Petite support for losing a few pounds/getting to our 'happy' size

[ACuppaAlwaysHelps]

Hi all. Following on from the thread that @SprayPaint started yesterday, a few of us (@Waiting9 @Horriblehistoree @FaceofSpades) seemed keen to have a thread to support each other in reaching our weight loss/body shape/fitness/health goals.

All petites are welcome on this thread, but it seemed like it would be particularly helpful to have a corner of Mumsnet for those of us who are petite/small framed and officially a 'healthy weight' but know we feel/look better a few pounds lighter (which would still be within a healthy weight/not underweight).

Maybe we can share goals, progress, struggles, things that are working, etc.? It would also be lovely to hear from any petites who are at a 'happy weight' and what you are doing to be successful.

Someone (maybe @FaceofSpades?) posted some helpful thoughts on the thread yesterday.

Please share how you all think this thread could be helpful.

Feel free to share as much or little as you like. Height, current weight, goal weight or other body measurements, nutrition, calories, exercise, NSV, etc.

Just found this thread after a few months of sticking my head in the sand about how much I've been eating and drinking!

I restarted the weight loss Monday just gone but ruined it by dinner but from Tuesday I've been doing really well. Decided to weigh myself and see what the damage is...a bit less than half a stone (5kg) gain taking me to 55kg which is something along the 8 and a half stone I think.

It's been really hard keeping my running miles up and not being starving but all my races are done for the year now so any long runs I do won't be trying to hit a target. Will try fuel less during them so that I'm burning a decent amount of calories. Restarted the gym too so I'm at least giving it a good push before Christmas.

I'm going tee total and on the diet until the 13th December then I'll have a couple of days off then restart until Christmas Eve. I'm at my parents for a few nights in the gap between Xmas and New Year so that will be tricky but if I don't over indulge I'll be fine. I have the works party in January and want to wear a fancy dress and not look like a whale. Tried one on and it looks ok but my hips are just huge and really not in proportion to the rest of me.

I'm same but in about 8 weeks 😝

I saw 8 stone 11 today 😂
It's taken so long for this tiny change.
I hope I see some changes when I take measurements again (not sure I will but here's hoping).

Well done on the race! I detest running, so am always in awe of everyone that runs (or any form of exercise really) 😂

I've gained a pound!!! No idea why. 5ft2 and 8st6. I know it's a 'healthy' weight/BMI but it's definitely too heavy for me. I have thin arms/legs but every extra pound is on my stomach. Feeling a bit discouraged today.

Have those of you who are seeing progress got any tips to share with those of us who are not? (Average daily calories, exercise, anything else?!)

My weight is remaining consistent, but I'm feeling like I've lost fat and gained muscle. My waist is an inch smaller than 6m ago. While my thighs are bigger, they're smoother.

I've been mainly increasing plants, cutting starchy carbs, using smaller plates/ bowls (hello 1980s student set) and trying to get my incidental movement back up. I started an additional gym session 6m ago with more heavy lifting compared to my usual strength circuits class.

In recent weeks, I've made a lot of home made soups with enougn substance not to need bread and butter. Getting a multi-functional airfryer with pressure cooker was a good move.

It's not dramatic, but I'm keeping it going now we've got into the colder months when I tend to gain fat. Hopefully when salad season restarts around Easter, I'll still be on decent form. It's all good health anyway.

@ACuppaAlwaysHelps I have had 2 terrible days of eating non stop. So stepping on the scale and up by a pound (not surprised). I seem to feel wiped out recently and am running for sugary carbs.
I understand the need to lose a little more. Friends and family keep commenting, telling me I shouldn't lose any more; but I know a little lower and I will feel so much better.

@BogRollBOGOF an inch off the waist is amazing! Well done on that.

I’ve lost a pound this week, which I’m really happy about.

I’ve definitely lost weight since the summer, but I’m at an age where my skin isn’t as supple as it once was. So my skin is a little looser than I’d like. It’s no big deal for me, but that is one of the effects of gaining and losing and gaining and losing. Yet again, I’m determined not to get into that cycle again.

