Need a little help with this

I'm a guy. Just turned 15 a few weeks ago, 5' 2", and weighed 100.6 in the morning last saturday, 101 two saturdays ago, and 101.2 three saturdays ago. So I have been maintaining at 101 in the morning and 105-106 in the afternoon on 2,600 calories a day. I do cardio (jump rope) for an hour in the morning everyday but do no other excersises... Maybe a 2-3 mile walk 1 or 2 times a week with my mom when she goes in addition to my jump rope but other than that, no.

  I need to learn to let go...But how do I do that? I want to live a little but it's hard because I don't want to gain any weight back. That's what I'm affraid of, even though it's probably not going to happen. Like if my family and I are going to go out and eat I just don't feel right doing it. I refuse to eat fast food, and won't have any sweets or anything... How often can I have this kind of stuff to maintain and not lose weight? And how do I get over the fear of gaining the weight back? Will it come back If I let go? Is there a way to let go without completely letting go?(if that makes any sense.lol)

My doctor said that I should be gaining 1 pound a month because I am growing. So by the middle of august I am expecting to weigh about 102 in the morning...

Stop weighing yourself would be my first suggestion.  You ARE growing, but I doubt it is going to happen at a steady 1 pound a month.  You will grow in spurts, and typically, kids shoot up in height first, then their weight catches up.  My kids always eat a lot right before a spurt too, then their appetite slows down a bit after.

You really do have to just make the decision to eat when you are hungry - not too much, not too little, and to have treats every once in a while whether they are sweets or fast food.  You won't gain weight quickly on this kind of lifestyle, especially with the healthy foods you are eating, so don't even worry about it.  Your annual doctor's check up should be enough to keep tabs on your weight.  And 2600 calories is at the low end of what your doc recommended, isn't it?

Really - stop weighing and stop counting calories.  That is the easiest way to let it go.

And if you feel like it is all-consuming to you, like you can't stop thinking/worrying about it, maybe it is time to see a counselor or therapist.  I know you don't want anyone assuming you have anorexia, but worrying about ANYTHING a lot is not a healthy mindframe, and having someone to just talk it over with would help.

I don't really worry about it, I just kind of feel guilty or something... My doctor said 2,600 or more because he said I am probably burning 600 or more calories from my workout but I think I am only burning like 450. Because it isn't that hard. I got used to it. I mean, I get tired and feel a little out of breath, but not like I do if I were to go run.

I don't get how you can stop counting calories without going a little out of control. If I were to stop counting calories I would be worried. It's not that hard to count calories for me. On a lot of things I guestimate or just look at the serving size and base it off of that. It's not stressful for me like it is for a lot of other people, it just helps me keep on track...

Well, don't feel guilty.  The overwhelming majority of healthy people don't count calories, especially when they are young.  I would say, for you, that you should just eat when you are hungry and not really worry about it beyond making sure most of your food is healthy.  Growth is unpredictable, and limiting your calories when you reach a growth spurt really isn't a good idea. 

I really would recommend that you stop thinking about the number of calories you need.  The number you need will change - and you are right, when you get used to an exercise, it starts burning fewer calories - as you grow, and it is just an estimate anyway.  Spend 3 months not adding things up in your head, not weighing, and eating when you are hungry, then weigh yourself.  Plug in the new weight and height into a juvenile calculator and see where you stand.  Three months isn't going to turn you into an overweight person.

It is a warning sign that something may be wrong when you say "I don't get how you can stop counting calories without going a little out of control. If I were to stop counting calories I would be worried."   Or that you feel a little guilty if you don't.  You should be able to take a break from it without feeling stressed or anxious or guilty.  If you can't, then you do need to talk to someone, because that isn't normal or healthy.

I guess your right... But I do think 3 months do a lot of hurting. What if I just started eating frozen pizzas for lunch, hot pockets whenever I want, and ate at fast food places every few days thinking it's all ok, forgeting about calories and thinking it's not going to affect me at all? I just don't get it. Maybe i need a step by step on how to stop counting calories without feeling guilty or out of control...

Like I can't change what I've been doing for the past 5 months instantly. That's tough.

Have you tried posting in Heath and Support or Weight Gain, since those folks have experience with recovering from disordered eating, etc?

No, I haven't... Should I just copy and paste?

You really think you'd start doing all that in only 3 months?  Do you think you could?  Because I think you like eating healthy, and I don't think you could eat that much junk food.

Yes, if you suddenly changed the way you were eating, you might could gain 15 pounds in 3 months.  You'd still be at a healthy weight, though, since currently you are at the bottom of the healthy range for your height.  But no one is suggesting that you pig out on pizza and candy bars.

The key to what I said earlier was to eat mostly healthy foods, from all of the food groups.  Just keep eating the way you have been eating, but give yourself the freedom to eat more, or have a little splurge.  It is OK to step out of line every once in a while.  If you do this, then you won't be increasing your calories dramatically, even on your really hungry days.  Sometimes, you just have to trust your body to know what it needs.

I'm also a bit unclear on your last statement - have you been counting calories for five months, or longer?

Original Post by bennyboy5:

No, I haven't... Should I just copy and paste?

Or PM a mod and ask them if it would be better in one of those forums (they can move it). The maint. forum doesn't get a lot of activity (not that rux isn't giving good advice).

I have been counting calories for 5 months.

I think the best thing for you to do is worry about "one" number only and it's not your weight. You will change from week to week as you grow and fill out. If you are going to worry about getting fat, focus on your "body fat %".  If that starts to go up drastically, you and work on bringing down. Maintain that number, not your weight.

I would expect that you'll grow a 1-3 inches this year and should add 10 lbs in weight to go with it (estimation).  Being 110 pounds with 22% body fat would be comparable to being 130 pounds with 22% body fat.

Just my two cents.

I agree with robinrussia.  You are a growing teenager.  Many of the things about a healthy diet and number of calories that work and are healthy for an older adult do not apply to teenagers.  The two things that are important are that you get good physical activity in and that you avoid consuming a lot of junk food like soda pop, pastries, etc.  Eating well-balanced meals and keeping physically active, but not overly worrying about calories, will work well for you.