Was I eating too little? Where do I go from here?

I'll appreciate any help I can get. :) I'm 18, weigh 108.4lbs, height 5'2'', female. I was exercising every day burning about 200-300 calories a day. I counted calories, generally eating 800-1000 a day (I was strict in my counting, too, not estimating). I went from 111lbs to 106.6lbs in a week... then the next week my weight didn't change at all, and now, a week later, I gained 2lbs back it seems.

Was this because I was eating too little? What should I do to adjust my diet and still lose a few more pounds? I would prefer to lose 5 more lbs. Thanks for listening! :)

Thu. Jul 8, 11:54am

honey, you need to just focus on being healthy. you don't need to lose weight, and focus on that, you need to focus on having fun, and enjoying your life, your to young , and to thin to be worried about this. don't get discouraged, i think you are fine. that 2lbs is nothing. i gain that much just being on my period each month ... sometimes more.

Thursday, July 8, 2010, 12:08 PM

Your weight will fluctuate within a few pounds based on how much salt, etc., you ate over the past few days, how close you are to getting your period, what time of day you're weighing, etc.

You're probably eating enough for your size (I am small too); just make sure you're getting enough proteins and fats in that - 1000 calories that consists of things like chicken, avocado, nuts, fruits and veggies, and whole grains is fine. 1000 calories consisting of 10 bowls of cheerios - not so much.

It's fine to weigh yourself daily, but it's best to look at trends over time, not just over 2 days. 2 days isn't enough to tell anything. Keep track for a month, and then you'll start seeing trends. After a few months, the trends will be more meaningful.

Thursday, July 8, 2010, 2:39 PM

What in the world? She's eating enough??? She's NOT eating enough! How can someone survive on 1000 calories? Let alone 1200?...and then you're active to boot. I mean, I'm 5'2 also. I calculated your BMR (number of calories burned just staying in bed all day alone) and it's 1340! This doesn't account for calories burned during your basic daily activities, let alone working out.

I agree- you don't need to lose weight. You're still very young and developing. You're already at a low healthy weight range to boot. Just focus on eating healthy and being active. If you want to change your body, lift weights/strength train. Trust me, it'll change your body even if you're not losing weight!

Oh yeah and weight fluctuates all the time for many reasons.

Thursday, July 8, 2010, 8:53 PM

You are 2 pounds under the mid point (110 pounds) for normal weight for a female your height who has a medium bone structure. Of course there is a range for normal weight. Someone with a small bone structure would weigh a bit less, and someone with a large bone structre would weigh a bit more.

Thursday, July 8, 2010, 10:12 PM

OP Here

12:08, haha, that really made me laugh, so thanks for that! I am definitely enjoying my life, so no need to worry about that. I just want to make sure I'm skinny, I guess. However, in my determination to be healthy, I fear that I may have gone overboard and would like to hear recommendations on how I should adjust my diet and exercise habits in order to be healthy and hopefully lose just a few pounds in the process. :)

2:39, No 10 bowls of cheerios for me. To give you a better idea of what I was eating, the regular day was something like this:
Breakfast: Either Oatmeal, Special K cereal, or lowfat Eggo's with fruit and sugarfree syrup
Snack 1: Either a 100 calorie bar, 100 calorie pack of chocolate pretzels, or a healthy choice fudge bar.
Lunch: Usually a frozen meal, like Kashi or Healthy Choice
Snack 2: Same as snack 1
Dinner: Same as lunch
Was there something wrong with this plan or just the amount of calories I was consuming?

8:52, Even though I realize that I was eating a very low amount of calories, I honestly didn't feel like I was hungry at all. However, after doing research I think I would feel more comfortable with 1200-1500 calories in the future if I count calories again. Strength training sounds like a very interesting idea to me since I have practically no muscle. What are your suggestions for how someone should begin strength training? :)

Thursday, July 8, 2010, 11:53 PM

Since the age of 17 (I'll be 24 soon), I started reading a lot of women's health magazines, men's health magazines, online health related articles, etc. and I've gathered a lot of information over the years about diet/fitness. It's become a huge passion/interest of mine, kind of like a hobby. So, I suggest you should do the same. Just start reading Women's Health, Self, Health, Fitness, Shape, etc. I even like to look through Men's Health. It'll start to give you a sense of what you should be eating, how to work out effectively, etc. And regarding strength training for beginnings, probably go online and research basic moves for beginners. Or ask someone at the gym? Or someone you know?

Regarding your diet, you should incorporate more variety, whole foods into your eating plan. (Reading, like I said, will give you ideas of what you should be doing).

Oh, and The Abs Diet book is good...I haven't read it, but I've read about their ideas in Women's Health and Men's Health. I like their eating approach and what foods to incorporate into your diet so you stay full.

Friday, July 9, 2010, 2:17 PM

Instead of shooting for a specific number on the scale it's better to have a range that feels comfortable for you. Body weight can easily fluctuate 2-3 pounds due to changes in water retention. If you eat a lot of salt or carbs, or are pre-menstrual, water retention will increase. If you eat low carb or lots of foods that are natural diuretics like tea, water weight will decrease. I am 47 and 5'2" and my ideal range is 110-114. I weigh myself often and as long as I am in my range I don't worry. If I go above 114 it's time to restrict my calories and exercise a bit more. Usually this means eating low glycemic because I find that's the best way for me to restrict calories without feeling too hungry. It also means that the scale is going to show immediate weight loss but I know that it's just water. You need to create a 3,500 calorie deficit to lose a pound of fat and that takes me about a week to do. So I'll count calories, shooting for 1,000-1,200 until I'm at the low end of my acceptable range. Then, when I go back to maintaining and the scale pops right back up 2 pounds of water weight, I am back in the middle of my acceptable weight range.

Saturday, July 10, 2010, 7:59 AM

OP

2:17, that was very useful information, and I'll be certain to read magazines and the Abs Diet as soon as I can. :) Thank you very much!

7:59, I was trying to do something similar and get to the low end of my range. What are other natural diuretics besides tea? Also, what is "low glycemic"? Your post was extremely helpful! Thank you. :)

Saturday, July 10, 2010, 11:49 PM

Related Content: How To Lose Weight- The Basics Weight Watchers Points System The Fat Smash Diet The Eat To Live Diet The Beck Diet Solution How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight		How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer How To Burn Fat Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight? Tips On Using PEERtrainer Visit The PEERtrainer Community Diet and Fitness Resources
Fitness Weight Watchers Meetings Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are Writing Down Your Daily Workouts Spending Money On A Personal Trainer? How I Became A Marathon Runner		Preventive Health How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot? Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer? Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy Reversing Disease Through Nutrition
New Diet and Fitness Articles: Weight Watchers Points Plus How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program		Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne: Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough How To Delay Short Term Gratification How To Stay Motivated How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight? Are Protein Drinks Safe? Nutrition As Medicine?		Everyday Weight Loss Tips How To Eat Healthy At A Party How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight The Three Bite Rule Tips On How To Stop A Binge