I’m staying at 1000 calories or thereabouts each day, but I’ve eaten pizza, curries etc within this, just a smaller portion than I previously would have. I’ve had one drink within the last month or so, not that I was a big drinker before this (though I was in my youth!).

I have lots of things in the diary for December so I need to work out a strategy for that!

8st 12 today, it has taken weeks just to lose 1 lb! I have started to see some muscle gains though now I have increased the weights I am using, and a tiny bit of abs definition.

That's great work to combine weight loss and increased muscle.

I think I'm long past abs definition; too much spare skin from creating my now teenager in an over-sized bump with giant swimming pool. When I reached the point of not being able to fit in a driver's seat, I exceeded my elastic limit of abs and skin recovery!

I think only a tummy tuck would sort that zone out, and I CBA to go through that. I don't say never, but there's cost, risk.and recovery involved. I went sub 9st for a while in my mid-30s when DS2 was little but there were still handfuls of spare flesh wobbling around the middle while everything else was decently slim and toned. That was around the time I was building up distance running.

Hello May I join please? I’m 5 foot 1, big belly and hips that are just too big right now that none of my trousers fit.
Ive been on 1200 calories for two weeks and have lost 5lbs (9.4 down to 8.13), but this last weekend was ill with a cold so ate everything!
Am eating homemade soups (leek & potato or butternut squash & carrot- no cream just a splash of milk) or homemade chicken selects with spinach, cucumber, red onion, grated carrot and a mayo/curry powder/honey/lemon dressing. I try to add some seeds to that too.
Dinner I’m just having smaller of what the kids have (all homemade but probably not great-pasta/burgers/cheese & potato cake/salmon & cous cous etc)

I do zero exercise (and don’t know where to begin as have slight cystocele & terrified), and according to MyFitnessPal I need to decrease carbs and saturated fat Inc polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, but increase iron, calcium, vit a and c, and calcium which I totally don’t understand how to do!

Any ideas would be welcome and it’s so good to find similar folk!

Thank you.
I have had a tummy tuck. I had 4 big babies and so much excess skin, my top weight when pregnant was 10st 4. I also had diastasis rectis which resulted in two hernias.
One of the best things I ever did, but it is a big operation.

Just found this thread and feel like I've discovered my people!
I'm 5"3 and got to 11st, looked and felt dreadful - no clothes fit etc.
After a few months I am now 9 st 6, wearing clothes I haven't worn in years woo!

My only problem now is I'm now much smaller - size 8/10 but I still have a podgy belly! Going to keep up with my diet and exercise and hope it goes away if anyone has any success stories of finally achieving a flat stomach I'd love to hear them!!

I was a size 8... with a 45" waist and weighing 13st by the last week. I couldn't get myself off the sofa in the last week.
I'd gone down to 8st 7 by 4m due to nausea. I think I lost a lot of muscle from being too knackered to move in the early stages and then when my appetite came back my metabolism wasn't as efficient as usual. 2st of it was baby, and fluids etc, and another couple of stones was me weight.

Second time I managed to keep moving (including on crutches) and kept down to 12st which felt way better.

I now weigh 57kg - still aiming for 48kg. 9kg to go! I’m at the top end of healthy BMI now and my body fat percentage is 30%…so I could definitely lose more and tone up.

I have been aiming to lose about 1kg a week. Sometimes it’s lower than that. My secret is mainly stress at work! I’m finding myself not having much of an appetite. So I haven’t been eating many snacks or treats or alcohol. I haven’t even wanted a winter hot chocolate yet.

The formatting of my last post was odd, so trying this again…

This video shows what happens with weight loss:

apparently we exhale it out - really interesting. So based on that, I’m trying to mainly drink more water. I bought a gadget of a water bottle to track how much I drink and it prompts you to drink more etc. I also bought some reusable water bottle ice sticks as I love cold water. Alongside some electrolyte sachets.

