Weight Loss

Alright, so I've been trying to loose weight for the past...six months (I'm sixteen and 129 pounds). I haven't lost any inches, I haven't lost any pounds (in fact, I've gained pounds, from working out and building muscle). I haven't been intaking very many calories, just around the minimum, probably. I have a really, really, really reeeeaaallly slow metabolism, probably one of the slowest I know of. I can hardly eat anything without gaining weight, and lately it seems to have gotten worse. I've always been a healthy eater - I can't eat candy (it's gross), I haven't eaten fast food in years, I haven't drank a soda in years (I only drink water, tea, and orange juice), I eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, and overall I have a good diet. But combining this with a steady exercise plan, I haven't been able to loose any weight. I'd be at the gym for two hours, one hour, at least five days a week (when I can, with school things are busy so I sometimes miss a day but not often). But I never lost any weight (or inches! which is actually my goal; I'm not too concerned about actual weight because I know I will gain pounds from muscle anyway - actually, I think I've been slowly gaining inches). So I'm beginning to think that I need to eat even less calories, because I'm just not thinning down. My friend, however, has been doing the same thing as me - we both decided to loose weight together - and has lost so much weight it's not even funny. She started out bigger than me and now she's smaller than me. Me? I think I've gotten bigger. And she eats really unhealthily. So this is just weirding me out day after day - what more can I do? I honestly don't believe that I need a minimum of 1200 calories a day, because my body holds in food for a really, really long time. I have in my stomach in the evening the food I ate in the morning. So, it's really gross to eat when you already have food in your stomach. I end up feeling bloated alot because of this. Sometimes when I eat a full-sized meal I can feel the calories going straight to my thighs and arms (which is how I can tell if I've eaten too much).

So I guess I'm asking for advice on what to do. Should I be eating less? I honestly think that what the average person is supposed to eat is just too much for my body to handle. Like the people that have to eat a ton to maintain a normal weight, I think I have to eat less to maintain mine, and even less to loose weight. This isn't really hard to believe for me, because my body has already shown some strange qualities - like the fact that even with my really healthy diet and regular exercise, I have a really high cholesterol. It's not because of my weight, because even when I was thin I had a really high cholesterol. It's so strange even the doctors are baffled by it. So I suppose I need some opinions.

In reference to not having your thyroid test done because your doctor couldn't get a blood sample: I am a phlebotomist (a person who draws blood for a living), and I can tell you that a phlebotomist is who should be doing your blood draw if you have rolling veins. Doctors generally don't have a lot of practice at the proceedure, and nurses are generally better but not the best. All that phlebotomists do is draw blood. We have it down pat. We can hit rolling veins. Ask for a phlebotomist next time. Good luck following up on your medical concerns.

Maybe you're still growing. I didn't stop growing until I was almost 18. I made my full height at 16 (5'7") but my body filled out from the ages of 15-17 and pretty much stopped when I was 18. I was at 135lbs. I was very active (min two hours a day; I was doing sports) and ate decent, but I too never lost weight. I 'weighed' more than my some of my friends but was thinner. I had 'full' breasts and butt, but was generally thin.

Your body needs more food since you're most likely still growing. I wouldn't expect to lose weight but to maintain it as your body fills out, just eat and work out to maintain what you got. Eventually as your body matures then you will be able to burn excess calories that your body will no longer need. I think the reason your body retains the 'weight' your eating is it is problably storing it for later because you're not eating enough. I say eat more and keep working out.

How many times a day do you eat? What do your meals look like? It is also possible that you are not meant to weigh less than 129.  I tend to weigh on the heavier side but I am not fat.  I am 135 5'4" and I wear a size 2-4 pants.....so maybe you just have a slightly larger frame than some of your friends.  I agree though with everyone here you are not eating enough. I also have a slow metabolism that comes from years of overly restrictive starvation type diets BUT I am on the road to putting it right, by eating 5-6 small meals a day that are extremely well balanced.  And, I eat between 1400-1700 cals a day and I am 37 years old so my body is far less efficient at burning cals than yours.  You really need to accept that your body is going to change as you get older. You may be developing more curves now that you are getting older and that is totally normal for a young woman.  Please get your thyroid checked first to make sure that you don't have a medical condition. If it is normal than eat a minimum of 1800 cals per day, eat 5-6 small meals a day and exercise (combo weights/cardio) 3-5 times per week and don't weigh yourself. Instead take a tape measure and measure yourself and/or get your body fat tested.  Use that as your measuring guide. The scale can be deceptive especially if you are putting on muscle and or developing a more curvy shape.  Good luck to you.

I have several things to say.

1. Just because you have not grown for a few years does not mean that you are done growing.  I was told I was done growing at 15, and then at 18 I all of a sudden grew another 2 inches.  Your body could be trying to hold on to weight to prepare for a growth suprt.

2. a pound of muscle takes up much less room than a pound of fat.   You could be quite healthy and thin at this weight. 

3.  You said you just wanted to be fit.  Fitness is independent of being skinny.  If you are exercising as much as you say you are, you are fit.

4. Im sure you can find many posts on these boards talking about recovering from anorexia.  I am NOT saying that you have an eating disorder, but people who are not eating enough will often gain weight at first on very little.  If they continue to up their calories, then the weight loss slows and reverses.  You may want to eat more for an extended period of time.

5. We are not doctors.  We're trying to help you, but really, a doctor or nutritionist is the only one who can tell you how much you should be eating.  They could also help you with a weight loss program.

Good luck!

maybe your body is at the weight its supposed to be, if you are concerned about losing weight that much go see a nutritionist, or up your physical activity, if you just want to magically lose weight its not going to happen, and if you are already active, then thats good, but if you keep doing the same exercises day after day, then your body is used to it and you are working the same muscles so it wont have any affect, you have to switch it up every four weeks, and I mean dont just switch one thing, switch the whole routine dont be eating less because as everyone says your body goes into conservation mode, and your body can handle the calories, maybe its just you that cant handle them, but either way its okay. have you been checked for diabetes? aand you should probably get your thyroid check again, hope this helps, and good luck :)

I read on here that you're 16 but want to get back to the weight you were 2 years ago, which would be at 14. Like the others have said, you're growing. Even if you feel you have stopped, you still are & will continue to for a few more years yet.

I mean if you were 14 would you want to be the same weight you were at 12!?!

hey helloandgoodbye... I think you should go see a doctor, and explain to him your concerns and everything you have posted here. Most likely they might do some tests and they might include needles, but it would all be for the better? :)

A doctor can tell you more than what we would know here, and some people are a little more biased than others. Most likely the doctor will give you some medication or some other things.. I personally don't like medication or pain killers or anything like that.. it's just not natural, but it might help you with your slow metabolism or any other problems that they might come up with. I really wish you the best of luck, and I hope they figure out something to do if you do go see a doctor.

I've heard that some people really experience good benefits with a vegan type diet or raw foods diet? I don't really know but considering bread doesn't seem to like your stomach you could try a raw foods diet? but just make sure you try it informed in case you do think about trying it...

again good luck and good health to you in the future :)