am I too thin?

pictures?

Nope, as long as you have the energy to do your training. And you are recovering well staying injury free.

Have you lost weight recently or have you always been this weight? There is a big difference between the two scenarios.

I\'m female D1 runner who is 5\' 6\" and 103 pounds and I\'m frickin not allowed to run until I gain weight. Has anyone else heard of this before? Should I just stuff my face? The doctors say it will make me faster and healthier, but I figure I will just get a bloated belly look and get slower. Anyone heard of this before? Do you think this is reasonable? I\'m not anorexic or anything- I eat a reasonable- to large amount of food, definitely much more than my non running friends.

Being really slender does not equate with being unhealthy IF, as you say, you are consuming a substantial amount of calories every day. You doctor and coach should know this. Your parents should know how much you eat, enlist them on your side.

The reason they probably have said that is because for your weight you fall into the clinically anorexic category (for weight only, not other behaviours).

No, don't stuff your face. Personally I'd go with gaining lean muscle and eating good foods. What did they say you have to get up to, to run?

gain more muscles if you want to gain wieght, work on your legs muscles do that and you will gain wieght and become stronger

if your name really is minny, you may induldge us by posting a pic?

At 5.2/100, your BMI is 18.3, and anything under 18.5 is considered "underweight" and unhealthy.

If you increased your weight to just 105 pounds, your BMI would then be 19.2, in the "normal" range (although still on the low side, but no lower than most elite Kenyans).

One way to gain the extra 5 pounds is to eat slightly more calories than you burn....with extra stuff which is healthy (you could try bowls of oatmeal with soy milk and bananas). Another way is to put on 5 pounds of muscle in the gym, but that would be boring and time consuming.

As you are still very close to the normal (low) range of 18.5 BMI, I think that you will find ways to achieve your goals.

coach:

christophe_moulton@yahoo.ca

christopher.moulton@mail.mcgill.ca

My BMI is 18.5 exactly ...

I eat (healthy stuff only) all the time ... I also run at least 80 m/w while training for a marathon.

Should I be concerned?

I agree with Skeletor. As long as you feel good, your bones aren't breaking and you're still getting your period (get a bone scan, and I'm assuming you're a woman), don't worry about the BMI.

need some other opinions, Until you become a medical doctor, I don't think your opinion counts for much.

The problem often is that someone with a very low BMI (ie. 18 and under) often does feel great running - at least for a time. However, it is often the case that they are slowly breaking down their body, and could eventually crash. I knew a girl who was 5'7'' and weighed around 107-109 lbs. She ate quite a bit, but not loads, but as far as anyone could tell, she wasn't going hungry. The problem was, she had a very high metabolism, was running over 80 mpw, and had a fairly small stomach. As a result of the miles she was running, she could eat enough to feel full and still not get enough calories. She very very gradually was loosing weight, and after 2 or 3 years of very good running began to crash - she didn't have any energy at the end of races, and ended up loosing 10-20 places in the last kilometer of her x-c races. It is much healthier, and often helps you run faster with a bit more muscle and fat on you.

They are only looking out for your long-term health. I would be shocked if you are able to maintain that low of a weight at your height without being in some kind of negative energy balance. If you eat 3000 calories a day and continue to weigh 103 pounds at 5'6, I would suggest getting your thyroid tested. A lot of female runners think that they are eating enough food, when in fact, they fall short by eating an overabundance of low calorie foods with a high water content (fruits and vegetables). The doctor should have referred you to a nutritionist so that he/she can analyze exactly how much energy you are taking in and what improvements can be made. You are probably not eating enough to fuel your mileage. You will run better and have a longer career if you fuel your body now.

As requested, here is my most recent picture. I'm the one in the front row, 2nd from the right:

http://tinyurl.com/yabvh2

That sounds like a completely normal distance runner's build to me. Running burns a lot of fuel and you need to eat a good deal of food (ideally of the healthy variety), so as long as you're doing this and feel fine training and racing you shouldn't worry about your weight.

this might be the first time someone has posted a pic when asked for one... mindblowing

youre the hottest asian 5th grader ive ever seen

If I were you I would consult a nutritionist to help you gain a few pounds so that you will have a healthy BMI. That way, you won't be at as much of a risk of health problems. "Stuffing your face" can make you fat and slow if you are eating the wrong things. A nutritionist/dietician can help you eat the right foods and the right amount of calories.