Petite support thread... continued

[BogRollBOGOF]

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.

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.

We only had a few posts left so time for a continuation thread.

I've borrowed chunks of the original wording from the previous thread

Thanks Big off, I am currently on holiday today have eaten my own body weight in delicious food and drunk a fair amount of local red. I shall be back with the damage in a couple of weeks, and trying desperately to undo the damage before the Christmas binge begins. I hope you are happily loosing.

I'm creeping down, very subtly.
Currently at my heaviest phase of the month, but it's looking more like a plateau than a peak compared to previous months. Hoping I'm due a whoosh that will look more like progress.

I'm feeling good though.

I didn't really gain when I was ill a couple of weeks ago which is progress.
My running habits are gaining a bit of momentum too.
I'm doing well on conistency.

Hi! Thanks for the new thread @BogRollBOGOF

A bit about me - I'm 5'1" (used to be 5'2" but age has robbed me of an inch), 56-57kg, 46 years old.

I am failing to break below the 56kg mark - I was hoping to get down to low 50s as I have a bit of a perimenopause belly. However, it isn't happening.

I am being really consistent with exercise - running three times a week and doing Caroline Girvan weight training 3-4 times a week, with one rest day, and I'm definitely fit and strong. My diet is good but I eat quite a bit and don't want to diet so I think that means I've reached a set point with my weight.

My goal over winter is just to keep up the exercise and not gain weight, I think.

May I join? I didn’t realise there was a thread for petites.
I’m 47, and 5’3” and 50 kg. I’ve been maintaining this weight since December 2023 (I was pregnant in the meantime and of course gained weight but lost it). I have a 7 month old baby and I am still breastfeeding.

I overhauled my diet completely 5 years ago to give myself a better chance to conceive.

I am addicted to Les Mills, I’ve had their subscription since the pandemic.

Congratulations!
And welcome in!

Thanks for setting up the new thread @BogRollBOGOF I’ll check-in/update properly later.

Just realised I’ve ended up posting under a different username and I think I’m stuck with this name now for this thread. (I’m the OP from the original thread.)

I’d like to join! I’m 5’2 and have been very petite most of my life, but in the latter half of my 30s (coinciding with the shift to home working) my weight gradually crept up to 123 pounds, which didn’t look or feel very comfortable for me. I suddenly decided I need to turn the tide, and since the end of August, I’ve got back down to 115. It feels much better (and my clothes fit again!) but ideally I’d like to lose a little bit more, then hopefully maintain. It’s getting much slower now, I’m getting pretty bored of chicken, salmon & cottage cheese, and with some nights out approaching, I think I’m going to have my work cut out! It would be nice to have some company & inspiration on the journey! 😊

Thanks again @BogRollBOGOF for setting up the new thread. Welcome to those who are joining us for the first time. I found the last thread so helpful.

A bit about me … I’m 42, 5ft2 and currently 8st6. I think my ‘happy weight’ is around 8st but I’m struggling to lose any weight at the moment. I’m not too worried about the actual number on the scales, but more bothered about trying to lose the tummy fat. I’m very small framed, with thin arms/legs, but every extra pound is on my stomach!

I’m quite active, walk lots and do Caroline Girvan weights workouts at home. I eat a pretty good diet and prioritise protein and fibre. My current focus is on trying to work out what the right number of calories are for me (I track on Nutracheck). I want to fuel my body enough for exercise and don’t want to slip into under-eating but also keen to shift some of the excess body fat.

Does anyone else here count calories? What have you found are the right calories for you?

I count calories, I have been doing this consistently for over 2 years now (since August 2023), but I have to eat over 2000 kcal to maintain weight, close to 2600 on average when I am breastfeeding.

My body fat is on the low side, at least according to my scales, but I have been training for the last five years so I think the 18% is close to reality.

I eat a lot of vegetables (half a plate or more) and prioritise fibre. I found that it’s the only diet I can actually stick to for the rest of my life .

I don't count calories. I cook everything from scratch and just can't be bothered with all the weighing. I just try to eat three mostly plant oriented healthy meals a day and not too many snacks, although my commitment to the latter varies.

My scales say my bodyfat is 28%. I suspect it is just measuring my lower body fat, as I carry most of my lard on my bums and thighs, although I've never looked into how it actually calculates it.

