maintain that anymore. Wine is also my weakness.

[Runningupthathill82]

I eat proper whole foods, avoiding sugar and processed stuff. We don't have crisps/fizzy drinks/ready meals/biscuits in the house, ever.

I also exercise at least daily, usually twice daily (say, two runs or a run and a gym class).

A usual day's food would be:

Breakfast - full fat natural yoghurt, fruit, maybe a handful of All Bran on top.

Lunch - salad of whatever is in the fridge. Usually avocado, chicken, couscous, lettuce, peppers, tomato etc.

Tea - fresh fish or meat, with veg.
Or scrambled eggs with avocado on toast if I'm in a rush.

I don't snack usually, but for a treat I might have a square of dark chocolate or a glass of wine.

I'm a size 8-10 and could do with losing another half stone to get back to pre-baby weight. DD is 7 months.

[Fraggleface]

I'm your height OP and pre pregnancy was a size 8. I found counting calories (max 1200 a day) and regular exercise (gym at least 4 times a week, mixing up running, weights, spinning, and HIIT and resistance classes, plus Pilates kept me in good shape. I wasn't that strict with calories though so was probably carrying a spare few pounds.
Agree without vanity sizing I'd be a 10 at least.
Can't wait to get back to it post baby.

[mrsmugoo]

I was an 8 before I got pregnant. 3 months pp now and I'm a 10 at the moment.

I need to lose a stone to get into my size 8s again. 5:2 has never failed me. Also I try to do 16:8 all the time so basically delaying breakfast and just going straight in for brunch, small afternoon snack and then dinner. I also eat mainly plant based.

[TroubleinDaFamily]

I was a size 18, I am now an 8 having been on the cancer diet.

I have weighed the same for the last six months, but I look like I have put on weight. My doctor said that in menopause your body lays the weight down differently and that even the most androgynous shape will get a bit of a pot in their 50's.

I need to get back to the gym.

[Hippychickster]

I'm 5'6 and a size 8. People think I'm naturally thin and how lucky I am, but in reality if I ate everything I wanted I would be much bigger.

I am lucky that I don't have a big appetite though. I put on about a stone a while ago and did the 5:2 to get it off. I like fasting and I like feeling hungry. I'm a slow eater too. I don't have a sweet tooth but do like crisps and wine and I don't restrict these at the weekend. My diet during the week is very healthy.

I also run 3 or 4 times a week and go to Pilates.

Good luck