Sub 10% BF and eating disorders

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Replies

  • 49DegreesNorth
    49DegreesNorth Posts: 31 Member
    Dano74 wrote: »

    Curiosity- are your calories currently pretty low for your build and TDEE to maintain aesthetics or are you up pretty high?

    I think my calories are adequate for maintenance as my weight has been stable for over a year. I workout 5 times a week, sometimes 6, about 1-1/2 hrs very intensely. I probably have a slow metabolism, or to put it positively, a very efficient one
  • Dano74
    Dano74 Posts: 503 Member
    Dano74 wrote: »

    Curiosity- are your calories currently pretty low for your build and TDEE to maintain aesthetics or are you up pretty high?

    I think my calories are adequate for maintenance as my weight has been stable for over a year. I workout 5 times a week, sometimes 6, about 1-1/2 hrs very intensely. I probably have a slow metabolism, or to put it positively, a very efficient one

    Perhaps, but I'm wondering. No doubt your metabolism has slowed at this point, which again... has me wondering.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Dano74 wrote: »

    Curiosity- are your calories currently pretty low for your build and TDEE to maintain aesthetics or are you up pretty high?

    I think my calories are adequate for maintenance as my weight has been stable for over a year. I workout 5 times a week, sometimes 6, about 1-1/2 hrs very intensely. I probably have a slow metabolism, or to put it positively, a very efficient one

    Given your stats, why do you think your metabolism is slow?
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    In addition to the advice above I would point out that trying to get your body to live at a point where it doesn't want to be is tough. It does sound like you have some disordered thinking however I'll bet that most bodybuilders/models/physique competitors have similar thought processes.

    From personal experience if I talk about my diet and exercise with people they can't grasp why it is necessary.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    In addition to the advice above I would point out that trying to get your body to live at a point where it doesn't want to be is tough. It does sound like you have some disordered thinking however I'll bet that most bodybuilders/models/physique competitors have similar thought processes.

    From personal experience if I talk about my diet and exercise with people they can't grasp why it is necessary.

    I've read similar from a specific powerlifter who maintains 6-8% bodyfat year round. His body will try to shed lean mass given any opportunity, and outside of his depletion refeeds on CKD, eating more carbs than a *kitten* turkey sandwich and bag of Baked Lays in a week will have his abs putting on a winter coat in pretty short order.

    Unfortunately, no individual knows what will be required of them to maintain a ohysique like that until they get there. Some can get away with all manner of dietary shenanigans. Some just have to be extremely strict with their macro outlays. Others still will have to hit up more anabolics and thermogenics than Jay Cutler if they want to keep fat that low without clipping muscle tissue.

    At thay point, the only question to ask is "is what I have to do worth it?" That can only be answered by each individual, and no one else. The sacrifices are theirs alone to make.
  • 49DegreesNorth
    49DegreesNorth Posts: 31 Member
    edited November 2016
    Dano74 wrote: »

    Given your stats, why do you think your metabolism is slow?

    because 2,700 calories on 5'9" with 10% BF, and 1.5hrs strenuous workouts x 6 times a week and if I increase by 500 calories I put on fat right away (i use skinfold system) without adding LBM

    that tells me it's slow...
  • 49DegreesNorth
    49DegreesNorth Posts: 31 Member
    edited November 2016

    At thay point, the only question to ask is "is what I have to do worth it?" That can only be answered by each individual, and no one else. The sacrifices are theirs alone to make.

    This is what I am starting to question. Difficulty is if my damaged psyche will let me accept going back to higher bf %'s...
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Dano74 wrote: »

    Given your stats, why do you think your metabolism is slow?

    because 2,700 calories on 5'9" with 10% BF, and 1.5hrs strenuous workouts x 6 times a week and if I increase by 500 calories I put on fat right away (i use skinfold system) without adding LBM

    that tells me it's slow...

    you don't put on 'fat' right away... but if you are increasing your cals by that much in one go then of course its going to have an affect.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    Dano74 wrote: »

    Given your stats, why do you think your metabolism is slow?

    because 2,700 calories on 5'9" with 10% BF, and 1.5hrs strenuous workouts x 6 times a week and if I increase by 500 calories I put on fat right away (i use skinfold system) without adding LBM

    that tells me it's slow...

    you don't put on 'fat' right away... but if you are increasing your cals by that much in one go then of course its going to have an affect.

    It is probably subcutaneous water and not water.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member

    At thay point, the only question to ask is "is what I have to do worth it?" That can only be answered by each individual, and no one else. The sacrifices are theirs alone to make.

    This is what I am starting to question. Difficulty is if my damaged psyche will let me accept going back to higher bf %'s...

    Obviously, we can't answer that for you. That being said, I feel your pain. I personally consider anything above 12% on a male to be edging into "excessively fat" territory, and that number steady ticks down as I get closer and closer. It used to be 18%, then 15, and on it goes.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    edited November 2016
    This is what I am starting to question. Difficulty is if my damaged psyche will let me accept going back to higher bf %'s...

    well, in my rather-limited experience, a 'damaged psyche' is not totally unlike a damaged muscle. rehab and physio and all that. just on a different plane.

  • Skipjack66
    Skipjack66 Posts: 102 Member
    A good way to figure out if you have eating disordered behaviour is to take an anonymous online screening test. There are many self-report assessment tools out there. It doesn't replace a doctor's or psychologist's assessment, but it may help you to decide if you need to seek some professional help. Here is a link to one:
    http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/online-eating-disorder-screening
  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    Skipjack66 wrote: »

    Just a heads-up, Webroot is reporting that site and quiz as having a history of phishing attacks.
  • Skipjack66
    Skipjack66 Posts: 102 Member
    Well I don't exactly know what that means. I did the quiz myself on my Mac with no issues. There are other sites as well. Just search under self-report assessment tools for eating disorders, or go to an eating disorder organization for whatever country/province/state you live in. Lots of resources to help out there.
  • serapel
    serapel Posts: 502 Member
    Phishing means the website is pretending to be legit while attempting to obtain your personal information, such as email address, passwords, etc.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,008 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    I'd see a therapist. No shame in that. Since realistically, you can eat some of the foods you are abstaining from, this is definitely a mental thing you need to workout.

    ^^^This 100%.

    I used to be just like you OP so I really do understand. It took me years to get through the nutrition hell, but when you do, it's worth it.
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