RMR Breath Test (UPDATED post, ignore the other one)

I just had an RMR breath test done using the NewLeafFitness training program 

The test results showed that AT REST I would burn 1775 cals (at the lowest point)

This would mean I would have a very high resting metabolism!  However, I only eat about 1200 a day (which seems ridiculously low)  considering i am 5'11" 150 lbs male.  However, i do NOT experience anything like fatigue, weight loss, hair loss...and all my vitals are fine.  Also strange, in the past two months I managed to grow 1.25 inches.

I've actually GAINED weight over the past few months...in this is supposedly EDEMA.  (up until last month, i had been running 6 miles 7 days a week since October of 07...while i was running i was approx eating 1700 cals/day). Due to lots of shin splits and possible edema, i now walk about 6 miles every other day. 

 

Also, the test showed my fuel mixture ratio as 4:1  fat to carbohydrates:  81% from fat and 19% from carbohydrates...This seems drastically different then a lot of people's i've seen (on forums, etc.)  and ALSO doesn't make much sense because my diet is VERY LOW in fat, save the fact that I make sure I get a serving of peanut butter daily.  (all my dairy is low/no fat and i only eat very lean meats).

 

I FEEL LIKE MY BODY IS DEFYING BIOLOGY.  Has anyone EVER seen anything like this?

You're eating at least 300 calories less than the 1500cal absolute minimum for a male if your assesment of your calorie intake is correct. Since you aren't dying and are gaining body mass it suggests that you're not counting everything properly. 1200 calories is also 300 calories less than the participants in the Minnesota controlled starvation experiment got, so you'd better hope that you have been miscounting somewhere.

 Edema means you'll gain weight - in some cases extreme amounts, so it's possible that the effects of fluid retention is masking the nasty side effects of your starvation diet, or is caused by it - bloating, fluid retention and tissue swelling is a known side effect of starvation and malnutrition, in particular protein deficiency.

 Now, it's entirely possible that none of this applies to you, remote viewing diagnosis over the Internet being notoriously unreliable, so take it with a boulder of salt. But do take it to your doctor as well; I assume you're under treatment for the edema?

 That's a very good resting fuel mix actually - and the energy usage profile of your body has just about no connection to your dietary intake. The more fat and less carbs you burn at rest, the better you're doing - your body is saving the carbs for when they're really needed.

Also, the test showed my fuel mixture ratio as 4:1  fat to carbohydrates:  81% from fat and 19% from carbohydrates...This seems drastically different then a lot of people's i've seen (on forums, etc.)  and ALSO doesn't make much sense because my diet is VERY LOW in fat, save the fact that I make sure I get a serving of peanut butter daily.  (all my dairy is low/no fat and i only eat very lean meats).

That's a good ratio. It means your body is good at using body fat for energy. That's different from dietary fat. My ratio is 71% fat: 29% carb. 80:20 is considered ideal.

I am looking for a place to have it done.  Where did you find a place that would do it? 

Hey leslee24, i had heard about the test LONG before I found a place to actually have it done.  In fact, my doctor didn't even know where to refer me.  After an extensive search on google, i found a very fancy gym about an hour away from me that did the testing.  Since the device is so new, it's more of a novelty than something you'll find in every hospital and/or doctor's office.  I would recommend searching the net, and if that's not too helpful, maybe call up some local gyms.  Best of luck!

Thank you so much for your lengthy and thoughtful response.  But to be honest, even if I had underestimated my intake by 800+ calories, I would STILL be in a deficit considering the what would be expected of someone my age, height, activity level, etc.  I DID keep a food log for a week and came out to about 1200...It's the truth, very scary...But when I said defying biology, I meant it.  And no, i'm not pretending to have bundles of energy or anything, but i'm seriously not fatigued  (and i GREW!?!?)

Also, i don't see how my body can be burning that much fat...Although my legs lOOK like fat, it's quite possibly water...and the rest of me is pretty slim.  Hm?  And my diet is quite low in fat, as i said before.  

 

As for the edema...As i started running (more exercise) it got progressively worse.  I still haven't had any CONCLUSIVE evaluation, but the factors add up...NO ONE would have legs like mine on this 1200 caloric intake.  And then there's the protein and sodium defficiency to further explain them...also, they say shin splits and muscle inflammation can result in edema, running would cause those as well.  (the more i ran, the LOOSER my legs got...my calves got bigger and lots their tone shape).

