Underweight, high body fat!?

[xeunaex]

Thank you soso much for reading! Last summer I went on my weight loss journey and lost a whooping 48 pounds. At the beginning I was eating really unhealthily (900 calories and less a day) until this February I realized exactly what I was doing to my body, and began eating more appropriately. I am 5'8 117 pounds and still have excess fat around, I was wondering what I should be doing (Should I be lifting, or cardio, or what?), but I am scared that if I gain more weight I will gain more fat too! I also can not lift heavy because I am only 15 years old. I just really want to be happy with my body for once! Please help me!! Thank you!!

PS: I do go to the gym three times a week, but spend most of my time on the stepper, I find it hard to pick out an appropriate routine/plan for my age

[mediumraw]

Thank you soso much for reading! Last summer I went on my weight loss journey and lost a whooping 48 pounds. At the beginning I was eating really unhealthily (900 calories and less a day) until this February I realized exactly what I was doing to my body, and began eating more appropriately. I am 5'8 117 pounds and still have excess fat around, I was wondering what I should be doing (Should I be lifting, or cardio, or what?), but I am scared that if I gain more weight I will gain more fat too! I also can not lift heavy because I am only 15 years old. I just really want to be happy with my body for once! Please help me!! Thank you!!

PS: I do go to the gym three times a week, but spend most of my time on the stepper, I find it hard to pick out an appropriate routine/plan for my age

If you have gym access, why can't you lift?

[megdaig]

What does age have to do with lifting heavy? I was lifting hella heavy at your age.

[Miranda]

you're not underweight for your age. you're 15 and still growing.

[HeavyIron8]

Hit the right macros (look for stickies on this), eat 10 - 20% above your body weight maintenance calories. Then hit the weights hard (start with rippetoe 3x5 or stronglift 5x5). Your bodyfat % will probably stay the same or maybe increase a little bit, but you'll definitely look more toned and sexier from the muscle gains.

[xeunaex]

What does age have to do with lifting heavy? I was lifting hella heavy at your age.

The fitness instructor at gym (woman) doesn't recommend it at all. Actually, she more or less preaches against it, leaving my mother very worked up and completely against me lifting. I even showed her these posts and she wouldn't believe them, making excuses like 'they probably aren't even real people!'
Is all she says really bull, can I lift? I really want to

[xeunaex]

Hit the right macros (look for stickies on this), eat 10 - 20% above your body weight maintenance calories. Then hit the weights hard (start with rippetoe 3x5 or stronglift 5x5). Your bodyfat % will probably stay the same or maybe increase a little bit, but you'll definitely look more toned and sexier from the muscle gains.

Macros? Stickies? I'm sorry I am completely lost, is there a link you could give me to help find the stickies? Also thanks for the other feedback, very good thing to learn!

[Partyrocking]

I started lifting at 14. Get a book and get to it. Don't say **** to your mother or the fitness instructor who probably doesn't know her head from her butthole.

[PopeGregorius]

You BMI is 17.9 which is low. Dont worry about fat you see, concentrate of good nutrition, getting enough calories, and some exercise. Maybe you need top join a sports team.

Talk to you parents and sports teacher at school. Have you tried olympic lifting at school. Do you have a school nurse? They are more likely to have a balanced attitude to your development.

On this site you will obviously get people telling you to do bodybuilding routines.