If you're a size 8-10 (or your ideal) but not naturally slim how do you stay that way?

[overweightcat]

I know some people are just naturally rather petite or slim and willowy.

But if you're not and manage to stay a size 8-10 how do you do it?

I'm 5'5 and recently lost weight and gone down to a solid size 12 - 10 in certain shops. Beforehand it was on the larger side of size 14.
I used to be very slim in my teens, had a terrible diet full of crap and sweets but was also very active around 8hrs a week of various sports/dance activities. I became quite sedentary and steadily piled on the weight since.

I don't have long legs or a small frame or anything - if anything I find that I'm rather in proportion all around and when I used to do a lot of sports I looked slim and athletic not willowy (which I'd prefer TBH).
Size 8-10 is my ideal I think as I've recently seen pictures of myself when I was that size and I think that's when I looked my healthiest and fittest - but I'm not sure how to get there.

My weight is at a bit of a standstill at the moment and I want to lose in a sustainable way. I probably have about 9lbs to go.

So anyone who has managed to achieve that and stay the desired size - can you share how you did it?

There's a lot of extreme solutions around but I find that it's the simple stuff that makes a difference in the long run.

The one thing that really worked for me was having a proper breakfast. I'm a snacker!! So having 2 fried eggs (just a tiny bit of olive oil or butter so it doesn't stick!! No more!!!) with some brown bread made such a difference! It's the protein. I used to have a croissant for breakfast before and snack like twice until lunch....

Be conscious of how much you put on the plate. There are so many charts online about food portions. Don't overfill yourself. You should be comfortable but never bursting after a meal.

When you do have a snack, think twice. Have some fruit to hand or other healthy snack that you enjoy. Make sure it's super easy to reach them and eat them!

I still open the Nutella jar but less frequently than I would unchecked!! It's ok to have "cheat meals" if the greatest majority of your time is better choices.

Drink water. Sometimes your body is thirsty but you actually feel it as hunger.

And even if those people did put on weight eating three healthy meals with carbs and fat (that’s what I do), they’d likely still be in the healthy bmi range

Yes but even so, it does show that you wouldn't actually have to eat huge amounts to be in the overweight category, as some people seem to think.

This thread is certainly refreshing. I do get fed up of people who profess to eat loads of unhealthy food yet miraculously stay really slim.

If you're not naturally that size (and most women aren't) then you're pretty much looking at lifelong food deprivation. Personally I think what's the bloody point, but it's up to you.

1200 calories a day? For life? That's an eating disorder. I know I'll get flamed for that but still...

Interesting responses!
Although the lady who only eats slim soup for dinner sounds a bit worrying...

I'm working towards a healthy approach to my diet and weight, I have an affection for sweets so I do slip up sometimes more than I'd like to, I only have coffee and water or squash throughout the day (squash is only about 14cals per 750ml of water so fine as usually have 2 of those). I don't really drink alcohol maybe once a month if that and it's usually only a couple of glasses of prosecco.

I wouldn't despair if I didn't lose much more as long as I stay healthy (I don't want to fall into any sort of disordered eating as I know how that can wreck your body) but I know realistically I should be able to shift and keep off the last few lbs.
I have stopped sticking to 1200cals now anyway as I'm a bit concerned about my metabolism but so far have managed to maintain my current weight.

I'm thinking maybe incorporate some weights into my workouts to build up some muscle and up the workouts a bit, it's a bit patchy at the moment so I could do with being more consistent on that front as i do feel better for it.

Lost 5.5 stone from 17 stone although suspect I’ve put on approx 3-4 lbs but still comfortably wearing a size 10 bar one pair of skinny jeans. (5’5 size 10)

I don’t really worry about calories, I’m a massively fussy eater and try to hit over 100g of protein a day and do intermittent fasting where possible. So eat breakfast as late as possible (usually a protein shake around 11am) healthy lunch of chicken wrap/roll with salad plus crisps/small cake bar most days. Then normal portion of dinner for example sausage and mash or chicken salad followed by another protein shake.

Eat protein bars/drink protein water as snacks as well as low calorie dessert most nights.

I walk most days of lockdown for 2 hours or so with family. Pre lockdown I was working a very active job and lifting weights 5-6 times a week.

