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.

Isn’t it strange that quite a few of us are petite, relatively normal weight, thin legs/arms but we’re carrying excess weight in our tummies. I have to strip off for a spa weekend away end of Feb so now I have the motivation!

Yup. It's like a rubber ring around s the middle

1400 does seem a bit too low for your activity levels, I couldn't cope on that.

I was just doing some reading and it was recommended in an article that petite women should focus on interval based strength training. I'm not sure I know what that is. Apparently my running jogging routine will only make me more hungry and not burn so many calories or increase my metabolism so is counter productive.

Anyone have any idea what I should be doing to add some interval based strength training...is that burpees? Or weights? Who can teach me at home.

Thanks.

Can I join please? Just weighed myself and had a right shock, I knew I'd put a bit on but I've hit 10 stone at 5ft 1
That's feeling lighter than over Christmas so lord knows what it was then!

My absolute happy weight is 8 st10 but I haven't been there for about 10 years, I've hovered between 9-9st 7 and probably more at times.
I just have been mindlessly snacking on shite! Coupled with barely any exercise 😫

I'm good at doing 16:8, or 18:6 so have been back to it in the last few days.

10k steps yesterday and today, and have downloaded a walking fit app, just did a first (very easy) workout and loved it, so I am determined to get my money's worth.

No wonder my jeans have been tight! I have a pair to keep as a goal, and first target is 9st 7.
Yikes!

I’m the opposite. My tummy is still flat but I’ve gained so much on my thighs and hips. Not happy about it.

Just did my first weigh in and I have lost 2 pounds! Really pleased with that. Not done anything other than quit sugary snacks.

Great going @Lowin2024 , that's really motivating!

I've weighed myself today and my Christmas weight gain is finally showing! I don't know why I do this to myself - I know that any gain or loss takes a couple of weeks to show on the scales, but I was so pleased not to have gained much over Christmas! This morning I am back up to 64kg from 62.3 in December. Not a huge amount but it took me ages to lose that much!

Still, I'm back into decent habits, back to exercising and have curbed the snacking and drinking. I need to persevere and remember that what I'm doing right now will show up in a couple of weeks. I'd love to be 60kg by the summer. If I can lose 1kg per month I will be happy! I managed that in Nov-Dec so I am sure I can do it again.

Quiet follower here - and happy new year. The sad news today is that I went to do a health check this week (Neko Health, very interesting) and my height is lower than I was measured when I was much younger, so my BMI has gone up as a result! Good news is, despite going up more than 2kg at the height of the Xmas bloat, I'm now back to just 0.3kg over my lowest weight before Christmas, so hopefully not wildly off track. I want to lose a few kgs before Easter when I visit family overseas. Should be achievable I hope.

@Hoolahoophop interval training is when you alternate intense exercise and then rest, so hill sprints and a relaxed walk back down would be interval training. Interval strength training sounds like interval training with weight, which would usually be something like a circuit class. However, all that would do is make you tired and hungry, as it's basically cardio with weights. Good for endurance, will burn calories, but likely to make you want to eat more calories than you burn.

If you want to increase your metabolism you need something that builds muscle. Thats done through heavy weights, which can only be done in a controlled, slower pace. It's difficult to do that at home as most of us don't have the equipment to do so - most people would be surprised how much weight they can lift and how quickly that weight increases (you need to keep increasing for a long time to build muscle - known as progressive overload)

I started doing gym work in the summer in addition to a circuits style strength class. In the last 6m, I've increased my weights at circuits from lifting heavier at the gym. In mid-October I started barbell squats with just the 20kg bar and last week got it up to 30kg. So that's 50% heavier and nearly half my weight already. I'd be happy if it was half my weight or just over 😂 I've got capacity to keep building it up still.

It's a bit of a muscle-head gym and it does feel good when I get a smile from a bloke who can lift double me. It's an appreciation thing; it's friendly down there and it's recognising other members lifting to where they're at. Like being lapped at parkrun, but fast runners acknowledging the effort and being a sporting community together.

In food I've done well on vegetables/ nutritious food choices. It's certainly been a week to embrace hearty, home made soup! I don't know if it's been a weight-loss week as I'm in the low energy stage of my cycle where I've had a few quick energy fix cravings. But I've been well nourished with a good range of foods which is the most important thing.

