Possible Anorexia/Undereating Problem

Hi Poiven, a lot of people are worried about their BMI, which is just the ratio between their height and weight. This number is important to doctors, but these numbers can't tell you how much fat is on your body. A BMI chart will have a bodybuilder as being obese, when he or she isn't.

Don't track your body fat percentage, track your body fat percentage. You can be obese on the BMI chart and healthy on the bodyfat chart.

You can afford it, buy either a body fat scale that also shows your bmi or buy the body fat handheld monitor that show the bmi too. You will see the difference between your body fat percentage number and bmi.

You can find a body fat percentage chart online that shows you range.

Here is a link, you can copy to see a body fat percentage chart. http://weightlossbase.org/wp-content/uploads/Body_Fat_Percentage.jpg.

hi there,

1000 calories is extreme for an 18 year old male. as you are still growing, you need those calories to build muscle. i think it depends what your goals are - if you want to slim down, you should be in a calorie deficit, but it should not be that low. i used fat2fitradio.com (http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/) to look at what they would suggest if you wanted to maintain your current weight...and the calculator there says you should be able to eat 2200 calories (at a sedentary level) and maintain your weight. of course, you don't need to jump to that number all at once, but you could gradually increase your calories. you are not getting enough food to your body.

in my opinion, 165 for a 5'11 male is a perfectly healthy weight. if you want to put on muscle, you definitely need to increase your calories and weight training. right now, you're not eating enough to build any muscle. speaking from personal experience, i started losing weight faster when i started upping my calorie intake (i'm still playing around with the numbers). not only that, but my mood became so much more positive and i just felt more energy.

if you're worried about being able to eat more calories, add nuts to your diet. great way to get in healthy fats and calories.

good luck!

I would suggest you go and talk to a good nutritionist. I find they are very eager to guide you as to what you need to do to achieve a healthy body. Good Luck :flowerforyou:

You need to be taking in no less than 1400 calories a day after workout. I have a problem eating back my burned calories. But we are about the same height but I weigh 192 and I take in over 1900 calories a day. If you don't eat enough your body will store fat instead of burn it. And as far as your weight with your height that actually seems about right.

If you're concerned about possible anorexia, you should see a doctor or therapist right away.
As a layperson, 1000 calories a day for a guy your height, seems very low.

I agree! Especially if you are working out on top of that! You should see a doctor but until you get an appt you should try to at MINIMUM get over 1200 calories per day. I can't see your food diary so I can't give specifics but if you are just not hungry try drinking some calories with protien shakes and smoothies... Hope that help until you can see a doctor!

assuming your an active person 1200 still isnt even enough. males should be eating a minimum of 1400 per day. again... assuming you are active you will still like 1.5-2lbs a week which is still a lot .

Hey, i would like to add my 2 cents. Its only a problem if you think its a problem. It all really depends on your Goals, what current shape your in. What your trying to achieve etc etc.

1. 1000 cals is quite low, i am 6ft 150 pounds, very low body fat but my waist is very porportionate to my hight, i am currently eating 1000 cals a day because i am cutting as much fat as i possible can in the next 3 week ( see there is a purpose)

2. Aslong as you are getting enough protein, carbs and fats the minimum any guy ccan eat is as low as 800 a day. why not go to the docter and see if your nutrient deficient. i can almost guarantee your probably not. if you are, take a multivitamin or eat something that high in that nutrient. aslong as you are weight training you will not lose muscle mass, muscle mass becomes and energy source one someone gets become a really really low body fat around the 6% mark and you have to be REALLY ripped to get to that state.

3. its not fun eating 1000 a day there is so much good food you can be eating and still be losing fat if that is your goal. along as its all within reason and your not doing it as punishment.

figure out your bmr - eat less than it to lose fat, eat more to gain fat. its all about calories in vs calories out
like i said i know im 6 ft i can eat approx 1800 cals a day, i eat 1000 and work my *kitten* off in the gym and i am fine i normaly get atleast 1200-1400- when i am generaly dieting but i recomend 1000 cals as very low and shouldnt be done anymore than 2 weeks at MAX for a major cut down. then return back to 12-1400 for a week or 2 and continue the process till you are at the desired body shape.

once there you can then eat maintenance again! Hope this helps!

i highly recommend you do some reading up on

Rusty Moore Fitness black book
Brad Pilon - Eat stop eat
John Barban - Adonis lifestyle. these guys are fantastic for information regarding muscle building fat loss and what you need to be looking out for.

Hi

I sympathize since I am new to this myself. I have noticed that most days I am way under my calorie intake too. I have never been a big eater and I am trying to eat more so that I don't go into starvation mode which it keeps warning me about and slowing my metobolism. I eat when I am hungry sometimes that can be hours before I eat another meal. So I wish I had an answer maybe you should talk to your doctor or a dietician.

eat some peanut butter, great way to get cals up.

BMI is BS.

I'm 5'5" and 153#. That puts me at a BMI of 25.5, which is considered overweight. I've always been stocky, my shoulders are 42 on a 5'5" frame....

However, last time I checked my body fat % I was at 15.3%. I'm aiming for 12%, but 15.3 is considered 'fitness' for me.

I've been marathon training for months now and letting the resistance training lax, so I've gotten a little noodly. I've recently started strength training again, and I actually expect to GAIN weight and REDUCE body fat. And I'm happy about that.

so IMHO.... F*$k BMI. And like other posters have said, do what makes you feel healthy. If you feel unhealthy about what you're doing than change it. If you need help changing it, there are a ton of medical and therapeutic resources available.

Some ED resources:
http://www.something-fishy.org/
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/