Hi All! I am new to the forum, and this is my first post
I have started the REPAIR program today, and I am nervous/excited to get this whole process underway! I am a 27yo female with a history of chronic dieting, but most recently I underwent a 4-month period of overtraining and undereating in an attempt to lose a few, but alas, I think I've done FAR more damage than good. The symptoms I've been experiencing lately seem to point to a body in stress, and my ultimate goal is to get to a maintenance level of eating ( a truly NOVEL idea for me ) with a reduced training schedule.
A l'il about my background
14yo - Starting "dieting"; developed anorexia nervosa. Weight dropped from 120 to 90lbs in a very short time (2-3 months). 14-16yo - struggled with AN but decided to get better on my own. Weight bounced up quickly. 16-21yo - Struggled with binge eating, restricting, over-exercising, bulimia. Weight remained fairly consistent. 21yo - Started BFL and got great results. Felt in control and loved weight lifting! 22+yo - Started to develop GI issues, food intolerances...combined with overexercising, problems with food control.
Fast forward....developed an apparent gluten intolerance (GI problems) 26yo - Continuing w/ weight training 3-4days/wk + HIIT 3-4 times/wk + intervals/SS 1-2x/week....decided to try Lyle's RFL after failing to lose any weight. Did WAYYY too much exercise on low cals. Did one 12-day RFL program, took a week 'break' but still trained, just upped cals by 2-300, and then did a second 12-day RFL round (NOT recommended), again with too much exercise. Lost weight for the first time in a long time.
....It was around this time last year that I started struggling with bouts of lethargy, extreme fluid retention (especially after eating carbs), intolerance to heat/cold, low energy, irritability, anxiety, fluctuating body temperature. I started bingeing on the weekends, until finally I just stopped going to the gym for 6 weeks.
Ok....so the past 4 months, I decided (despite common sense) to start training again, and I went hardcore. Weight training 4 days/week, all supersets, heavy as possible, no rests in between sets, 45-60min/session. This combined with SS cardio at first, then intervals, SS, HIIT 5-6x/week. Yeah . My cals were averaging 1100-1400 at a weight of 135 lbs (some days sub-1000). Carbs = lowwww. Dumb. Oh, and taking EC stack 3x/day + lots of coffee & diet Pepsi.
My current symptoms include:
1. EXTREME fluid retention: swollen face, hands, feet, stomach, legs, calves, eyelids. Waking with sleep lines all over my body that last for a long time. I retain water when I either train too hard on low cals for a few days OR eat a buttload of carbs for a couple of days (note: I don't retain water after a decent 1-day refeed).
2. Resting heart rate at 78-80bpm. I think this is high. I wake up with my heart racing, overheated and full of water. Lovely.
3. Days where I just feel like ass. Lethargy, extreme fatigue, burning eyes, difficulty moving, sore legs (aching joints). Fluctuating fluid retention and body temperature (freezing to sweating within a few minutes).
4. Headaches - almost daily. Uncommon for me. Popping Advil almost daily.
Ok, so I did the quiz, and I figure I'm a pretty effed-up Level 3. I can't believe I won't be going to the gym for the next few weeks (I'm a known regular there! hahah), but I'm willing to do WHATEVER it takes to just be normal. I don't want to obsess about food anymore. I don't want to train like a maniac on no food just to maintain and feel like ass. I'm ready for this.
I have the next 8 weeks all mapped out. Starting cals are set at 1100 for the first 2 weeks (this is lowww, but who knows what my current screwed up RMR is currently....)
Macros
Goal/Actual: 1100/1035
30gF, 78gC (16g starchy carbs), 120gP
Supps: Calcium (650mg x 2), Fish oils (4g), MV, 2 Probiotics
Activity
None. Sat around all day feeling pooey. Full of water today because of carbs yesterday. This is sooo not cool.
Enough rambling for my first post! Any feedback through this trying process will be GREATLY appreciated
I woke up feeling SO much better this morning!! Most (all?) of the fluid retention has gone (usually lasts 2-3 days duing an 'episode'), and I felt like my usual self - adequate energy, alert, awake - yay . I peed a LOT though after I got up. Could have been due to the asparagus for dinner last night, but still, I'm pumped about the decreased fluid retention!!
