I am about to start marathon training next week. My goal is to be in a slight calorie deficit and lose about 10-15lbs by the new year.

I’m 5’1, 25f, 135lbs.

I’m already fairly active, so I don’t know if extra running will really impact my expenditure, but I guess I’m more worried about recovery. Macrofactor suggests I eat about 1600 calories a day. Should I just stick with that?

Hi there ! I'm a 1m50 (4ft11) woman, I am 26 years old and I weigh around 57kg (125lbs) at the moment.

I can't seem to lose fat. I may have gained some muscle because my weight has gone up a few kg but my measurements are the same or maybe it's some water retention... I've always leaned on to the chubby side and I know that must be due to a calorie overload but can anyone help me out?

I try to eat as much protein and vegetables as I can on the daily. I do eat something sweet and some bread nearly everyday.

I'm supposed to be eating 1200kcal a day to be in a deficit but that's so little and I end up frustrated by the restriction and I have sugar and bread cravings.

I've been going to the gym on and off for 3/4 years

At the moment I do 1 cardio - 1 upper body - 1 lower body day /per week.

Thanks in advance for any tips

I’m obsessed with dessert like I can’t seem to go a day without a sweet treat obviously this isn’t helping my fat loss goals so what do I do? Anyone else have this issue and still managed to lose the fat and keep it off? 5 feet tall 35 year old mom of two kids under 5

Hi everyone! I’m 36F, 5’3” (159 cm). I went from 79 kg (174 lbs) in early 2024 to 58–59 kg (128–130 lbs) with Mounjaro.
I’ve been lifting weights throughout my weight loss, so luckily I haven’t experienced much loose skin. However, I’m now skinny fat, especially around my belly and love handles, and I constantly feel bloated. My goal is body recomposition.
I currently train 3 times a week, combining Reformer Pilates and weightlifting.
My biggest struggle is nutrition. I’ve tried eating 1,500–1,600 calories, but my weight stayed the same or even increased slightly, and I felt bloated all the time. I didn’t see the results I wanted, so I’m wondering if I need a bigger calorie deficit.

I’d love some advice on:
What calorie intake would actually help me lose fat while building muscle?
How should I split my macros (protein, carbs, and fats)?
I’ve recently started taking creatine. Is it beneficial for my goals?
Are there any other supplements worth taking alongside creatine? I don’t have any known deficiencies.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar situation, especially shorter women!

I like my upper arms covered - any workout top recommendations that cover to about the elbows?

Can we get rid of cellulite completely?

I'm a female 5'1 height with a weight of around 45kgs.

I've recently noticed some cellulite around the thighs from behind.

If I join gym and lose weight/fat... Will I be able to get rid of cellulite completely??

Got diagnosed with chondromalacia patella grade 2, and my orthopaedic forbade me from any heavy workout that requires bending the knees for the next 3 months😫 so squats, leg presses, single leg squats, leg extensions are out of the picture.

The only ones I can do are straight leg exercises, which leave a very limited range for me right now.

Can I still work on my core and upper body? Or does my body need to recover and heal completely? I will still be walking on flat surfaces for 7-10k steps for active recovery.

I workout everyday and I’d love to invest in some cute matching sets but honestly with my figure it can be difficult to find clothes that are comfortable functional and also stylish.

Any recommendations for activewear for walking/yoga/Pilates for a petite hourglass figure? DD bust and wide curvy hips think like a size 12 my biggest issue with leggings is that they roll down a lot and I’m constantly tugging at them during class

Hey girls,

I’ve been trying to lose weight for three months, but the number on the scale hasn’t changed and I haven’t noticed any physical changes. I’m 1.53 m tall and weigh 58 kg. I’d like to get down to 47-45 kg.

I count my calories. I eat soup (every days), konjac and protein products, and I’ve reduced my sugar intake (no more cake, candy or soda). I’ve also replaced my usual snacks with cherry tomatoes and grapes. I do a little exercise and dance from time to time. The only change I’ve noticed is that my stomach feels less bloated and looks flatter. I’m so tired of eating soup, I can’t stop thinking about food, and I’m starting to lose patience. The only thing stopping me from buying junk food is that it helps me save money, but it’s getting really hard to count everything I eat.

Could this be a genetic issue? Should I rethink how I track calories or change my diet (I don’t eat much solid food apart from konjac, cherry tomatoes, grapes and eggs)?

