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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by maxime on November 4, 2010, at 19:54:28
In reply to how do people gain weight?, posted by linkadge on November 3, 2010, at 19:04:01
> Not to discount people's experiences with medications, but my weight has been 130 lbs +- 2 lbs for about 10 years now.
>
> Theres not a damn thing I can do to change that. Even max doses of things like paxil and zyprexa combinations don't change it. What gives?
>
> I've given up on gaining weight, but I'm still underweight.
>
> LinkadgeThe weight you are is probably your set point. In other words, it is what is normal for YOUR body. Even if BMI wise you are underweight. Have you tried doing weights to gain muscle?
Posted by morgan miller on November 4, 2010, at 20:12:07
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further, posted by linkadge on November 4, 2010, at 19:07:17
Man, you are pretty light for being so tall. I don't blame you for feeling bad about it. I'd be like, "What the F*ck?!" and "Why?". Obviously your natural build plays a huge part in your weight, but still, you would think you would be at least 10 or 15 pounds heavier, even with a naturally skinny build.
Sorry man, I can see why your weight would bother you. Do you think you have tried everything? Maybe there is a metabolic issue tied into whatever mental illness you suffer from. Who knows.
Have you seen a doctor about this?
Posted by Phillipa on November 4, 2010, at 20:57:20
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further » linkadge, posted by morgan miller on November 4, 2010, at 20:12:07
Weights build muscle mass which is heavier than skin. Link didn't you used to run or was that someone else? As that would cause leaness. Phillipa
Posted by Conundrum on November 4, 2010, at 22:33:13
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Conundrum, posted by linkadge on November 4, 2010, at 18:02:44
> I'm 6 feet 2 inches (and a bit)
>
> LinkadgeI guess you could afford to put on some weight. Try weight lifting. Muscles are heavier than fat. I think weight lifters use protein shakes and creatine to build muscle. Probably healthier than trying to gain fat as well.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 5, 2010, at 2:43:43
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Conundrum, posted by linkadge on November 4, 2010, at 19:02:44
>I'm 6 feet 2 inches (and a bit)
You send me some height and I'll send you some fat.
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 5, 2010, at 9:57:15
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight?, posted by damaged on November 4, 2010, at 13:51:31
> now that is how to play the uncivil game without getting blocked
FYI:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20101014/msgs/968588.html
Bob
Posted by linkadge on November 5, 2010, at 14:33:45
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further » linkadge, posted by morgan miller on November 4, 2010, at 20:12:07
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, the doctors know I'm pretty skinny, but they assume it is related to my psychiatric issues I guess. I havn't had any labwork done, but I've just assumed everything else was normal.
I run *a lot* and it helps me with my depression in a way that drugs just can't touch.
I think there are other underlying issues, but we just don't know.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on November 5, 2010, at 18:53:21
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further » morgan miller, posted by linkadge on November 5, 2010, at 14:33:45
Link runner's that run a lot seem to be lean and that is a good thing health wise. Also great for depression/anxiety. Keep on running maybe add a protein shake for extra protein which helps build muscles. Phillipa ps I do miss running and the runners high.
Posted by johnj1 on November 5, 2010, at 21:39:44
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further » morgan miller, posted by linkadge on November 5, 2010, at 14:33:45
Link:
I was like you. But I have put on 20 pounds lifting and drinking milk. You should drink whole milk, although I believe skim has more protein. Yogurt at least once a day too. I eat it 3 times a day and drink two quarts of milk. It will help your depression too. I have no physical anxiety anymore. The calcium and minerals in milk have been a godsend for me. If you privately babblemail me I can tell you the book to buy. Just going to the gym and choosing machines is not good.
You can do it!
john
Posted by morgan miller on November 7, 2010, at 1:21:30
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further » linkadge, posted by johnj1 on November 5, 2010, at 21:39:44
> Link:
>
> I was like you. But I have put on 20 pounds lifting and drinking milk. You should drink whole milk, although I believe skim has more protein. Yogurt at least once a day too.There's really no reason for most of us to do lowfat or nonfat dairy anything. Whole milk dairy products have more beneficial fatty acids that are lost in defatted milk products.
Linkage, are you vegetarian or vegan? If not, eat all the fat you can in meat and dairy. I wouldn't cut any fat out of your diet. Fat is good for us anyway. Good ssaturated fat get a bum rap. Most people are cutting out too much good saturated fat from their diet. It simply is not very healthy.
Also try to eat all day long, never skip a meal. But I bet you've already tried eating all day and not cutting any fat out of your diet.
