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| Weight Loss | pre-period weight gain & bloating (sorry, guys) | Dec 04 2008 14:01 (UTC) |
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I'm going through the same thing right now, but I was getting frustrated because I thought I had gained weight from Thanksgiving! Now, I know I didn't eat anywhere NEAR enough calories to gain five pounds over the break, but lo and behold, the lovely scale said yesterday that I was up 5 pounds...but the funny part? My tightest pair of pants still seemed to fit like they normally do, so I'm hopefully going to chalk this up to my period, which is due in just 3 days. I've also been really bloated lately, with spots of acne breaking out. And I also had a nonexistent period last time, so I'm thinking this time will be heavier. Does this ever happen to anyone else? Have a light/nonexistent period then have a REALLY heavy one the next? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Mar 11 2008 12:53 (UTC) |
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| Happy Nearly-Spring, everyone! I return to this forum today bearing some exciting news that has both shocked and elated me, and I need to pass it on to you, the faithful few who have sent me countless tips and ideas for attaining my goals of weight loss. So, here we go:
If you've been playing the home game and following along with this thread, you all know that I've been battling my metabolism for about 10 months now. It all started this summer when I mysteriously began gaining weight, despite my workout routine and a pretty healthy diet plan. It was unexpected, especially because the same workout routine had worked 4 years hence for me, and as an eater, I truly can't eat that much anyways. So, as the weight began to pile on, my spirits sank and I got extremely frustrated. As I made a big jump this fall to a new city and a new school, the weight continued to pile on, pushing me to even give up part of my intense workout routine and my diet (which wasn't working). I went from being at a maintainable weight of 120 lbs., which was not only a great weight, but a healthy weight...to somewhere between 135 and 140. With a frame of almost 5'5", I began to feel sluggish and lethargic. What was I doing wrong? For months, my mom had urged me to change up my workout routine, but I was stubborn: I feared changing my workout would inevitably cause more weight gain, so I kept to the gym, to yoga and to weight lifting...but still the inches came. When I went home for Christmas break, still working out hard, I would come home from the gym, feeling defeated by how tight my pants were, and seriously worried that the weight would mysteriously keep coming. I was desperate to try anything. So, after multiple blood tests and trips to the doctor, I was told that absolutely nothing was wrong with me...my insulin/glucose levels were perfect (above average, actually), my TH levels were fine, and even my hormones were intact. So, what on earth was wrong with me? I began to take matters into my own hands. I did what anyone does with a health problem they can't diagnose and I went online to trusty Google and began researching my symptoms: weight gain, loss of energy, depression, bloating, constipation, etc. I got answers like "Have your hormones checked," or "Check your insulin," which left me screaming at the computer...until... One day, I happened upon a web page that spoke about adrenal fatigue...a health problem that can go undetected unless you check for it by a saliva test (which is not usually offered in doctor's offices). It cited a lot of the symptoms I had been experiencing, and it even had said that it can cause weight gain with a little help from the hormone known as cortisol, which is said to regulate the body's metabolism and insulin/blood sugar levels. During times of severe stress, this hormone is pumped out faster than McDonald's dollar menu during lunchtime. Here's a tad more info on it: Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:
With further research, I stumbled upon a wonderful article that spoke about how our bodies can seriously be effected by our hormones and the food we put into them. It categorized us all into three body types (ovary, adrenal and liver), and gave us all the facts on all three. I was somewhere between an ovary and adrenal body type, so I began reading up on what foods are good for me and what foods are bad...surprisingly, I was told to limit sweets and carbs (I shed a tear), and to amp up my vitamin C, veggies, protein and fruits. Following this article, I also found a book written by the same author...an informative book known as The 7 Principles of Fat Burning by Dr. Eric Berg. Again, he reinforces his theory on the different body types, and details them all into their own separate categories. He gave me ideas of what to eat and when to eat them, and was very strict about eating nothing after dinner or before bed. He said the weight loss game really just revolves around sugar, insulin and carbs, and that fat and proteins really are fair game. Sounds good to me! The book goes into much detail about what to eat and what not to eat, but it also says that if you're suffering from adrenal fatigue, you should STOP all intense cardio and let your body recover (for adrenal body types, that is). What?!? Stop cardio? The thing that had helped me shed all my weight from 4 years ago? Are you nuts? Well, even if the idea was nuts, I was desperate to try anything, so in the middle of January, I began a new plan to lose weight. I stopped doing ANY kind of exercise, giving up my once beloved yoga, and began to focus on my diet and letting my body recover. To jump start myself, I began the Cleveland Clinic Diet, a 3 day diet plan which has been said to clean our your digestive system and just leave you feeling lighter and more energetic. I had done this diet before, and although I had experienced no weight loss, it certainly had left me feeling better about myself. This diet was really in tune with what I had been reading about in the book I had found...lots of protein, fresh fruits and veggies, no carbs after lunch, eat whole grain carbs, and always pair your carbs with protein (it apparently has to do with some sort of chemical reaction...the proteins help break down the carbs). Heck, I was even allowed full-caloried vanilla ice cream on the diet! So, the results? I don't think I lost a pound on the diet, but after the third day (and nearly killing anyone who ate fast food around me), I certainly felt leaner and more energetic. In fact, my problems with my digestive tract almost cleared up, too. Bolstered by the way I was feeling, I decided to give this new diet a real go, and began to stock up my kitchen with healthy food. I began being very aware of carb/protein pairings, sometimes eating eggs with wheat toast...peanut butter with toast...yogurt with bananas...tuna with bread...and I seriously tried to listen to my stomach, only eating when I felt hungry and stopping when I was full. By the time I had to go back to school at the end of January, my mom even had noticed a change in my lower body, and I could definitely see some inches coming off. What on earth was happening? Weight loss WITHOUT the gym?!? I weighed myself as I began my second semester of school, and, according to the flimsy scale I have here at my place (which probably is off by a few pounds, but who cares), it said 132, which was a drop of 3 pounds since I was last there. Things were looking up! I continued to not exercise, only participating in a tap class 2 times a week, and only relying on the walking I do everyday in the city. I made sure that I got up every morning and ate breakfast, opting for high fiber cereals or breads. I stopped snacking between meals, and I even invested in some high protein, high fiber power bars that held me over until my mid-afternoon snack. I seriously tried to limit my carbs after dinner, and I absolutely...ABSOLUTELY...had nothing to eat after dinner, no matter how hungry I got. One of the biggest things Dr. Berg says in his book is that even the slightest indulgence before bedtime can throw off weight loss. Plus, when I woke up in the morning, I felt lighter and no longer had a stomachache when I went to bed. But one of the things that I really focused on was my stomach and what it was telling me. I didn't force myself to eat if I wasn't hungry, and even at times when I felt like I was starving, I ate slowly and only until I was satiated. I think in the past I had forgotten how to eat normally, and I've discovered that my portions are significantly smaller than they ever were. I used to overeat (not intentionally), but I would have the mindset like "since I only eat when I'm hungry, I'm going to eat a lot now." That just led to bloating, stomach cramps and a foul attitude from myself. The results? I am so happy to report that as of this morning, my rinky-dink scale in the bathroom reported me at 120 lbs...a good 12 pounds less than when I arrived back here in January. I am still stunned to think that this happened because I gave up being a gym fanatic and just let my body recharge itself. I was always so worried about the day when I would have to give up my gym routine when my life got too busy, but now that I have, I am so much happier and worry so much less. Plus, I now have oodles of time to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, respond to emails, and watch The Today Show, something I never did because I was always working out for at least 2 hours everyday. But, now that exercise isn't ruling my life, I'm pretty okay with eating healthfully, and it doesn't feel