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.

Thank you @Fibrous Are you using the CG app? I’ve still been using the YouTube programs as I didn’t really want to pay for the app. Great that you are noticing that you’re building muscle. Well done! It sounds a busy and stressful time with the job and house.

Hello everyone, can I join? I feel that 50 (5 years ago) was a turning point, and not in a good way! Weight is creeping on each year and I weighed myself this morning to find that for the first time ever, other than pregnancy, I've edged over 8 and a half stone. That's a bit of a wake up call because even in my 40s, I was between 8 and 8.2.
I've spent too long thinking it's all ok because I'm healthier than many others. But it's not ok as I just feel wobbly and tired, and I do nowhere near enough exercise.
So this random Monday is hopefully the start of a new me!

Hi @HitchhikersGuide I really relate to the wobbly and tired :( I'm about 12 pounds over the weight where I feel best and I really think it's contributing to feeling sluggish.

What's your plan for exercise?

I'm going to make a big effort from today, exercise-wise I'm not too bad but I'm having way too many carby/sweet things at the moment. Had my first ever Krispy Kreme doughnut yesterday, oh my god. This world isn't made for easy weight loss!

Not doing so well here. I have averaged 1600 calories a day since the start of Jan, the last few weeks I've upped my steps and have been hitting min of 10k a day and making sure some are at a decent pace, I'm back at the gym for strength training, and at capoeira which is bodyweight strength and cardio. My weight is entirely static. Measurements too so I can't pretend it's more muscle/less fat.
I've got a decent underlying amount of muscle from strength training on off for over a decade, so i would have hoped that 1600 was a deficit rather than maintenance, but I can only assume I need to be lower if I want to lose. I'm not sure I can function on much less though, many weekdays are 1400 ish to allow a little flexibility at weekends. Though that's usually just one meal out, certainly not going all out Friday to Sunday!

That sounds so disappointing, poor you. Lots of discipline and nothing to show for it, I do feel for you.

The only thing I might suggest rather than cutting calories further is maybe reducing grams of carbs, having protein an dhealhty fats for those calories instead? My body loses weight easier that way (though I'm not one to talk at the moment, grumble grumble)

Thanks @MylipstickiscalledHugMe I already aim for high protein and high fibre, I'm usually around 100g protein a day. I tend to find i get headaches and struggle with the gym sessions if I drop carbs too low. I might try and reduce them on non exercise days.
I was also thinking of adding in some running, as an alternative to going any lower on calories, as although I know it's technically possible, right now I'm eating healthily and I'm very aware of my food but still able to enjoy food. I feel like going much lower would start to become very restrictive. I don't want to turn down social meals etc because I'm restricting my eating that much. Will see.

I hope you find a bit more motivation too!

@MylipstickiscalledHugMe Hello! I am trying to be a bit more active generally as well as upping exercise. I can lose an entire weekend to just sitting reading! So on days I don't exercise, I'm trying to make sure I at least do some housework or gardening, or walk to the shops instead of taking the bus. I've started running with a friend once a week too + I'm going to move to a different gym as mine is a bit 'gym bro' so I want somewhere a bit more chill.
I'm basically trying to make changes that are sustainable, bearing in mind that I'm not 25 any more! I'm 55, tired, stressed at work and have to make life nice as well as healthier!

@Proteinpudding You're definitely right to not be too restrictive. That just can't work long-term. The plateaus are frustrating but we live in such a difficult society where food is concerned, especially high calorie food (I love a krispy kreme. They're the work of the devil. How do they make them so damn good?!)

Yes I agree with trying running @Proteinpudding see how it goes. I'm eating too much at the moment so running just makes me look bigger because of muscle growing, however one day when I get my metaphorical arse in gear, when I do lose the weight, it'll be firmer underneath.

It definitely needs to be enjoyable too @HitchhikersGuide . I always listen to uplifting music at the gym (couldn't run without it) and I've got a treadmill at home which I use while watching engrossing tv. Basically I do as much as possible to not notice I'm exercising :)

Wish there was a way to burn calories while reading...

Thanks both, though @HitchhikersGuide I can't really call it a plateau, I never really lost any weight to start with! I don't have a lot to lose and being petite I knew it was going to be slow, but I can tell although I'm eating healthier, and less, it's not enough to lose weight right now. But I do still want to (sensibly) enjoy myself and go for the odd meal out etc.
I have been filling up on more fruit and veg and I'm finding I'm getting more of a taste for it which is good - I'm less tempted by chocolate, it's becoming easier to say no.

@MylipstickiscalledHugMe I do enjoy exercise, though more strength training than cardio. I've got a walking pad I use when I'm WFH which is a godsend! And I love a good audiobook when I'm out for a walk, though I know that's not the same as curled up on the sofa with a book!

Helloooo, mojo where are you???

I was hoping for the joys of spring to give me a boost, but no, the weather's still cold and I seem to be feeding a cold instead. I haven't had the energy to get to the supermarket this week, so the fresh food in the house is somewhat depleted. My frozen vegetable soups have come in handy though!

@BogRollBOGOF I'm with you. I just feel exhausted and so keep craving junk to give me a hit. I really think I need to get running again but can't find the time.or energy.

