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’m not worried, I’ve been called far worse/better in my 40 years of teaching infants! I replied “ it’s because I’m a nanny”.

It's a lovely age, isn't it? The stuff they come out with!

Hi everyone,

May I join? I think I said I'd join the thread about a month ago but I haven't had the willpower. But all has changed! (I hope...) I had a pair of trousers delivered today that barely fit and I got a bit of a shock. They're a size larger than I'd usually buy so the fact they were extremely snug was worrying.

My plan is very conscious eating: no chocolate, no crisps, coffee for breakfast, muesli mid-morning, light lunch and then my dinner. Lots of water.

Exercise-wise I was running regularly until about 6 months ago when I got patellar tendonitis and I'm still trying to rehab that. I'm hoping to start the couch to 5k at the start of Lent, I'm not religious but it seems like a reasonable target :)

My stats are: 5'0, 9 stone 1 lb and my target is 8 stone.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you fellow smallies :)

Hey @HolidayBrochure welcome. I like the idea of your Lent challenge. I too used to run regularly, but have not for about 6 months. In my case it was getting busy and my DH changing his working patters so I am needed at home during my usual run times. But lent seems like a good time to start to create new patterns.

I have been calorie counting, its tedious, but a good way to reacquaint myself with what a normal portion size is as I am guilty of eating far more than i need in each sitting. Though my diet is generally quite healthy.

I wish you luck.

Just trying to catch up on the thread (life's been busy).

Welcome to the new joiners

Well done to those who are seeing progress.

I still haven't lost any weight! I'm eating between 1200-1400 calories per day, walking 20,000 steps and doing Caroline Girvan workouts 5 days per week. I am a healthy weight/BMI but just know that I feel and look better a few pounds lighter. I don't really want to reduce my calories by too much as I'm quite active, but might have to consider it?

Thank you @Hoolahoophop. It's so annoying when you can't get out to run when you want to. Is there another time that you could try to make work for you? I used to like dropping the kids to school, do a run and then at my desk for 9.45.

I logged my breakfast on myfitnesspal...maybe I need some more accountability.

@ACuppaAlwaysHelps how long are you at it? It can take me up to three months before I see progress! I've been on this diet mill so many times and each time it's the same...

Hi to all the newbies!

I too @ACuppaAlwaysHelps have been stuck at the same weight for what feels like forever.
I've been doing home workouts following Sydney Cummings YouTube channel; have slightly increased the dumbbell weights for some exercises.
I think I was being over restrictive, and trying intermittent fasting didn't work for me (and I know it works for lots of people). I do have pcos and insulin resistance makes things a little harder I feel. I have been reading a lot about best workouts for pcos are slow weighted workouts to ensure cortisol levels remain consistent as otherwise the belly fat won't budge (my problem area). I've learnt a lot about pcos recently even though I was diagnosed in my early teens 😬
I am in the healthy bmi range but definitely need to lose at least 5lbs to feel comfortable.

Sounds like everyone else is doing well! Maybe I'll be closer to ideal weight by summer time 😂

@HolidayBrochure Since we started this thread!

@ItIsAlwaysSwingsAndRoundabouts That's interesting. I've been doing intermittent fasting. I also wonder if I'm sometimes restricting too much (especially as I'm quite active) but it's so hard to know!

What changes have you made since you've been less restrictive? Have you seen any progress since you made these changes? Belly fat is also my problem. My arms/legs have always been thin.

@ACuppaAlwaysHelps argh, I feel your pain, I've been there! I generally start my diets doing what you're doing and when I see little to no difference after a few months I start to really restrict and then the weight starts to come off. From that point on it does so fairly steadily. I can never figure out if it's the positive changes I was doing for ages that have finally kicked in or I just need to be hungry half the day to lose weight..eeek. I know there are people out there that say you can diet and not be hungry but it just never seems to work for me.

For me hungry seems to = using up fat reserves/losing weight.

It sucks.

@ACuppaAlwaysHelps I feel your pain! Have you taken measurements? I'm exercising like crazy - doing daily yoga in February (not the relaxing kind) and am still running 3x a week, and I have gained a kilo! But at the same time I can feel myself changing. My stomach is flatter and my arms look less wobbly (these are always the areas that I struggle with). I took measurements at the end of Jan and intend to do the same at the end of this month. Still trying not to snack and avoiding too much alcohol, and hoping my weight will dive down at some point.

@HolidayBrochure I'm trying to use the hunger.

I struggle with emotional eating and massive portion sizes. So I am trying to listen to my body. If I'm not feeling actual hunger at meal times, I'll delay the meal. If I feel actual hunger between meals, I will have a piece of fruit. When I start to feel full i stop eating and bag up the rest of my plate for the next days lunch. I am hoping that listening the cues will help....no idea if it will but that's the idea!