like a severe diet. In fact, I still indulge in chocolate, beer, wine, peanut butter, ice cream, and even hot fudge. I just try to balance them out with healthier choices, like sugar-free ice cream and lots of fruits and veggies. What's really exciting for me is that once my weight levels out and I plateau, I can worry even less about calories and just focus on getting protein and fiber into my diet. For the first time in 5 years, I'm actively not thinking about calories and focusing on the nutritional content of the foods I eat. And I cheat, too. You need to cheat every now and then to make you stick to a healthy eating plan. And you know what? The funniest thing is that I actually missed certain fruits and veggies, like strawberries, carrots, peas, chick peas, olives, grapes and apples. I actually craved grapes one morning, so I went to the store and bought a bunch. In the past, I always felt deprived by sticking to such a healthy diet, but now, I actually miss it. I forgot what it feels like to eat fruits and feel actually energized by them. I don't get stomachaches nearly as much now, and I look forward to breakfast in the morning! (Granted, I still carry around 100 calorie Hostess cupcake packs, but hey! They have 5g of fiber and 2g of protein!) So, for those of you out there who are frustrated by your own metabolisms, I'm here to tell you that there IS an answer out there. It may require you to completely change up your routine/diet, but that may be a choice you should try. You'll never know until you do. If anyone is interested to hear about the articles/books I read, please let me know. Until the next time, happy dieting! |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Jan 28 2008 02:40 (UTC) |
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| Well, surfergerl, I haven't actually been tested for adrenal fatigue, but I sort of self-diagnosed myself. I've definitely heard of the saliva test for cortisol, but I, too, don't have the funds right now to just jet out the door and do that.
I had a small setback on Friday-Saturday. For some odd reason, despite being good all week long, I felt tremendously bloated over the weekend, and it felt like all my work had been for naught. The weird thing is, I ate small portions for all of my meals, but it felt as if my insides were all bound up again. To remedy this, I took sort of a "catch up" day today with my diet, and stuck to fruits, protein, and veggies. However, I know for a fact that my calorie down was way down. The question becomes: how do you know when you're sabotaging your own weight loss efforts by not eating enough calories? That's still a foreign idea to me...to eat more to lose...but I sometimes worry that might be a reason why the weight isn't coming off quicker. I usually don't eat over 1200 calories a day when I can help it (now that I'm not exercising). I just started that about 3 weeks ago, but I almost wonder if I should purposely amp that up to 1500. *sigh* It's still a long, hard road. I do believe, however, that Sweet N Low might have been part of my cause for bloating over the weekend, so I'm really going to try to cut it out of my system completely. I'll post again once I try a few things this week with my diet! |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Jan 23 2008 03:48 (UTC) |
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| Amy, I did get my test results back, and I wish I had posted my findings sooner. I have some shocking news.
I am perfectly fine. My thyroid pituitary, insulin and glucose levels are all normal (and in some cases, superior). When the doctor gave me these results, I was floored. I received the first two results about 2 weeks ago. When I heard my thyroid was not to blame, I got so fed up with exercising and counting calories that I was desperate to try anything. My mom (a long proponent of the Cleveland Clinic Diet), suggested that I try the diet for just 3 days, and see how I felt after it was done. She said, even if I didn't lose weight, I would certainly feel better. And boy, did I. Granted, the diet is not something you could sustain for days at a time. It's meant to cleanse your system, then you're supposed to return to normal, healthy eating. It's a very strict diet, combining proteins with carbs (and no carbs after lunch), and the worst meal was lunch, where sometimes I only got an egg and a piece of dry toast. But, sometimes, I feasted on hot dogs, green beans, cauliflower, beets, cantaloupe AND full calorie vanilla ice cream...all in one sitting. There was a ton of fresh fruit and veggies on the plan, and it all led to some VERY interesting discoveries. By the end of day 2, I had somehow mysteriously started my period again, a feat I have not been able to do for quite some time now. So, it was hard to monitor my weight gain/loss during the diet, because I'm assuming a lot of the weight I saw on the scale was water weight from PMS. But still, that means my system is trying to get itself back in order again. During the diet, I also gave up fiber pills, and wouldn't you know, but my digestive system also got on track, cycling regularly everyday. By the end of the 3rd day (with a small cheat of 3 potato chips at 11:30 PM), I was feeling leaner, less bloated, and just more energized. Granted, the diet had stripped my food intake of any fried, packaged, pre-made, sugary foods, so that might have been the reason why. But I really felt good, so I decided to head over to the grocery store and stock up on healthier food. Another interesting note: during the diet, I also gave up exercise, only walking with my mom when I WANTED to for enjoyment. This was a big deal for me. I had also been reading up on adrenal failure/fatigue, which I thought I was experiencing, and to remedy this, I was supposed to cling to foods containing vitamin C and healthy proteins. I was told even to not worry about calories so much...just keep a high fiber/protein intake with fresh veggies and fruit. So, to the grocery store I went, and returned with some uber healthy foods: yogurt, cheese, lean meats, Kashi dinners, apples, bananas, fiber bread and cereal, fat free dressings, and even fat free ice cream (which was pretty damn good). For the whole next week, I tried to stick to a high protein/fiber diet, pairing carbs with proteins throughout the day. I snacked on cereal, apples, cheese and carrots when I needed to, and I absolutely did not force myself to eat a lot at mealtimes if I wasn't hungry. In other words, I did not allow myself to overeat. AND, I also forbade myself to eat past 7:30...no ifs, ands or buts. My findings? As the week progressed, I kept steady measurements of myself, including thighs, waist, hips, and arms. From Christmas time to last week, I was down almost an inch in the thighs, hips, waist, and small fractions in the arms. All of this on top of no exercising. Just eating healthfully and not eating past dinner. And no sweets, mind you...just fat free ice cream (which I daily indulged in). And it all starts to make sense. If you're suffering from adrenal fatigue, weight loss can be a tough battle, especially if you're working out TOO much. Which I believe I was. I exercised daily over the summer, while maintaining a tough waitressing job during the day. I wasn't eating enough calories to put on weight, but my weight certainly skyrocketed over those months. As I moved on to a different school this fall, my weight continued to climb despite my efforts at the gym, on the yoga mat, and on my rollerblades. What was I doing wrong? I wasn't doing anything wrong, actually. I believe that my body was so exhausted from stress, overexercising and possibly eating too many sweets that it built up its cortisol reserves, a chemical in our bodies directly related to weight gain. It shoots up when we're really stressed out, and I've definitely been terribly stressed out this fall. I'm proud to say that my scale here is back to where I saw it at the beginning of September, and my measurements seem to be decreasing slowly. I would never have imagined that the key to weight loss would be to stop exercising and just maintain a healthy diet without worrying about calories. Granted, every case is different, and at one point, I had to go to the gym if I wanted to lose weight. I will probably have to return to it eventually once my weight settles down, but at least now I think I have some answers about why my weight was mysteriously shooting up week after week. So, that's my update for now. I hope this gives some people more insight into their own weight problems, and I'll be posting weekly updates to let you all know how it's going. Thanks to everyone who gave me encouragement. I hope I can do the same for you. |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Jan 13 2008 18:21 (UTC) |
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| Okay! So, I made a new blog page! And here's the address:
http://theblogaroundthecorner22.blogspot.com/ Yay! |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Jan 13 2008 15:31 (UTC) |
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| News update, folks. Although it is a tiny change, I have noticed some difference in my measurements...a half inch here, a quarter inch here...whatever! But I have noticed a slight decrease! ('Course, Lord knows I might gain it back tomorrow, but for today, I do a happy dance). And all this from not really exercising, but just watching what I eat! I've been leisurely walking with my mom about town, doing yoga now and then, but I haven't been fanatical about it. I've been just taking it easy. (And heck, even my girlie hormones and digestive system seem to be picking up too!)