Hope your mojo pops back for you soon

I'm hoping that the Easter Holiday gives me a bit of headspace to mentally reset a bit. The last month has felt like a bit of a treadmill of just keeping functioning. I've had a string of busy weekends and it feels like there hasn't been much breathing space and when I've stopped, it's been more of a crash-out mode, and that doesn't covert well into mindfully buying food in and planning and actually cooking something more optimally nutritious.

Hope you both find your mojo soon. Maybe the lighter evenings will help us?!

I’m still battling with trying to change my body composition and keep changing my mind on whether I need to increase my calories to help me build muscle/fuel workouts and my active lifestyle or reduce my calories to lose the body fat. I would be completely happy to stay the weight that I am (currently bouncing around 8st9) if I could lose some of the extra body fat. As we all know, a few extra pounds seem to show up so much more on our petite bodies!

I'm gaining a bit of habit momentum now (although not seeing the benefits yet due to a birthday cake and PMS). I bought a pair of "portion plates" so half is for veg/ salad, a quarter for carbs and a quarter for protien.

It seemed the simplest method to rebalance meals.

After illness and the Easter holidays, exercise is now settling back into routine although I did stay active over the break.

I’ve somehow put on 4lbs over Easter, and sadly I haven’t really eaten that much chocolate.
I’ve been sensible so far this week and lost 1lb, just 3 more tto go before a holiday at the end of May. Hope I’m not derailed any further.

I have been on a downwards spiral since Christmas, put on about 10lb. But this week my mojo seems to be back. So far two runs, daily core workout, averaged 15k steps and kept the eating to fruit only snacks and sensible portions so my energy in has been (slightly) lower than my energy out. Hope to see some improvement on the scales next week.

Good luck all, I hope some spring sunshine helps to keep you on track.

Hi all, may I join/rejoin? Think I was on either this thread or similar before.
I’m 5ft 3, and 59kg, the heaviest I’ve ever been.
All of the weight is on my tummy and face, with a double chin 😩

I’ve been everything from a size 4-6 to a 12 over the last 8 years, and for the last 2 years, exactly the same thing has happened - at about this time of year, I get to the point where I’m scared at all the weight I’ve put on, go all in with fitness and calorie counting for months, get down to about 55kg by July-August, then put it all back on again as soon as it’s winter, and the urge to eat more carbs hits.

My downfall is potatoes, pasta, bread, crisps.
Main meals I’m not too bad with, as I cook everything from scratch, but it’s all the extras in the evening - a bowl of crisps each night, chocolate from the Easter eggs, plus alcohol nearly every night.

My goal is to get to about 52kg, but to try and sustain it beyond the summer.

I’m 49 this year, definitely in peri, and suffering with low mood, no motivation etc
i enjoy lifting weights, and have done Caroline Girvan in the past, so will try and get back in the zone, as well as walking 10-20k steps a day.

I've totally lost my mojo this month. Not quite sure how to get it back. Mainlining sugary drinks and snacks. Life's a bit stressful, but I know I would feel better if I was eating healthily amd doing some exercise. But instead I'm letting it all go to pot. Ugh.
How to change things up when you're a bit depressed and tired????

I'm ignoring the scales coz hormones/ water retention/bloat/ birthday cake, but the week went otherwise went well for positive habits.

Next week should be simpler and hopefully building those positive habits should pay off in the coming weeks.

I did well until well into the autumn then winter struck doing what winter does plus disruption from illness, injury and weather (particularly for activity levels which make such a difference) and it feels like a long time since I had a good block of consistency of food and movement habits and I'm feeling ready for that effort now.

So similar to me! It’s a bloody nightmare. What calorie intake do you find works best? Amazing that you do actually manage to shift the weight when you focus.

How's everyone getting on. I am feeling chipper. Have now managed 4 runs in the last 7 days and a core control Pilates workout every week day. My calories last week averaged 1600 - but I did eat around 2000 a day Saturday and Sunday due to social events.

Today I was 0.5kg down on the same day last week. So I will take that as a win, though I expect it to go up and down a bit.

I am loving hummus and whole meal pitta for lunch at the moment. And getting my plate half filled with salad. Hearty breakfasts seem to be helping.

My bloating is easing so I'm feeling more comfortable this week (thank goodness!)

Still focusing on positive habits:
Using the portion plate to decrease carbs and increase veg/ salad
Doing a short evening walk after dinner
Regular running/ exercise routine
Only having fruit with school lunch and declining the cake option
Drinking more water and reducing sugar

Hopefully that should get me back to the pattern of gentle losses that I had in the autumn until winter turned up.

It really is so much harder to maintain losses, or just maintain during the winter.

Best of luck and positive mojo BogRollBOGOF

Hi everyone, can I hop on? I was on another thread but that's very quiet at the moment so joining/rejoining (I was on an old shorties one) this one.

Long story short, I had a baby two years ago and I'm now trying to shed some of that weight, which I entirely failed to lose much of last year. Started at this last week of Feb/first week of March, I'm almost 43, 5'1 and my SW/CW etc is...

SW: 63.9kg
CW: 61.1kg
GW: 57kg

Pleased with my progress to date, it's not mega fast but it's ok. I'm calorie counting and doing 30 minute youtube dumbbell workouts throughout the week, probably 5 days per week and so far that's working pretty well. At home works best for me or I fail to fit it in.