Any One Else Out There??

Im typically 95 lbs, dropped back there too quickly to breastfeed as long as I'd wanted to. I find that working out (NOT CARDIO) helps. Some resistance training, maybe even weights if thats you're thing. I typically gain some appitite, put on muscle easily so i gain a little weight. If nothing else, you will tone up and not look "skinny" but athletic even if you dont add lbs to the scale

You might want to see an Endocrinologist. He/she would check your thyroid level and other hormone levels. Then, they could give you a better idea of if this is an OK state for your body to be in.

Hi S.,

I would suggest taking vitamins every day, not regular store bought vitamins but good ones, the kind that are absorbed by your body, the cheap vitamins don't realy work the way they are suppose to.
Exercise can help too, don't over do it, but some work out in the morning might get you hungry the rest of the day (Pilates can build muscle), try eating helathy but well, not necessary fatty or high calorie food will make you gain weight but rather feeling full and heavy.
Make sure you take your protein (beef) and carbohydrates (pasta/bread). Avoid fatty stuff like doughnuts or hamburguers and fry food.
Also it would be helpfull if you can learn to count calories, it is easy once you get to know the calories in each food group.
So you will be able to tell if you are burning more than getting in your body.
For example: If you burn 70 calories an hour just by sitting, you have to count 70 times the hours you spend sitting (probably not to much right?) Plus let say 150 calories/hour when walking and 250 running around? Do the sum and you'll get the number you burn through you day, then you have to ingest at least 100 calories more every day to be able to gain some weight.
You might be able to get calorie charts from the internet.
I also work for a health and wellness company that has an awesome program that you can follow and will help you achieve your goals by coaching you every day online with profesionals. We also carry great vitamins and the best of al is that they are less expensive than the regular kind.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope I gave you some of the tips that helped me!
Mariana Abadie
www.MyKidsFirst.com

I don't know that I'm going to be much help because I'm so much older than you are, but I've lived in those shoes all my life. And you're right, there aren't too many people to talk to about this, because nobody wants to hear the complaints of someone under 100lbs. On the other hand, I know several very thin women around here and, while they may not talk about this, I know it's a preoccupation for them. It's been so ever since the fashion industry made "tiny" beautiful.

I have a pair of shorts that a girlfriend passed to me when I was 17 because she couldn't get into them, and every year I take them out ceremonially to see if I can still get into them. This is the first year I cannot, and I am having a LOT of anxiety about it. I am very tiny and small-boned to start with - generally without dieting, excessive exercise or being "too thin", and have never considered myself anorexic. Still, being thin has been a huge part of my self-concept, and staying thin has, at times, been a preoccupation.

Now I'm in perimenopause, and my body is doing what women's bodies my age do - putting on weight. I'm fighting like a dog to stay under 100, and it takes a toll on my psyche.

I guess the one thing I did was to make sure I had extremely good nutrition. If you're not sure about healthy eating, learning would be my first priority. There's an excellent web site I've discovered called "World's Healthiest Foods," and it is a great educator on nutrition. It's at http://www.whfoods.com/. The second thing is sleep, since you mention your energy level. I think everyone has a minimum number of hours that leaves you feeling best, and once you figure that out, you should do your level best to make sure you get it.

On the good side, honestly - I am extremely healthy for my age. My own doctor can't believe my age. She attributes it to staying thin and very healthy eating.

If you ever want to talk about this, feel free to contact me.

Have you asked your doctor to test you for hypoglycemia? You probably just have a very fast metabolism, which you already know. But if you think there may be a medical reason for your slimness, be more firm with your doctor and insist that he run some tests. Also, how tall are you? Being under 100lbs isn't abnormal if you're very petite, maybe under 5'. I am 5'9" and I only weigh 125lbs. Your body naturally has a weight that it likes to be at so that's why it's hard to gain weight when you're not supposed to. Also, not to offend anyone, but I think in this part of the country, people on average are on the bigger side so when you're thin, you feel like you stick out a lot.
Overall, if you are healthy, it's ok to be thin but if, as you say, you don't feel energetic and healthy, I'd ask your doctor to run some tests.

Try drinking some protein shakes, or ensure drinks. Sometimes it's just a matter of building up some muscles. You can also eat more carbs (pasta, potatoes, bread, fruit) for more energy. I found that taking iron vitamins was helpful in gaining more energy, just don't take them on an empty stomach...yuck!

Good luck!
S.

You've gotten a lot of great supportive responses and helpful advice, S.! I just wanted to add my BTDT and say that you are not alone. I didn't reach a healthy weight until I was in my thirties. I think what helped me the most was that I found happiness. I stopped stressing about lots of things, including my weight, and focused on the happy aspects of my life like family and home. Once I stopped obsessing about it the pounds crept on. Getting older and becoming pregnant a second time helped, too. I'm now 37, 5'7" and weigh a comfortable 135 (25 lbs more than I did a few years back). I wish you well and send you tons of empathizing hugs for going through this with little support. It's a shame the fashion industry has made a stick thin figure so vogue that those of us who struggle to gain and want to be a healthy weight are laughed at when we complain.

ETA: I also wanted to add that you could try eating 5 times a day. Take a good fifteen minutes to sit down, relax and eat a small meal each time. Hopefully, your work isn't too busy and you can take a fifteen minute break in the midmorning and midafternoon. You don't have to eat a bunch of fattening foods, just make sure you are eating enough and getting large enough portions to consume about 2200 to 2500 calories daily.

S. - I spent all of my pre-pregnancy life at 103 or less. During pregnancy I got up to 157 pounds and went from sizes 0-3 to size 13! I have spent the last year struggling with the weight and set goals for myself. For example, I bought a nice pair of shoes the week after my son was born (a little over 13 months ago) and told myself that I would not wear them until I reached my goal weight of 120. I recently obtained that goal and my husband is taking me out in my new shoes tonight! My next goal is 115 - my reward: cheesecake. My advice is to set gaols for yourself and rewards that have meaning to you. The best way to get more energy and gain healthy weight is to exercise regularly, both cardio and weight training. Muscle weighs more than fat, so you'll gain weight, be fit, and have more energy. If you need a workout partner, let me know. I am currently devising a plan to get more fit...so eventually I can have that chesecake! Good luck.
-Letha W.

I know what you are going through. I was about 22 before I reached a weight I was comfortable with. Up to that point I always felt too skinny. I am about 5'4'' and I like being 110 lbs. I have been 5'4'' since I was about 12, but I was 18 before I reached 100 lbs. I have always wanted more "curve". After having two kid I have put on a little more weight and I want to loose just a little, but I used to be where you are.

Anyway, one thing that has always helped is exercise. Weight training helps give you shape and healthy looking muscle tone. Also, be sure you are getting enough protein. Protein helps build muscle and gives you energy.

One thing that helped me be more comfortable with my body was living in Portugal for a year. There were lot of smaller women there and the people had a wider view of what "sexy" is. Fat and skinny women showed off what they had. Here in the mid west curves are desired, but if you don't have them, you just don't have them.

Dress to show off what you do have.
I bet you have a very flat belly, so show if off a little. You don't have to show your belly, a tight fitting t-shirt is all it takes to show off a flat belly. Curvy or not you are a woman. Make a list of what you like about your body and what you can change to like it more. Forget about the things you can't change because you can't do anything about it. Take what you have and love it. Good luck.