any advice for gaining weight / increasing body fat?

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Permalink Reply by M ♦ on May 3, 2011 at 7:03pm

you need to eat more cals and start weight training :)

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 4, 2011 at 6:06am

i definitely need to eat more cals, but i'm literally a tiny person & can't manage to eat more than 3000 a day, I've tried! especially because I don't eat bananas. But i'll keep trying, thanks! as far as weight training, I'm definitely working on it, but that will only help me gain muscle, not actual fat.

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Permalink Reply by M ♦ on May 4, 2011 at 12:41pm

Just load up on dates :) Don't worry right now about getting in too much variety or greens/salads/non-sweet fruits as you will struggle. 

Work on eating a bit more each time you eat and you will get there no doubt.

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 4, 2011 at 12:47pm

I will! Thanks:)

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 4, 2011 at 6:11am

Hi Martin,

I'm sure you're just trying to be helpful, but your comment came off a bit condescending. I was told by the doctor that my body fat is 2.2% (he even asked if I was an extreme athlete) when I went in for a full assessment. I have my results on paper in black & white. So it is clearly possible. I will definitely try eating more dates, they are basically half my calories now as it is. & I already blend lots of my food, but I'll just have to blend more. Thanks for the advice!

~ Adi

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 4, 2011 at 7:52am

There's a machine that measures all these health factors, I have no idea what it's called or how it works. It is accurate though, and the dr. did not seem surprised or concerned, because I was there for a fitness assessment, & actually he said I was "lucky that I had the body of an athlete" - but I personally am very concerned cuz I know this is unhealthy for fertility reasons. I am very petite & slim, and have more of an athletic figure. "Anorexic" is a psychological term, it is possible to LOOK "anorexic", (which I sometimes feel like I do, but not to an extreme) without actually having an anorexic mindset. I've NEVER restricted calories or thought I looked fat, and I've always eaten whatever & whenever I wanted, ice cream, candy chocolate etc. Everyone just told me I have a really fast metabolism. I'm sure your comment was well-intentioned & I appreciate your input. I will hopefully be doing another assessment soon when I have my next physical, and I will ask exactly how it is measured.

 

Also I know that extremely low body fat in women can contribute to hormonal imbalances & I do have extremely low progesterone levels, so this would support the fact that my body fat is so low. It is also one of the reasons I want to raise it, to balance out my hormones and avoid future problems.

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Permalink Reply by Moiraine Damodred on May 4, 2011 at 12:07pm

No offense, but you NEED to get a new doctor--and I mean fast, if you're BELOW, that far below, the essential body fat levels needed for women...and for men, agh! That's crazy.

 

Get a new doctor and retake the body fat test, please, for your sake.

 

Have you had a metabolism test, for potential Graves' disease? If your doctor has not run any tests, and has seen that body fat percentage, then he needs to be fired and have his license taken away, because that is just ridiculous.

 

Did you never even have periods?! Agh! That is NOT healthy...how are your bone levels?!

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 4, 2011 at 12:14pm

My own doctor has never even measured my body fat percentage, the dr. at my college campus health center did- as part of a routine fitness assessment required for students. I've always had regular periods every month, never even missed one. Which I believe is why my doctor has never been overly concerned about my weight, even though it's always been slightly low for my height/age.

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Permalink Reply by Moiraine Damodred on May 4, 2011 at 12:26pm

...that is really weird. Maybe the campus doctor was wrong? Or you could be a very odd anomaly. Huh. I don't mean to insult you, but I am just very worried. But you do have the right idea in this thread, so good luck. :)

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 4, 2011 at 12:32pm

I doubt it, I mean there's a machine that tests for it. I will go in for another assessment as soon as I can, but I can't imagine the results will be different. No, I'm not offended, I appreciate the concern. I'm a bit concerned myself, hence my question! Thanks:)

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 4, 2011 at 1:27pm

Interesting. I've never heard that before. I guess that makes me a little less concerned.

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Permalink Reply by Adi ♥ on May 5, 2011 at 4:18am

I can't possibly be offended, it's a fact, not my personal opinion:) I have my results in black & white. I really doubt that the doctor & the machine that measures these things made a mistake. I realize that it's abnormal, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. I do plan on going in for another assessment soon though just to double-check, because everyone's making me really curious. Thanks for your concern:)

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