too thin?

[suzanneyea]

So, I love Atkins, I eat a lot, never binge, feel great, everything we all know. I do not get on the scale, but lately a few people have been saying I look too thin. I am not sure if it is just my body type (very thin face and arms) I feel great. Workout everyday. I am comfortable with my body, but do not want to be too thin or anorexic looking. So, I got on the scale I am about 115, I am 5 5. I eat at least 1700 calories a day and a lot of fat. Opinions?

[Prairieprof]

I don't know what to say, but I relate -- I also have a thin face and arms, and am a very similar size (5'4" and 117-118, with broad hips and shoulders). I've had some "don't become too thin" concerns from my family. Yet when I look at my whole body unclothed there's definitely still a normal amount of padding on the lower half!

[BellaHMB]

What was your weight before going on Atkins?

Bella

[Su11]

I think that if you have all your healthy functions and do not see bones everywhere you look, then you are probably OK. Some folks tend to the thin side and are completely healthy. I'd trust my doctor or other health professional for advice. Those around you may just be getting adjusted to your weight.

[mrgarak]

Originally Posted by suzanneyea

So, I love Atkins, I eat a lot, never binge, feel great, everything we all know. I do not get on the scale, but lately a few people have been saying I look too thin. I am not sure if it is just my body type (very thin face and arms) I feel great. Workout everyday. I am comfortable with my body, but do not want to be too thin or anorexic looking. So, I got on the scale I am about 115, I am 5 5. I eat at least 1700 calories a day and a lot of fat. Opinions?

I heard the too thin (too skinny) comments and concerns when I lost weight. Even today I still hear them at times. Many times the comments come from people I work with who are overweight, smoke and eat junk at their desks all day. I tell them they are just jealous because they are not as beautiful as I am.

It really all depends on how you feel. If you are thin and can workout everyday while eating well, I don't think you have to worry. Also from looking at your avatar, I would say you look great.

Dean

[suzanneyea]

It is just my arms, cause today I was in long sleeves and everyone was saying how good I looked, if I have a tanktop on, I get the too thin comments. I am not going to worry about it, I feel great and my blood tests say I am doing great. And I am certainly not starving myself, not even close!

[steady]

Originally Posted by suzanneyea

It is just my arms, cause today I was in long sleeves and everyone was saying how good I looked, if I have a tanktop on, I get the too thin comments. I am not going to worry about it, I feel great and my blood tests say I am doing great. And I am certainly not starving myself, not even close!

I can relate...I usually hear that comment from "concerned" family and friends---most of which are struggling with weight and somehow see my weightloss as if I pulling too far ahead in some sort of weighloss competition. In all fairness, there are people that do say it out of genuine concern.

I did what you did, I had a full physical including blood/urine work and assured those concerned that I am in good health---in fact, the best health I've been in years.

[MirandaB]

Wow you look great. Once I lost a lot of weight and let people's comments like that sabotaged me. I was even asked if I was doing drugs. And like someone else said, the comments came from people who were over weight and probably jealous of my hard work! Over look it...because you look awesome!

[suzanneyea]

Yea, because I eat so much someone asked if I was bulimic. I was like, ummm, I do not think bulimics binge on steak...kinda hard to purge a sirloin, lol.

[maybell]

Would you mind posting a typical days menu?
1700 calories a day sounds really healthy to me and so does your weight. I would love to know your menu because sometimes I feel like I need to watch my calories so I don't gain weight and I need ideas. I am 5'5 too by the way.
thanks!!

[sck001x]

I think you all look great. I think it's funny how people are so quick to label everything & everyone. If it really worries you, do a bit of weight training & add some definition. It's not for everyone, but a little muscle mass might get them off your backs.

I just posted one of my favorite pics of Frank Zane over in another thread as a motivator. He was one of the original low carb supporters over 30 years ago. http://www.trainwiser.com/pics/hall_.../2007/zane.jpg

I bet everyone told him he was too skinny too! LOL..

