Advice - Maintaining, working out daily needs

Well basically recently i had food poisoning for the first time.  and i lost a stone because of this. I wasn't particularly bothered about my weight before this happened, I didn't monitor food or really weigh myself often, i seemed to just be staying the same... I was at a healthy weight for my size (i have a small build anyway). But this weight loss has made me aware that I should keep track of how and what i'm eating and try to be healthier, not just for weight but for my heart etc (I used to eat a lot of junk, and although it did not show, i'm aware if i do keep eating like that then one day it will!)

So my stats; I'm 5 ft 4.5 inches tall, 20 years old, and currently weight 98 lbs. According to the BMI i am slightly underweight. 

I'm happy with how I look, although it says 'underweight' i don't look it. But if i lost more I would. I certainly do NOT want to lose any more weight... but I do not want to gain any, I know im 'underweight' as such... however im afraid if i try to gain it will go wrong and i'll end up gaining too much and getting more flab rather than being toned, (im aware that the food posioning caused me to lose muscle as well as fat).

Basically I want to know how much I should eat to maintain my current weight....

 does anyone know what the best website is for working out calory intake?

The different sites are saying anything between 1400 and 1800, which is quite a difference, obviously i don't want to overeat but i don't want to undereat either. Also i've been made aware that these calory counts don't really apply to under 21s, which doesnt help me, I want to know what i should do.

I also would like to take up more exercise for my heart, and to tone my muscles (gain muscle back that i lost) but I don't want to end up losing more weight because of this so obviously its really important to me to get an idea of calory intake....

Sorry for the long story. Hope you can help!

youre very underweight.  read the literauture on the health rsiks of being at your weight, now and in the future.

saying that u dont want to gain any weight is cause for concern.  youre not light or on the low end, you r underweight.  that is not good.  ur bmi is low, u cant excercsie or be healthy at that weight.

i cant advise you on how to maintain ur current weight and no one should.

please reconsidar.

Ok.

Well obviously I'm not very knowledgeable about this, as i've never taken note or had interest in weight. Obviously i didnt expect to get food poisoning, or this would never have been an issue!

Having a go at me isn't helpful

I need advice then about how I can be healthy and look good, its all well and good to say put on weight but i don't want to end up weighing more than i did before and gaining excess flab rather than being toned.

I don't know where to start and needed some helpful advice not some body shouting at me.

i say leave her to her own devices, if she wants to harm herself in the long run....well then let her.....

I'm asking for advice on what to do about the situation.

Someone telling me im underweight,  i need to know what to do about it, not to have people just keep saying I am.  I know this, I need to know what to do in a sensible way.

Obviously thinking that this was a caring forum was a mistake.

but you are underweight though, even though bmi is a bit biased, and this forum is a helpful one. but i will not help you to maintain a weight that could potentially harm you in the long run. i am the same height as you give or take half an inch and i eat 3000 carlores and maintain 110 pounds this weight is perfectly healthy for at  5ft4. if i was 98 pounds i simply woundn't feel healthy but suspose it demands on how u  you feel.

Yep, I know now that I am.

I never weighed myself regularly or paid much attention because i've always been happy with myself.

I didn't realise how much i had lost from the food poisioning until i checked my weight the other day. I didnt feel particularly different, but now I am aware.  I guess I was niave, but I have done some reading around since i posted that message last night and realise I need to get healthy!!

I dont want to be underweight, I want to be normal,  but without ending up overweight if you know what i mean. I would like to go back to 8st which is what i was before the food poisoning.

I dont know much about food, my family are mostly overweight and eat all the wrong things, lol, but i know i should try to gain in a healthy way, not just eat chocolate bars lol.

Since i first posted the message i read around and found out a bit more, so now i am more aware, and I would like to be at a healthy weight, i suppose a bit like yourself. I don't exercise at all, but I want to start, for my heart and for my muscles etc, NOT to lose any more weight.

Anyway.....

This message kinda spiralled out away from the point,

all i wanted was to find out which was the best website to work out my daily calory needs, so then i knew what i burned at basic, and what id have to add to gain etc.

I am a complete novice!

So i guess im going to look into the weight gain forum, there looks like there are some interesting articles there!!

I personally don't think that you need to worry with counting calories at this point, instead, I suggest learning about healthy nutrition and exercise.

A nutritionist recommended this book to me, which I got a lot out of, called, "The Schwarzbein Principle II: The transition - A Regeneration Program to Prevent and Reverse Accelerated Aging", by Diana Schwarzbein.

http://www.amazon.com/Schwarzbein-Principle-T ransition-Regeneration-Accelerated/dp/1558749 640

She discusses, in-depth, how the body digests and uses foods and talks a lot about portioning the right types of proteins, carbs and fats to support the functioning of your body. I found it very helpful in that I'm the type of person that likes to understand *why* I should do anything. She surmises that if you are giving your body what it needs, you'll naturally come to your optimal body weight. I've found that when I follow her recommendations I do, and I feel great. The book was written for people a bit older than you, who have already made the mistakes at your age that you are wisely looking to avoid. (I commend you.) So, you'll need to keep that in mind, but I think it would have been great to have had this understanding in my early 20's. I would have avoided adrenal burn-out & yo-yo weight, among other things.

Also, if you don't already do it, you might like to try Yoga or Pilates, just one or two classes a week does wonders. Both build strength and help manage stress. I've been working out with weights lately, too, just for fun & variety, but I would recommend a trainer for that, to ensure safety.

Best of luck to you on your journey. May you be blessed with health and happiness. :)