What to do with a broken metabolism
Replies
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HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »Yea no, I just enjoy walking and if you think about the subject, would you rather be bored sitting and most likely ruining posture and spine by slouching or be subconsciously burning some extra calories by walking and getting blood circulation. Nothing to brag about but college studies are a breeze for me. And the whole doctor thing, I'm pretty sure there's no "pedometer addiction" doctor. I know that this whole stepping this MIGHT appear to be an addiction, but in th3 end it's just burning some extra calories. If you think burning calories intentionally is a disorder, then I would direct you to every fitness individual or athletes who would probably burn more than me. So my problem as aforementioned, is my METABOLISM, not so much focused on if this is a disorder or something of the sort. I just wanted some THOUGHTS about this whole metabolism thing and not waste hundreds of dollars on some generic answer like "I dontnspecialize in this field and I'm pretty sure there's no such doctor who would specialize in such a subjective topic"(from 3 doctors I asked as a side note)
Your problem is Not your metabolism. It is not broken.
And nobody said burning calories intentionally is a problem. Of course not. It is something most of us do.
It is the extreme degree that is the problem - walking 50 km a day every day for about 8 continuos hours is not 'just burning some extra calories'
Like previous poster said, that would be like claiming drinking 10 bottles of wine every day was 'just having a drink with dinner'
And it isn't a polarised extreme between walking 50 km every day and sitting around getting bored all day.
Even if college studies are easy for you, there are plenty of other things to do than 8 hours walking. You know, like most peoples daily living.
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OP you're a male, 5'11. Do you weigh 175lbs, 130lbs, or 160lbs? You threw out all these weights in your first post. I'd like clarification. However, any of those weights are low for a 5'11 male. How do I know? I'm a 5'11 female. So, you're underweight and walking all day, and worried about gaining weight. You know what that means--right? Yes. So get to a specialist ASAP before you ruin your health. Nobody wants you to come to harm.17
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I just want to mention as a healthcare provider that sometimes patients claim their doctor said something that they didn’t. I have seen patients do this in the ER where I work and they have done it to me. Either they are misinterpreting the meaning of what was said or they purposely twist the words in their mind to suit their own narrative. Also, all of the facts may not have been given to the healthcare provider.
OP knows he is eating too little and working out too much.
Yep. Not a healthcare person, but I have a close relative who's filled me and my wife with amazing stories of what doctors have told her over the years. Like telling us she was "diagnosed" with gout one time, and heart failure another, when no doctor had ever said either thing - she'd read on the web about gout and decided she had it and put the words into her GP's mouth, but we only learned that much later. Then a few years ago she had an acute health crisis and we ended up as the chauffeurs and then sitting in the doctor's office with her. Later she forgot we were there and described the meeting to us, and it was Un. Be. Liev. Able. how distorted her take was on what the doctor had said and diagnosed at the time. And then we had to take her to the ER not too long after and were sitting there as an actual dr collected and discussed her whole medical history, and the gap between what she told the doctor, what she'd told us, and what we knew to be the case was as wide as the universe itself.
I thought the OP in this thread was trolling initially, because it all sounded so far fetched. Person goes to doctor and says: I walk 30 miles every single day, only eat chicken breasts and sweet potatoes, have a chew spit disorder, eat 1,200 calories, and am gaining weight. What do you think, doc? And the doc says: Yeah, I don't see a problem with walking 30 miles per day ... ? I mean, that's almost a punchline for a joke.
This whole situation cries out for serious treatment by trained professionals with medical degrees on their walls and is way, way, WAY beyond the pay grade of any of us commenters.paperpudding wrote: »lgfrie and nooshie, yes I second that.
Have worked in medical centre for 10 years - patient's version of what Dr said is often very 'lost in translation' - sometimes genuine misunderstanding, sometimes our fault for presenting things in too much jargon, sometimes patient unintentionally or deliberately interprets things to suit their agenda, sometimes patient has not fully disclosed so our advice is not really relevant.
obviously that is why we rely on letters back from specialists/physio's etc rather than patients word of mouth.
In this case obviously we can't hear the other side of the story - ie what the doctor actually said in his/her own words with the information actually disclosed to him/her
I’m not saying that’s it is impossible for some doctors or healthcare providers to say something ridiculous. It can happen, but I bet a lot of what I see on these boards, the ridiculous things someone’s doctor supposedly said, are not true.
For example, sometimes when taking a medical history, a patient will tell me they have had a heart attack in the past. That patient might be 25 years old. So, I look at their medical record to get some clarity and realized they were seen for chest pains in the ER once. That doesn’t equal a heart attack and no doctor ever diagnosed them with one. This kind of thing happens all of the time.
