Shorties trying to lose weight!

[SwimmingOnEggshells]

I started my fatbusting journey a couple of weeks ago and my plan is to document my progress here.

So far I've been doing a fair bit of cardio - 5 times per week - and I'm hoping this will help me get rid of some lbs. I posted a thread on AIBU looking for people's advice on only using exercise to lose weight but the general consensus is that no, I need to calorie restrict too. Boo! is what I say to that but maybe I need to face facts that I'm no longer a spring chicken and need to make a concerted effort with food too to shed anything!

Anyone want to join me?! @neverenoughchelseaboots

Current weight: 60kg/132lbs
Target: 50kg/110lbs
Height: 5'0 :(
Age: 39

Hope you're all doing well. It appears the Christmas treats are a real downfall for a lot of us.

I've discovered some more sweets (from the festive period) so have tucked them away to give to family tomorrow. I find the calorie counting really helpful in working out what I actually want to eat, and what I actually eat because it's there.

Calorie counting is the only way I've ever successfully lost weight before. I'll be honest...I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed by being 10st8 and wanting to get down to 8st7. Not to mention some real disappointment in how I've got here.

I'm just taking it meal by meal, day by day,

I agree with you, calorie counting is the only way I’ve ever lost weight, it keeps me focused
I’m writing ( proper writing in a notebook!!!) everything down every day since sept 1 st and it helps keep me on track. Also makes me aware of portion sizes and excess extras!

@knittingnanny yes, portion sizing is my issue, and overeating.

I LOVE cheese and it is scary to realise how calorific it is. Not that I've stopped eating cheese, but am trying to eat more feta/parmesan instead of handfuls of cheddar on everything.

I also think being shorter, we have less calories to play with so we need to be aware of how easy excess calories = weight gain

Yes larger portion sizing, and snacking, wreck our ‘Wanna Be Slim’ plans. And the alcohol calories. But it sounds like most of you have done very well. I am not doing so well on the dieting and have taken a break from it and just hoping to maintain at my 4lb raise and go no higher than that.

One of my teens says it is still the Christmas Holidays as they are not back to online lessons until Monday 11th. That is my excuse.

I am very tired. I think the world news and U.K. news, and the weather, is not helping. Whereas comforting food and a warm blanket does. I am being lazy. I will up my game next week. X

I did much better today and seem to be over my chocolate stuffing blip.
I waited an hour between eating my dinner ( big veggie omelette/ frittata thingy) and my pudding ( yog and berries) which helped I think.

@knittingnanny good to hear you've had a better day

@modernfemininity definitely give yourself a break, it's a strange time for us all

I opened a bottle of wine yesterday and stuck to one glass, and will have a glass tonight and tomorrow and then that's it until at least friday/saturday for the next bottle.

I'm hoping for a small loss tomorrow but won't worry so much if not, I've felt good with my choices this week - that have included chocolate, pie and mash, wine etc. For me, these first few weeks are more about calorie awareness

Well done @Knittingnanny - I also often do the “Delay Do Not Deny” routine.

I hope everyone’s New Years are going well. The tv news is Absolutely Terrible isn’t it? We have to look for hope. Hope and improving things and making change is what keeps us all going. Good things are yet to come, and good things also come in small packages (like us). We can all contribute to the positive and be part of a solution for bettering ours and other’s lives, and we need not be part of bigger problem making.

I am very happy to be part of this chatter about being short and not gaining pounds. It is great to be in this little anonymous group. It is good for my soul- because who else other than You Other Shorties understand?

I lost my weight mostly by cutting some carbs out, and eating less meat and more veggies. Our meat portions used to be very big. I did not calorie count. I did the 5:2 and then introduced the 16:8. It worked very well and steadily.

I now need to lose 4lb and then start again maintaining (and also hoping for a couple more vanity pounds to come off when the spring bulbs and warm weather comes). We still have a wheel of Brie to eat!!

I am now
111lbs / 7stone 13 / 50.2kg
and still would like to drop back to my lowest achieved and goal weight of 48.5kg.

I cannot remember which of you are in or aiming for this ballpark? I know it a low one and it doesn’t make me popular but it is attributable to my frame size and height and not to any distinction that I am at all skinny. I bulge in my jeans!

Also - can you help - what are your plans for losing your (mostly less than) 4lbs gained at Christmas? ( How come I gained more than others or is this average? )

Any further tips for feeding the youths in your family and not picking at their carby yummy calorie laden food left in the kitchen?

@modernfemininity I'm also glad to join this chat with other shorties, because as you say who else would understand especially when we talk about wanting to be 8st something or less. I am 10st8 hoping to get down to at least 8st7

I think calorie counting, with a bit of low carbing is the way forward for me. I am vegetarian so thought might be too difficult for me to follow completely, plus I love my carbs to much to give up completely. I did have some veggie meatballs with some courgetti this week and was pleasantly surprised!

