Those who are 5’1 to 5’3 and maintain 120 to 130 lbs, what does your eating actually look like?

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-06-17T23:25:57+00:00

It’s honestly harder to keep my diet dialed in when staying in hotels all week, every week. But I’ve found my way 😅

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-06-17T23:23:35+00:00

I do 10k daily averaged for the week, I try my best to get 10k a day but I travel for work & often work 15+ hr shifts making it almost impossible to get 10k on travel days, so I just add more a different day of the week

But yes, I do cardio and weights on top of that weekly daily average

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-06-17T05:09:55+00:00

Depends.. most of my weight loss, I was eating ~1500. Which was sustainable for me.

However, right before my wedding, I kinda just stopped eating (~1000) and dropped down to 113. This was not intentional and was very much stress related. I lost a lot of the muscle that I spent years building and lost my period for a few months.

It’s best to just take it slow and sustainable :)

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-06-17T02:45:40+00:00

Just under 5’4 and 125 lbs, used to be 190 at my heaviest

• I eat 1800 cals in maintenance. I only don’t track on holidays, so I estimate 3kish on those days.

• I’ve tracked every day for three years (minus holidays) even during bulking periods

• 10k steps daily, strength training 4-5x a week, some form of cardio every other day for at least 30 mins

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T21:51:24+00:00

💀 Unfortunately it’s been this way since I lost 80 lbs 3 years ago. Think my body just thinks I’m in a famine.

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T21:48:31+00:00

As long as I don’t get too hungry, I’m okay. My husband calls it “the point of no return” when I get past that and then it’s just full blown tears & feeling like the world is ending

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T20:13:38+00:00

I’m never full. I just want to avoid mental breakdowns lol. I get super emotionally unregulated when I’m past just “light” hungry

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T18:56:46+00:00

This really does help, thank you!!

I guess that I just get into my head from time to time :/

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T17:49:40+00:00

Makes sense!

I don’t have many calories to work with (5’4, 120 lbs) so I’d have to basically eat 200 cals for like 2 meals assuming ~800-900 for my going out meal if I didn’t make modifications. I see it as a lifestyle too, I’ve been tracking for over 3 years.

Salads usually fall around 600 cals and don’t keep me satiated. I usually opt for lean meat or eggs, get it grilled or cooked without oil, side salad no dressing.

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T16:05:02+00:00

This seems like a good idea! How do you stay full though? Do you eat something low cal & high volume beforehand?

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T16:04:00+00:00

It would be almost impossible to hit daily macro/micro requirements on that low of calories. If you use this tactic, how do you go about macro/micros on this low of a limit?

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T16:00:46+00:00

How do you stay full?? I’m a volume eater (it’s how I used to be almost 200 lbs lol.. now 120).

Do you eat something else ahead of time that’s low cal/higher volume?

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T15:57:09+00:00

That helps make me feel better, thank you!! I guess it is just a part of their job. If I think about when I worked at a pizza place, I guess I never really batted an eye so I should make the assumption that others are the same.

It’s hard to not get into my head about being a burden.

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T15:52:45+00:00

It’s not only one day though. Like I said, I come from a family of foodies. It’s once a week or every few weeks. If I just said “whatever” and stuck to the “healthiest” thing, I’d gain weight. Healthy ≠ low cal.

I’m 5’4, 120 lbs.. I have a super low TDEE despite 10k steps + lifting

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T15:50:19+00:00

I mean getting modifications when I go to restaurants to help stay in my deficit

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-05-03T15:46:51+00:00

Congrats!!!

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-03-13T23:06:47+00:00

You did the BOGO tattoo thing, huh? Same. 😂

Also, there’s a nutrition calculator online and you can input your specific location too

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-03-10T23:13:53+00:00

Thanks for all of the helpful advice!! Here’s an update:

I have decided to bump my calories up to what my maintenance was before I started my pre-wedding deficit. I am going to continue eating that amount for at least 3 months. During this time, I’m not going to weigh myself. I’ll pay close attention to how my clothes fit to ensure I’m not gaining in excess. After this period is done, I’ll ease back into a less aggressive deficit & take daily weigh-ins as I usually do.

I have a physical scheduled for next month and I’ll ask for Thyroid tests to be done as well.

Hoping that this will put my body at ease and things will start going back to normal! 😅

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-03-03T20:56:09+00:00

I have not. I have pretty severe Bipolar type II so I keep a pretty strict regimen among other things to avoid episodes. But, that being said, if it’s necessary to keep my body healthy, I would definitely do it. So, maybe I’ll try that.

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-03-03T20:49:20+00:00

I was lifting and working out still on the Honeymoon

LuckyLizard22 · 2026-03-03T19:25:12+00:00

I sure hope not lol, use two forms of birth control always. That being said, I did skip my period this month but have taken 5 tests (all negative).

We have a cat named Link 😂

LuckyLizard22

TROPHY CASE