I got up and cleaned the house (vacuumed, dusted, etc.) and felt a little winded/out of breath doing so. I swear my body rejects any activity these days.
I need to get a thermometer today to start tracking my morning temp, oh and digestive enzymes if I can find them. I started taking a probiotic on the weekend, and it seemed to help with my digestive probs.
I'll be working 11-8 today, so no major activity aside from walking from room to room. And grocery shopping this morning.
Planned Meals
M1 - 2 brown rices cakes w/ egg whites, cheese
M2 - yogurt, berries
M3 - chicken salad (spinach, tomatoes, green peppers, scallions)
M4 - turkey bite
M5 - same as M3
M6 - Apple, CC
Welcome to the forum - since you seem to be following Leigh's program, you might be interested to know she's opened a new website. Will you be doing strength training as part of your workout routine?
__________________
Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
Welcome to the forum - since you seem to be following Leigh's program, you might be interested to know she's opened a new website. Will you be doing strength training as part of your workout routine?
Thanks Tom! I have visited the new website and have signed up for e-mails from Leigh I have halted my strength training until I'm scheduled to re-introduce training at week 5 of the program. I am a gym JUNKIE, so it will be interesting to see how I fare mentally during this time!
Welcome and good luck with this programme. I learnt a lot through it
Thanks Jedi! I am really looking forward to completing the program and getting my metabolic health back in line! Did you complete the full 8 weeks? Did you do the Metaburn program? I'm always interested in feedback from previous MRers!
Hello Amy! I don't think I ever overtrained like you did and didn't have all-out AN, but I was undereating for a couple of years and am only this year really getting out of that. I didn't do Leigh's full MR program, but incorporated its principles and am feeling better; body seems about back where it was before I started undereating. In terms of function, I mean. I'm eating over maintenance this week and plan to go into a deficit next week following (with full compliance) Leigh's OPT program.
Anyway, if it's in your budget, I highly recommend getting a GoWear Fit. It's been immensely helpful for me in realizing just how many calories I'm burning. I got up to 2950 on Saturday, which pre-GWF I never would've suspected, even with Leigh's activity quiz/other calculators. The GWF is not 100% accurate (although there are some people who believe their GWF is spot-on), but it's still a good ballpark figure.
Hello Amy! I don't think I ever overtrained like you did and didn't have all-out AN, but I was undereating for a couple of years and am only this year really getting out of that. I didn't do Leigh's full MR program, but incorporated its principles and am feeling better; body seems about back where it was before I started undereating. In terms of function, I mean. I'm eating over maintenance this week and plan to go into a deficit next week following (with full compliance) Leigh's OPT program.
Anyway, if it's in your budget, I highly recommend getting a GoWear Fit. It's been immensely helpful for me in realizing just how many calories I'm burning. I got up to 2950 on Saturday, which pre-GWF I never would've suspected, even with Leigh's activity quiz/other calculators. The GWF is not 100% accurate (although there are some people who believe their GWF is spot-on), but it's still a good ballpark figure.
Good luck!
Funny you should mention the GoWear Fit because I was just looking into getting one. I'm not sure if I can get one in Canada though. Anyone know if this is the case? If so, are there other devices out there that might be suitable? Also, I'm looking into getting a HR monitor. Does the GoWear Fit have one built in? I would be very interested to know just how many cals I burn in a day...
That's so awesome that you're feeling better and that your body is back to normal. I have high hopes this will be the case for me too! How are you doing mentally eating above maintenance? I am excited but also dreading eating that much, but I am 100% committed to this plan, and I'll do whatever I have to! I still haven't decided whether MetaBurn or OPT Remix is the best plan to follow after the 8-weeks of MR. Any thoughts?
Thanks so much for your input - greatly appreciated!!
Thanks Jedi! I am really looking forward to completing the program and getting my metabolic health back in line! Did you complete the full 8 weeks? Did you do the Metaburn program? I'm always interested in feedback from previous MRers!
