Calling all Skinny Moms....

[Anonymous]

Genetics and exercise (moderate - about 1 hour of walking a day, plus martial arts a few days a week).

LOL, I think I'd kill myself if I had to limit myself to what most of you skinny moms eat. I consume about 2500 calories a day. Today was:

Breakfast:
English muffin with butter and PB

Coffee with whole milk and sugar as a "snack"

Lunch:
Two pieces of homemade quiche and a big arugula salad with plenty of homemade vinagrette

Snack: guacamole (I dunno, like 2 tablespoons?) with tortilla chips and some cheese and tomato slices

Dinner: like a 1/3 lb of pasta, for real. With four cheese sauce. And a glass of wine.

Dessert: sugar cookie from Wegmans (yum)

I also momivored a lot of my kid's snack leftovers today.

Never had a problem with my weight, I'm 5'4" and about 120. I build muscle really easily (runs in the family) so I look really toned despite not doing a lot of resistance exercise. I gained like 50 lbs when I was pregnant (I think my metabolism was completely different then), but no issues losing it.

I could be younger than some? I'm only 33. I have a feeling it'll be harder when I get to the 40s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great topic - looking forward to hearing from the skinny moms, and learning just what it takes.

Nervous breakdown did it for me!

Sorry to hear. But you aren't alone. That did it for me too. Weird when everyone tells you how "great" you look because you've lost a few, but you've never felt worse.

[Anonymous]

Processed foods= weight gain. Eat things in their simplest forms ie fruit (limit food) try to stay completely away from sugary foods as well and easy on the carbs. Eat corn tortillas or chips as a treat of popcorn homemade. Eat hummus, veggies, salads TONS of protein and veggies are key. Limit potatoes instead choose sweet potato over white. It actually falls right off if you avoid processed foods of ANY kind. Fat is good processed or fake (fake sugars except stevia) are not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great topic - looking forward to hearing from the skinny moms, and learning just what it takes.

Nervous breakdown did it for me!

Sorry to hear. But you aren't alone. That did it for me too. Weird when everyone tells you how "great" you look because you've lost a few, but you've never felt worse.

Yup. Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

For me, it was education about nutrition and calories. I am 41, so losing weight is not as easy anymore. However, in order to stay in 115-118 range, I only need about 1200-1500 calories a day. When I started looking up the calorie counts on my favorite foods....foods I considered to be healthy, I was shocked at how many calories and fat were in them. Now I am much more aware of what I am putting in my body. I cook at home a lot more, and use simple ingredients. We go out once a week, and I always look up the nutritional value just to get an idea, and plan what I will eat. Someone mentioned my fitness pal. I use this too, and it has helped me stay in check. I have found that I can have extra helpings when I eat "clean", and the food I eat keeps me full and satisfied longer. Btw, since I have become "educated", I have lost 20 pounds and have kept it off for over a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:genetics. I eat a ton and I don't gain weight. I'm 38.

I do have thin, bad hair that I hate.

I have a question for the women who say it's genetics, and thst they eat a lot but don't gain weight. For you, what is a typical day's food? I am thinking that your definition of "a lot" is different from mine. For example, i can easily eat an entire pint of froyo or ice-cream in one sitting.

That is it exactly. A pint of ice cream is 4-5 servings for me. I still think I eat "a lot", but my definition may be quite different than the next person.

I am 21:15 - I have to say that "recalibrating" in terms of what I think of as normal portion sizes has been one of the most important things I have done. I used to eat really large servings of baked goods, for example, and now I just don't. Once in awhile, I used to eat a full cupcake from crumbs - not often, maybe once a month. Now, it seems insane to eat that much in one sitting. And other smaller changes - 3 slices of pizza used to be my normal, now it's 2. It just takes awhile to make it a habit, but after a few months of being diligent it kicks in.

It seems insane to eat an entire cupcake once a month?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Genetics and exercise (moderate - about 1 hour of walking a day, plus martial arts a few days a week).

LOL, I think I'd kill myself if I had to limit myself to what most of you skinny moms eat. I consume about 2500 calories a day. Today was:

Breakfast:
English muffin with butter and PB

Coffee with whole milk and sugar as a "snack"

Lunch:
Two pieces of homemade quiche and a big arugula salad with plenty of homemade vinagrette

Snack: guacamole (I dunno, like 2 tablespoons?) with tortilla chips and some cheese and tomato slices

Dinner: like a 1/3 lb of pasta, for real. With four cheese sauce. And a glass of wine.

