Skinny Fat? Fat? Help...

I really don't know what to do, I know I am not "Fat", well people say I am not, I know I'm not chubby etc, but I do feel that I just can't get it right no matter how much I diet or train etc.

Now people say I don't know what I am talking about ... Now I'm confused, it can't just be me right? Just want a couple opinions, about how much more weight should I loose? Am I fine here? A lot/little more toning? ETc. (And maybe tips?)

Btw I am 5'7 and go from 117-122 throughout the day and week on 1300-1500cal

Photo- http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb314/mawa ta123/Photo64.jpg

This is not fat at all. You should not be losing any weight. You can lift weights to tone up if you feel like you need to. If you think you have weight issues you might want to talk to someone about it. I was too scared to talk about my eating disorder to real people do I found some people online. I wish I could help more but we're really in the same situation. 1300-1500 calories isn't enough. I've recently bumped mine up the the bare minimum of 1800.

You have a FANTASTIC body! Be proud of what you have. Its great for a female to have some flesh on her, not just paper flat with their rib-cages sticking out.

You have a distorted perception about your body image. Everybody is different and there is not one body that is the same. We all have different bone structures, metabolisms as well as calorie needs. Realistically, can you REALLY see yourself maintaining at 1300-1500 calories for the rest of your life? I don’t think so. A diet should be a lifestyle change, not a battle with your mind and body.

I do believe you need to eat more. At least 2000 calories. You are on the verge of an ED, and I suggest talking to somebody before your perception manifests out of control.

Be happy who you are and what you have. Think "Im beautiful", "I love my body". If you don’t love yourself, how can you expect anybody else to? No more losing weight missy! ..

Good luck! xx

There is no way that on so few calories you are fuelling your body with what it needs. The minimum intake for a sedentary female under 21 is 1500 per day. And believe it or not, that’s only the sedentary minimum. Unless you are very, very short and small, and/or if you are working out it is very likely you will need even more calories than those minimum guidelines.

As you are under 21, CC's tools are inaccurate and you should use this calculator instead: http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html as you are still growing. Yes, even in the later years - there's more going on inside of you that you simply can't see. But, because you are underweight, you ideally need to gain weight. To do so you need to be eating at least 2500 calories sedentary to gain steadily and keep the weight on. If you begin to work out you will need to eat more. For more info on this read here: The Aim is to Gain: Advice on Weight Gain, Whatever Your Reason

Eating too low a calorie intake, or having a deficit from your BMR greater than 1000 results in something called "survival mode", where your body holds every last thing it can get in expectance of a famine. Water, food, calories. Explained:

• Dieting & Metabolism - This article explains starvation mode and why undereating is counter productive.
• The Body Neglected - This is what happens when you undereat for an extended period of time. 
• "Obesity on 700 Calories" - A tale of starvation mode's devistating effects, and proof you don't have to be underweight to be starving.
• From Ask Mary, the segment provided by our CC nutritionist Mary Hartley: On the dangers of undereating and what it does to your body.

Your BMI of around 18 makes you underweight. The physical dangers that come with undereating and being underweight are numerous. You put yourself at risk of osteoporosis, of loss of fertility if you lose your period, hair loss, electrolyte problems, a weakening of the immune system, low blood pressure, blood disorders such as anemia, heart problems, and even death. The mental woes that come alongside can be just as devestating. Depression is common in undereaters, as well as distorted perceptions and problems like Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

You are describing a disordered eating pattern even if you may not be aware of it, and you need to talk to your doctor about even if just to hear a professional opinion on top of CC.

If you want some online support try http://www.something-fishy.org, and take a look through CC's Eating Disorders Health, Resources and Info Thread. But your most immediate concern is your health - and for that that means you need to talk to your doctor.

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