ok, so I am 5'7" and 124 lbs. I have a small frame, so weight shows VERY easily on me. I look pretty good, but still want to lose the last 4 lbs.
I've always been under 120 lbs until I got married -- lol. So I know it's right for me (I was under 120 without dieting EVER, and very little excercise). So I'm sure this isn't an unhealthy goal.
Thing is, I already eat right (no stupid diets), drink no sodas or crap like that & drink 64 oz of water a day...taking in right at 1200 relatively healthy calories and excercising a little. I work as an assistant manager at a store, so I'm always moving at work too. Can anyone suggest something (besides the gym) I can try? I don't want a life change for 4 lbs
Anyone? Even if it's just suggestions on something to add or take away from my diet short -term, or quick excerises at home besides my crunches, reverse crunches, squats, etc
Anything is appreciated!!
I am going through the same thing. I am 5'7 and 124lbs. I gained my weight when I had a baby. 124lbs is not bad, but my pre-pregnancy weight was 114. When I see myself in pics back then, I look too skinny. So, I guess I would like to drop 5 or so pounds. I don't eat very healthy like you. Greasy food, sweets, lots of dairy. I did at least switch to diet soda. I was drinking a lot of soda. I just have a terrible appetite and huge cravings for sweets, which I did not have before the baby. My son is now 2, so there is no excuse for being over my ideal weight.
I saw a appetite supressent in my Health Hut mag called "Skinny Mini". It is supposed to help with your appetie and give you more energy without using Ephedra. I posted earlier asking if anyone had tried it but have not gotten any replies.
I would also be interrested in ways to shed a few pounds.
my minor suggestion would be to cut back on sugar and salt..that should help
If you're already eating healthy--you already know and/or do all the other stuff (whole grains/fruits/vegetables/lean meats/low-fat/etc)--so the sugar & salt idea may be a minor change you could make
Hey, I am 5'7" and 130 lbs which goes up and down. I always have to hear "Oh, you're so small, you don't need to diet." I was 117 in high school. I carry excess weight in my thighs. I got to 125 and was very happy but the holidays added the extra weight.
The best thing to do is just to try and tone. I got one of those bun and thigh rollers. Hoping for tight buns! My olny suggestion to you is just to do light weight training. Even yoga will help for flexibilty and toning.
Wow! Do I ever need this thread! I came in search of exactly this today!
I am 5'4 and right now 113lbs. I have always hovered around 110lbs, and for some reason I cannot shake those 3 lbs! I have been eating really well, smaller portions and trying to cut sugar (after Christmas treats!) I have upped my ski machine to running twice as long, and yet I cannot budge??
Am I crazy to be thinking of 110 as my perfect weight?
Have I made some muscle that is adding the weight?
Am I deluding myself?
I would love some feedback?
Robbit.
BTW I have lost 40lbs and kept it off for 2.5 years. I fear any weight creeping on as I know how fast it can get away on you!
Yup, these are the reasons why I detest scales because all they do is show you a number that doesn't necessarily reflect what makes up that number. If you are eating healthy and working out,(especially working out more than usual) you must always remember that muscle weighs more than fat, and that will certainly become apparent on the scale.
Although running and using the ski machine twice as much as usual will not give you big and bulky muscle, it will certainly lower your body fat and make your leg muscles stronger. No matter what kind of muscle you have, it still weighs more than fat. So with that said, I have to disagree with your husband. And being that you're only talking a mere three pounds, it makes even more sense that your muscles are getting stronger. Given your stats, I certainly wouldn't be too concerned! I am only an inch shorter than you and if I weighed 113 pounds, I'd look emaciated! 130 is normal for me, and being that I'm a true mesomorph, it's a solid 130. I am also one who gets "big" fast when it comes to packing on muscle. For instance, I love to cycle a lot, but the more I do, the bigger my legs get. (Especially since I love low gear and big hills!) Same holds true for weight training. Train more, lose body fat and weigh more is basically how it goes for me. Precisely why I find the scale to be useless. Scales seem to be more useful in making people crazy unnecessarily!
Thanks for that info. (Hubby can be a know-it-all sometimes.) Anyway, I know I feel a slave to the scales, it definately stems from all the weight I gained staying home with our son. I was always this size I am now, but gained the 40lb eating at home and finishing off the kids food etc. Baking was a downfall, and of course ate what was there. I am very aware that I NEVER want to be that person I was again. I hated myself. Now I am back in the workforce and the weight came off, I just want to be careful to be on top of it. I know how fast it can pile on there!