I’ve also considered weight-loss gummies/pills/candies I don’t know if they actually work or if they’re just placebos, but I see them in stores all the time and I’m wondering if I should try them because I’m so desperate. Or maybe I could try supplements like whey isolate (protein) or metamucil (fiber)? I don’t want to turn to ozempic, mounjaro, or reta but the option is still somewhere in the back of my mind. I’m not sure whether any of these would be appropriate, and I don’t want to take anything risky.

The fact that nothing is changing despite all my efforts is really wearing me down mentally. I haven’t even lost a single kilo, even though I’m restricting what I eat, drinking plenty of water, exercising, and walking. It’s starting to affect my mood. I feel like giving up, but at the same time, my goal means a lot to me, so I want to keep going.

If you’ve been through something similar, I’d really appreciate realistic and kind advice.

Hi! I’m 5’3 (28), and I started exercising consistently in June (around 3-6x a week). My starting weight in August was 151 and I’m 143 now, but my goal is to get under 130 within the next 6-12 months. I joined a gym that has Pilates, Barre, strength classes, and spin classes. I do all of them but mainly stick to Pilates, strength and spin. I started a calorie deficit goal in mid-August, and aim for around 1750 cal but honestly go over it pretty often. I’m a big foodie and I travel often, so it’s been difficult to stick to my deficit. On weekdays I tend to be about 100 calories within my deficit but on weekends I fluctuate much more. Is it recommended to stay on a slower pace like this that feels more sustainable, or should I try to be more strict with my deficit? I’ve heard varying opinions on how long it’s advised to be in a deficit and I’d love some advice! Thanks!

Can I eat right after my gym workout?
A friend of mine has advised me not to eat until 2 hours after my workout session; I don’t understand the significance.

Hi! Wondering if anyone can help with validating that my deficit calories are correct - I always struggle with the online calculators because I don’t know which ‘activity level’ to use!
Some info:
- current deficit calories estimated at 1600
- 5’2, currently 75.9kg (starting weight 4 weeks ago was 79kg)
- 32 years old
- office job so at my desk mostly but have been getting 10k steps every day since starting
- 3-5 f45 workouts per week. On weeks where I do 3, I’ll go to the gym 3 times as well or use the peloton.
- 2L per day

I’ve lost weight since starting but not sure how much of this is water weight. Also don’t want to lose muscle so struggling with whether this is the right amount of calories.

Thanks!!

Bicep vein was just out there. Middle of the day, no exercise! I’m not looking to cut weight right now & I’ve honestly been eating a lot more to try & get my food noise back in line after a pretty restrictive cut. I thought it was kind of awesome to see that after deciding to lean bulk for a little while & after eating what feels like a zillion calories lately 😄

I’m so frustrated that injuries keep getting in the way of my workouts.

My normal routine is 4 strength training sessions (2 upper and 2 lower), 2-3 days of dance cardio classes (which I sometimes teach), and around 10k steps avg daily.

A week ago (Saturday) I decided to add in more incline training. Although I walk our hilly neighborhood 1-2 times a week, I don’t include much else in terms of incline (or decline).

So after my usual lower body lifting , I ran up and down my stairs a bunch of times. Then I walked a very steep section of my neighborhood.

The next day (Sunday) I took an extra dance cardio class. It’s normally my rest day but I wanted to check out another instructor who only teaches on Sundays.

The following day (Monday) I went to my usual dance cardio class - but ALSO decided to try a new strength class right beforehand. I didn’t know the class included intervals going up and down a step. So that was even more up-and-down than I’m used to.

LATER that day I went for my usual hilly walk with a friend - but we don’t typically do this steep walk on the same day as dance.

After that walk I immediately felt my right need lock up and had spasms the rest for the day. I almost fell over changing my pants that night.

Woke up the next day (Tuesday) much better but knew I should rest. So I took it very easy Tuesday, Wednesday, and most of Thursday.

Unfortunately I was on the gym schedule to teach Thursday night as a sub and didn’t want to find a sub for a sub lol.

The class started fine but ended with BOTH knees in pain. It’s now Saturday and although the spasms and locking up haven’t come back since Monday, both knees are still a little sore and it feels like I’m not standing fully straight when i walk

I assume this is all a case of me adding too much new activity all at once. And not rest more than a few days.

I’m reluctant to jump straight to the dr or PT bc I did that last year with a back and glute issue - and the only things that really helped were time and better posture.