Posted by Hombre on November 7, 2010, at 1:05:52
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further, posted by morgan miller on November 7, 2010, at 1:21:30
They say hard gainers need to lift a bit differently due to the fact that our nervous systems easily fatigue from too much work. I've always been very skinny. The first time I started to have a normal appetite was in my early 20s, when I started doing qigong and meditation. I think that calmed down my nervous system and improved my digestion and sleep.
I've tried lifting weights before, but I did it all wrong. I did too much at once and became over-fatigued. I didn't know that you didn't have to kill yourself in the gym to get strong and put on quality muscle. So why all the pain and muscle fatigue? That's not how the strongest people in the world get strong. Strength is a skill. Very strong men an work the same lifts, sometimes several times a day, because they are honing their skill, not destroying their muscles so they can look like Arnold.
Just choose 3 exercises and work in the 3-5 rep range for each exercise. That means you lift a weight that is heavy enough that you can only squeeze out 3-5 reps, with one or two left in the bank. You want a lower body exercise (squat/deadlift) an upper body push (bench/military press) and an upper body pull (seated row/lat pulldown). That's it. You'll hit everything and get strong.
Working with heavier weights will stimulate the release of growth hormones, especially when you do lifts that involve many joints. Isolating one muscle is more about bodybuilding or supplemental training. You want to get in, do your workout in 30 minutes, and get out. Short, focused, and intense. Your body will adapt to this. If you want mass, workout like a sprinter, not a marathoner.
Never lift to failure. You should still be pretty fresh after lifting, perhaps with even more energy than when you went in. You may not need to lift more than once or twice a week. That gives you plenty of time to recover. If you eat quality foods you'll start to put on weight in your chest, back, gluts, and legs -- the places where all the largest muscles are.
Anyway, this type of lifting is more fun, I don't get tired from it, and it allows someone like me, a hard gainer, to enjoy lifting weights without it feeling like torture.
Posted by bleauberry on November 7, 2010, at 10:42:59
In reply to how do people gain weight?, posted by linkadge on November 3, 2010, at 19:04:01
Hey Link, yeah, I'm underweight too, at about 130 pounds. I can lose weight real easy if I don't keep eating. But I can't gain.
I figured....ok, low blood pressure, low body temperature, not overly active, eat a lot....where are all those calories going?
In my case I think I finally figured it out. Malabsorption for one thing, which really needs stool test to identify, and it did. But I think most of my calories are going into the immune system. My immune system must be in hyper gear.
Here is something that can help. I actually gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks doing this, but had to stop because this particular food is one that I have a reaction to.
Peanut butter. Get the good kind with good oils and omega fats....Smart Balance. Take a heaping spoonful three times a day with meals. We're talking massive calories, protein, and good fats all packed into a spoon. The idea here is to increase caloric intake, and peanut butter happens to be a healthy robust way to do that.
Posted by Conundrum on November 7, 2010, at 10:43:52
In reply to Re: All The Way And Further, posted by Hombre on November 7, 2010, at 1:05:52
Or you could do what robb/damaged/manic666, said and stop drinking milk because it can cause depression. :-\
> They say hard gainers need to lift a bit differently due to the fact that our nervous systems easily fatigue from too much work. I've always been very skinny. The first time I started to have a normal appetite was in my early 20s, when I started doing qigong and meditation. I think that calmed down my nervous system and improved my digestion and sleep.
>
> I've tried lifting weights before, but I did it all wrong. I did too much at once and became over-fatigued. I didn't know that you didn't have to kill yourself in the gym to get strong and put on quality muscle. So why all the pain and muscle fatigue? That's not how the strongest people in the world get strong. Strength is a skill. Very strong men an work the same lifts, sometimes several times a day, because they are honing their skill, not destroying their muscles so they can look like Arnold.
>
> Just choose 3 exercises and work in the 3-5 rep range for each exercise. That means you lift a weight that is heavy enough that you can only squeeze out 3-5 reps, with one or two left in the bank. You want a lower body exercise (squat/deadlift) an upper body push (bench/military press) and an upper body pull (seated row/lat pulldown). That's it. You'll hit everything and get strong.
>
> Working with heavier weights will stimulate the release of growth hormones, especially when you do lifts that involve many joints. Isolating one muscle is more about bodybuilding or supplemental training. You want to get in, do your workout in 30 minutes, and get out. Short, focused, and intense. Your body will adapt to this. If you want mass, workout like a sprinter, not a marathoner.
