Okay, so I'm going to start this post off by saying that I'm aware I'm VERY lucky to have the "problem" I'm going to write about. My parents didn't give me tallness genes or voluptuous genes, but they did give me me skinny genes. (The skinny jeans, however, I had to buy myself. )
I have a fast metabolism, and since I've been running more mileage, it seems to have gotten quite a bit faster. That means I've inadvertently lost weight.
I eat when I'm hungry. I do eat 3 meals a day but also "graze" in between. I eat a lot of healthy stuff (whole grains, fruits, veggies, protein) but honestly I also have a sweet tooth and eat too much junk food. Overall I think it's a decent diet, and I'm pretty happy with it. (In college I was way too obsessive about what I ate, and I'd prefer to err on the side of freedom now!) I eat a little before I run, and in the several hours after a long run, I eat a lot. I think my daily calorie count is probably somewhat low just because I've never had a large appetite, so my portions tend to be on the small side.
I'm at the same weight I've been at, at my other "skinniest" times (most recently while breastfeeding, another metabolism-boosting activity!) My doctor hasn't been concerned about me being underweight, but my BMI says I am. I'm 5'2", 99 pounds, BMI 18.1. (18.5 is considered the low end of normal/healthy.) I don't seem to have any issues related to being underweight. (For instance, my cycles are more regular than they've ever been, and I'm sorry if that's TMI.) I feel good and don't get sick often. I think I look healthy, but lately my jeans won't stay up so I have definitely gotten skinnier! I don't know what my body fat percentage is. It's naturally low but right now it's probably really low.
Here's a recent photo. You can see my legs have gotten really skinny--they were always chicken legs, but running has really gotten rid of most of the fat on them.
So my question is, should I try to gain a few pounds? If so, I'm assuming I just need to target healthy, higher-fat foods like nuts and seeds? I'm not sure if I should even be concerned; my body just seems to settle at this weight when I have a lifestyle that involves burning a lot of calories. But I wonder if I really should weigh a bit more for any health reasons.
Thoughts?
I have a fast metabolism, and since I've been running more mileage, it seems to have gotten quite a bit faster. That means I've inadvertently lost weight.
I eat when I'm hungry. I do eat 3 meals a day but also "graze" in between. I eat a lot of healthy stuff (whole grains, fruits, veggies, protein) but honestly I also have a sweet tooth and eat too much junk food. Overall I think it's a decent diet, and I'm pretty happy with it. (In college I was way too obsessive about what I ate, and I'd prefer to err on the side of freedom now!) I eat a little before I run, and in the several hours after a long run, I eat a lot. I think my daily calorie count is probably somewhat low just because I've never had a large appetite, so my portions tend to be on the small side.
I'm at the same weight I've been at, at my other "skinniest" times (most recently while breastfeeding, another metabolism-boosting activity!) My doctor hasn't been concerned about me being underweight, but my BMI says I am. I'm 5'2", 99 pounds, BMI 18.1. (18.5 is considered the low end of normal/healthy.) I don't seem to have any issues related to being underweight. (For instance, my cycles are more regular than they've ever been, and I'm sorry if that's TMI.) I feel good and don't get sick often. I think I look healthy, but lately my jeans won't stay up so I have definitely gotten skinnier! I don't know what my body fat percentage is. It's naturally low but right now it's probably really low.
Here's a recent photo. You can see my legs have gotten really skinny--they were always chicken legs, but running has really gotten rid of most of the fat on them.
So my question is, should I try to gain a few pounds? If so, I'm assuming I just need to target healthy, higher-fat foods like nuts and seeds? I'm not sure if I should even be concerned; my body just seems to settle at this weight when I have a lifestyle that involves burning a lot of calories. But I wonder if I really should weigh a bit more for any health reasons.
Thoughts?