Short girls here - around 5 feet!

Well I seem to have no one to talk to since I'm one of the few out there. I'm around 5'1". Currently I weigh about 126 - 127 (except for right now because I'm ready to start). Anyway, how does everyone handle food intake, calories consumed and the weight charts we are supposed to go by? I feel like we constantly get the short end of the stick. Now this website gives me a decent amount of calories to maintain my weight but I'm obviously trying to lose 11 pounds (when I'm at the weight of 126) so I will be at 115. I know they say not to drop below 1200 pounds but do you think that applies to us short people? How hard is it for you to drop the pounds?

Welcome demila to the shortie's club!  

I did the protein shakes for awhile. I bought the powder from Wal Mart but I got the vanilla flavor. I buy frozen fruit to mix with it along with fat free milk. Very, very good! My son loves them!

I'm 5'1 and have been stuck at the same weight now for about a year(125) and its taken about 4 years to get to this weight.  I had my son 5 years ago and checked in at 170.  I've been a vegetarian for about 7 years and have recently tried going vegan again.  Before I got pregnant I was about 115 which is my goal weight.  I try to eat the 1200 cal a day which is kinda hard now that I've cut dairy out. I've just started doing the biggest loser video and walking more hopefully this will help me lose the 10 I have left.

Hi everyone~ :] I'm about 5'2" and 15 years old. I've been walking a few days a week and I became a vegetarian about 5 months ago so now I weigh 138. I'm trying to get to a healthy BMI so I'm trying to lose around 15 pounds. I used to be 149 but over the weeks eating 1500 calories a day and walking I've been losing weight but suddenly it's stopped for some reason! It could be cause I've been having a lot of junk food recently because we had to drive 2 days to and back between NH and GA, being stuck in a car it was all we could find at rest stops. I've started eating good and walking again but now my weight just stays the same. Anybody have any suggestions about why this is happening? :[ Should I try upping my workout from just walking? Or maybe increasing the time? Replies are welcomed!

HI lilmarjieluvsmcr,

I'm sure most of us have this same problem.  I've been doing research and have found that when you hit this type of plateau, the best thing to do is to change up your calorie intake and your exercise routines.  Basically, change is the best way to break a plateau.  This could mean on some days lowering your calorie intake, and on other days keeping it the same (make sure you never eat less then the minimum of 1200 calories a day).  Also you should definitely start exploring other ways of exercising, especially start thinking of strengthening exercises to build muscle since this will rev up your metabolism.

Good Luck!

I think the "being short" part is a red herring; we all have different metabolisms, various ages (I'm 46) and differing levels of exercise - that's what makes the difference.  I do know that even a small change in weight shows up a lot faster for us than the tall folks; I've only lost 7 lb. so far, but have already had to put away 2 pairs of pants because they are now falling off.  Unfortunately, the opposite is also true - adding a few pounds shows up immediately.

I'm 5'1", and once upon a time I weighed 95 lb.  Now I weigh 156 (got heavy for a variety of reasons, including hormone imbalances and too much sitting on my behind).  Do I want to get back down to 95?  Heck, no - but I do plan on getting down to at least 130.  I'm not eating as few calories as CC recommends; usually I'm at about 1600.  I just upped my activity, and I'm losing about a pound a week, which suits me just fine.

Heya everyone, couldn't do the nut thing as I ate out for dinner putting in a LOT of calories (cheese quesadilla)

 

But I did hit 1600 today :D

 

Thanks for the protein shake tingie, I'll try it sometime!

 

And welcome other shorties^^

5'2"-195lbs.  Keep wanting to lose weight, but lifestyle is sooo busy.  I'm liking the accountability of this website, though.  I'm just starting out, on day 2.  I prefer to try exercise to get back to my goal weight, in addition to healthier food choices.  I walked jogged yesterday for 45 min, and 90 min today.  I feel great because I know I'm tired from honest work/exercise and not from being flabby, fat, and lazy! My initial goal is 170 by October, then I'll try for 150, and so on.

Hello!  I too am a shorty....but I'm also an Oldie....of sorts..at 53.   I'm weighing in at 136 right now, which is pretty hefty for me since I'm just under 5'.

I just started this program on the 11th and haven't managed to loose any poundage yet, but wanted to share something with you.

I have been taking step classes, which is a great excercise.  I was going to the gym and doing the treadmill and some weight training, but once I "stepped" into the step class, there's no turning back.  It is an amazing workout...I push myself a lot harder than when I'm alone on a machine.