I realize that some of my posts and rantings may seem like I'm still obsessing about food and weight...and even though I may ramble on and on about it, I'm really happy with how far I've come along since this summer when I started reincorporating "normal" food into my diet. It was an incredibly difficult few months to go from being at my favorite weight, to nearly back to where I started, 5 years ago. I've learned that a lot of that is still water retention, as my body's learned to handle more calories, but it's still not exactly an ego booster. And, as I've discovered, the weight gain may not be all my fault! One more test to get through, and then hopefully I'll have some idea of how to proceed with losing the weight healthfully this time, and without obsessing about how many calories I burn at the gym, or how little food I can eat. I really think that I will start a blog page about my journey thus far. I really hope that my findings can help others out who have either struggled with an eating disorder, their weight, exercise, etc....bad makeup, good movies....I'm guessing it will be really random! But when I finally put it up, I will post the address here! |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Jan 12 2008 21:02 (UTC) |
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| Amy, it's good to hear from you! Actually, I don't remember if I've mentioned this, but I just had some more blood work done to check out my insulin levels, and I will learn the results on Wednesday. It's so weird for me to be thinking I might need to STOP exercising to get a control on my weight, but at this point, I'm desperate to try anything that works.
I recently completed the "Cleveland Clinic Diet." I successfully finished it, and for anyone who's ever gone on it, you know how hard it is to complete. It is a strict diet of protein/carb combinations, with mostly raw foods, and absolutely no refined sugars. Veggies, fruit, bread, cheese, eggs...sounds okay, right? Well, not when your lunch consists of ONLY a hard boiled egg and ONE piece of toast! Complaining aside, I just finished it yesterday, and even if I didn't lose weight on it, I just felt better: less iritable, less bloated, and in a better mood. I've also recently purchased Vitamin B and C supplements, because I've heard this helps with adrenal repair. I also just went to the store today to buy some "medicinal" foods: cheese, milk, yogurt, fruit, good proteins, high fiber cereal, etc. I really want to see if a simple change in my diet can bring my weight back down to a nice 120. I felt so...buoyant...at that weight, and I would love to even get back to 125 at this point. And to all of you who have responded to my post: it really means a lot to hear that there are other people out there going through frustrating problems like these that don't always have a simple solution. Hopefully we can help ourselves through it! I've also begun writing in my journal on here (not sure if it's public). If it isn't public, I was thinking of starting a Xanga site to chronicle the ups and downs of getting your body back on track. Sort of a comical view on dieting and life, if you will. Stay tuned! P.S. It was hard to monitor any weight gain/loss after I finished the diet (only because I'm a girl and we have girl "issues" once a month). But I did feel like my pants were 1% looser, if that helps! |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Jan 10 2008 15:10 (UTC) |
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| Well, my loves, it's back to square one.
The holidays have run their course, and I'm no further ahead than I was a few months ago. This past week, I've been feeling severely bloated, unable to handle three meals a day, and even all my gym efforts have been making my thighs feel bigger. I know that my calorie intake has been nowhere near 2,000 a day, yet for some reason, I've felt the extra pounds creep on. But, there hopefully is a silver lining. I have been making a few doctor's visits lately, and, fortunately, nothing seems to be wrong with either my thyroid or pituitary. This is a good thing, but still, highly frustrating. It still means that despite my efforts at the gym and in the kitchen, the weight keeps coming on. I'm currently trying what has been called the "Cleveland Clinic Diet," or "3 Day Diet." The basis behind it is a natural detox using food combinations and interactions (i.e. protein and carbs together, no carbs after dinner, no fake sugars). I'm willing to try anything at this point to jumpstart something...anything! I'm also getting ready to go back on Estrostep, a light form of birth control. I'm beginning to think that my hormones are playing a huge part in all of this, and even my doctor thought it might be something due to cortisol, which is released when you're under a lot of stress...welcome to the last year of my life! I've also been reading that I may be fighting against adrenal failure (gosh, don't I sound like a hypochondriac?!?) At first, I thought it was my thyroid, but when that fell through, it was back to the old drawing board. I've been reading up on how your hormones can really effect weight gain (i.e. unexpected weight gain), even if you diet and exercise. And if you're suffering from adrenal exhaustion and you don't know it, you might be packing on the pounds, especially around your midsection (hellooooo!?!) Surprisingly, I read that heavy cardio and too many workouts can almost have a negative effect on helping this, because they further exhaust the adrenals. This is surprising news to a 5 year dieter/exerciser. I've read that I should stick to low intensity workouts, like walking and yoga, which is something I already do. But if I stop my high intensity cardio, what's going to happen to my weight? Well, at this point, it certainly couldn't hurt matters. In fact, if I stick to just walking and yoga, it may help me make healthier food choices rather than rely on cardio to burn it all off (which it hasn't been doing). So, with the New Year, I'm trying something completely new, and that's not devoting my life to exercise. I'm so used to waking up at 7 AM every morning to do some form of cardio, and I've forgotten what it's like to just wake up, have a small breakfast and enjoy watching the news. It's always been "wake up, get the cardio done, stretch, weight lift, and only eat if I'm truly hungry." You can see why that adds to stress. So, my friends, this thread will take a different path now, and I will hopefully have some good news to update you with on my next post! |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Nov 10 2007 13:31 (UTC) |
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| Well, it's hard to describe how I am now. Before my ED, I was about 145 lbs. I lost about 15 lbs the first year I began dieting, but I really was healthy about how I did it...I just started going to the gym and watched my sweet/junk food intake. But, when I started dieting the "incorrect way", I went down to 110 lbs. When I began adding more food back into my diet, I went up to 120 lbs, which was a great weight for me, and I would love to get back down to even 125 at this point. But, over the summer, I really tried to start eating like a normal person...mind you, my stomach is still quite small, so I can never usually finish a meal. I also grew tired with my workout routine, so I began to change that up, but by the time the summer was over I was around 130-133 lbs. I've been around that weight for a while now, using only 1 scale to determine my progress. I weighed myself the other day at the gym, and was shocked to see that scale say 140, so I'm not entirely sure what to believe. Even if I'm 140, I'm definitely wearing smaller sizes than I was nearly 5 years ago. I know a few pounds of this is water weight, but it truly does scare me to think that I would ever go back up to 145.