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Do you;
exercise excessively?
feel depressed, irritable or anxious if you don't walk every day?
feel you must exercise every day or you become restless?
exercise even when you are sick or injured?
calculate how much you exercise based on how much you eat, or vice versa?
base self-worth solely on physical performance?
deny that excessive exercise is a problem?
repeatedly worried about feeling or being fat even if your body weight is below average or completely normal?
Are your;
responsibilities and relationships suffering and taking a backseat to exercise?
enjoyment of activities and sports diminished?
If you are honest with yourself and answering these with yes for many then you have a problem. Your responses so far in this thread already answer many of these questions as yes.18 -
Ma'am, as someone stated above, your metabolism isnot broken. If you gained weight over a period of time not eating or drinking anything, then I would say yes. Actually there is some research where anorexics actually have hyper metabolism. (Will post upon request) The differences in most rmr studies is 80-120 calories as someone postd earlier. So, your rmr is most likely not that far off. As far a metabolism, the biggest difference seems to be NEAT. I am also coming to believe in the energy constraint model. Basically, the human body is only capable of burning so many calories before it down grades energy expenditure to help save itself. Something that is hinted to in a study by Herman Ponzer when dealing with the Hadza hunter gather groups. He measured their energy expenditure with doubly labeled water, be noted when lean mass was taken into account, they were burning no more energy than a semi-sedentary westerner. This was with them being over 2.5 times more active. We also see it in people who exercise too much. LH and testosterone drop in men and women lose their menstruation. Is AT real, yes, from the research I have seen out of Roosenbaums lab's. Though the drop in RMR is small, about 80 calories in his studies. The biggest drop is in muscle fuel efficiency. Basically the muscles burn less energy per contraction than prodicted. You weight train, so thins helps to mitigate this in some research. I was also someone who worried about metabolism for a long time, now not so much. Weight loss and maintenance mostly comes down to dietary adherence and activity adherence. Those two things are the LARGEST predictors of who loses and maintains. Best wishes.3
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@psychod787 hyper metabolic on refeed, not before, or did I fall asleep and miss that?2
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@psychod787 hyper metabolic on refeed, not before, or did I fall asleep and miss that?
Yes, there some research on re feeding post anorexia. Also, anecdotal remarks from people who work in centers where they are treated. Basically the body has to repair organs and bones before fat can be regained. About that time appetite seems to pick up quite a bit. Wonder if that is some of my problem. Not the time or place... lol4 -
It's certainly interesting that TO has not shown up here again.4
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snowflake954 wrote: »OP you're a male, 5'11. Do you weigh 175lbs, 130lbs, or 160lbs? You threw out all these weights in your first post. I'd like clarification. However, any of those weights are low for a 5'11 male. How do I know? I'm a 5'11 female. So, you're underweight and walking all day, and worried about gaining weight. You know what that means--right? Yes. So get to a specialist ASAP before you ruin your health. Nobody wants you to come to harm.
170s fluctuating1 -
snowflake954 wrote: »OP you're a male, 5'11. Do you weigh 175lbs, 130lbs, or 160lbs? You threw out all these weights in your first post. I'd like clarification. However, any of those weights are low for a 5'11 male. How do I know? I'm a 5'11 female. So, you're underweight and walking all day, and worried about gaining weight. You know what that means--right? Yes. So get to a specialist ASAP before you ruin your health. Nobody wants you to come to harm.
Also I'm not worried about weight gain but the science of CICO and my metabolisms regards to that2 -
psychod787 wrote: »@psychod787 hyper metabolic on refeed, not before, or did I fall asleep and miss that?
Yes, there some research on re feeding post anorexia. Also, anecdotal remarks from people who work in centers where they are treated. Basically the body has to repair organs and bones before fat can be regained. About that time appetite seems to pick up quite a bit. Wonder if that is some of my problem. Not the time or place... lol
Thanks for the insight. Seems interesting, I'll look into it2 -
snowflake954 wrote: »HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »1. Get a new pedometer
2. See a doctor, not random internet strangers
3. Stop eating a one-thing-only diet of chicken breast and sweet potatoes, that doesn't have enough nutrients and doesn't include all vitamins etc.
Seriously, how many miles/kilometers does your pedometer say you walk? How many hours you walk per day? 60-70k would be 6-7 hours of just walking at a fast-ish pace, no breaks.
I already saw a doctor for the disorder and RECOVERED, but I'm pretty sure I'm here because I already tried asking about steps metabolism and all that to drs
What did your doctor say about your over exercising? Did you show them your pedometer?
Just because you're not chewing and spitting anymore doesn't mean you're recovered.
He just said there's no problem with my steps. And said there's no such thing as over walking. He gave Michael Phelps or military people as an example who burn way more than me but still aren't bodily damaged
It isn't the walking that's the problem, it's the eating enough to sustain it. Phelps has a trainer, and I'm sure he has a nutritionist,..... all the bells and whistles. You?
