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.

I'd agree with that @Storynanny1 , I think we're evolutionary attuned to sugar. I don't believe the whole 'if you weren't given sugar as children you wont get a taste for it' ; it lights up the reward centres in the brain. Personally I have found that if I eat enough protein and fibre in my meals, I can turn down chocolate, or stop at a 'taste', whereas if I haven't been consciously thinking about what is in my meals I'm much more likely to find and eat a whole packet of something sweet and barely enjoy it. So I'm trying to focus on that positive goal of adding more protein, veg and fruit to my diet and reduce the snacking that way. Id like to keep it to an actual treat, like dessert in a restaurant rather than something that usually happens by lunchtime!

ive tried the more protein and fibre and yes it’s a good healthy thing but…., I can still be uncontrollable around the chocolate within an hour - bizarrely only in the evening though, I can go without it during the day.

I weighed in at 9 stone 3 on Friday, down from 9 stone 5 just after Christmas.
My dream weight is 8 stone 7 but I will be satisfied with 8 stone 10.
A few lbs is very obvious on my small frame and I agree, my taller friends just don’t get it. And at 40 I find it so hard to lose anything at all. I am hoping that going sugar free will help.
I am still having sugar in things like bread, pasta etc but I have totally eliminated all sweet treats including my beloved chocolate 😭
It’s becoming apparent to me just how much I actually crave it too, afternoon, then after dinner I physically crave chocolate. Hoping this will stop in time by going cold Turkey?

I keep chocolate in the fridge as I cherish those few extra moments as it melts in my mouths from cold. So, the trick for me is to take out one or two chocolates or break off a couple of squares and bring it in the lounge with a cup of tea. The box goes back in the fridge, and I never go back for more, that portioning off somehow works.

My craving for chocolate is very physical, the roof of my mouth sort of reacts to the initial taste, sort of a throbbing! I can only deal with it by completely cutting it out. Something my husband finds bizarre, he just can’t understand how a sensible 68 year old woman can’t just have a couple of chocolates and stop.
One of my three adult children is very similar, still eats a lot of chocolate and as a child couldn’t save some for later like the others did.

I’m 5ft 1 and now at my heaviest of 9 st 4. I will be happy to lose half a stone and get to 8st 10, with a desire to remain under 9st.

Am trying eat less carbs and reduce portions generally as well as cutting snacks. If I can lose a pound a week or reach my target by Easter, I will be really chuffed.

Morning
I am 45 and between 5 foot 2 and 5 foot 3 with a small frame. My weight has crept up and I am an apple shape so everything is feeling tight around my waist.
I exercise regularly. I walk my dog everyday as well as running and indoor cycling (though this didn't happen in December due to being lazy).
I like snacking and this is my downfall. I can't get away with it anymore.
I just did my first weigh-in for a while and I'm 8st 13. If I want to be able to wear my jeans comfortably I need to shift a few pounds.
Short term goal is 8st 10. Medium term goal is 8 st 7. Ideal weight 8st 4.
To lose weight I have to be hungry which is hard. Otherwise it just doesn't shift.
Wish me luck!

For chocolate hits, I like the small bars of Aldi Mosser Roth. It's decent quality and the bars are enough to tick the box.

Until humans could preserve food and had regular access to it, sweet foods like berries were the jackpot of naturally avaliable food. Low effort to gather and prepare, nutritionally rich, immediate feedback in the body's systems. No wonder it makes our brains ecstatic for 5 minutes. We just don't biologically cope with the range of mass produced sweet foods that are everywhere!

I haven't checked in the damage yet. I'm not feeling any obvious bloaty changes. My running's taken a back seat, but I've been gymming. Food wise it's been ok. I've enjoyed treats like mince pies, but I haven't stuffed myself. I've been drinking some alcohol but that's been a glass or two some nights.

A week of tracking and I'm down 1kg and 1% bodyfat (according to my scales). Happy with that, though I'm aware my extra padding is not just Christmas but also due to being injured for a few months prior which limited my activity, so it's going to take a while.

I'm back to proper strength training now and have been for a few weeks so I don't expect my weight to change much but I'd like to lose some of the noticeable extra on my middle and to keep reducing that % (six months ago I was 2kg lighter but 6% lower!)

