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.

Sorry to hear this @iloveshetlandponies I've also not lost anything, despite eating healthily, weights workouts and lots of walking. But don't give up! Let's keep going and keep checking in here.

It motivates me to know that all of you are here and we can hopefully all support she encourage each other with successes and struggles.

I'm a late joiner. I am 5 ft 3, around 57kg, used to be 53 before I had my dc. I have been IFing for about a year and I think it really takes a while for your body to readjust to a new way of eating. Stick with it, I have definitely lost some weight but even just maintained successfully due to IF, as I haven't stopped alcohol and still eat too many treats. I go up a few pounds after a holiday, then quickly lose it again and hover at 9 stone.
Id love to be 8.5! But need to work harder. What in saying is ist now easier to maintain so I think weight loss would happen more quickly were I committed

I did my first 5:2 fasting day in ages yesterday.
Pumpkin soup was a winner in keeping hunger at bay.

I find weighing and calorie counting deeply tedious, then MFP tells you off because the free version doesn't understand 5:2, so I went by feel. I'm not sweating over the calorie contents of small apples and salad. I know you're not supposed to eat back exercise calories on it, but I also don't want to bonk either. I did a short, gentle zone2 run/ walk at the start of the day fuelled only on water then an apple after as I had a strength class later. Then a mini-sushi and watermelon to keep me going. Made some soup so it was only vegetables, water and a splash of oat milk in that. A thin pork steak and salad for dinner.

My vice of the day was a can/ bottle of coke. I go to the pub and read while DS is at an activity, so there's not many options avaliable and I don't do sweetners, so that's just a feature of Tuesdays.

Anyhow, there was a lot of good nutrients in the day and I got through it on good form.

I ran before breakfast and that showed a pleasing dip on the scales, which naturally will revert back now I've eaten and drunk 😂

Hello!

I'm 5 foot nothing and currently flabby at 8.12 (I think, I need to weigh tomorrow)

It's my 50th in 10 weeks - off to the Caribbean- my goal is 7 stone 12, my best weight is 7.5 but that's NOT happening.

A stone in 10 weeks -I'm going to be bloody hungry!

I should add - my downfall is my husband.

He snacks after dinner and my willpower is shit so I join him.

Also wine!! Maybe 3 evenings a week, 2/3 glasses of wine, then crisps/popcorn/chocolate.

I have a very healthy breakfast, lunch & dinner. Just need to watch my portions.

Ha same on the husband @Vallan ! Mine is tall and has a high metabolism, he can eat huge portions, snacks, chocolate after dinner etc and stay thin and I… cannot. It is really not helpful. But if he ate the same as me he’d starve!

Tall husband
Ravenous, carb-fiend teenagers

Husband goes for a run... burns calories like a furnace.
I go for a run... burn through calories like a trangia camping stove.

Snot fair!

Right!

I have to do a 10k run to have a 2000 calories day. 😫

Weighed in this morning. 2lb down from Monday. I’ve been up and out walking at 5.30am before work this week which I think has helped, I’ve been doing about 4.5k. I’m usually a runner but can’t run again until December after a foot op. I was immobile for 8 weeks after the op in June which is when the weight crept on 🙈. I’ve been doing Slimfast which I know is not everyone’s cup of tea but I seem to manage better on that during the day than anything else with a healthy meal in the evening. I’m loving this thread with likeminded/size people as I’ve always felt awkward when I say I want to lose weight to my friends who don’t understand as I’m smaller than them, but the pounds I’ve put on this year has made me feel really uncomfortable. Quite a way to go (at least a stone in total) but it’s a start and I’m feeling motivated now after a loss and reading the stories on this post.

I recommend weight training - it doesn’t burn as many calories at the time, but the muscle developed increases your metabolism so you use more calories even at rest! Win win

Only downside is it does make me very hungry 😆

I agree. Since starting weight training I have to eat 2000 calories just to maintain a low bmi. Prior to doing weight training I was maintaining on 1500.

@Samphire44 - that's so encouraging that you are able to eat so many calories! What's your current weight and height?

@Samphire44 and @minipie and others who do weight training - how heavy do you lift? I know it's all relative and it's about being heavy for each person, but it's helpful to get an idea.

I am not able to get to a gym and currently do weights workouts at home but only have 3kg and 5kg dumbbells. I'm thinking I probably need to increase these weights, but unsure what to buy!

Welcome to those who have joined us over the last few days. It's great to hear how everyone is doing (both successes and also frustrations when not losing) and to be able to share ideas.