I strongly suggest you get to a gym, or somewhere that has a class, be it aerobic, spin, step, whatever your choice is.  You get the social aspect as well as a feeling of commonus...(is that a word)?

Also, I bought a cheap little heart monitor at Costco.  It tells me 1) how many calories I burn during a workout  2) what my average heart rate was during the workout  3) both my high and my lowest heart rate during the workout, and a few other statistics.   It's a great little tool.

So, you see, I'm ready....now I'll just wait to see a change in the scale.  I hope to get down to, at the very least, 123 or so.  I know that at that weight I am feeling pretty good about myself, even though the charts tell me I should weigh much less.

Hang in there everyone, let's keep each other accountable for eating enough but not too much.  I need your help as I had a bad day as I basically demolished a bag of Ruffles - they were the Light kind so it was only about 400 cals but it ruined my self-esteem for the night. I have no self-control lately and just want carbs.

I'm 5'0 with a pretty athletic build. At my smallest I was 127, and there was NO way I was going to get any smaller than that. However, that was when I was 15, and now 6 years later I've yo yo-ed up and down and finally up up up to a whopping 176. Oh, university and the freshman....way more than 15.

Anyway, I'm usually good at being able to lose weight, it's the keeping it off that's difficult. I'm hoping that by continuing to keep track of what I'm eating on here even after I've reached my goal will help.

Let's keep eachother motivated. :)

Also, in reference to someone mentioning the charts....screw them. When I was 135 BMI told me I was "overweight, nearly obese" when I was in the best shape of my life. :)

Lol, I just wanted to say how nice it is to hear some other short people saying that they are trying to get to around the 130 mark - I was totally happy with my shape and size and health at that weight, even though technically my bmi was still too high. I'd like to get down lower than that, but to be honest once I get to 130-140 I'll be happy, anything lower is just icing on the cake. When I use to weigh 122 it was really hard work to maintain my weight, I had to constantly count calories (well, weight watcher points at the time), regulate exercise and couldn't afford to have any treats. I think 130 is a much more sustainable weight for me. Plus I was exactly the same clothes size at 130 as at 122 (though obv visibly a little slimmer) - so I don't think it was really worth the effort.

I am short, 4'11" and I need to eat about 1,700-2,000 calories a day to feel well. I am 91LB but I workout 6 days a week and weight train. If I didn't I would gain weight. I was restricting calories quite a bit and got sick. My body needs more so I think it is just finding a level you are comfortable with.

I am not one of the people who believes a calorie is a calorie either. I eat clean 80-90% of the time. Always clean for breakfast and lunch. If I have a snack it is a piece of fruit or a veggie. I don't drink my calories and I don't believe in diets. I do fresh, whole foods whenever possible, plan my meals ahead so I am not tempted to grab something out. I gave up fast food, pop, artificial sweeteners and most processed foods.

I allow a cheat meal a week but even then I don't get mayo ask for half the cheese and get grilled meat as opposed to fried. I don't believe in giving up much but some foods I have totally cut out are

butter

mayonnaise

Fried foods. Maybe once in a great while I will eat fried but 99% of the time not.

Pop or any drinks with sugar or artificial sweeteners

sour cream

Just mostly anything with trans fats

I think the type of food you put in produces the best results. You can diet and exercise all  you want but to really reshape your body and get optimal results it is all about proper nutrition (not just less calories) but actually fueling your body for optimal results.

And getting the most from  your workout. Strength training and intensive cardio. I sprint, walk and strength train. Sprinting, (in my opinion, other may feel differently) is by far the best ,most complete cardio workout you can do and it can produce amazing results. Huge fat burner, keeps your metabolism reved up for days after and increases your level of HGH which declines as we age.

 

Wow Littleshellys, that is impressive.Were you always that weight or did you work hard to get there? I am exactly your height and I used to weigh 95 Ibs but now I am 105 and trying to get back to where I was happiest.  Because my metabolism is so low right now, I am eating more and excercising more to rev it up.  So far I haven't gained any weight even though I'm eating a good 400-700 calories more (I think that might hopefully be a sign that its working). 

nycgirl, don't worry we all have those days.  From what you wrote earlier, you are still my idol :) You have done what we all strive to do and a cheat every now and then is definitely deserved.  I find that I am a lot less in control with food when I have not been excercising or as busy (out and about) as usual.  Maybe you should take a walk during the times you start to get your cravings (usually for me it is after dinner).

