Should I be eating more?

Ok, this is my first post on here and I need a little help. I'm 13 years old, 5"4, and about 125 lbs. I've recently lost around 13 pounds through portion control and exercise. I eat around 1600 calories daily, and I feel as if I should be eating about 200 more. My question is, how can I up my calorie intake, but gain as little weight as possible?

You are 13. Eat 2000 calories a day to maintain your current weight and more if you are active.

You were at a healthy weight before you dieted. You have no idea how bad it was to have dieted when you had no health reason for doing so.

Because you did, you now have a better than 1 in 3 chance that you've triggered a change in your brain that will force you to have control issues with food for the rest of your life, and you have a 1 in 6 chance of having triggered an eating disorder for yourself.

I know I'm being harsh and it's your first post, but you need, reeeallly need, not to diet. Your body needs to grow. You will gain weight. You have to. You're 13 not 25 and you don't finish growing until 25.

At your age, you should just concentrate on good healthy eating habits which will carry you into good habits in adulthood (something I didn't do) - forget counting calories. Make sure you get daily exercise and lots of fresh air, and watch yourself blossom over the next few years!

Eat healthy!  Avoid overdrinking/eating things like sugar soda such as Mountain Dew and pastries.  Drink 100% juice and eat whole wheat toast with peanut butter, instead, for example.

Eat a really healthy breakfast to start the day.

Get some physical exercise several times a week, such as walking, jogging, playing VB, BB, tennis, etc.

You won't gain weight if you practice healthy eating and exercise.  I saw a report on one of our local TV stations that anywhere from 25-33% of the children in America are obese. The amount of time most of these children spend watching TV and playing video games is alarming.  All of us need to get off of our duffs and moving around!

First, 1300 calories are not enough for an active teenager.  You need to up your calorie intake to at least 2000.  Your body is growing and it needs essential nutrients from good foods.  You can do a lot of serious damage to your body with permanent nasty effects if you deprive yourself of much needed nutrients at your age.

Second, see if you school nutritionist or nurse or health teacher has some literature for you to read about healthy eating for teens.

Third, exercise naturally by riding a bike and/or walking places (where it is safe).  Take the stairs.  Do fun physical activities such as junior high sports, recreational clubs such as tennis and golf, hiking, bike riding, etc.

http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php = world's healthiest foods

http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/268.cfm = healthy eating tips for teens

I want to add that, at 13, your body still has about 8 years of growth and development to undertake.  For that it needs energy.... lots of energy.   How tall are your parents, because that's the height that you'll end up at.  If you're 5'4" now and your parents are taller then you should expect to both get taller and heavier as you carry on developing.

Choose good quality foods and stay active but make sure you're getting enough energy from now on.  At least 2000 cals a day, if not more. 

Oh god girl yeah you should be eating 2000 Not 1600 that's nothing to your body you need to eat mroe or it can really damage you and don't worry about your weight it wont move Just move around alot and drink Lots of water

It really sucks that this site doesnt have a calculator calibrated for teens. =/

Just like the new teens here, i used to think i had to eat that little too, when i was 16 and 17.

Same here! I was eating 1200-1400 calories a day before and I just found that that was way too little. Now I eat from 1600-1800 calories a day. Btw I am 14,female,5 foot 4, and 142 pounds. I was 136 pounds , but I gained some weight due to my metabolism slowing down from eating to little.