Is this possible for me?

[rachel.]

I am currently grossly underweight and suffering from a mild ED (though it hasnt been "confirmed", I do see a therapist about my issues in order to stop the food control issues before they blow out of proportion)

Anyways we are slowly working on me upping my calories (this week the goal was 1600calories) Today I was my next appt.

Anyways, I'm sure the numbers will increase again today. So I was wondering, if I continue to increase my calories I know I'm going to panic about the fat gain that is a possible accompaniment to this.

SO, is it possible that with my increase in calories, I can increase my weight training and really work and heavy lifting and few reps to gain MUSCLE MASS, then once I reach a healthy weight, decrease my calories slightly and decrease the amount of weight training slightly in order to lean out (as I'm sure I will gain fat deposits)

Or am I just being stupid? :cool:

Sidenote: I have a serotonin deficiency, not an actually textbook ED. I have never dropped calories below 1450... I just was pretty depressed, sick for a while, stressed and exercised 45min cardio 6 times a week.

[Lynny]

I have a past of anorexia, and I know your fear of gaining too much fat too quickly. But not everything you gain will be fat, especially if you're moderately weight training. I'm going to say that I would seriously just focus on gaining weight. Yes that means you're going to gain some fat...but your body needs fat at this point, in my opinion. I wouldn't worry about your plans to lean out---it will take a while to get to that point. Your body just needs food....even 1600 may SEEM like a lot- but it takes soo much food to actually gain weight.

[Kathryn]

Originally posted by rachel.@Jun 8 2006, 08:20 AM
I have never dropped calories below 1450... I just was pretty depressed, sick for a while, stressed and exercised 45min cardio 6 times a week.
You're lucky for not going below 1450...I was 160ish and went to 1000 cals with working out...and again at 135 eating around 600-800 cals, running 5 miles in the morning and then "lifting weights" and doing a hour of cardio at night...

:clap: :clap: Congrats on getting help! :clap: :clap:

[freckles]

I think it is really important to remember that maintaining a low body fat is more for competitions. While everyone here talks a lot about leaning out... this isn't a 365 day/year goal (usually). Carrying some body fat is normal and healthy...

We all like the challenge that comes with getting "cut", however; we have to balance that challenge with being healthy and building our bodies UP first :flex:

[strongchick]

If you are severely underweight, you should be gaining fat as well.

Some studies show that refeeding in this case WITHOUT weight training results in around 30% muscle gain. Eating is anabolic.

What is your training like right now? You don't want to over-do it or you will over-train. More isn't better.

BTW - increasing your lifting to compensate for increased food during an ED recovery is an eating-disorder behavior. You can have an ED and not drop your cals below 1400. EDs are about how you feel about your body, not necessarily how much food you take it.

[MarciaF]

Originally posted by freckles@Jun 8 2006, 10:18 AM
I think it is really important to remember that maintaining a low body fat is more for competitions. While everyone here talks a lot about leaning out... this isn't a 365 day/year goal (usually). Carrying some body fat is normal and healthy...

We all like the challenge that comes with getting "cut", however; we have to balance that challenge with being healthy and building our bodies UP first :flex:
I needed to hear/read this! Thanks Freckles.

[freckles]

No problem ;) ... we all need to be reminded, now and then, that moderation can be a good thing. My dh opened my eyes to this a while back... I was seriously killing myself focusing on numbers. This lifestyle can burn you out pretty fast if you aren't being smart about it :)

[rachel.]

Thanks everyone for the supportive replies. :)

My current schedule isn't that ridiculous to be honest. I do 15 minutes on the stairmaster (almost HIIT in nature -- more intervals though) 2-3 times a week as well as 30-40min of weight training on those same days.

I WAS doing thunders 3 day routine but now I mostly use the machines -- I do the leg curl, outer/inner thigh, leg press, vertical butterfly, the lat pulldown and then i use free weights horizontal tricep curls, hammer curls, military press (incline, standup and horizontal) I also do situps: 20 reg, 20 w/legs on a 45 degree angle, 20 with legs straight, and 20 with legs bent to each side. My reps/sets vary each day: 3 sets of 10, 5 sets of 6 and 2 sets of 15 -- the 5 sets of 6 i do with the heaviest i can possibly do and the others i do moderately heavy but not to the same extent -- if that makes any sense

Any changes I should make to the current program?

[absolut_blonde]

To be honest, you're better off going back to T's program or using an upper/lower split (many examples can be found on here, I'm sure, either in Training or the under the Journals).

Leg press & lat pull-down (assuming it's cable) are okay and could be kept. Definitely ditch the inner/outer thigh machines, they don't even target those muscles properly-- better off with things like sumo deads, etc.

[rachel.]

Sounds good -- I'll go back to Thunders plan then but include the leg press and lat pulldown :)

any other suggestions?

When I create my next upping level tonight, what should i focus on increasing, carb, protein or fats? i currently average around 200, 130, 30 (g) respectively of each.

[strongchick]

What are your stats?

But looking, I would guess protein and fat

[rachel.]

I'm 5'10 and approx. 115-118lbs give or take

[strongchick]

Yeah, I'd up the fat definitely. You're very low for your weight.