I did the metrepair and kept a journal here, if you do a search. I have also bought the GWF since and highly recommend it too
I felt pretty tired all day at work, and I coould feel the water I was still holding in my face, arms, stomach and especially legs. I did feel better and better as the day went on. It seems as though my hunger signals are returning as well! I was hungry for every meal, and I even went over my planned macros. I figure this is ok because the ultomate goal really is to get my metabolism kickin' once again . I was tired after work and went to bed at 9:30.
Morning PR = 72bpm (down)
Morning Temperature = 98.1 (good!!)
Hours Slept = 8.5 (no waking )
Waking Symptoms/Impressions
- Sleep lines havily embedded in my arms and especially (!) legs. So yeah, I'm still holding some water in there.
- Felt pretty alert and awake - got up easily
- Legs/thighs still aching from fluid retention...heopefully this will be gone sooooon!!
Funny you should mention the GoWear Fit because I was just looking into getting one. I'm not sure if I can get one in Canada though. Anyone know if this is the case? If so, are there other devices out there that might be suitable? Also, I'm looking into getting a HR monitor. Does the GoWear Fit have one built in? I would be very interested to know just how many cals I burn in a day...
That's so awesome that you're feeling better and that your body is back to normal. I have high hopes this will be the case for me too! How are you doing mentally eating above maintenance? I am excited but also dreading eating that much, but I am 100% committed to this plan, and I'll do whatever I have to! I still haven't decided whether MetaBurn or OPT Remix is the best plan to follow after the 8-weeks of MR. Any thoughts?
Thanks so much for your input - greatly appreciated!!
I remember the massive GoWear Fit thread over in Leigh's subforum discussed the Canada/other nonUS countries thing a while ago. Sounded like there was some sort of legal issue where they hadn't gotten approval to ship outside of the US yet, so your best bet would be to find a US friend to send it to and have them then mail it to you.
No, it doesn't include a HRM. I have a Polar that I use for tracking HR. Polar's calculated calorie burn is consistently higher (and I think less accurate) than my GWF.
Mental issues re: eating above maintenance--I'm all right. Honestly I probably need to increase my cals even a bit more--I had a higher-than-average burn on Sat that skewed my maintenance level up by about 150 cals/day, so I may need to "overcome" that.
Anyway, a major turning point for me was realizing that, duh, food has weight too and adds weight to me until it leaves my body. Thus a 500-cal surplus on one day with a 3 lb weight gain the next day does NOT mean I gained 3 lbs of fat overnight.
And when I add out my extra calories of overeating for one week, it should result in a 0.25-0.5 lb weight gain, which is miniscule. I wouldn't mind seeing that on the scale because it would then mean I really found where my maintenance cals are at, KWIM? Of course it helps to know I'm headed into a deficit next week and that weight should come right off.
So looking at it from that mathematical standpoint rather really helped me stave off that "OMG! Bad Things will happen if I overeat for even a day, let alone a week!" attitude.
I remember the massive GoWear Fit thread over in Leigh's subforum discussed the Canada/other nonUS countries thing a while ago. Sounded like there was some sort of legal issue where they hadn't gotten approval to ship outside of the US yet, so your best bet would be to find a US friend to send it to and have them then mail it to you.
No, it doesn't include a HRM. I have a Polar that I use for tracking HR. Polar's calculated calorie burn is consistently higher (and I think less accurate) than my GWF.
Mental issues re: eating above maintenance--I'm all right. Honestly I probably need to increase my cals even a bit more--I had a higher-than-average burn on Sat that skewed my maintenance level up by about 150 cals/day, so I may need to "overcome" that.
Anyway, a major turning point for me was realizing that, duh, food has weight too and adds weight to me until it leaves my body. Thus a 500-cal surplus on one day with a 3 lb weight gain the next day does NOT mean I gained 3 lbs of fat overnight.
And when I add out my extra calories of overeating for one week, it should result in a 0.25-0.5 lb weight gain, which is miniscule. I wouldn't mind seeing that on the scale because it would then mean I really found where my maintenance cals are at, KWIM? Of course it helps to know I'm headed into a deficit next week and that weight should come right off.
