Can someone relate?

I am 23 years old and weigh 123 pounds at this moment. I am 5'4. As a child and through high school I got up to 155 pounds. It wasn't until high school I started to lose the weight when I started working. I got down to 115 pounds and maintained for a few years. And 115 pounds is a normal weight for my height. Somehow over the past 3 years I have gone up to 123 pounds. It doesnt seem like that much, but it has been so hard for me to go on a diet and get back to 115 pounds. Can anyone relate with me? I have gone on a diet as low as 1,000-1,2000 calories a day for weeks and then I will gain it all back! I really try to watch what I eat too (try to maintain at 2,000 calories a day for my height and weight.) I also use a mini stepper for 30 minutes up to 4 times or more a week.
  Just so you know, I don't want any of those comments "Oh honey, you are at a good weight for your height." I understand people are on here and trying to lose far more weight then what I want to. I am trying to recognize the problem early and lose the weight before I gain too much. Or in 5 more years.... guess what... I will weight 130 pounds. I am trying to control this now. I just was wondering if there was someone out there who could relate with me. Sometimes I get those feelings that it may be strange I want to lose weight and I get compliments about how great I look now. It is a personal issue. Remember I use to be overweight as a child. I dont want to someday be overweight as an adult if I can be careful.

I have gone on a diet as low as 1,000 calories a day for weeks and then I will gain it all back! I really try to watch what I eat too.

Watch out for this cycle, it is called yo-yoing and will do more harm then good.
Find out your calorie target to maintain 115 pounds and eat at that calorie level each day.  Make sure to nourish your body with healthy foods.

PS as you get older your body gets solid and fill out a bit.  Muscle mass and your skeleton bones get denser.  Sometimes it is better to go by the measuring tape than the scale.

Hi marzipan- Good for you taking control of your weight at a young age. It can very easily creep up on us if we're not careful. Plus, with age it becomes more difficult, because you acquire more resonsibilities making it easy to use the "I don't have time or energy" excuse.  Anyway, first of all 1,000 calories is way too low...it's starvation mode. So yes, as soon as your body starts getting more than 1,200 calories you will gain all the weight back, and more, and very quickly. Do not go below 1,200, absolute minimum. Since 1,200 calories isn't much, make sure those you are consuming are the best quality calories...you already mentioned you watch what you eat, so  you're probably already there.

Drink LOTS of water. I hear adding fiber to your diet also helps. I find it difficult to add fiber through foods, so using something like Benefiber to add to your yogurt, oatmeal, cereals, etc. should help.

You don't mention anything about an exercise routine. If you're on one, change it up...challenge your body. Do something different, or step up the intensity. Also, switching cardio and weights daily will show better results.

And finally, I am 37 years old now and weigh 133 lbs. My goal is to get down to 125 lbs. (I was 115 two years ago). I was in your same situation at your age. I am 5'3" and my healthy weight range is between 115-135 lbs, anything below is underweight and anything above is overweight. So, 115 lbs for 5'4" is on the low side. Healthy still, yes...just make sure to not go below.

Good luck. Take some time to browse through all the articles on CC, there's some great info in here. Way more than I, or anyone else can provide you with.

 

This is what I have found out so far. my BMI is 21.1 right now for 123 pounds, and should be between 18.5 and 24.9.

When I put my weight in for 115 pounds, it is 19.7 and still normal. I dont know why I am fixed on that weight. I guess because I remember how good I felt after reaching that weight when I used to weight more. I can see what you mean about measurements instead of scales, because I notice I've seen the change in my weight since I have hit the 20/21 year old mark.

