weight issues

Question
Good morning!

Background: I'm 5'2 and about 118 pounds give or take 2 either way. I'm 21 and busy running from class to meetings from 7am to 9pm. I workout at least 60 minutes a day, cardio (running, interval training 3 times a week, or eliptical). Was doing weights 3 times a week about 2 months ago but stopped bc I was bulking.

Here's the problem and I hope you can help me. This time last year I was only 110-112 pounds. I'd like to get back to that weight but am finding it so hard to stick to a low cal diet. I try to eat 1600 on workout days and 1400 on days when I can only squeeze in 45 minutes. I can keep it up for about a week before I feel ravenous and start eating everything in sight!  I'd like to lose 5 pounds by June... Please, some advice! I am uncomfortable at my weight, although my measurements have only changed about 1/2 an inch or so.

Thank you, and I hope you can help me! I think I am not eating properly, because I should not be starving on 1500 calories...

Measurements are 32, 23.5, 36. I wear a size 1-2 in most places..  Thank you!!

Answer
First- Say it with me- You are not(even a little) overweight. TO maintain your weight you should be eating around 1950 calories per day, so no wonder you are starving! To lose weight I wouldn't suggest anything less than 1700 per day.

You are slowing down your metabolism by not giving your body enough calories. EAT.:)

Also, I would like you to take a second look at yourself when you were "bulking up". See, a lot of all cardio- all the time- girls end up being "skinny fat"- thin looking, but because they have no real muscles, they have more body fat than they realize. When they start building muscle, the muscles pop up first, before the fat melts away,  it *appears* like they are getting bigger. When the muscle uses up all that fat though, you'll end up a lean, mean girl with a bikini model body. Don't give up on weight training, you just have to be patient with it while your body transforms.

Hope this helps,
Lela Simon

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