>
> Never lift to failure. You should still be pretty fresh after lifting, perhaps with even more energy than when you went in. You may not need to lift more than once or twice a week. That gives you plenty of time to recover. If you eat quality foods you'll start to put on weight in your chest, back, gluts, and legs -- the places where all the largest muscles are.
>
> Anyway, this type of lifting is more fun, I don't get tired from it, and it allows someone like me, a hard gainer, to enjoy lifting weights without it feeling like torture.
Posted by johnj1 on November 7, 2010, at 15:15:32
In reply to Re: MILK WILL GET YOU!, posted by Conundrum on November 7, 2010, at 10:43:52
I am not aware of that in anybody unless you are allergic. It provides calcium, Vit D, and magnesium. It calms my nerves.
Posted by Hombre on November 7, 2010, at 19:37:45
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight?, posted by bleauberry on November 7, 2010, at 10:42:59
"Spleen Deficiency" will often cause edema and weight gain, but it can also cause emaciation. My last bout of depression with heavy anxiety made it impossible to eat and respond to exercise. Taking tonic herb formulas changed this considerably. I wish I'd known about this in my teens!
The basic formula for this is Four Gentleman Pills (ginseng, white atractylodes, poria, baked licorice). It's commonly available in pill form for a couple of bucks a bottle.
Many of the adaptogens also help with building muscle.
Posted by creepy on November 8, 2010, at 11:51:53
In reply to how do people gain weight?, posted by linkadge on November 3, 2010, at 19:04:01
I weighed 170lb about 10 years ago, and I was in pretty good shape. Thanks to depression and lexapro I put on 50 lbs. I quit lexapro a couple months ago and Ive lost 15lbs so far without trying.
Some people find that wellbutrin helps with the carb cravings, I never did. Topamax was the only thing that stopped it.
Posted by Hombre on November 11, 2010, at 23:43:30
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight?, posted by creepy on November 8, 2010, at 11:51:53
The herb Gymnema sylvestre is supposed to help with cravings for sugar and it regulates blood sugar. It sounds like something that might help people that put on weight as a side effect of medications.
I take Seroquel, and it slows down my metabolism and makes me hold water and fat, maybe by throwing off my hormonal balance. I take several herbs to counteract that by draining water (diuretic action) and speeding up metabolism.
Posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2010, at 20:06:28
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight?, posted by Hombre on November 11, 2010, at 23:43:30
Do you feel B6 also aids in water weight as take it and does for me? Phillipa
Posted by Hombre on November 15, 2010, at 2:54:24
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Hombre, posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2010, at 20:06:28
I don't have a separate B6 supplement right now, and in the past I'm not sure I noticed that effect when taking 100mg pyridoxine (the common form of B6).
I do find taking a B-complex helpful overall with energy and mood. My B supplement has 35mg B6 in the form of pyridoxine and P5P.
There are a number of herbs with diuretic action, usually under the category of "draining dampness". They tend to be neutral to warm, and are often combined with other herbs that tend to stimulate metabolism in general. Dampness can cause sluggishness, fatigue, bad digestion and brain fog. These herbs may indirectly support thyroid and sympathetic nervous system related hormones.
Posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2010, at 19:07:13
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Phillipa, posted by Hombre on November 15, 2010, at 2:54:24
Thanks for the info. Funny the same B6 seems to release water in me? Was suggested years ago by an ob-gyn for pms. Long past that now. Phillipa
Posted by Hombre on November 15, 2010, at 19:31:45
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Hombre, posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2010, at 19:07:13
I have also heard about that effect from B6, so maybe I just didn't notice it or didn't have extra water when I took it.
> Thanks for the info. Funny the same B6 seems to release water in me? Was suggested years ago by an ob-gyn for pms. Long past that now. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2010, at 21:15:02
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight?, posted by Hombre on November 15, 2010, at 19:31:45
Hombre really you did boy he must have been ahead of the times. Thanks. Phillipa
Posted by Brainbeard on November 17, 2010, at 6:16:31
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Phillipa, posted by Hombre on November 15, 2010, at 2:54:24
Posted by Hombre on November 18, 2010, at 22:57:40
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Hombre, posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2010, at 21:15:02
> Hombre really you did boy he must have been ahead of the times. Thanks. Phillipa
Sorry, I can't figure out what this is referring to?
Posted by Phillipa on November 19, 2010, at 19:10:42
In reply to Re: how do people gain weight? » Phillipa, posted by Hombre on November 18, 2010, at 22:57:40
That my ob-gyn back in the 60's was aware of the water retention and how B6 might help. So he was ahead of the times using an alternative method. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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