davidoneil13 Member

Thanks for sharing your thoughts anyway. I'm not expecting anyone's going to solve my problem, but talking about it helps me clarify my own thinking. I've decided I'm just going to keep burning fat while trying to hold on to muscle (and hopefully build a little). If my last remaining issues disappear when I really lean,…

My first sleep study was done when I weighed 160-170, which is a great example of how I had the classic symptoms of obesity even at a normal weight. No doubt the symptoms got much worse when I actually became obese, but they also improved after the weight loss. I'm back in the 160-170 range where I was when I got…

I don't mind at all. Generally, I just eat more of the same stuff. Instead of a slice of pizza and a beer, I'll have half the pizza and a couple beers. Or three granola bars instead of one. A double helping of spaghetti; more cottage cheese; even more fruit. A lot of times it's carbs, but it could also be extra butter and…

Yes, I think this is probably the best plan. I've dropped down to about 160 now (from the 170 in the picture), while keeping all my lifts the same. If I can gain muscle while burning fat at the same time, that would obviously be ideal going forward, since I'd rather not drop to 150 to reach my body fat goals. I don't want…

I can definitely understand why you would listen to a doctor like that. My current opinion (whatever it's worth) is that a simple diet is effective mainly because plain foods make it easier to maintain a low calorie intake. I notice tend to eat a lot more when I start eating the highly palpable junk foods. In either case,…

I certainly don't want any arguments! I appreciate your comment. I tried a gluten-free diet for several years, and I think it's worth trying for anyone with inexplicable health problems, but it wasn't the answer for me.

You know, I did have a vitamin D test once and I was low. I supplemented for a while, but didn't notice anything dramatic--but I should probably keep with it considering it's so cheap. I wonder if many of these symptoms and markers cluster together because of some central metabolic issue. That is, maybe low vitamin D is a…

Thanks again for your thoughts. I've read that these obesity-related conditions are often related to the "invisible" visceral fat rather than the adipose tissue that is so easy to see. I may have been a case of thin-on-the-outside/fat-on-the-inside, who then just became fat. Now that I'm thin again it may just require a…

For what it's worth, I can see the value of avoiding wheat even for people who don't have celiac, because white flour products are so calorie dense and nutritionally empty. Of course, many people are also legitimately sensitive, and for them there is all the more reason!

This is an excellent point. Even without considering the importance of exercise for good health, weight loss alone will seldom lead to an ideal appearance. You've got to fight to hold on to lean body mass. You can gain it back later, but it's easier just to work out while dieting and keep the muscle you already have.

I agree this may be allergy-related. You may be right that these allergic-type reactions can be alleviated through weight loss. I've also noticed that some minor skin issues I had (sensitivity to certain soaps; mild chest acne) have completely disappeared with the weight loss. Maybe unnecessary body fat just increases…

Thanks for the comment. That was one of my thoughts too. I do take B12 from time to time now, but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

That's good advice. Back in 2009 I did some readings with a Wal-mart glucometer and saw post-prandials between 60 and 170 (fasting was about 80). I should probably test again to get some hard data to support my hunches.

Thanks! Your advice is reasonable and I may try a new doctor at some point, if any problems persist after reaching 10% body fat or so. Unfortunately, I just returned to grad school for a PhD a couple years ago, so I'm suck with the university docs for a couple more years.

Thanks for this feedback. I feel the same way. I've had great experience with doctors for routine problems, but I hate talking about my chronic issues because nothing ever comes of it, and I think I end up looking like a hypochondriac.

Thanks! I'm feeling more hopeful now than I have in years--just have to sort out the last lingering problems. I hope you find the answers you're looking for too!

Ever since my health declined, it was obvious to me that it was influenced by what I ate. For several years, I thought it must be some kind of allergy or intolerance, but I could never isolate anything. It was only recently that I thought that maybe it's not what I eat, but how much. It's definitely possible I missed…

That's true. You've probably heard the one about the guy who goes to the doctor and says, "It hurts when I do this. What should I do?" And the doctor replies, "Don't do that anymore!" I sort of answer my own question in my post, but I'm hoping for reinforcement from people who have done the same thing. The studies on…

Thanks for this thoughtful reply! I agree that many of my symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of Celiac Disease, and this was one of my first thoughts when I was younger. My blood test was negative, but I tried a gluten-free diet for a couple years anyway. It seemed to help for a little while, but now I think that's…

For me, it doesn't seem to matter if the food is natural or processed, but otherwise it sounds like we have similar experiences.

Actually, yes! That was one of things I tested positive for, but the CPAP just made it worse (like 40 arousals an hour). I guess it's possible that a heavy calorie load just makes my sleep worse, and that's why I'm so much worse after a day or two of overeating.

Unfortunately, doctors have been unhelpful. Their usual response was something like, "but you look healthy," and by the time I no longer looked healthy I had given up talking to them. I did have a lot of tests, but I don't think I was ever checked for the conditions associated with obesity (such as glucose tolerance)…

The sooner you start resistance training, the better. Many women (and men too) focus entirely on weight loss, and they end up losing a lot of lean mass along with the fat. You'll look better, and you'll have an easier time maintaining, if you can hold on to your muscle. You don't have to worry about bulking up and getting…

Thanks! Compliments are very welcome too!

Fixed!