Here's hoping we all have a better week

Yes calorie counting would help me and maybe you have nudged me. At the start of my diet, to lose 1 1/2 stone, I used the ‘My Fitness Pal’ app. It is free and very good.

Calorie counting isn't for everyone but works for me so I get a handle on numbers, do I want ALL of that cheese (yes!) but can I weigh out a realistic amount? yes, that's a better option and now I can see what a 'normal' amount of cheddar looks like, and unfortunately it's not 3 or 4 handfuls!

I have just got to the point where I can't believe I've got to 10st8 and if I don't put a stop to it, it'll be 11st stone then 11st+. I used to walk a lot on a 'usual' day pre-covid and this is why I've steadily put on more weight over the last 9 months - my eating hasn't changed massively but the lack of movement is causing the gain.

There's so much going on that I can't control, but what I can control is what I eat and from a financial perspective, I have little that fits and I can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe, nor do I want to

yes, mfp is a great app

In answer to your question on the plan to lose the Christmas weight @modernfemininity mine is solely dry jan. I drink a lot (13-16k calories per month) so aside from the weight benefits there's other reasons to cut down. I hope to use dry jan as a reset to healthier habits going forwards.

I naturally eat according to 16:8 because of toddler dinner time and don't have snacks in the house apart from Christmas. Also I'm mostly pescatarian so naturally eat lower calorie foods.

I understand what you mean about weight targets are different according to frame. I'm 9st 2 ish at the moment which means all my old size 8 skinny jeans are fitting without being too tight at all. So another half stone should get rid of the majority of my squidge I think.

Modern femininity, back in the 80’s when mine were born, my health visitor said sprinkle salt on the leftovers so you aren’t tempted!
I seem to automatically do 16.8 as I have breakfast about 11 , mid afternoon snack and tea at 6 ish.
I’m aware that I couldn’t have done this when full time teaching as needed to eat at 7.00 am then was starving by morning break! In fact everything is so much harder when you are working and actively parenting. My eating pattern is different on my grandchild care days.
“ knittingnanny, I’m hungry again”
“ knittingnanny let’s make some cakes”

I am so pleased to see a loss on the scale this morning. 148lb, down from 148.8 last week.

Hello all - decided to weigh myself today as it is around three months since I joined the thread. I have lost 5lb in that time so now at 9stone 4lb. Had actually been working on losing some weight since end of first lockdown so have lost nearly a stone in total. I feel a lot better at current weight (I am 5ft 2in) but I'd like to lose a bit more so will be sticking at it. My dry Jan certainly seems to be helping. Wishing everyone a good week.

And well done to you @purplegirl13 on your progress

Well done @Morningmaeve and @purplegirl13, great progress. I've been steady over the last couple of days but still under 9 (just!!!) Going to have a few strict low carb days to kick things off again.

Morning marvel I’m sane height as you and aiming for 9 st by March 1st
9.3 today ( again!)

@Morningmaeve good progress there

@cathyandclare thank you, I was only expecting a half pound loss so a little extra is spurring me on.

How is everyone feeling about the week ahead? I believe a few of you are doing dry Jan?

I feel like I have planned a good week ahead, meal wise, but might need some vegetarian protein rich snacks for during the day. Any suggestions?

Today:
B - nothing - groceries didn't arrive until 11.
L - homemade black bean soup (from the freezer)
Dinner will be slow cooker ratatouille with a couple of fried eggs.

I will finish the last of the wine tonight (bottle opened Saturday) and that's me done for a week.

Will need something before dinner, so might have some miso soup, or cook up a couple of veggie sausages

p.s I went with miso soup as I'm so cold! This way I can hug a warm mug :)

I've also got calories to spare so might add the veggie sausages to my dinner

@Knittingnanny it made me laugh that your post autocorrected me to morning marvel as I am actually not a morning person at all! 😂

Haha I hadn’t even noticed!
3 year old granddaughter brought me her shortbread biscuits today that she and mummy had made and I couldn’t risk making her sad by not eating one could I?
On the subject of portion size, I’ve been using my smaller plates( think they are called salad plates) for my dinner since September when I started. I think it does help trick me into thinking I’m having enough

Can I please join? I'm 5'1, was 50kg before getting pregnant. Post baby I was 60kg, got down to 53kg and over recent months I'm up to 56kg. Feeling pretty sad about the recent gain and none of my clothes fit!

I was really into exercise before baby and would go to the gym 3-4 times a week. Running would be great for me as it's so time efficient and outdoors really lifts my mood) but I have terrible plantar fasciitis at the moment so it isn't an option.

I eat healthy meals but portions are too big. Over lockdown I got into the terrible habit of eating crap in the evening when little one is asleep. I really need to stop that! Hoping this thread is going to motivate me to behave...

Cannonball, evenings are the worst for me too. I knit a lot to keep my hands away from from food but it doesn’t always work!

Evenings are the toughie.