hi

[ariel]

HI,

I posted about test cream a while ago, and seems that no one really had any info about it at all...

I wanted to ask if and and a women has next to no natural test, how does it effect her body, and while I am in treatment for this, how should I train and eat...

I have been eating clean and training without much of a pause for years, but even when my results started backsliding, I still kept on keeping on...I decided a few montsh ago that maybe I was just not motivated enough, hired a trainer to get ready for a fall show...I followed the plan closly for about 6 weeks(prior to that I was still training and eating clean just more cas) When there was no increase of strenghth and no change whatsoever in my body I went to the doctor...I had tried to diet hard last year for a show yet again, and NO CHANGE unless I ate below bmr.

I will post my diet and would like some critques, as I have slacked(on purpose) with my training...It took about a month after seeing the doc to get my prescription, and I took some time off, simply because I have not been out of the gym for 2 years any longer than maby 3 days...I thought, and was correct that I would lose my gains, and gain bodyfat if I stopped(but it seemed I was gaining bodyfat no matter what)

OK, my diet is 1700-2000 cals....200 grams pro 100 grams carbs(I play with this from day to day, 70-100) and 70-85 grams of fat in flax, pb, steak egg yolks...Clean fat...

This is the pre PRE contest diet my trainer had me following, along with next to no cardio, and heavy training...He had me training with higher reps for legs than I was used to , but due to the NO CHANGE in my bod for the past year, I felt some change was warranted.

At this time I have dosing the test for the past week, but I still don't feel that great, and yoga class leaves me sore for a full 7 days enough to not be able to train...Seriously...I have noticed a bit less water rentiontion, but still feel pretty week..

My tests levels came out to
20dgml
normal is 65(at the lowest) and 119 dl at the "accepted" highest for women..

I am wondering how and what and where to go from here. I have not ever gone completly off my diet in the past year or so...Some cheates but scheduled eating...I have had some wacky blood sugar probs when my carbs are to high...

I have one side of me that just wants to eat out, drink some wine, and not train, just do outdoorsy stuff to stay active, because I am not sure how much good gym time is going to do me until I am nomrla

thanks dani

 

[ariel]

OH,

I guess I should mention that I am 5f6i and 143lbs

My diet looks like this

meal1
6egg whites+2 yolks
.5 cup oats
.5 tbs natty pb

meal 2
5oz chicken, SOMETIEMS 2 scoops whey
.5 cup of rice or oats
.5 tbs of pb, or olive oil.

meal3
2 serving whey w/ either 1
.5 cup ckd sweet taters, .5 dry oats, or .5 cup rice.

meal 4
4-5oz cooked meat, beef chicken or fish
veggies
1 to 2 tbs pb or flax

MEAL 5
4 oz ckd london broil...lean only. sometimes chicken (5oz) whey 2 scoops...and a fat source..

Today had a cheat which was
2 slices of ezekial bread(no flour)
2 tbs of natty pb, and 2 tbs of all fruit spread and a glass of soy milk..

this is pretty much what I have been on(minus the cheat) for the past 3 months. I did get discouraged when i got my test results and cheated about 4 times...Dinner out a few glasses of wine ect...I am back at it again, but don't know which direction to take...

By reading through old posts, I see that most would reccomend my cal intake for maintaince??? I am looking to make some postive changes after my hormone crash...I do not have a thryroid problem, but it certainly does seem that 2000 cals even of clean food makes me gain fat....WHERE CAN I START???

This week my training was decent... SUNDAYD did yoga Did upper body tues, sprints for legs on thurs, then decided to hit back again on friday W/ an hour of slow walking outdoors....Sat no training. I feel this real need to start doing more cardio, but instincts tell me that I am in for trouble if I try it that way...I DID train for most of the year, heavy(which ended up light due to loss of strength) Basic lifts...Squats, deads, pull ups, dips...To failure at 4-12 reps...2 body parts a day...Just changing it up now because frankly, I have become disillusioned with the gym, the harsh lights, and my increasinly softening body..