Answers from duplicate thread in WL

Original Post by gi-jane:

I have no idea why you're following such a peculiar regime but it doesn't sound healthy to me at all. 1200 calories is far too low for you and even though you claim not to be suffering from problems at the moment I suspect that's more down to sheer dumb luck and youth than anything else. If you're gaining weight it's because you've crashed your metabolic rate.... If the test showed you were gettting 81% fat when you don't, then it's clearly not going to be accurate on the BMR either. I'd say the test is useless and you should disregard it.

Getting very little fat in your diet isn't necessarily a good thing. You need a balanced diet to get the right nutrition and energy to thrive and survive. You won't be getting that on 1200 cals a day.... 1500 is the absolute bare minimum for a man. Existing on so little could be considered an early warning sign for 'disordered eating behaviour'.

You're not 'defying biology' but you are skating on thin ice health-wise. Do start eating properly and stop kidding yourself that you're getting away with it.

Original Post by clairelaine:

You already know it's wrong. This is going to catch up with you sooner or later. You'll pay with weak bones for life because you failed to nourish them during that growth spurt. Depriving a growing body of nutrients (and calories) is a recipe for ill health later in life, just as being obese is.

What you need to do is use the tools (or consult a nutritionist) to determine your true caloric needs. Then use the Advice section, or get professional help, to develop a good meal plan that works for you as an individual.

New Leaf is selling a product. They have no interest in seeing you get healthy, only in raking in the bucks. Would you trust a used car salesman with your safety on the road?

You can do this!

 

Your fat intake doesn't matter to what your body is oxidizing for energy at any given moment in time, your body is very good at turning carbs into fatty acids and then using them for energy.

 This is a good thing. One gram of carbs requires three grams of water to store and has half the calorie content of fat - so if you were to carry around the energy that's stored in one pound of bodyfat as stored carbs instead, you'd be walking around with another extra 8-10lbs of carbs+water to replace one pound of fat.

 So thank your nice body for being space-efficient with storage - at the moment it's all that's saving you. Your body needs a little bit of carb to get the fire going, but the majority of energy use in a healthy human is from fat oxidation in your muscles and major organs, and your 80% fat use shows that you are still a somewhat healthy human.

 Except for the edema, the chronic undereating, and the sustained metabolic damage from it, that is. Go talk to your doctor again, and ask for help with your chronic undereating/disordered eating problem. Seriously. Fix that, and the edema and other symptoms of chronic undereating/disordered eating will resolve themselves.

It's been THREE YEARS...I've never even so much as had a COLD...NEVER get sick. And i told you, i JUST grew...No stunted growth hear.  And before you tell me the Newleaf system is bogus, THINK about it, scientifically.  We ARE talking science here...The rate at which you oxidize is not just some number the system it pulls out of thin air and they really have proven it's results with 7 studies (i believe) across the US.  Trust me, I've done a VAST amount of research.  

Melkor

-thanks again for your advice.  You back up your theories with scientific understanding.  I find such advice, with biological/chemical support, to be the most legitimate.  I will be seeing a nutritionist in a week or two as well as consulting with my primary care doctors.  Also, i HAVE had made fat and sugars test...Those are both normal.  (seriously, although my intake is low...I've managed to select foods with optimum nutrients.  ((low cal, max nutirtion...you may have heard of "CRON" - "calorie restriction, optimal nutrition").  ie...salmon/fish, peanut butter, nuts (healthy fats and protein...etc).  

 

And for the rest of you who think i'm crazy and in denial or will SOON feel the consequences...believe me...it's been a while the i've lived like this and i am pretty successful...do great at work, great health, awesome grades in high school, pretty much always in a good mood, all around positive person...that's why i'm WRITING HERE.  because i'm just baffled, and the fact that my intake is so low, it just doesn't make sense.  were it otherwise, i wouldn't bother wasting your time.  

 

thank you to all who've responded!  

First of all, getting sick does not mean you are unhealthy. On the contrary, it means your body is using a healthy immune system to fight off invaders. Look at getting sick as 'exercise' for your immune system, not like something to be avoided.

Secondly, you seem to be jumping back and forth on a few things; for example, you say you eat only low fat foods with the exception of a daily serving of peanut butter, and yet you just said you eat salmon and other oily fish, peanut butter,  AND nuts...I think that WOULD account for the 81% fat analysis. Which only tracks the past couple of days/weeks depending on which test you get.

Personally, as a raw foodist, I eat at least 50% fat per day and I too beleive it is optimal nutritionally, so I can sympathize with you there.

