Of refeeds and diet breaks

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  • dancefit2015
    dancefit2015 Posts: 236 Member
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    anubis609 wrote: »
    anubis609 wrote: »
    anubis609 wrote: »
    I feel like I've seen this before somewhere but can you experience DOMS more from being in a calorie deficit? I know protein plays a big role too but I'm just wondering if it's still an issue with enough protein even while in a cal deficit? My mom, friend, and I will do the same workouts and I will be the only one that can hardly walk for days later. I think they are probably getting more protein & calories than me.

    I'm barely seeing this now and haven't caught up so if it's addressed already, I'll edit, but for the most part DOMS and to a worse extent, rhabdomyolysis, is a combination of overly intense activity beyond neuromuscular adaptation, rate of recovery, and substrate availability for repair.

    So, in a deficit, you're already in an impaired recovery state. To counteract that, the better recommendation is to get even more protein than you would on maintenance to compensate. At the same time, in a deficit, going too hard in workouts is also no bueno. You'll just be tearing away at skeletal tissue instead of fat. You want to stimulate the muscles, not annihilate them.

    Edit: I had a feeling you might have been referring to crossfit. I'm going to say crossfit style of workouts are hardly conducive to anyone in even a moderate deficit. This is one of those activities that you NEED eat to fuel/recover from your workouts simply because the sheer amount of intensity demanded for WODs are known to actually destroy people. And by destroy, I mean actual muscle and tendon tears. If you're getting a very low amount of protein and energy in the day, doing crossfit isn't going to be doing any favors. I don't have anything against xfit, I just think it really could be implemented better as a program, especially for beginners.
    mmapags wrote: »
    heybales wrote: »
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Okay so more sleep, more protein, possibly scale down strength training.
    It was 55 reps of squats with 6lb ball... so I don't know if the exercise is really the main issue.
    As a vegetarian/borderline vegan, I am wondering if I should take an amino acid supplement along with my protein drink so make sure I'm getting all of the amino acids I need.
    Thank you so much for your advice!

    Total calories? Protein grams? Other than animal products are you restricting anything else? Eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese? how quickly did you ramp up to 55 squats?

    My goal is 1,700 cal at a 500 cal deficit/day. My weekly calories are always either at or above my goal. Yesterday I managed 100g protein, but my average for the week before yesterday was about 55/day. I don't eat many dairy products or eggs, but I don't restrict them either.
    Well I have been doing weighted squats for months, snatches, front/back squats, few air squats here and there. So doing 55 reps with a 6lb ball doesn't sound like something that could make me so sore. I did about 5 reps at a time before shaking out my legs and doing another 5. And this is just one example. I feel like every other workout I do makes me ridiculously sore, no matter how light I go.
    Does anyone take a BCAA supplement? Could this be helpful?

    Purely as an energy source, expensive energy source.

    It has been shown in recent studies to not give any extra benefit to lifting and the normal way it's used and promoted.

    Now - you being so low in protein, might be of assistance.

    For example, if your diet has you just totally lacking on some amino acids or very short - that will effect usage of the others, the ratio between them for usage is interesting - the lowest common denominator method basically - one very low amino acid could prevent usage of the others.

    At least more recent studies have shown the time window for that usage is decently long, if you have a mix of proteins through the day - but a real lack of variety could be bad still.

    So if BCAA's provided what you are otherwise short on - useful.
    If not - then not worth it.

    Thank you very much :smile: Maybe I could try it out and see if I notice a difference.

    Personally I'd work on getting my protein up from food first. Not to muddy the assessment waters with supplements that may or may not be doing something when you have changed another variable. Plus, going to be much easier to get what you need without the use of supplements.

    +1 Personally, I wouldn't waste the time and money on BCAAs. Maybe get a plant based protein powder.
    ETA: I should have read all the way before posting. I see Nony recommended a good plant based protein source. I also agree completely with anubis's points. Often, when you add volume, you reduce weight and increase reps. This fairly typical of Crossfit. This causes the use of both Type 1 an Type 2 muscle fibers and engages the smaller muscles and tendons more so than higher weight/ lower rep. That can and will cause DOMS.

