eatin normally.

[shootingstar]

I'm glad you like to cook, letsride..that's a good sign that you take an interest in how food is prepared for your needs.

Just get good balanced, nutritious meals. Don't eat junk food but have fun and relax with your food in terms of what you choose/make and eat. Do you cook or someone else?

At 19, you're too young to mess up your periods now...having 2 periods per month sounds like a hassle anyway. No girl needs that. So do something about that is long term with your diet.

I'm 5'1" at 98-100 lbs. I have small bones. I eat less than when I was 19 because my metabolism is slowing down abit now. At 19 I ate alot more and would shock alot of men of the volume I ate. I was approx. 93-95 lbs. at that time. I was less physically active but then my diet at that time, had very little sugar compared to now. I've always been small but never considered anorexic because I ate fairly healthy portions. I've never calorie counted ..yet.

My periods have been normal, no cramping nor pain/headaches, but I could never predict on exact day or wk. when things would start. That's ok, it's just me. Perimenopause looks pretty gentle and calm to me now...thank goodness..so far. (just to reassure you that it might take time for your period to readjust its cycles...but for some women it's never dead-on reliable/perfect cycles...but still healthy to have at least 1 period, for normal duration each month. Confirmed for me after thorough gyno checks.). No I do not take birth control pills to realign my periods. I was suggested this by a physician...who didn't push me on this (actually the physician didn't sound totally convinced about this method...) ..so I never took the advice. That was years ago.

Best of luck. You will get so busy in life that your diet path will align right.

[BarbaraAlys]

There is a very good fitness/nutrition site, http://www.hussmanfitness.org.htm that includes a BMR calculator. BMR is Base Metabolic Rate...or the calories you burn just being a live, not doing anything at all.

When I put in your stats, guessing your body fat percentage at 16, the calculator came up with 1322. That indicates your body needs about 1322 calories just have the energy to sit on the couch and breath. The site suggests that you keep your calories around 1450 if you want to loose fat, and between 1590-2120 to gain muscle.

Taking this information I would say that you are most likely not eating enough, and with your IBS you are most likely not getting enough fat in your diet. We need fat...not as much as a whole serving of french fries contains, but a certain amount. My guess is that you do not need to loose any fat, but might like to gain some muscle, so going a little higher in the calories and working your muscles might be a good plan for you. Also, think about suplementing with EFAs, essential fatty acids. I've heard several people with IBS say that it has helped them.

Listen to your body, not the scale.

Barbara

The best way to use a scale: find a flat surface, like your driveway...then run your car over it!

[Aggie_Ama]

Stepping in a little late. First I don't find your weight too off for height. I am 5'2" and when I tried before I got down to 125. That is where my CURVY body stopped losing. But my college roommate with no curves was 5'2" and 104 lbs. So it is all relative.

The hair loss should be a red flag though. The multiple periods too. A nutrionist is a must if you have IBS. My husband has Crohn's and I get to witness weekly how it hurts him when his body attacks from the inside. I know with your condition you probably eat what keeps your tummy from waging war, DH does as well. But I would keep a food diary, talk to a nutrionist. It helped DH a lot to see one and he kind of knows now what triggers his Crohn's pains.

You might have to eat more but eat better choices. You might be 110 but firm and happy. Remember 110-115 on an active body is going to look different. Sounds like maybe you have some deficiencies in vitamins/nutrients/calories and a nutritionist might be a helpful stop if you are serious about eating right. DH's was covered by our insurance since he has Crohn's so it wasn't too expensive and very helpful.

[michelem]

letsride89,

I'm around shootingstar's size, having gained around 10 pounds in the last year or so. Growing up, I was always at the bottom of the percentile charts in both height and weight. Ballet and competitive ice skating in my younger years, and in the past couple of years I've taken to cycling and running (I'm now nearing the big 4-oh -- yikes!). Last year, when cycling and 1/2 marathon training, even though my weight stayed the same, I believe my bodyfat percentage must have dipped below the safe level because I lost my periods for a couple of months. This is especially not good for me as I have osteopenia (runs in my family). I became embarassed of my "stick arms" and would wear long sleeves even in the heat of summer. In the past year, I've been seeing a doctor that specializes in nutrition and she has helped me with digestive issues that were causing malabsorption (basically, a lot of my calories were going right through me). She also got me doing weight training. I've gained muscle, but I believe also fat (which I needed). I still fit in the same size clothes I fit in 10 pounds ago, but I no longer feel embarassed to wear running shorts or t-shirts to the gym (don't get me wrong -- I'm kind of "prudish" and don't like to wear revealing stuff!).