Please can I join your thread! I really need some help and guidance on what to eat and how much!

I used to be 8 stone 2 pounds prior to having children, aged 36. I’m now exactly a stone heavier, aged 43 and have gone through the menopause.

I have 3 boys aged 6, 4 and 2 (nearly 3). I work full time hours, shift work, 40 hours a week. It’s really hard trying to find time to work out around work / children / chores related to family & home. If anyone has any insights as to how I can shift a stone prior to Christmas I would very much appreciate it! I Thanks for the thread! My weight is all over but much more noticeable around my belly…sigh!

Forgot to add I’m 5”2

It really helps to treat this as a lifestyle change, so a marathon rather than a sprint. I have recently seen a video on YT where someone was basically doing everything I have been doing to maintain weight. I’ll try to find it because she shared all relatively easy things that can fit into daily routine.

I'm so glad this thread popped up. I'm 33, 5'2 and 53kg.

I was 43kg a few years ago ( anorexic ) but now I'm just a little heavier than I would like to be. I store all my weight on my stomach too 🤦‍♀️

@CortieTat Thank you, that would be really useful. For those of you around early 50kg can you advise me what you eat throughout the day and roughly how much x

I try to make sure that half of a meal is vegetables, so for instance today we have salade niçoise for dinner (might sound fancy but it’s very easy to make and the ingredients are not expensive). I often have soups for lunch and even if it’s cheap ramen noodles (the instant noodles pot) I still add vegetables to it like shredded cabbage, kale, seaweed and squash.

We have one habit that (I think) helps to eat well - every meal is eaten at the dining table. Even if it’s just me and the baby at home we still sit at the table, that’s how I was brought up. I didn’t realise it wasn’t something everyone did till I watched The Secret Eaters.

@CherryBlossom2025 I really relate to your post, we sound very similar! It’s that pesky muffin top that really bothers me too, the rest of me is pretty ok now. (The chubby cheeks & double chin have thankfully abated quite well since half a stone’s been shifted!) I count calories very loosely, just through educated guesswork and mental arithmetic! I aim for less than 1500, or a bit more if I’m doing more exercise. I’ve generally been eating really healthily with lots of lean meat, fish/seafood, veg & fruit, but today’s been a disaster - work was non-stop hectic and I was woefully unprepared, so I’ve just had lots of coffee and a mountain of biscuits, followed by half a pizza when I got home. Whoops!

I agree with this.

Around our size (especially when older), there's so little margin to play with between covering our basic needs and excess. Basic needs looks like a fairly punitive diet compared to the majority of the population. Especially when living with a DH that runs and spindly teenagers in rapid growth mode

I'm feeling a lot better since joining the thread regularly 7 months ago, but the scales have shifted very little. What the scales struggle to reflect is the subtle difference in muscle gain and fat loss. I'm feeling more comfortable in my clothes though and that's a big motivator to me.

My lifestyle changed positively in September. I now have an active commute which while short, is reliable. I'm on my feet all day. Lunch portions at the canteen are moderate (plus salad bowl!) and no access to food for picking in the working day. Breakfast at 7am to lunch at 1pm is a good food-free zone.
I do a couple of weights/ strength sessions per week and fit in 2-3 runs.

My weight is creeping down but progress is so subtle.

Techically I'm loitering around the BMI 25-26 zone at around the 63kg mark (5'2"/ 157cm), but I have good muscle density in my legs and arms. I'm more "dense" than I look. It's the squishy middle and mum-tum that comes from being mid-40s and babies (+ CS overhang) that bother me. I think most people would be surprised at my weight, but it's not a great indicator of body composition and health on its own.

I'm not chasing being light or the 57kg from my 30s, and I'm happy to keep the muscle gains of recent years for long term health and metabolism, but I do need to be in a fairly consistent management mode to balance the joy of life and not constantly gaining.

