Opposite Problem--Gaining weight!

vierge feroce · 01-09-2008, 03:32 AM

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum and I am a petite girl.
I love my body for what it is but I need a little more to shake belly wise!
Has anyone else dealt with this?
Obviously I'm just going to increase my food intake, but wasn't sure if there is particular tips for this.
I think I generally gain weight in my thighs and butt unfortunately,
is there anything I can do about this?

sedoniaraqs · 01-09-2008, 01:24 PM

Vierge, if you are a healthy weight, I see no need to try to gain weight, especially if you are doing it just to look like some other belly dancers you have seen.

If your weight tends to go to your legs and hips, then that is where it will go. There is no magical way to make it go somewhere else that you think needs plumping up. Lord knows, if there were, I would be sending some of my extra to my butt!

How long have you been studying belly dance? When you can relax into a shimmy, something will shake, even if you have a flat belly.

Sedonia

Aniseteph · 01-09-2008, 06:26 PM

I agree with Sedonia - if you are a healthy weight stick with it and let your body be how it wants to be. Belly dance isn't a good enough reason to start messing with your metabolism, IMO. (though it's a good enough reason for a lot of things!

)

Petite girls should make the most of it. Plenty of time to spreeeeeaaaad out later on in life

.

firshania · 01-17-2008, 09:17 PM

Hi,

I'm a petite girl too and believe me, there is no need to gain weights. It will shake anyway and you can just wear costumes that will increase your movements and it will be perfect.

If you like your body, don't change it only to look like other dancers. Your body needs a healty diet to dance well ^^

rakgirl · 01-17-2008, 09:27 PM

I've had the same problem. I'm 27 now and curvier than I ever was but i'm also 5'10" and a size 4. I was a size 2 before. doesn't sound like much difference but when you're so tall there's alot of lbs in between sizes. What actually helped me gain weight was becoming a vegan. But I also had trouble with digestion before so i kinda think that i'm only putting on weight because i am better able to digest my food now and i'm older. But i'd suggest loving yourself whatever size you are. that's the problem with us women we always have a problem with something about ourselves. meanwhile so many women are literally killing themselves to look like you.

Yshka · 01-17-2008, 11:24 PM

Hi dear,

I have a number of friends who have been trying to gain weight like mad but I've seen with them that for naturally slender people an increase in food intake does not seem to work (unfortunately the ones that do gain from increasing food intake are those trying to LOOSE weight lol). My sister was on a diet some time back that made her increase her food intake to actually loose weight and it worked quite well.

Some of my most slender friends eat like crazy (a friend of mine won a hotdog-eating-contest when she went to study in the US a few years ago. She can stuff herself on any food, healthy, greasy, sugary, whatever, and does not gain even one single ounce) and still gain no weight.

I can see why you'd want it though. My friend would just like to be a bit bigger. But if you're alright healthwise and your body is in no danger weightwise, I think you should indeed try and loosen your belly a bit when dancing. Shimmies come out jiggly even with ultra flat tummies if you can just release the muscles there.

You could consult a food expert (do not know what this is called in English, somebody who specialises in helping people get the right diet that is best for their situation, in Dutch we call it dietist) to see if theres any way. Maybe your doctor could help you find one.

Whatever you do, good luck!

Hyacinth · 01-20-2008, 02:32 AM

Hiya,

I know where you're coming from - I'm 5'3 and my teacher politely(?) described my figure as being "straight up and down"! I still get paranoid about my hip movements not looking as good as the curvy girls' but I wear extra hip drapes and scarves off my belt makes them look more obvious.
(have you seen this stuff on Shira's site? -http://www.shira.net/cg/skinny.htm)

Also, if you live in a western country, you may get (as we do) people who call up to book a dancer and specify "I don't want anyone fat!"

- so you'll probably end up getting some gigs out of it too!

Moondancer · 03-02-2008, 02:35 PM

Hi vierge feroce ('ferocious virgin'? -lol i love it!!)

I totally feel you. I am a very tall and skinny belly dancer and often get envious of the curvy girls. But even if I did gain weight, all of it would go onto my hips as my torso is forever doomed to look like a 5 year old boys'. Also, I'm an aspiring model so getting bigger would not be a good thing if I want to firmly set foot in the modelling industry! I keep telling myself that there will be loads of time to get 'curvy' once I am a little older. Embrace your skinniness because it also has loads of advantages and who knows how long it will last...