“OP, you’ll find that people who manage to stay size 8-10 in their 30s and 40s are overwhelmingly “naturally skinny”. They may say how careful they are etc, but really they are not. They do have cake and biscuits and alcohol and they don’t run themselves into the ground with exercise either.”

This is me. I’m 40, size 8-10 and do very little. I’ve never weighed more than 52kg. I’m probably about that right now, I’ve been letting it all hang out over lockdown.

I’m about 5’2” so as other say, every pound shows. I’m skinny fat - nice shape, but flabby stomach, no definition in my arms. I think I’d have to work quite hard to tone up (I have exercised for periods before, but it never really made much difference aesthetically).

Apart from genes, my thoughts are:

• I only really drink water - no tea, coffee (with its milk and sugar calories). I do drink alcohol when out/with friends, but not really when I’m just relaxing in the evening.
• Mealtimes aren’t a big deal around here, we aren’t rigorous about cooking every day, so meals are often small, improvised, or not worth bothering with.
• I have never been overweight in the past. I read something once that said that once you reach a certain weight, your body is always fighting to get back to that weight. Could it be true?

I also don’t really eat breakfast. Not hungry until later on. So I’ve probably been going the “eat within an 8 hour period” thing for many years

For me it is requiring a huge recalibration of my expectation of what is a reasonable amount for an adult female to eat.

As a younger woman I could eat tons of sweets, carbs, generally lots of calories, without really gaining a lot. Even without a great deal of exercise.

my body simply needs FAR less now.

To be at a size 10, I now need regular exercise, at least 3 times a week and walking isnt enough, it needs to be higher intensity. I need to eat almost no snacks,biscuits, cake etc, or miss a meal to compensate avoid consuming too many calories.

Its not really fun. The first few months of eating less/healthier have been incredibly hard but it gets easier with time.

I'm a size 6-8. When I was younger, I could eat and drink absolutely anything without ever noticeably putting on weight. As I got to my late 20s, early 30s, I noticed it was easier to gain the odd few pounds here and there which I will always lose if I need to. No stupid, fad diets, no ridiculous skinny teas, just cleaner eating and calorie counting. You need to work out how many calories YOU should be eating (so many websites online to work this out) and stick to it! Exercise will help you feel fitter, too. That's it. Don't deny yourself the occasional unhealthy snack, either. You need to be realistic. Just don't go over those calories.. and if you do, make up for it the next day.

This thread is so depressing. Counting calories for life. Sitting on stationary bikes for hours everyday - more if you've "treated yourself" to a slice of cake of a glass of wine. You might be slim, but by God it sounds like a joyless way to live.

For me, the key is exercise. I'm a dog walker and walk anywhere between 5-15 miles a day. My average is probably about 8, which is 20k steps according to my iPhone. I did 16:8 for a while but with my job it just wasn't sustainable, so now I just eat what I fancy. Today my meals looked like this:

B - leftover pizza.
L - fried tomatoes and mushrooms, followed by blueberries and greek yoghurt
D - cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, plus a bag of crisps.

I'll probably have another snack before bed - toast or a bowl of cereal or something similar. Drinks have been two mugs of coffee and a can of Pepsi max. I only walked for two hours with the dogs though - the last three days I've done four hours of walking minimum.

Obviously I can only do that much exercise because it's what I do for a living but my God it really helps. I put on a lot of weight during lockdown when my business was closed my eating habits barely changed but my exercise dropped hugely - I was only walking an hour a day with my own dog as opposed to 3-5 hours total.

You might be slim, but by God it sounds like a joyless way to live.

As a former Fat Bastard, that was an extremely joyless way to live

*so now I just eat what I fancy. Today my meals looked like this:

B - leftover pizza.
L - fried tomatoes and mushrooms, followed by blueberries and greek yoghurt
D - cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, plus a bag of crisps.*

See this to me just looks insane. It's no actual food! Very little protein & it's so insubstantial.

When I eat what I fancy, it's like this:
B: porridge made with milk, plus fruit.
L: chicken salad sandwich, yoghurt, cucumber, probably more fruit
Snack: biscuits
D: homemade lasagne with peas, probably a pudding after.