Now, when I've seen the scale rise, I've gotten increasingly nervous, thinking "Oh, I can just restrict for a few days and workout REALLY hard," but then I stop and realize a few things:
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Nov 08 2007 23:30 (UTC) |
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| Ahh, faithful readers...bit of a vent session today, I must admit. I had a "fat" day, as so many of us do from time to time...after slipping on a pair of pants today, I just felt really bogged down...like my legs had lead strapped to either side. I was bloated, and I just felt heavy....like something was weighing me down. On a scale update, it's still back where it was when I began this journey back in September, which is a good thing I suppose, but I really thought with the weight training and finally just eating as to how my stomach informed me that I'd see some difference.
I'm wondering, at this point, if weight training effects me differently than some people. I used to be obsessed with the Elliptical, but over the summer, I gradually toned down my cardio to power walking, but then again...that's when I also began adding more food back into my diet. But when the elliptical went out the window, I noticed a distinct change in my legs, and not for the better. I'm wondering if I'm the type of person who responds better to intense cardio, rather than small, separated bursts of cardio, with more emphasis on weight training? I'm thinking, for a week, that the three days I do go to the gym will be focused on strictly cardio, with only a few sets of dumbells thrown in for good measure. Any thoughts? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 31 2007 00:49 (UTC) |
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| Well, my journey is still continuing, but I will tell you: it does get better. I'm feeling the best I've felt in a few months right now, and a lot of the bloating I experienced has gone tremendously down. But, at first, I would go days without going to the bathroom, and my stomach would bloat like a pregnant woman's. It was so unbearable, but luckily I worked all summer long, so I always wore baggy clothing to cover it up. You'll find that weight will be redistributed in very odd areas. For me, almost nothing went into my upper body or in my calves...it all went around my midsection. Through my "refeeding," I actually started to eat healthier, introducing foods high fiber, protein and whole grains. I figured if I was going to make myself eat more calories, I would at least do it healthfully.
I also went on a full body cleanse for 7 days, and I really think that had a positive effect on helping me. Ever since that time, I've noticed the bloating has gone down, and I'm more regular. In fact, the bloating really hasn't been horrible at all lately. I've introduced weight training into my life, and I can definitely see some of the effects already. I've cut way back on the cardio, and generally, I have a more laid back attitude when it comes to exercising now. If I feel like it on the weekends, I do it...but if not, those are my days to recuperate. Try eliminating foods that are known to cause bloating...pop, salty items...not totally from your diet, but don't try to eat them in excess. You're going to just have to do a bit of trial-and-error. Add calories in, monitor your weight, but really, go by how you feel and how your clothes fit...weight is deceiving. Water weight can fluctuate 3-5 pounds daily, so really, just go by how you feel. I went from eating 1300-1500 over this summer per day (calories, of course), to eventually more...but I wasn't eating them consecutively. When I moved to school in the fall, I made mysefl eat at least 1800 calories per day, EVERY day, so my body got used to the amount of calories I was giving it. Then I even upped it to at least 2,000. However, there was one point where I just said to myself, I don't like forcing myself to eat this many calories AND also trying to recognize true signs of hunger in myself. When you go from counting calories to trying to eat by monitoring how you feel, you have to give up worrying how many calories are in each part of your meal...otherwise, you'll never learn how to eat normally. So, for the past month or so...I've been really trying to just eat with how my body is feeling. If I'm not tremendously hungry for lunch, a sandwich and snack usually fills me up...other days, I'll eat a sandwich, yogurt, apple and a cookie. I've been sick lately, so I haven't been able to get much down, but that's okay...no use making yourself sick by forcing food down. So...as hard as this might sound...it's definitely a trial-and-error thing with your weight. It may also be a waiting game. I'm not sure at this point if I'll ever be able to get back down to my goal weight, but at the moment, I'm perfectly okay with how I look now. It's a big mental battle, too. Once you're willing to say "okay, I'm a perfectly happy human being as I am now," then you can really finally start to let go of your previous behaviors with EDs. |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 19 2007 23:50 (UTC) |
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| Well, we can't have good days all the time...
I had a "fat" day. I did. Coupled with my period, severe bloating, and going to the gym today, my "fat" pants indeed did feel fat. I'm sick...there are two golf balls in the back of my throat...my head feels like it's a balloon...and I've been nauseous all day long. But, it's only one bad day out of a good week, so I assume it's nothing to fret about. I have heard of people saying their jeans feel tighter after beginning weight training for a while, but that eventually that evens out. I hope this is true in my case. I also was able to go 22 minutes on the elliptical this morning! A new high! Well, my old high was 50 minutes, and at one point, an hour, but after a few weeks of doing no exercise, I now have to build up my endurance again. Probably doesn't help that my ovaries are declaring war this week, and my tonsils decided to join them! I have two new food obsessions to tell you all about: protein bars and cottage cheese/chick peas. First, the bars. I'm really trying hard to get more protein in my diet, so when I happened to glance over at this one protein bar at the gym which said it had 31 g of protein, I freaked. That's what I usually probably get in a day without trying. Plus, it really wasn't that bad to swallow down...almost like a brownie (ALMOST). So, before lunchtime, I had already had 38g of protein in me. For lunch I had bourbon chicken, so probably another 25g, along with a cookie (I can't be all good...it was double chocolate chunk!) But you know, I didn't snack or eat the rest of the afternoon. And for dinner, I had a chicken sandwich with hummus, fat free cheese and bacon, on this AMAZING bread I found at the grocery store...6g of fiber and 4g of protein PER SLICE! Amazing! And along with the chicken and bacon and cheese, I had a pretty powerfully protein-y sandwich, wouldn't you say? Now, my second obsession: cottage cheese with chick peas. I am in love with this snack. I don't know why, but I am. I also like to pair cottage cheese with peas, also getting a great amount of fiber in the process. So, you would think with the foods I've been adding into my diet, I would be able to lose weight, right? Well, that would be the scientific answer, but my metabolism's just not ready to "go to work" yet. Hopefully by the holidays I will notice a difference. I know I need to go through this frustrating time of weight gain and bloating if I ever want to get back to normal. I figure once I do, it will be so easy to maintain my weight. I now like trying to eat healthfully, and now that I'm no longer pushing myself to do cardio 6 days a week for an hour at a time, I don't feel as tired out, or as frustrated when I can't eat. I am, though, still considering about going on fiber pills again. Although, I'm not sure if it would cause more harm than help right now in restoring my digestive system to the way it was. Any thoughts? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 18 2007 03:26 (UTC) |
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| I have a major news item to post...I think I may have finally got something back on my system, because there has been...evidence...of my menstrual cycle returning (really...how can you make that sound eloquent?!)
