Weight loss concern

stellaella22
stellaella22 Posts: 10 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I’ve been wanting to lose weight for as long as I can remember. At the end of summer I started eating really well and working out a few times a week (mostly HIIT). I went from 137lbs to 104.4. Basically, I’ve never had a nice body frame and most of my fat was in my upper body (not my boobs though). I’ve been at a caloric deficit eating roughly 1200 calories a day. I’m 5’1 and pretty new at this whole fitness thing. I’ve lost a lot of fat ,however I have about five pounds of fat left on my stomach. The number keeps going down and I’m getting concerned because it’s so low.People are saying I’m starting to look bony. My eyes have sunken in and I have zero leg fat to the point where when I sit down on the solid floor my butt bones hurt. I don’t know what to do now. Is it time for me to start maintaining my weight or increase my calories? What do you recommend in terms of working out and building up strength and muscle? Is it even possible to lose this belly fat while I’m trying to build muscle (primarily in my lower body)?

Replies

  • JessAndreia
    JessAndreia Posts: 540 Member
    I'm sure others will advise to lift weights (which will help a little), so I will just say that a little bit of stomach fat might be something you just have to accept.
    I hold on to most of my body fat in my waist area. Never been overweight. Accidentally got down to 109 pounds at 5'7 due to depression/anxiety a while ago, and still had a bit of belly fat. Even when I was an extremely active kid/teenager (and had people call me skinny all the time), I remember still having that little bit of belly fat.

    Not saying you care or should care what others think, but just a small side note: From experience, I promise you you're noticing your stomach fat more than other people. Chances are other people aren't noticing it and if they do it looks nowhere near as "bad" from their perspective.
  • MsBaz2018
    MsBaz2018 Posts: 384 Member
    If you hold on to weight in your stomach area it's just something you'll have to accept. We are all shaped so differently

    And as someone already said: you are probably noticing your stomach more than others are.

    Congrats on your weight loss!
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,373 Member
    How are you measuring the fat on stomach? Are you standing up or sitting down?
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    And check out this thread: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10689837/does-this-uterus-make-my-stomach-look-fat
  • stellaella22
    stellaella22 Posts: 10 Member
    Forgot to mention I also lost my period. It’s been about 4 months. I’m usually irregular but not to this extent. Could this be an indicator of anything?
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    stellaella22 wrote: »
    Forgot to mention I also lost my period. It’s been about 4 months. I’m usually irregular but not to this extent. Could this be an indicator of anything?

    Yes, this can happen to people who are underweight. You need to see your doctor.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    stellaella22 wrote: »
    Forgot to mention I also lost my period. It’s been about 4 months. I’m usually irregular but not to this extent. Could this be an indicator of anything?

    That's concerning and worth a visit to your doctor. The most likely culprit is the weight loss and/or working out. This is your body's way of telling you it is too stressed to support a pregnancy.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    stellaella22 wrote: »
    Forgot to mention I also lost my period. It’s been about 4 months. I’m usually irregular but not to this extent. Could this be an indicator of anything?

    That indicates you aren't getting enough nutrition to menstruate.
  • JessAndreia
    JessAndreia Posts: 540 Member
    stellaella22 wrote: »
    Forgot to mention I also lost my period. It’s been about 4 months. I’m usually irregular but not to this extent. Could this be an indicator of anything?

    On top of not eating enough, are you eating too low-fat? Like 15% or less of your calories from fat? Not
    eating enough fat can lead to women losing their period even when they're eating enough calories.

    Increase your calories, and eat more fat (at least 20% of your calories) if you're avoiding it.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    stellaella22 wrote: »
    Forgot to mention I also lost my period. It’s been about 4 months. I’m usually irregular but not to this extent. Could this be an indicator of anything?

    You think?
  • stellaella22
    stellaella22 Posts: 10 Member
    I went to the doctors and this lady said that I have nothing to worry about. I think she doesn’t feel like she can offer that type of medical advice. I got an ultrasound and they said everything was fine. So at this point I feel like the symptoms can be mere coincidences, maybe I should seek other professional help to find out the details of the situation? I just don’t want to make false assumptions.
  • puffbrat
    puffbrat Posts: 2,806 Member
    stellaella22 wrote: »
    I went to the doctors and this lady said that I have nothing to worry about. I think she doesn’t feel like she can offer that type of medical advice. I got an ultrasound and they said everything was fine. So at this point I feel like the symptoms can be mere coincidences, maybe I should seek other professional help to find out the details of the situation? I just don’t want to make false assumptions.

    Get a second opinion and mention all of the potential signs you have listed here and any others you haven't. Be sure to mention that you are specifically concerned about these being related to low weight.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    stellaella22 wrote: »
    I went to the doctors and this lady said that I have nothing to worry about. I think she doesn’t feel like she can offer that type of medical advice. I got an ultrasound and they said everything was fine. So at this point I feel like the symptoms can be mere coincidences, maybe I should seek other professional help to find out the details of the situation? I just don’t want to make false assumptions.

    What lady? Often in big practices you get passed off from a nurse to a rad tech to another nurse and never see a doctor. If this lady wasn't the doctor, go back and ask to be seen by a doctor, or go somewhere else. If this was a Gynecology practice, go to a primary care doctor instead. In the meantime, I'd eat at maintenance for now until things settle down.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    First, I would bring your calories up to at least maintenance for a few weeks. Then, start strength training (full body compound lifts, or body weight to start). Gradually increase calories by 100 per day as you increase your lifting routine. I think a really small surplus or mini bulk might help you have more energy to lift and help you build strength and muscle.
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