So looking at it from that mathematical standpoint rather really helped me stave off that "OMG! Bad Things will happen if I overeat for even a day, let alone a week!" attitude.
Yep, I've looked into it pretty extensively, and it looks like I'll have to take that route - ship it to the US first. I'm pretty pumped about getting the GWF though - I've always wondered how many calories I burn in a day (roughly anyway )
I'll have to get a HRM too I'm sure - man, I am usually the QUEEN of gadgets, but I'm seriously lacking here!!
The thought of eating at maintenance is such a novel one for me. How dumb is this?! I've never (until recently) even considered a life eating beyond 1500 scheduled calories a day. Ever. It'll be nice to schedule and actually allow myself to eat according to my activity. Looking forward (with mixed emotions) to that!!
I really identify when you wrote about the scale reflecting the previous week's eats. It's all such a mystery world sometimes - water weight? Fat gain? Muscle? WTF is going on? Gah - it's tiring! I would LOVE to get a good handle on my true maintanance numbers once and for all!
I have huge anxiety when I overeat....as you said - OMG, I'm going to be a whale tomorrow! But really - this makes no sense mathematically, so I agree that approach will likely work well for me too
Macros yesterday ended at 1456 cals (36F, 145C, 145P), so yep - higher than planned. I'm feeling better day by day though, so that's all I truly care about right now. On the GI front, I decided to have one piece of SF gum and some SF syrup yesterday (I've been free from sugar alcohols for weeks now), and let's just say my tummy was a hot mess!! Completely distended, hard as a rock, grumbling, runbling and oh so painful. I had such a hard time falling asleep. Funny thing is a few years ago, I had NO food intolerances and my stomach could tolerate anything. I really think the food restriction and havoc I've wreaked on my body has been the major factor in so many of my current health issues. Gah. I've restricted heavily, overexercised, binged, restricted again for too long. And now my body hates me.
I woke up at 1am in PAIN. Took some Pepto and felt a bit better. Went to the bathroom...not pleasant, and felt a bit better yet. Fell back asleep for a couple of hours and woke up still in pain. More Pepto. Felt blah. NO more sugar alcohols for this chicky. Makes me wonder if after this whole process if I WILL be able to bring back some of the foods I've developed an intolerance to...mainly sugar alcohols, gluten (a HUGE issue for my tum) and peanuts (another new food intolerance). I realllllly(!!!!) hope so. I just want to be back to normal. My definition of my old normal self anyway
I am STILL holding a ton of water from the weekend of carbs (prior to starting the repair I way overdid the carbs 2 days in a row in a "screw it" type attitude). My legs felt like two lead poles all day. Tired, aching and so uncomfortable. It feels awful. I hope the water wll be gone in another day or two.......fingers crossed! I might look into a potassium supplement - I am beginning to think my electrolytes are way off.
Macros will be on the high side again today - I'll update with totals tomorrow. Still sitting on my ass pretty much all day, only moving when needed. I work in a medical setting (I'm an optometrist), so I'm up and down a fair bit during the day. I'm certainly not completely sedentary but not active in any way either. My evenings have been spent on the couch with my feet up (trying to alleviate the water), so no real movement there either. Meh, I thought I would have anxiety not being at the gym, but I feel ok. I want to rest; my body NEEDS to rest.
I really want to look into getting both a heart rate monitor and a Go Wear Fit, but I'll have to have the GWF shipped to a US address first. I'll be looking into this soon. Gah - c'mon Canada!!
Ugh, reading about your symptoms reminds me of some stomach stuff I had around two years ago, when I was probably at my lowest cals. I'd always figured I'd gotten some sort of bug, but since it happened more than once it was probably my body rejecting some sort of nutrient I'd denied it too long.
I also remember reading in MRM about undereating leading to pain in the joints, which explained the shooting pain I had in my right arm for about a month running. Had an EKG and an ultrasound done; neither one revealed any problems. My GP had no idea what could be happening. Eventually the pain went away--I assume when I upped my calories a small bit; can't remember now--but man, the things we do to ourselves!
Sorry your body isn't happy with you right now, but things will get better in the long run. Your rising temp and lowering HR are already good signs.
