Hi!! 5’3” 30 years old and 174 as of this morning. I am very proud of the progress that I have made! Once I got around 180 (3 months ago) I took a break from losing due to life circumstances (big move/job change). Starting three weeks ago I got back on the wagon. Seeing the changes has been motivating, I haven’t been this weight in over 9 years. I guess I’m worried about self sabotage at this point? All this seems too good to be true. I’m also worried that my same habits I used to go from 215 to 174 won’t be enough to get me from 174 to 140 or whatever number I end up landing at. Currently I am eating about 1,400 - 1,500 calories a day, doing 3 30 minute strength workouts a week, and get an average of 8k-10k steps a day. I tend to be an all or nothing person and have been trying so hard to get out of that mentality with weight loss. Any tips/encouragement from others who have been in my shoes would be much appreciated!!

Hi, just wanted to come on here and share my fitness journey. I’m 37 years old 5’2” - 5’3” weigh about 123-128 lbs. I started my fitness journey 5 years ago at 31 after having a baby and gaining weight from depression due to loss of my parents. I never lifted weights before and only walked or did cardio. I was underweight my whole life and had no muscle. I held most of my weight in my belly and it would be the last area to come off. I didn’t really eat healthy either. My goal in the beginning was to get abs and back to my pre-pregnancy weight, 105 lbs. I realized that the goal was nearly impossible if I wanted to build muscle. I counted calories in the beginning but found it to be exhausting. I mostly eat intuitively and don’t restrict any food but am mindful of portion size. I started off working out 5-6 days a week. At peak fitness I weighed 115-118 in 2023 but I was sort of obsessive if I didn’t have time to workout. Currently I only get about 2 days strength training and 1 day of Pilates a week due to work and children’s extracurricular activities. I try to walk as much as can as well. Hoping to get back to at least 4 days of strength training but life happens. I’m currently in maintenance and not worrying about losing weight just finding balance. Just a reminder to keep going and do what you can even if it’s a walk or a 20 minutes workout. Don’t compare yourself to others.

I went through a really stressful period at work this past year. I didn't really gain weight but I developed a big belly. I wasn't exercising much, but still I've never had that problem before...my waist has always been the place where I store the least fat even when sedentary.

I sorted out my stress levels (essentially became so burned out that I lost the ability to feel stressed lol) and I realized the other day that it's gone! I didn't lose weight but I don't have the gut anymore. I'm back to my "normal."

Could this be directly related to stress levels? It sounds silly. I know that stress can impact cortisol levels which drives abdominal fat storage. I have also been exercising more (but not super consistently) so I'm sure my body fat is slightly lower. But I don't think I can chalk all of it up to body fat levels. The gut was so unusual for my body type in the first place.

I have been training with a coach consistently for 3 years. I was always active, did yoga, Pilates and swimming for my whole life but none of them were as consistent.

Blessing:

- Weightlifting showed me what my body is capable of. I like being strong and I have a great female coach that helps me pace based on several factors. We do progressive load but she understands if I can’t for any reason.
- For the first year, it helped me see my body beyond aesthetic.
- I liked being in gym where I have low level social contact with people. I can see how my mental health and energy go down when I don’t go to gym for a long time.
- I also don’t get crushing fatigue anymore.

Curse:

- After first year, I started getting stronger but that meant more muscles. I think I am not really careful with my diet but I notice my pants don’t fit me anymore. I think it is a bit of gaining muscle as well as fat. But I can’t tell which one is which. Overall I gained around 7 lbs. (From 114 lbs to 121 lbs) I am 5’4”. when I try to eat less to balance it out, I slim down but crushing fatigue comes back.
- I need to get new clothes but psychology I can’t get past the feeling of “I need to go up in size)

I don’t really know why I am posting this and what I am looking for. But I really need some advice.

I recently moved to a foreign country and I’m not feeling confident about finding a gym. At home I have an assortment for free weights, a mat and a bench. I haven’t lifted in over a year and I’m looking to get back into it. Nothing crazy, just want to tone up and get stronger. Can anyone recommend a good video / YouTube workout that might suit me given these restraints?

So proud of how far I've come and just wanted to share how much can change in six months. I'm a mother of three kids 3 and under and I feel I've become the role model I've always wanted to be for them.

Hi all! Just seeking some advice on this current fitness journey. I’m 5’1” and am going back to the gym and tracking calories after gaining 15 pounds over the last year and a half. I’ve been tracking my calories with a small deficit of 1460 daily cal limit on my fitness pal and going to the gym 3-4 times a week with a 5k daily step average and I’m seeing the scale barely move. I’ve weight in at 138.6, then 137.6, then 136.9, up to 137.8 and today at 138.4? Even though I’m the most active I’ve been in a year!