Long ago I dieted hard for a contest that was canceled 2 weeks before the show date(guam what do you excpect) I got down to an incrediable 7% bodyfat, but crazy me did'tn want to put any more body fat on...I dieted and cardioed my ass off...FOR MONTHS...to try and maintain a VERY lean bod...Since that time,things have not been the same..>Normal intakes of CLEAN food go nowwhere but to fat gain.I since have tried to commit to a contest TWICE in order to stay on the strict diet that really only MAINTAINED my bodyfat..I have been on my test cream and progeterone cream for a week..I doubled the dosages and will do so this time through the first set of my script...The thing is I make a living with my body, and I am having an awful time thinking maybe I am going to just have to get a bit plump(ER) in order to reset it...I do not fear muscle, wish I would have not trained this past year with so much muscle (confidence) loss...I have had goals to compete, and have put forth much of my last few years, starting at 17 to being fit and healthy, and then training like a bodybuilder...2.5 years started eating like one...Now, I am just worried first and formost that I don't get fat from eating normal amounts of food...HELP

As I said I had a decent trainer, but I am looking for you girls advice, really because I DON"T believe in "high reps" for legs, and other training myths.... which is what this trainer had me doing...Don't get me wrong, he called out my hormone problems within 2 weeks of working with me(he was an online trainer at that) I just am looking for my next plan...

I have seen SPATT's diet plan, I am looking for a liviable long term plan...I have not had the enery(although I still go) for the gym for the past year...I still pushed thourgh...I am not sure if I should do 60mns of cardio daily...I am tired of putting forth so much effort, to see any gains I USED TO HAVE disappear, and watch my body change from a hard mesomorph into a heavy pear shaped, water rententive endomorph...I even eat less than what I did at a 130 pounds(and was able at 130 to lose 10 pounds and get abs) I am 143 now, and can't seem to lose or even maintain my fat levels unless I go to BMR, and STARVE...

Thanks for listening everyone..
aerial

 

[ariel]

Spatts,

Thanks for the reply...

My training cycle as of this month is NON EXSITANT...I decided just to listen to my bod...Hike if it feels good, swim in the ocean if that day it feels good...Squat if that feels good...

I realize that it will be a few months before my hormones are balanced to even the normal range...That is why I am asking for guidance...I am having a hard time perservering and doing the gym lifting, when I don't think it is going to get me anywhere...What do you think would be a good program for someone who has been overtrained to the point of metabolic crash...I know that I don't recover very well at all, and the gym time really has not allowed an enjoyable time outside of it...Which is fine if at least I had some gains Do you think just cardio and calistenics is the order of the day? I am not so sure that 5 days of heavy lifting and heavy cardio wiill get me anywhere....

I guess I need some guidance from people who understand the real biochemistry of hormones, and the resulting reaction when someone trains without an optimal level. My old trainer told me to keep my gym program the same...Let me post it here...It almost makes me fearful to do, because I did it for a 6 weeks, but really could not finish a true weekly cycle the way I should of because I just could not recover...

Sun.
LEGS
Front squat, 6 reps X5
leg ext...20reps,30reps,40reps,50reps
leg curl seated superset with lying...
seated 8x 4 with superset lying 15reps 20reps 25reps,25 reps

Monday
Back and tires
Superset back work....Pulldowns, rows....ect
tris put inbetween supersets

Tues...If I had even begun to recover
chest and bis...Same kind of superset scheme...

THurs or friday.
shoulders...COmpound supersets...Pauses inbetween excercise change...LiKE....Side lat...rest 1 min overhead rest 1 min...ect
about 12x13 sets total for each muscle group(besides arms, and legs) NO CARDIO...But see I was dancing 2 to 3 days a week...COuld not keep up with this very well...Finally got to the doctors...From what I understand my test, dhea, progesterone levels will take about 3 months to even start approaching normal...Need a plan and some eating that takes this into consideration

Thanks
aerial

 

[Candi Barr]

aerial, it sounds like you're having a tough time. Have you considered you might be entering perimenopause? Maybe research along those lines would give you some insight.

 

[ariel]

Candi Barr,

Hi, thanks for the respons..It seems not many want to give me any input, maybe because it has been discussed before so I have been searching the borads for the past week, and in fact do find tidbits of info...not much though

I am 24 years old, so I very much doubt that it is menopause..
THe compounding pharmicist the gave me my scripts said that while test is really low, all my other hormones are low for a 24 year old, not at all optimal.

