Keeping Weight On

[James B.]

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".

Thanks for the feedback. My whole point was to show that different metabolic types react differently to various fuel (food) types. That's why I made it clear to mention my blood type. The other aspect of my message relates to "maintaining weight" regardless. Am pretty sure this does relate to topic. (Preparing for surgery is way stressful, much anxiety but I did not lose - or gain - weight.) Consistent body weight (plus or minus a few pounds) is pretty reliable (though very generalized) indicator of good health. In terms of bulking up (or whatever) you can juice your system any way you want in the short term, but there's always a price. Not much question about that.

Here's some interesting stuff on protein shakes.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

This happens to me too - I drop weight after days of anxiety. In fact I weigh very little full stop and eat an incredible amount of food considering my size.

I am 5'8 and about 115-120 lbs. I've been a lot lighter in the past! I have 'chicken legs' as I call them. And also, skinny arms. However, I've been blood tested and looked over while diagnosed for PTSD. I'd like to think if there were some reason I don't know about as to why I'm just a fairly 'light' person someone would have alerted me to it. I can put away tremendous amounts of food. I don't get all anxious about what I'm eating anymore.

I do 'think' that yeah - I burn a lot of energy being nervous, and that also there tends to be a lot of physical activity associated with my nerves. For example, I will tend to dance very often. Also, move around listening to music. I'm not generally a 'stay in bed for a week' person when I feel anxious. I'm the opposite - 'I can't sit still'. Maybe that's part of why. But I'm sure if there were some huge medical problem associated with the amount of food I can eat vs that I'm not heavy it would have been alerted to me? SO I try not to worry and try to just accept myself for who I am - chicken legs and all.

 

[cat]

hi ittl

I had a similar problem when i was diagnosed. I was running on adrenalin 22hrs a day, & with my anxiety levels far too high i lost 2 stone in weight & went into burn out physically. My Gp prescribed Citalopram for my anxiety & once we'd got the dose right my weight & anxiety stabilised.

Although i find being slower a bit frustrating I am much healthier now & my weight is no longer a problem.

I hope you find a solution soon, good luck x

 

[Redtail]

In terms of bulking up (or whatever) you can juice your system any way you want in the short term, but there's always a price. Not much question about that.

It think there is a question to a price to be paid, here is a photo of me at 275# I am 6'3" (taken in April). Now I am at 247# and look about the same but better definition. I lift and do cardio four times a week, have an annual physical, including a blood test. I have never had anything out of range and stay very consistent. My resting heart rate is 53 bbm.
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As far as protein shakes go, there is a lot of mis information out there. Stay with quality known manufactures and a little research goes a long way. Also it helps to have good connections in the sports nutrition area ;).

 

[James B.]

Hi Redtail, keep up the good work.

Honest, I doubt there's much mis-information regarding MSG and Aspartame. Commonly found in a lot of the protein shakes, and other refined food. Everyone's got their thing. Rock on man, commitment to one's program is very valuable. I will add this, in all candor, from the perspective of age: the muscle hypertrophy I put on was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. It posed a constant taxation on my system, added a near function-less demand for oxygen, water and fuel. And increased my body weight dis-proportionately to it's (perceived) power advantage. Aging and arthritis are a real thing. It will happen, please take care and try to minimize over-use. Arthritis sucks.

There are a few sports where it appears muscle hypertrophy is functional, those with specific demand for displacing a given weight come to mind. Aside form that, in the field, muscle hypertrophy adds dense weight to a player, meaning that person is heavier in to move in a rescue SAR/evac situation. Limited endurance, due to the already mentioned increased demands muscle hypertrophy poses, is another consideration. The question about relative power and functionality are only one thing though, but there is no question to the notion "we must carry the machine" But like I said this a very personal thing, rock on. It's your life, live it.

I bet you would dig the site gymjones.com. That's Mark Twights site, and it a powerful motivating tool for those seeking to find their personal fitness limits. A fun and worthwhile thing to do. There's tons of resource info there from people who need and use their fitness to support them directly in life or death situations. Like climbing, SWAT and others. Honest, check out gymjones.com - it's an amazing place. His Knowledge section is freaking radical. Have fun!

Good luck on your path Redtail - it's been a fun discussion - and take care. :-)

 

[Redtail]

James,
First you look great! I could not agree with you more on the artificial sweeter and MSG. All my shakes are have natural sweeteners. Would not even attempt to argue that point. I appreciate your comments and advice. I also have enjoyed the conversation.

One note is I really started lifting real heavy (benched 450) and looking back I think a lot of it was due to my PTSD. I remember thinking I must be as strong as possible and have a strong heart just in case I face that crazed person. I would spend 2 hours on the bike and then lift for another 2 hours. Not "normal" thinking.