I do body combat and body pump a couple of times a week which keeps me fit and tones. I do lots of walking and bike rides at the weekend.

I

As a former Fat Bastard, that was an extremely joyless way to live

Yup, me too. I feel so much better now and more confident. If the trade off is keeping track of things is the price of that, it's one I'm happy to pay I'm not joyless either

so now I just eat what I fancy. Today my meals looked like this:

B - leftover pizza.
L - fried tomatoes and mushrooms, followed by blueberries and greek yoghurt
D - cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, plus a bag of crisps.

I agree with a pp. This is a tiny amount of food. Why would you think mushrooms and tomatoes alone were a meal?!

If I genuinely ate what I wanted I would become morbidly obese for sure.

I agree that for some people the only way is a very restricted diet. I'm 5ft 9 so have to be pretty thin to be a size 8-10 I was a size 6-8 until I was around 21 I achieved that through starving myself. I'm generally a 12 but did get down to a 10 for about a year again through a very low calorie high exercise diet. I've now accepted that my body is happy at around 65-68kg I'm a size 12 at this weight and don't have to give much thought to it other than being a little conscious of snacking and pudding and doing some exercise each day.

My metabolism caught up with me 2 years ago at age 38 (and had spent 9yrs overseas which I do think has something to do with it overall) I Was always one of those who ate and drank whatever they wanted, rarely exercised always had chocolate or sweets on her desk at 5"7 and weighing between 9-9.5 stone and size 10..... Now I'm trying to figure out how to balance it without depriving myself, as cannot get lower than 10st 6lbs and a curvy 12.

I know the answer is exercise but I'm lazy!

*Dear God, the state of my last post!

“You might be slim, but by God it sounds like a joyless way to live.”

That probably depends what brings joy into your life! I like food, but it isn’t my only source of happiness. I can eat a salad and find joy in crafting.

Some people would find 15 miles of dog walking a joyless way to live. Some people would find being overweight with sore skin folds a joyless way to live. Each person needs to work out how they enjoy to live, and find a way to build their lifestyle around that.

When I'm 8 - 10 it's from reducing the amount of crap I eat and drink.
I make sure I get enough water every day.
I use a smaller plate that is better for portion control.

I still have treats, just had a packet of crisps and a tango. When I drink fizzy it's the full sugar stuff still.

I walk almost everywhere like I'm in a rush, I hold in my stomach muscles. When I can I run up and down stairs and escalators. Every morning I have to do some stretches to get my body to work.
When I sit and watch tv or even on here, I sit straight and hold in those tummy muscles. Waiting for the kettle to boil I might do some ass clenches. I dance around the house when I can and cleaning burns up a lot of calories! That's the only tempting bit when I think about finally buying an iron lol.

I don't count calories or obsess about what I'm doing. Took about 2 years to realise I did still have any muscles in my stomach.

Oops posted too soon. I only drink alcohol on ocassion. I only drink water or decaf tea. Never squash or fizzy stuff.

We don't have biscuits, cake, crisps in the house. I will happily go out for a coffee and cake sometimes.

We don't have desserts as standard after meals. Occasionally might I do I go out but not everyone.

Cook fresh foods at home but I do have curries, pasta within that.

7 lots of fruit and veg a day.

So I don't go without anything but my overall diet is balanced and healthy.

@MaskingForIt That's what I wanted to say but wasn't sure how to phrase it. There seems to be a lot of emotional value put in food. It was one of the reasons I ended up overweight in the first place. When you see food as fuel and nothing more, it's far easier not to overeat and meet your emotional needs with other things

No alcohol & lots of excersise

I agree with a pp. This is a tiny amount of food. Why would you think mushrooms and tomatoes alone were a meal?!

Because they needed eating and they were lurking in the bottom of the fridge. It was something quick to cook when I came home soaked to the skin after work.

I don't think it's a tiny amount of food at all. Half a pizza is a fair whack of calories (600+ according to the packet) which was my breakfast only three hours earlier.

Eating low carb high fat keeps me around 9 and a half stone which is great for me (5’4”, mid 40s, otherwise Apple-shaped) and I can pick up/order a ten and it will be guaranteed to fit. I can have the odd cheat but 90% of the time I am “compliant”.