I need to get started again, but already hit the crunchies this morning.

I'm five foot nothing and weighed in a 59.2kg this morning. I just calculated that's 9 stone 4! My goal is 50kg....but I would cheer if I managed 55kg.

Porridge for breakfast, soup and whole meal pitta for lunch, turkey curry and rice for dinner. Sounds good, except for the chocolate snacks in between. It's tough.

I'm 1kg up on early December. Hoping its muscle gains 😂

At 64.2kg this morning and 5'2" I'm not used to being relatively heavy in a group 🤣

I made vegetable soup this morning. It was a bit watery so nicer drunk from a mug. Still relatively filling. Now I've done my run I'm having a belated lunch of last nights chicken and vegetable curry. That's a good proportion of 30 plants ticked off to get the week going!

@BogRollBOGOF I know how you feel 😂 I was 62.5kg down to 61.5kg. I try not to get too hung up on it, pre strength training I used to be very very slim but I know I'm healthier now than I was then, even though the scale is higher. However my clothes are telling me the recent excess is on my belly, so I do want to do something about that!

Back to my 1200 calories or fewer as of yesterday. So far so good :) Zumba starts again on Thursday.

I have managed 6 days with no sugary snacks at all which might be a record. Still getting cravings. Am not weighing or measuring the rest of my food and I don’t know if this alone will be enough but I will see when I weigh in on Friday….

I'd rather have the muscle (and hopefull bone density) as my first priority.
There is spare in the middle but it's just such a delicate balance between being nourished and satisfied, and keeping energy levels up.
Really I want to not be gaining unnecessary fat, preferably losing some to help for the future and if nothing else, I'm eating well, am strong and active.

I don’t know if any one can explain this. I have lost pounds but my hips and waist have stayed the same measurements.

Placemarking - 5 foot 2 and 8 stone. Happy weight is 7 stone 10 and those 4 pounds make a huge difference. All festive over indulgence. I’ve been eating pretty much what I like from the 2nd week of December and it shows! All on my tummy - it’s protruding out so badly and I just feel yuck and sluggish. I’m ready to go back to normal eating on 13th Jan - has to be a Monday for some reason and I’m away at the moment so still over drinking/over indulging. Tbh I’m quite looking forward to getting back to normal but feel like I need to eat all the treats until then - must stop as will make next Monday so much harder.

5’2 and 8 stone sounds pretty slim to me, especially if you are past your 20s

I look slim in my clothes but it’s a different story once they come off - my tummy is flabby and protruding and I need to tone up massively. Will get back on my lifting weights and walking next Monday.

Yes I’m the same, think that’s more about toning and posture and getting moving after Christmas rather than weight loss. Could be a bit of bloating maybe, I find wheat makes me bloat horribly… I should probably give it up but I don’t want to!!

I've put on 3kg (6lbs) over December taking me up to 56kg which is 8.8 stone.

Could be worse and I'm hoping all the exercise and the dieting will help shed that and the rest. Need to get back to below 8 stone but it's staying there that's the issue!

Just catching up on recent posts.

Welcome to new joiners. Well done to those who are getting back on track and/or just keeping on going. It's so good to share successes and challenges.

@Pickingmyselfup I am currently exactly the same weight (after some Christmas gain) and also currently have the same target you have. It will be great to see if we make similar progress! What's your plan?

I've set my calories to 1550 for a little bit but I'll probably soon go up to 1700 or more.

I'm doing a lot of long distance running races this year so I can't cut too much since I need the fuel to get me through. Need to try keep the gym up too, I struggled last year when my running started becoming more long distance, my legs didn't have it in them to even walk down the stairs after 15km+ let alone do the gym.

I might have to rejig my entire schedule around but I'll cross that bridge if and when I get to it.

What is yours?

Sounds a great plan @Pickingmyselfup

I'm currently using Nutracheck and set to 1400 calories per day (but wonder if it should be higher as I'm quite active, but worry about gaining more weight??). I'm focusing on protein and fibre.

I walk around 20,000 steps a day and do a Caroline Girvan workout at home most mornings. I would really like to lose these pounds (all the extra pounds show on my belly!), so need to consider whether there are other changes I need to make.