I've been looking back at the last six weeks and while things are better (and I've at least not let things get any worse), honestly it's such minimal progress that I need to either accept the size/shape I am or I need to change something. And by change I realistically mean less calories and I'm just not sure I'm willing to do that!

I already cook most my food from scratch, eat a lot of meat and veg, lift heavy weights and I'm active. Perhaps I've been a bit naive about how much it actually takes to have a smaller waist (assuming not genetically gifted!)

Hello you lovely ladies. Please may I join?
I've been watching this thread the last few days and what can I say it sucks being 5ft 3 and it is all such a snail pace to shift anything.

I started yet another eat healthy cut the calories at the beginning of January and I'm not new to this I've spent most of my life yo yo dieting.

I'm too scared to actually go on the scales ATM which sounds ridiculous but I know in myself that my clothes still aren't the comfy feeling I'd like.

I am mostly a size 8 but if I don't continue with actively cutting calories I will most definitely not be getting into my summer clothes.

Sorry for the rant. It just feels so hard today knowing that after my kids who are now 11 and 13 I was 15 stone and I've come along way but it is continuing effort.

You guys are helping me with all your determination xxxx

Re the waist thing, even when I was 8 stone in the 70’s my waist was out of proportion with the rest of me! It was 28” which back in the day was a size 16! And that was way before I’d had any children. I think it’s impossible to shift from the genetic waist shape! The lowest I’ve got post children is 30/31

Wow @Storynanny1 28 being a size 16...
I am a petite frame and I did once upon a time have a small waist, but I certainly am more apple than hourglass. I suspect age and hormones make it harder too!

@Bexstar82 everyone is welcome, though and I hope you don't mind me saying this, do you think there's a chance you're overly focused on this because of previously being big? Being scared to weigh yourself when you're a size 8 sounds a little worrying, even if you are petite. Please be kind to yourself!

@Hibernatingtilspring yes I think I have demons from the past and when my jeans feel so tight from over indulgence and not giving a care in the world latter half of last year it has knocked my confidence. My once close friend proceeded to tell me I can see you have put about 2 stone on without you weighing so needless to say that made me feel like s**t!!!!
I would imagine I am in the 9s and I'd love to get back to in the 8s to feel comfortable again xxx

That's no friend! Sounds like they were projecting their own insecurities.
Perhaps focus on good habits - eating whole foods, drinking more water, getting good sleep - and keep away from the scales, to help your mental health around weight.

I have actually found that I am enjoying cooking again. Making wholesome healthy meals and generally eating a lot better and I've managed to cut out all the alcohol since I started. Whoop whoop!!
I have been inspired and think you are all doing so well and it certainly has helped me seeing others trying to just feel comfortable again. x

dieting cramps my style. Today I am due out with friends for cocktails, but I don't want to drink cocktails, they are far to calorie heavy!

So today I saw an 8 on my scale! I finally broke the 9 stone barrier; only just, but that feels good. It has taken me 7 weeks to lose 5lbs so the progress is slow. In that time I have bounced up and down as much as 1kg a day at times, but I have consistently weighed and the pattern is definitely down. So I will keep going. I am not “dieting” but I do intermittent fasting usually between 7pm-12pm the next day, and I cut sugary snacks almost entirely. But I eat a normal lunch and dinner - normal sized and normal content eg no carb cutting etc, and snacks between if I am hungry which I usually am.

@Lowin2024 bloody amazing well done you x

@Lowin2024 well done!!!

My weight is up and down a lot here, but always around the same point so I don't think I've made any progress really. I'm still exercising every day so plan to take measurements in case I'm building muscle - took some on the first of the month and will measure again on the 1st March.

I'm still under the 10 stone mark though, fluctuating a couple of pounds just under it, so I'm happy enough. I'm aiming for around 9 stone ultimately, I was always in the 8s in my twenties but I think that might be unachievable. I've been over 10 stone since my youngest was born, 10.10 at my worst, so I'm definitely in a better place right now. I need to keep looking long term! Even if I only lose another pound before summer, that's still lighter than I was last summer by about half a stone!

Weighed in at 8 stone 6 yesterday. Over the moon that I have lost a pound although it feels like it’s taken a lifetime just to lose it! Going to try and stay focused over half term and keep doing my 10k steps. Best of luck to everyone!

I too saw an 8 on the scales instead of 9 today. It has also taken me 7 weeks to lose 5lb.
it’s hard work….but we are doing well aren’t we.
I plan to try to keep going until Easter with losing and then aim to maintain. If I can lose another 3 or 4lb I will be thrilled. Jeans feel a bit less tight round tummy.

I had 4 weeks without any cake. Last week, in a cafe, I had a slice and it was heaven. For me it’s about sticking to 3 meals (smaller mains and less carbs) and not snacking regularly but having something like cake as a truly occasional rather than daily treat. I get sugar cravings and have 1 boiled sweet a day.