Short Chicks
 

There are really a lot of short "chicks" on this website. I love that because we as short chicks have problems that are unique to us. Five pounds look like 15. I tell people I need to lose 100 lbs and they are like what??!! You would weigh nothing. Hello I'm 4'11"! I can also say that could be a testament to me carrying my weight well despite my height. When I weighed 150 my friends were mad because I was fitting into size 8. So if you are a short chick come join me on this journey.

First of all, do you like the thread name? I was thinking of "Petite Chicks" instead?

Question? How did you determine your goal wt? I used the BMI calculator from NIH. To have a normal BMI I can weigh bw 92-123. I don't know about 92 but I am very comfortable with 120. I've noticed that some of the shorties that have made goal have gone even lower than their originally set goal. Can some of you speak to that? Did you reach goal and wasn't happy?

I am 4'11 so I agree with you on the ten pounds thing, that is like a pant size sometimes.

I am not at goal yet. I haven't decided the actual weight.. probably between 115 and 105. (the 105 I highly doubt right now.). Right now I am 127 ish? . Don't want to gain any more since it is all around my middle.

My lowest was 95 but I was probably 19. I am 30 now. Not gonna happen. My coworkers thought I weighed 85 pounds, and I was like, you are way wrong.

Being short
 

Thats so true about being short and looking like amost double the amount of weight to lose. I'm 5'1 weighting 170 would like to be 135 but looks like I weigh alot more ,when I look in the mirror I still look pregnant, my baby is 4 months. It would be nice to lose it fast but thats not the case, some people are so lucky have a baby and look great right away.

Hi MissGiggles and Susan M!

It amazes me how many short women are on this website. I was just reading another thread and there were two women that are 4'11" too. I was mentioning in another thread about Countess Vaughn on Celebrity Fit Club a few seasons back. She weighed 130 and looked sooo FAT. Lack of height will do that to you.

chronically short
 

Okay, first I have to admit that I am not 5 foot like my profile says. I am really only maybe 4'11 but that might be pushing it a bit. For years I have been in the habit of replying to people when they ask how tall I am that I am 5 foot. It's such a habit that I don't really think about it any more but now you all know the truth.

That being said, my lowest weight ever -- when I was 21 was 85 pounds. I am nearly 50 now and know I will never even be close to that.

I wonder if short chicks --- especially short old chicks have a harder time losing. I can tell you that it really has been a struggle for me. I can consume 12-1400 calories and be very active and not lose a pound for months.

Also, I really think that on a short body every pound is much more visible. There is just no where to hang those pounds.

Also, there is the problem finding clothes that fit. There is so little space between my bust and my waist that I can't even wear stuff that taller women wear because the waist of the skirt or pants comes half way up my middle.

The other day one of my students asked me why I don't wear skirts. I had to tell her that it is because skirts make me look like a fire hydrant with shoes. Sadly, this is the truth because my calves are so muscular that I really do look just like a fire hydrant:o

"Fire hydrant with shoes??" I LOVE that! I'm new to this site, but I think I found the thread for me!

I'm 5'3" so maybe I'm a bit taller that some of the other ladies using this site, but in "real life" I'm a shorty - one of the teachers at my school is 6'1". I had cancer a couple of years ago, and all my hair fell out. My son nicknamed me "Speed Bump" and it took hold at work - tickled me because you get your yucks where and how you can.

I can relate to the clothes that don't fit gripe. I always feel like a little girl dressed in her mom's clothes. Get frustrated over fashions designed for 5'8" size nothings (how will teen girls reproduce?? They have no hips!). Do ya'll have any suggestions?? Obviously, WalMart and Tar-jhay may not be the best places to shop!

Best wishes on the diets, ladies:cheer2::cheer2:

I'm definitely at home here!! I say that I'm 5"2 but probabley a bit shorter. I have the same experiences with the extra weight and clothes. My problem is that because of my shape to get something to fit right in the waist and hip it looks like balloons on my legs. If I buy something that fits in the legs then I have a serious case of muffin top to deal with. I think my lowest weight was around 135- lost a pile due to stress and couldn't maintain it. My goal now is to be around 150.

Hi Mermom, Gonzo Walker, and Grazer!

Mermom--I'm proud of my height for some reason. Who knows why?? If I wear any skirts they are really short (when I was smaller and younger) or really long. I guess I can't make up my mind show 'em or hide 'em. I am having a harder time losing wt this time around but I figure my body is just pissed off--I'm 35.

