Protein deficiency + exercise

jordan_bowden · November 2019

Hi everyone.

The last six of months have been quiet chaotic health wise.
I got engaged and have been planning my wedding in another country, while suffering chronic sinusitis and struggling to handle a lot of stress. I have not been logging as I barely have the time to eat.

About a month ago I got back into exercise, and have been making the extra effort to eat enough - although I have still lost weight (as well as muscle)

After two weeks of all kinds of unusual symptoms, my body was showing signs of protein deficiency.

My wedding is in 17 days and I do not want to be super skinny but I have weight in all the wrong places.

Is it still safe to workout while recovering from protein deficiency? If not, how long should I wait?

rheddmobile · November 2019

It’s pretty unusual for someone in a first world country to suffer from protein deficiency. Did a doctor tell you this?

jordan_bowden · November 2019

I don’t live in a first world country. My doctor has not told me this, at the moment I barely have money for food - let alone a consultation haha

However I am vegan, and I know I have not been eating enough so this is very likely.

Hollis100 · November 2019

Congratulations about your upcoming wedding.

I would ask my doctor about safety issues (edited to say I just saw your note about not being able to afford a consultation).

You're not going to make any substantial changes in 17 days. That's just two and a half weeks. You seem very stressed out. I would eat well during the next 17 days and try to relax so you can approach the wedding in a calm, confident, happy state of mind.

aokoye · November 2019

So you know none of us here are doctors and can't give you advice as if we were one (and even if we were, it wouldn't be ethical to do so). That said, I can't imagine you'd be able to make the progress you'd like in 17 days. It seems like the kindest thing that you can do for yourself is try to relax and eat more.

PAV8888 · November 2019

Eat more. Exercise the least amount possible. Prioritise protein.

You can't fully fix anything in 17 days but you *can* ensure a higher likelihood of permanent damage by not changing course now.

You sound sufficiently like a person having advanced ED symptoms that are impacting their physical health to generate concern about your well being.

Hopefully some of this is wedding nerves.

But your post, sounded to me as if you've been dieting and exercising pretty darn hard and pretty long in order to achieve a certain look for your wedding. And that you added exercise because you're thinking you're seeing fat in places you don't want to be. And that, in spite of what you said you tried to do by eating a bit more, you still didn't fuel that exercise adequately since you have continued to lose weight.

If you're actually showing signs of protein deficiency and you actually do want to get married and live to enjoy the experience (as opposed to keeling over during this process in which case the wedding expenses will be wasted AND someone will also have to also pay for a funeral); it is time to use some of your wedding budget for a doctor who can check your general health and ensure that you can and will ramp back up to eating appropriately* as of NOW. (not knowing your current weight and particulars appropriately can vary and include maintenance or surplus or what have you!)

As an aside losing muscle mass while exercising is not normal, and if it's currently happening more exercise under the current conditions will not get it back.

kshama2001 · November 2019

With only 17 days to go, trying to do something about fat is pointless and will only increase stress, which can increase cortisol and thus water retention, which can make the scale go up.

I think your focus should be on de-stressing and enjoying your wedding.

Exercise helps me manage stress, but I always fuel my workouts.

Protein deficiency + exercise

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