Regardless! This is big. I don't remember having a period on my own in forever...I used to be on prescribed birth control pills, only to regulate my system, but I'm currently not taking any meds or supplements of any kind. This is my system, finally responding. I have to wonder...was it the added protein I've been adding in? This week I've tried to go extra heavy on the carbs, in my own way. I'm not saying I ate steak upon steak...I just tried to actively choose things that were heavier in protein, like tuna, chicken, sushi, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. Or maybe it's just because I've finally allowed myself certain fats in my diet. I've been eating chocolate a lot the past few days, only because I've been absolutely craving it, but hey...that's definitely a sign of that time of the month (*watches as all of the male readers of this thread grumble and march away*...) So...in other news...I'm finding that I don't think about eating so much any more. Because I usually eat on a normal, dependable schedule, I don't find myself asking the question "Am I hungry enough to eat? Should I eat now? Or later?" And I don't feel bad about being extra hungry on certain days. Today, for example, I was a furnace. A lean, mean, calorie consuming machine. Nut granola bar for breakfast, along with an almond granola bar after the gym, an apple for a snack, a chicken sandwich with cottage cheese and yet another yogurt granola bar, and finally yogurt for an afternoon snack, followed by a sub and two (yes, two) chocolate chip cookies with soy milk! Do I have any idea how many calories I had? Nope. Do I care? Nope. Am I content to go to bed in a half hour, not wondering if I could have had more calories because I worked out? Nope. (Do I secretly want another cookie? YEP!) I would definitely say I have more energy this week. And I haven't even been getting coffee as regularly or as often as I have been in the past. I've gotten my elliptical time back up to 20 minutes (finally). Taking all that time off really effected my endurance, but now that I think about it, I really stopped doing the elliptical for 45 minutes this past summer, so it was about a 3 month slow down. Now, I'm begging the time counter to speed up to 20 minutes every time I step on it...but seeing as how last week I was dead tired at 7 minutes, I'd say it's an improvement. I also feel proud that I no longer have to look at the diagrams attached to the weight training equipment in the nautilus! I'm a singer, so I don't try to lift more than 2 sets, with 10 reps, and I don't lift a lot of weight (intense lifting causes the vocal chords to have immense pressure on them due to a valve effect...it's true...I learned about it in class!) I'm not sure if I see a change yet in my legs, but I'm more sure than ever that all of the weight I regained is definitely in my thighs, hips and butt. So, thanks SO much to everyone who's posted encouragement. It really makes me feel good to know that I'm not the only one out there struggling to be normal again. I never thought I could get back to finally just being an "average" size without fretting about having the perfect body, but I'm getting there, one day at a time. |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 16 2007 02:09 (UTC) |
20 |
Okay...my cleanse is complete. How do I feel? Re-energized? Cleaned out? Free of toxins? Well...I'm not sure. Let's analyze:
Now, onto my weight training regime. I've decided, this time around, to go to the gym 3 days a week, with 20 minutes of cardio (or more when I feel more up to it) and a good workout with weights, meaning the whole gambit of machines in our nautilus. I'm definitely more likely to get off my butt and go to the gym when I know I don't have to spend 45 minutes solely on the elliptical. Weight training doesn't feel as strenuous to me, but I feel just as good doing it as I would cardio because I know I'm building up muscle and toning. I'm a weakling when it comes to arms...but I've always been that way. I don't want to bulk up down below, especially when I'm trying to lose weight down there. Which leads me to my question of the day...I used to be seriously dedicated to doing the elliptical 3 days a week, 50 minutes for two of those days, and 25 for the third. Over the summer, I began getting frustrated with it, and started to run, power walk, jog, circuit cardio, etc. just to liven up my routine. Well, as you all know, I gained weight, and now my pants don't fit...I know part of that weight gain is due to my body readjusting to all of the food I'm now giving it...but could my girth I've gained in my legs be attributed to the fact that I stopped doing the elliptical as religiously as I did when I first lost all the weight? Can switching a part of your cardio routine really effect how big your legs become? All along I thought it was calories, but maybe it's because I gave up the elliptical? Thoughts?!? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 13 2007 14:30 (UTC) |
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| Well, (I start all my posts with well, don't I?) the cleanse is working. I stepped on the scale, which tipped at 130 today, which makes me happy, but also tentative because I'm not sure how much of that weight loss is due to just the cleanse. I'm sure once it's finished, the scale will go up again, but hopefully the cleanse will have really cleaned my body of the toxins and I'll have more energy. In other news, I'm still toying around with the idea of a diet. I could really be uber-good, and swear off all junk foods, candy, desserts, alcohol, fried foods...but that will only lead to deprivation. After eating like a "normal" person this summer, I would miss the tastes of these foods. I'm not saying I'm a glutton for junk food...I just have really missed out on eating like a normal person would over my entire college experience. When I look back to how I used to eat in high school, I'd definitely say that there is a marked difference in how I eat now...even with the occasional cheat or order of french fries. I used to eat 2-3 doughtnuts for breakfast...sometimes at school I'd have a chicken patty, fries, and a huge cookie, with chocolate milk...I never calorie counted, and it was pretty ridiculous what I would eat. Now for breakfast it's a bowl of cereal, maybe a mid-morning snack of fruit...I've made leaps and bounds since peaking at 145 lbs. and I know that they way I eat now will not allow me to get back up that high...which is why I find myself getting so frustrated when introducing more food into my diet...I'm bloating and gaining weight for no good scientific reason.
