Weird Body fat problem

Monogirl279
Monogirl279 Posts: 16 Member
edited December 3 in Health and Weight Loss
I work out and I can lift my body weight. I consider myself to be really healthy. I’m 22,5’6 and 108 lbs with a body fat of 12.8%. But honestly I don’t have a lot of definition and no abs at all. I would’ve guessed my body fat was 20% because that’s what I look like. Since three years ago when I first started training with my personal trainer (I was really really unfit then) my body fat started 14.4%. I’m really having trouble gaining body fat. I’m perfectly fine with the way I look but even with a high fat diet I can’t seem to gain body fat. Does anyone have this problem? My low body fat is making me uncomfortable because Im worried about when I get older I might lose my period or sth.
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Replies

  • mirrim52
    mirrim52 Posts: 763 Member
    You need to eat more calories. A high fat diet is fine if it makes you eat more calories, but if you are eating less than you burn, you will not gain weight no matter how much fat you eat. You are underweight for your height.
    Look for ways to add more calories to your diet. Things like full fat dairy, adding healthy oils to you cooking, etc. You might want to check out the "Gaining weight" section of the message boards.
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    Are you eating in a calorie surplus? You may find it helpful to track everything that you eat -- and weigh it -- just to make sure. Since you're underweight, eating more should help fix that, and increase your body fat percentage.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    How are you measuring your bodyfat? I'm suprised you have your period if you've been between 12-14% bodyfat for 3 years
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  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    edited December 2018
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    Also I’m not trying to gain weight so I’m not at a calorie surplus. I just have high fat macros

    Eating high fat (or anything else) doesn't inherently increase your body fat. In order to gain fat, you need a calorie surplus.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    Also I’m not trying to gain weight so I’m not at a calorie surplus. I just have high fat macros

    You can't gain body fat if you aren't eating in a calorie surplus.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    edited December 2018
    Yeah, you need to gain weight. How many calories per day do you eat? Honestly, you're close to causing yourself health problems, why not see a dietician and/or a doctor who can help you?

    If you are seeing yourself honestly, you must know that you need to gain weight. Muscles are built when eating in a surplus of calories. The body will use muscles as fuel (self-cannibalizing) when undernourished...so you can't hope to gain muscles when you aren't eating enough in general.

    It sounds like you aren't really seeing your body honestly, and that happens when you are malnourished - it becomes difficult to have healthy cognitive processes. I hope you'll reach out for some help. Are you in school? How about the school nurse or counselor?
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    edited December 2018
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    Really? So I can’t like keep my weight and increase body fat?

    Correct. You need to gain weight. You're underweight, and if you want to increase your body fat percentage, and preserve your bones and fertility, your focus needs to be on gaining weight and eating more.
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  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Yeah, you need to gain weight. How many calories per day do you eat? Honestly, you're close to causing yourself serious health problems, why not see a dietician and/or a doctor who can help you?
    How am I causing myself serious health problems....all my doctors think I’m very healthy.

    How many calories are you eating?
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  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    It’s my maintenance calories that my trainer and I worked out

    And your personal trainer told you to eat a high fat diet at maintenance to gain bodyfat?
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    Really? So I can’t like keep my weight and increase body fat?

    No. You need to gain. You are underweight and don't have enough muscle to lose (which I would not recommend) to increase your bodyfat.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited December 2018
    @Monogirl279, how old are you? Do you have any history of eating disorders?
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  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    A woman at 5'6" and 22 years old needs way more than 1500 calories per day.

    You are training? Do you have a job or go to school? I'd think you would maintain on something higher than 2000.
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  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    edited December 2018
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    I mean like I’m worried about being pregnant (If ever) it doesn’t mean I can’t be healthy even if I’m worried about future issues

    Then you need to take care of your health *now*.

    If you want to increase your fat percentage, you need to eat in a surplus. That's the only way it works. (OK, I take that back. You could also have muscle wasting, but you're going to hate how you look if you're less muscular than you are now.)

    Why are you averse to gaining to a normal weight?
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  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    Some people have the frames/muscle mass (or lack thereof) to be slightly underweight and still healthy. Sounds like that is you. But I'm proud of you for being proactive and looking to increase your body fat to slightly higher levels to protect your health. It may seem counterintuitive, but as others recommended, it would be beneficial to you both from a health perspective and aesthetics to gain some weight. Preferably while lifting weights which will help strengthen your bones. It may also give you the aesthetics you want without having to be at such a low weight.
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  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    collectingblues wrote: »
    Monogirl279 wrote: »
    I mean like I’m worried about being pregnant (If ever) it doesn’t mean I can’t be healthy even if I’m worried about future issues

    Then you need to take care of your health *now*.

    If you want to increase your fat percentage, you need to eat in a surplus. That's the only way it works. (OK, I take that back. You could also have muscle wasting, but you're going to hate how you look if you're less muscular than you are now.)

    Why are you averse to gaining to a normal weight?

    It’s just I like my weight. I’ve always been on the low range. It’s not like I have an eating disorder or something. Plus I have a lot of clothes and they all fit me at this size. I just don’t understand, I was never an athlete or an athletic person. It seems like people have trouble getting to my body weight as an athlete. It just seems funny to my that I have the opposite problem.

    I'll say to you what someone else said to me: What's more important: Your clothes or your health/fertility?

    If you want to increase your fat percentage, you need to eat more and gain weight. That means you might need to buy new clothes. You can still be slender and thin. You just won't be underweight anymore.

    Guess what? They still make cute clothes in a slightly larger size.

    Only you can decide what is more important to you.
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