How much should I be eating?

ivy_h_c

I'm 14 years old, 107 lbs, 5'3 and very active. I normally have gymnastics for about 9-10 hours a week. I'd like to be a little thinner but I know I technically don't need to lose weight. MFP recommends me I think 1600 cal. to lose 0.5 per week, but I usually get an extra 800 cal. or so back from exercising. However, I usually only eat 1200 or so. At least for the last couple days. I'm kinda borderline anorexic, and I'm a little afraid to eat. I've talked to my parents about it though. My coach is out of town right now, and so we have two weeks off practice, and we really can't gain weight on a break. So mainly I have two questions. Should I be eating back the calories I get from exercising, and how many calories should I be eating? Sometimes I get dizzy or weak during the day, so I'm pretty sure I need to eat more. Sometimes I'm just not hungry, sometimes I don't want to eat, sometimes I'm busy, and sometimes I'm just to lazy to dig around for food. I don't really know what I'm asking here, but I guess I need a little help.
Thanks so much!

ashleearoha

I think you should ask your parents if you can see a nutritionist or someone who will give you a meal plan to suit your high activity levels and something that will support your needs as a growing teenager. I think you will get a lot of people saying "omg go see a doctor for your own sake" but I get where you are coming from and I know I feel way better about my nutrition if I can follow a plan tailored to my needs. I don't think you should focus on losing weight at all. You sound like a really active person and seriously need to support a growing body too, good luck

ivy_h_c

Ok thanks (:

SexyKatherine73

you're at the low end of your healthy weight range, so you don't need to diet

xsmilexforxmex

ashleearoha wrote: »

I think you should ask your parents if you can see a nutritionist or someone who will give you a meal plan to suit your high activity levels and something that will support your needs as a growing teenager. I think you will get a lot of people saying "omg go see a doctor for your own sake" but I get where you are coming from and I know I feel way better about my nutrition if I can follow a plan tailored to my needs. I don't think you should focus on losing weight at all. You sound like a really active person and seriously need to support a growing body too, good luck

I'm going to agree with this. You definitely need to be eating more for your health, especially if you get dizzy throughout the day, and probably should speak with your parents regarding being afraid to eat so they can get you help before it turns into full Anorexia or Bulimia.

ana3067

You're too young to use this website, and don't need to lose weight. Consider trying sparkteens instead.

wrightr1996

If you do the maths you're only giving yourself 400 net calories a day which is beyond starvation for someone of your activity level...

Yes you should be eating back the calories from exercise, and you need WAY more than 1600 calories a day net if you want to maintain your health. You are currently damaging your metabolism (nothing that can't be fixed with more food) pretty severely. You should not have to worry about counting calories at your age at all, in fact. I would suggest you go see a nutritionist for more specific advice but yes, you are severely under-eating and you may want to nip this in the bud before it can become an eating disorder.

999tigger

MFP is for over 18. The reason is that young people are growing and developing so they have different requirements. You need to eat enough to give yourself the correct nutrition and be fit and healthy. If you are bordering on anorexic, then that is not good. Please talk to your parents, coach and doctor so you dont develop an eating disorder or form an unhealthy relationship with food.

You can also look at the site sparkteens.com , which is a site especially for teens. They can answer your questions there.

lynn1982

You're 14 and admit to being "borderline anorexic." You should bring this up with your parents.

ivy_h_c

Thank you all so much. I have talked about this to my parents, multiple times, and to youth leaders. My mom and I have talked in detail, actually. I will check out spark teens. Unfortunately, we don't really have any extra money for a nutritionist. Also, my dizziness may or may not be related to my eating habits, as I was having some other medical issues (low blood pressure, low iron) besides. And unfortunately, I can't really talk to my doctor, because first of all, he doesn't take me seriously, and second, we live in Canada, where you have to wait forever for an appointment. But thank you all again, I really appreciate it.

lynn1982

So...I have low blood pressure and low iron. And I live in Canada. Please talk to your doctor about these things - both can be controlled with diet and supplements if needed. I also have an autoimmune disorder that causes my blood pressure to drop suddenly when I stand in addition to generally low BP and low iron. I need to be very careful in my diet (much of this was through trial and error, not through a nutritionist - the internet can be your friend here), but I also take sodium tablets and iron pills because of it (as prescribed by my doctor). PLEASE make an appointment with your GP. If you don't have one or have to wait too long, go to a walk in clinic. Both are covered by the government (OHIP if you're in Ontario). Get your iron levels tested. These things can get under control.

If your parents have any type of extended health benefits, see if they have benefits for a nutritionist or naturopath. Depending on what is causing your dizziness, either might be able to help. Also, if your doctor refers you, I believe a registered dietician is also covered. And there shouldn't be much of a wait for these things...

ivy_h_c

The doctor did give me pills for low iron. They helped a little, but not a lot. My dad is a nurse, and he's the one that said I have low blood pressure. My dad actually says that our GP is a "wing-nut", but we can't get in to see a different one, at least not right away. The doctor took my blood pressure, and he said it was normal, but my dad was there when the doctor checked it, and my dad said it was low. The doctor also took an A1C and several other tests to rule out diabetes, gluten allergies, low sodium, asthma... the list goes on. I think I got 7 blood tests done in total. However, the doctor did give us a referral to a pediatrition (don't know how to spell it - sorry!) but we're still waiting for the referral to get through. Also, I just remembered, one time my left side peripheral vision went almost totally black, and actually couldn't see my hand if I put it right in front of my eye. This was at gymnastics, and I told my coach, who panicked a little and told me to take a break. This happened (on varying degrees) several times. I have no idea if it's related or not, but I just thought I'd bring it up. Thanks again.
P.S. I did get on spark teens, and I'm planning on deleting my account on this website soon.