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.

@Samphire44 Well done! It is so motivating and inspiring to read this. How heavy do you lift? What range of dumbbells do you have at home? I've recently started Caroline Girvan workouts but feeling a bit restricted by my lack of equipment. I'm trying to work out what I should invest in.

You need to lift what is heavy for you. I had the best results when I started lifting close to failure, so at around 8 to 12 reps you feel you can't lift anymore. I started out with 5kg dumbells upper body and 8kg lower body. You might find you need to go even lighter for lateral raises (maybe 3kg) I think Caroline only uses 4kg for these in iron.

I also had one heavier dumbell of 20kg which I used for sumo squats and hip thrusts. I bought the one a bit later and got an adjustable one which is handy as I can just buy extra weight plates for it.

Other than that a yoga block is useful for elevated lunges etc and a resistance band. I still do hip thrusts on a chair.

I had a bad weekend as I had a friend's party - wine and the wrong food, then compounded it with a macdonalds breakfast on Sunday 😩. I got back on it yesterday though and even managed a run. Please tell me to get out of bed and go to the gym this morning!

Hello everyone,
Could I join as well please.. I am 5ft and weigh 55kg. I am a healthy eater and walk around 4/4 km 5 days a week. However I have not lost even 1kg! Not sure what I am doing wrong..

Well I’m feeling unmotivated today

I don’t understand why I’ve ran every day for almost two weeks apart from one day. Plus planking. And been eating more sensible and fasting and I’ve only lost like half a pound since I started 😭

Sorry for the moan. It’s just hard. I’m still off for a run shortly nonetheless

Keep going @iloveshetlandponies Remember - loss really is so slow for us petites. (I'm talking to myself there as well!) Half a pound lost is better than half a pound gained.

Thank you

And I may be imagining it but I'm sure I feel a little more toned , not sure less than 2 weeks of fairly light exercise can do this though

Altho I have ran 24 kilometres in total this week 🙌🏻

Morning everyone. Just checking in to see how everyone is getting on?

I've recently started one of Chloe Ting's challenges.
During lockdown I did her 2019 2 week shred, and felt and looked good (for once). But things went downhill as I'm an emotional eater- family with Covid/move/dc starting secondary school and I piled the pounds on 😭

I've recently started 2024 tone challenge. I have pcos and even though I was diagnosed in my early teens I never really looked into what would work (exercise wise) for weight loss. Recently I came across a few informative accounts on instagram, and I've finally realised why intense cardio doesn't work the same way for me! So Chloe's challenge is good as it's toning workout. I don't have a variety of dumbbells which is annoying, the 2kg are too light and the 5kg feel a little too heavy for some moves 😂

It's also taken me 3 weeks to lose a pound ☹️

I've found my people.

I'm 42 and 5'0 and rejoined Slimming World a few weeks ago. I weighed in at 9 stone on Thursday, down from the 9st3 I was when I rejoined. I've trued other methods, but this is the one that seems to work for me.

I can't fast until lunchtime. I'm always ravenous when I wake up so have a big breakfast of weetabix topped with loads of fruit, and then I'm starving again by 1030. I've always needed to eat often otherwise I get nauseous. I need to not snack in the evenings, even if its just fruit and yogurt as that's more habit than hunger.

I got down to my 7st 6 target through SW a few years ago. But it was evening snacks that knocked me off the wagon. I was also 35 then. I'm finding it a lot harder to shed it this time round. I've put on a stone since Christmas and I can particularly see it in my face.

I'm hoping to get to between 7st 8 and 7st 10 this time round. That'll put me back in slim but not skinny territory.

I love running and going to the gym, but am currently undergoing physio for my hip and treatment for a tendon injury in my neck and shoulder, so I'm not able to do much at the moment.

Welcome to the new joiners this week. Hopefully you'll find this thread is a place we can all share both our successes and struggles with people who understand the challenges of being petite!

@ItIsAlwaysSwingsAndRoundabouts Which series are you following by Chloe Ting? I've not heard of her before.

Joining- I’m 5 foot 2 and I’m 10.5 stone which is over weight, although I don’t look massive- I feel big and my clothes aren’t fitting!
Ideal weight is 9 stone 7
i know some people posted who are the same height who are starting at my goal weight- but if I go under 9 stone I look gaunt and underweight.

im 7 days into keto/ low carb and naturally intermittent fasting too

im due on on the next few days and after that im weighing in and hopefully down a pound or 2
want to be at my goal for Christmas and Christmas party season 🤞🏻

@ACuppaAlwaysHelps I've started the 2024 get toned challenge. I didn't want hiit style workouts, just weighted workout. During lockdown I did one of her 2 week shred challenges, and even though I wasn't expecting it, but I actually lost an inch or so on waist.
I didn't know about her, but whilst doing another workout on youtube I think I saw a comment and decided to try it out. She did make a few before and after videos during the pandemic which were inspiring.