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
I've been lurking () - Your willingness to face these issues head-on is really impressive. Body image/dietary issues are SO hard to address after they have become ingrained in your identity.
Anyway...didn't come in here to babble! I just wanted to suggest (as I don't think you've mentioned trying it) having some warm/hot lemon water. I hold water like a camel and have found this to be pretty effective.
I've also been thinking about a GWF - a little worried that I might obsess over the numbers, but I think KNOWING my expenditure would help assuage some of my anxieties.
Ugh, reading about your symptoms reminds me of some stomach stuff I had around two years ago, when I was probably at my lowest cals. I'd always figured I'd gotten some sort of bug, but since it happened more than once it was probably my body rejecting some sort of nutrient I'd denied it too long.
I also remember reading in MRM about undereating leading to pain in the joints, which explained the shooting pain I had in my right arm for about a month running. Had an EKG and an ultrasound done; neither one revealed any problems. My GP had no idea what could be happening. Eventually the pain went away--I assume when I upped my calories a small bit; can't remember now--but man, the things we do to ourselves!
Sorry your body isn't happy with you right now, but things will get better in the long run. Your rising temp and lowering HR are already good signs.
Yep, I NEVER had issues prior to dieting with any food intolerances, stomach upset or GI issues. No real joint or muscle pain either. I took very little in the way of meds/supps and felt pretty normal/healthy most of the time! Now....after undereating/overtraining/restr icting, my body has become angered Lesson LEARNED! I'm really (!!) hoping things will go back to normal, and I'm pretty optimistic they well. I'm just going to perservere through the madness and stay as positive as possible
I was pretty stoked with my body temp this AM! Just a few days of rest, and I seem to be on the mend. Maybe I didn't inflict as MUCH damage as I suspected??!! Fingies crossed!
Thanks for replying - it's good to know I'm not the only one who has gone through this!
I felt like donkey-poo this morning. Still puffy and kinda backed up is NOT a good combination. Trying to look professional for work while remaining comfortable was a chore! Ack. I decided to cancel my afternoon patients - it's nice to be self-employed! I came home, relaxed for a bit, took some OTC diuretics (I KNOW I shouldn't have but this water is driving me bananas!), then went tanning and picked up a buttload of supps/vitamins. I am trying to investigate the fluid retention issue I've been having, and Leigh Peele talks a lot about mineral deficiencies. I decided to supplement with potassium 1g/day. Hopefully this will help....
Morning Body Temp = 98.1F Morning Resting HR = 76bpm (woke up wayyy too hot though under a crap-load of blankets with the window shut....impact on body temp/HR?)
My list of current meds/supps (just want to get this all written down):
- Calcium 650mg 1-2/day
- Potassium 100mg 10/day (at regular intervals)
- 1 Multivitamin
- 6-8g fish oils
- Claritin 1/day (just for the spring/early summer)
- Digestive Enzymes (1-2 before meals if I remember)
- 1 Probiotic after each meal (usually only 2-3/day) - Udo's brand
- If needed....OTC diuretic (50mg Pamabrom), Natural Diuretic, Psyllium husk capsules
- Going to start Magnesium for regularity
- Oral contraceptive (Triquilar)
....Man! this is an extensive list. I used to take NOTHING. Haha, maybe an Advil if needed. Gah. Maybe if I get back to good, I can stop all these supps??? Thoughts?
On a cool note, I e-mailed Leigh Peele about my water retention issues and how ever since I started restricting carbs, overtraining and undereating, my fluid levels have been wayyyy off. I can retain 10-15 lbs of water EASY on any given day. This usually occurs if either a) I go too long and train too hard on low cals/carbs....fluid starts accumulating after a few days OR b) I say screw it! and cram a buttload of carbs down my gullet....end up a puffy mess for days and days. I wanted to know if I gradually upped the carbs and rested appropriately (as per the Metabolic Repair), if this issue could be resolved completely. Anyway, she asked me if she could use my question in her next podcast! Cool beans eh?? I, of course, said yes. So, stay tuned...
So, yeah, my energy is better now, and for the first time in oh......4 days, my legs are not an achy fluid-filled mess! They have felt ike 2 lead poles for the past few days. Gah.
