Keeping Weight On

[intothelight]

I don't know if anyone else has had this problem, but here it goes. When I am anxious, my body is revved to an incredible speed. This includes my heart rate and obviously my metabolism. I can drop weight at a scary rate.

I try to offset this by increasing my caloric intake. Not junk food, but a lot of healthy food. Sometimes the daily calories exceed 3000 and the weight can still drop off.

This has also created a problem for any type of mediation. I metabolize it too fast; therefore, limiting the effectiveness.

Right now the adrenaline levels are probably off the charts. Exercise probably sounds counter-intuitive, but it allows me to burn this. Problem is sometimes I am too weak, so its like a catch 22. Can't afford to wear down and get sick now.

Any ideas I have tried?

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes ITL foods that are protein-rich, small in volume and high in calories

I eat Peanut butter a half cup/ cup at a time (I know that sounds so gross), plus am dying for margarine (again gross).
I know what you mean.

 

[Redtail]

ITL

Just a suggestion so take it for what it is worth. I am active in going to the gym 4 times a week, I lift and do cardio each time I go. I also go those period of high stress and anxiety and lose weight. I can lose 10 - 15 pounds in a week (but I am 250 lbs) If you trying to gain weight try weight gainer shakes. Also you could try taking protein in the form of casein not whey. Casein is made from milk and digests more slowly allowing for a longer period it stays in you system. Controlled release so to say. Dont forget a multi vitamin either.

I like the supplement drinks because I don't feel like eating during these phases. I can be brand specific if you wish.

 

[intothelight]

Hi Redtail,

Yes, I would like to know the brands you've had the most success with. Please PM me with the names, since we cannot do this in the open form.

Thank you for you help.

ITL

 

[Jade-]

ITL, I have the same problem as you when it comes to weight. It's a struggle for me to keep it on. When I'm stressed or anxious, I just don't feel hungry and sometimes go a couple of days without eating at all.

I have been on prescription vitamins in the past, which did work and I was able to gain weight and keep it on. I was told that I lack a certain vitamin(forget which it was right now) that helps signal hunger. I don't take prescribed vitamins anymore, but I do make sure I take a one daily with all the essential vitamins/minerals in it. If I don't, I spiral downward very quickly in weight.

I checked into weight gainer shakes and was told that they will help me gain weight, but unless I'm weight training or engaged in daily active exercise, it will just turn to flab, and I don't want that.

I also eat lots of peanut butter. But I don't eat alot of red meat. I do have to force myself to eat often, and I do that by washing each bite down with lots of water. I was told to eat at least every couple of hours, even if it's just small meals. it's hard to do, but once your body gets used to eating at certain times, it will eventually automatically trigger the hunger response.

 

[James B.]

RE: "Right now the adrenaline levels are probably off the charts. Exercise probably sounds counter-intuitive, but it allows me to burn this. Problem is sometimes I am too weak..."

I hear you and will chime in with the high quality saturated fats vote. I do mine with raw nuts and seeds. Pepitas are a favorite, high in Tryptophan: needed for Melatonin and Serotonin production. All these foods are available on-line in bulk at significant discount. Refined carbs and caffeine aggravate my adrenaline response too much. They had to go.

Won't kid you though, my leg pain and arthritis took me out of the exercise loop, and it's been diet and now EFT to manage the adrenaline response. Mostly the Chakra clearing. Simple, no words. I flop on my futon in low light, and sometimes tap for half hour or more. Though 15 minutes is way effective. Finally at 53 achieved a meditative state. Freaking nuked my anxiety. A god send. I play with the speed/percussion of the tapping, slow and lighter, slower and light still. Aside from that, just as prescribed in the instro video.


Good luck ITL.
View attachment 3904

 

[Redtail]

A real quick lesson:
Really the thing about gaining weight is the body will store extra calories in the way of fat, a reserve of energy. This can be protein, carbs and fats. If your intake is higher than your output you gain weight. You muscle can use simple sugar glucose (c6h1206) to for 28 molecules of ATP (Adenosine triphophate) which is the fuel for your muscles. This is called the Krebs cycle. The more your body has to do to convert to glucose the more energy is used up. So if you take a compound that takes more energy of your body to convert it the less usable it is. That is why weight gainers mostly have glucose in them.

Peanut butter has protein, sugars, and fat and that is why people generally use it. but it has a high allergy occurring and can harbor salmonella.

 

[James B.]

If your intake is higher than your output you gain weight.

There is significant evidence challenging this, due to various burn rate and individual metabolic reactions to the various food types. I do not metabolize dairy fats, they store. I do metabolize meat fats, they burn. Posted a video on this early in my blog: the guy lost 130lbs eating a diet high in saturated meat fats, and veggies - almost no carbs.But high calorie, all the way. The fuel requirement required for driving two hours (may seem to) differ greatly that the fuel requirement for walking two hours. But it is the individual metabolic reaction to various fuel types (some think linked to DNA) that makes a big difference: huge range of difference in how various people burn different fat types.