A trainer who tells him to shove down pizzas and Sugar filled monsters DAILY?2 -
I just want to mention as a healthcare provider that sometimes patients claim their doctor said something that they didn’t. I have seen patients do this in the ER where I work and they have done it to me. Either they are misinterpreting the meaning of what was said or they purposely twist the words in their mind to suit their own narrative. Also, all of the facts may not have been given to the healthcare provider.
OP knows he is eating too little and working out too much.
If this is the case, shouldn't I be losing weight?1 -
Emmapatterson1729 wrote: »I see new faces here daily, see new posts about eating low calories daily. If you've read my story, just ignore post. If very short and sedentary ignore my post.
I had congestive heart failure at 25 years old.
I was 5'8" around 135 lbs,
US size 9.
Ate around the 1000 calorie mark (usually coming in around 1100). Some days as low as 800 (just wasn't hungry), once every couple of weeks would binge a little and hit around 1200 calories.
I walked 3-9 miles and did an ab workout daily. After a binge, I would feel guilty and do aerobics. I also played tennis.
I wasn't Karen Carpenter thin.
I gained just over 100 lbs of water weight when my heart failed. Eating too low of calories to replenish the energy spent, caused an unbalance in electrolytes, one chamber of heart swelled, slowed, and I retained 100 lbs of water in a two months time.
Because gain was so fast, I ended up with deformities for life. I had a breast reduction, because they swelled from a perky D cup, to hanging in my lap H cup. Insurance wouldn't cover a tummy tuck or thigh lift, so stuck for life with deformed stomach and thighs (originally stomach hung so low, it would get calloused from hitting the ground when I sat).
It caused other problems as well, had to have gallbladder removed immediately, hormones went crazy, and ended up mal-absorbent.
Just before my heart failed, I felt healthy and strong. I was just trying to lose weight I had gained from a pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage. Almost at goal weight and size when heart failed.
Shocked when I was diagnosed as eating anorexic calorie levels. I couldn't believe I was obese from eating what I thought was healthy eating.
I struggled with depression going from thin and fit to obese, going from active and athletic to immobile, couldn't breathe just walking from bed to toilet. I had never considered myself anorexic, because I was curvy and not rail thin.
Eating too low of calories isn't worth the risks of these consequences. Eating too low of calories, literally destroyed my health and severely worsened my quality of life!
Your current lifestyle is unsustainable, and I think you know it deep down. Something's gotta give, and it won't be pretty. Good luck.8 -
HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »1. Get a new pedometer
2. See a doctor, not random internet strangers
3. Stop eating a one-thing-only diet of chicken breast and sweet potatoes, that doesn't have enough nutrients and doesn't include all vitamins etc.
Seriously, how many miles/kilometers does your pedometer say you walk? How many hours you walk per day? 60-70k would be 6-7 hours of just walking at a fast-ish pace, no breaks.
I already saw a doctor for the disorder and RECOVERED, but I'm pretty sure I'm here because I already tried asking about steps metabolism and all that to drs
What did your doctor say about your over exercising? Did you show them your pedometer?
Just because you're not chewing and spitting anymore doesn't mean you're recovered.
He just said there's no problem with my steps. And said there's no such thing as over walking. He gave Michael Phelps or military people as an example who burn way more than me but still aren't bodily damaged
It isn't the walking that's the problem, it's the eating enough to sustain it. Phelps has a trainer, and I'm sure he has a nutritionist,..... all the bells and whistles. You?
A trainer who tells him to shove down pizzas and Sugar filled monsters DAILY?
I dont understand this comment.
Like all Olympic level athletes he would of had a coach and I'm sure somebody over seeing his nutritional intake.
I'm sure that intake could sometimes include pizzas and sugar filled treats.
Even Olympic athletes eat some treat food, like most other people.
But why would anyone be telling him to shove down monstrous amounts daily - and why would anyone tell you to do that either???
Certainly nobody on this thread has suggested that.
eat sensible amounts of reasonably nutritionally balanced foods and do a sensible amount of excercise.
That's all.
If you find that difficult then seek help about it.
But you dont seem willing to accept you have a problem or to accept any help - you just keep defensively brushing off any advice given.
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HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »OP you're a male, 5'11. Do you weigh 175lbs, 130lbs, or 160lbs? You threw out all these weights in your first post. I'd like clarification. However, any of those weights are low for a 5'11 male. How do I know? I'm a 5'11 female. So, you're underweight and walking all day, and worried about gaining weight. You know what that means--right? Yes. So get to a specialist ASAP before you ruin your health. Nobody wants you to come to harm.