One question though: Let's say that one day I burn 500 calories at the gym.  If I should eat no less than 1200 calories in a day and that is the amount I am aiming for, does that mean that I should eat 1200 + the 500 calories I burned (1700 calories)?

Original Post by lynners:

I'm 5'0 with a pretty athletic build. At my smallest I was 127, and there was NO way I was going to get any smaller than that. However, that was when I was 15, and now 6 years later I've yo yo-ed up and down and finally up up up to a whopping 176. Oh, university and the freshman....way more than 15.

Anyway, I'm usually good at being able to lose weight, it's the keeping it off that's difficult. I'm hoping that by continuing to keep track of what I'm eating on here even after I've reached my goal will help.

Let's keep eachother motivated. :)

Also, in reference to someone mentioning the charts....screw them. When I was 135 BMI told me I was "overweight, nearly obese" when I was in the best shape of my life. :)

lynners to stop yo-yoing completely think of it as a lifestyle change instead of a diet and remember to eat things you crave, just in moderation. That's the key. I LOVE food and at first it was hard for me to stop eating when I was full. Now when I eat I use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate and pack it full. That way I think I'm getting a lot more than I am!

 

Hey everyone.  I know I'm a little late jumping in here, but being 5'1" myself I just had to jump in!

I want to say that I am slightly jealous of most of you!  There is no way I could eat 1200-1500 calories a day.  I  WISH I had the problem of not getting enough calories!  Before I started counting calories, I was consuming over 2500 a day! I am now trying to stay between 1600 and 1900, and I am HUNGRY!

As far as my eating habits go, I can best relate to littleshellys.  I am definitely not 92 pounds like her, but currently weigh 117 pounds.  I am trying to get to 110, maybe 105.   I eat very healthy food, just a lot of it!  My only problem is getting my protein up to 25%.   I also work out everyday...  running 35 miles a week, 30 minutes of weight lifting 3 times a week, and taebo twice a week.  I work out as much as I do because I love to eat.  Before I started exercising 4 years ago, I weighed between 135 and 140.

I have always been angry that short people can't eat as much as their taller friends. 

Original Post by justpeaz:

lynners to stop yo-yoing completely think of it as a lifestyle change instead of a diet and remember to eat things you crave, just in moderation. That's the key. I LOVE food and at first it was hard for me to stop eating when I was full. Now when I eat I use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate and pack it full. That way I think I'm getting a lot more than I am!

 

 Yeah, I'm learning haha. I bought a cook book recently (Betty Crocker Cook Book for Women) and it has REALLY helped me put portion sizes into perspective. :)

I see the scale going down for the first time in years due to me doing the math.  Calories burned must be more than calories consumed to lose weight.  I am 5'1 and had been eating 2600 calories a day on average.  I have cut down to no more than 1700 and am happy to see some weight loss.  I eat ATLEAST my BMR daily to keep my body out of starvation mode.  One's body cannot shed pounds when it thinks its being starved to death.  I know I would probably pass out on a 900 - 1200 calorie diet.  Just ain't gonna work for me.

I have not always been this weight. I was 135 before I started. I felt horrible. Way to much weight for my size. Slowly I lost it. In the beginning I did not know what I was doing. Just eating less, not exercising. I lost 10LB and stayed there for years. Then about 3 years ago I started working out. 2 years ago I got serious and started weight training and working out better. Eating better and now I eat clean most of the time.

It is hard for short girls. Pretty much an everyday struggle. But I like how I feel now as opposed to then so it keeps me motivated. I also love food and love to eat. Today was my cheat meal so I just got done eating a cookie AND a brownie. As soon as I am done with it I think about next Fridays cheat meal.  I love brownies.

Tomorrow is my major workout day. Hours in the gym to keep the weight off. Sprints and weight. Always a struggle.

littleshellys, that is super impressive :O

 

Sounds like the time I dropped junk and all for karate as I needed to go semi-professional (stopped 5 years ago ie weight gain)

 

I eat healthy most of the time..main problem is my schedual means i eat out and so i cant reduce the sat fats very easily other than that am healthy ;)

 

good luck to all the shorties working on their goals!

I lose 1kg this week and that by increasing myx cal intake..i never counted before this week

but now that i do, i can see that i wasnt reaching 1200 cals on a normal day, now i'm trying to hit 1600 daily (although yesterday was only 1200 (shhhhhhh.....was too busy to eat)

i feel more energetic, i feel motivated, and i'm not hungry at all, (wasnt hungry before but still) and my hair is looking nicer (it was falling out from exams) it's falling less :d