Spatts, if you check in on this, I read some old posts of yours describing how you pms for weeks at a time, past the time your cycle should come, and then some...That is the exact same thing I suffer from(I have never heard of anyone to have the same thing before) All the symptoms of pms, then I skip my period, and the symptoms just get worse and worse, for sometimes a WHOLE MONTH!

I am coming to conclusion that I have over cardioed and overdieted to such an exteme as to have slowed my metobolism.(but I stopped the cardio and hard dieting 6 months ago).I stayed near comp weight and bodyfat for a good 6 months(2 years ago, and never was the same, in that time devolped disordered eating(EXTREME) and then tried 2 more times to "get lean" for comps again...NO LUCK, and the eating just got worse...I have not had a prob with eating for a good 8 months now, but I am going to soon be on the verge of beain a chunky chick..I am an exotic dancer, and really fear anymore fat gain. I may have to stop the dancing in order to not worry about how fat my ass is getting. measurments are 38,28,38.5 and increasing. at least it is proportional..hehe

I am the opposite of alot of the women on these boards, where I never had issues with food or weight UNTIL I got invovled with bodybuilding...It was not a postive experiance for me...I love physical activity, love lifting heavy and LOVE healthy food...Just can't do all of the above with not enough food...I did it for too long...

As I said above, I am trying to find a livable way to eat and train without getting fatter...I am eating about 2000 cals a day, and yes I am gaining fat as we speak, but I don't seem to be able to eat 1500 cals indefinatly, so I am almost just accepting that my bodyfat may creep into the high 20s and stay there...I don't want to accept it, but I guess I am not willing to be tired and hungry for the rest of my life. I eat whole bodybuilding foods, as all can see above...I have been doing this for the past year with no long lay off at all..Prior to that years, but lots of food and then post comp bingeing. So I will say a good solid year of good eating with of course cheat days, maybe 2 times a month. Prior to that, just a clean lifstyle since I was 17.

Thanks
ariel

 

[FitFossil]

Ariel,

I've also tested for low test. I'll be starting the 2% test gel made by a compounding pharmacy. I'll keep you posted on how it works.

Since you said your other hormones are out of wack, I highly recommend the book "Natural Hormone Balance for Women" by Uzzi Reiss. It has chapters specifically relating to younger women and hormonal imbalances they may experience. It's been a godsend to me.

 

[JJFigure]

Wow - your situation really sucks. I feel for you. It seems you need a big diet change to get past this situation; unfortunately, I'm too new to this diet manipulation game to give you advice there. I prefer how I feel on the low carb/high protein/moderate fat diet too, so I understand why you'd rather stay on it, but maybe you need to take a break from it for a while to get your metabolism kick-started again. Do you incorporate refeeds at all? Or carb load days?

 

[ariel]

Warlobo,

OH, no! in no way did I mean that bad, and taken out of the context it does look petty...I know how many times the same question has been asked time and again by just being on here a few months...I SEARCHED THE BOARDS, but often times come up with nothing...IF I read for a few hours each day, now and again I can find some blurb about females and their natural hormone levels...Fine with me What I meant to say was along the lines of...

I probably am being annyoing with my rants and raves and my issues...And that you guys know of the wealth of knowledge that awaits me on the search function

Spatts,
Maybe I did not word it right, but believe me my ears perk when I see your old posts...I think your period was delayed, and that you were holding lot's of water for a long time, like you were ABOUT to get it, but skipped it and just held on to the water...My issues are near the same, but I do cramp...So, I hold about 10lbs water for somtimes 60 days at a time(not fat) with cramps and sore boobs...I think I am pregnant half the dang time..

Take your time, I have been on these boards for a few months and I am not going anywhere...I am just living off savings and letting my butt get kinda chucky until I
1. Get a goodl level of test going and can actually repair the damage incurred by training...
2. Use food for the repair process...Oats and egg whites DO go to my ass...
3. Take up yoga, and say screw it, I am not a body but a soul...

My goals for so long have been to compete and do well...I had it in me...Mentally that is....

SO, now I am following spatts training split, and eating what I said I was above...Oh well if I have 46 in hips....