    I use Orgain as a vegan protein supplement. Only 21g/serving so I am trying to get myself to drink two/day.
    And on CrossFit, I have a free membership for CF, I have been doing it on and off since I was 14. I enjoy the variety, the Oly lifts, rope climbs, the group atmosphere. If I really scale down the workouts to a level better suited for me while in a deficit, maybe I could avoid getting DOMS?

    The important thing is that you do legitimately enjoy it if it keeps you consistently active.

    I can't hate on the actual drive to perform when you're in a gym full of people hyping you up for PRs because it's a rush, or when you know everyone's eating the same amount of *kitten* just as equally as you are during brutal *kitten* routines, but it's a double-edged sword. Yes, it's positively motivating, but at the same time, sometimes you literally are pushing yourself beyond your capability to do it effectively. And that's where it becomes questionable.

    Let me ask this, how much is your deficit now and are you taking your crossfit workouts into consideration when you eat at a deficit? Or are you eating the calorie count for a sedentary individual AND doing crossfit workouts on top of that (adding even more of a deficit from exercise on top of a non-exercise deficit)?

    I ask because scaling down the workout to reduce DOMS is a viable strategy in the long run, but you'd need to adequately recover from the current state of muscle damage first before anything. If you're already in a deficit before even going in, then any amount of work you do is going to slam your deficit even more and true recovery may never happen so you'll constantly be eating away at lean mass into rhabdo.

    Eat a bit more (with a heavy emphasis on protein, rebalancing sodium/magnesium/potassium, fluid intake, and anything to help with soreness and inflammation like super dosing omega-3) and do a bit less work just to promote recovery for now.

    I'm set at sedentary lose 1lb/week. I just log a portion of time as "circuit training" and another portion as "strength training" usually comes close to 300+ cal but it's really hard to know how much I am really burning. I always end up hitting my goal for the week, if not for the day. This week and last week I have only gone to CF once/week. Other days I work on flexibility, cardio, or strengthening the muscles in my ankle & hips.
    I will definitely work on that bolded part, thanks!

    Gotcha. I was thinking you were doing CF > 1x a week. Either way, make an allowance for increase in calories on active days, especially CF.

    As a favor, I'm going to provide one example Lyle outlines in his injury book (highly recommend to purchase if you're at all interested: https://www.bodyrecomposition.com/optimal-nutrition-injury-recovery)

    For minor muscular injury:

    CASE STUDY 1: MINOR MUSCULAR INJURY

    The first case study I want to look at is the situation where someone involved in regular training
    experiences a minor muscle pull (more accurately a strain). These are extremely common among
    active individuals, and, as discussed, represent a small tear in a the muscle itself. Recovery tends to be
    fairly quick here as the injury is minor and muscle has excellent blood flow and tissue turnover
    meaning it can repair itself very rapidly.

    Phase 1: Post-Injury and Inflammatory Phase
    During the immediate post-injury and inflammatory phase, very little may be required at all.
    Protection, Immobilization and Support are extremely unlikely to be necessary in this situation. Only
    minimal Rest and perhaps Ice and Compression and Elevation being used for a day or so if at all.

    Anti-inflammatory compounds for a day or two could be considered but wouldn't be necessary (and
    might be detrimental) for longer than that. Since the inflammation itself tends to be short lived, even
    the use of the other inflammatory modulating compounds may be unnecessary (fish oils, as part of general nutrition, should be part of the diet to begin with).

    No real nutritional interventions would be required here other that good general nutrition. Any increase
    in metabolic rate is likely to be small and short-lived and so long as sufficient calories, protein and
    carbohydrates are being consumed this will be sufficient.

    Phase 2: Proliferation
    Inflammation will give way to proliferation relatively rapidly, within a few days under most conditions.
    Here early mobilization such as light stretching would be useful and many find that a set or two of
    fairly light but higher repetition (15-20 repetitions) work in the weight room can make the area feel
    much better by pumping an enormous amount of blood through the area to both clear out damaged
    tissue and bring nutrient into the area.

    The same comments about general nutrition holds here in that it should be part of the overall daily
    intake but shouldn't need to be altered in any major way due to the minor nature of the injury. The
    inflammatory modulating compounds are unlikely to be beneficial and could even be detrimental at this
    point although supplements such as whey protein (synchronized around any high repetition weight
    training) and creatine are always useful for weight training athletes.