When I decided to go on a diet I decided that I would only step on the scale once a week, this way I wouldnt drive myself nuts with the numbers. It backfired though ... I ended up thinking about what numbered I was after doing this or that and if I could get to the scale what would the number be!??!
Heh ...
So I went out and bought a nice little digital scale, now I weight myself once a day just to get my fix. It works out nicely, I am tracking the daily weight and figured I might see patterns from day to day develop. The best thing is that I stopped obsessing over the numbers, do it once and that's that.
The point I am trying to make though is that this morning was the first day in two weeks that the number did not move at all. It's the same number as yesterday and my first reaction was "OMG! What did I eat last night?!?!?"
I weigh myself every morning as soon as I get up. I never do it throughout the day as I am sure it goes up and down depending on the time of day. I figure in the morning I am empty So a clearer number. I guess it astounded me to gain 3 lbs literally overnite--so it put a shock in my system. I am down the 3lbs, doing the same things, and staying at the same number.
Thanks for this thread. I am well aware that there are others who would kill to only have a few stubborn pounds to lose, but we are all in the same club. I have been there.
Yes, I think it was a needed thread for a few of us
Thanks for the suggestion about sugar and salt, I must admit, I am a salt-aholic ...lol
I bet that would help a little water retention!
Good luck to you all!
my advice would be to maybe try eating more. you're only taking in 1200 cals a day, a safe minimum, but your body may need more than that. if it's not getting the necessary nutrition, your metabolism slows down to compensate. try increasing your cals to 1300 or 1400, and try to make the extra food lean proteins to help maintain muscle mass. overall, three or five pounds doen't make that much difference (if any) in the way you look, so only you will notice them on the scale.
Last edited by CollegeChick; 01-16-2006 at 08:17 PM.
Yes, actually every few weeks I 'trick' my body a little by varying the amount of calories so it doesn't become complacent with what I'm doing
Unfortunately 4-5 lbs does show on me pretty easily, my face is fuller and most of my weight I hold in my breasts and thighs, people tend to notice both...haha
I was reading an article the other day and it said the following:
Obsessed with the fact that the needle on the scale hasn't budged since you started your workout program? You shouldn't be. In fact, that ultra-slim and fit person you admire at the gym could actually weight 20lbs more than you; it's just that your fat to muscle ratio is different.
Fat is fluffy and takes up a lot of space.
A better way to determine if your workouts are working is through the measuring tape. A client, after a six month exercise program, didn't lose a pound, but she came down two clothing sizes in upper body and one and a half in lower body. That's how tight and compact muscle is.
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Interesting...
Okay, so I've still been working at it. I've recently realized a way to describe my goal better. Of course I've come across those who tell me 5lbs makes no difference, I've gained it in muscle mass, blah blah blah...so here's the real issue:
I want back in my old CLOTHES SIZE! Okay...not worried about the 5lbs anymore. Really. It's the size of my jeans. Now - I'm in a 5, and was in a 3 all my adult life until about a year ago.
Okay, now taking everything into consideration, what can I DO? To those that didn't see the beginning post here, I eat pretty well, vary my calorie intake. Work on my feet all day, and work out at least 3 times a week cardio with LOTS of resistance training. (not too heavy weight, though...as I do understand muscle can get too bulky that way.)
Who can help me???
Remember that I am totally WITH you on this! I can totally relate. Let me fill you in on my progress in the last 3 weeks. I have cut down on the carbs by quite a bit--I am eating:
Supper: Soup and crackers OR scrambled eggs, carrots and dip
Lots of water all day. I run 1 mile on my ski machine and do a 20 min. workout prgoram of stretching and crunches etc. everyday.
I am down the 3lbs I gained at Christmas, but that's it. I have not dropped a single pound more--BUT--my clothes are fitting WAY better. I have probably lost an inch off my belly and love handles. My clothes are fitting so much better. I had slowly started to "outgrow" my pants and tighter shirts were exposing the "handles"--so my wardrobe was cut in half!
I think it is definately cutting the sugar that has helped and the running everyday. I do all my exercise around 6:30-7ish at night.
As much as I would like to see a perfect number on the scale, I am happy to just fit back into my clothes--AND the best part is I am feeling much better!