Dessert: sugar cookie from Wegmans (yum)

I also momivored a lot of my kid's snack leftovers today.

Never had a problem with my weight, I'm 5'4" and about 120. I build muscle really easily (runs in the family) so I look really toned despite not doing a lot of resistance exercise. I gained like 50 lbs when I was pregnant (I think my metabolism was completely different then), but no issues losing it.

I could be younger than some? I'm only 33. I have a feeling it'll be harder when I get to the 40s.

You're soooo luckly. If I ate like that I'd look like a hippo. I'd love to be able to eat what I want but that led me to gaining 50lbs which I have now lost again. It's made me realize though that I xcanniot eat whatever I like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never got more compliments in my ENTIRE LIFE than when I was about 29 yrs old, had just had a horribly painful breakup with longterm live-in BF, and threw myself into exercising and hardly eating. I was about 110 lbs at 5'2" and i was miserable and starving. But i had strangers stopping me on the street to compliment me on my body.

This happened to me exactly at 29! I was 120 lbs and 5'5", which looks really skinny on me b/c I have sizable boobs and a butt. I had men asking me out all the time and I looked so damn good in my clothes, but I was miserable. Now I stay between 125 and 130. I don't have such a tiny waist and don't look as great in skinny pants, but as I age I need the extra weight to keep my face looking full. I don't try to be skinny, but I do try to keep my weight consistent so that my clothes fit.

[Anonymous]

High metabolism was always the case for me, but now after 2 kids, I have to work at staying thin. This means regular exercise. cardo at least 3 times a week with some strength training (light weights only- check out Tracy Anderson on you tube for some good free workouts) I just started barre workouts at home too and am hopeful of its benefits.

Eating- I eat a lot of salads- spinach is my go to with chicken, some cheese, walnuts, other veggies. Dressing is always balsamic vinaigrette which has almost no calories. Breakfast is often egg with low carb tortilla. I only do brown rice or whole grains. No diet soda. Recently, I gave up my nightly 1-2 glasses of wine which has been tough but helps. (Splurge once a week though!) For a sweet treat, I often Trader Joes 100 calorie soy ice cream bars or freeze their yogurt tubes to make a popsicle.

[Anonymous]

5'6" 125 lbs

I walk daily for an hour (maybe not all at one time, but in total). Arms are toned by lifting and carrying baby. I also wear my baby in a wrap/carrier several hours a day.

I always have a protein and fat with my carbs. I eat large portions, though, so in that sense I'm lucky. Eg, can eat two bowls of pasta with bolognese sauce and parm no problem. I don't eliminate sweets or treats (have a weakness for chocolate croissants), but have one indulgent treat per day. I cook at home for most meals (we do take out one night a week ). We serve a veggie with dinner and snack on fruit and nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not naturally thin. I WORK at it. I run and lift weights regularly. By run I don't mean a 30 minute jog but 4-5 mile runs a couple of times a week and one long run on the weekend, 8-10 miles. I also lift heavy. Eating-I generally eat clean, but allow myself all the wine I want. At least a glass a night. I work full time, have young kids, a spouse with a demanding job, all equaling lots of stress. So I love my wine! I'm 5'5" and 130. Weight is deceiving. I wear a size 2 or 4 in most brands. If I didn't work hard I would naturally settle at a six or eight.

PP -- I'm the same weight and height as you, but I'm finding myself wearing a size 4 -6 in most brands, but I definitely need to tone my mid-section more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skinny mom here. I'm going to try and break this down as best I can. I am 5'4" and used to always weigh about 103 my entire life. After kid #2 (6 months ago) I'm now at 110 and I like myself at this weight and will try to maintain this. I gained 70 pounds with my first and 40 with my second. I'm exactly where I want to be now.

I used to brush off compliments about my weight and credit "genetics." I now believe that genetics only play a small role. I think a good relationship with food, an understanding of my body and what it needs, and not obsessing about what I eat and not denying myself anything have been the real secret. That, and, I NEVER FINISH ANYTHING.

