I'm too thin

johnswife

I was always thin, 5ft 7ins and struggled to get to 7st 7lb but would have given anything to put weight on. People can be so cruel with their comments. Never had any problems with my periods and now have three daughters, 19, 18, 16.

I am one of 4 girls & 2 boys and when we were young after comments from passer bys about our weight, my dad took us to the doctor and he said " you don't get rats from mice"?? My dad was tall and thin all his life till he died age 80 so someimes it's in your genes.

Now I am about 9st 7lb and I still get the you are thin comments so what can you do.

KiKi

Hiya

I'm not a doctor, so this isn't medical advice, but I am an utter gym buff and have a nutritionist etc. I would be less concerned about your weight and more about your body fat and muscle mass. If you are healthy, and if you have enough good fat in your diet, and you continue not to put on weight, don't freak out...it's much more important that you're healthy, not everyone falls into the exact weight requirements for their height and gender etc. This is especially true if your parents and family are the same build.

However, 7.5 stone is low. So for more calorific foods which are good for you, try eating:
Nuts and seeds - add to everything you eat where practical
Avocado
Pesto (add to salads, sandwiches etc)
Fruit such as bananas, apples, grapes (higher sugar and fibre content)
Chickpeas, beans, pulses
Full fat yoghurt / fromage frais
Cottage cheese
Porridge / oats
Full fat milk

Protein shakes are excellent for you - especially ones which have a low carb content. If you do exercise, focus on weights and building muscle mass, and lessen the cardio work.

HTH
KiKi

laurad85

Hi everyone, you have all given me some good advice. I will def be trying eating more snacks and i love all the food kiki mentioned so am going shopping tomorrow.

My periods are normal, im 24 and have never missed a month although i dont know if me being on the pill effects this?

Im pleased people have mentioned having children when a similar weight/ height-thats good to hear. I got such a fright when my doctor mentioned, it, my mum had lots of kids so i just assumed i would be super fertile too!

Something i forgot to mention before is my dad is a very similar build to me so i obviously get it from him.

Thanks again
L

notisis

Hi Laura
If you are otherwise healthy, still having regular periods then yes your build/weight is genetic since your dad is a similar build. I really wouldn't worry. Same here, not until my 40s did I put on any weight and I think that's because I'm not walking around as much as I used to and getting natural exercise, and of course middle age spread starts when you don't need so many calories! I'm still classed as underweight or borderline for my height of 5'8" though but take after my dad. You say you eat plenty of fruit/veg and presumably protein from meat and other sources so really don't worry.

soupface

Huh. I feel like your doctor might be erring just a LEETLE bit on the over-cautious side, especially since you're still having regular periods and are otherwise healthy. I'm recovering from an eating disorder at the moment and I'm probably about your build. I've been much less and my periods have stopped and nobody's ever mentioned a thing about fertility to me - just osteoporosis etc. But then I'm a BIT younger than you, maybe that's it. ANYWAY.

Pie. Pie, pie, pie, with a side of pie and then pie for dessert. ... Sorry, I mean nuts! Nuts and dried fruit. And pie.

twinklie

I'm 5"5 and 8 stone. It's taken me a LONG time to get here and I struggle to maintain this weight. I used to get stopped when I went out and went into the ladies toilets by well meaning people thinking I had an eating disorder. It used to drive me nuts.

I'm aware I'm very slim, but like you I have regular periods. I don't like chocolates, or desserts. And I'd much rather nibble on carrots or an apple. I do eat the same sized portions as my DH at meal times and that's how I've put on the extra weight. I was 7 stone for a LONG time.

I don't think I'm fat or dislike my body in anyway but I would like a bit more meat on me. I know my DH finds me more attractive when I have a bit of meat on me. I'm aiming to get to 8 and a half stone, but I've not made it yet (though I did get up to 8 st 4 once).

The other struggle I have is eating if I don't feel hungry, but I never skip meals.

nikki2804

Hi, I'm 5ft5 and weighed about 7.5 stone when I was6 months pregnant. Stayed roughly the same after giving birth. Using charts and stuff I'm underweight but my doctor says my diets healthy (ish- I have the occasional **ahem daily** chocolate bar) I'm fit and active, some people are just natuarly thin.

Also, don't go by BMI. My friends brother is into body building. He has very little body fat and a LOT of muscle but his BMI is like 38 making him morbidly obese . To many variables for it to be accurate.

elfen

The rats from mice comment - think the doctor meant if the parents are both predisposed to being skinny, then there's a good chance the kids will too

tandraig

I never thought about my weight until after I had my first son, I am just about 5 foot tall and always weighed about 7 stone.
I put on about 2 stone when pregnant, and with breastfeeding lost that in about six months , but i kept on losing it! at about 6 stone my doctor told me to stop breastfeeding as i was losing muscle tone. I refused, so i had to find a way to keep weight up.
answer, was nuts mostly! peanut butter sarnies, almonds, brazils, walnuts. every nut except salted (because all that salt would affect the milk). i dont have a sweet tooth, and dont much like pastries but, i would occasionaly have a fresh cream cake, or scone. also i tried to eat a little more than usual. a slice of bread and butter with my meal, which i dont normally have. It worked. I put on some weight and doc was happy!

elliebobs

Laura

Just to echo what others have said. If you are still having regular periods and are ovulating then your weight isn't such a big issue. My best friend was very petite, to the extent that she would wear extra layers just to stop random strangers passing comment! She managed to conceive quickly and had two healthy pregnancies. Just make sure that your diet is healthy and that you are getting all of your vitamin intake.

As an aside, since giving birth to her two daughters she has put on 4 stone and is now desperate to shift it and can't!

Ellie x