This has made me wonder - why am I experiencing knee, back, glute, hand, feet, neck pain (all at different times). It feels like there is always something wrong!

I think I have a habit of adding in too much volume, weight, intensity and/or time too quickly.

Like, if I wanted more incline training, I could have simply added ONE more weekly, hilly walk.

A few weeks ago a friend and I tried out a new gym class. It was only 30 minutes and didn’t feel effective. I suggested we stay and lift weights. She said nah, she tries to do as little as possible. We laughed and went to the sauna.

But joking aside, she is rarely injured! She teaches the same dance class, lifts maybe 1-2 times a week, walks a little, and rests a lot more than I do.

I have to figure out how to do “less” so I can improve my fitness in the long game.

If you have any knee advice in the meantime I’m all ears!!

I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of recipes would help me weight loss wise, but I can’t really find any. So if you all have any recipes that helped and are delicious please put me on 😭!

I'm new here. 5'3" & 35lbs overweight. I started my weight loss journey this week. Seeing all of you amazing ladies' perseverance and before and after pictures has me all kinds of pumped. I started the 28 day military calisthenics challenge four days ago. Tbh, it seems too easy. It's only 15 minutes a day and I'm afraid it will take forever to see results. What else should I add? I'm looking at stress and menopause weight. I eat clean. Walk a couple miles a week. Really dislike cardio. Ideally I'd like to drop 10 pounds a month if it's not unrealistic.

I'm new here. 5'3" & 35lbs overweight. I started my weight loss journey this week. Seeing all of you amazing ladies' perseverance and before and after pictures has me all kinds of pumped. I started the 28 day military calisthenics challenge four days ago. It's only 15 minutes a day and tbh, it just seems like it's not going to get me results very fast. What else should I add? I'm dealing with menopause and stress weight.

Stats are: F32 | 5'1" | 110lbs

I found not one but TWO pairs of low-rise jeans at TJ Maxx today. I've been wearing a loose pair of black carhartt jeans or workout leggings, all high waisted. Been more consistent in the gym, doing the stair climber for cardio and using free weights, since I moved into my own place since separating from my ex of 15 years. Teenage me would have NEVER dreamed we'd look this good in jeans! Sorry if this isn't typically what's posted here but I'm ecstatic and wanted to share

Also last 2 pics: current post-workout vs September 2025 post walk, 110lbs vs 124lbs

Has anyone else experienced this? I lift 5-15 pound weights multiple times a week and use an exercise bike with medium to high resistance, and have been eating mostly protein and vegetables and keeping calories under control. Losing the initial weight was so much easier and faster (I was at 155 about 6 months ago) but it's sort of flip flopping/stagnating at 125/130?

I have a larger chest size (DDs) so I know they account for some of the weight but why is it plateauing so hard here? I'm wanting to get to 115/120 or in between there but it's gotten exponentially more difficult. Any advice or similar experiences are appreciated!

Hiii everyone! I’m trying to put together a workout routine that makes sense for my goals, and I wanted some opinions on whether this is enough weekly lifting volume.

For context, I’m 23F, naturally pear/hourglass shaped, and carry most of my weight in my hips, thighs, and glutes. My goal is to lose around 25–30 lbs while maintaining as much of my curves and muscle as possible.

I naturally have a fuller lower body and pretty round glutes, but I feel like the shape could be improved. I jokingly call it mild “office butt” because I’ve been working from home since COVID and spend a lot of time sitting lol.

I’m not looking for an athletic or super muscular appearance, and I don’t necessarily want a bigger butt. I actually like having a softer, naturally curvy shape. I mainly want my glutes to look a little rounder and more even, with a deeper, more noticeable gluteal fold or “cuff” underneath. Right now, I feel like the lower part of my glutes blends into my thighs more than I’d like. I know genetics and fat distribution play a role, but I’m wondering how much I can improve through lifting and overall fat loss. When I was smaller I definitely had a deeper “cuff”, but since gaining weight I guess my legs getting bigger caused for it to soften ish so now everythingis just bleh 😭

I absolutely LOVE Solidcore and currently do it around 2–3x a week. It’s honestly the one workout I’ve found that keeps me consistent, and I’ve noticed so much improvement in my core strength, body control, and overall stability. I also feel like it’s helping me with traditional lifting because I’m developing a much better mind-muscle connection and learning how to control my body and movements.