Forget what people tell you. You all look great, you probably feel great too. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!

[sugarless4life]

I've YET to be a weight that pleased everyone.

I've worked very hard to lose the weight and I work even harder at keeping it off. That discipline bugs alot of people who don't have the same dedication, so they feel the need to make "you're too thin" comments or "you exercise too much" ... I just shake my head and run right by them.

If you're happy with how you look and feel, that's all that matters!

Betty

[suzanneyea]

I hate posting my menu cause it always seems to open me up to attack, but here it goes. Tuna with mayo breakfast and coffee one equal and heavy cream. Lunch is usually chicken breast with butter and some turkey burgers (I make about 5 or 6 and eat them as hungry). Scrabbled eggs in theternoon is I want a snack, depends on the day. Steak for dinner with a small salad with mayo. I will usually have 2 or 3 macadamia nuts and maybe 2 strawberries, but not everyday. I have a very meat heavy diet, my steaks at dinner are very large, as are my chicken breasts. I will often dip in mayo as I eat too.

[SueMc]

Coworkers and family are saying the same thing to me, now and 10 lbs ago. When I tell them that I'm not even at the top end of normal for my height they don't believe me. I've told a few of them what I weigh and that usually ends the conversation. I think that when you lose a large amount of weight, it is such a change that those around you think you've gone too far. It is fun to be called "skinny", even if I'm not.

[maybell]

Originally Posted by suzanneyea

I hate posting my menu cause it always seems to open me up to attack, but here it goes. Tuna with mayo breakfast and coffee one equal and heavy cream. Lunch is usually chicken breast with butter and some turkey burgers (I make about 5 or 6 and eat them as hungry). Scrabbled eggs in theternoon is I want a snack, depends on the day. Steak for dinner with a small salad with mayo. I will usually have 2 or 3 macadamia nuts and maybe 2 strawberries, but not everyday. I have a very meat heavy diet, my steaks at dinner are very large, as are my chicken breasts. I will often dip in mayo as I eat too.

No attacks here, I appreciate you sharing your menu with me.
I see that you eat very low carb, that sure keeps that weight off! I eat a lot more carbs but when I don't I really drop in weight and can eat a lot more calories too.
Do you still have an appetite with so few carbs? Actually I can see that you must because you are eating plenty of food.

[suzanneyea]

I have a big appetite, lol. I was actually re-reading Atkins 1972 today and was looking at the height and weight chart and for 5 5 the low weight is 110, so I am in a healthy range. What I have noticed is that current height and weight charts have increased the minimum for my height to 125! So, in 1972 I am a healthy weight, lol.
I do have days of higher carbs. I have a glass of wine every few months, I also will have macadamia nuts and salad a few times a week. I really avoid most fruit as it throws my whole system off.

[homestretch]

Really if you are healthy the only person you have to please with your weight is yourself! From the looks of you Avi I think you look awesome! My daughter is 5'5" and weighs 123 and she is certainly not too thin. Weight is a personal thing and you should be at a weight that makes you feel your best.

[Lynda99]

Everyone has to float their own boat, but honestly, asking that on this board is an exercise in futility, because nobody will ever tell you if you're too thin.

It's an odd kind of discrimination, since telling someone they're too heavy is perfectly accepted, but saying someone is too thin is a huge taboo.

[kwsmith2]

Obviously if you look like you picture then you look great. Your stats don't sound out of whack either.

I think the too thin reflex comes because people do not believe that you could be that fit without serious calorie restriction. Thats probably true if you were on a high carb diet.

By the way, what were your stats before Atkins.

[dae_tona]

I would say-ask the person whom you are the closest to & who would be the most honest with you if you are too thin. And judge by what they say.