But regarding the fact that you don't think you are losing weight at a deficit and in fact think you are gaining weight, well, just from reading your post I can tell that is inaccurate. You said you are holding at 150lbs. And yet, you grew. If you grew and did not gain weight, that is considered losing weight/body mass. Then, you say you have edema (which usually indicates a severe condition, by the way, so get that checked out if you haven't already). Which means you should have gained even more weight, and if you haven't that indicates body mass loss.

My advice to you is to forget about calories. But it sounds to me like you have an eating disorder; i'm not saying that because I'm trying to call you out or to be weird, I've just been in the hospital twice for eating disorders and it just sounds like you have one, whether you admit it/know it or not. But, that's your thing to deal with. It's hard and people here will always support you if you are actively trying to recover.

The body isn't a machine; it's not just all about 'calories in, calories out.' Metabolism doesn't really tell you much and neither do calories. Release it all and be free. I promise it will work out, if you focus on living foods that nourish you and don't deplete you.

But see, that's what go me here... Separating from the eating disorder.  Yes, because I am supplying you all with SPECIFIC INFORMATION, you would naturally assume, OKAY; this person is obviously obsessing and etc.  However, were I to come to you without any collected knowledge/observations of whats been going on with me...It would be a lot more difficult to help you help me.  Understand?  This is why i have such a hard time communicating with doctors...Either I don't say anything (back when i payed no attention) and get the WRONG ADVICE, or i'm "too observant"  and that makes me "eating disordered.

so here's something you should understand:  disordered eating is classified as being RESTRICTIVE...eating only specific foods (to achieve a specific goal...) and or/not allowing yourself to adhere to hunger signals or specific cravings.

I have what i want, when i want it...I just happen to like healthy food (oh yes, i will crave salmon...etc).  i do not NOT eat because i think i've eaten too much...there is NO cyclical bingeing or purging or fasting.  I don't really think about it...the only reason I became aware of how little i was having was because I felt suspicious, and kept a food log for a week.  

Believe me, i know the difference.  I had an eating disorder back in middle school, and the mind frame i approach eating now has taken a complete 180.  i know what it's like to feel deprived...to restrict, to deny your body and to be weak.  nowadays, as hard as it may be for you to believe, i do NOT IDENTIFY with any such things.  (and would i seriously be that delusional as to post on this site trying to convince strangers that i didnt have an ED for what purpose?  no...the thing is that what going on with me-i have not seen any where else, and that's why i'm looking for answers now.)

And i never said getting sick means you are not healthy...But NOT getting sick (mind you, i'm a student and this winter EVERYONE WAS sick) is a pretty good thing....And bruises and cuts heal quickly...i was implying all that.

about the fats, i meant i have a diet "low in bad fat"  im sorry for the miscommunicating...there are so many specifics.  like there is "fat free soy milk" but NO, i do not by that...i get this great kind by silk with the omega 3 fatty acids added and it has (i'm looking at the carton) about as much fat as 2 percent. (but good fats, not saturated...but woah, i won't get into too much detail here caus y'all will think i'm crazy).

 

the only reason i've had to read into things so directly and by myself is because no one seems to be able to understand whats going on with me.  you think i would dare post on some site where strangers could criticize my eating habits before seeing a doctor?   ofcourse not, but i'm running out of resources :/ and everything is worth a shot.

 

 

 

ALSO,

I apologize for the confusion about my weight...but yes, when i grew i did gain weight...more so (according to my doctor) than one would typically expect someone to gain in proportion to the height increase.  (i believe it IS edema, and mostly localized because, although i gained weight (not just from height) all my shirts fit the same and my upper body doesn't feel very different...but my pant size has definitely increased :p 

who/what kind of specialist should i see regarding edema?  anyone know?

edema could be from a variety of things, so I would reccomend a general practioner or an internist. Let's hope it's not your heart.

It's not all the 'specific information' that makes me think you're eating disordered so much as your mentality. And, turns out, I was right, because you said you had one in middle school. Well, that doesn't go away. At least it doesn't seem to have with you.

The definition of an ED is NOT simply restriction. I've seen all types, from compulsive overeating to orthorexia, the extreme concern of the health of the types of food consumed, which has nothing to do with the amounts or even with a 'fear of fat,' which is waht some uninformed people assume the basis of every eating disorder is.