OH, also, while my thryoid came back normal...I have been told that thyroid tests can be misleading...My doc is a DO involved with antiagin and is pretty open minded...I have been told that thyroid may be subclinical(not by doctor by my old trainer), and that something called Wilsons disease is viable..>Then I read Dr wilson almost lost his liscense and almost killed a women by sending T3 through the mail...Hokey?

So, I want to know how I tell my doc that my thryoid is NOT NORMAL, and that I want some anavar instead of this low level of test... I have got to earn a living, and will continue with crazy starvation if my ass is on the line so to speak....

ariel..

 

[Temple]

Is you doctor treating only your test deficiency or is he treating all of your hormone deficiencies?
For how long did you overtrain and diet stringently?
Is the eating disorder that you are struggling with binging or starving?

If your doctor is involved in antiaging I would say that he is fairly progressive in his thinking. Have you laid all of this out for him?

Wilson???? MS???? Do either of you have any ideas???

 

[SteelWeaver]

Hi Ariel. Welcome to the boards. I'm afraid I don't have any advice for you - I don't have any hormonal knowledge or whatever. But I can tell you why responses seem so slow:

You titled your thread "Hi". I'm afraid, for many folks on the board, that is not a very inviting title. People think when they see it that it's just a new person saying hi, not that they have a specific issue or question. I've found it's best to spell out whatever your question is in the thread title, then add details inside. That way people can see immediately whether it's something they know about or are interested in. For folks with limited time, they don't wanna go and click every thread to see what's in there. They just click on the ones that look interesting to them.

That's probably why MS and W6 haven't seen this yet, too. They generally don't respond to hi to the board threads.

I would be very interested to see their (and other) replies, though, because I know I piled on too many pounds way too fast after my last comp., but worry that attempting to stay relatively lean after the next one could likely mess up my metabolism.

Good luck!

 

[ariel]

Temple,

About 2 years ago, and into last year dieted for too long and too hard...So I would say starving to a large degree here was the diet I followed for about 5 months

5 oz chicken .5 oz nuts...6 times a day with 1 hour cardio 7 days a week...Dancing 3 nights a week...training 6 days a week

.....Divorced, started a life on my own, all the stress stuff made me sometimes undereat, sometiems over eat, and yes I started throwing up a lot at the end there...So binging but I always got rid of it...Then I said, I must be nuts....Came clean with everyone close to me, and pretty much watched my bod go from sub 10% to gosh knows what...Now, there is nothing besides cellulite and lower bodyfat coming on at a rapid rate...I did indeed follow a strictly clean NO CHEATS, no cheat days, diet with a trainer for about 6 weeks, my own diet prior...NO CHANGE...Lost muscle, gained fat....Next to no cardio...Cals at 1900. Then after a year of that and the recent trainer, I knew I could not live with being obese which I see coming...

....Now, the eating too little is just a plain requirement to even stay below 25%bodyfat. I am good with the eating now, my thoughts are that this is where my body will feel comfortable at, so I don't think about food very much if at all...Eat 5-6 times a day...Just decided to lower my fat a bit and up pro as per most on this board...Going to add a more refined carb meal 1 time a week and feel no guilt...I do only see this adding fat, but I must make peace with food...I want and like being strong, healthy and don't even mind big....Kinda like big...But not big and fat...

My DOCTOR(SHE) Did the blood work and sent it to a very educated compounding pharicist in Arizona...He took the reign and basicly asked me what I wanted...So, the Doctor gave the pharmacy the ability to prescribe me basicly what I want...I want to ask for 10% test cream, or T3..Yeah I know I know...But i am in tune with my body and have been training since I have been 17...I mean in the gym 4 days a week training and I do believe issues abound....I pretty much have to get Drs to do any of this as I am in Hawaii, not much of stuff going around AT ALL...And I don't trust anyone.

Fitfossil,

The fact that you are very lean makes me think that the test might not be the only reason.....Did you notice any bodyfat increase, more muscle soreness fatigue and emotional upheaval?

ariel

 

[FitFossil]

Fitfossil,

The fact that you are very lean makes me think that the test might not be the only reason.....Did you notice any bodyfat increase, more muscle soreness fatigue and emotional upheaval?

ariel

Hi Ariel,
Not sure I understand what your're asking me when you say "The fact that you are very lean makes me think that the test might not be the only reason...... Reason for.....? - my symptoms or leanness? I've had a variety of symptoms, so to answer your question I need to make sure I understand what you're asking me. (I'm trying hard to keep my posts short and to the point, because I know I have a tendency to go on a bit .)

