If you are naturally bigger, but stay slim by exercise/diet how did you initially do it?

[letsgostrawberrypicking]

Hope that title makes sense!

Basically want to know how you have got to a size 10/12 if you are (like me) a steady size 14/16.
How much exercise did you have to do to get there per day/week? And what kind?

And how much do you do to maintain it?

Thanks for any info!

running - 5k in 30mins 3 or 4 times a week. i also did pilates.

i am trying to get my weight back down and am running between 8 and 10k.

Well I'm not sure I'm all that slim atm I'ev been getting into v badf habits diet wise but I am slimmer than I've been as an adult so I guess the question is relevant to me.

1. Atkins - I stuck religiously to it for about 2 yrs. Lost loads to start with but then it slowed. And I plucked up the courage to start eating a normal diet again. My appetite had shrunk and I was quite careful so it largely stayed off.

1. Running. Magical unexpected bonus to getting fitter. But it didn't really kick in until I was running more than an hour each time. At the same time trying to eat moderate amounts.

3 times a week. An hour or more. Between 6 and 12 miles.

used to be a curvy 12-14, now am a boyish 8-10.

had terrible sickness when expecting dd and literally oculdn't eat more than a few mouthfuls at a time. after she was born - my stomach had just got used to eating less, i get awful indigestion and pain if i eat too much which i never used to.

walk abso-flipping-lutely everywhere! and push a heavy pushchair while you're doing it.

eat lots of fruit and veg and drink lots of water.

don't mean to sound flippant (just read what i'd written and thought i sounded a bit patronising ) but that is what happened for me

thanks for those answers!I have found Adkins good too, I think some of us must just suck carbs in through our pores and retain them as I lost a fair bit just on proteins

If you dont mind me asking what size were you before exercise and what size can you both maintain with the running?

ooh a curvy 12/14 sounds good!

I was a smallish 14 before I started. And got down to a 10/12 - so not tiny but for my height it's OK. I am nearer a 14 than a 12 now though

I am not slim (yet) but I am getting there.

I used to be a size 10/12, went up to a 16 after having DS1, never shifted the weight in between children and went upto size 18+ after DS2.

However have since lost 2 stone since the beginning of the year and am back to a comfortable size 16 again - with the aim to lost another 2 stone and get to a 12-14.

I am using a website (called Weight Loss Resources) which is a basic calorie counting website - it has a database of pretty much every food you can think of so you are allocated a daily calorie allowance and you log what you have eaten/planning on eating and it deducts it off your calorie allowance so you can see what you have left for treats etc. If you do any exercise, you get more calories for that day so you can eat more

I have found this has worked for me as it has educated me and made me much more aware of which foods are high-calorie etc. For example, we used to eat pasta and pesto for tea a lot (and I always used to think this was ok) but it is actually quite high calorie.

I also do a LOT of exercise - 3 or 4 very high impact aerobic or step classes a week, usually a weights class (Bodypump) and walk DS1 to nursery 6/7 times a week (20 minutes) whilst having a 20lb baby strapped to me

And having said that, the weight is still only dropping off me at a rate of 1-2 lbs a week!!

i got down to 10-12 from size 18 a few years ago. i am currently size 14 and aiming to get back to 10.

lost 3 stone when my youngest was born, all down to pushing a double buggy around
am a size 10-12 nad dont exercise at all, just keep busy all day and enjoy pottering round the garden rather than sitting in it

1-2lbs is a good rate of weight loss. that is what i aim for.

i didn't have any prob with my size as a 12-14 (and i had boobs then too!), but 8-10 just seems to be what i am now - the diet and exercise "plan" are more lifestyle choices/changes as oppose to concious efforts to be thin!

am 5'4 and used to be 10st or a couple of punds over. now am 8st'11.

oh and have been 8 1/2 stone (after flu) but just looked gaunt...

Religiousbiscuit - I know 1-2lbs a week is a good healthy weight loss but when I actually list the amount of exercise I do each week, I realise just how hard it is to shift even just 1lb a week!

i agree, it can be demoralissing if you are exercising really hard!
want to borrow my kids and double buggy, that should help

I am 5"7 and have gone from a 14/16 to a 12. It has taken 5 months of going to the gym 3 times a week and walking to work (20mins each way) every day. I also cut out alcohol for 1 month and now try to have as many alcohol free nights as possible.

It helps if you really enjoy what you do. And if you try to do it regardless of weightloss. I didn't expect to lose weight - I had been fairly fit and active for many years without losing much weight (I toned up of course) and was only running because I wanted to and couldn't justify the cost of my gym membership anymore. And I didn't 'lose weight' that spectacularly, in fact I was never really sure what I weighed, but I shrunk dramatically - one of my neighbours called me 'the incredible shrinking woman'

i have gone from a size 18 / 20 to 14 in 2 yrs by high protein low carb diet and training with a personal trainer. need really to do 5 sessions a week in gym, 2 resistance and 3 cardio. my shape has changed dramatically but now slowed and infact wt going on again as exercise slipping and dieting going a bit hey wire. i have to stick to it 110%

loads of sensible advice thanks. I reckon i will keep aiming for the 5 sessions a week/2lb weight loss then if i only do 3 sessions/1lb loss I will be doing ok. Aim high methinks!

Have been advised the cross trainer is best one to use, apart from actual running.Does anyone else think it works you hard?

Whilst exercise is very important the only way you will really lose "weight" is if you change your diet. You will see your body shape change doing exercise.

The cross trainer is good as it uses a lot of muscle groups, the more muscle groups you use the higher the calorie burn. It's also an all-over workout. However it only works you hard IF you work hard IYSWIM. As mummydoc said if you are going to do 5 sessions a week then 3 cardio and 2 resistance is a good combination, and don't let anyone put you off with tales of women and bulging biceps weight it's bollocks.

thanks Libras what you say makes a lot of sense. I start my 6 week challenge tomorrow (want to lose a stone and a dress size)and am looking forward to seeing how things are after that.

I do agree that you need to enjoy your exercise otherwise you won't stick to it - I would willingly go to the classes I go to, even if they had no health/weight loss benefit whatsoever, as I just love doing them.

Oh yes and unfortunately I think I am going to have to watch what I eat forever now as my natural size seems to be 14-16 - so when if I get to a size 12-14, I am still going to have to calorie count/exercise to maintain it.

Wouldn't you rather enjoy yourself as a natural size 14-16 than a calorie obsessed 12-14?
Exercise is still important whichever size you are.