Anonymous wrote:Where can you get a DEXA scan, AA d do you need a doctor’s order?
Anonymous wrote:Oh, you rock, OP!!! You’re doing something healthy for your body and great for your long term health. My skinny fat mother and MIL are *not* aging well.
I am a skinny fat convert as well. I got really into hot yoga and converted that fat into lean muscle. I now weigh more and some parts of my body are bigger, but I look A LOT better. I am no longer afraid of wearing a bathing suit. Don’t pay attention to the scale - look at your strength and your composition.
Anonymous wrote:OP with an update: I just met with a sports nutritionist who looked at my goals, current diet, bloodwork, sleep habits, reported stress level, and DEXA. It was extremely motivating and helpful.
Her recommendations were all about gaining lean muscle. She felt that losing fat should not be my priority because that will happen naturally by gaining muscle.
Her recommendations:
- 1500 calories and 112g of protein daily, never to dip below 1400 or 100g of protein
- Do not calorie cycle (eating more on lifting days) just try to be consistent
- Plan out meals and track in the mornings so I’m not eating a pile of chicken before bed
- Eat more soluble fiber (snack every afternoon or after dinner) and drink more water throughout the day
- Prioritize rest by sleeping at least 6-7 hours a night
- Lift no more than 4x a week, alternating muscle groups so each gets 2-3 days of recovery, and taking a week off of lifting every 7-8 weeks.
These recommendations are meant for me based on my goals, but I’m sharing in case they are helpful to others.
Anonymous wrote:This is all great, OP, and it sounds like you're making nice progress. So I say this as gently as possible: have you considered that you are trading one disorder for another? I am a lifelong athlete and very knowledgeable about fitness and health. I am a healthy 56-year-old (who binges on sugar way too much) and it just makes me a little twitchy reading your updates. Have you had therapy?
Anonymous wrote:OP, how old are you? I feel like it’s pretty hard to make these changes post menopause. It’s especially hard to put on muscle. I’d love to transform my body too, but that seems awfully ambitious after 45-50.