Slim, short girls... what do you do to stay fit (thin?) and what do you eat in a normal day?

[Anonymous]

I'm a pretty short girl... 5 ft 2 and apparently I only burn like 1,400 calories a day (without exercise). I'm looking to lose weight... but I always feel hungry!

I feel like I can't ever eat a real meal. my last meal consisted of a piece of toast, a cup of soup and some carrots. I'm so hungry after that!

What do you shorter girls like me eat during the day? Is there any way to diet without being so hungry?

My doctors says it should be a "lifestyle" change and not a diet. I agree with her. I exercise 3-5 times a week 30-60 min of cardio and I get 0 results mostly because I have such a hard time staying under 1,400 calories.

Foods are so high in calorie and they give you so much! It's hard not to eat it. So someone who's short like me... 5 ft to 5 ft 4... how do you stay fit, eat right? what does a typical day of meals look like to you?

I'm not looking for absolute thinness here. I just want to be fit and look healthy, but I'm not sure of what lifestyle I should be living or how to change it.

[bubbiexo]

I'm 5'4 and my BMR is about the same as yours. But my TDEE is around 1800. So is 1400 what your body needs to stay alive, or is that the number you got when you factored in your lifestyle, i.e. sedentary, lightly active, etc? Never, ever, ever eat below your BMR. This will murder your metabolism if you do it habitually. If 1400 is your TDEE(based on a sedentary lifestyle), then when you're working out, try to eat a little extra on the days that you're doing so.

You don't have to eat so little. Especially if you're working out so much... I lost 40 lbs and I was eating 1500-1800 calories while doing it. Fewer on rest days, more on training days. And I've only got 2 inches on you. And you really don't need to be doing that much cardio. Maybe try some weight training as well. A good training regimen requires a good balance! I do weights 3-4x a week and cardio 2-3x.

For me, my normal foods are rolled oats, fruits, veggies, whole grains, dairy(where I get most of my protein), lean meats(I only eat poultry and fish), nuts, brown rice. After a while, I began craving all of these foods instead of the junk that I used to crave. It's super weird to crave an apple instead of a candy bar haha.

Your doctor is right when she said it's a lifestyle change, and I'm glad you agree. You don't have to suffer, you don't have to be hungry all of the time. Just find foods that are going to satisfy you and keep you fuller longer.

Good luck, girl! I promise you're going to fall in love with the lifestyle when you figure out what works for you.

[bubbiexo]

I also use MFP. It's amazing!

[Asker]

thanks! I actually use the caloriecount website, but maybe I'll switch? I didn't count my exercise into my BMR mostly because I don't want to allow myself to add extra lol. Actually, I find that when I am around junk food so much (like here at college in an all you can eat dining hall) I go home and crave fruit all the time! so there's hope I can learn to adapt? I usually eat saltines to keep myself from getting hungry b/t meals. congrats on losing 40 lbs! That'd be cool if I could do that

[bubbiexo]

Well you'll want to eat a little more than 1400 then. That's why you're so hungry! Don't be afraid to eat... You have to eat to lose weight AND keep it off. And the cool thing about MFP is that you add friends and get to have support that way. It's awesome!

[Asker]

aww that's nice. maybe I'll go for it lol

[bubbiexo]

If you do, you should add me! My username is Shammxo

[Asker]

haha thanks! hopefully I don't forget!

[Anonymous]

I'm 5'4 and weigh 112

32-23-23

If you deem me "fit" then listen, if not, then ignore.

I drink lots of water - no pop/soda

I don't eat candy, but I eat basically whatever I want, just in portions. I try to eat 1200 calories a day (more depending on how much I exercise) it varies.

I go to the gym regularly and I do a lot of core exercises to keep my stomach flat. I also lift weights (I do endurance lifting so they're not so heavy) and I do lower body as well.

I don't really eat healthy, I just watch my intake. I really don't like the taste of healthy food so I eat burgers and whatnot, but I do eat lots and lots of shrimp. It's seafood and I hear that's some of the leanest meat there is...but I could be wrong.

If I eat a lot one day, I try to balance it out by working out more. As long as you work out enough to balance out/surpass your food intake, you should, ideally, lose weight. I just keep it equal because I don't want to lose weight.

www.myfitnesspal.com is what I use to manage my intake and exercise.