Gonzo Walker--My best luck has been at Kohl's. I've gone there and have gotten a million pairs of plus petite capris. And they actually look like capris on me.

Grazer--Same issues here. Kohl's works the best for me. I haven't been there in awhile so I don't know how great they are now. They have always been my no fail store.

Do I count as a shortie?

According to several web sites the average American woman is 5' 3.8 inches and weighs about 165 pounds.

Sure you are a shortie Sockmonkey70. Not like there is a definition--maybe there is and I don't know about it-- but I think of anyone 5'5" and under as short.

I am more like 5'2" 1/2, but for BMI tracking purposes I like to put 5'3" because I really am one of those people with a large bone structure LOL.

I can definately relate to 5 pounds looking more like 10 or 15 :)

I would think anyone 5'3 or 5'4 as short or petite. Since petites generally are sized for 5'4 and under. Maybe 5'5 depending on how long your legs are.

Hi

Another short one here. I used to be 5'2, but gravity (probably all those extra pounds pulling down on my spine) has taken its toll ~ now they tell me at the dr I am 5' 1/2"

I can identify with the problems some of you have mentioned. Hard to find clothes that fit. I like the capris, but they look like regular pants on me.

I will have to look at things at Kohls as likenoother has suggested. I have had some luck finding things at Fashion Bug Plus.

Take care all

Hi There--- another short one here! I've always been just barely 5' and I know what it is like finding clothes.. A nightmare! My young sister ended up buying her Wedding Dress in a Childrens store and they asked her if she was going to her Jr. High Prom!! It is funny now and we laugh about it but years ago it wasn't funny!!

Hi glynne and Karen31!

Karen31--I don't know how long "years ago" was but here's hoping when I get married--I haven't lost hope--I won't have as much difficulty finding a dress.

glynne--I normally wear cropped pants as regular pants. Everyone I tell that get a kick out of it. Sometimes I find it funny and sometimes I don't because when I really need them I can't find them. I guess I need to plan more appropriately for shopping. The plus petite capris are the correct length for me at 4'11". I find that extremely important because I've tried on other petite capris or even petite pants they are still way too long.

I never thought of myself as short. I am just small. Not so very long ago my weight went with my height. I find most petites are to short for me and show my socks. Very hard when you have long legs but aren't very tall. On the other hand Capri's are always to long. Have to find pants just just below the knee and they are great Capri's on me.

Mermom
I think I just read somewhere average American woman is 5 foot 4 1/2 inches and 185. Short I think is how you look at it. Not that many women are 5 foot 8 inches lol. Heck my hubby is a foot taller than I am, he says he loves it. Makes him feel so tall lol.

it's funny- I remember hearing years ago that the average American woman was 5'4. I guess average women aren't getting any taller.

To me 5'4 seems tall. If I were 5'4 I wouldn't have as many pounds to lose:dizzy:

Last summer I was shopping with a friend and we saw these shoes that had a nine inch heal. I tried them on as a joke. My friend said, "You don't need to lose weight, you just need to buy those shoes." LOL

Shy Moment--It is really hard for me to think of myself as small with this amount of weight on me. But if I really think about it I am. My hands are ridicuously small. Everyone laughs at that.

Mermom--Everyone seems tall to me. My BF is 5'9" which I guess is supposed to be short for a man but goodness he just seems so tall to me.

Basically the average woman is overweight or obese depending on your source.

Ooh, I love this thread! At 5'4" I feel "tall"! I so relate to what everyone says. I am so short-waisted, that nothing fits. I spent the weekend shortening the sleeves on every blazer/suit I bought at second-hand stores the past two weeks. Last weekend I hemmed pants. It helps, but the crotch still hangs ridiculously low on a couple pairs.
I love stores where petite selections abound, unfortunately, those stores are mostly out-of-town and fairly expensive. And - right now - I'm still planning on hitting my goal weight, so I don't want to buy many "new" things.

Mermom - I relate! DH is 5'7". He is tall to me!!!! Our sons are 5'11" and 6'4" though, so obviously there are some tall genes in our family trees!

Good morning, everybody! I must be the only one up. I've done my floor exercises and now I'm getting ready for work. Hate to go - we've been out since mid-afternoon last Wednesday. The kids will be awful!

Thanks for the Kohl's tip. Their regular prices are high, but the sales are great. I should go more often. I'd like to own a not-too-dressy dress, but everything I look at is either the wrap style or has tucks and pleats which makes me feel like a kid. Maybe the basic problem is I'm a jeans and T girl and don't really want to dress up.

How did ya'll do with the Thanksgiving feast? I had serious pie issues. Pie is, after all, nature's most perfect food.