Portions are key. To the PP that can crush a pint of froyo--that's fucking gross (sorry). This is coming from someone that started my day with a fun size snickers that I had in my night stand. But that's just it. I can get my candy fix at 6:00am with a tiny candy bar and follow it with a bowl of cold cereal an hour later. Lunch would be a PB&J and bites of whatever DD is eating (cheese stick, apple, goldfish, grapes, etc.) I really don't think about it too much. Thinking leads to obsessing and thinking about what's best to eat just makes you think about food all the time. Last night I had a slice of pizza and broccoli for dinner. One slice. That's all I needed. I didn't consciously limit myself, but why would anyone need more than that? I had a big glass of chocolate milk (1% and Hershey's light syrup) and some kettle corn as a snack, but I didn't eat the whole bag. I just don't think about food the way I see people here doing. I eat what I want, but in moderation.

Also, it's important that everything balance out over time. Today, I had a fun size snickers (from the nightstand) as soon as I woke up, a mcgriddle and diet coke on my way to a play date, 3/4 of a bagel and cream cheese and 1 cookie at the play date, and an apple when I got home. Diner was a home cooked variation of orange chicken and broccoli with rice and 2 glasses of wine. No snacks in between. Not because that would be bad or anything, I just didn't think to snack. I wasn't hungry. And I wasn't "craving" anything.

I feel like I'm rambling a bit and not really giving any concrete advice here. But I guess I just wanted to make the point that I just don't think about food the way other people do. If I want something, I eat it. But not all of it. Why would I finish an entire portion of something just because it's in front of me? I don't eat when I'm not hungry either.

Sorry folks. I thought I was going to "break it down" but I don't really know what there is to say. Just eat less food. I really truly think it's as simple as that. Screw the fat/carb/protein balance and your workout routine and all that shit. Just eat less. That's it. Eat a mini snickers--not a pound of low fat sugar free granola and a vat of low fat Greek yogurt. Whatever.

Do you exercise? Because on top of the couple miles I walk throughout my day (going to metro and back, etc) I work out for at least sixty minutes a day, five days a week. At high intensity, running, heavy weights. Your day just wouldn't give me enough fuel. I probably eat more calories than you do, but I don't drink diet soda (chemicals) or eat fun size candy bars, goldfish crackers, mcgriddles (revolting), kettle corn, light chocolate syrup, cookie, bagel (i am guessing not whole wheat). Half of what you ate was crap. I probably eat around 2000 calories a day or more, so yes, I need more than one slice of pizza for dinner. Youweren't craving anything because you were eating crap all day. I care about carb/protein/fat balance because while I enjoy food, I need fuel to maintain my workouts. I don't think I'd last ten minutes at the gym on the junk you put in your body. I am more interested in being fit, and not "skinny fat".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skinny mom here. I'm going to try and break this down as best I can. I am 5'4" and used to always weigh about 103 my entire life. After kid #2 (6 months ago) I'm now at 110 and I like myself at this weight and will try to maintain this. I gained 70 pounds with my first and 40 with my second. I'm exactly where I want to be now.

I used to brush off compliments about my weight and credit "genetics." I now believe that genetics only play a small role. I think a good relationship with food, an understanding of my body and what it needs, and not obsessing about what I eat and not denying myself anything have been the real secret. That, and, I NEVER FINISH ANYTHING.

Portions are key. To the PP that can crush a pint of froyo--that's fucking gross (sorry). This is coming from someone that started my day with a fun size snickers that I had in my night stand. But that's just it. I can get my candy fix at 6:00am with a tiny candy bar and follow it with a bowl of cold cereal an hour later. Lunch would be a PB&J and bites of whatever DD is eating (cheese stick, apple, goldfish, grapes, etc.) I really don't think about it too much. Thinking leads to obsessing and thinking about what's best to eat just makes you think about food all the time. Last night I had a slice of pizza and broccoli for dinner. One slice. That's all I needed. I didn't consciously limit myself, but why would anyone need more than that? I had a big glass of chocolate milk (1% and Hershey's light syrup) and some kettle corn as a snack, but I didn't eat the whole bag. I just don't think about food the way I see people here doing. I eat what I want, but in moderation.

