<p>One of my floormates is very very tiny (one of the smallest women I've ever seen) and today we went to the gym together. I don't know about you, but after 30 minutes of cardio I'm done. I went up to her after I was done and she said she wanted to keep working out to try to "lose weight." </p>
<p>Earlier she said that she wanted to lose 5 pounds. She also asked a guy at supper how he would like a girl to look in terms of weight. I don't think weight loss works like that....just working out for a very long period of time to lose a pound....it takes months. (I'm no expert.) I mean, she's shorter than I am...she's just petite and tiny all over. You can see her shoulder blades and she's just teeny and thin.</p>
<p>It's weird because she thinks she needs to lose 5 pounds and yet she thinks I look "cute" and "solid" when I'm the one who could stand to lose a lot more than 5 pounds. She thinks I would look weird if I was tiny. I'm the one with the weight problem, and I don't exercise to the extreme to "lose a few pounds." Understand? I exercise because I'd feel guilty if I didn't....</p>
<p>She's also super worried about gaining the freshmen 15....she eats like a bird and she's vegetarian. She makes a big deal about eating things like desserts....she won't go near them. She said she had a fear of waking up one day and being fat or something. I mean, I stay away from desserts for the same reasons, but I actually am fat.</p>
<p>Am I blowing this out of proportion or does she need some help? On second thought maybe I need help....</p>
<p>Working out for a very long time should have you losing weight in no time if you’re not over-eating, and if you’ve got a reasonable amount of weight to lose. It’ll take a week or two to lose a pound if you’re in normal range, and months if you’re the size of your floormate. Depending of course on metabolism and all that, too. :p</p>
<p>I agree with you that she needs help. I saw a girl like that in the gym once. She had very nice deltoids – I could see the entire contour of the muscle, she was so thin. :eek: I didn’t know what to do or say, and never saw her again, but you’re in a position to help your floormate – you’ve probably got a shared RA, and since she lives on campus, help is more accessible for her. Please mention something to your RA, so that she has a chance of getting help for her problems. It can’t hurt to put in a word of concern, and it could mean so much for her health, both physical and mental.</p>
<p>Concerning yourself, though, don’t stress out about your own weight, okay? I can tell you it’s all too easy to gain her mentality if you’re not careful. Being physically AND mentally healthy is most important. :)</p>
<p>I should also mention that she exercises WHENEVER she can. She studies while standing up (standing burns more calories than sitting) and she runs everywhere, like up the steps to our floor. She’ll just start randomly doing squats/chair lifts when she’s studying/standing around, too.</p>
<p>I would mention to your RA - just to put on their radar. RAs are students with varying observation skills and abilities, but if you point it out, they may talk to other RAs about how to deal with it. That said, she may just be anxious temporarily about the transition to school - is she a freshman? I know that my DD was worried about the freshman 15, but is in better shape than she was when she left thanks to all that walking between classes.</p>
<p>I doubt she’s got an eating disorder, she’s just like a lot of other young college age women that are a little over-obsessed with their appearance. I’d still let the RA know to keep an eye on her though.</p>
<p>You can go from weighing 180-190lbs to 140-160lbs in about 8 weeks. Boxers do this all the time in training camp. If you’re really serious about losing weight, try out boxing training. You don’t even have to actually box, just do the training they do, and eat like them. The average boxer has to shed 20lbs for a fight, and he does it in an 8-week training camp. Strict diet, jogging, sparring, lifting small weight with lots of reps, on a daily basis will get you ripped like Bruce Lee.</p>
<p>I’ve never seen a vegan boxer before! That would be something else…</p>
<p>bouwens, your roommate is very interesting, but I don’t think she’s sick. As long as she keeps her weight within a tolerable range, it shouldn’t be a problem. And not all guys like skinny girls; in fact I think they are in the minority. A little meat on the bones is a good thing.</p>
<p>It’s really a shame that someone who is so teeny-tiny feels she needs to lose weight. Rather than focusing on whether she (or you) should or should not lose weight, focus on something else. (Classes, professors, schedules, ECs) Anything else! </p>
<p>Being obsessed about weight is simply not healthy. Instead, eat healthy foods. Eat regular meals, including breakfast if you can. Don’t take seconds or dessert or sugary-sweet drinks. Exercise for the fun of it, or for a healthy lifestyle, but not for other reasons. </p>
<p>Not everyone is going to have a super-svelte figure, but being happy with who you are should be the goal.</p>
<p>You mention that she is a vegetarian and eats like a bird…but she is eating, right? As long as she is actually eating enough, particularly if it is a variety of foods, she may be fine, but I would certainly keep communicating with her, and as others said, mention it to the RA if you are concerned. Can you let her know you are concerned about her?</p>