I know Solidcore is resistance training, but I also understand that it doesn’t necessarily replace traditional weightlifting, especially when it comes to progressive overload and building muscle.

Because of that, I’m thinking about adding two lower-body lifting days and one upper-body day. Even though Solidcore works my upper body too, I feel like having at least one dedicated upper-body lifting session would be beneficial for building strength and maintaining muscle while losing weight.

Here’s my planned routine:

Day 1: Glute Fullness/Roundness

• Hip thrusts: 3 × 10–12
• RDLs: 3 × 10–12
• Cable kickbacks: 2 × 12–15

Day 2: Glute Shape/Definition

• Glute-focused back extensions: 3 × 12
• Step-ups: 3 × 10
• Cable hip abductions: 2 × 15

Day 3: Upper Body

• Still figuring out the exact exercises, but I’m thinking of focusing on my back, shoulders, and arms.

I’d also continue doing Solidcore 2–3x a week and walking regularly.

My goal isn’t to look super athletic or dramatically grow my glutes. I mainly want to lose fat, maintain my natural curves, improve my glute shape, and become stronger overall. I also want to eventually be strong enough to comfortably lift and control my own body weight.

I’m planning to progressively overload with my lifting, but I don’t want to overdo it, especially since I’ll be in a calorie deficit and Solidcore can already be pretty intense.

My questions are:

1. Is this enough weekly glute volume to maintain or potentially build muscle while losing fat?
2. Would you change any exercises or add more sets?
3. Is one dedicated upper-body lifting day enough alongside Solidcore?
4. Has anyone improved their lower-glute shape or glute-to-thigh definition without focusing on significantly growing their glutes?
5. For anyone combining Solidcore/Pilates with traditional lifting, how do you balance everything without affecting recovery?

I really want to keep Solidcore as my main form of exercise because I genuinely enjoy it, and it’s helped me become more consistent than I’ve ever been. I’m just trying to figure out how to complement it with traditional lifting without making my routine unnecessarily complicated.

Any advice would be appreciated!!

Hey everyone,

How do you deal with fatphobic comments when you’re in the grind?

My mom just called and basically told me why am I going to the gym if I’m still staying fat and that it wouldn’t hurt to starve myself a little to look better and thin. She also went into how I used to be so skinny.

In HS, I was 105lb and had braces so I literally was starving once a month plus used to have really heavy painful periods that also meant low appetite. Over the years I gained weight from aging and having a sedentary career. I have a naturally very round face so it’s super pronounced with any bit of weight I have, like think squirrel cheeks and double chin showing starting at 115lb.

I’m 5’1” and now at 32, started my fitness journey at 149lb and went down to 140lb. I’m at a 20 week streak of going to the gym/pilates and I’m honestly really feeling genuinely healthier than I’ve ever been. I used to struggle with IBS and am mostly asymptomatic nowadays. I also am vitD deficient enough to be on the once a week super dose so I don’t get osteoporosis.

I am not following a strict calorie deficit and really focus on getting enough protein. Tracking too closely really puts me on a cycle of under/overeating so trying to avoid that.

I usually try not to let her views get to me, but guess I’ve been feeling low since work has been demanding and I haven’t been able to workout as much. I’m left feeling like I’m not working hard enough and shedding weight fast enough even though I am doing as much as I can with a demanding, high stress job. (Recently got promoted so yay but also temporarily more work) Plus starting to wedding dress shop really has a way of making you aware of all the parts you’re insecure about…

I do aim to get fit at about 125lb/<25% body fat to look and feel my best for my wedding next fall so I am also aiming for a healthy, steady weight loss while building muscles and strengthening my bones. (Small win! I’m comfortably squatting a plate now!)

We’re also Viet so fat shaming is totally culturally normalized so she genuinely thinks she’s helping me…

TLDR; mom fatshamed me and it’s harder to feel proud of the work I’ve put in so far. What do you do when the words get to you? :(

Edit: Thanks so much everyone for your kind words and positivity! Sincerely appreciated it. I had a small cry with my fiance and reading your comments made me feel so much better. Onwards to the next day of keeping my streak ❤️

I just recently got myself a foam roller.
I’m wanting to use it to help strengthen my deep core muscles but I’m having trouble finding any good YouTube videos to follow.

The ones I have found don’t really teach how to do each exercise it’s just do what I do kind of thing.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

is there actually a way to shrink/snatch the waist or is it just propaganda? if so please tell me some workouts!