On "Did you notice any bodyfat increase, more muscle soreness fatigue and emotional upheaval?" - do you mean before or after I started the test cream? (This is my second day on it and it's too soon for any effects.)

 

[Temple]

I'm no MS or W6 but off the top of my head I would say go with the test cream and get your levels up to normal. I don't think it should take as long as you think. Forget the T3 - without an AAS )more than the cream) you are going to create a bigger problem than the one you have.
Cycle the carbs and pay close attention to the source of the carbs - see Spatt's cutting diet
Add some r-ala, this might help you more than anything
Try training EOD to start
Cardio on non training days first thing am empty stomach.
One day per week completely off
Pay close attention to your sleep - make sure you are getting 8 hours.
Give it 12 weeks and adjust a tad along the way depending on how your body is responding.

 

[ariel]

Fitfossil,

Sorry, I meant in a day dreamy voice, guess that is not the only reason (meaning MY only reason, I am so vain) Basicly, you are really lean, I am having trouble eating a normal cal diet and keep the fat off..I have low test, so do you.How are we the same????

..Now, my only thought is...

How old are you?? I am 24 so I bet I have TONS of estrogen to puff me up when the test is low...I believe you are in your late 30s, sorry if I am mistaking you for someone else...But, I guess between the 30s and 40s estrogen drops along with everything else...My guess...I have high e levels and low levels of everything else...My theory anyways.. And Fitfossil, I like your long posts...You should always share wisdom and knowledge, and you seem to have an abundance...

Temple, OK so a normal diet would consist of some higher gi foods than oats? See I am having a problem with not dieting, or just dieting...Just want a clean healthy balanced cal and carb adequate diet with some normal eating every week or 2 and not get pudgy.

I also get very erratic sleep...Despite my best intentions I simply cannot sleep well during the day...I work at night, although do to unforseen ass growing I have taken some time off, but still kinda go back to a few hours here and there in the day...First things first going to sleep for 8 hours no matter what is going on today..

More later

 

[Temple]

Lower GI foods such as oats, yams and lots and lots and lots of green vegetables. Very little fruit. A cheat meal a week will keep you sane.

Lack of sleep will mess with your hormones. Get some ear plugs and one of those masks that go over your eyes. Sleep is critical.

Don't guess about what your hormone levels are. Have the doc test all of them. It is always helpful if you can post the exact test results.

Also, none of us WANT to carb cycle and keep track of exactly what we eat but we have to decide if we want our ass to look the way that we want it to or do we want to just eat the way that we want to eat.

 

[ariel]

Temple,

I have had estrogen, progesterone, DHEAS, TSH, T3, all tested...No health insurance by the way

Problem is without a "known" menstrual cycle, it is very hard to pinpoint low or high estrogen...The levels really cover a broad range, from 0 to 200 depending on luteal phase ect...

You have been a great help, and now for personal issues...I believe if things keep the way they are, I will be 10-20 pounds FATTER in 12 weeks. This would require a large overhaul of values, ideas education and just plain how am I gonna pay my rent???? I have lost bodyfat a few months ago, but I have to STARVE it off eat BMR, and it is not much fat loss at all, but atleast I don't gain...May be my late nights and over use of hormones that have depleted me...No, I have never felt totally OK with it all, maybe it is the bodies way of telling me no more..

Now for speaking things into existance...I am going to eat 2000 cals a day(as I have been but yesterday it was 1600 and 2 days ago 2100)...Do spatts split...with long walk 60 mims. 2 to 3 times a week...That is more cardio and more carbs than I have been doing...Can continuedlow carbs have a very bad effect on the body? I know to carb up, so I just let my cheat days(non scheduled) be my carb up, but have not let my body eat carbs to any large degree...Well, wait I had a dietian do my diet a good 4 or 5 months ago and I gained some bodyfat on 200grams a day..Basicly do you think my body is just going to have to readjust, put on some fat and then maybe drop it again? I never waited that higher carb diet out, maybe 6 weeks...I was just too afraid of any fat gain, even if it meant a leaner body later on...See I am a nut, I belonged in a time where robust women were worshipped...

