Am I at a normal weight?

Question

I am a ballet dancer, 15 years old, 5'5 and 97 pounds. For the last month or so I have been cutting out my carbs, such as bread and pasta, fat, and I started to not eat any meat. I used to weight 108 and I felt fat. I also do not eat any sweets at all, and I have begun to get terrified of high fat foods or foods with sugar in them. Many people say I look to skinny, but when I think about it, I feel fat still. I am scared of gaining any weight back because then my self esteem will lower drastically. What do you think? Am I too skinny or am I fine?

Answer 1

You are just fine. You're young and have quick metabolism. Enjoy it.

Answer 2

At 5'5" you should not weigh under 100 pounds. If you weigh under 100 naturally, that's fine...but what worries me is that you seem to be obsessing about it a little by cutting out foods you don't need to cut out.

It's good to not eat sweets and bad fats...but do not cut out good carbs (complex carbs found in whole grain foods like whole grain bread and pasta), and remember that unsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, sesame seed oil) are very good for you (essential for a healthy cardiovascular system and aid in brain function and development). So just cut out the bad calories, not the good ones.

108 pounds at 5'5" is NOT anywhere close to fat. Most guys do not like girls who are all skin and bones. It's unattractive - we like some curves. I'd say that your target weight is between 110-120 pounds...if you feel fat at that weight, you really should rethink your philosophies. Stop weighing yourself - use the MIRROR. 115 pounds at 20% body fat looks MUCH different than 115 pounds at 10% body fat - yet the scale will tell you it's the same. If you feel guilty about eating more, start lifting weights to compensate - you'll burn more calories and tone your muscles. The BEST looking girls are those who work out and know what they're doing, because their bodies are excellent. Skin and bones are NOT attractive - lean muscle is very, very nice.

Answer 3

Sounds like a story of my life 15 years ago when I was in Ballet.
Sweetheart, first of all you are skinny and not fat.But my red flag just went up.You are beeing controlled by the way you live.What do you eat? You are 15 years young eating whole lot of NOTHING !!! You are going to make yourself very , very sick. You are feeling fat , because you are allowing your brain to be controlled by your sport.You know you still be concidered slim if you would weigh 130lbs?? I know you have to be very slim to be in ballet , however do not risk your life to be skinny that is no Life. Your body needs carbs and certain sugars and even some fats.Can you turn to your parents and discuss with them how you are feeling ? I sure hope you can , because the way that you are feeling is not normal you need to reverse the way you are thinking no sport is worth your health!!!! Please take care of yourself and take an advise from an ex ballet dancer! Blessings , Nic

Answer 4

Wow, that is very not healthy. I think you should be around 115. If you felt fat at 108, maybe you should just have toned your body instead of going on a diet. Eating right is of course good, but to deprive yourself of necessary nutrients is not. So, i would say that you should eat everything in moderation and that you should just work out to tone your body so that you dont feel fat. The more muscle you have then the more calories you burn naturally. So, my advice would be to get toned and eat everything in moderation. But, still stay away from trans fat and high fat in foods.

Answer 5

It sounds like you have a disorted body image. The fact that you are a dancer may have something to do with this.
Your a little bit on the underweight size- but in my philospohy, do what makes you happy. But at this weight you feel yourself feeling depressed, you have a lot of "fat days" or you just start to hate yourself- then you have a problem. But it sounds like you know what you want and that as long as your careful- you can be happy at your weight.
As for fearing food, try to start gruadually eating certain types of food, like sugars or something. You will become less afraid, you need those foods to live! And if you become too skinny and your bone denisty lowers, you may become infertile. I'm not trying to scare you, just be careful and don't fear the sugar, it's good stuff!

Answer 6

Sounds more like a distorted self-image issue. You are dramatically altering your diet which will have harsh ramifications as you get older. You being 15, your body needs more calories than when you are say, 20. You are still growing, and the foundation you build for yourself now will carry you into adulthood. For example: you want more protein in your diet if you are exercising, as you will need it to rebuild your bones (and yes, ballet is exercise). Otherwise, your muscle mass will deminish. Strong muscles help your bones, which you want to be nice and healthy because by the time you are 18 it is TOO LATE to catch up on the bone development and it will haunt you later in life. Seek medical counsel before listening to anyone on this site...as you may well be fine. My suggestions are pointing to the reality that how you 'feel' may very well be irrelevant, becuase you may be at this very moment your worst enemy.

Answer 7

well you're active so you probably have a quick metabolism, but you really have to watch that food issue. one time last year i got myself so scared of being fat that i pretty much stopped eating for over a week. luckily, my mom caught on & helped me through it. but that can be really dangerous. i'm about the same height as you & about 15 pounds heavier. i'm not exactly happy with my body, but i know that i am at a healthy weight. you should talk to your doctor about the appropriate weight for you.

Answer 8

You are too thin. Speak to a dietician or nutritionist to help you adjust your food intake. Your body needs good carbs, protein and whole grains to be healthy. A dietician will recommend a meal plan so will not get fat, but be healthy.

Answer 9

Check a height/weight chart for your age group. Since you are very active you may need energy rich foods like carbs. It does sound as if you are very thin. ...108 seems like a better weight for your height.

Answer 10

you are pretty skinny but you are still young. you are underweight and most peopleof that age do feel fat when they're not. eat healthy if you want but if you have that crave for a brownie go ahead and eat one because you are going to lose it after dancing. and because of your high metabolism.

Answer 11

If you feel fat at 108 then I am a COW!!! I am 5'9 and 147. So as long as your doing what you have to, you'll be fine!