Weight loss when shorter than 5’

[Anonymous]

I’m 4’9”, so I already know my weight loss journey will be slower than others. I’m just wondering how slow would be expected for someone of my stature? I know everyone says not to go below 1200 calories per day, but does this also apply to someone like me? I tried calculating my BMR, but I got a wide range of answers - the lowest being 1221. I have about 20 pounds left to lose to get to my goal weight, and it seems like my weight loss has been slowing to about half a pound per week.

[Anonymous]

A half a pound a week is a reasonable and sustainable rate of fat loss. You could reduce calories a little more but I wouldn’t go to extreme. You’ll just feel more deprived and less likely to stick with it. Slow and steady is the smart and sustainable way to go.

[Anonymous]

How old are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are you?

32

[Anonymous]

How much do you weigh now and what is your activity level? I would agree with not going below 1200 as you still want to eat a somewhat nutritious diet. If possible I would rather add in some activity. Do you have a fitness watch to give you a rough sense of much you are burning per day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much do you weigh now and what is your activity level? I would agree with not going below 1200 as you still want to eat a somewhat nutritious diet. If possible I would rather add in some activity. Do you have a fitness watch to give you a rough sense of much you are burning per day?

With calorie needs scaled for height, why wouldn’t nutritional needs? Someone who is 5’8” needs the same daily intake of vitamin k, calcium, magnesium as someone 4’9”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you weigh now and what is your activity level? I would agree with not going below 1200 as you still want to eat a somewhat nutritious diet. If possible I would rather add in some activity. Do you have a fitness watch to give you a rough sense of much you are burning per day?

With calorie needs scaled for height, why wouldn’t nutritional needs? Someone who is 5’8” needs the same daily intake of vitamin k, calcium, magnesium as someone 4’9”?

I would not tell someone who is 5’8” to eat 1200 calories..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you weigh now and what is your activity level? I would agree with not going below 1200 as you still want to eat a somewhat nutritious diet. If possible I would rather add in some activity. Do you have a fitness watch to give you a rough sense of much you are burning per day?

With calorie needs scaled for height, why wouldn’t nutritional needs? Someone who is 5’8” needs the same daily intake of vitamin k, calcium, magnesium as someone 4’9”?

I would not tell someone who is 5’8” to eat 1200 calories..

That wasn’t the point. The point is that calories and nutrition needs scale to height. The 1200 is based on a certain height. Of course not for someone 5’8”. But also, the shorter you are, e.g., below 5’ the nutritional amounts are also even lower than the 5’1” person who can eat 1200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you weigh now and what is your activity level? I would agree with not going below 1200 as you still want to eat a somewhat nutritious diet. If possible I would rather add in some activity. Do you have a fitness watch to give you a rough sense of much you are burning per day?

With calorie needs scaled for height, why wouldn’t nutritional needs? Someone who is 5’8” needs the same daily intake of vitamin k, calcium, magnesium as someone 4’9”?

I would not tell someone who is 5’8” to eat 1200 calories..

That wasn’t the point. The point is that calories and nutrition needs scale to height. The 1200 is based on a certain height. Of course not for someone 5’8”. But also, the shorter you are, e.g., below 5’ the nutritional amounts are also even lower than the 5’1” person who can eat 1200.

I am not understanding what contradiction you are seeing. Of course a larger person needs more calories and nutrients than a smaller person. OP is trying to lose fat so her goal should be to eat as much as she can while still being able to create a meaningful calorie deficit. 1200 might be that spot or it could be more or less. She did not provide enough information to be able to tell.

[Anonymous]

Do yourself a favor and look it up yourself. Not going to get help here because everyone is different.

https://www.freedieting.com/calorie-calculator

[Anonymous]

OP.

I currently weigh 139 and I do 30 minutes of exercise daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do yourself a favor and look it up yourself. Not going to get help here because everyone is different.

https://www.freedieting.com/calorie-calculator

Thank you. According to this calculator, I’m eating at the extreme fat loss level, which makes me wonder why the weight loss is so slow.

[Anonymous]

I’m 5’2” and 1200 calories is enough for me to maintain, not lose. I am in my mid-50’s though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yourself a favor and look it up yourself. Not going to get help here because everyone is different.

https://www.freedieting.com/calorie-calculator

Thank you. According to this calculator, I’m eating at the extreme fat loss level, which makes me wonder why the weight loss is so slow.

You're definitely making steady progress and so you're doing is working. Are you measuring and weighing your food? Also, what kind of exercises are you doing? If you're building muscle, the scale might reflect your fat loss more slowly because muscle weighs more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yourself a favor and look it up yourself. Not going to get help here because everyone is different.

https://www.freedieting.com/calorie-calculator

Thank you. According to this calculator, I’m eating at the extreme fat loss level, which makes me wonder why the weight loss is so slow.

You're definitely making steady progress and so you're doing is working. Are you measuring and weighing your food? Also, what kind of exercises are you doing? If you're building muscle, the scale might reflect your fat loss more slowly because muscle weighs more.

Yes, I use a food scale for everything. I’m doing a mix of cardio, Pilates, and strength training. The weight did seem to start staying stagnant as soon as I started working out. I feel stronger and healthier though, so I guess I should just focus on that.