Thoughts... help me out of my own head!

[ny biker]

I'm 5'7". When I was in grad school I weighed about 130 lbs. All my friends thought I had an eating disorder because I looked too thin.

If I tried to survive on 1600 calories a day I would be hungry and lightheaded all the time. I probably get more like 2000 calories a day. I currently weigh 141.

[pll]

5'6.5" here. Current weight: 125, but I have gained a couple of lbs since Thanksgiving (gotta start running again!), and I'm not underweight. I try to consume an average of 1900 calories per day. During the summer, when I bike 2-4 hours, I am careful to have a meal soon after the ride.

Protein helps me keep hunger away, for the most part: I added protein to my breakfast (hard boiled egg whites, smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, peanut butter... ) and at the office I keep a jar with a mix of almonds, pistachios and cashews, for quick snacks. A nutritionist suggested I increase my protein consumption to ~50g per day.

PS: At 5'7", you'd have to go under 118 lbs to be considered underweight by the BMI tables, but I think it depends on your overall bone structure. Some people can look emaciated at that weight, others look just fine.

[Owlie]

Protein helps me keep hunger away, for the most part: I added protein to my breakfast (hard boiled egg whites, smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, peanut butter... ) and at the office I keep a jar with a mix of almonds, pistachios and cashews, for quick snacks. A nutritionist suggested I increase my protein consumption to ~50g per day.
.

This. I can't do yogurt for breakfast if I ride, but eggs (whole, fried in my case), smoked salmon, bacon or even my favorite whole grain cereal with nuts in it are great. I keep a little container of almonds around.

[OJazzy1]

Thank you for all the replies. I am glad to have some women to sound some things off of!

"Two questions: how old are you and have you had your thyroid checked lately?" No, I have never had my thyroid checked. I am 26 years old.

I guess I should also add that I am a mother of a 3 1/2 year old.

[Biciclista]

OJazzy1 EAT MORE.

[lph]

You don't mention how often you eat. If I have my conversion right you're my weight but a bit taller. When I was training a lot and had a lot of muscle in my legs I was visibly thinner, but the same weight. At that point I could not afford to lose any weight. I don't think you should lose any!

It sounds to me like you're very active, but eat a bit too little, a bit too seldom. "Hungry quite a bit" leapt out at me. Hungry shouldn't catch up - when you're hungry, you need to eat.

[pll]

I will echo what everyone is saying already: you need to eat some more. Hunger is a good indicator that you need the calories, as lph is pointing out. Based on my own "experiments" with long bike rides, I have learned you need to eat at the right times, too: if I do not eat after a long ride (read 4+ hours) I will be ravenous later on.

Ask your doctor for a thyroid check (it's a simple blood test). And, let the fit in clothing be your guide, rather than weight. Muscle is more dense than fat, so you can gain weight and your clothes can get looser.

[indysteel]

I agree that you need to eat more. That hit chocolate that you're drinking? Do you use milk to make it? It's the milk in chocolate milk that plays an important part in recovery. Hot chocolate with water is not equivalent.

One additional personal question. Any chance that you're pregnant? The weight gain and low energy makes me wonder. Beyond that, my advice is to eat more and weigh yourself less. Just be active and give your body sufficient fuel.