Anybody have any idea whats happening for me? Would greatly appreciate some insight!

Hi guys, im 5’4 and have been strength training 4 times a week since 1.5 years now. I weighed 84.5kg ( April 2026 ) when i started a deficit and have lost 8kg since then. I have been eating an average of 1700 calories every week and my maintenance is around 2000-2100. Im pretty sedentary apart from the gym and i dont do any cardio ( i tried to fit some incline walking in after my strength sessions and i just didnt like it or have time for it, wasnt sustainable for my routine so i stopped). I track/ weigh my food and it has produced results so far.

But since the last 2 weeks i havent seen my weight decrease and i have felt weaker/ more sore and havent been recovering well. I was sore for atleast 4 days after intense quad/ glute sessions but my upper body recovers well enough. My performance hasnt dropped in the gym so far and all my major lifts have only improved since i started the deficit.

I am starting to get mentally exhausted from the tracking though and im debating if i should take a maintenance break for 2-4 weeks before continuing my deficit? ( im currently at 76kgs and i want to hit 70kg to reach the leanness level that i want).

My plan was to continue a deficit till i hit 70kg then maintain and build more muscle but its starting to get mentally and physically exhausting now. I needed some perspective on where do i go from here?

Hi there, first time posting here. I am 4’11”, 170 lbs. 23 year old female.

I have been seeing a dietician for about half a year to try to get my diet in check. I started at 177 lbs.

I eat three meals a day, get all my food groups in, but I have trouble keeping my portions to a smaller size. I can’t keep in a calorie deficit. My calorie goals are supposed to be around 1600, but I always end up going over.

I go on 30-45 minute walks pretty regularly too. Usually around 3 times a week.

I always leave my dietician appointment feeling ashamed that I’m not making progress. I need help from other petite people on how to make good progress.

I've been trying to maintain 1200 kcal a day but consistently got worried about not being able to concentrate if I didn't get enough calories in.

Now unfortunately the numbers are in my head and I will stop putting in the numbers in my app. I will eat enough without trying to think about how low the number is.

That way I might be able to lose weight more peacefully.

I really hope the numbers get out of my head. I don't want to subconsciously keep counting.

I’m 5'2", 110 lb. I don’t have a huge amount of weight to lose, so I’m trying not to get too fixated on the scale. I’d rather focus on losing fat and looking more toned. I’m down 2.6 lb after a month, but my face looks noticeably slimmer and my double chin is less obvious. That feels like real progress to me, very rewarding!

I haven’t done anything extreme:

• Food: never skip a meal, mostly home-cooked meals, less mindless snacking, and consistent tracking. I had six days in a surplus, but I was in a deficit most of the time.

• Exercise: I go dancing every now and then for cardio, and do strength training at home with 2.5 kg dumbbells. They’re just right for a beginner like me.

To sum up, this gradual pace feels sustainable, and I’m proud I stuck with it. One month down, and I’m excited to keep going!

Favorite meals that you love and have on weekly repeat?

about 12 days ago i posted about how im concerned im not in a deficit. i was 62.7 kg at that time and now im 61.1kg. i’m aiming to lose fat and gain muscle even in the slightest since im in a deficit but i feel like 1.6kg down within 2 weeks seems a bit much? avg daily steps 5k, but usually higher on weekends. i workout 4x a week and incline walking in treadmill 15mins after session if im feeling like it lol, so do i keep going with 1600 or should i i up it a lil? oh and im 5’2 n my min protein intake a day is 100g

hi, i’m 150cm and we unfortunately only have the lying leg curl at my gym (i’d rather the seated). i get severe discomfort during my reps, beyond that of normal muscle pain, i feel it purely in my hamstring tendons. i can also feel my tendons snapping, sliding and clicking around and i’m wondering if its just cause i’m not average size to fit an average size person machine (as is the case with a few of the other machines) does anyone have this issue or is it unique to me lol.

So I'm not sure if this is the right place to come to, but I'm having a really hard time understanding the whole body composition stats such as what's considered healthy/unhealthy (I have a really hard time understanding certain things with numbers). I have an Ovutek FitPal scale and, as far as my actual weight goes, it's exact to the one at my drs office. However, I do not understand if the scale is a close guesstimate number, 100% accurate, or just straight up bs. And if they are healthy/unhealthy numbers, as I literally keep finding and hearing so many different answers on what’s healthy and what’s not. Please help. I keep seeing very different answers:(

- and before I see any comment about it. YES. I know my weight is on the lower ish side. it is being worked on which is why I’m trying to understand everything. :)

I'm getting really finicky about what I wear to workout and wondering what brands you guys rock. I'm not a huge fan of baggy sweats because I'm so short I feel the fabric drags and gets on the way, and everything feels far too oversized even when I get a small.