My diet these days is roughly based around the following. Overnight oats for breakfast every morning with yoghurt, dates, tahini, nuts, chia seeds and seasonal fruit. Full fat dairy. Latte.

lunch is either home made soup or hearty salad depending on the weather/season. I try to incorporate legumes in a lot of these as I try to eat legumes most days. I don’t eat much white carbs.

dinner is usually something vegetarian - again drawing on pulses, and I eat fish twice a week. lots of stews, curries, hearty salads, roast veg etc. my DP is vegetarian which makes things easier. I’m not but I rarely eat meat at home.

we have desserts fairly often. I either make them or get some non upf stuff from the supermarket (Bonne maman is good for that). I also love expensive crisps and dips - I make the dips myself usually (again from legumes, I’m legume obsessed).

meals are eaten at our kitchen table - we don’t have a dining room unfortunately. I’d love one!

Most importantly I feel really well on this diet and never have a bad gut. I’m not a small build, my shape is what I’d call gymnast gone to seed. Stunted but strong! With a layer of lard that could be shifted, but I’d still never have a svelte shape. I looked sturdy even when I was a teenager who barely ate anything.

Went out for Thai food last night, which I was really looking forward to, but after (mostly) eating really cleanly for the past couple of months, I didn’t enjoy the rich, salty food as much as I used to! Only managed half, the cocktails went down well though! I’m aiming to get back on track diet-wise next week, I’ve been doing pretty well with my exercise though, so at least that’s something!

@Mamma1982 I’ve looked for the video I mentioned earlier but it wasn’t in my YT history, I have seen it here on MN so impossible to find. I can list my tips as they were similar.

• eat vegetables with every meal. I usually eat overnight oats for breakfast so it’s seeds but then I have at least half of the plate filled with vegetables for lunch and dinner.
• seasonal vegetables are usually cheap and grown locally. Cabbage is versatile, it can be cooked, fried, eaten raw. Berries can be expensive, red cabbage has the same antioxidants. I also buy a lot frozen vegetables, they are inexpensive and retain all the nutrients.
• don’t waste precious calories on things like fizzy drinks, fruit juices or sugar in coffee/tea. They are not nutritious and usually make you hungry quickly.
• measure fats, like cooking oil with a spoon. It’s very easy to overdo them. I use a tablespoon and one is enough to stir-fry a large wok for two meals (for four people each).
• cook for more than one meal in one go, saves time and effort.
• eat meals at the table, including snacks. Don’t snack in front of screens. At one point we had our dining table covered with a 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle 😅 so I put a blanket on the floor and we pretended that we had picnics indoors.
• don’t buy multipacks of junk. It’s possible not to have ice cream, crisps and so on in the house.
• if you snack - enjoy it. I’m in Sweden and we are very serious about having our fika. I like to buy a small chocolate bar or a Magnum, get a cup of coffee, sit down and spend some time just enjoying the taste.
• puddings are for special occasions. I really believe that it’s important especially if you have children not to get them used to the constant stream of sweet treats. My parents and grandparents only had several courses during big family celebrations, I don’t think it should be different for my generation.
• it’s enough to eat well most of the time, 80/20 rule goes a long way. I like to think about it on a daily basis, overeating during the weekend and then starving during weekdays is usually a recipe for disaster.
• if you don’t have time for exercise, prioritise walking everywhere. I’m on maternity leave currently so I walk or hike daily with the baby in the carrier but I also walk to shop, take public transport, walk children to school and so on.
• reward yourself! I invest all the small sums I save by not buying sweets daily, I have an investment account that allows me to buy investment funds for as little as 100 SEK (10 pounds?). I watch them grow and it gives me a sense of accomplished instead of feeling deprived.

I have been tracking calories for over two years so it has become automatic, I don’t think it’s a big chore. For me the most important thing is to have all the mindless eating under control, I am a grazer extraordinaire and could easily eat an equivalent of a small meal while cooking 😅

@CortieTat thank you thats so helpful! It helps to have a goal in mind and then to eat consciously, with that goal in mind.

I am trying to increase the amount I exercise too. I work 45 mins from where I live and have to drive so I can pick up the boys after school. I start work at 6am on day shifts and 11am on late shifts. I predominantly work 10 hour days. I sit at the dining table with the children when we can eat together. Most of the time I’m sat at work eating at my desk. I’ll have to be mindful of choosing healthier choices when I’m at work.

Quite a few recommending Caroline Girvan weights - do you have a few faves that you rotate? I’m overwhelmed by the choice, so in typical fashion will do nothing!