Have a great day, all!

I actually had trouble getting to work today. I was in such denial. Luckily I make my own schedule and I do have comp time I can use.

Gonzo Walker--I don't understand the concept of a wrap dress. It is supposed to make everyone look good. I don't think so when you have a big fat belly standing out there for the world to see. Thanksgiving...lets not talk about it. I'm in denial about that too.

speaking of denial
 

That's what got me in this weight mess to begin with. How is it that we buy bigger and bigger clothes and don't realize we are getting really fat?

Also, I wonder if tall chicks look at our tickers and are able to to visualize just what an extra 40 pounds looks like on a short chick.

I did really well for Thanksgiving. But I think it helps being a vegetarian. No one expects you to put together a traditional feast. Thus, I made mostly veggie dishes with carrot and spinach lasagna rolls being the most calorie-dense item.

I don't look good in wrap dresses at this weight. Goal weight - definitely. Now they are just awful. I am having a terrible time with the low-cut tops and dresses that are in abundance right now. I have to put a lacy tee under everything, just so I can wear it. When you are short, the neckline plunges even lower than on taller women.

Mermom--I haven't bought clothes except for specific occasions in a long time. So I continue to wear what fits me over, over, and over again.

CountingDown--Well my problem goes beyond the shirts just hanging lower its the "sisters" fitting in a shirt and it not looking like a tent or inappropriate.

Sometimes bec of being short I feel like I need to get to an "impossible" weight to be considered "healthy". I may give up at 150. We will see how I feel when I get there.

I have had that same though cross my mind...LOL..But I don't know. I was 150 as a cheerleader and I was a biggest girl on the squad. I just looked chubby. I really would like to reach 140, but I just don't know if I can do it.

My problem with the wrap dresses is that A-I am very short waisted and B-have no equipment up top, so everything just sort of bunches up under my breast bone and shows way more...nothing...than anyone needs to see. I bought a "push up" bra so now I'm up to kind of an A-and-a-1/2 cup made up of loose skin from losing weight.

Ladies, don't give up on losing the weight if that's what you really want. For me, regular exercise is key. As long as I take my long, brisk walk each day, my diet and my weight pretty well take care of themselves. Except for the pumpkin pie.......I took care of the pie.......guess I better put on my sneaks and hit the road! Anyway, when I don't walk, my eating tends to be awful, and I cannot keep my weight down. Losing weight and keeping it off really are ongoing battles. I can't imagine what it must be like NOT to think about what I had to eat and what I'm going to eat, and feeling like a self-absorbed weakling pretty much constantly. OH, to be a man! :^:

SockMonkey70 & Gonzo Walker--I've been 150 before and I knew I still needed to lose weight. I've been 130 before, granted that was in high school, and I still looked chubby. I will continue on to my goal of 120, maybe lower, but I know I will have starts and stops along the way. Its just such a long journey sometimes you're just like I don't know...but I am pretty important :) so I should take care of myself.

Hiya! I'm a fellow vertically challanged chick! I'm getting in maintenance mode but those last few pounds are just hanging on to dear life..so I keep plugging away..

I think perhaps I am in maintenance and refuse to admit it. *shrug*

Here's to commiserating with you guys.

Lekhika--They say the last few are the hardest to get off.

Hey fellow "shorties", I am 5'3" on the dot, nothing more, nothing less. I was reading this thread a few days ago but didn't have time to chime in. I had to chuckle when I read some of the comments regarding adding an inch or two when telling others what your height is--I would always say I was 5'4" tall. I have sister who is 5'2" and tells everyone she is 5'3" :lol:

I am also small busted and had a laugh about the A-and-a-half cup size, I so hear you on that one! :high: It's really difficult finding a bra with the correct band size with small enough cups that won't pucker or stick out too far in front with nothing in them :lol:

As far as my lowest "adult" weight, I weighed 132 lbs on my wedding day, then probably gained 30+ within 6 months, then another 30 within the next year. It was no shock to my hubby though, I was big when he met me and he's no string bean either. It's been upwards and downwards for me everyday since then, with my heighest weight being 233.6. You know, seeing it in print is quite shocking to me to see that I allowed myself to gain 100 lbs!!! :yikes: Fortunately I am on a downward trend again, and am just starting to feel a little better about myself when looking in the mirror.