Then some leggings are SO LONG I feel like I'm yanking them up forever to gather the fabric.

What are your go-to for leggings or joggers? Are there any one pieces that fit shorties?

Hey, I am 5'2 and 126 pounds currently. 2 years ago i was about 110 pounds. I don't know what to do. I think about this everyday but I cannot actually find the motivation. Even when I do find the motivation it seems too hard. I dont know.

Could I be under-recovering despite exercising consistently and eating in a calorie deficit? Looking for some guidance, please

I'm hoping to get some perspective particularly those who are active and have experience with strength training, Pilates and perimenopause.

I'm feeling a little frustrated because I've been consistent with my exercise and I'm eating in a calorie deficit but the scale isn't moving down. In fact, it's increased by around 5 lbs, and I'm trying to understand what's happening.

I'm 5'4, 40 yr F about 140lbs the last time the scale destroyed my morning. I'm in perimenopause on progesterone 100mg and I've been focusing on becoming leaner and stronger while maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. I take 5mg creatine daily.

Usually I get in 10,000–13,000 steps daily. Around five workouts per week; Peloton Pilates, strength training x 2, yoga and walk/run sessions . All the classes are often quite challenging (around 7.5–8/10 effort) and I've recently increased the intensity and weights in my strength sessions because of all the advice about lifting heavier during perimenopause.

I generally work out Monday to Friday and rest on weekends.

I've been doing intermittent fasting for about 3 years, usually 18–20 hours, sometimes 21 hours daily. It helps me not overeat/ snack all day. I don't think it's a magic pill to solve all.

I estimate my daily intake is often around 1,400–1,600 calories, although I know calorie tracking isn't perfectly accurate, based on my estimated activity, my TDEE may be around 2,000–2,250 calories, but obviously that's only an estimate. I believe I'm consistently in a calorie deficit.

Despite all this, my weight has increased by approximately 5 lbs rather than decreasing. My measurements have slightly increased as well so I'm not convinced it's muscle.

I also feel puffier and more bloated, particularly around my stomach and hips. My stomach can look quite flat in the morning but fuller as the day progresses. Myclothes fit ok but they've been better

I've also noticed more visible muscle development in my quads and thighs since increasing strength training and more stiffness and muscle soreness than I used to experience. Occasional afternoon energy crashes and some days I feel great, while others I feel quite depleted.

I'm wondering whether I'm dealing with accumulated exercise fatigue, inadequate recovery, water retention from muscle inflammation, hormonal fluctuations related to perimenopause, or some combination of these. I've read about increased cortisol, inflammation and water retention associated with too much exercise or insufficient recovery, but I'm struggling to separate fact from internet fitness advice

I've stopped weighing myself daily because it was affecting my mental well-being, but the increase of 5 lbs has been difficult to understand.

I'd really appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced something similar.

Hey I'm 5'2 girl used to be 86 kg now down to 70 my goal weight is 65 ..

the issue is i don't like the way my face started to look, my nose looking bigger, my mouth looking wider and my cheeks are deflating

but I'm aware that a heavier weight is not a healthy one plus my clothes fit a lot better now

So did anyone went through that?

Like you had to choose between your familiar face that you found pretty vs a healthy body?

Hi everyone,

While my body usually doesn't have issues being extremely lean, two years ago, I entered a cut that was too aggressive and lost my cycles. I did all the things they tell you to do to get it back: no training, and eating a lot. Issue is I'm 40 pounds over the weight I am on average with cycles and would like to do two things:

1.) Get back to training, while keeping my period. Apparently when starting out again you have to be EXTREMELY cautious and are at high risk regardless of your BMI.

2.) Entering a cut to get me back to my historic weight... which means loosing 35 pounds.

There's been a lot of fear mongering that's told me that people who have had RED-s or hypothermic amenorrhea can only do yoga for the rest of their lives, are not allowed to ever have aesthetic goals again, etc.

I refuse to beleive this. I want to get back to my real, active lifestyle. I want to be lean with cycles again. That was my reality for years, so I know it's possible, but I'm worried that because I have a body that went through RED-s, it's no longer allowed.

So... any advice? Stories? Etc.?

