Results
So yesterday I met with the metabolic/nutritional specialist. The fun thing was that all the stuff I've learned through the Shape Up! program (see the link to the left), all my research into striking the right balance of fat/protein/carbs, all the supplements I've determined to be good for me, everything that I've determined for myself to be "right", was confirmed by the specialist. I described my symptoms, what I normally eat (aside from the past couple of weeks of knowingly misbehaving), what supplements I take and why, and exercise (again, what I *should* be doing, not what I *am* (not) doing). He nodded his head through the whole thing, and in the end said I was really sharp and one of the most educated clients on the subject he's ever come across.
Chuff for me.
So, some things he recommended for me. Eat smaller meals more frequently, concentrating on putting more carbs (of all things) back in my diet, but without overdoing it. He wants me to grab a snack between breakfast and lunch (yogurt, or a Clif bar, or some such thing - high in carbs, but only a very small portion), another snack between lunch and dinner, and a snack a few hours before bed. Interestingly, a body can gain weight by consuming too much carbs, and also not enough carbs. In the former, of course, the carbs are converted into glucose and absorbed into the fat cells. In the latter, the body isn't getting enough energy and so thinks it's starving, and holds onto the fat cells for dear life. Apparently I haven't been giving my body a consistent enough source of fuel, which helps explain my fatigue.
One thing he told me to especially concentrate on is consuming a small meal containing carbs within an hour after I've exercised. This is the optimum fuel burning time for the body, and the body will go for the fat cells first.
Next, I'm taking my supplements all wrong. Taking them all at once (for me, in the morning), causes my body to flush out more than I'm absorbing. Especially with the amount of water I drink. I should be taking half the dosage of each, twice a day, with meals. This helps the nutrients to stay in my body longer and give them a chance to be absorbed. I should cut out the B-multi I'm taking (apparently I have very high levels of B-12, so my body had no problem absorbing *that*), stick to a high quality multi vitamin, take 500mg of vitamin C twice a day, and add fish oil for the omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids, otherwise known as ADA/EPA/DHA (these construct the cell membranes). I've been taking flaxseed oil, which is also a good source, but from vegetation.
Finally, exercise is, of course, key. He wants me to really try hard to get into a routine, doing cardio three times a week, and weight training two times a week. The only effective way to increase my metabolism (and therefore, my energy) is to increase my lean muscle mass. Once my metabolism has come up a bit, he wants me to switch to doing weight training three times a week, and cardio two times a week. My plan is to work out Monday through Friday, alternating between cardio and weight training. Hopefully the weekend will include active enough activities to supplement this, as well.
I'm meeting with him again next week, and we're going to get more specific about foods, food combinations, and eating habits. I'll keep you posted on what I learn. So far, though, it's been a very positive experience!
