Is being skinny dangerous - even if fit

P

paulrun

0
I've always been skinny, weigh 120 lbs at 6ft 3. But am a good runner, even winning 13-26 miles runs. But am I too thin?
Tried putting weight on, but given up, so now keep it down for running, and found fasting for a few days improves my race times and stamina.
The problem is, that i'm so thin, my stomach is gone, my ribs really stick out and my waist is only 24 inches!! My partner says that I'm a living skeleton, but loves me anyway.
I eat a meat-free healthy diet (am vegetarian), but am always starving, especially after intensive training.
In the summer, I can run 20 miles per day, but only take in 1500 calories.
I'm never ill, feel great and do well at running - even the Gym instructor never says anything, or parents: should I carry on this regime, or change?
 
paulrun said:
I've always been skinny, weigh 120 lbs at 6ft 3. But am a good runner, even winning 13-26 miles runs. But am I too thin?
Tried putting weight on, but given up, so now keep it down for running, and found fasting for a few days improves my race times and stamina.
The problem is, that i'm so thin, my stomach is gone, my ribs really stick out and my waist is only 24 inches!! My partner says that I'm a living skeleton, but loves me anyway.
I eat a meat-free healthy diet (am vegetarian), but am always starving, especially after intensive training.
In the summer, I can run 20 miles per day, but only take in 1500 calories.
I'm never ill, feel great and do well at running - even the Gym instructor never says anything, or parents: should I carry on this regime, or change?
Click to expand...

WOW,..you have to start eating. Too bad your a vegetarian would have suggested some chicken, tuna, shrimp. But you could eat Peanuts and Almonds. those are loaded in protein. Start weight lifting and read the stickes around here. Sounds like you have to add on some mass. I thought my little brother was skinny....Good luck.

And for your height the bare minimum for a healthy weight target is 155 Pounds. So you have some eating to do. And I don't mean junk food. Eat tons of clean food.
 
up your protein and complex carbs, lower simple carbs, raise your good fats "SCFA's,unsaturated,polly and mono" lower your trans fats as much as you can,Take in MODERATE amounts of Saturated fats, QUIT running for a while, with insufficient fat stores you start burning muscle "simple terms" in place of the preferred fats.
Up your overall Calorie intake as close as you can to 3000 a day
Try to get it from healthy food as much as you can

If you can not start gaining weight no matter what you need to go get checked out for a condition known as "hyperthyroidism"

You are FAR to thin - into an unhealthy area of Thin you need to gain weight you need to get your BF above 8%
right now you might be in the 2%,3% which is not good.
 
calcium said:
Do you have a picture? That's the lowest weight I've ever heard for that height.

~Nicole
Click to expand...

Yep, but site crashing when trying to upload(even after cropping image size.)
I can email if you want.

I've always been active anyway, sometimes I even forget to eat, then realise I'm starving. For example, I would do a 20 mile run in the morning, then cycle for a while and maybe finish off with a run sprint and Gym workout, then a steam and Sauna. several times I've gone days without food, even managed two weeks fasting a couple of years ago.
But, I am never ill and feel great and do well at X Country races.
 
no offense but u must be boney as all he**. I bet people ask u all the time if your anerexic(sp) or bulemic and stuff, people use to ask me that b4 i started lifting
 
YOu sound like me magnified.A few inches taller and pounds lighter,I'm a pretty good runner too.must be the fact we've little mass to carry:D
All the best as I'm trying to bulk too
 
Yes, people at work call me skinny, etc, but in a funny sort of way.
It also helps that you can get in small spaces (My job is an electrician) and I can get behind Switchgear Panels and my hands/arms in tiny spaces, where everyone else can't!!
I've been examined by a Doctor several times - and my results come back okay. Maybe I'm underweight, by am concerned that I don't make myself ill needlessly.
Right, I'm off to the Gym, now...
 
Now joined a Running Club

A couple of weeks ago I joined a Running club in a nearby city. I've decided to concentrate on really running hard and was surprised by the amount of skinny kids and adults in the club. Not one had any meat on them - I felt I wasn't out of place.
The couch who is assigned to my training insists that I remain slim, as I've been given a training buddy who is just as thin as I am.
We ran a race recently and I came 13th out of 200 runners, but I noticed and tried to beat the thinnest athletes there - I could not.
Now my training usually consists of a 15 mile run, then 2 hours of intensive track session and a 1 hour Sauna - boy was I knackered! (and hungry).
 
My advice to you: go see a doctor and get a physical. It won't hurt, and if he/she says you're fine, then you're fine. If they say you need to gain some weight, then you need to gain some weight.

But see a doctor. Put your mind at ease. Personally, I would think you are much too skinny, but that's my "non-doctor" opinion.

Skip the sauna after a run.
 
You may feel very healthy because in general you are, much healthier than many people, but you should eat a little more and get your bone minerals checked out. Congrats on being vegetarian, really the healthiest diet there is, but I am sure you know to be sure you get enough fat and protien with that right? Faxseed and hemp in your cooking for the omega's, fiber and protien, and nuts etc. too. Good luck and keep up the healthy habits.
 
Are there any more people out there in a similer situation as me? If there are, lets hear your stories... and training.
I managed an intensive train yesterday. I ran so hard, I felt I was passing out - after 18 miles. Then did 20 mins of skipping, did okay. My muscles are very lean, but defined.
I checked my weight; and now down to 116 lbs. What happens if I reach 100 lbs?
 
Paul, you need to EAT MORE and exercise LESS for a while.

You and i are very alike in one way, We love to run. And during the peak of my Long distance running i had to be eating 3000-3500Calories a day just to MAINTAIN my weight. I quit long distance running so i can focus on my "bodybuilding". I still do short distance, track and stuff but long distance running just takes to much out of the body for anyone to gain weight/Gain lean mass.

I do not think you realize how underweight you are.
 
agreed

I would agree. You are over six foot right? and weigh 116pds? that sounds like anoreix levels i'm afraid.

My friend i would advise you to cut down on the cardio and running and start addding a daily protein shake to your diet.

You NEED to put on weight for your own safety! Seriously im 5ft 7 and weight 140pds, and I wouldnt even want to be close to what you weigh, you are much taller than me.

Eat! Eat and eat and eat! And give yourself a month or so off.
Put on a few pounds.
 
i hate to say this but are u anerexic(sp?), i mean the solution is simple, eat more, exsercise not as much. You continue to say that your worried about it, but yet you keep running and running and running. Also, could post some pics, im just curious what being 6'3'' and 116lbs looks like.
 
My BMI is 14.5.
 
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