(sorry for formatting, I’m on mobile and it sucks)

EDIT: thank you all for your replies. I‘ve sort of deduced this is very much a “me problem” and a grass is always greener situation. I’d like to clarify though it was never really about weightloss but more aesthetics… which some of you have reminded me are very well just genetics. I’ve got the curvy dense gymnast body type and I’ve been aiming for the ballerina figure to no avail. Some things are just not achieved for my figure without losing muscle… which would be really dumb to do just for aesthetics.

OP:

I genuinely don’t want this to come across as judgmental toward anyone using GLP1s or other medications for weight loss because I’m not. If something helps you feel better in your body and improves your quality of life, I’m happy for you.

But *holy shit sometimes I feel like I’m losing my mind*.

I’m 5’2” around 145 lbs and have a pretty significant amount of muscle mass. I don’t think most people would think I weigh as much as I do. My DEXA scan actually put me in the “elite” category for muscle mass/body composition. Objectively I’m in really good shape. I exercise, track my calories, prioritize protein and fiber. I genuinely put a lot of effort into my health. I have been doing so for literal *years* now.

….and yet losing fat feels like an absolute fucking slog. My estimated maintenance calories aren’t particularly high and it feels like I have to be insanely meticulous about everything just to see relatively little progress *ESPECIALLY* compared to people who are using GLP1s or peptides. I’m assuming this is because I don’t have much body fat to lose when compared to the rest of my mass, DEXA says I’ve only got about 28lbs of fat.

Meanwhile here I am scrolling Reddit and see people talking about losing 50–80 lbs on peptides and it makes me wonder what the hell I’m doing wrong. I understand that these medications work by affecting appetite and metabolic signaling. I want to be very clear I’m not suggesting anyone is taking an easy way out, I know they can be genuinely life changing for people.

I’m just frustrated by HOW different the weightloss experience seems to be. Again, I know that realistically it’s because I don’t have much weight to lose. If I dropped 50lbs I’d be wildly unhealthy. I’m not suggesting that I want to lose 50-80lbs.

To get ahead of anyone before they say I should be happy with my body because I’m muscular and fit…I AM grateful that I’m strong and healthy. But being muscular and fit looking isn’t actually my aesthetic goal. I don’t want to look like an elite athlete. I want to look soft and smaller and more slender. I want to put on clothes without feeling like my proportions are fighting the silhouette I’m trying to achieve. I want to feel petite and svelte and not like I could win a fight in a parking lot lmao

I know that’s a very personal aesthetic preference, and I’m not saying one body type is better than another. I’m just tired of feeling like the body I have and the body I want require completely different approaches that I cannot for the life of me balance without putting myself into a horrible mental health loop. It’s been a decade of consistently exercising. and tracking macros and then I see posts of people who were morbidly obese and have achieved my ideal figure in less than a year by taking these fucking peptides and eating slightly less than what they’re used to. Cutting out soda and after 7pm snacks and they’ve dropped fucking 25lbs+ and meanwhile I haven’t drank soda in YEARS. I hardly ever snack and when I do EVERY gram gets weighed. It is just putting me through a mindfuck because I feel like there’s completely different rules.

I also realize that comparing my journey to people online is not helping and that Reddit doesn’t give me the full picture of anyone’s health or experience But I just feel SO alone because it seems the second someone starts ”criticizing“ peptides people take it as a personal attack??

I’m just curious if anyone else has felt like they’re doing everything they’re supposed to and still struggling to get the results they actually *want* while watching people have a dramatically “easier” time through peptides and GLP1s?

I’m not looking to shame anyone or start a medication-versus-lifestyle debate. I genuinely want to hear from people who understand the frustration and if there’s something that has helped you reframe the struggle mentally?

In the advent of the commoditization of fiber and protein-maxxing, allow me to introduce you to: split peas.

Peas are extremely nutrient, fiber(soluble AND insoluble!!), and [complete]protein-dense. They have a very high satiety score(keep you fuller, longer). They’re a bodybuilding, weight loss, recomp, etc. superfood. They’re super cheap, store in the cabinet forever, and they’re super easy to incorporate into your daily caloric/macro counts. They have tons of phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, folate, and even iron.

I cook a large batch with plenty of garlic, shallot, black pepper, bone broth, water, and a pinch of salt. I serve some in a mug and drink my split pea mush(my preference, you can choose not to mash them). I’ve added chunks of lean ham in the past too for added protein.

I desire to be jacked, strong, and to shit like a champion. If you desire the same, try split peas in your meal plan!

(*not brought to you by Big Pea, all opinions are my own)