But, I'm not about to give up when I've come this far. Rather, I'm now just trying intuitive eating...eating when I'm hungry...eating until I'm full...and nothing is off limits (unless, of course, I've really overdone it one day). I also am okay with not eating a lot for one day. If my appetite really doesn't want to eat a lot, I'm not going to force food down. That's how my mother eats, and she's been able to maintain a weight of 123 for years, with hardly any exercise except for a job that keeps her on her feet 5 days a week. And she eats whatever she wants, when she wants it...but she never overdoes it...she just eats until she's satisfied. And she never feels like she has to finish a piece of dessert, or finish that last bite of cheeseburger. That's the kind of will power I want, but I think that can only be truly achieved when you don't feel deprived of your favorite foods. I'm still looking for a website that has a list of foods high in protein. I know the obvious ones: meat, cheese, tuna, eggs, certain beans....but does anyone know anything else? I've heard that you need to eat 1g of protein per pound of bodyweight...wow...I can't imagine that I even come close to 100 most days. Probably not even 75. I'm not into protein shakes, but I've recently been eating Power Bars, which are pretty good. Any other suggestions? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 12 2007 03:22 (UTC) |
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| Good for you, hummus86! (which is actually one of my favorite foods!) To be honest, I ended up losing a lot of weight in the first place because of a horrible break up (have you ever been dumped on Christmas Day?). Losing weight for guys is the dumbest thing you can do, so kudos to you for figuring that out.
Kida...I know what you mean. For two weeks my weight hovered as I didn't go to the gym, going up then coming back down...but never going lower. I've been adding back in some gym time, with a bit more cardio, but I'm doing it the right way this time...3 days at the gym (cardio and weight training) and 3 days with just yoga...that's it. And I'm mixing everthing up, too...today I rollerbladed, and Saturday morning I might do tae bo again. But I don't know what to do about a diet. I'm to the point now where I hate making myself take in 2000+ calories a day...I would much rather eat what I'd like to when I'm hungry, and to the point of satiety. I'm trying to add in more fiber and protein, because I've been told eating protein can promote weight loss and eventually maintenance. Does anyone know a good list of foods high in protein? I also don't really know what to eat for weight loss. I believe my metabolism is so screwed up now that I wouldn't be able to rely on any BMR calculators online. If those always held true, then there should have been no reason why I went from 120 to 135...I was constantly exercising, but eating small amounts of calories. So, sometimes science and calculators don't work. This is going to be a process of trial and error. When I was first losing weight, I was eating salads full of salami, ham, mozzarella cheese cubes, chick peas and full-caloried dressing, so I'm wondering if my protein intake was high back then. Thoughts? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 12 2007 01:33 (UTC) |
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| Well, the third time was indeed a charm! I do believe the cleanse has been working today. Now, the real test is if it continues to work like it did today for the final 4 days of it. | |||
| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 11 2007 00:32 (UTC) |
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| I think I have a bit of good news...you know how when you restrict your calories severely, over-exercise and try to cut out your fats leads to women losing their periods? Which means their hormones are out of whack? Well, I have a bit of news...my face has been breaking out slightly with acne, which usually means that my period is going to begin again. And don't hormones control acne and breakouts? So, if my hormones are firing up again, maybe this finally means that my body is ready to get itself back to normal?
On the flip side, I had a rather frustrating day today. I decided, over the weekend, that I would really be good for a while, only eating healthy foods and trying to cut out sweets and unnecessary junk foods. My pants have been feeling a bit too tight, so I nearly went into restriction mode again. It's so tempting to just try to eat as little as possible, seeing as how it worked before. And I HATE the idea of not being able to eat something if I crave it. But, at this point, I really just want to learn how to eat normally again. I don't want to have to force myself to eat more calories, especially when I have gotten so good at listening to my stomach and only eating until I'm full. So, from now on? Intuitive eating! And you right, positivelinny, I shouldn't focus on calories or the scale. Still, I would love one day to just see that scale get back down...then I'd really be motivated. I also mentioned that I started a cleanse. Day 2 is almost overwith, and I really haven't seen a change of anything. I finally (um, how to put this) used the lavatory tonight, but I don't feel like I'm on a cleanse. Let's see how day 3 goes...third time's a charm! |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 10 2007 02:27 (UTC) |
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| Day One: Back at the Gym
I began exercising again today, after a 2 1/2 week hiatus. I don't even need to mention how out of it I am, but I'm going about this in a new way. I added in strength training today, along with some moderate cardio and a bit of stretching at the end. I did the weights first, which in hindsight was probably not such a great idea. Next time, I'll be sure to do the cardio first, because I felt a bit sluggish as I climbed on the elliptical. And by sluggish, I mean, I was only on it 7:30 minutes before I felt nauseous! (And granted, I probably shouldn't have had dinner one hour before!) Still, though, it felt good to be back there, knowing that I would be sculpting my body the correct way now. I am actually looking for some great exercises to try for my thighs and butt. I want to slim them back down to where they were before my summer weight gain, and I've been told squats and lunges are great for this. Any other suggestions? I chalked today up as a day to learn where every machine is and what they all do. SOOOO many arm machines, but so few leg ones! I did find a terrific one that works your glutes, as well as the adductor/abductor. So...my question is...with weight training, how much cardio should I do now? Aside from the gym, I try to walk to class/from class as often as I can, which is about an easy 30 minute walk to my apartment (but only probably 1.2 miles). Still, it's not like I'm an inactive slug. I'm off to class every day at 9, and home after 6. So, I don't want to overdo my cardio, weight training, and yoga that I do at home. I do, however, wish to drop about 10 pounds before Thanksgiving. I'm also throwing around a few ideas with my diet. I'm willing to cut out uneccesary junk food and sweets, but I'm kind of against the idea of being on a very "strict" diet, meaning I'm not willing to stick to just salads and veggies all day, every day. I'm tired of counting calories, but I would be willing to just try eating healthier. I don't have a huge appetite to begin with, so it's not like I've been overeating to gain all this weight...I really think it's just been due to the fact that my body has been readjusting and realizing "Hey! I'm not in starvation mode any more! WEIGHT GAIN EXTREME!" It's frustrating because I try to rationalize with my mom about this...she says maybe I need to cut out my junk foods for a while, but I try to tell her how healthfully I do eat the majority of the time, and that I was exercising like a fiend AND working a tough waitressing job all summer, yet I still managed to outgrow most of my jeans and steer away from my goal weight of 120. So, tons of exercise worked for me during my first years of losing weight, but apparently it did not this summer. Scientifically, I should not have gained all this weight...yet I did...so now I have to try to figure out a way to deal with it....yet at the same time, I need to remember that I need to get my body back on track so it's functioning normally again. I'm tired of being so overly full on just one sandwich for the entire day. I want to EAT, darn it! So...any comments? Tips? Helpful hints? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 08 2007 19:57 (UTC) |
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| Well, all, it's been a good two weeks since I last purposefully exercised. I've been eating more...more foods, more fiber, more fruits and veggies, and more "forbidden" foods. I've been also faithfully doing yoga, as I've said, and walking around the city during my daily routines. But, I feel the time has come for me to return to exercise.
