[Oreata]

Hey Everybody -

So, I have to admit that I am quite nervous about posting here - for a couple of reasons, which I will explain in a moment. However, I will start with a little about myself. So my name is not Sunny, but please do call me that - is a a beloved nickname - I am 23 years old (on Monday), and I'm obsessed with all things creative and I love to travel.

So, while my struggle with weight began when I was about 10 years old, I was a able to maintain decent weight until about 21, when I went off my ADHD meds and my body just spiraled out of control. In a matter of months (probably December - April) I put on about 45 lbs, and developed allergies to both Lactose and Gluten. It took me till April to figure out my newly developed allergies my health improved, and the change in my diet caused me to loose approx. 15 lbs (I didn't have a weight scale haha).

And then to my frustration I got stuck - no matter what I did I couldn't loose what I'd gained. I picked up kickboxing and yoga - tried to eat even better than before (but I struggled with binging and impulsive eating A LOT). I was stuck there for about another year, which brings us to last August. Another change in Medication and I lost about 7 lbs between then and November - at which point I thought "this is as good as its going to get" I was eating way better, less binging and impulsiveness, exercising at least every other day (usually). I gave up. Then In April, I was dealing with some stuff and decided to go on a partial fast. I wasn't allowed to eat meat, dairy, certain grains (white rice, wheat...bread, pasta...etc) just fruits, veggies, nuts, a couple of grains...the very basic stuff. And all of a sudden I lost 7 lbs in 10 days. I was SHOCKED. I had resolved myself to believe I was "too old" to weigh what I thought I should (according to height, weight charts haha).

So I stopped and looked at what I had changed 1. no cheese. 2. significantly less carbs 3. less chocolate. I had already been eating a very lower sugar (except fruit, chocolate is the only junk food I allowed myself to eat...). Since then I have tweaked my diet again - only dark chocolate every so often. I no longer snack on cheese, and try to eat it only in meals where there are little to no carbs. And third, I have significantly lowered my carbolic intake - and I am trying to make sure I get my carbs in the morning so I have energy through the day when I need it - but other than that I'm trying to be low carb. And it has been working! I have lost another 12 lbs!

Which brings me to my nervousness - even before all this weight loss people would hear how much hear how much I weighed, and say "that is not that much - you do not need to/shouldn't loose any." Which I knew I did (maybe they were being "nice"?) My highest weight was about 157 lbs - a weight I know a lot of people who would love to be that weight - and that is awesome, every person is different!

Which brings me to my second bit of nervousness - if you go back and calculate how much I've lose you can figure out that I'm sitting at about 106 lbs - less than I was before I gained. Which Im thrilled about - I didnt think that would ever happen again - so why am I hear? Haha....well a couple of reasons....1) I wanted to join a group like this to help before all this happened...I just didnt....2)It will be helpful to have people that are constantly working to maintain...and encourage.

And 3, this is where I get really nervous...I don't think I'm quite done. I by no means consider myself to be a big person anymore - but I don't think my body is where it should be yet. I'm not unhappy with where I am - I'm beyond thrilled - I never ever thought I'd get here. People usually look at my number and think "she should not loose anything!" - but I am SMALL. Ridiculously petite. I'm about 5'2" inches - and while they say the lowest weight a person who is 5'2" should be is 108, I am continually frustrated that people don't consider bone structure. My bone structure is ridiculously slight - I've done research to try and figure out what exactly is an acceptable weight for someone of my height and structure...and I do not fit on the "small" charts, from what I can understand, but there is so little information out there....I just don't know.

So at this point, I don't have a goal, - I have no need to be a certain size of clothing, or a certain number...I don't intend to have a goal because I have no idea what is actually healthy for me given my size and all I really want to be is the weight my body was designed to be. I know I am not there yet...but I have no idea what "there" is....oy vey...

So...I am not sure how I will fit here, but we all have similar goals...and I am most certainly on the tail end of my journey...my goal here is just to learn about eating for size, learning how to be healthy, and encouraging others.

I am really curious to potentially do some research on "eating for your height, weight, and bone structure" bone structure experiment would be interesting - and if there is any information on here about that - I would love to read it.

Wow...that was long...anyone still here?

[ValRock]

Welcome!!

Have you considered strength training? If you're already underweight for your height... I would stop trying to continue to lose weight and see if you can improve your fitness level.

Best of luck to you!

[Oreata]

Thank you for the welcome!

Sorry - I forgot to mention what exercise stuff I've picked up in the last year. I have picked up kickboxing, some running (on the treadmill), weight lifting and yoga..I need variety to keep at it - or else I don't do anything.

I don't believe I am underweight - which is the point i was trying to make - I still believe I've got 10 - 15 lbs more to loose...but I am always hesitant to say (or try to do it) because people freak out at the numbers - and I struggle to find numbers that work for extra slight people. Generally speaking, normally active people of my height could be between 108-124lbs (I have read anywhere from 102 - 143 thought...these general charts also don't take age in consideration, unless your a teen) to be considered "normal" - though from my research I know this is not always the case. I've done A LOT of research. I honestly think people need to pay a lot more attention to bone structure/frame size...and I've become quite frustrated that there isn't more out there about it. For example...you calculate your frame size by measuring your elbow...for example....people of my height with an elbow breadth of 1 1/2 inch - 2 1/4 inch are considered to be small framed, if I understand correctly and have accurate information. My elbow is closer to an inch - and the rest of my body follows suit.

There are so many varieties in the human body - and each person has there own right - it ridiculous to expect two people of the same height to have the same goal weight when we are all built so different...

So I am already quite active...though I had surgery a couple weeks ago and am limited at the moment...though extremely eager to get back into it...

[ValRock]

I understand what you're saying.

The point I was trying to make is that while a 'skinnyfat' 108 may not look the way you want it to... a muscular 108 probably would. In the last year I've stayed basically the same weight but have dropped nearly 3 pant sizes, just by lifting heavy weights. It makes a HUGE difference in body composition.

[Oreata]

Oh I agree completely...I thought I'd said that I'm not sure about loosing weight any more - as I don't know what that would mean - it could mean loosing fat building muscle...I'm not looking for the number to change if it does it does, if it doesnt it doesnt.

which is why I feel kind of odd joining here...since I'm really on the tail end of all this.

[healthyginger]

I started yoyoing at about your age and have gone up to 278 pds. when I started 40 yrs ago there was no such thing as group support in my small southern town. Certainly no internet. I applaud your coming here for maintaining . Stick with it. Youd be surprised how it will help you by sharing your story and ongoing struggles.Oh, yeah as a 5'2 107pd teen I felt fat next to all those 5-5'3 95 pounders at my cajun filled school (Most were tiny back then)So yeah I do understand your problem.