It's all free, and that works for me, I pay for things and don't use them, this way i won't feel bad for stopping 😂 (hopefully will complete the challenge).
I've downloaded the app to help keep track; this is the website for anyone that would like to have a look chloeting.com/program

I'm 5ft3,41 and currently 9stone5
Have put on a stone over the last 12 months although I have been snacking far too much over this time! Would love to get to 8 and a half stone again but just to drop under the 9s again would be great! Just need some motivation to step away from the snacks! I'll start on Monday (as always!)

Lovely to have you here @abigaail
Why not start today?! (No need to wait until Monday?) It doesn't have to be all or nothing?

Thankyou @ACuppaAlwaysHelps
It was my birthday this week so I have cake and chocolates left over so it'd be a shame to waste them! And a lunch date with a friend at the weekend too! Weekly food shop is tomorrow so I will not buy an extra snacks and stock up on healthier foods for next week

Happy birthday @abigaail Enjoy the the cake and chocolates. I'm a big believer that there must be a way to enjoy a slice of cake, etc. while also generally nourishing our body. Sensible balance!

Morning, first day here. I'm 155cm and 71kg. I am going through perimenopause and the weight appeared overnight (well maybe 6 months) and won't shift. I'm happy at 54kg.

I’m day 11 here and no movement on scales yet but down half an inch on waist and hips so would have thought there would be more but it’s something at least!

I agree however I get a taste for sugar and I’m bingeing the whole house worth then going to shops for more! There’s no stop button. So I have to avoid or I’ll be in trouble!!

Good morning everyone. Just checking in to see if anyone has got any updates? (Successes or challenges.)

I've not lost any weight yet, but trying to reassure myself that (as all of your initial posts show) weight loss is so slow for us petites.

I've been really trying to focus on eating plenty of protein and fibre. I've also been consistent in doing a Caroline Girvan or Pilates workout everyday, as well as lots of steps.

I’ve been away, Ate and drank lots but back on it today! The scales show a 3lb gain which isn’t awful (especially once I flush out the salt and alcohol 😂).

Can i join pls? I’m 56, 5ft and am currently weighing 9 stone, after being very inactive for 10 weeks due to a foot op and being non weight bearing for 6 weeks. I was 8.6 before the op and ran at least 5k x3 a week. I did feel slightly uncomfortable at that weight ideally would like to be 8.2. I can’t run again till December. I have rejoined a gym until i can run again and am doing cardio/couple of spin classes a week just not with the same enthusiasm as running outdoors.
I’ve tried to change my eating habits but have always been carb heavy due to being fussy, not really a meat eater and can’t eat eggs. I’ve tried porridge, tuna wrap for lunch and trying a smaller portion of meals at tea but get disheartened after a week when i don’t lose so much as a pound. 🙈. Trying to up my protein with yoghurts.

Any tips? Following this for inspiration. I really need to get this off to a) feel better and b) I have to have the same op again early next year so want to shift the gained pounds before it potentially doubles 😢 .

Welcome @Christine1998 Hopefully we can all pick up tips from each other here.

Was your request for tips particularly for ideas of protein? I know you said you don't eat meat or eggs. How about fish? Tinned tuna/sardines, fresh or frozen salmon or cod? Different legumes are quite good for protein and fibre - beans, chickpeas etc. Do you like yogurt? I have Greek yogurt most days with some frozen berries. I'm sure other people will have more suggestions.

Sneaking in. 5ft 2, currently fluctuating around the 63kg zone so BMI just tipping 25. Muscular, pear-shaped runner, so I carry it reasonably well, but there's a little more squish than I'd like. I've been on another small losses thread through the summer which quietened down. I think through this year my weight's been stable, but I've slimmed a bit at the waist and gained muscle. In the past 6m I've been accompanying DH at the gym which is heavier weights than the circuits based class that I also go to.

I'm suffering from "Tall Husband Syndrome". While I'm genuinely pleased that in the last couple of years he's got the hang of consistent exercise and is now systematically running and doing weights, it's also fucking annoying and depressing how many calories 6ft of middle-aged man can burn through. FFS him doing a 10mile run in less than 2 hours and 75 mins in the gym is the calorie equivilent of me slogging my way through 5 hours of a marathon. 🙄
Having been a distance runner for 10 years, my heart rate doesn't even blink and register the effort of me doing weights as exercise, while Mr Motivator is blitzing through the calorie burn. I know Garmin isn't everything, but my goodness it doesn't always help with the motivation. (On balance I am better for using it)

Added to that, there's also insatiable twiggy teen/tweenagers in the house.
It's a good job I love the sods! 😂

Motivation is through the floor today; I'm in feeding a cold mode. I'm about to go for a walk. I think running would be daft with how I feel.

I find the cooler months hard for eating lighter food. In summer, grilled meat/ fish with salad is easy and enjoyable. In cooler, duller weather, I crave stodge. Annoyingly my beloved offspring are not fans of soups and stews. I would like to make a damage limitation effort through November though.

I think focusing on 30 plants and small bursts of frequent exercise will be the most practical strategy.