I was afraid that I may be yo yo dieting. I tried to put in some figures and the lowest calorie intake is 1200 I should be eating, and weight loss for 0.5-2 pounds a week. I thought maybe it could be the foods I am choosing too. Instead of going for mostly startch, I really need to focus on adding more fruits and veggies into my diet. I am really good about ordering healthy salads when we go out to eat.

soniadelgada - I am good about watching what I eat, but maybe I do get too much starch in my diet at times. I will try to add more water for my diet. I try to have one of those fiber bars every day (by Kellogs is one of them with 9g of fiber in a bar, with only 130 calories). I am beginning to add more fruits and veggies too. This morning I had one of those bars with several blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries (which also has fiber). For lunch I may have a salad with some egg for added protein. Then for dinner is left over lasagna from last night (made with cheese and ground turkey)... and I do watch the size portion on the plate.

I use a mini stepper up to 4 times a week. I consider it good cardio since I work up my heart beat and break a sweat. I am on my feet a lot at work but I dont feel like I move around that much (not like I did on my job as a teenager when I lost the weight then).

I wouldnt want to be below 115 pounds. I can see how you can relate being close to my height too. I will explore some more on the site. Thanks for your reply. :-)

If you've tried extremely low calorie diets without succes to me this is saying that maybe 123 is your natural weight. You were 115 at 20 years old and our bodies definitely change around those years. I would just watch the scales sporadically for increased weight gain and eat at maintenance level. Trying to lose weight with your stats might just be another yo yo attempt and do more damage to your metabolism. Develop a weight training regimin and do cardio a few times a week to improve the body you have, I would say to watch what you eat but don't "diet" to lose weight, you don't need to. That's just my opinion though :) If you need support or have questions you can pm me :)

I'm 5'4" too, but I'm 44 years older than you are.  123 to 127 was my adult weight until the age of 40 when menopause hit.  In high school I weighed 100 pounds and felt glad when I finally "filled out."  I guess a nice figure isn't considered an asset now. 

You say you work out, and I'm thinking that you've gained good, solid muscle.  Muscle is more compact than fat and makes you look trim and fit.  It also burns calories, so you can eat more to maintain your weight. 

Don't fret over a few pounds - you continued to grow after high school.  Your bones alone became heavier as they took on adult form.  We leave childhood behind when we're in our 20s, and part of that is growing in a healthy way.

Good luck in accepting your weight.

Use the weight machines at the gym or some hand weights or risistance bands.  Your weight might actually go up just a little but muscle weighs more and you will actually look a little leaner if that is what is bothering you.  A woman's fitness magazine can actually give you some really good suggestions on where to start or visit with a personal trainer.  I always saw the most dramatic and quickest results with the weight machines at the gym...this requires the least amount of time, work for the greatest results.  Remember, shart with 8-10 reps and 1 set of light weights and add a little more whenever it gets easy.  Do a little cardio before and stretch before and after weights...check into yoga to really learn how to stretch out the muscles.  Also 2-3 times a week on weights is all that is necessary and always rest a day in between weight workouts. 

If you have some trouble areas you don't like.  Focus on the weight work for those areas and see what you think.  There is actually no way to spot reduce stubborn spots like thighs or the upper arms if you don't see results with weights short of a little liposuction at the plastic surgeon's.  fyi:  Sometimes the lipo will actually leave a dimpled effect and fill back in with fat. 

If you are getting comments from your significant other...some people cannot be satisfied with anyone else's appearance and actually derive pleasure from criticism.  Ask if he or she would be a workout buddy if they are so perfect.  Your weight is far from a harm to your health (very normal range) and their comments are not meant as a concern for your health.  IMO  Check out a calculator on shape or women's fitness for suggested weigh ranges for your height and rest assured that you are okay.  You will become more comfortable with your appearance as you age and the criticism will bother you less...take comfort in that from someone who is older.      

Just do the weight machines a little like I described above for 8 weeks and see what you think...I think you will be pleased.  Women usually don't look like an olympic weight lifter unless you really want to and use steroids. 

You also might not be eating enough and your body thinks you are starving and slows down your metabolism...you can actually gain weight when that happens.  The increased muscle mass from weight training can actually speed up your metabolism and you will be able to eat more than someone who doesn't lift weights a little.