Okay, so here's my problem... please read :(

  Hi, my name is Natasha and I've been dieting on and off threw out my entire freshmen year of high school. See I would basically starve my self and eat around 400 calories a day then quit and start eating like crazy! For some strange reason I actully did lose weight that year, but now I've been on an 800 calorie diet (Which I thought was safe) After reading about this whole "Starvation Mode" thing.. I've discided to increase my calorie intake to about 1200.. my only problem would be that I'm already at a very low weight (109) I'm very short.. around 5 ft- 5'1 so I'm a little heavyier then I sound.

    One of my problems is that I have absoultly NO paitients and I want to lose weight quick quick quick.. I can't exercise because I have VERY bad asthma.. I mean I can't even run for like 2 seconds without my lungs hurtting like HELL. I'm starting to just think I'm a naturally heavy person.. I mean is there ANYTHING I can do about it?  I'm not someone who feels very comfortable with her body and I want to start fresh and maby gain some confidence for the new school year.  I just don't feel like eating 1,200 calories with no exercise is going to change anything.. I mean I know my own body. I can't stand to see my skinny friends who don't exercise eatting pizza burgers and ice cream.

If someone could please help or reply I would be SO SO greatful, this is something that has been bothering me for quiet a long time.

Thank you,

Tasha

You could do weight training instead of cardio. That won't strain your lungs. I don't think you need to lose any weight. I'm about your same height and have been close to your weight before, so I have a good idea about what 5'1" and 109 looks like. However, it's always always always good to tone up, which is probably all you need. Try Pilates, they're great for making long, lean muscles--which is what we shorties need! Also lifting light weights (3-5 lbs) for your arms firms them up nicely. Toning your muscles gives your metabolism a kick in the pants, so even though you can't do cardio because of your asthma, your body will be busier and that alone can help you lose. Good luck!

Isn't 5' to 5'1" at 109 lbs a healthy weight range? It seems like if you are trying to lose anymore it would we difficult because you are already in the target range.

What if you tried yoga or pilates? No running or strenuous cardio that way, just stretching and toning.

When I enter my BMI it says that I am at an "adverage weight"  but if you saw me in real life you would understand that I am more of the "Chuncky" type and YES I have a gut, doing mustle training only worries me that I will gain mustle under fat making me appear larger.

I think that when you say you are "chunky", you must be using a skewed reference point - like preadolescents or anorexics or models or celebrities or something (they all look alike to me).  It would be physically impossible for you to look chunky, as I understand the term, at that height and weight.

As for a "gut", someone else put this much better on another thread, but it is part of being a woman to have a little "pooch" on your lower belly. You need an insanely low body fat to not have that. (Though I suppose a few people might be naturally lacking one).

You're at a healthy weight. I'd recommend just living your life, having fun, and not worrying about dieting. If you gain enough to boost your BMI over 25, then maybe start cutting back a little. Body confidence and feeling beautiful do NOT magically "appear" at a certain weight or size. You can develop them now, if you try hard enough.

I was thinking about your problem just now, and I remembered that a good option is sitting right in front of me! You should buy the workout DVD "Pilates Weight-Loss Workout For Dummies." I got mine at Target for $10 and I love it. I haven't been using it much lately since I've been doing more running, but it features 20 minutes of aerobics-based workout and 15 minutes of classic Pilates floor work. The aerobics section is really great because it is cardio-based but you hardly notice. It includes a lot of variations of squats and that sort of thing, but it's really fun. You don't do a whole lot of repetitions of the same exercise, so you focus on the quality of each movement instead of just getting through it. It does wonders for your thighs and abs...I noticed a change in the way my pants fit after just four days! The floor work also rocks. Awesome for your tummy, which is what you said you want.

i understand where you are coming from with the whole "healthy weight range but still chunky" thing. i too have a "healthy" BMI, but it wouldnt hurt for me to lose a few pounds and tone.

hmm...all i could suggest for you would be maybe yoga and strength training. if you can, try going for walks or biking. you could also freestyle dance in you room--lol, i do it! though im not sure if you could with your asthma and all.

good luck :)

muscle eats fat for breakfast! Your stomach your muscles will use the fat there. I was worried about this but you can't have muscley fat anything. plus the more muscle you are the more calories your body will burn just idling. work out in peace and either enjoy more calories a day or eat the same and burn more but by having muscle

Tomatosoupxox is 14-16 years old and should be eating way more than 1200 calories a day.

Hey baby whats your name?
[your confidence should be off the roof !! haha im kiddin :P]
but eat more food!
and are you on any meds for asthma?
someone who's growing needs "good" food and plenty of it or it will stunt your growth.

As for no excercise, you can walk!  Or of course do the pilates thing.  Buy some dumbells... do some excercise with that to grow some muscle.  ANyways, hit me up if you need anything.

I'm a severe asthmatic too. Its a big pain in the arse because it does limit the excercises you can do but power walking tends to be a good one, doesn't strain your lungs but better than a stroll. Also try a gym class like cardio kick boxing (best ever!) or get a gym instucter to make a cardio program for you taking into acount your asthma. Asthma is a big pain but you can work around it.

ok, so here is my advice. When I was in high school I ran cross counrty. I also ate whatever the heck I wanted and I was TINY!! I am 5'7" and I was weighing 111. I still thought I was Fat! I wasn't just saying it like some pepole think skinny people do to get compliments, cause I never said it aloud. But I felt it. When I went away to college I stopped excercising and kept eating whatever I wanted and now at 26 I weigh 172. Regardless of how you feel about your body (because you could be skinny thinking your fat, or you could loose the weight and still not be happy) get into a healthy eating pattern now. Trust me. If college is an option for you, you will wish you were happy with your weight now in 5 years. However if you go into college with a healthy eating lifestyle, then you can at least sustain your weight and eventually you will be happy with how you look. Adolescence has a funny way of skewing body image and self image in general.

Mild exercise may actually improve your asthma.  Don't start with running since you know already that it doesn't work.  Try walking and once you feel better about that, try walking a bit faster.  Also, some breathing and meditation exercises might also help to improve your asthma.  Pilates and yoga are probably great places to start, both for the gorgeous muscles you develop from them and from the less strenuous activity, at least until you start getting good.