Weight loss for highschool athlete

jmmccauley18

I am a highschool athlete. I currently am running cross country (6 days a week, 30+ miles), playing soccer (3-4 practices a week), and swimming (just to keep my technique up for when season starts, 1-2 days a week). I eat just under 1200 calories the average day, which is less than I used to, and usually have a calorie deficit of 700 to 1000. I haven't checked my weight for a few days, but I just feel fat and flabby. I weigh 130ish and am 5'6", and I think I'm a lot bigger than any of the other girls on the cross country team. I also have pretty broad shoulders and long arms. When I see pictures of myself or my reflection, it honestly disgusts me. I want to lose weight and get faster, and I'm trying to do it in a careful way and avoid injury. Why do I feel/look so flabby and fat right now? Am I going to start looking slimmer and losing more weight soon? I'd love to get down to 115 or 120. I really don't want to sacrifice performance, though, because my times have started to get much faster this season and I want to keep my varsity spot and keep improving. I feel terrible when I get to the start line and am fatter than many of the girls there, I feel like bring skinnier could help give me more confidence and a better attitude when it comes to racing and life.

Unknown

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malibu927

Are either of you 18?

rybo

Being that active you should not be eating so little. I'd suggest talking to a school counselor.

iheartdinosaurs

Assuming you're 18...
I'm older now (28) but I was pretty much you in highschool (plus about 25 pounds). I swam 2-3 hours a day year-round, and did dry land conditioning and weight training on the side. I was ALWAYS bigger than the other girls on my team. I know that FEELING of being fat/flabby in my mind compared to others - but looking back, I was hella fit, with only a tiny amount of padding. I just happened to be built more like a tank at the time than my teammates. It's hard - and it took me years to finally realize and accept my body and be proud and excited of the strength I had and what my body could accomplish. I work on it every day still. It's much easier to say now, but please try to not compare your body with the other girls.

Please, please, please talk to your doctor. Maybe you can see a sports nutritionist or dietician. In my very NOT-medically trained opinion, if you are truly eating the calories you say you are, it is likely not close enough to what your body needs for growing and for the athletics you are doing. And, per my experience, it WILL affect your athletic performance. Don't try to do this on your own!

kshama2001

1200 calories is no where nearly enough for someone your age, height, and activity level. I'm also 5'6", am almost 50 years old, and lose on 1500 calories before exercise.

Rather than dieting, try getting the body you desire from lifting weights. Being stronger will help your performance as well.

Checkout The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess which was available through my library system, so perhaps yours as well.

I just saved the picture for this; maybe someone has a link to the article?



https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/



Believe it or not, she’s 11 pounds HEAVIER (142 pounds) in the picture on the right (May 2011) compared to the picture on the left (131 pounds, October 2010).

So what the hell happened? How the heck does she look like she weighs less even though she weighs more?

She packed on the right kind of weight while getting rid of the wrong kind.

When you strength train with very heavy weights for low numbers of repetitions, you build incredibly DENSE, tight muscle. It’s funny, but if you really want that toned look in your legs, stomach, and arms – picking up small weights and doing lots of repetitions isn’t doing anything – it’s really heavy weights with low repetition that will sculpt the body you’re after.

kshama2001

Also, what’s your frame size? http://www.myfooddiary.com/Resources/frame_size_calculator.asp

I have a large frame and used to get teased in school about my big feet and calves. My big feet turned out to be a real asset for yoga. I no longer compare myself to other women and have been dating tall men for years - am now engaged to someone a foot taller than me.

jdb3388

TL:DR
If you are in high school, the very best thing in the world you can do for your body is join the wrestling team. Even if you're terrible at wrestling or you don't ever actually get to compete in the tournaments, its the practice that will rip the pounds off of you.

Packerjohn

Assuming you're 18 talk to the coach and/or strength and conditioning coach at your school for some help.

Wheelhouse15

Packerjohn wrote: »

Assuming you're 18 talk to the coach and/or strength and conditioning coach at your school for some help.

Exactly, you seem to be under eating and that can cause fueling issues in your running. You need to work with your coach on a plan to optimize your performance.