Takin' it easy the rest of the day - may hang with my peeps tonight if I'm up for it.
Macros yesterday ended higher than my goal, but I'm cool with that. 1575 cals (71F, 164C, 85P). I'm going to TRY to stay closer to my goal macros today!!
Planned Eatskies
M1 - 2 egg, cheese rice cake sammies, blueberries
M2 - apple
M3 - Chicken salad (spinach, tomatoes, green pepper, green onion, black olives)
M4 - orange, EW
M5 - TBD
I've been lurking () - Your willingness to face these issues head-on is really impressive. Body image/dietary issues are SO hard to address after they have become ingrained in your identity.
Anyway...didn't come in here to babble! I just wanted to suggest (as I don't think you've mentioned trying it) having some warm/hot lemon water. I hold water like a camel and have found this to be pretty effective.
I've also been thinking about a GWF - a little worried that I might obsess over the numbers, but I think KNOWING my expenditure would help assuage some of my anxieties.
I hope you woke up with lighter limbs today!
Thank you SO much for your insight and kind words! And rambling is ALWAYS welcome in here You are so right when you wrote about body image and dieting becoming ingrained. If I could go back to my 14yo self, I would try my damndest to knock some sense into her! If I had known just how much mental and physical pain I could have avoided by not going down that path..... But the past is the past! Nothing can be done to change it, so I learn and progress and move on.
I'll have to try the warm lemon water - thanks for the tip!
I actually JUST ordered a GWF. I'm a bit worried about number obsession too, but my hope is that the numbers might actually prompt me to eat MORE. I guess I've always had this fear that I burn virtually nothing all day, and I'd like to think this isn't the case! Maybe if the numbers are higher than I suspect, I will be more willing to up my intake....here's hoping!
That is a lot of supplements - have you considered trying to have foods which would give you those in your diet? e.g., bananas for potassium, milk for calcium, fish instead of fish oil
__________________
Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
Thank you SO much for your insight and kind words! And rambling is ALWAYS welcome in here You are so right when you wrote about body image and dieting becoming ingrained. If I could go back to my 14yo self, I would try my damndest to knock some sense into her! If I had known just how much mental and physical pain I could have avoided by not going down that path..... But the past is the past! Nothing can be done to change it, so I learn and progress and move on.
I'll have to try the warm lemon water - thanks for the tip!
I actually JUST ordered a GWF. I'm a bit worried about number obsession too, but my hope is that the numbers might actually prompt me to eat MORE. I guess I've always had this fear that I burn virtually nothing all day, and I'd like to think this isn't the case! Maybe if the numbers are higher than I suspect, I will be more willing to up my intake....here's hoping!
LMAO I feel the same way about my adolescent self. I wish I had the patience (or confidence) at that time to just ride it out without trying to change myself in some drastic way. Maybe then I'd know what I'm "supposed" to weigh and not have to deal with so much joint pain or massive water weight swings.
You mean there are two of us?!? I thought I was the only one in this world without a functional resting metabolism! I'm hoping right along with you that you are pleasantly surprised by the GWF's readout. I'm SO tempted at the moment to order one. Did you get the wristband as well?
I've also been thinking about a GWF - a little worried that I might obsess over the numbers, but I think KNOWING my expenditure would help assuage some of my anxieties.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amyem
I actually JUST ordered a GWF. I'm a bit worried about number obsession too, but my hope is that the numbers might actually prompt me to eat MORE. I guess I've always had this fear that I burn virtually nothing all day, and I'd like to think this isn't the case! Maybe if the numbers are higher than I suspect, I will be more willing to up my intake....here's hoping!
That's been the case for me--it's good seeing the numbers because it tells me I am burning more than 1600 calories. I think the key is understanding it's energy in, energy out, and making ourselves realize that's it's incredibly unlikely that we're the exception to this rule.