The only person I trust to tell me if I am too thin is the DH and no one else. He sees me with & without clothes so he can tell the difference before anyone else could. When people have told me in the past that I am getting too thin (this was at a time when I was 135 lbs and I am just under 5'1), the DH has responded 'That's because the clothes you wear make you look really, really thin.' And in reality-we both knew I wasn't that thin. Not at 135 lbs on my frame.

A few years back-when I did get really, really thin-he expressed his concern that I was getting too thin so I stopped the charade of starving myself. That is why I will accept his view over anyone else's. He knows me better than anyone else.

It's amazing, though with people...sometimes the people that cheer you on and want to see you succeed are also the same ones who want to see you fail after you've succeeded...and so jealousy and envy ensue...and they make comments like that...

Dyan

[LoraJR72]

People think I look too thin! They were used to me as a large woman, that's why!

I haven't been this thin since Junior High!

[mjais]

I'm 5'5" and weigh 118 - 119 lbs. My doctor says I'm healthy and I have a great appetite, so I don't worry about it.

Each person's weight is individual and determined by their frame and their genes. As long as you're healthy, I don't see anything wrong with it. More importantly, when it comes to your weight, the only opinion that matters is yours.

[Dharma]

Originally Posted by SueMc

Coworkers and family are saying the same thing to me, now and 10 lbs ago. When I tell them that I'm not even at the top end of normal for my height they don't believe me. I've told a few of them what I weigh and that usually ends the conversation. I think that when you lose a large amount of weight, it is such a change that those around you think you've gone too far. It is fun to be called "skinny", even if I'm not.

Same here. I weigh 10 lbs more than most people think I weigh. I weigh 159 now and wear a size 10.

Suzanne I bet if you did weight training you'd get some awesome definition. My arms are too big, even at smaller weights, so I really envy you!!

[suzanneyea]

I do a lot of weight training and when I flex, my arms are totally cut and I love them. I just feel better knowing other " big losers" get the same comments, I just needed a confidence boost to feel comfortable in my body. Thanks guys

[Dharma]

I got down to 138 a couple of years ago....hadn't been there for awhile. Almost everyone said I was getting "too thin". It was weird. I know I wasn't. I lost it too fast back then though, and gained it all back.

I've been weight training twice a week for the last 4 years - minus 6 months off to heal a broken shoulder and wrist. I know there's some great definition there, but still too much fat over it for it to show. I think I'm finally motivated now to get these 15 lbs off. I'm going to Cancun at the end of July and I really want some pictures....'nuff said!

Don't listen to anyone - if you feel good just enjoy it!!

[suzanneyea]

I just can't win, the same people who comment on how thin I look are the same people who comment about how much I eat! LOL I am starting to get annoyed by people asking if I am going to eat all that! What a rude thing to say to anyone, thin or fat!

[TaDa!]

I say do what makes you happy ... compared to a lot of you here, I weigh A LOT, lol!!! I am 5'3" and very muscular. I got down to 123 lbs and was quite happy with the fat on my body, but I was getting comments from people I barely knew - including MEN at my gym (ya know, they are not motivated by jealousy, lol!!!!) that I had gotten too thin and needed to put on weight.

Now I know that it all had to do with the fact that my face gets bony at that weight and I get that lean runner's look (you other runners know what I mean, lol!), so after much thinking about it, I decided to put on a little weight to 130-135, and trade the size 4s back up to 6s, but it was MY decision.

I can tell you I was distraught over all the comments - it felt as if everyone had license to criticize my body no matter whether I was obese or had lost the weight - and in th end it is YOUR decision. The fat comes off where it wants to come off and we have no control over our thin arms, or faces, or whatever.

I bet you look just great Suzanne!!!!!

[girl81]

Originally Posted by suzanneyea

It is just my arms, cause today I was in long sleeves and everyone was saying how good I looked, if I have a tanktop on, I get the too thin comments. I am not going to worry about it, I feel great and my blood tests say I am doing great. And I am certainly not starving myself, not even close!

Forget the haters. lol
Just curious as to when you last had a bone density test?