Really need some help....

Hi, everyone..

I have gained 20 pounds through eating a lot of American style food I believed that some part of those 20 pounds may be muscle mass because I practice swimming 14 hours a week for the last 3 months (swimming season). 

However, I look flabby and need to lose some weight. 

I'm 17 years old, 5"1, female, not doing a sport this school term but walk around school and try to run 3 times a week. Eat very healthy and balance at around 1300-1500 calories or so (I do include almonds in my diet as a good fat). I don't have much food choice because I still live in a high school dorm. 

BUT!!!! Here is the deal! I had an exercise bulimic last school year but I'm got soooo much better. I eat more and don't think much about food. UNTIL TODAY......one of my friend ask me how I lose weight and she was saying the exact same thing I said last year before I get too obsess with weight lost. I don't want to slip back again. I just want to make sure that what I'm doing to my body right now is the right way to lose some weight. Am I doing the right way? Help!

American food is horrible and kills people (heart disease, diabetes).  Also, you aren't eating enough.  At your age you need to be taking in more than 1500 calories per day.

I thought so many calculator in many websites say that in order for me to lose weight, I need to eat somewhere around 1300-1500 calories.....will I lose weight if I eat more?

With that amount of exercise you need quite a bit more. You can lose weight and eat more but you may see some initial weight gain as your metabolism adjusts.

Thank you :)

A personal question to ask yourself: are you really "better" psychologically, or are you just BEHAVING better?

Both are important, and it might be difficult for you to honestly assess your weight, body, body image, etc. Some people look very different to themselves than they look to other people, and this could be the case for you. It is possible your body has simply recovered from the trauma and deprivation of last year, and that you look perfectly beautiful.

Of course, if you are very unhappy with your body, exercising THAT much, eating THAT little, and still not losing weight, you should absolutely speak to a physician. He/she will be able to tell you if your expectations are realistic, test your blood to see if you have anything wrong w/ your thyroid or insulin, etc, and help you with a plan to either firm up or to see your body more like others see it (depending on which is the problem.)

Start with your school nurse, and go from there!

Original Post by echoroc:

American food is horrible and kills people (heart disease, diabetes). 

 HUH?!  I've been eating American food for 45 years- I have no heart disease, no diabetes, and I'm certainly not DEAD!  Seems like kind of a broad statement...

(Food doesn't kill people, people kill people.)

Original Post by flonklar:

Original Post by echoroc:

American food is horrible and kills people (heart disease, diabetes). 

 HUH?!  I've been eating American food for 45 years- I have no heart disease, no diabetes, and I'm certainly not DEAD!  Seems like kind of a broad statement...

(Food doesn't kill people, people kill people.)

whatever.  obviously it's a broad statement.  read this book http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php

Original Post by echoroc:

Original Post by flonklar:

Original Post by echoroc:

American food is horrible and kills people (heart disease, diabetes). 

 HUH?!  I've been eating American food for 45 years- I have no heart disease, no diabetes, and I'm certainly not DEAD!  Seems like kind of a broad statement...

(Food doesn't kill people, people kill people.)

whatever.  obviously it's a broad statement.  read this book http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php

Oh, and no offense, but looks like eating American food for 45 years has left you considerably heavier than you ought to be.  So clearly it's not working for you.

My school nurse thought I get better now, so as mu nutritionist that I have been seeing for 1 year. We stop setting our appointment since last month and I was doing ok. I didn't really think much about how I would look, as long as I'm happy with my life and my healthy lifestyle. I did gain some weight last school term because of some depression/emotional eating/bingeing cycle. But now, since I stop having appointment with my nutritionist, I haven't binge (which I'm really happy about that ).  I still try to do some walking and eat healthy. 

Until yesterday. This girl start saying the EXACT same thing like what I said last year before I was really obsess with losing weight!!! And I start to slipping back again! I went running (yesterday and today) for 30 minutes and walk for 15 minutes. Eating as usual at 1500 calories or a couple of hundred more. It seems nice, but the whole time I went running, all I can think about was running to lose weight!!! I DO NOT want to be what I was last year again....ever. 

I hope I'm doing everything the right way. I do eat a balance meal and healthy. I did some exercise. And hopefully, losing weight the right way.

But thank you 

I'm very glad to hear that you have professional support for this very difficult issue. I think it would be best to speak to one of them anytime you worry about this, so they can help you with the thoughts and feelings you don't like.

Physically, it sounds like you are burning more calories than you eat, so if you are asking if this is healthy, it depends on your weight! If your weight is good or too low, you should probably eat more if you exercise that much. What is your BMI?

If you want to firm up, I would suggest weight lifting/muscle building exercises instead of aerobics. You may have lost muscle mass from the bulemia, and this will help firm your body in a healthy way -- just remember, it also means you will need more calories!!

My latest BMI is at 22.....moving up from 18. I'm glad it goes up. Every time I think about what that girl said about not eating and go on a diet (just like me last year), I would stop myself and hold myself form slipping back. If I find myself eating too less - I bump the number up by eating almonds and cashew :) And just tell myself that I need to eat to really lose some weight. Not eating would not last long and will make things worse! Thank you so much for all the answers. I'm really appreciate them.

Actually it is NOT the food it is the lack of exericse and self control in our society, my grandfather lived to be 96 years old and wasn't sick a day in his life he went quietly in his sleep and he ate American food everyday.

We sit in front of the TV, we sit at our desks, we drive everywhere, Where is the exercise?

It is not the food it is simply lack of exercise and self control to know when to stop putting food in our mouths.

Original Post by echoroc:

Original Post by echoroc:

Original Post by flonklar:

Original Post by echoroc:

American food is horrible and kills people (heart disease, diabetes). 

 HUH?!  I've been eating American food for 45 years- I have no heart disease, no diabetes, and I'm certainly not DEAD!  Seems like kind of a broad statement...

(Food doesn't kill people, people kill people.)

whatever.  obviously it's a broad statement.  read this book http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php

Oh, and no offense, but looks like eating American food for 45 years has left you considerably heavier than you ought to be.  So clearly it's not working for you.

 ya, im sure no one is going to take offense to that.  do everyone a favor and stop pretending to be helpful.