Even on my lowest day I still topped 2000. I'd always convinced myself that I had a "slow metabolism" (even after thyroid levels during a physical a couple of years back came back normal) so I couldn't eat as much as normal people. But even this week when I'm (supposedly) eating over maintenance at 2650 cals, I still haven't gained weight this week. I'm thinking maybe it'll accumulate and I'll see a bump soon, but if someone had told me a year ago that I was actually burning 2650, I'd have--well, not laughed in their face, but probably scribbled in my journal about how I have a sucky metabolism and woe is me and that person just doesn't understand my situation, blah blah. I'm sort of passive aggressive that way.
Anyway, Amy, I don't know if you ordered the display device too, but if so maybe you could set it aside for a bit. I don't have the display and do fine without it. People have said it's a reminder to move more, but when the issue is trying to eat enough in the first place, I don't think we need that particular reminder
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
That is a lot of supplements - have you considered trying to have foods which would give you those in your diet? e.g., bananas for potassium, milk for calcium, fish instead of fish oil
Well....I do eat a lot of the foods you mentioned (bananas, milk, fish on occasion), and on the days I eat higher amounts of those foods, I tend not to supplement. It's tricky though! I really feel I've messed up my system so badly (especially re: water retention), that I'm looking to stay as balanced as possible. I'm hoping to drop most of these once my body adjusts (hopefully!!), but I think the fish oils will stay
It's crazy the damage we inflict on our bodies eh? And for what? Certainly NOT a happier life! I have an identical twin sister, so I consider her my baseline/test subject. She eats whatever she wants whenever she wants, does not work out with any consistency (she walks a fair bit), stays at a normal body weight with minimal fluctuation and has really none of the health issues I suffer from! Back to slapping my former 14yo self..... I agree about wishing I had the confidence back then stick it out....gawd, if I ever have children, girls especially, I will be a drill sargeant in the body image world!!
Have you been able to control the water weight swings?? This is my biggest issue and biggest fear. I will do whatever I need to to get this under control. Sweriously - WHATEVER I have to! I started K+ supplementation today, so hopefully that helps! I ordered the armband but not the display, although I'm really not too familiar with how any of it operates. I love gadgets, so I'll figure it out once it arrives . I'm nervous/anxious/excited to start using it, but I do worry. I remmember learning how to count calories and thinking with this knowledge, there is NO way I won't be stick thin!! Just eat less and less and less....um, yeah.
Have you had your resting metabolism tested? I've never in any way had it done, but the curiosity is killing me!
Anyway, NOW who's babbling??!! Haha, thanks again for your input
Quote:
Originally Posted by PlankIt
LMAO I feel the same way about my adolescent self. I wish I had the patience (or confidence) at that time to just ride it out without trying to change myself in some drastic way. Maybe then I'd know what I'm "supposed" to weigh and not have to deal with so much joint pain or massive water weight swings.
You mean there are two of us?!? I thought I was the only one in this world without a functional resting metabolism! I'm hoping right along with you that you are pleasantly surprised by the GWF's readout. I'm SO tempted at the moment to order one. Did you get the wristband as well?
That's been the case for me--it's good seeing the numbers because it tells me I am burning more than 1600 calories. I think the key is understanding it's energy in, energy out, and making ourselves realize that's it's incredibly unlikely that we're the exception to this rule.
Even on my lowest day I still topped 2000. I'd always convinced myself that I had a "slow metabolism" (even after thyroid levels during a physical a couple of years back came back normal) so I couldn't eat as much as normal people. But even this week when I'm (supposedly) eating over maintenance at 2650 cals, I still haven't gained weight this week. I'm thinking maybe it'll accumulate and I'll see a bump soon, but if someone had told me a year ago that I was actually burning 2650, I'd have--well, not laughed in their face, but probably scribbled in my journal about how I have a sucky metabolism and woe is me and that person just doesn't understand my situation, blah blah. I'm sort of passive aggressive that way.
Anyway, Amy, I don't know if you ordered the display device too, but if so maybe you could set it aside for a bit. I don't have the display and do fine without it. People have said it's a reminder to move more, but when the issue is trying to eat enough in the first place, I don't think we need that particular reminder
It's so encouraging to read that the GWF has been a positive impact in your life! That is certainly my hope too!! I truly believed (and still do to some extent) that I was/AM the exception to the rule. But the more I read and investigate, the more I realize this is likely not the case. At least I hope not anyway!