01-09-2008, 03:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
vierge feroce Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3	Opposite Problem--Gaining weight! Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and I am a petite girl. I love my body for what it is but I need a little more to shake belly wise! Has anyone else dealt with this? Obviously I'm just going to increase my food intake, but wasn't sure if there is particular tips for this. I think I generally gain weight in my thighs and butt unfortunately, is there anything I can do about this?

01-09-2008, 06:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 1,712	I agree with Sedonia - if you are a healthy weight stick with it and let your body be how it wants to be. Belly dance isn't a good enough reason to start messing with your metabolism, IMO. (though it's a good enough reason for a lot of things!) Petite girls should make the most of it. Plenty of time to spreeeeeaaaad out later on in life . Last edited by Aniseteph; 01-09-2008 at 06:26 PM. Reason: speling

01-17-2008, 11:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yshka Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,251	Hi dear, I have a number of friends who have been trying to gain weight like mad but I've seen with them that for naturally slender people an increase in food intake does not seem to work (unfortunately the ones that do gain from increasing food intake are those trying to LOOSE weight lol). My sister was on a diet some time back that made her increase her food intake to actually loose weight and it worked quite well. Some of my most slender friends eat like crazy (a friend of mine won a hotdog-eating-contest when she went to study in the US a few years ago. She can stuff herself on any food, healthy, greasy, sugary, whatever, and does not gain even one single ounce) and still gain no weight. I can see why you'd want it though. My friend would just like to be a bit bigger. But if you're alright healthwise and your body is in no danger weightwise, I think you should indeed try and loosen your belly a bit when dancing. Shimmies come out jiggly even with ultra flat tummies if you can just release the muscles there. You could consult a food expert (do not know what this is called in English, somebody who specialises in helping people get the right diet that is best for their situation, in Dutch we call it dietist) to see if theres any way. Maybe your doctor could help you find one. Whatever you do, good luck! Last edited by Yshka; 01-17-2008 at 11:26 PM.

01-20-2008, 02:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hyacinth Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 50	Hiya, I know where you're coming from - I'm 5'3 and my teacher politely(?) described my figure as being "straight up and down"! I still get paranoid about my hip movements not looking as good as the curvy girls' but I wear extra hip drapes and scarves off my belt makes them look more obvious. (have you seen this stuff on Shira's site? -http://www.shira.net/cg/skinny.htm) Also, if you live in a western country, you may get (as we do) people who call up to book a dancer and specify "I don't want anyone fat!" - so you'll probably end up getting some gigs out of it too! Last edited by Hyacinth; 01-20-2008 at 02:47 AM. Reason: add a link

01-09-2008, 01:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
sedoniaraqs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: cultural wasteland of the midwestern US Posts: 574	Vierge, if you are a healthy weight, I see no need to try to gain weight, especially if you are doing it just to look like some other belly dancers you have seen. If your weight tends to go to your legs and hips, then that is where it will go. There is no magical way to make it go somewhere else that you think needs plumping up. Lord knows, if there were, I would be sending some of my extra to my butt! How long have you been studying belly dance? When you can relax into a shimmy, something will shake, even if you have a flat belly. Sedonia

01-17-2008, 09:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
firshania Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 35	Hi, I'm a petite girl too and believe me, there is no need to gain weights. It will shake anyway and you can just wear costumes that will increase your movements and it will be perfect. If you like your body, don't change it only to look like other dancers. Your body needs a healty diet to dance well ^^

01-17-2008, 09:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
rakgirl Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 11	I've had the same problem. I'm 27 now and curvier than I ever was but i'm also 5'10" and a size 4. I was a size 2 before. doesn't sound like much difference but when you're so tall there's alot of lbs in between sizes. What actually helped me gain weight was becoming a vegan. But I also had trouble with digestion before so i kinda think that i'm only putting on weight because i am better able to digest my food now and i'm older. But i'd suggest loving yourself whatever size you are. that's the problem with us women we always have a problem with something about ourselves. meanwhile so many women are literally killing themselves to look like you.

03-02-2008, 02:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Moondancer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22	Hi vierge feroce ('ferocious virgin'? -lol i love it!!) I totally feel you. I am a very tall and skinny belly dancer and often get envious of the curvy girls. But even if I did gain weight, all of it would go onto my hips as my torso is forever doomed to look like a 5 year old boys'. Also, I'm an aspiring model so getting bigger would not be a good thing if I want to firmly set foot in the modelling industry! I keep telling myself that there will be loads of time to get 'curvy' once I am a little older. Embrace your skinniness because it also has loads of advantages and who knows how long it will last...