@BogRollBOGOF I always find the more serious the gym the nicer the people are - I think when people are really serious about their training they are just happy for anyone to share their hobby, and they're usually at a point that it's no longer an ego thing. Best gym I ever trained at was an inner city independent bodybuilding gym, that was full of 1970s hammer strength equipment!

I enjoy circuit type training, as its great for endorphins and usually very sociable - I've definitely made the biggest difference doing strength training though. I'm heavier than I used to be but I don't think I look as heavy as the scale would suggest, if that makes sense. I'm a size 8-10 on top and size 10 jeans, though I do notice my upper arms take up more room than they used to 😁

(I suspect if I hadn't got into strength training I would still have put on weight over the years, but in different places!)

More mixed results for me. My waist lost half an inch of Christmas bloat, but scales up slightly which is easily attributed to tired muscles and time of month effects still in operation.

It is my waist I care more about as that's the best indicator of excess fat and health.

Managed to lose 2lbs since Christmas! Currently 59kg.

I've lost 2lbs over the last two weeks. The honeymoon period is over and the hard slow weight loss starts here (usually after the initial few weeks I lose very slowly ,maybe half a pound a week). I do feel better for cutting out the snacking on chocolate and biscuits though and getting back into exercise, so that is a big win.

Weighed myself this morning, I'm now 55.3kg meaning I've only lost a pound in 6 days. Slightly disappointed but I guess it's better than nothing.

I've ordered a fancy dress for the autumn and I'm now feeling really worried I'll look terrible in it.

I need to get this weight shifter by my marathon in October, there is no way I want to be running 26 miles with extra weight on me!

how tall are you @Pickingmyselfup and what is your typical days food if you don't mind me asking. 55kg is my primary target weight (I'm just under 5ft) but i am struggling to get there!

I'm 5'1.

Today's food has been...

40g avacado, 2 poached egg and 2 slices of serrano ham on 1 slice of co-op seeded sourdough with one coffee.

Had a mocha when I got to work which I haven't logged and some cake, also not logged.

Snack this morning was 30g beef jerky.

Lunch 2 mini tuna wraps with sweetcorn and cucumber.

Dinner will be homemade bolognese with 70g pasta and 15g cheese.

I might have the rest of my beef jerky after I get home from the gym around 8.30 tonight.

I will have gone over my 1550 because of the 2 teaspoons of hot chocolate powder and the 1/4 slice of cake.

Thanks @Pickingmyselfup your 1550 sounds doable if that is your target and has kept you to the weight you are. I may aim for that.

I think my issue might be sticking to the plan all week....then going massively over at the weekends.

It's certainly doable but it doesn't leave any room for fun stuff. I am planning to increase them soon though, I'll need the energy for my longer runs as well as the calories for fueling them.

Well done guys.
I’m not doing so great - DOMS have scuppered my workout plan as after weigh workout on Mon/Tues (started back after a month off!) I could barely move by Wed so have done nothing since!
Been doing better with food - I’m fine during day but weakness is evening - supposed to be no carb but last night cracked (full of a cold!) and had a leftover mince pie.
Must do better!

It's great to see lots making good progress, whether that's inches off or scales going down.
Unfortunately I was unwell for a while, and still can't get rid of the cough; on top of that dc caught norovirus.
I decided to try get back on track Monday; however I am finding it a little more challenging because of the cough (can't seem to get rid of it); but have resumed following Sydney cumming workouts (short 30 minute YouTube videos) for now. It's been that long since I've worked out my poor arms and legs 😂
I have found I'm constantly hungry, I haven't been counting calories, just trying to make sensible choices, but I feel super hungry all the time and am craving carbs. I do have pcos so it can be a little bit tricky with the cravings :(

I’m down 4lbs to 9 stone and I already feel so much better. Excited to see an 8 for the first time in ages 😂, hopefully in a week or so. My goal is 8 stone 7 but 8 stone 10 is where I used to be fairly comfortable. I have literally just cut sugar and started walking a bit more, but nothing else has changed.

Wow 🤩. Fantastic.