[philana]

Hi girls,

This is really not a serious rant, yet something I am sure we all sometimes think about. Being a not-so-tall featherweight you can't really eat a 'lot' and still lose weight and it's not fair!

My maintenance calories at my activity level are about 1650 calories. To lose I have to go below that, to account for making mistakes in my calorie counting I make sure I try to shoot for 1250 calories a day. And it's just such a tight budget. I am doing well on it again, but it just annoys me a bit that with such a tight budget I can't even have a healthy-sub sandwich (easily 450 calories) and still eat 3 meals a day and a snack.

I have to make every bite that goes into my body count. People at higher calorie ranges could eat a TON it feels like to me. I mean, I am not starving. I pay super close attention to what I eat and it's all quality foods. But it would be so nice if I could afford to waste 200-300 calories a day.

Can't wait to be in maintenance when I'll have those extra calories back and then some from exercise! The thought of being able to eat 1800-2000 calories a few days a week without feeling 'guilty' for slowing down weightloss is just sooo exciting.

Oh well, just patience and all. But if only I were a bit taller! LOL

[globetrotter74]

philana I definitely feel your pain..I eat around 1200 calories a day myself and I work out 4 days a week which I burn around 300 calories. I'm looking forward to maintenance as well.. but we will get there...

[bargoo]

philana, get used to it. I am 5' even and my mainenace calories are 1400 calories a day. We short people just don't need the calories of a taller person.
That's life.

[Only Me]

It's definitely frustrating, especially for me living with a 6' tall man. He can eat twice as much as I can and still lose weight.

[globetrotter74]

Yes Only Me that is definitely frustrating!!

[jennybee]

I agree, it is frustrating! I know I can survive fine on 1200 calories but it would be nice to have a little more room when I want to eat something calorie-heavy. I can't wait to get to maintenance and have all these spare calories! It will be such a luxury

[Lee NZ]

Funny this thread should be here! I have been feeling a bit resentful of this too. I am 5'1"...and-a-half. I seem to have to eat at around 1100 calories maximum to lose weight. It just means you have to trim back any extras.

A friend at work was talking about losing weight and I showed her the freedieting calculators. She would be allowed 500 more calories a day because of her height.

I know I need some positive self-talk - like how about getting off my backside and doing some exercise to earn a few more calories to tack onto my day?! ; )

Lee

[banananutmuffin]

I think this is why I like calorie cycling. I can plan my low days to be when I'm busy or don't have social engagements. And then my high days can be when I'm going out with Hubby, etc. Makes me feel less deprived.

But yeah, I know what you mean. It's one of the reasons I hate counting calories.

[Aldergrove BC]

At 5 foot 2 inches, I feel your pain

[pixelllate]

I just read in the Rapid Fat Loss Handbook that you multiply 12-16 by your total bodyweight (unless you are an athlete) to find maintenance. But dieting slows metabolism, so you adjust by 10%-that leaves you around the range of 11-15 cals per pound. OK so if someone gets down to 120 (and lets say lightly active) =1440 to maintain. To lose 1 lb and get to 119, thats 3500 cal deficit in a week. So subtract around 700 cals from the 1440 per day (on avg)?
=(

[sontaikle]

I wonder if I'm an outlier or something. I need to eat over 2000 to maintain.

Originally Posted by pixelllate

I just read in the Rapid Fat Loss Handbook that you multiply 12-16 by your total bodyweight (unless you are an athlete) to find maintenance. But dieting slows metabolism, so you adjust by 10%-that leaves you around the range of 11-15 cals per pound. OK so if someone gets down to 120 (and lets say lightly active) =1440 to maintain. To lose 1 lb and get to 119, thats 3500 cal deficit in a week. So subtract around 700 cals from the 1440 per day (on avg)?
=(

It's really, really individual. I find that to be extremely inaccurate and from what I see around here it's also not that accurate.

For some it does work though.

[ChickieChicks]

Just wanted to show the flipside exists, too. I am maintaining (actually losing maybe 1 pound every other month still) at 125 pounds and 5'2".

I eat 1800 to maintain. If I work out, I eat atleast 2000-2100 for the day. I am recovering from surgery and haven't worked out for the whole month of March, and still ate 1800 average per day and haven't gained an ounce.

I'm sure this isn't scientific, but when I was nearing the end of losing, like the last 15 pounds, I really started ramping up my daily calories. I was afraid of being stuck at 1200 forever, b/c for me, that is terribly restrictive. So I upped to 1400 for a month. Then 1600, and now about 1800. I still lost weight, even with these monthly increases. My metabolism is on fire, but I eat 95% clean, don't cheat and (except post-surgery) work out 3-4 times a week.

However, even my doctor told me that if you lose weight at 1400, don't count on going above that ever again. Dunno. I truly think it is possible to reprogram your metabolism.

[meditateinmydirectio]

I know what you mean!! I am 5'5" and I think my frame is average to large-ish because I am pretty muscular, but on the other hand I have a pretty small waist...

Anyways, I think it is harder for shorter people to lose weight, especially if we are sharing meals with taller people, because they definitely can eat more, so it's easy to think you can "keep up" but you definitely CAN'T.

good luck!

[ValRock]

I'm tall and not quite a featherweight yet... so don't throw things at me .

But, build some muscle!!! Turn your body into an oven .

[ChickieChicks]

LOL Sontaikle..posting the same thing at the same time. I'm guessing our experiences are similar, b/c I know you really ate well (still do) and put a lot of effort into working your body in many different ways at the gym. It wasn't just a simple calorie deficit. Speaking just for myself, I truly revolutionized my whole way of eating and living.