I agree with you on the hypertrophy. I also wrestle and do BJJ so I am confident in my abilities to sustain, but my team would have difficulty in evac of me due to my size. That is definitely a disadvantage for me. But I look at it as, I owe it to my team (i supervise them) to be able to get them out and if I have to be left so be it. The O2 demand is real though. When I suit up in a SCBA for clan lab dismantling (yes we do that). I go though the tank pretty fast.

I will check out the site, thanks again, you made me think!

ITL sorry to hijack the thread!!!

 

[James B.]

Think it was a worthwhile hijack. :-)

I too took up pumping iron probably due to my PTSD. Burning off stress, and also making myself at least appear more formidable. No joke, I was a fiend in the gym, and am pretty much a shell of my former self. (But thanks for the nice comment). My 12 hour cross-training days were probably my fitness peak. Think arthritis and other over-use stuff can be beaten by a good diversity (clearly this something you do Redtail, impressive list of activities) and also by really keeping after the good quality fuel. Something you are way more advanced on than I was. I did not do a good job with this. Self sabotage or whatever, I'd let myself fall out of shape and adopt poor eating habits. Now I am paying the price.

Here's a video of two women repeating a climb I did three or four times in Yosemite. You can scrub the video forward to about two thirds way to get to "the good stuff". I did my ascents in the late 80's. Protection hardware has taken a step forward since then. Enjoy. Getting old sucks man, I can't do this stuff anymore. :-)

Best wishes to you Redtail, you made me think, also.

 

[anni]

Sigh. I can't look at the thread anymore- everyone looks amazing! :) My much loved, duct-taped together weights are moldering in the corner until after these discs are yanked out-too annoying to look at them. ITL, I used to run 4 miles a day, carrying these things ( not lying) despite knowing ti was still burning calories and my own chicken legs weren't doing anything but getting sort of stringy. I cut down to 2 miles, with weights ( yes, I know all about the various reasons this is a silly thing to do ) but still had a problem getting the whole weight thing under control. It was just being strong plus having that control thing- has been awfully helpful with not feeling like someone could beat me up again anytime soon. Every run with weights AND figure out a comfortable way to carry the riding crop? :) It's not possible, but would do it anyway.

All I can say, for a female my age, is that sticking as many calories as possible into something drinkable is just something which has worked over the last 20 years. I'm doing it at the moment, in point of fact, since my jeans are starting to become baggy-in-the-butt, like there's a collection of pebbles one is carrying around. Lunch today is whole milk, vanilla ice cream and brown sugar in the blender. No, not exactly balanced but if you put spinich in there it tends to lose it's appeal somewhat. :)

 

[Iam]

:rofl:Anni...you do make me laugh! I have this wonderful image of you know running, carrying weights and a riding crop with your jeans falling down. What a HOOT! I hope you do not think I am minimizing the problem Anni, just a great visual.

I don't have a problem with keeping weight on anymore, just the opposite. I did for much of my life though. Even took to putting cream in my coffee and eating tons of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups or any other chocolate. People who have never had the problem of keeping weight on have absolutely no idea how frustrating it is. They say "Oh, I wish I had that problem." Yeah right, no you don't!

 

[intothelight]

Hi Everyone,

No one feel bad about letting this thread take on a life of its own. It has been great watching everyone discuss and share ideas about fitness, health, and battling the effects of anxiety. Hey guys, lets face it, cardio and weights make us feel better and nothing wrong with this coping mechanism.

Anni, you are correct that building strength does make one feel like they are less of a target for victimization. Also, when I competed in the triathlon, it did wonders for my self-confidence, which all have problems with.

So everyone, feel free to continue this thread. Diet, cross training, fitness training, or whatever physical activity you engage in that makes you feel good, add what you will.

I've enjoyed it.

ITL

 

[anni]

Hahahahaha! i don't think ITL will mind a BIT ( hijacking her thread ) if I say that's the single funniest thing anyone has ever said in relation to myself, Iams!!!! I'm CRYING! The fact that it's not far from the truth makes it even more hysterical!! Oh Lord, I'd meant to write something else but it's gone right out of my head.

 

[rjtransient]

This is a thought-provoking thread! I hadn't considered that anxiety would speed up metabolism. My story is that I've always had trouble putting on weight, but I was in much better shape as a distance runner than I am now without that level of activity. Not sure why.

A friend of mine gave me recipes for protein shakes. He looked at the Booster Juice menu, thought "Um, I can do better than that at home," and came up with his own improvisations. It helps, but as Anni knows, I'm still not putting on muscle no matter how much I eat, so the pointers here are appreciated. :)

I could recommend a guide called Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle (free online). It dispels some of the myths surrounding nutrition and muscle-building, and what to eat if you want to lose weight or put on weight. I'm not a nutritionist, so I'm not sure about trying to share any scientifically accurate facts here. But it's something to look into.

Iam - yeah, I hear that a lot too, "I wish I had your problem." No, I don't think they do. :) Makes me want to take up kickboxing. If I had the energy.