to think it’s a bit depressing how little you can eat when you’re short?

[stressy1]

I’m quite small, 5'1, and it’s honestly a bit of a shock when you realise how little your body actually needs. When you look into it, your “normal” is already quite limited compared to someone taller and then menopause comes along and seems to shrink it even further.

I am surrounded by people eating what looks like totally reasonable amounts. I join in and think I am eating normally, but over time the weight creeps up.
It doesn’t feel like overeating at all, that’s the frustrating part but it is for my height.

There is so little margin for error. A couple of small extras, a snack, a drink and I have tipped over. Meanwhile taller people seem to have so much more flexibility without even thinking about it.

Anyone else found this?

My friend is 6ft and she can quite literally, despite being in her 40s, eat anything, all day long without any weight consequences.

Restaurant calories are crazy even if you're tall!

Went out last week for a leaving 'do' and even what seemed to be a pretty basic lunch claimed to have almost 1000 calories. Ended up with what they billed as a side dish!

My stress with this is that I can't commit to strength training for the rest of my natural life. I have periods where I might be able to do this, but periods I'm extremely busy, I also have an injury which can't take too much heat. I would prefer to regulate my appetite rather than do more and eat more, but then depend on continually doing that exercise to keep eating like that.

Perhaps I'm not thinking correctly about this?

This is the same for everyone with kids. You need to have half the carbs they have. Sometimes no carbs. Skip the puds they have. DH always share a pud, kids get one each. If you eat like a teenager you will be obese.

I eat starters as mains, or have mains which are lower calories (if they exist) but it is hard work!

Lol get bulking - she’s post menopause. I’d like to see you bulking at 55. We more mature women are aiming to maintain muscle mass not bulk.

Dd had to cut out dairy as dgc had intolerance. The weight dropped off dd really quickly even when dgc was down to bedtime feed only.

I'm 5 1" and I agree with you OP. Even a weight gain of 5lbs makes a big difference to how my clothes fit. So, in order to not have to buy a whole new wardrobe I have to keep to my weight stable. I walk over 20K steps a day and more at the weekend when it includes about 15Km of running. Then I can eat a normal amount of food. If I didn't do this amount of exercise I'd be much bigger. Luckily, I actually enjoy running and walking lots so it's a win win. I'm 48 and perimenopausal but it hasn't made a difference to my weight yet. I'm on HRT.

But 30mins on an exercise bile a day is easy to fit in and 100 squsts can be done in less than 10mins.
You are far better going into old age with decent muscle and strength.

Yeah I’m late forties, 5ft 5. If I eat at around 1500 calories a day I roughly stay the same . And I do weight lifting twice a week, swim and do pilates. Basically anytime I have a treat my weight will go up by a pound or 2.

I love the way that regular exercisers say 30 mis a day is easy to fit in. When it seems like a massive hurdle for most of us.

I mean, I think they are probably correct, but I am not sure HOW i would do it as its seems like an unsurmountable challenge at the moment. I get up at 6.30 exhausted, struggle to get me and the kids up and out the door for 7.30 go to work (I have a 20 min lunch break) go home, collect the kids, drive them around to various hobbies until about 6pm cook dinner, eat dinner, put the kids to bed, clear up and do a few chores. Collapse on the sofa at 9pm.

I could get up earlier, could prioritize me and reduce the kids clubs, or do exercise after 9pm but it seems like a mountain to climb. Sadly, I know it is possible to fit in as I used to run, and when I was running I was fitter, healthier, more energized, happier and yes, slimmer.

I walk for about 30 min average a day (over the week) and do a few sessions on the static bike a week, this doesn't help that much with my calorie allowance! I'm just an overweight lady doing these things.

I agree that strength and core training and balance and everything is good in its own right. I'm asking about this as a strategy for eating more and asking whether suddenly doing more training might not create future problems and whether this is a sustainable (for me, might be for others) way to square the circle when you are a shortie over 55.

Now my children have left home I have more time to do these activities, but I do find with working full-time, that my energy levels aren't what they used to be. Quick walk in the am freshens me up but it's not leading me to be slimmer, for sure.

@FallenNight i do understand. I do get up at 6am to exercise and it's a non negoiable for me. I used to scroll on my phone in the mornings with a brew and i just use the time more wisely now. I do the 30mins, get a shower and it's just part of my morning routine, just like brushing my teeth.
If i stop for a few days, my energy plummits and i gain weight.
My squats are done while waiting for the kettle or cooking dinner etc.

I do believe this is the best way, get it over and done with first thing, and I do feel much better when I do this. But not slimmer!

I take tons of stuff home with me nowadays, the doggie bag is my thing now.

I'm the same as you but it's a simple fact that shorter people burn less calories at rest than taller people...

1000 calories for me as short and menopausal

and have to use 10mg of Mounjaro a week to be able to do that (stable weight for over a year)

Absolutely and portion sizes are a big problem when eating out. I used to like going to Wetherspoons who did a small size fish and chips. Yes, you can leave stuff on the plate, but when you’re paying £15-£20 for a main course it’s frustrating! I sometimes have two small plates instead :-(

One of the ladies at the gym who is fit, slim, and short said she’s now down to one weetabix for brekky

A friend sees a private gynaecologist, the minute she hit menopause he put her straight on the jabs and said (kindly!) any weight loss attempts now would be futile.

Also under 5ft here! Husband is 6’4” and can eat like a horse.. I have a good appetite and really love food so if I’m not careful the weight creeps on. I just basically need to eat half of his portion, do some moderate exercise and no treats Monday-Thurs. I literally had to eat like a sparrow and be very hungry to be 7 stone though.

I'm 4'11"and I take Gabapentin for my restless legs. The tablets have put so much weight on me and I hate it. I really don't eat much in a day. I have breakfast but no lunch, and a small portion of dinner.

I have resorted to Wegovy in an attempt to slim down. It's too early to say whether it's having any effect.

Are you sure that tall people aren't having to think about it?

I'm tallish (5'7") but also put on weight if I have an extra snack here or there. There's no flexibility. I can't just eat more without it having an impact.

I appreciate my base rate of calorie use may be higher though, and that is unfair and frustrating! Totally with PPs on men eating loads (for this reason I am more judgemental of obese men than women!)

To those wondering about fitting in exercise - brisk walking is good if you can add it in as part of your commute (eg. park further away, use public transport so walk to bus stop etc.). Also workout videos online - as you don't have to actually go anywhere. When you find your thing that suits, you find you can't go without it, but it takes time! (I say as a generally clumsy and unsporty person who found my things!)

It helps, but it's not a panacea. I mentioned earlier in thread, I've been strength training over a decade, can deadlift nearly double my weight, I do another sport on top and I get my steps in. At 5ft 3, and peri (and a small natural frame) that gives me 1700ish maintenance and 1400 to lose. That's better than it would be without, but it's not a lot and I've got menopause yet to come!