I will post my lab results when I find them later on..The lab does put down what is normal and what is not, gives you a grid to figure it out...

OK, on to positive thinking...

ariel

 

[Temple]

What do you mean by "over use of hormones"??? Have you done AAS???

 

[FitFossil]

Fitfossil,

Sorry, I meant in a day dreamy voice, guess that is not the only reason (meaning MY only reason, I am so vain) Basicly, you are really lean, I am having trouble eating a normal cal diet and keep the fat off..I have low test, so do you.How are we the same????

..Now, my only thought is...

How old are you?? I am 24 so I bet I have TONS of estrogen to puff me up when the test is low...I believe you are in your late 30s, sorry if I am mistaking you for someone else...But, I guess between the 30s and 40s estrogen drops along with everything else...My guess...I have high e levels and low levels of everything else...My theory anyways.. And Fitfossil, I like your long posts...You should always share wisdom and knowledge, and you seem to have an abundance...

I'm 39. I was a skinny little kid, and even though I'm lean now, I screwed it up for 20 years, starting at 16 with an eating disorder. When my anorexia turned into bulimia, I gained 50 pounds in a year (boy was that embarrassing). It took many years (+therapy and meds) to get things (brain and body) under control. Then in my early 30's I went on the birth control pill for 2 years and my bodyfat doubled. Being that I was older, my old dieting tricks (like starvation) no longer worked. That's when I started weight training again and came to these boards.

I always just figured my low test symptoms, which I didn't even know were low test, (the most bothersome being no/low libido/response), were related to other things that keep my life interesting (eating disorder, OCD, sleep disorder). Fact is, before I came to these boards, I had no idea how important testosterone was for a woman's overall health (not just for muscle) Actually I was surprised to find out my own test levels were so low, because I've also had problems w/ cystic acne and had to go on Accutane twice. Being on anti-depressants really magnifies the libido problem though, so finally I got up the nerve to ask my doctor.

Like you said, I'm sure you do have more estrogen at 24 than I do. And if your estrogen is too high, your body releases SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) to help combat the high estrogen. Trouble is, SHBG can bind up your other hormones as well. My estrogen tested in the normal range, but my test was very low and progesterone slightly low. Are you or have you ever taken any hormonal birth control (pill, Depo-provera shot?)

 

[ariel]

NO AAS here, meant "overuse" in the whole forced continued expression of a bitch in heat. Just really a joke, but I am pretty sure that the unseen mental state could indeed effect the insides.

Fitfossil, With me I never had a food issue before, I ate tons and was active...I got into to heavy weight training, but never had abs and never looked the part of a bodybuilder.When you tell people you want to compete and you are not ripped they tell you have alot of work to do, like you can't do it, and it really was silly, cuz I was a toned, ok let's say soft and toned but fit and healthy looking young girl...

..So, once I did my first contest diet, I was super lean and pretty muscular for a natty at 21and it really was not too hard to get there..I started dancing AND also started attracting personal training clients on my apperance alone. I thought it strange though that it was my unheathiest time, but people just thought I looked so great. I mean I have been certified but never pushed it into a buisness, but I would be at the gym and daily somoen would just walk up and ask me to train them..I trained alot less, did less ab work ect...It was all about the diet, oh and then it started to be that if I cheated on the diet double cardio...I am sure you know how that goes...

Because I wanted to make a living personal training, and health modalites I got caught up with all the perceptions...How could I be a lifestyle consultant, new age guru and be so disordered myself...But, hey you attract clients if you are so lean you boobs are sacks and ya got veins in your abs..SO I have had to compromise alot of my goals(competeing, personal training, AND wholistic health care work) because while I wish this stuff could go together, they are at odds...I was 5f6i about 110 pounds(lean) but when I started the eating, oh gosh the eating, I got up to about 135, and people would have the gall to ask me what happened to me, whats wrong with me...Heck I even had a guy at the gym nicely ask if I was pregnant...AT 135lbs on a five foot six frame!!!



Not to mention the dancing, women there are so jealous and envious if you take care of yourself don't do coke and X to stay thin...Let me stop losing from a cutting diet, gain 8 pounds, muscle and fat and I am gonna here a girl asking me why am I not "tight"any more? All the things I wanted to do had so much to do with appearance, I am trying not to be nutty with food..It has worked, but at the same time, sad to say, I am getting fatter.