 

[anni]

I know mine isn't at all scientific, but just what's worked? I don't argue with my body any more when it comes to it's repulsion to food plus the adrenaline. I know from experience I just flatly can't eat in the mornings-it's the worst time for this so don't even try, just have water with me. Later in the day I make shakes of all varieties, with protein powders, whatever, and ice cream, fruit-whatever I can talk my system into liking at the moment, and use those to hike up the calories. It's been pretty effective, too as long as I don't remind myself I'm doing it purely for nutrition, if that makes any sense. I do tend to take an awful lot of vitamins and various supplements, too, since I know I'm not getting a good, balanced diet. The ones I do take have been recommended by a nutritionist I know, which is also a great idea- getting an opinion from one, I mean.

Who knew this would be an actual problem? I used to think it would be wonderful to lose weight so effortlessly, but that was before that thing where you become so thin, when you get up after laying down you can see where your hipbones leaves red marks on the skin. It gets a little scary sometimes, I know.

 

[James B.]

And since the subject has come round to saturated fats, this information about the widespread misconceptions relating to Cholesterol is relevant. 'Nuff said.

And there's plenty more out there for those willing to face the truth.



During pre-surgical immobility, post surgical recovery (while using Seroquel) and now with greatly reduced mobility due to Mayofascial pain, my weight stayed the same. I eat more calories from saturated fats (formerly meat fats, now seeds, nuts and olive oil) than I "burn". My DNA dictates my body needs about 8 pounds of body fat for security. This is old world Norwegian (blood type O) DNA. It's from my ancestors evolution. They survived.

I get hardly any exercise (and nothing even remotely aerobic) and have a super-low metabolic rate. The saturated fats create a "stasis". It's juts that simple. Add diary fats and refined carbs, my weight increases almost regardless of my output. Was a pro-am outdoor athlete for 25 years, had ample time to test this theory out, including skiing and climbing in minus 10 degree conditions above 8000' elevation.
View attachment 3905

 

[Redtail]

James we are arguing the same point. Everybody's output is different, not just by exercise but how much the body uses just keeping homeostasis. But if you intake more than you output you will gain weight. There are times when I am bulking up I will try and consume 7000 calories and my muscle mass will also increase. if I am trying to maintain size but lower fat percentage I decrease my intake, mostly proteins and my mass will stay and fat will be reduced. Right now I can probably eat 5000 or so calories and maintain my weight. But I am very picky what I eat. I don't eat ho-ho's and cake. I agree with you carbs statement.

But what ITL wanted was to maintain or gain weight during stressful times, which her body will consume more calories with the increase of anxiety. I am trying to give her some options to taking in quality foods but consuming easily converted sugars that her body will use readily and if not begin the storage phase of survival.

Nuts are a great in between meal snack and one of my favorite is dry almonds. I buy them in bulk. But I also have to be careful because a high protein diet and some medication can cause the passing of the nuts "painful".

 

[intothelight]

Hello Everyone,

These are all really good points. I am athletic, and do 60 minutes a days of cardio five to six times a week. Some days there is more. I also do strength training by lifting weights, and when I run my circuit the total weights lifted is just shy of 20,000lbs. I do this two times a week. But remember, this is upper body, back, abs and lower body. It is focusing on specific muscle groups and a lot of reps, but not necessary a great amount of weight. Maybe for a 50 year old female, but women don't really bulk up. I started back into training for triathlons, because I love them and overall it really made me feel better.

On the other side, my resting heart rate is slow, my blood pressure is low, my blood sugar is low and my cholesterol is low. I follow a Mediterranean diet, so complex carbs are really one of my main staples. Also, a lot of nuts, legumes and fresh vegetables. Perhaps the answer is in increasing the fats and the amount of fruit. Fruit can be converted easily into simple sugars. I don't eat a lot of meat, just fish and poultry a few times a week. There is another area to increase.

I don't need to worry about any problems with meds as I am not on them right now. But that makes my need for exercise so much more important. Plus the exercise increases appetite. Its just hard to balance with the anxiety since there really isn't any down time in my body right now. I am almost 5'8" and the scale read 138 this morning, which for me is a little low. I can easily lose 10lbs in a week, but am not going to let that happen this time. Maybe targeting 4000 calories a day is not unrealistic. When I swam competitively, that was a norm.

It's hard to explain why this is so important to me. It is the one thing that is really mine and that I do for myself. Working out is really the only thing that gives me true peace, even if it is for a little while. Hope that makes sense.