5ft 2" and 122 lbs

Hi everyone,

I'm 5ft 2" and weigh 122 lbs and 32yrs old.  I had my second son 6 months ago and have lost all the weight that i gained in pregnancy (19lbs). Eventhough i am at my pre pregnancy weight, im still bigger than i would like to be.  Ideally i would like to be 110-112lbs.  I haven't been that weight since college.  Im looking for a buddy to help motivate me along this journey. I also would like some healthy meal ideas . Im trying to eat 1200 calories a day.  Any help or motivation is really appreciated.

Me too!  I'm 5ft and 120lbs.  I'm trying to get down to 112lbs.  I'm currently on the South Beach Diet and doing working out 3 times a week (30 min circuit training + 30 min pilates).  I've only lost 1 lb on SBD since I started (9 days ago).  I'm thinking my calorie intake was high because I was eating so much more protein and adding olive oil + balsamic to my veggies.  I'm now trying to count calories while being on SBD.  Let's see if it results in anything. 

Tackling with weight is a really complex problem.

What are the methods which you have tried?

I'd love to join you guys!  I am working on cutting down portions and bumping up exercise but I have a very bad problem with breakfast binges and sweets too often.  What are you guys doing to try to lose the last stubborn pounds?  Right now I am 5'1" and weigh 122.

I am 5'2" and 124 pounds, trying to get to 115 for my wedding in 4 months. I am a low carber and it has been working so far for me!

It's harder when your shorter and female. My tall mall friend loses 5 pounds without trying, grr.

Right now I'm 5'2 and 120 and hoping to be 109-113

Edit: double post

nicole318- how low carb do you mean?  Who here tracks calories?  I had yogurt for breakfast, light whole wheat pasta for lunch (with cottage cheese), then who knows about dinner...  thoughts?

For dinner try to have brown rice, beans, and grilled chicken cutlets.

I track calories religiously.

How many are you usually eating?  Want to post a sample meal plan for a day?  What do you use to track?  I should start doing that more seriously!

I don't eat bread, pasta, rice or potatos. I get lots of healthy carbs from fruits and veggies but avoid starches and sugar.

I eat lean protein, nuts, cheese, fruits and veggies. It is more of a lifestyle than a diet. I suffer from IBS and this way of eating is the only thing that has helped, so not only do I feel better, but I am steadily losing weight.

Oh, and I eat between 1400- 1800 calories a day depending on my activity level.

Sample menu:

Breakfast- Egg whites and center cut bacon

Snack- string cheese or cottage cheese

Lunch- spinach salad with chicken, fish or steak, lots of veggies, low sugar dressing. I will also add goat cheese, feta or gorgonzola sometimes.

snack- almonds or an apple with PB

Dinner- chicken, fish or steak- grilled with a side of green beans, broccoli or zucchini

PM snack- ricotta creme dessert (1/2 cup ricotta mixed with 1 packet splenda and 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract) or sugar free jello.

Yeah I have been  playing with trying to get back to a lower carb diet... slowly.  I'm currently eating whole wheat pitas, and on occasion, whole wheat pastas.. but I need to get back to more satisfying salads!!!  Just a change in approach I think.  Right now I'm shooting for 1200 calories (though I'm usually above that) and trying to workout 5/6 per week.... hard because I hurt my hip and can't run.  lame! 

Jules- if you are working out 5/6 days a week you need to eat a lot more than 1200 calories. That is the minimum and you could actually be making it harder to lose weight by eating so little. Try calorie cycling, one day at 1200, one day at 1400, one day at 1800 and repeat. Keep your body guessing, but keep it fuled!!!

siren1603, i think you should proud that you have already lost a pound in 9 days! that is good, healthy weight loss that you will be able to keep off. Everyone here is already medically healthy, which makes it more difficult and slower to lose weight, you know? I am similar to all of you, 5'2 probably about 115 lbs now, but I am trying to get into the habit of eating more normally and healthfully. I have had binge eating problems for the past 2 years, so I'm trying to fix that. I've gotten down to 105ish, but I don't think that my body is happy there. My goal right now is to maintain my weight (if I am at 115, I'm not weighing myself for a week b/c the past 2 days have truly been horrific! ha) and if my body wants to, lose a few pounds, but if not I'm fine with being in the 113-115 area! I like to have a little wiggle room for holidays, birthdays, just days you feel like eating some junk, etc, and i don't really believe it is healthy to ry to weigh exactly the same thing all the time (i would prefer 115 to be my higher weight though). I will do well for about a week now, and then binge. So I'm going to up my calories a bit in hopes of stopping all of this! I work out plenty, and it would be nice if we could all motivate each other to keep our healthy habits!

also i agree with nicole. 1200 calories a day is really low. i know i end up bingeing if I only eat 1200 for a few days because its just not enough, especially if you are working out!

