Am I doing harm to myself by eating like this? - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

DoubleMint · 02-09-2007, 08:07 PM

I just moved to college about a month ago. I am 18 and this is my first time living away from home and on my own. I'm not in a dorm so I don't have the convenience of the dining commons and pre-made food readily available.

I thought that I would be able to provide for myself quite well in terms of food. However, it seems like I've been neglecting myself. I've been eating pretty unhealthy, according to my boyfriend and my parents, and I'll admit I agree with them. Basically, this has been my diet for the past month (give or take some occasion thai food or pizza)

Breakfast: South Beach Diet bars or Corn Flakes w/ milk
Lunch: store-boaught sushi...kinda like that stuff u get at costco...
Dinner: more cereal bars or some other kind of snack along the lines of the cereal bar
Snacks throughout the day: fruit salad bowls, other whole fruits and occasionally salads

I'm about 5'7 and weight between 115 and 120. I've also recently begun going to the gym regularly (about an hour a day every day). Also, now that i'm in college I don't have a car, and i walk EVERYWHERE. My boyfriend especially seems to be very concerned with my eating habits--i tell him I feel fine and that I dont' eat too little and work out too much. He seems to think that one of these days i'm going to callopse or something, or develope some other kinda malnutrition-related health probs..

So...I'd like some other non-biased opinions... Am I eating really poorly? Will a diet like this harm me in any way in the long run? Or what about in the short run? I take vitamine supplements so I doubt I'm defficient in anything but he still seems to be very concerned. Does he have merit to be that concerned? Will anything bad come of my eating habits besides me losing some weight? Thanks!

AmandaH · 02-10-2007, 04:42 AM

Um, short answer: Yes, they are right! You are not eating enough of anything. You need 5-6 small, balanced (including protein, complex carbs, healthy fats) meals every day. You need to be eating no less than 1200 calories/day, but probably more - around 1500-1600 - if you are working out.

Lenin · 02-10-2007, 05:12 AM

Doublemint,

Calculate your caloric total for a day or two (ask Costoco if they can get an estimate of the calories in a sushi serving..) It's hard for me to judge without knowing quantites.

If you are eating over 1200 calories you won't suffer from malnutrition but you will lose weight unless you are over 1500.

So, you can use the scale to be your guide and assume all is well if it stays in the 115-120 range.
IF you see a 110 then you had best rethink your whole diet.

<I HOPE that is a fish based sushi, rather than vegetarian?>

twiceblessed · 02-10-2007, 06:53 AM

I almost always wholeheartedly agree with Lenin....except this time!

I don't think you're eating near enough. First of all - at 5'7" 115 lbs. is very thin. That puts you at like an 18 BMI - underweight. To be eating like this and exercising like this when you are ALREADY underweight is a dangerous line to walk.

Are you eating this way out of conveneince? (i.e. graba cereal bar and eat it as you walk to class) Or are you eating this way because you WANT to be really thin? I think that's a question you should ask yourself.

I definintely see why there is concern for you. It's a slippery slope to walk. I would strongly suggest getting more "real" food (as I call it) in your diet. The fruit bowls you mention I am guessing are prepackaged fruit in syrup or water? I'd skip those in favor of more fresh fruit. Add chicken breasts, tofu, or other lean proteins, etc. I know it's tough when you're in college, but we've all been there and these days there are plenty of ways to adjust in this setting.

Aside from the weight issues - you want your mind functioning at it's highest capacity for your studies as well. You can't do this without some essential fats in your diet.

Good luck to you!

DoubleMint · 02-10-2007, 10:33 AM

Thanks. Your input pretty much confirms my thoughts, I'm just in heavy denial. And to answer the previous poster's question, I eat like this out of convenience, cuz I'm always rushing to be somewhere.