So, today, I got my bodyfat tested for the first time. I don't know how accurate it is because it was the underwater weighing and I got all panicky being under water and having to blow all my air out and stay under. But, here's what I think you may find helpful: along with my bodyfat and lean muscle measurements, I was given info on my base caloric needs and my caloric needs with exercise. This was based on my particular age, total wieght, bodyfat percentage, and lean muscle percentage, but at least it will give you an idea. My BASE caloric needs (if I'm just lying in bed) are 1379 calories per day! Just to function throughout the day at a moderate activity level (not including "exercise"), I need about 2000 calories per day! Add exercise to that and I need even more (for my particular stats, cycling at 14-16mph burns approx 450 cal. per hour, running an 8 minute mile burns approx. 570 cal. per hour).

Anyway, I hope you get the picture that your body is probably starving for nutrition at this point. My dr. told me that even if I ate the amount of protein my body needs to build muscle, if I wasn't getting enough calories (either through eating or through absorbing them) then the protein wouldn't go toward building muscle, but rather just toward keeping me alive.

I really don't know how many calories I eat per day, but I'm in the midst of keeping a 10-day food diary for my doc and will be sending it to her for analysis, along with these test results. I certainly don't want to end up like my aunt and break a bone just by rolling over in bed! My period has been regular for at least 10 months or more now . . .

Okay, so hope this helps a bit. I highly encourage you to seek out a dr. who can give you some guidance on this stuff. Be very honest about your activity level and intake. I'm suspecting that your body is probably shocked by the rapid increase in activity level and lack of parallel increase in calories and that is why things are out of whack with your periods, temperature regulation, and hair.

Oh, one more thing: I'm wondering what has changed from a few months ago when you posted that you wanted to gain back about 10 pounds of muscle? Now you are saying you don't want to gain any weight? I do have to say that I really enjoy feeling stronger. I'm doing the 100 push-up challenge and my last go-round of "big-girl" push-ups was week 4 day 3: 29-33-29-29-40 (okay, so I had to stop a couple times during the last set and rest at the top, but I still eeked out all 40)! I still take ballet, and, while I may not be as thin as the adolescents, I am not an adolescent!

Good luck to you! By the way, what college do you go to?

[squirrell]

Everyone's already said it but I'll add my voice--you are not eating enough. Sounds like you are basically starving your body and the hair loss is a symptom of that. You're eating about 1400 calories a day? You should be eating at least, I'm betting, 2000 or more given your age and that's not even counting for your exercise, which would add in even more calories a day. Shoot, I bet you could eat 2000-2300 and still lose weight (and that's not even "eating back your exercise calories, which you need to do). And, at your point, losing weight is not goo. Seriously, talk to your doctor about nutritional information.

I am trying to lose weight, and I use myfitnesspal.com. If you want to go there, sign up, it's free (and no, they don't pester you with emails, offers, etc.), and when you set your goals, choose "maintain weight." Input your age, sex, etc. and it will show you how many calories a day you can eat and not lose. I love myfitnesspal because you input your exercise and it "adds" it back in to remind you to eat what you exercise so you don't starve your body. If you're trying to lose weight, the needed caloric deficit comes from cutting back on eating, not exercise.

And, remember, you don't have to be "skinny" to be healthy!!

[Miranda]

You have really good advice in this thread. I hope everything works out ok for you.

I've been both extremes of too heavy and too thin. Been on all kinds of diets, and not. Probably one of the best diet books I ever read was the SouthBeach diet. DH was "suppose to" be on it for his cholesterol. Yea, well... BUT, the doc's theory made a lot of sense to me on the good and bad carb crashing cycle with the blood sugar. Other than that thought, I find I've done "best with less". By that I mean...

For me, I think the more I pay attention to something, the worse it gets. Yes, I'm prone to be a more type-a neurotic compulsive person. When in therapy for something else (not weight) I had the shrink tell me "middle of the road... try to be less extreme, and strive for that... ". My conclusion is this: middle of the road is not a one stop destination, it's a life long journey.