That's awesome that your lowest burn is ~2000cals! Goes against some of the calculators I'm sure. If my burn is this high, I know that a few weeks ago, I was logging crazy huge STUPID deficits of 1300-1600+ cals/day. I would life full-body HEAVY supersetting with no rest periods for 50min follwed by 30-45min cardio....trying to keep my cals low - under 1000 on some days. WHY!!??? Gawd, I don't know why. I figured this was the way, as Leigh puts it, "to get in and get out". My way was obviously way too extreme though.
It's so cool that you're kinda looking for your maintenance/gaining level! Makes it easier mentally to create a REASONABLE deficit when you choose to. Gawd...the more I think about it, the more I think the GWF will be a positive addition to my obsession
I just ordered the armband, no display. I think I'll do fine this way...I'm excited now!! I hope it gets here sooooon!!
I wish I had a twin sister just to use as a body-weight 'control'. Not so much otherwise.... I don't like to share.
Re: water weight - no. I bloat up every time the weather swings quickly from a low temp to a high one. Humidity only makes it worse. Then again this has been going on for years..... even when I stopped exercising for a bit (I admit that it wasn't long enough in retrospect) I remained bloated (it was summer time...winter is another story). I hope the potassium helps you. Were your labs ever off? I've often wondered the same about myself but my labs have been coming back as normal.
I've never had my rmr tested but all of the calculations I've done return a depressingly low number.
Any idea when your GWF will come?
Re: Supplements - what about Vitamin D? I get my Cal/Mag/D all in one pill.
hijack/And Scribess - thank you for sharing your experience!
I wish I had a twin sister just to use as a body-weight 'control'. Not so much otherwise.... I don't like to share.
Re: water weight - no. I bloat up every time the weather swings quickly from a low temp to a high one. Humidity only makes it worse. Then again this has been going on for years..... even when I stopped exercising for a bit (I admit that it wasn't long enough in retrospect) I remained bloated (it was summer time...winter is another story). I hope the potassium helps you. Were your labs ever off? I've often wondered the same about myself but my labs have been coming back as normal.
I've never had my rmr tested but all of the calculations I've done return a depressingly low number.
Any idea when your GWF will come?
Re: Supplements - what about Vitamin D? I get my Cal/Mag/D all in one pill.
hijack/And Scribess - thank you for sharing your experience!
Haha - I'm no big fan of the sharezies either, but I've learned to cope . My 7yo former self would not agree with that last statement though! (geez, I refer to my former self a fair bit these past posts!). She's always been a bit smaller than me frame-wise (from birth), but I do like to quiz her on food intake, symptoms, etc. as a gauge.
Interesting about the temperature and humidity - I've never thought to look for a connection between weather and fluid retention. Although I will say a few years ago when my symptoms started, I became extremely sensitive to hot and cold. I would sweat profusely and feel like passing out in even mildly warm climates, and the heat would just about KILL me. I became unable to tolerate the cold either, becoming absolutely chilled to the bone in cool weather.
My labs have never been off, but I think I've just been tested for the 'regular' stuff - TSH, blood glucose, CBC, etc. Are mineral deficiencies routinely tested for?
The GWF will likely be a week or more, depending on the hold-up through customs. I'm nervous and excited for its arrival...
I have been taking Calcium w/ Vitamin D, so I just bought Magnesium separately today. I think each capsule is 250mg...which reminds me I should go take that! Scurries away....
It's settling to hear experiences similar to my own. Thanks again.
Amy's Metabolic Repair Journey
) with a reduced training schedule.
. My cals were averaging 1100-1400 at a weight of 135 lbs (some days sub-1000). Carbs = lowwww. Dumb. Oh, and taking EC stack 3x/day + lots of coffee & diet Pepsi. 
)
I came home, relaxed for a bit, took some OTC diuretics (I KNOW I shouldn't have but this water is driving me bananas!), then went tanning and picked up a buttload of supps/vitamins. I am trying to investigate the fluid retention issue I've been having, and Leigh Peele talks a lot about mineral deficiencies. I decided to supplement with potassium 1g/day. Hopefully this will help....
Linear Mode
