I’m 5’6 and 130 lb—so in your ballpark. I have chia overnight oats most mornings topped with walnuts and berries (I use 2% milk, some plain Greek yogurt, dates for the sweetener, and flavorings such as vanilla, cocoa powder, cardamom, etc.). Lunch is usually a big salad made with leftover roasted veggies, arugula, quinoa or other whole grains, and some leftover protein or goat cheese). Dinner is balanced (I’m into cooking) but I limit refined carbs, highly processed foods, and saturated fats. I have an afternoon snack—usually fruit and nuts but rarely eat dessert.

Anonymous wrote:5'3", 63 years old, and lost weight years ago and need to watch every calorie or it comes back. What I eat on a regular day: breakfast varies from a small cottage cheese, to a diced apple with 1/2 cup oatmeal. Lunch is veggies and protein, so could be grilled chicken on a salad, or soup with beans/chickenn/vegetables, or some pot of something I cooked up. Snack is baby carrots or bell pepper or celery and fruit (mango, pomegranate, whatever looks good), dinner is more protein, vegetables and carb - sweet potato, quinoa etc, no pasta or rice

Yes I eat desserts on occasion- if someone made something homemade and delicious, I'm out celebrating someone's birthday, etc. Dessert is not every day, maybe twice a month, and it's a few bites, never the entire thing. Cheese is similarly rare for me.

ok not applicable to most

Age/hormones matters. Efforts to maintain 125 at age 30 vs 40 vs 50 can be light years apart.

5'4", around 125, I eat pretty much what I want including dessert every night and way too much soda. However, it is my natural preference to eat small lunches and breakfasts, so I may not have a huge caloric intake simply because I consider some apple slices and peanut butter to be a sufficient lunch. Breakfast is usually whole milk yogurt with some blueberries and granola, but a smallish serving. Dinner I eat everything though -- meat, dairy, carbs. Plus, yes, dessert.

I don't drink alcohol anymore. Not an addiction thing and not a diet thing, I just stopped being able to deal with it. It gives me headaches.

I am generally very active (tennis, kayaking, weight lifting, yoga) but do go through periods where I'm lazy, like the one I'm in right now. I always get like this when the weather gets cold because it means I have to switch to indoor workouts, which annoys me, so I'll start avoiding it for a while. But probably in a week or two I'll start feeling annoyed by the lack of exercise and get back into it. I don't weight myself except at the doctor so for all I know I gain weight during these lazy periods, but it doesn't seem to impact how my clothes fit so whatever.

I'm short and around 120. I don't eat breakfast but I drink a lot of coffee with whole milk. Lunch is a piece of fruit and leftovers, since most days I'm at work. Dinner is...whatever I want to make. I do have small treats pretty regularly now that I'm maintaining and not trying to lose. The biggest issue for me is just limiting portion size at dinner.

Anonymous wrote:5'3", 63 years old, and lost weight years ago and need to watch every calorie or it comes back. What I eat on a regular day: breakfast varies from a small cottage cheese, to a diced apple with 1/2 cup oatmeal. Lunch is veggies and protein, so could be grilled chicken on a salad, or soup with beans/chickenn/vegetables, or some pot of something I cooked up. Snack is baby carrots or bell pepper or celery and fruit (mango, pomegranate, whatever looks good), dinner is more protein, vegetables and carb - sweet potato, quinoa etc, no pasta or rice

Yes I eat desserts on occasion- if someone made something homemade and delicious, I'm out celebrating someone's birthday, etc. Dessert is not every day, maybe twice a month, and it's a few bites, never the entire thing. Cheese is similarly rare for me.

Sounds like i’d rather be fat.

Anonymous wrote:5'4 125, late 40s and eat whatever I want, usually have ice cream every other night... but you can't really talk about this without activity. I do some sort of activity- whether tennis, pilates, cario, weights, 6 times a week.

This is me, too, except I’m taller. Late 40s, eat lots of carbs and ice cream and wine and whatever else I want. I run a ton, though. That’s the key for me. I would look better with a few more pounds, but with the running I can’t put them on.

5'4 125, late 40s and eat whatever I want, usually have ice cream every other night... but you can't really talk about this without activity. I do some sort of activity- whether tennis, pilates, cario, weights, 6 times a week.

What a weird way to frame it, divorced from height and muscle tone. You must be really attached to that number.

5’1 and 125. I ate pretty much everything. I rarely eat breakfast though. We eat healthfully but I still eat dessert.

125 was way too high for my frame though.

5’7 125. I have an English muffin first thing waking up. With butter and jelly. Then a small bowl of cereal later. Then a cookie.
Lunch- whatever. Chips and salsa, a smoothie w five servings of fruits/veggies because I hate them and want to get it over with.
Supper - a chicken breast w buffalo sauce.
I eat very minimally after 11 am.

I teach yoga or barre daily. I lift heavy.

I'm 5'4 and around 120.

Breakfast is always oatmeal cooked with a little milk, topped with walnuts and fresh berries.

I usually graze all day between breakfast at 5:30 and dinner at 7:30 or 8. I usually have plain Greek yogurt with more berries, an apple, a banana, plant protein bar, peanuts, cottage cheese, raw veggies. I could eat a side of beef and still be hungry 2 hours later so I try to keep it lighter.

Dinner is whatever DH cooks. Usually meat, carb, vegetable.

I always have dessert (serving of ice cream or maybe nice chocolate). Oh and a canned espresso and cream and a lot of black coffee.

So yeah, not exactly starving myself. I do feel like my metabolism is good.

I do 2 hrs of strength and 5-6 hours of cardio (peloton) per week. I should add some yoga at my age.

Suddenly I am happier overweight

5'3", 63 years old, and lost weight years ago and need to watch every calorie or it comes back. What I eat on a regular day: breakfast varies from a small cottage cheese, to a diced apple with 1/2 cup oatmeal. Lunch is veggies and protein, so could be grilled chicken on a salad, or soup with beans/chickenn/vegetables, or some pot of something I cooked up. Snack is baby carrots or bell pepper or celery and fruit (mango, pomegranate, whatever looks good), dinner is more protein, vegetables and carb - sweet potato, quinoa etc, no pasta or rice

Yes I eat desserts on occasion- if someone made something homemade and delicious, I'm out celebrating someone's birthday, etc. Dessert is not every day, maybe twice a month, and it's a few bites, never the entire thing. Cheese is similarly rare for me.

If you weigh around 125, what do you eat for maintaining it?
Whats your typical day, and are there treats occasionally? Soda, brownies, chips?

I’m not interested in activity, but I guess include details if you want to. I personally have no issues with a very active lifestyle. But i struggle with a love of treats. It’s like a personality trait for me.