What's everyone been up to lately?

[rydra_wong]

We haven't had a check-in for a while, and I thought an informal one might be nice. So:

What have you all been up to lately? What are you getting into? What's your latest discovery regarding the lifting of heavy things? Got any new toys or tricks?

Who's got a new achievement to brag about? Who's just getting started and would like some encouragement and cheering? Who's had to take time off owing to injury or life and could use some sympathy? How's it going?

Comments

[pantswarrior]

Yeah, it's a fine line. I found one of those online calorie calculator things (which of course I know is essentially useless, since different people have different metabolisms) and it said that for even light physical activity, I should be taking in about 3 times the calories I'm capable of eating per day just to maintain my weight. And here I am trying to build muscle? :P

But exercising occasionally seems to remind my body that it needs calories and food is not the enemy, so I keep trying it.

[rydra_wong]

it said that for even light physical activity, I should be taking in about 3 times the calories I'm capable of eating per day just to maintain my weight.

Fuck. Scary. What's causing the problem, if you don't mind my asking?

(Obviously, I appreciate if it's a sensitive issue, you are under no obligation to explain yourself to internet strangers, etc.. )

[pantswarrior]

Not so much a sensitive issue anymore, since I've been dealing with it for 25 years. We've never been able to determine what's wrong - all the doctors in the state when I was a kid couldn't find anything wrong, and since I was a pre-teen female, they defaulted to declarations that I was lying about feeling nauseated all the time, to cover up an eating disorder.

And I haven't had it investigated since, because the whole thing set off what I now recognize as PTSD, more or less. One major side effect of the crap they did to me during the hospitalizations was that I started having panic attacks, and those started getting worse about the same time as I had another flare of whatever-it-is earlier this year. Anxiety + chronic nausea = not exactly eating much. But at least I can get away with living off of mostly Nutella and chocolate soy milk - I need the calories and protein.

[rydra_wong]

Gah. Yeah, there's nothing quite like doctors who refuse to believe you about what you're experiencing. Been through that a bit myself, though for somewhat different reasons.

And severe anxiety can be nausea-inducing all by itself -- there was one point (during a particularly hideous meds reaction that spiked my anxiety through the roof) where I spent about a week living off stem ginger in sugar syrup, because it turned out to be the only thing I could eat. It was ... not fun. I can't imagine how bad it must be if you're piling panic on top of existing nausea issues.

Under the circumstances, Nutella and chocolate soy milk sound pretty good as calorie sources.

My only piece of unsolicited advice (warning for unsolicited advice, please feel free to ignore, especially if you've tried it already and it didn't work) would be that both of those might be good for mixing protein powders into, to get some extra protein without having to swallow more.

(I've found I run best on more protein than I manage to eat unless I make a specific effort, so getting more protein and building muscle is Relevant To My Interests. This is what led to the accidental invention of cookie dough protein balls. Which would probably kick ass in a Nutella version.)

[pantswarrior]

You know, I'd been wondering about protein powder even before this latest craziness, and mostly the thing that held me back from trying it was, most protein bars and protein shakes and so on seem to tout the fact that they're filling. I don't want filling - I want something that is the opposite of filling! (Mint and diet Coke are staples of my "normal" diet just because they stimulate my appetite.) I'm not sure if this is a natural property of concentrated protein, though, or something engineered in products made by companies who are making products for people who want to lose weight through exercise.

And yes, Nutella cookie dough balls do sound good... I think I'd seen that recipe being passed around before, and all the ingredients added up to YUM. And now that I'm looking at it more carefully, unlike most recipes, that one looks like it makes a small enough amount that I might actually eat it before it goes bad. (Which is why I never bother cooking.)

Very much sympathize with the ginger in sugar syrup. I've been at this long enough to know a fair variety of stuff that will generally upset my stomach less than other things, at least, but many days in the last few months, all I was eating was half an Oreo every few hours, smeared with Nutella. Ridiculously tasty, at least.

[rydra_wong]

something engineered in products made by companies who are making products for people who want to lose weight through exercise.

I suspect it's simply an effective promotional line. Everything has to be sold as a weight loss thing ...

FWIW, one thing I like about the cookie dough protein balls is that I can eat one in the middle of a climbing session, when I need refuelling but an Actual Meal would leave my system unhappy trying to digest and climb simultaneously.

It's quite solid, but the substance comes from the nut butter, not the protein powder, so if you're okay with Nutella, a Nutella version might work for you.

The recipe makes one small ball, and I've found that they last for several days at least in the fridge (or out of the fridge, but then they tend to dry out, which I find less pleasant).