quote:<HR>Originally posted by liebling:
Lose "weight"??? At 5.6, female, 120 and 18% body fat, you are perfect at the low end of normal. You've got nothing left to lose now except lean muscle (bad idea) or more body fat (as you said, bad idea), so where are you to go? You cannot get down to 106-110 or you will be right back into dangerous territory. You know this, though. Sounds like you just needed some reassurance that you are lovely and fine the way you are NOW.

Be happy and run happy and know that all you need do now is improve your endurance and add maybe a little strength training (if you feel you need to) and you're home free, sister!

Liebling

<HR>

It's really not about the number, I don't get hung up on that and I weigh myself about once a month, if even. I'm just not as toned as I'd like to be, so I'm working on gaining back fitness and muscle mass since I've been out for so long. At 120 I look lovely and bodacious (right now, that weight is a lot of fat, cos I'd be fine with it if it were muscle), at 112 I look like a runner and it helps my performance and would probably help ease the stress I'm putting on my still-fragile feet. I've been running seriously for 4 years (two half-marathons) and I know how low is too low and what is my optimal weight for feeling and running well. I've always fallen slightly in the 'underweight' section on the BMI and so did my mother and so did my grandmother but we were never truly underweight for our frames, so in the same way I don't live by numbers, neither should anyone assume I have self-image issues bc my numbers are slightly lower than the american range for what is a healthy average, especially since runners tend to be on the low end anyway and I consider myself an athlete. I appreciate the concern though. Just came back from 2 whole pain-free miles and am about to go make some crêpes for dinner! Joy =D

happy running =D

that's very true, I whole-heartedly agree that one should strive be healthy and feel good in the body they have. I hope I am not sounding like I want the emaciated runner's look or that that is what every runner looks like. Somewhat unfortunately however, when I feel (health-wise) and run my best I tend to look like one of those skinny runners, and that just happens to be my genetics. I say it is unfortunate because when I'm weighing a little more I love having bigger boobs and butt and hips and I feel like a woman (I'm still 20, so this is good heh) but it bogs down my running and I love challenging myself to improve my personal records =) But yes, you're absolutely right. Runners come in all shapes and sizes, and we should all strive to be healthy and fit and happy, bc healthy & happy people are beautiful, it just shows in their glowing auras!

happy running all =D