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?

Do some people track their calories every day even if not on a diet?

Like what, pray tell? Diabetes? Heart disease? Colon cancer? Infection due to skin rub? Sleep apnea? I could go on...

How bloody dare you? colon cancer because you are a female and not size 6/8? Do you have half a brain at all? My brother nearly died from this ( at 6' and 11 stone)

Skin rub? How dare you, how insulting.

Size 4 and 5’4.

But am only 32 so it will get harder!

Small bowl of cereal, sandwich and a handful of crisps, two biscuits and a healthy dinner and sometimes a pudding. I never let myself get too hungry or I’m likely to think fuck if and eat anything and everything!

I aim to do over 10,000 steps a day and used to gym 3/4 times a week pre lockdown.

I weigh myself frequently so I know if it creeps up.

I could easily be 200lbs and fucking miserable

I topped out at 210lbs. Now that was fucking miserable. Got it all sussed now

Not me, but my friend.

She’s a 6-8. She’s hungry quite a lot of the time. She’ll have a sachet of CupaSoup for lunch and not snack in between meals.
She loves food and can pack food away if she’s out for a meal, but is tiny through sheer willpower. I envy her.

size 4 and a handful of crisps? That sounds normal.

@randomer what do you mean? I can’t tell if you’re joking or if that’s too much / too little for others!

I just used to starve myself.

Omg @managedmis, What a load of crap 😂😂 sorry to hear about your brother @randomer

Im not joking . Its pitiful. A grown woman at size 4? Come on. Try pitching up at a blood bank, they will put you right.

Skin rub....heart disease? What a sad state of affairs.

@randomer it’s not pitiful, that’s my size and I feel happy and healthy.

It’s only pitiful if it’s not natural.

Low fat
Low carb
Low sugar
Cook from scratch
Limit alcohol
Regular exercise

I track like a demon. I eat 1200 per day but don't avoid certain foods. I'm never really hungry, although counting calories takes up a lot of headspace.

And yes,it's for life, pretty much. I've been calorie counting for 40 years. I'm not even particularly slim at a size 10 and 5"4". It's a constant struggle for me. I'm also old, which has made it harder.

Small bowl of cereal, sandwich and a handful of crisps, two biscuits and a healthy dinner and sometimes a pudding

This isn't a huge amount of food but it's also not complete starvation. If I ate that, I wouldn't be a size 4. I had to eat one meal a day to be a size 8. I think I'd have to completely starve myself to be a size 4. I would not be healthy

I'm 44 and currently a size 8.

I've been up to a 14 previously. The only thing that previously kept the weight off was diet and exercise.

I became stage 4 alcoholic, wasn't eating and was minimum weight. Since getting sober I was concerned that I would put on weight being able to eat again, but actually I haven't. I eat very small portions and haven't forced my stomach to stretch out again, so I'm satisfied with much less food. I still eat pretty much want I want went I want, although I'm included towards healthy food, I do eat chocolate and ice cream every day. I've gained enough to look healthy again, but not enough to get overweight and seem to be maintaining not gaining.

I do think portion control is a huge part of it. We eat far too much, much more than we need unless we very active.

But am only 32 so it will get harder!

I wonder what women could achieve , if their heads weren't fulll of this stuff.

Well done on getting sober @theemmadilemma 🥰

We’d be a force to be reckoned with.

@randomer

Given there are a lot more extreme eating regimes on here - why is mine the one you have taken issue with?

And genuine question - would you be as quick to criticise or call me pitiful if I had said I was size 16 and ate 4 times what I do?

Surely if the person is happy and healthy, that’s what matters!

To be honest I'm not sure if I'm 'naturally slim' but am the same height as you and an 8-10. I have always been around the same size but went through a period when at university where I was very obsessed with exercise and counting calories and went down to about 8 stone. I never count calories now and eat whatever I want but usually that is the healthy option and I don't drink much or eat at all really after my dinner at 5pm (with the kids). Am now nearer to 9 stone but a lot happier than I was when I was counting calories.

I’m 5’7” and size 10 (I’m also 66 years old if that’s relevant). I eat a healthy, balanced diet, but not large portions; no deserts; few treats like chocolate etc and a glass of wine or two at weekends. I also exercise a lot!! I walk my dog twice a day, I own/ride/look after a horse and do lots of physical chores in house and garden. To me it’s about moving as much as possible and eating modestly.

I wonder what women could achieve , if their heads weren't fulll of this stuff.

Well, I'm unlikely to achieve a podium place in my competition unless my head remains full of this stuff.

@randomer Would you like me to give up on my aspirations to keep you happy?

Don’t body builders have to eat loads

I'm 44 and a size 6-8, but only 5ft 3. I exercise a helluva lot, mainly running most days a week, and a bit of weights as well. I don't eat bread or carbs like pasta or cereal, but do like homemade cake, chocolate, rice and oats. I love fruit and vegetables, and tend to eat healthily 90% of the time. I would like to stay this slim as it helps with my running and I feel fine, but hell it is hard.

My typical day:
No breakfast or an apple, coffee and juice
Usually porridge or soup for lunch with fruit
Normal dinner with lots of veg, a protein, and too much carb
Yoghurt