Also, it's important that everything balance out over time. Today, I had a fun size snickers (from the nightstand) as soon as I woke up, a mcgriddle and diet coke on my way to a play date, 3/4 of a bagel and cream cheese and 1 cookie at the play date, and an apple when I got home. Diner was a home cooked variation of orange chicken and broccoli with rice and 2 glasses of wine. No snacks in between. Not because that would be bad or anything, I just didn't think to snack. I wasn't hungry. And I wasn't "craving" anything.

I feel like I'm rambling a bit and not really giving any concrete advice here. But I guess I just wanted to make the point that I just don't think about food the way other people do. If I want something, I eat it. But not all of it. Why would I finish an entire portion of something just because it's in front of me? I don't eat when I'm not hungry either.

Sorry folks. I thought I was going to "break it down" but I don't really know what there is to say. Just eat less food. I really truly think it's as simple as that. Screw the fat/carb/protein balance and your workout routine and all that shit. Just eat less. That's it. Eat a mini snickers--not a pound of low fat sugar free granola and a vat of low fat Greek yogurt. Whatever.

Do you exercise? Because on top of the couple miles I walk throughout my day (going to metro and back, etc) I work out for at least sixty minutes a day, five days a week. At high intensity, running, heavy weights. Your day just wouldn't give me enough fuel. I probably eat more calories than you do, but I don't drink diet soda (chemicals) or eat fun size candy bars, goldfish crackers, mcgriddles (revolting), kettle corn, light chocolate syrup, cookie, bagel (i am guessing not whole wheat). Half of what you ate was crap. I probably eat around 2000 calories a day or more, so yes, I need more than one slice of pizza for dinner. Youweren't craving anything because you were eating crap all day. I care about carb/protein/fat balance because while I enjoy food, I need fuel to maintain my workouts. I don't think I'd last ten minutes at the gym on the junk you put in your body. I am more interested in being fit, and not "skinny fat".

To clarify - I do eat crap sometimes, but not that many times in one day. I'd rather put away a pint of froyo once a week, then constantly pour that crap into my body.

[Anonymous]

I am not skinny, but have learned some things about what it takes for me to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.

age: 40
height: 5'5"
weight: 128 lbs

Age makes a difference, particularly in the ability to eat carbs. Read What Makes Us Fat. Fascinating stuff.

The type of calories do matter. NPR covered this a few weeks ago.

It is easier (at least for me) to keep the calorie count reasonable if I generally don't eat high carb foods (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc).

I got really sick a year ago and couldn't eat for about a week. That reset my hunger and how much I ate at meals. I LOVE food and could eat a ton without feeling full. Resetting my capacity really helped me cut my portion sizes back to what they should be.

Stay away from artificial sweeteners. There are studies that show that they mess with your head and lead to greater hunger. Gradually replace diet soft drinks with water.

Eat real food, including whole fat or reduced fat dairy (but read the labels and avoid the fillers).

Lots of veggies. I try to serve to vegetables with dinner.

I have braces, which has eliminated my snacking. If you have to brush your teeth after everything you eat, you give it more thought.

Braces also mean I had to give up granola in my morning yogurt. I had been eating a Kashi granola, which had a lot of soy protein in it. Swapping that for blueberries (frozen or fresh) seems to have resulted in losing another pound or two. Soy does imitate estrogen, so that might have been making me plump up a bit. Food for though anyhow.

Sleeping more. 5-6 hours of sleep a night just isn't enough. Now that I'm getting closer to 7 hours, I feel much better. Lack of sleep increases cortisol, the stress hormone, which increases belly fat.

So what do I eat? Yesterday I had:

breakfast: coffee with 2% milk, 2% Fage with ~1 cup blueberries
lunch: leftover cottage pie (ground beef, onion, carrot, peas, broth, tiny amount of mashed potatoes), cucumber salad
supper: 4-6 oz skinless grilled chicken breast, marinated in lime juice, olive oil, salt and chili powder; black beans w/ bacon, onion, garlic, chicken broth and chili powder; salad, tall glass of 2% milk
wine with dinner and after, a few bottles of water throughout the day (refill a Nalgene several times)

[Anonymous]

To the moms who are naturally thin (I am 5"6 and 125) how do you keep your midsection in shape? I don't want to lose ANY weight and get skinnier but hate the fact that my stomach is a big pile of mush. Any tips would be appreciated.