[Asker]

hmmm yeah, I'm 5 ft 2 and my goal is like 120. I don't have TOO far to go... but I just have trouble eating so little every day. 1,200 calories isn't much when you think about how many calories are in things! so if you eat a burger... what do you eat the rest of the day? like nothing? lol. I'd die. I don't really drink soda much either... not huge fan. I don't know what I'm doing wrong here. I think it's that I like carbs so much lol. I love pasta and it's hard to eat that and not quickly go over!

[Opinion Owner]

I eat whatever I want. The site I gave you explains it. The more you work out, the more calories you burn that you, in a sense, can add to what you eat. So in truth I eat about 1500-2000 a day but I burn a lot of it while working out so it amounts to about 1200.

[jessik424]

I heard that one you start eating less, your body will get used to it. I'm really short and skinny. I've never really had an appetite for food. Because I don;t eat a lot (unless it's seafood), I'm never houngry. But that's not exactly healthy thing either. Usually my body never gets fat, and when it does, it gets skinny fast. I think most of it has to do with what I eat. I love eating fruits! LOL I'm not helping. sorry. What I know though is that once you get used to eating less, and eating healthier food, your body will get used to that and you won't want to eat lots of food afterward. just be patient and don't give up :) though make sure you eat normal food, don't try to starve yourself. good luck!

[Asker]

I think you're right! I've tried that and it is totally true. Your stomach shrinks! I can't eat as much as I used to!

[peace-love-couture]

5'2 1/2

114

37-25-37 though I was sick with Laryngitis so I did lose weight and my measurements may have gone down

Eating 5-6 small meals a day is best for me personally. It's easier(because I can eat between classes) and keeps me fuller

Try changing up your cardio and introducing strength training. If you bring weights into the picture you might notice a huge difference.

With cardio, maybe the elliptical, jump roping, swimming(inside), HIIT, running or jogging. And don't do the same cardio consecutively

[Asker]

hmm yeah. I usually jog or do the eliptical for 30-60 mins. exercise isn't really a problem for me. I actually really enjoy it lol. It's just eating less... it's so hard when you go out to dinner and they put so much on your plate and I know I can eat it... I just know I shouldn't lol. I should try the 5-6 meals a day. I hate being hungry. what kinds of foods do you eat/snack on?

[peace-love-couture]

I'm in college so I go to the diner...veggies and fruits basically

Or I eat eggs

then baked chicken or fish

[peace-love-couture]

Sorry, I was going to add more but I went to sleep!

Cardio alone isn't going to help you. If all you're doing is cardio, your exercise routine is lacking. Weights help tremendously with not only getting in shape, but toning your body and improving endurance and even helping with weight loss.

Also, throughout the day I eat different things. I usually take a few fruit from the dining hall and snack on it between classes or during classes. I eat salads for lunch and dinner

[Asker]

oh wow cool. thanks! I never usually do weights because I see no improvement lol. maybe I should reincorporate them again. wow that's a lot of salad... I don't really like salad that much. I get so bored with it. blah. I have like no hope :(. I usually end up eating like crackers and a cup of soup... which isn't very well rounded, but a salad is so... a salad lol. man it's hard to be short. tall people can eat w/e they want lol. I love shrimp, I should learn how to cook shrimp ha

[peace-love-couture]

Oh no haha, I eat a salad because I go to the diner when they're getting the other food prepared or cleaning up before "dinner" time or whatever.

If you don't like veggies, that's fine. But I'd encourage you to find a way of making them that you enjoy. Maybe try eating one serving of veggies once a day for a few weeks, then add a second serving, then third etc.

Give yourself cheat days. It's OK to have a piece of cake or a brownie or a steak.

[Asker]

oh yeah, no I guess I don't mind veges... just the salad dressings they have at my school are super high in calorie and that seems to be the only way I can eat a salad. I do like cooked veges quite a bit though! I guess one serving of those per meal can't kill right?

[peace-love-couture]

yep! Plus, you'll eat less if you add in some veggies to your plate. You might eat less, but the fiber will fill you up and you'll get other nutrients

[Asker]

lol I never feel full when I eat veges though. only carbs for some reason lol I'm diffiucult