.When I read articles about how women think that their life will be solved if they "JUST LOSE WEIGHT" and that they are mistaken...For me, it just ALL PROVED TOO TRUE...I was REWARDED, with money, esteem and a direction in life, that depended on my leanness not matter how unhealthy. SO I always have this, when I lose bodyfat things will get better, because honestly they were.1


I don't binge eat anymore, although I do have occaisonal semi healthy cheat DAYS, with more sugar than fat as per MS. I will cut to just once a week meal, containing whatever...

I digress, I read a book about a year ago called Breaking out of Food jail, by Jean Antonello...Now, she claims (no bodybuilding stuff here of course) that when I women has had issues of swinging between over eating and undereating and when you FINALLY just eat enough GOOD food you are going to get fat...That is the way the body is.survival..Then, as your body becomes convinced that it will get the food and nutrients over the long term, and you keep feeding yourself clean foods, you will drop whatever it is that you feel you have gained...Although she cautions the unrealistic goals weights, she means healthy weight..

I think I believe this, but I am at a point where my life and goals had so much to do with being lean, that I can't/won't allow my body to get fat, even if I can be healthy...The author Jean, says often times it can take a year of healthy consistant non compulsive clean eating to normalize...I came to this board and asked these questions to see if indeed most have seen this, and if there is anyway to minamizled the damage...If not, that is cool to, I will keep on training, but try and change my prioities until if/and when, I can not be obbsessive...

I a good note, I am not obssessive now, but I also have cellulite for the first time, and don't fit into my clothes.

sorry so long.

ariel

 

[Candi Barr]

Ariel, you’re clearly intelligent & motivated. I really hope you hear from some people who have personal knowledge of what you’re going through and can give you good advice. It sounds like you have found some good material already. This type of struggle would be stressful for anyone, but has to be much worse if one’s income depends on one’s personal attractiveness. Feel free to ignore me, but some of your comments have headed this way. Are you thinking seriously about what else you might do? Maybe look into some educational programs and financial aid? You mentioned an interest in holistic health, and you had done some training. The best trainers I know don’t rely on exceptional looks to get clients, it’s their knowledge, patience, and ability to motivate their people. You’re learning a lot from what you’re going through. Just think, who is in the better position to teach, someone who is so genetically gifted she has a good body whatever, or someone who has to study and struggle and experiment? Suppose you were to seriously pursue a career as a trainer and nutritionist, what would be your next steps?

 

[ariel]

Candi,

Thank you so much for the support...Yes, while I need/want the cash that my job provides for me, the mental games it plays overall is not worth it.It is hard to be confident in a business like this one, even if you still look"HOT" but you know and so does everyone else you work with that you are heavier...I know I am not heavy, but it is hard.

..I am by no means a chunky girl(yet), and would need to gain alot more fat to be considered "unattractive" I still look healthy, but I am feeling it is due to weighing and measuring and the overall restriction of calories...I feel I will normalize in the long term if I don't fret about fat in the short term

...There is a fear of food in my mind, I personally don't think that a healthy female bod who weight trains 4-5 days a week should gain fat on 1800-1900 hundred cals a day..(Fat gain) I am 145...

The southwest has some awesome programs that have set me afire...I actually just set a wedding date today with an Army officer, who does not want me to dance anyway, but that ingrained money hunger is still there, but I am finding my way out, and realizing the toll it has taken...On my relationship, as well as on my body..I will be working again I am sure, but I have a grasp on things and have a different perspective, and I have created some other desires and goals that are OH so easy to overlook when you are wrapped up in that game...

I often wonder about the Hollywood starlets, and some of their extreme skinninesses and weight loss...It SEEMS like a small price to pay for their fame and fortune, but I could not imagine the pressure...I am only at the bottom of the rung in an industry with not too much to lose...I am not sure what the true quality of life would be over the long term living in an deprived/starvation state, even with all of the glamor...

Thanks again candi, and everyone who contributed to my thread..I am a permanent fixture on elite

ariel

 

[makedah]

Spatts! You have a period twice a year and you've NEVER had a cramp? That is SO not fair!