Does anyone have good dinner ideas with protein? I am making grilled chicken with veggies tonight, but I would like some new (not too expensive) ideas because I doubt that I get enough protein. Also I'm in college, so if they could be kind of simple that would be helpful b/c the grocercy store is limited around here! Thanks! Good luck everyone!

Rikaj- I'm impressed with the 113-115!  I'd love to be there!  And Siren that is great!  You are doing so well, just keep plugging along.  I often have to say to myself, "would a fit me eat that?" just to avoid the huge brownie I know I shouldn't have!  That helps me a bunch.  As far as protein, I've been making broccoli and shrimp with a light peanut sauce, chicken with cheese and sauce (mmmm), and egg-white scrambles-- sometimes with low-carb tortilla.  (by the way, I never actually meet 1200, I try to aim for it then inevitably go overboard and feel down about it because I don't know how to lose weight without keep those calories low!)  So, I'm trying to find something that works... calorie cycling is an interesting suggestion.  I think if I try to cut carbs down that might help me, too :)  They tend to be a downfall for me...

For a protein-filled dinner that is not very expensive, you can buy frozen fish filets at the grocery store, watch for sales and you can get salmon or tilapia for a good price. I also love egg white scrambles as a quick go-to dinner when I am really busy. Add in cheese, veggies, some ham or bacon and you have a full meal, very low in calories too.

On that same idea, I love making frittatas, which is basically a crustless quiche. I make them with egg whites, veggies and cheese and you bake it. My fiance actually loves it when I make frittatas for dinner!

I also like to snack, I will make a fruit, cheese and veggie plate with apples, some pb, some veggies and some cheese and just nosh on that for dinner. Oh- and I love turkey pepperoni (although high in sodium).

Wow...im so gald so many of you are in similar situations.  I am also working out about 3 to 4 times a week doing 30 min cardio and about 50 min of strength training.  I am also counting calories and try to stay at 1200...i eat 5 small meals a day.  I staring all this in mid july when i was 127 and as of this morning im at 121. 

Sample menu

I usually eat a boiled egg in the morning with a cup of tea and maybe a piece of whole wheat toast.

for a snack i may eat some nuts or fruit

Then for lunch i eat a chicken breast marinated with mustard and i grill it will bell peppers onions and mushrooms

then snack i eat a low fat yougurt maybe add a little kashi go lean cereal

then for dinner i could eat a salad with sesame tofu/chicken or shrimp. 

hey friends, I'm similar to you all! 5'1.5 and weigh about well....I have no idea last I checked it said 113. So that? However for the last couple of days I have been back at school, and eating 1,200 to lose some extra weight! I walk a lot and work out for a bit 5 days a week. My highest calories I'm willing to go is 1,400.

Honestly, I have about zero dollars to spend on food, so I'm forced to eat less. It's okay though. I don't mind. I'm usually 108 or so, and since coming back to college from summer I gained five pounds bc I ate sooooo much more (like generally 2,000+ at least 3 days a week and the other 1,800 or something) and no walking with not a lot of exercise.

I know I'm gonna hear all the bad stuff I'm doing by not eating more than 1,200 calories. If I had more money, I would eat a bit more. But I also think Americans overestimate their calorie needs. 2,000 calories is mildly insane for short people (5'-5'2) and moderately or lightly active.

Wow there are so many of us!  I'm 5'1.5'' and 120...my goal is 110.  Slow going at the moment...I made it to 118.5 for a few days and then went back up to 120...I think my body has decided it doesn't want to give more lbs up.  I've been eating at maintenance..about 1500 for the past few days and I'm hoping when I go back down to 1200-1300 that the weight will start coming off again!