I do best when I just eat whatever I want, whenever I want, and if I really want it. NOT because....
1) it's the strike of six and dinner time, so eat
2) it's not the strike of dinner time, so do not eat
3) (the worse from surrounding idiots, omg) "that's not on your *diet* etc., are you suppose to be eating that? or...
4) "...come on EAT the *whatever it is* with us!..." Just because of the peer pressure

If I feel like I am craving red meat, I do not analyze anymore "hmm, that's how many whatever it is that's suppose to be bad for you, and should I eat it, and how many ounces, etc."... I just eat it. I eat enough until my body isn't crying out for it. If my body is done, I don't clean the plate either just because it's on there. I think, "ahh, that red meat was yummy, my fix is "fixed", I'm done now".

So hun... my humble opinion is if you want that pizza... eat it!!! (((hugs))) Miranda

[TahoeDirtGirl]

There is a very good fitness/nutrition site, http://www.hussmanfitness.org.htm that includes a BMR calculator. BMR is Base Metabolic Rate...or the calories you burn just being a live, not doing anything at all.

When I put in your stats, guessing your body fat percentage at 16, the calculator came up with 1322. That indicates your body needs about 1322 calories just have the energy to sit on the couch and breath. The site suggests that you keep your calories around 1450 if you want to loose fat, and between 1590-2120 to gain muscle.

Taking this information I would say that you are most likely not eating enough, and with your IBS you are most likely not getting enough fat in your diet. We need fat...not as much as a whole serving of french fries contains, but a certain amount. My guess is that you do not need to loose any fat, but might like to gain some muscle, so going a little higher in the calories and working your muscles might be a good plan for you. Also, think about suplementing with EFAs, essential fatty acids. I've heard several people with IBS say that it has helped them.

Listen to your body, not the scale.

Barbara

The best way to use a scale: find a flat surface, like your driveway...then run your car over it!

Barbara, thanks for that website, worth checking out.
I'm going to take your advice on the scale. But my driveway is sand so it might not damage it like I would like to....

FWIW Most of my life I had 'stomach problems'...and found that when I just ditched the packaged foods, it got better, and then going a diet of mostly chicken and fish, it did even better. Definately see a nutritionist as I lucked out and did it on my own but fiber and eating lots of vegs and fruits helped me out a lot. I just eat too many I suppose

[letsride89]

hey girls!

First of all, I want to say how much i appreciate you ALL! every one of you has given me awesome advice that i really needed to hear. I couldn't say thank you enough!!

The update:
I talked to my dad about seeing a nutritionist and he quickly reacted. He was so into it. He thinks it's such a great idea and he even went online to find me one in the area. He knows that i want to look good and eat normally, but healithy. He wants me to go see her right away. He has already called and told her about me, all i have to do is call and set up an appointment.

When i told my boyfriend, he even offered to pay. He said if he could spend 6000 dollars on his bike, he sure enough can spend teh 135 for his baby to feel better. lol

So anyway, thanks so much girls for your advice and concern, it really means alot. i can't wait to get my butt in gear and start eating stabily!!

Im sorry for the confusion when i said i didn't want to gain weight, what i meant was i didn't want my bodyfat percentage to increase. Competely wrong wording and i apologize!!!

[tulip]

Hi letsride! So glad to hear that you are taking some steps to a healthier you! The reaction of your dad and boyfriend ought to be clear enough--they support you all the way, as do we.

Please don't take this the wrong way--what you are doing is great. It's just that you seem to be really concerned about the numbers, whether pounds or body fat percentage. I hope that with the help of your nutritionist you can adjust your thinking to focus on the Qualitative aspects of your good health as opposed to the bottom line Quantitative results (numbers).

Keep up the good work. We are behind you!
-Julie

[letsride89]

aw hey thanks tulip...

ill have you girls know that last night my dad and i went to a fall festival at his church and i didn't think twice about getting a bowl of chili and a piece of pecan pie...and it was GOOD!!!!

[tulip]

Just checking in, letsride. I hope you're doing well.

[pardes]

ill have you girls know that last night my dad and i went to a fall festival at his church and i didn't think twice about getting a bowl of chili and a piece of pecan pie...and it was GOOD!!!!

Letsride, I admire your spunk AND your ability to hear what everyone advised in this thread rather than getting defensive or just blowing everyone off. Everyone jumped on the band wagon because your physical symptoms were alarming and it did seem you were more interested in looking a certain way for others rather than listening to the very noisy red alert signals from your body.

You are young, vital, and active and the 1400 calories you were consuming was not enough to keep up with rebuilding your tissues and keeping you healthy. Whether you need a counselor or not or a nutritionist or not is for you to decide but my advice would be to treat your body like it was your best friend. It really is, after all, your best and closest friend.