One of my major gripes about buying clothing is that in petite cut clothing (jeans) I have to buy a size UP than I normally wear, and if I buy "short" cut jeans, they are about an 1" or 2" too long. I also buy capris and can sometimes get away with them being regular long pants, but most times they are like at ankle length. Where I live it's OK but sometimes I just want a normal-all-the-way-down-to-my-feet pair of jeans so my legs can look longer ya know? And it's really difficult finding womens sizes in petite lengths.... just a long list of things that are hard for us short, but wonderful women. I look forward to getting to know you all. :wave:

Welcome Melekalikimaka! I see you are a Weight Watcher. Are you doing it at home or do you go to meetings? Are you doing core or flex? I am doing WW at home. I'm not an online member I get my stuff from e-bay and having been a member in the past I have some old & new stuff. I'm doing flex.

I figure clothes will always be a struggle because we may not always be overweight but we will always be short. I've been recommending Kohl's for petitie plus size and I'm hoping it still holds true because I haven't been there in awhile.

Hey Noelle,
Welcome to us Short Chicks! Congrats to you for doing so well with your WW. I guess I may just have to get serious about them again and see if I can get moving again! Look forward to seeing you around here. Take care.

Hey Shay, Thanks for the tips on Kohls. I will have to check them out when we get down to the Springs sometime. That is about an hour drive for me! But there isn't much up here where we are. Just finally got a Walmart last month!

So I was thinking bc there are a lot of "short chicks" on this website what female celebrities are short too. I like to watch entertainment shows and read the magazines. Diversional for me and a form of escapism. Anyways so there is this website: www.CelebHeights.com and it has listed the heights of a lot celebrities. I only looked up women. Here is a small example of female stars that are 5'5" and under: Lindsay Lohan, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Carmen Electra, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lil Kim.

I thought it was funny that I believe it was Jennifer Aniston was like 5'4 and 3/4 and Lil Kim, a rapper if you don't know who she is, is just a little bit above 4'9". Interesting.

Good morning ladies :wave: Thanks for the welcome. Karen, glad I found you here :hug:

That website was very interesting. You know though, all those "short" celebs are REALLY thin so they look a lot taller than they really are--well, plus those high heels :lol:

Shay, I'm doing the WW flex plan and go to weekly meetings. I have done WW in the past and this is actually my 4th go 'round. I'm hoping it sticks this time, I do have the support of 3 of my sisters though, so I'm not doing it alone this time. I have tried to do it on my own, but it just doesn't work for me. I am a scale addict (weigh daily), and even though I know I shouldn't let it dictate how my day goes, sometimes it just does a number on my head :dizzy:. I have heard rumors swirling that WW is going to announce some "changes" very soon.... but that's what they said about the "turn around" plan and it's pretty much the same as the original flex.... I'll watch and wait.

I will look for a Kohl's while I am on the mainland. We don't have one here, nor a Dillards, nor a Target (yet!) or Ikea.... there are so many stores we don't have here in Hawaii that I just go nuts when I travel :lol:

Anyway, I'm having a sort of rough morning with the hubby, and actually had a WW Smart Ones dessert for breakfast--not too smart, but not as bad as I could be. Anyway, I'm calming down now so I should get right back into a normal eating routine. Hope everyone has a smooth sailing kind of day.

Noelle,
This is actually my 3rd or 4th go around with WW too. It has been the most successful of all the diets I have tried. The menu planning and the points thing does get on my nerves after being on it for awhile. I do like the flexibility with the flex plan as opposed to core. I think it's too much to figure out if its core or not. Besides if I knew when to stop eating then I wouldn't be at the weight I am now.

Hi Ladies,
Noelle, I can feel for you with having a hard time with hubby--- Mine has been off of work for the last 7 months! He is just a year away from retirement but I don't know if I'm ready for that yet! Sure hope we get the house sold and moved back to MO. before long where I will have family around me to help me stay sane! ;)

likenoother - I hear you, it is hard to find "fitted" shirts that don't make the girls look "prominent" and non-fitted shirts just make me look huge (or even pregnant).

Goal setting is so hard. Many of us were at our healthiest weight when we were much younger. While getting back down to 120 lbs (where I still felt chunky btw) is an unrealistic goal for me - or so I tell myself. I really think it is smart to set a higher goal now. When we get there, we can always re-evaluate and set another lower goal.
Not only is a higher goal more attainable, but it will be something we can celebrate. Success breeds success, and frustration breeds depression and backsliding - at least for me.
140 is a high number for my frame & height, but given my age and the fact that I am exercising regularly and actually developing some muscle tone, I think it might be a healthy weight for me. I'm feeling so much better at 169 than I did at 215, even THIS weight feels pretty healthy by comparison.