Hello! I'm 37, short, and discouraged!

Until I after graduated college, I was always "the skinny girl."  In my mind I still am, and so I'm surprised when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, or see photos of myself that show the truth.

I've gained and lost, then gained again.  I'm only 5'1", so any weight gain is pretty obvious.  I went up to 145 and down to 113, then finally have been hovering in the mid 120s for several years.  Recently, 12 pounds mysteriously appeared, and I truly have no idea how I managed to pack them on so quickly. 

The first clue to how obvious the new weight gain was to others was the sudden barrage of complete strangers asking me if I was pregnant.

No, I'm NOT pregnant.  Just fat, evidently.

So I bit the bullet about a month ago, joined a gym, started working out several times a week, and made better choices about what I eat.  The results?  NOTHING.  Okay, not completely nothing.  I have more endurance now.  But after a lot of hard work, I weigh exactly the same as I did at the start of the month, and don't really look any different.  Needless to say, I feel incredibly discouraged.

And so I found this site and here I am, and I really need some encouragement to stick with this thing!

Hi, I like your name, excellent choice...apophenia! I probably won't be the best person to be a buddy since I am a lot older and have a LOT more to lose. However, I just want to commiserate regarding getting asked if you are pregnant. I hate when that happens. Anyhow, if you are working out then you are gaining muscle mass. Perhaps your clothes might fit better but you weigh the same, is this happening?

Well, I wish you the best, if you ever need to talk to someone my name is Uma, I just joined yesterday.

Good luck!! 

Girl I feel you!! I am stuck in the same boat as you. Ok, ok....I've only been in the boat for a couple years but I want out! I was the skinny girl all through high school and college and now I'm not. I'm not saying I'm fat, all my friends would probably kill me. However, I have definitely gained a good 15 lbs in the past few years.  I'm 5'2" and feel your short person pains....it's not fair, when a tall person gains 5 lbs it's way less obvious, but on us it has nowhere to go! So, if you need encouragement, then I can definitely do that for you. All I ask is that you do the same for me. This is my first time calorie counting and although it's not hard in theory, it can be hard not to eat as much as I'm used to eating and I need some encouragement too. So, what do you say....mutual motivaters??

Haha Hello! I'm 37, short, and discouraged too!!!   I am 5'2" and  I weigh 171 lbs now. I have lost 17 lbs since joining CC.com, November 12th. Counting calories REALLY does work. You just have to be wayyyyy diciplined and THAT'S the hard part. My name is Muffy and I am a junk food junkie. lol It's been a journey, that's for sure. :) But very well worth it. I have a ways to go but I do feel so much better having lost what I did..My husband started a couple weeks before me and he has lost 30 lbs now. You definately have to want it in order for ir to happen.

Hi, everyone, and  thanks for the encouragement!

I have to keep reminding myself of where I have made some progress, I guess.  I noticed that last at the gym I logged in 35 minutes on the elliptical at a really fast pace, and was hardly winded or tired (though my toes had fallen asleep, which is a different issue altogether).  So that means that at least I've built some endurance.

I've been working from home the past couple of weeks, so I've been living in my yoga pants--I guess should try on some of my "real" clothes and see if there's been any change in the fit.  But I'm kind of scared to in case there isn't. 

Oh, and Uma, thanks for the compliments on my screen-name! :-)

hello, I can definitely relate to the short issue- on a good day I am 5-0, but that's a stretch from the 4'11 that I really am.. I currently weigh in at 183.. I found the classic CC site about a year ago and was working it pretty regular and doing a good job.. lost 15 lbs. I have since put it back on and have decided that with the new year I will be a new me as well.

You now weigh exactly the same after all that exercise?  THAT'S GREAT!  That means you have packed on muscle and stripped off some fat, well most likely anyways.  You know muscle weighs more than fat.  Having that muscle will help you to burn calories in the time you are not sweating on the treadmill.
If you don't SEE the results, don't worry.  It's still early and your body may be fighting that whole response... it's in shock.
I would suggest taking some yoga classes... stretch yourself out and build some fine muscles.  Yoga will help you to love your body no matter what it looks like.  Sometimes when we can't see in the mirror what we want we learn to hate our body and it will hate you back.  Love it and it will do what you want.
Really though, give it time.  Even if it never looks the way you like, remember that it is always great to get yourself healthier... you'll hopefully live happier and longer with at least that. 

Hi, I'm 45, 169lbs and 5'1.  I was 105lbs until my early 20's and then babies and cooking and sitting down happened!  I don't want to get that thin again but I gotta shift some of this!!

I feel your frustration!  I'm 43,  5'2" and weigh about 135 (down from 155).  It seems practically impossible to cut out enough calories when your short with a slow metabolism.  I think people don't realize just how difficult it is for short people to lose weight! 10 pounds on us looks like 20 pounds on a normal height person.

Apparently, you (we're) not alone here!  And hey more endurance is good thing and a great beginning!