Former petite skinny woman here: can't seem to shake off COVID weight

[Anonymous]

Pre-pandemic I was a happy 4'10 and 103 lbs.

Now I have been hovering at 114-116 lbs despite eating healthy since January.

Do I have to starve myself now? For what it matters, I turned 34.No kids.

[Anonymous]

Count calories. That's a boring answer but it's the answer. You can't know how much you will have to reduce your food intake to lose the weight you want until you start tracking and try.

[Anonymous]

Ahh, this is half COVID, half being in your mid 30s.

[Anonymous]

Are you exercising?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you exercising?

I go for walks and do light weights but I do not have a routine.

[Anonymous]

Yes, yes you do.

[Anonymous]

Cardio that makes you sweat 6 days per week. You're young and healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ahh, this is half COVID, half being in your mid 30s.

Mid-30s?! I'm 44, and I would give anything to be back in my mid-30s. I'm sure I'll be wishing for 44 in 10 years.

OP, step up the exercise and build some muscle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you exercising?

I go for walks and do light weights but I do not have a routine.

You're not young anymore, you need to step it up to maintain the same size and weight. Get your heart rate up by walking faster, going up hills, wearing weights, or running slowly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you exercising?

I go for walks and do light weights but I do not have a routine.

You're not young anymore, you need to step it up to maintain the same size and weight. Get your heart rate up by walking faster, going up hills, wearing weights, or running slowly.

Good advice -- and give yourself some time -- you didn't gain it quickly, so don't expect to lose it quickly.

[Anonymous]

Op, just wanted to say I hear you. Since January I have cleaned up my diet, reduced portion size, added cardio and weights (I was already exercising) and the Covid weight isn’t budging. If I could lose something I would feel more motivated. I starve myself, the scale doesn’t move. I exercise hard, the scale doesn’t move. I think for me, yes, I have to starve myself. I am older though. 50F. (The poster asking about losing 15 pounds in a month made me laugh. I would kill to lose a pound a week.)

[Anonymous]

I’m 43 and 5’3” and 125. The only way I could get my weight to budge was to give up processed sugar and cut down on carbs. Even then it was only a few pounds. Age definitely has something to do with it. I was 100lbs in my 20s, 110-115 in my 30s and now 120-25 in my 40s. Each decade adds 10 lbs.

[Anonymous]

If you commit to counting calories, add some regular exercise, and keep at it, you’ll lose the weight. You need to give it two weeks, not bounce around from diet to diet being frustrated. No cheating, just controlled eating. You will lose weight if you consistently eat a calorie deficit. And, yes, you may experience hunger. Don’t worry, it won’t kill you if you feel hungry for a few weeks. The point is you let yourself never feel hungry for a few months.