I enjoy weight training but I don't go to the gym (too self conscious and shy) so I'm limited too - I have a barbell that I load:

60kg for deadlifts 3 set x8
22kg overhead press 4 set x10
90kg for hip raises 4 set x12

4.5kg dumbells for all my arm workouts, I also hold these when I do lunges, ab work like Russian twists

The rest is bodyweight - push ups, planks, mountain climbers, burpees etc

I don't lift heavy at all compared to gym people but to me it's very heavy!!!

To look at me you would NOT think I work out (I run 5-12ks regularly) 😭

I'm sure I must be toned underneath the softness!!!

Ive been trying to keep up with working out (at home). Last week was miserable, really had to push myself to workout (I blame the previous week laziness due to half term 😂).
I only have 5kg and 2kg dumbbells sets; really need a few weights in between. Unfortunately I have an arthritic shoulder, so the 5kg can be a little too heavy for some moves, but the 2kg feels too easy.
I have 2 more days of the current challenge, and overall I definitely feel stronger.
Feels like the last so many pounds are really taking their time to shift. I do feel a lot of my clothes fit better, and some even feel a little too big, I'm taking that as a win 😁
I am peri menopausal, and have pcos (interestingly I've only just learnt why intense cardio isn't great for pcos ladies, and should ideally focus on strength training 25 years after diagnosis 🤦🏽‍♀️)

Re weights, I go to a class, it’s a strength class rather than weightlifting per se. So smaller dumbbells not barbells.

When I started the class I was using 5kg weights for upper body and maybe 7kg for lower. Now up to 10kg for upper and 12.5 for lower. I could probably go higher for a deadlift or hip raise but cba swapping weights all the time…

I also have some adjustable weights at home which I use occasionally for a Madfit or Caroline Girvan youtube video - they are a pain to adjust so tend to keep them about 7.5kg.

So after a good start we then all came down with colds and then it was half term so not done any workouts for ages 😩 aiming to get back on track next week.

Can I join? 5'2" and need to lose 21lbs to be at my happy weight.
I am doing a minimum of 10000 steps every day in November in the hope I can kick start things so this thread has come at a great time for me.

Start weight: 8. 12
Today 8.9

Aaaand now I know it'll stay at 8.9 for like a month even if i starve 😂

I was hoping for a goal of 7 stone 12 by mid Jan but I think this might be too much.

8.5 new goal! Half a stone total rather than a stone.

I am 5'4" and 50kg. I have a very small frame and am trying to gain lean mass at the moment.

I do Caroline Girvan iron. Weights vary a lot depending on what I am doing. Upper body currently between 4kg (lateral raises) to 12.5kg chest press. You need to do what is heavy for you so going close to failure in 6 to 12 reps.

At my bootcamp class, I generally lift 5-6kg for each arm. I started at 2-3kg four years ago when small group, outdoor exercise became viable. With various lockdown stoppages in that first year, it took a long time to really progress as I'd have to restart after each break.

For moves like deadlifts and squats where the power is in the legs, I can lift a lot more. About 22kg for a barbell squat so that's over 33% of my bodyweight.

Muscle mass is so important for long term health and keeping the metabolism up.

I started refocusing at the start of June, and while the scales aren't saying much of use, I feel smoother and more muscular so I suspect there is some fat loss and muscle gain, and I value that more than kg going down for its own sake.

In diet, to boost my 30 plants for the week, I had a post-parkrun smoothie for breakfast...ticks for banana, cocoa powder, celery, spinach, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and blackberries. I like the way that the frozen fruit turns it into a super-nutrient slushie 😋
Chicken curry for dinner tonight, so that will be a lot of ticks for the spices used 😁

Wonder if anyone else here gets this - I am constantly being asked by people if I've lost weight, and they look surprised when I say "no"! I have been within 5 pounds of the same weight for years now, and wondering if it's because I'm short with boobs people just think I'm fatter than I actually am? Or they last saw my at my time of month when the slight bloating and weight gain really does make a difference on me?

Have you changed shape with exercise and become leaner at the same size?

When my DCs grow, their face shapes fill out and go thinner and look more angular as they bulk then stretch, but their bodies don't tend to change.

Most people trend upwards with age, so relatively you could look slimmer than other people despite staying the same size.

I am seriously starting properly as of today.
ive been doing it about 40% in the last few weeks
will weigh in weekly as accountability.
im doing keto for as many weeks as i can then low carb
im fed up of feeling this way- and its not what others think its how i feel in my clothes and in myself. Short body so bloating makes me feel absolutely huge

Oh FFS I was doing really well and then we had guests for the weekend and I’ve eaten a shedload. Whoops.

Soup for lunch then.