I'm currently on a 5 day vacation from school. I've been eating anything and everything that seems appetizing, without yoga and without care. I haven't weighed myself in a few days, and I'm anxious to see what the scale says on Tuesday, but that's almost besides the point: I am now at the point where I actually want to return to exercise to get my body back to where it was a few years ago. Now, don't get me wrong...I'm not saying that I want to start restricting again, sticking to a diet of salads and just fruit. THAT leads to deprivation and frustration. But I do miss feeling...light...which doesn't mean 110 pounds light...but I just feel bogged down and bloated. For those of you who have been following my posts, you know that I've been struggling with adding regular foods back into my diet. I've come across weight gain, bloating, fatigue, moodiness....the whole-kit-n-kaboodle. This morning, I decided to purchase a detox cleanse kit...one from Whole Foods Shop, so it's a natural way to clean out your system from the toxins that plug it up. I feel like this might help me feel more inclined to go to the gym a few times a week if I don't feel so lethargic. It also might help with some "spring cleaning" on my system and help it get back to normal. I'm also going to make a return to the gym...but not on the same schedule I was used to. I somehow had the drive for about 3 years to do yoga, everyday, coupled with either going to the gym for an hour and a half, OR doing tae bo for an hour...a total of 2-2 1/2 hours of exercise...PER DAY. That's kind of insane, especially since for a long time, I was only eating low-calorie foods...1000-1300 per day, maybe. So, this time, I'm going back to the gym...but in a smart way. Only three days a week to begin with...and yoga on my off days...but NOT together again. And I'm also adding in strength training. I've noticed that my weight I've gained over the summer has gone right to my thighs, hips and abdomen, so I'm hopefully going to find some strength training exercises that will make my muscles leaner and not bulkier. I guess my real struggle will be with a diet. Do I try to stick to low-calorie foods? I feel like that will only lead me back to a restricting diet. But how do you actively try to lose weight? You cut back your calories and fat. But this time, I want to make a lifestyle plan that will last...not something that will lead to me worrying about what I can and cannot eat. Does anyone have any advice? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Oct 02 2007 23:52 (UTC) |
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| Well, all...a little update. I began yesterday trying to just eat intuitively...I didn't purposely try to get in 2000 calories...I made sure I had at least 1000 before going into dinner, but after that, I let my stomach do the decision making. When I woke up this morning, I was somewhere around 131....so that's even a bit down from where I was 2 weeks ago, while still working out a lot. I've been eating more, but also a lot healthier, too...I've been really trying to incorporate yogurt, cottage cheese, fruits, and protein bars into my diet, as well as a ton of water. However, I haven't been a perfect angel ;) You can throw in pizza, ice cream, and cookies to that mix, too...but the important thing is that I try to be healthy most of the time, and because I let myself have daily indulgences, I'm pretty all right with eating healthfully the other part of the time. I don't feel deprived, and for the first time since moving to the city, I feel like weight is NOT the first thing on my mind. During my walk home today, I actually really just paid attention to the window displays, and stopped fretting about how much I weighed today and if my pants felt looser. I felt good today, despite what I weighed. That's all that matters, really.
I'm expecting a guest this coming weekend (from Thursday until Tuesday), so it will be interesting to see how my weight fluctuates with no yoga and a lot of freedom on what I can eat (basically, I'll eat whatever I want to, but only until the point of fullness). I've never been able to do that on vacation before, pretty much because it's been a "vacation," which means you can eat as much as you can get...right?!? Wrong. This time will be decidedly different...with the emphasis on enjoying the time off and NOT on what foods I can eat again. I'm also able to stop eating when I am truly full...or when I'm just not hungry. Last night, I wasn't immensely hungry for dinner, but starting eating a slice of pizza anyways. I was able to put away a 1/3 of it, because at one point, eating wasn't even fun...I was only eating because I thought that's what you should do at dinner time. Granted, you have to keep your metabolism going, so that's why an hour later I had a small light ice cream cone ;) So, everything's going well...my goal of fitting into my old pair of jeans still isn't accomplished, but I feel good where I am right now. That's the most important part. |
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| Health & Support | ED Recovery Club | Sep 30 2007 17:54 (UTC) |
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| I feel the same way with you about making exercise a part of my life...just be careful to not make it your entire life. You will get burned out, and you'll find yourself asking questions like "Do I have to do this every day?" or "Why can't I just have a day off?" This is why you have to let yourself have lazy days sometimes...it makes you more ambitious to get up and get on that treadmill.
And I know 1200 calories is scary for you right now...but as a person who has been trying to get in 2000 calories for the past 4 weeks, you'll find certain foods that are higher that you actually enjoy eating...like power bars, bagel chips, peanut butter...and those things will help you get your calories without feeling too full. And you could always try to eat a little more in the morning...like cereal WITH yogurt...maybe with some chopped up fruit on your cereal. The nice thing about PowerBars is that they range from 200-250 calories, and the kind I just bought (Harvest) are really nutritious...5 g of fiber, all sorts of vitamins and minerals, and protein, something I know I don't get a lot of. You'll also find that you're comfortable eating certain numbers of calories at certain times of the day...for me, it was always 150 for breakfast, 300 for lunch...100 for a snack...then a 600 calorie dinner. If you need to go by a plan like this for a week or so, then do it...but don't let the calories consume you. You may just want to try intuitive eating. Eat when you're hungry, don't eat when you're not. And only eat until you're full...not because you still have half a plate to finish. Hope this helps! |
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| Health & Support | ED Recovery Club | Sep 30 2007 16:22 (UTC) |
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| If you get frustrated, Bananee, and you see that weight going up, remember one thing: you will eventually stop gaining that weight, and it will stablize. And think how wonderful life will be when you can finally allow yourself to eat 1500 + calories! When I have a weight fluctuation, yes, of course it freaks me out. And when I'm hungry after eating 2000 calories for the day, yes, I get a little nervous. But I figure the sooner I get my system back into shape, the sooner I can start sculpting my body the right way, with moderate weight training, a sensible diet (and a little fun on the side). I was also worried, like you, at how much weight I would gain. But, I've been away from the gym for a week and 2 days now, doing solely yoga, and my weight has remained at the same spot. Granted, I'm living in a big city, and although I take the subway a lot, I'm still not doing intense cardio or aerobics. I do walk as often as I can, especially because the weather's so nice now, but it doesn't feel like exercise. I enjoy it. I walk home from class because I love exploring the city and talking to my mom on my way home from class...we catch up, and I end up walking a mile without realizing it. The trick is to find exercise that doesn't feel like exercise....I love doing yoga because it makes me feel good, and on certain ocassions, running and going to the gym make me feel good, too. But I ended up making exercise such a big part of my life that I would freak out if I missed a day cause I thought one day would push the scale up 5 pounds...not true at all. I also thought that if I did the elliptical for 50 minutes three days a week, I was a failure if I could only do it for 30 minutes each day. This is why you need to create a routine with both cardio AND weight training. You'll get too tired out on so much cardio.
So, have faith. In the end, would you rather be skinny, or healthy and live a long, happy life, with the ability to have children? That was one of my big concerns when I was first recovering. I had to eat because my mom kept telling me "I want to be a grandma someday!!!" And family's very important to me, so that shocked me back into eating more (even though, looking back, I really needed to eat a LOT more). Keep on posting and tell us how you're doing...that's what we're here for :) |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Sep 30 2007 16:15 (UTC) |
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| I already am seeing the results! (What an awkward topic, right?) I've also found some cottage cheese from Breakstone's that has the same type of cultures found in yogurt. It also claims to be able to regulate your digestive system.