Also I'm not worried about weight gain but the science of CICO and my metabolisms regards to that
Then reread your OP--"I started gaining weight like crazy, from 130lbs to 160lbs, so I started eating only sweet potatoes and chicken breast from 1200-1500cal max". Op, 130 or 160 lbs for a 5'11 male is underweight. You also said you are afraid to eat 4000 or more calories, as per your activity level, because it could "backfire". So I can't understand here. You say one thing and then another. Please be consistent if you want real help. Your metabolism is fine, CICO is fine, there's something else that isn't working.9 -
HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »I was losing weight until almost 6 months ago ... I suffered a period of chew spit disorder.... However, ever since I started, I've gained weight like crazy about 30 pounds from 130 to 160 in 2 months! Then I lowered my intake to basically chicken breast and sweet potatoes totaling 1200-1500 calories Max! ... I'm still gaintaing. Now it's 170 range. ... but I'm reluctant to eat in the 4000-5000 calorie range (as recommended with regards to my activity)You may want to treat all of the disorders you currently have, including the exercise one. Some blood tests and an exam by a gp to ensure you're not exhibiting signs of starvation or internal organ failure and/or to check whether you have edema, and why, may not be terrible ideas.emmabrookes1 wrote: »Emmapatterson1729 wrote: »I had congestive heart failure at 25 years old. I was 5'8" around 135 lbs ... Ate around the 1000 calorie mark ... I walked 3-9 miles and did an ab workout daily ... I wasn't Karen Carpenter thin. I gained just over 100 lbs of water weight when my heart failed. Eating too low of calories to replenish the energy spent, caused an unbalance in electrolytes, one chamber of heart swelled, slowed, and I retained 100 lbs of water in a two months time.
Because gain was so fast .... It caused other problems as well, had to have gallbladder removed immediately, hormones went crazy, and ended up mal-absorbent.... Just before my heart failed, I felt healthy and strong. I was just trying to lose weight I had gained from a pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage. Almost at goal weight and size when heart failed... Shocked when I was diagnosed as eating anorexic calorie levels.
Your current lifestyle is unsustainable, and I think you know it deep down. Something's gotta give, and it won't be pretty. Good luck.
If your predicted intake is in the 5k range and you're eating a semi-mono-diet of sweet potato and chicken worth 1500 Cal you're creating a bigger deficit than even Emma was.
You are you, of course, and you, of course, know best how you've been 100% open with all your doctors and they have all 100% said exactly what you said to us that they said, and, for sure, you only walk because you enjoy doing so, and obviously nothing is wrong in your world.
But, hey, you know what? A doctor's visit is cheap in the big scheme of things. And it is definitely cheaper than a funeral--not to mention that you would be putting people at an avoidable risk for COVID if you make them all show up at an enclosed space for your service.
So if I were sitting where you are (excuse me, walking around town) like you are, I would give a bit of a thought to taking a bus to my doctor's office and handing them a print out of a few of these posts!
You could then ask the doctor to examine you for edema, run some blood tests and check out your electrolytes, and comment about the internet crazies who seem so needlessly concerned about someone who eats 1500 Cal of sweet potato and chicken while walking a dozen hours a day. Every day. For pleasure. While gaining weight like crazy.14 -
OP, look up Exercise Bulimia. It's a thing. And it might be your thing.
Please get help. Although you can't see that there's most likely an issue that needs professional intervention, some of us can.
14 -
HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »HHAEYOUNG73 wrote: »1. Get a new pedometer
2. See a doctor, not random internet strangers
3. Stop eating a one-thing-only diet of chicken breast and sweet potatoes, that doesn't have enough nutrients and doesn't include all vitamins etc.
Seriously, how many miles/kilometers does your pedometer say you walk? How many hours you walk per day? 60-70k would be 6-7 hours of just walking at a fast-ish pace, no breaks.
I already saw a doctor for the disorder and RECOVERED, but I'm pretty sure I'm here because I already tried asking about steps metabolism and all that to drs
What did your doctor say about your over exercising? Did you show them your pedometer?
Just because you're not chewing and spitting anymore doesn't mean you're recovered.
He just said there's no problem with my steps. And said there's no such thing as over walking. He gave Michael Phelps or military people as an example who burn way more than me but still aren't bodily damaged
It isn't the walking that's the problem, it's the eating enough to sustain it. Phelps has a trainer, and I'm sure he has a nutritionist,..... all the bells and whistles. You?
A trainer who tells him to shove down pizzas and Sugar filled monsters DAILY?
If you're burning a lot of calories, a carbohydrate-rich diet will help you meet your goals. Pizza also includes protein and fat. His diet obviously wasn't impairing his ability to accomplish his fitness goals, so I'm not sure what the issue is. If you need way more calories than the average person, you aren't to meet those needs exclusively with low calorie foods.14
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