When is thin too thin?

[fastasleep]

I'm 5'4, just weighed myself for the first time in a while and discovered I'm 100 pounds. BMI of 18 which is apparently under-weight?!

The thing is I'm expressing milk at the moment, I was expressing 15 litres a week (everyone puts my weight loss down to this!) but now DD is four months I've cut it right back and I'm getting just a litre a day to suit her needs... I've been dieting as much as possible too, and doing 100 sit ups 100 tummy crunches and 30 horrible ballerina squats (lol!) a night.... I've been enjoying it really...

I'm worried that as soon as I stop expressing that it's all going to pile back on and really really depress me (I was 12 stone just after the birth of DD) and I'm a bit scared that when I stop making breastmilk I'll be tempted to eat as little as I possibly can, just in case....

How do I keep my weight at a healthy level? It's confusing! I don't get hungry that often..

(I'm not boasting I'm finding it really weird, and still feel 12 stone!!)

Oops BMI of 17.5...

100lb, is that about 7 stone??

That is underweight hun but I'm meant to be 9 & 1/2-10 stone for my height (5'6'') and because I'm small built, I look huge over 9 stone (normally 8 &1/2).
I'd be careful though because it sounds as though you're on the slippery slope of exercise & dieting addiction (I used to anorexic as a teen). Just eat healthily (if you don't get hungry at mealtimes, then graze throughout the day), exercise in moderation (walking while out with baby is a great one) and try to relax (stress makes you lose weight too lol). Well done on producing that much milk!!!

fastasleep youare v under weight.
Some things about your post concern me..
I really would not be worried about puttin even a stone on, by my calc this take you to 8 1/2 stone which would still be under weight.
You need to conseder the realtionship you have with food, good food eaten in moderation does not make you fat it makes you fit and healthy and able to function.
PLEASE never be tempted to starve yourself.
I found when I stopped b feeding I actually lost more weight as your body no longer clings to fat in the way that it did when you are feeding.

I would be inclined to explore the exercise as you reduce your feed as the metabolic changes made by reducing the feeds would be compensated for by the exercise.

I think the mental image you have of yourself is still 12 stone, fastasleep your really not and if you lost more weight by not eating it could seriously dammage your health... trust me on this one!

That is quite a low weight, fastasleep.
First, do be careful. I'm not suggesting you're at that stage, but I had a bit of a brush with anorexia in my teens and it started by being scared of gaining weight (rather than trying to lose it). You shouldn't really be actively dieting while bf/expressing.
What did you weigh pre-pg?
Eating (only) to satisfy hunger and a good balanced diet are basically the key. If you feel you need to gain weight or stop losing, adding plenty of olive oil to cooking and eating nuts and seeds are ways of ensuring a healthy fat intake.

btw healthy BMI range for your age is 19-24.

fastasleep, this isn't good for you.
Like Hellkat I used to be anorexic, and this sounds horribly like the direction you're heading in - which is not what you want, particularly when you've got a child to take care of.

I think you have to be very cool and reasonable, find out what a sensible weight is for you (go for a BMI of 19 if that's what you want - you'll still be very skinny but least just within the healthy range) and stick to that weight. Even if the mirror tells you that you are at least 15 stone, you have to understand that your mind is playing very dirty tricks on you (body dysmorphic disorder) and that you need to be fit and well to be there for your dd.

I also really think that you should see your GP about this before it develops into full-blown anorexia, a disease that has a 10% mortality rate.

Pre preg (I was expressing for the last one still when I got preg!) was 11 stone... ever since I can remember my mum's called me obese and fat and ugly etc etc (she's malicious and a drunk basically) but I never thought it really got to me that much.... she said on the phone the other night 'now you're like the daughter I wanted to have'

and everyone, everyone has said the second I stop expressing I'll pile it on! My (lovely) MIL told me not to buy size 8 clothes, because they won't fit when I stop expressing!

Argh!

I really don't think I look thin I've got 32 HH boobs, DH thinks I just see those horrible things poking out and I think the rest of me is that size....

Definately too thin. I am 122lbs / 8st 10 and 5'6" and probably about right but even people think I look skinny. I am quite a slim build. Even taking into account you being a slim build you are still about a stone underweight and I'd consider putting some on and definately not dieting. Cut out the exercise too as I am sure you don't need it with a baby.

Why are you expressing so much if you don't mind me asking? No you won't pile it on. Why don't you just cut down the expressing gradually?

