How can I convince my parents about food needs?

Question

I'm 5'2 95 lbs. According to the official food pyramid site I need 1600 calories/day.
Problem is, my family eats way more than 1600 cals/day. I'm trying to firm up thru exercise (NOT lose weight, just get toned) so I can't afford to go over 1600.
Breakfast is 400 calories. Dinner is 1400 (we are Asian: every night each person eats 4 cups of cooked rice=950 calories, plus all the fried curry). I have to eat everything. Because I exercise every day & try to eat only 1600 calories, parents think I'm anorexic if I try to eat less. How can I convince them that I'm just doing what's right for me?

I have to skip lunch at school and exercise like crazy to stay petite because my parents feed me so many extra calories. (I'm not anorexic, guys tell me I'm normal at 95 lbs). It's impossible to get toned/look good in a swimsuit when every day is a struggle to keep from gaining weight. I'm not looking to be skeletal--just normal.

How do I convince parents I am normal/need only 1600 cals/day???

Thanks for your answers everyone. The only reason I've become so concerned about my weight is that I noticed I was gaining a lot of pudge (last year I weighed 110 at 5'1). See, I don't WANT to constantly think about food. I don't WANT to skip meals. I want to eat normally. The reason I want to work this out with my parents is that I'm tired of working so hard to get my calories right. The amount of food I'm forced to eat has caused me to have to obsess about food and calories. That's stupid! I don't want to go down that path. I like to eat, I have better things to do than think about eating all the time...but I feel like I have no choice with the excessive unhealthy diet I'm forced to eat.

Also, I did some good research for the 1600 calorie figure. I went to mypyramid.gov (United States government Department of Agriculture website). I inputted 17 years, 5'2, 105 lbs, 20-30 minutes of running per day, and that is how I got the number. 105 sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Answer 1

listen to your parents. they're older and wiser... i'm sure they've recognized that you're displaying early signs of an eating disorder and they only want the best for you.

besides you seem far too obsessed with your weight and calorie consumption. if you want to eat healthier than suggest to them that they buy more fruits, vegetables and leaner meats for everyone's well being.

Answer 2

Ok, firstly, you're way off if you're skipping lunch based on a BMI based calorie intake chart. If you're exercising you'll need more calories not less, unless you really are trying to starve yourself. Why, because your body is doing more work so needs more fuel. Do some real research yourself, using actual text books, doctor's advice, dietation advice, things like that, NOT the internet. Your metabolism and therefore caloric intake take hours to determine, through a virgorous series of exercises, measurements and equations. BMI's (I'm 5'2" and 95lbs = I'm healthy) aren't worth their weight in dirt. It was developed by insurance companies as a way to NOT insure people. It is a VERY rough guide line and can be useful in conjuction with other things. Note, that most athletes with any degree of muscle mass rate as morbidly obese on these things.

As for the problem with your parents, either a) eat less yourself, they will not confine you to a chair, prod open your mouth, insert mushed up food and force you to swallow. b) present them with your proper research c) make a doctor's appointment, bring your mother or both, and have a talk about nutrition and caloric intake.

And by the way, skipping lunch is so unhealthy for you it makes my mind boggle. Think of your body as and old train. If you throw in ALL the coal at one time you get GREAT fire and then burn out. This is what you are doing now, a LOT of calories at one time and then hardly any the rest of the day. If you take that same engine and feed it small shovels full of coal every hour or so you'll have a steady fire and get further. This is why 6 smaller meals and proper snacking is healthier for you.

Answer 3

What you're doing is unhealthy. Your percentage of body fat is only 17%, and it should be at least 19% to be at a healthy body fat, higher if you're young, and it sounds like you are. Skipping lunch, eating only 1600 calories a day, and exercising like crazy does make you anorexic, regardless of what the guys in your school are telling you. People should eat around 2000 calories a day, you're allowed more if you're young. At 5 '2 and less than 100 lbs, you have some weight to gain. It's fine if you want to exercise a lot to keep toned, but don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat to begin with.

Answer 4

According to standard BMI calculations you're underweight. I wouldn't worry so much about calorie intake. Skipping lunch will make you gain weight. If you want to tone up try to eat a bit more protein and exercise. You haven't finished growing and probably need more than 1600 calories at your age.

Answer 5

Show them the food pyramid site, or even better, buy a good book on nutrition and show them that. Do the math together.

If they still won't believe you, get them to go to your doctor or a nutritionist with you and let a professional explain your dietary needs to them.

Remember, though, that it's not just about calories - it's also *what* you eat. White rice is not very nutritious at all. Be sure to eat lots of veggies and fruit. And don't skip lunch - you need energy during the day. If you don't want a full lunch, at least have a salad or some fruit.

Answer 6

You are very thin, too thin. You are endangering your health by skipping lunch and over exercising. You are much too controlling about weight issue and you sound anorexic. Don't listen to "guys." They don't know anything about healthy weight and they will tell you what you want to hear.
Talk to your family Dr. to find out what your weight should be. Tell him about your meal skipping and exercise.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I'm Asian too and I eat about that much :)

At 5'2, 95 lbs. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

In fact, just keep eating the way you are. It seems like you are naturally fit. Normally Asian foods are healthy (minus all the fried foods, etc...)

But if you really want to convince your parents, tell them that you want to be toned and fit and not eat all that food. They should respect your decision and they'll heed your decision and try to help you achieve your goal.

Just talk to them. They are your parents they'll understand.

P.S. Don't skip meals. That is very bad for you. Just eat healthy and within calorie range. (Eat negative calorie foods for lunch. Celery, carrots, etc...)

Answer 9

I would just tell your parents what you just told us right now. I mean, as long as you are getting the food pyramid into your diet, you're fine.

Present your parents the facts: what really matters. Tell about heart disease, and how your risk is lowered with staying average weight.

If your parents are obese or they are overweight, you have to tell them about this now. Chances are increased of being overweight it's in your genes.

The statistics say that America is the country with the most overweight people. I am happy to find somebody at least TRYING to stay in shape!

Answer 10

listen to your parents they know what is best for you. You could put on a few pounds and it would not hurt you.