Other than that, I have also ordered a bunch of vitamins and supplements to improve my skin/hair etc

Note to self, breathe out more

How many of us watching that are now automatically breathing out in a big way! I am!
I’ve not lost anything this week although I’ve been very careful not to go over 1000
Im conscious though about going too low at my age - if I look around me, the very very slim older ladies look a bit gaunt and wrinkly so I’m aware that there needs to be a happy medium for me.
I want to avoid knee replacements though so every every extra pound off my knees wil help with my osteoarthritis.

Most bodies don't want to be too low in BMI as you get older anyway. Fat is good insurance against ill health- just not too much of it wrapped around your organs. I've heard it said various times that by the later end of middle age, a BMI up to 27 is healthier than the lower ends of the range.

It's just a shame that we can't re-distribute it where we want!

Welcome to those who have joined us this week. Hope everyone is getting on ok. It's lovely to have so many of us here.

I wondered if anyone would be happy to share their meals for the day or week? I was having a lot of salads in the summer but they're not appealing now it's cold. I find soup a bit disappointing if I don't have bread. I'm trying to prioritise protein and fibre, but a bit out of inspiration.

I'm also wondering if I actually need to slightly increase my calories?! Has anyone else had success when slightly increasing calories? I'm wondering if some of us (petites/small framed, with not much too lose) are sometimes underrating? But it feels a bit scary to increase my calories when I'm not managing to lose these few pounds.

I can not survive on anything too low, mentally or physically. I've put myself on 1500 a day and have stuck to it for 10 days, I've lost just shy of 2lbs in a week.

I'm 5'1 and weigh 53.8kg whatever that is in stone. I am very active though, I walk 4 miles a day just doing the school run, my job is on my feet 4 days a week and I run at least 3 times a week. Next year I have 2 half marathons booked, a 20 mile race and a marathon so I really need to drop the weight before I start the intense training, will help with the running and it's just impossible to fuel the runs on a calorie deficit.

My go to breakfast is porridge at the weekend or a non work day and eggs on a weekday to fill me up and stop me being ravenous by 10am. I might have an energy bar before the gym or a short run but before any long run I always have porridge without fail.

my daily food and trying to stay on keto has been:
coffee with sweetener
babybel cheese for a snack
ham with soft cheese for lunch- (spread the soft cheese onto the ham and roll it up, this is actually soooo tasty!)
snack chicken, bacon and mayo for an afternoon snack or later for dinner- this is also delicious
sometimes I have something else later on, depends if I’m hungry or not. This works out as about 1600 cals and 20g carbs

lunch also includes- omelette with cheese

I just need to tackle the diet cokes this week as I’m bad for diet drinks and I wonder if that’s why I’ve seen no results in 3 weeks.
swapping for fizzy water with fresh lime this week so will report back.

@Pickingmyselfup That's encouraging that you are losing weight on 1500 calories. I am one inch taller than you, 8st5(ish - fluctuates daily!) but not losing weight on less calories than you. I'm also quite active - walk around 20,000 steps a day and on my feet a lot. I'm wondering if I should experiment with increasing my calories? It's so hard to know!

@ACuppaAlwaysHelps many years ago when losing weight after dc1, I remember I was advised to up calories to move out of the plateau and it worked. However I was much younger (I think my age is a huge factor this time). Sometimes I would have a few days of overdoing carbs and go back down to see the pounds drop.
I have upped 2 pounds again, not sure what else I can do. I'm also struggling with tiredness and fatigue, not something I've experienced at this level before. Have blood test coming up so will hopefully see what's happening. I'm going to compare my measurements next week with the hope that things have moved in the right direction.

Hope everyone else is doing better than me!

I'm back down to 52.8kg as of yesterday making it an average of 1kg loss a week. I didn't stick to my calories though, I went out, had a high calorie lunch, didn't weigh my dinner ingredients and I had alcohol.

My main concern is not putting on too much over the holidays but I think if I'm sensible and only have a few days where I totally disregard the diet then I should be ok, especially if I'm still running.