Oh another good thing, dump your scales!
You only become obsessed with weight and checking etc. Find a pair of jeans that look fab on you (really flattering) and use those as your weight guide. If they become loose bulk up on healthy fats, if they become tight cut down on junk. Very simple and it works. You end up becoming the true shape & size you're meant to be rather than relying on scales to tell you. You may find that this is heavier than you'd like but it does'nt matter as long as you look & feel good & healthy.
It's my tried & trusted method. i use this all the time (not at the mo cos I'm pg lol).

fast asleep I have boobs that are 34 E and they weight 3/4 of a stone. (I'm 9.5 stone and 5ft 6)
If your boobs weigh even half that, then the rest of your body is seriously too light.
I think you need to go to a GP for a thorough good talking too and perhaps some counselling too. You do not need to be concerned about your weight like this esp while feeding.

No wonder you feel shite hun
No offence but bollox to what your mum says.
Staying scrawny wont make you feel better. you'll feel the cold, feel crappy all the time and have no energy for your little one. You'll feel better gaining a few pounds, honestly. At my lowest I went down to just under 6 stone and looked like absolute shite! So being really skinny is'nt nice x

oh fastasleep, you are much too light, really.
No wonder you've got these ideas of yourself, with the image your mother gives you of you. I'm sorry she's so destructive.
You need to concentrate on giving your body the high-quality nutrition it needs and not trying to conform to some ideal shape.

I feel really energetic! Maybe I won't if I get any thinner (I'm expressing instead of BFeeding btw, neither baby could do it..)

My boobs do weigh quite a bit, I can tell just by cupping them... but I don't look skinny... DH doesn't think I look skinny either, I asked him and he said 'not quite skinny'... maybe I'm a smaller build shrugs!

I walk obsessively instead of catching the bus as it's good exercise (my friends laugh at me doing this!)

argh I can't decide whether I'm being over the top or naturally thin! I can't compare to anyone in my family as they're all blatently anorexic...

The one thing I know about BMI is that it's not a perfect formula... it requires tall people to get too skinny (George Clooney is technically obese) and lets short people get too plump.

I imagine a few more pounds would be good for you, fastasleep, but don't drop the exercise if you can; skinny people get heart disease almost as much as fatties. Exercise is the best thing for your health, more important than being skinny.

can't post properly atm as have visitors but a few thoughts:
1.FA is only 18 - relevant as I think it is easier to get your weight down so low at this age than say 10 years older
2.if you eat 3 decent meals a day (without calorie counting them) and avoid junk food in between, but not say fruit/dried fruit, then I can't see you piling on weight to an unhealthy extent.
3.you do sound as if you are on the cusp of something worrying - enjoying the exercise and dieting a wee bit too much .....

Very much agree with mszebra, the calculator on line are only an esitmation of your body mass index, this does not always give a ture reflection.
Consider your reasons for wanting to be thin....
To be halthy
or to be accepted by your mother etc....Only one of these reasons will make you healthy and its not the one that makes you consider stavation.

DH just had a good feel of me... in a totally non sexual way I hasten to add! And decided I am not allowed to lose any weight... I think I'll concentrate on toning up, maybe join an aerobics class and try not to think about food

when he's around I eat moderate amounts, today I had 2 croissants for brekkie (we ran out of milk this is usually cornflakes and semi skimmed) a medium portion of curry with no rice for lunch and a medium pizza for dinner.... I only drink water and un-sugared tea....

I'll try to remember to stick to three good meals a day! Looks for exercise classes that fit in with her expressing timetable

I think I've realised (although sometimes I forget) that mum will never accept me for who I am, so I should really not bother trying, sometimes I need reminding though! I think I'll be a bit less over the top when I stop the BFing and it hasn't all piled on again..

Bleh! £3.50 a session, bleh! Swimming it is then...

Argh... I remember a thread where people laughed at their friends who said 'I just forgot to have lunch..'.... hopefully it'd just cos I keep cathching bugs etc but the last month or so I don't get hungry I just feel sick!

(Everyone telling me to eat when I'm hungry and then it won't be a problem is driving me insane!)

to quote my Mother 'Oh last week, you were perfect, this week you weigh less than me, you're too thin, that's almost as bad as when you were fat' FFS MOTHER!! FFS! (I could only laugh at her really)

That post was written in a totally discombobulated way!

fastasleep - was thinking of your breast last week.....
my ds2 was hospitalised with lymphangitis..how are you

I'm good, it's finally gone, to be replaced with flu lol!

I feel bizarre not having felt hungry properly for ages though, hopefully it was just the health probs! I keep wanting to say 'ooh I'm ravenous' but it's just because I think I should be!