You are eating disordered if your health and your body related to your food and in some cases your body appearance and size take up primary concern in your life. And since you're on this quest for knowledge, for answers, yet you discard any answer that insinuates that you might have residual ED thoughts and tendencies very strongly, that makes me wonder about your recovery.

But, you say you became suspicious and kept a food log for a week. A week is not the best picture of what has been sustaining you for your recent past, especially if RMR tells you you burn 1700ish calories per day.

You just seem to be jumping around a lot in your story, which makes me think that A: you're looking for a particular answer that you've already decided in your head and no one has given you that answer yet, or B: You're defensive about what's really going on.

I looked at your original post again, and I see that you said you were confused about how the RMR picked up on 81% fats in your diet with a 4:1 ratio because the only fats you really get per day is a serving of peanut butter. Then it comes out that you DO eat fats, then it comes out that you meant to say only healthy fats. Well, then why in the first place would you be confused as to how the RMR could pick up on that percentage of fats? You think the RMR would distinguish between 'good fats' and 'bad fats'?

You say you only kept a food log for a week, and yet you know you were eating approx. 1700 calories a day when you were running 6 miles seven days a week (which in and of itself is a bit extreme, and I think your body felt it was extreme, too, if you developed a symptom severe as edema).

Your whole question, then, is pretty much 'is my body defying biology.'

My answer, then, would be 'no, your body is defying your psychology."

All in all, the edema in the legs is the most disturbing thing of everything you've said. That to me indicates heart issues. I hope it's not that, for you! And forgive me for seeming blunt but sometimes that's what it takes. I know and understand that you think you don't have an ED and that's fine. Just something to think about!

okay, you're getting belligerent.  81% is way more than a serving of salmon and two spoons of peanut butter.  no?  

 

and just because you've seen X Y and Z ...what eating disorder IS for me is something, and where I am right now is somewhere else.  i was fine until all of a sudden my pants weren't fitting and my doctor said hmm, have you noticed youve been eating more ?  and i said no, not really?

i could go on and on but didnt think youd try to find so much faulty in my story...i didnt want to bore you with excessive detail...then you accuse me of getting defensive, i was only trying to not be a huge burden.  this is all just so complicated typing

do we not understand that things get lost in translation?

would i be so wrong to accuse you of lusting to accuse other's of having an ED because you YOURSELF are not over it?  i mean seriously, you've been a member of this site much longer than i have...does that NOT mean YOU spend a vast amount of your time/thoughts on all this nutritional stuff.

i suggest that you DO NOT make someone afraid of seeking out help, one of the main focuses of such a site.  i have a therapist, that is not your job and if i wanted help regarding my ED mentality, id ask for it.  i did not DENY ED tendency.  i merely said i had had an eating disorder and i do not have one anymore...but ofcourse i will ALWAYS have my sensativity and conciousness...it's all about being mindful, rational and keep those things in persepective...reasoning with yourself to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  i am no novice to to eating disorders and trust that if that was my real issue, i would be so stupid as to come on here expecting people NOT to see it.  was it my mistake to think that you may just take me for my word instead of judging me so quickly? even my therapist, whom i still see monthly, will tell you that i am NOT the eating disordered person i once was.  NOW it's just sorting out these biological/chemical reprecussions that have happened AS A RESULT OF.

oh and no heart issues.  had an EKG recently; golden.

belligerent, eh? The definition of the word is 'aggressively hostile'...I'm sorry you see it that way.

But, it seems to me you've answered your original question with your last response to my post.

"I FEEL LIKE MY BODY IS DEFYING BIOLOGY. Has anyone EVER seen anything like this?"

I said I have, in the ED hospital.

And you just said "NOW it's just sorting out these biological/chemical reprecussions that have happend AS A RESULT OF (an eating disorder)."

Well, those reprecussions in my experience are usually pretty odd and wacky, which would explain most of what is going on.

By the way, Salmon and peanut butter can very well make up 81% of your reading of fat if you're only eating 1200 cals per day, more or less. We're talking percentages here, not grams. It's relational.

In any case, sorry if you felt I was 'scaring you away' from using cc as help. I see this is a sensitive issue for you, as it is for me.

Just understand that answering your post, and then countering the facts you represented in your answer does not make mean I am being 'aggressively hostile.' Try to be open to suggestions people give you, especially if you ask for them.

Okay then

So where did you get your test done?

bosse gym in sudbury, ma.  yeah, not too close to you...hence why i said you should try searching on google.

sorry i didn't see your response before.  thanks alot for the info. good luck on everything