    Phase 3: Remodeling
    The proliferative phase is unlikely to last for more than a few days as well and this will signal the
    beginning of the remodeling phase. At this point, progressively heavier weight training can be
    implemented for the injured area, gradually increasing intensity and/or volume (amount of training
    being done) over time. It would be unlikely to take more than perhaps 2-3 weeks to reach more or less
    full recovery after a minor injury of this sort and many will recover even more quickly than that.

    Thank you :smile:
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
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    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    Anyone have any experience with prednisone? It's possible I'm at oral steroids stage for eczema treatment :\

    I've been on it several times for up to two weeks. I won't take it anymore. It greatly increased my appetite and decreased my ability to sleep. My staff already limit my ability to have caffeine in the office (they take it away from me and yell at anyone who offers it). Being naturally super-energetic, the last thing I need is something to make me more hyper. :neutral:
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
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    Psychgrrl wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    Anyone have any experience with prednisone? It's possible I'm at oral steroids stage for eczema treatment :\

    I've been on it several times for up to two weeks. I won't take it anymore. It greatly increased my appetite and decreased my ability to sleep. My staff already limit my ability to have caffeine in the office (they take it away from me and yell at anyone who offers it). Being naturally super-energetic, the last thing I need is something to make me more hyper. :neutral:

    I haven't had any noticeable increase in appetite yet, actually more the opposite (but that's likely just heat and feeling punk), hence the 700 cal mega shake last night. And today, didn't have breakfast before going to the doctor, because I wasn't going to be *that* long. After doing that, getting scripts filled (I love it when I need a supermarket bag for my scripts!), going to the supermarket, popping into my lab, etc, etc...it's now 20 to 12, and I'm only just 'oh yeah, I could go for some food about now'.
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
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    mmapags wrote: »
    I'm going to post some info here that only kinda relates to refeeds and diet breaks.

    For the last 6 weeks I have been all over the block with calories. A nieces wedding in late October started it off. Then Halloween parties, then a visit from my lovely daughter for a week and right into Thanksgiving. I also changed my lifting program to one that was more focused on muscle building (hypertrophy).

    Some days I was at maintenance, some days way over, some days on plan. The net effect was......up 1/2 lb and waist down 1/2 inch. WFT???? Slight muscle gain and slight fat loss maybe?? A kind of ad hoc recomp??

    During this time, water weight was all over the block also. Effects of the new program? Sodium and food transit? All of the above? Took 5 days for water weight and food transit to normalize after Thanksgiving. But, that day, I did EAT ALL THE FOOODZ!!!

    One conclusion is, for those that fear going of deficit, just like you don't lose quickly, you don't gain that way either. It can be soooo hard to remember this! I can tell you one thing; with the randomness of my intake, I'm sure my hormone regulating organs were wondering, "What is he doing???"

    I can confirm this. I plotted my weight for over a year and a half. I eat like a pig anytime there is a family dinner (birthdays, holidays, or just because). There is always an initial gain the day after (for me it is usually 2-3 pounds). If I immediately go back to eating normally my weight trends down for 4-7 days and then is back to normal. I also eat like a gluttonous fool on vacation. I am of course heavier on return from vacation (maybe 5 pounds?). I usually eat in a slight deficit upon return and my weight typically returns to normal in about 10-14 days. The majority of the loss is within the first 7 days.
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
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    Saw my doctor this morning, she was suitably horrified by the photo of my leg from Wednesday, at it's worst, and also suitably impressed at just how much energy it takes in calorie terms to generate that mess.

    I now have yet another steroid cream (that's four, I think I have all strengths covered now, this one sits between hydrocortisone and locoid), and refills on all my other potions and antihistamines, plus more benzos in a futile attempt to combat the pred insomnia.
  • dancefit2015
    dancefit2015 Posts: 236 Member
    edited December 2017
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    @Nony_Mouse I think I'm gonna try out your eczema diet plan... I am actually not sure at all if that's what this little patch on my elbow is, but I have never had this before and now that I have been reading about your experience this suddenly pops up, super weird.
    I hope that you heal up soon, that sounds like an awful experience!
  • dancefit2015
    dancefit2015 Posts: 236 Member
    edited December 2017
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    I actually have this theory that my body empathizes with other people's. I developed tendonitis in my ankle after my sister shattered the bones in hers, I started having gut issues after my best friend had her gall bladder removed, and my back started hurting a lot after I started dating my boyfriend who has a back injury... I swear it's not just mental either. I've been to physical therapy for my ankle where it was confirmed that I have flat feet and weak joints, I was told I was experiencing spasms, and that I had scoliosis all by specialists.... Weirdest thing ever. It's as if my brain manifests the issues I see other people experiencing.
  • dancefit2015
    dancefit2015 Posts: 236 Member
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    Not that any of that is based on science :lol: just a funny theory
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
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    @Nony_Mouse I think I'm gonna try out your eczema diet plan... I am actually not sure at all if that's what this little patch on my elbow is, but I have never had this before and now that I have been reading about your experience this suddenly pops up, super weird.
    I hope that you heal up soon, that sounds like an awful experience!