And here's the weird thing: because I've been having success with this new high fiber-high grain-fresh veggies and fruits diet, I really want to stick to it. It feels SO good to not feel so sluggish and backed up because my digestive system is so used to getting 1200 calories. I remember going on vacations a few years ago, and having a difficult time coping with the amount of food I was eating. Don't get me wrong...I loved eating it...but my stomach would severely bloat, and I wouldn't be able to go to the bathroom until after the vacation when I would take a laxative. I never had laxative abuse, but for a while, I would take them every Wednesday (during my most extreme time with my ED). I'd also take one the day after a major holiday break, just to clean myself out so I could start being "good" again. I can't tell you how excited I am to finally go home and be able to eat normally WITHOUT feeling like I'm going to explode. I'm still doing yoga every day, although I am considering adding in Pilates, just for some variety. I didn't feel like doing yoga on Friday, but I did walk a lot, so I at least got in some form of exercise. I guess the big question in my mind is can you get down to your ideal weight without obsessing about cardio? I used to do cardio 6 days a week, and pretty intensely (elliptical for 50 minutes, tae bo). However, if you begin to do more strength training and lighter cardio (maybe 30 minutes instead of 50), can you get down to that ideal weight? Or is cardio the key? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Sep 30 2007 13:57 (UTC) |
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| Well, we're still hovering in the 132-133 range. But I'd say my diet's been completely different over the past few days. I'm actually eating oatmeal with unprocessed bran right now...something I'd never thought I'd do, but I'm reallly trying to get more fiber into my diet, and this bran has about 8 g of fiber per serving. Yesterday I ate it with Fiber-One cereal, so in just one meal, I got about 22 g of fiber!
I'm starting to miss the gym a little. It's funny...I find myself "checking" everyday to see if there's a body part that looks out of shape. I do know that once my system gets back to normal, I definitely want to start a new exercise program, which is mixed with cardio AND weight training. Before I just lifted the dumbells, but I would like to do more, because I heard it will help you lose and maintain weight in the long run. I have been less bloated lately, and I'm not sure if it's due to the prune juice. I drank some one night after dinner, and by the end of the night, my stomach had considerably gone down. I also think I might have had the symptoms of PMS this week, without actually having PMS...has this happened to anyone else? Experienced the symptoms but didn't actually have a period? Well, I'd say that's all to report now. I think I've been getting 2000 + calories for a few days now...does anyone think I should aim for more? Just to get my body working correctly? |
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| Health & Support | ED Recovery Club | Sep 28 2007 19:45 (UTC) |
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| No problem...the nice thing about these forums is that usually, someone has been in your shoes before. You just have to find the right forum to post on, and you'll get your answers. | |||
| Health & Support | ED Recovery Club | Sep 28 2007 19:00 (UTC) |
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| If the frustration gets to you, just think of it this way: once you're healthy again, you can finally perfect your body in a healthy way. And this time, for good. :) | |||
| Health & Support | ED Recovery Club | Sep 28 2007 18:36 (UTC) |
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| Bananee, I hate to say this, but you should be prepared to gain some weight. I'm not sure what type of weight you'll be gaining, especially since you seem to have a good idea of what to eat, but coming from such a low caloric average, you're going to notice a difference...now, even if that's water weight, you're still going to feel a difference. Compared to where I was last summer, I'm about 10 lbs heavier (according to the scale), yet I'm still able to fit into certain clothes. So, I think a lot of the intial weight gain is going to be water weight.
And since you're walking now, great! In fact, I'd say every time you work out, have a slice of pizza or something you love...but have it in moderation. Before I started dieting, I used to be able to down 3-5 slices at a sitting...but now, after lost weight then gained some back, I really can only eat about 2 (and that's pushing it). But I don't go crazy and obsess about pizza because I've let it re-enter my diet gradually. I eat until I'm full...not because I feel like I deserve 4 slices. You're just going to have to experiment with your calories. When I was first recovering from my ED, I thought I had about 1200 calories a day...so each week, I would add in 50 more calories...if I felt horrible about it, I wouldn't increase the next week until I felt better about it. You'll begin to discover how aware you are of how you feel by what you put into your body. I used to be able to down pop like you wouldn't believe, but I find it makes my insides all gurgly now. When I eat extremely sweet desserts late at night, I get REALLY nauseous. And when I eat too fast, oh boy...look out. So, if you're afraid of adding in too fast, do what you can. The important thing is that you have begun to add. Just think how you'll feel when you get up to 1500...1600...1700...betcha never thought you'd be allowed to eat that many, huh? |
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| Health & Support | Rebuilding My Metabolism | Sep 28 2007 18:27 (UTC) |
38 |
| I must ashamedly admit...yet proudly proclaim...that if extra honey mustard dressing and extra cheese on my pizza keep me from ever being a size 0, I'll die happy :)
Actually, lately I have been waning away from diet soda. I'm trying not to buy any more can packs, so if I drink it, I have to buy it out of a vending machine at school. I have been drinking a TON of water lately, and my old standby is Crystal Lite or Wyler's fruit drinks...5 calories per serving, and no carbonation. Getting enough fluid was probably why my digestive system is slow now...whenever I use to "save up" my calories for a meal, I would typically never drink anything with the meal, because I missed food so much. But, there I was, eating meals with no fluid to move it through. I'm also trying to wane myself off of Sweet-N-Low...it's hard, because that was one thing I clung to when I initally tried to lose weight. But I've been hearing more and more evidence about how bad it is for you...I usually keep a jug of Crystal Lite in my fridge, and I put about 3 tsps of Sweet-N-Low into that to bring out the flavor, but I'm thinking about cutting it out all together. Does anyone know where you can buy Power Bar packs? Not just the individual bars, but actual packs? |
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| Health & Support | ED Recovery Club | Sep 28 2007 17:07 (UTC) |
19 |
| I'd say you're definitely on the right track, bananee! I just went to the supermarket this morning myself and looked solely for things high in fiber, high in whole grains, and low in sodium....I didn't even look at calories at all! However, I would suggest only this: don't forbid yourself to having a cheat night only once a month...this will only lead to you feeling like you're depriving yourself. The bad things about diets are that they ultimately lower your metabolism, and make you uber-cranky. You feel left out, while your friends enjoy pizza and beer. You desperately want to go into the bagel shop you pass by every morning, but are afraid to because a bagel with cream cheese is over 100 calories. You need to live a life of moderation...meaning, if you indulge for one meal, take it easy the next. If you have a cheat day, have a good day to replace it. And all of this is supported by an exercise routine that's livable...not over the top. If you exercise on a consistent routine, you'll find that food worries will slip away. | |||
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