    Haha, extrapolating out for area, you can have maybe an extra 10 calories. But I hope for your sake it's not that. If you have any hydrocortisone cream, try some of that on it and see if it clears :)

    Also, I think I'm in the category of people who get an energy boost from pred. Either that or I'm at the hyper stage of sleep deprivation. I'm going to put this to good use and get some strength training in, even if I have to take 3 hours to do a 45 minute workout so as to not get too hot.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,389 MFP Moderator
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    Regarding DOMS, one component that wasnt discussed was genetics. Some people get it in certain areas, regardless of how much protein or calories. I always get DOMS in my legs and back. I never get it in my upper body.
  • dancefit2015
    dancefit2015 Posts: 236 Member
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    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    @Nony_Mouse I think I'm gonna try out your eczema diet plan... I am actually not sure at all if that's what this little patch on my elbow is, but I have never had this before and now that I have been reading about your experience this suddenly pops up, super weird.
    I hope that you heal up soon, that sounds like an awful experience!

    Haha, extrapolating out for area, you can have maybe an extra 10 calories. But I hope for your sake it's not that. If you have any hydrocortisone cream, try some of that on it and see if it clears :)

    Also, I think I'm in the category of people who get an energy boost from pred. Either that or I'm at the hyper stage of sleep deprivation. I'm going to put this to good use and get some strength training in, even if I have to take 3 hours to do a 45 minute workout so as to not get too hot.

    Thank you I’ll try that!
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
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    I may never complain about ovulation or pms bloat again...
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,752 Member
    edited December 2017
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    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    For those not on my friends list,

    Ankle: up 1 cm
    Waist: up 1.5 cm
    Thigh (individual): up 1.5 cm

    Yes, I am a big wobbly mess of water.

    However, the rash is vastly improved, and I was able to get through strength training. Definitely not the energizer bunny I was before that, but that's also possibly lack of food, because what increased appetite???

    Yoghurt and strawberries, and probably a protein shake, is a balanced diet, right??

    :(

    You seem to be handling this exceptionally well @Nony_Mouse... I would have been a mess just from the rash! Hoping it clears up completely and you can get off the meds soon!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    edited December 2017
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    I wonder what increase got from my poison ivy rash, and several re-infections as I missed what the oil must have gotten on?
    And a long bike ride didn't help with the sweating.
    This after 2 weeks since initial contact.

    qvtv1xmgmf63.jpg

    e7ss79mlsk0b.jpg


  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
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    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    For those not on my friends list,

    Ankle: up 1 cm
    Waist: up 1.5 cm
    Thigh (individual): up 1.5 cm

    Yes, I am a big wobbly mess of water.

    However, the rash is vastly improved, and I was able to get through strength training. Definitely not the energizer bunny I was before that, but that's also possibly lack of food, because what increased appetite???

    Yoghurt and strawberries, and probably a protein shake, is a balanced diet, right??

    :(

    You seem to be handling this exceptionally well @Nony_Mouse... I would have been a mess just from the rash! Hoping it clears up completely and you can get off the meds soon!

    I'm actually really not :\ Y'know how people make their life look fabulous on Facebook? :tongue:

    This is laugh so I don't cry. It's been close more than once.

    I really want to go for a walk, because it helps clear my head, plus cabin fever, but I'm already 300 cals under TDEE with what I have logged.

    And I am stressing myself out over *kitten* sodium. I have never once given a damn about my sodium intake.

    It's water weight, it's water weight, it's water weight. It will go away.