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MidwestBeast in: The Case of the Mysterious Weight Gain!

Damn. I'm a pretty patient guy, but things like this really make my blood boil. It's great to see that you're still able to stay positive. My father is going through some medical issues. He's normally very pessimistic, but for some reason, he's been very optimistic through the whole thing. It really seems to make a huge difference.

Glad to have you in here, man.

Yesterday was just a bad day for me once I found out he was gone for the entire week. The lack of communication/consistency is what floors me the most. What sucks is knowing that I just have to deal with it because most doctors don't understand what I'm going through and won't listen, and by the time I tried to find a new one, it would take longer than just waiting for him to get back in the office.

I'm not a fan of wasting time and the entire past year that I wasted just makes me disappointed.

Health and fitness are such a passion in my life that I'm ready to find the specific problem, and start battling through it so I can turn this into a positive example for others.
 
Man. I see things are just not progressing as they should be on the doctors half. Could be he's just going through a rough time. Keep positive bro!!
 
Glad to have you in here, man.

Yesterday was just a bad day for me once I found out he was gone for the entire week. The lack of communication/consistency is what floors me the most. What sucks is knowing that I just have to deal with it because most doctors don't understand what I'm going through and won't listen, and by the time I tried to find a new one, it would take longer than just waiting for him to get back in the office.

I'm not a fan of wasting time and the entire past year that I wasted just makes me disappointed.

Health and fitness are such a passion in my life that I'm ready to find the specific problem, and start battling through it so I can turn this into a positive example for others.

Have you looked into a naturopath with an MD?
 
7 days complete

268.8 lbs, this morning -- exact same weight as a week ago

I didn't expect the gluten-free eating to have any impact in that time, but I did hope that restricting cals to down around 2,000 daily and eating only from clean food sources would help.

Obviously a little depressed by that situation.
 
...Health and fitness are such a passion in my life that I'm ready to find the specific problem, and start battling through it so I can turn this into a positive example for others.

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to MidwestBeast again"
 
MidwestBeast said:
7 days complete

268.8 lbs, this morning -- exact same weight as a week ago

I didn't expect the gluten-free eating to have any impact in that time, but I did hope that restricting cals to down around 2,000 daily and eating only from clean food sources would help.

Obviously a little depressed by that situation.

Still bro, great results in keeping it clean. At least you're not going up I weight though. Progress is there as now you know what how your body is reacting to the calories. How about feeling wise? Joints? Mood? Mental state?
I think I notice most is after about two month gluten free my mom came to visit and I had to take then around town. There was no way to avoid gluten for 15 days out and about living in a hotel, i got instant bloating, headaches, laziness, and it was visually noticeable too well the bloating. The wife said I got fat... But two weeks of gluten free and NO training cause I blew my back the day my mom left lol, and I got down to pre wedding/pre traveling weight.

Hardest part about gluten free is eating out. I never use flour, or eat anything like pasta or pizza. But everything in japan is either deep fried in batter or in a soy/sugar sauce. Regardless, I know you can do it.
 
Still bro, great results in keeping it clean. At least you're not going up I weight though. Progress is there as now you know what how your body is reacting to the calories. How about feeling wise? Joints? Mood? Mental state?

Physically I feel fine outside of being fat and having a gut. There's something that gives me a sharp pain in the right side of my abdomen if I bend over and any pressure is put on that side against my thigh. Mood is garbage, to be honest. I just want to sleep for the next 5 days until my doctor's appointment. That's what sucks is that I can keep a positive mood even through all of this as long as I know steps are being taken. Right now those steps have stopped for going on 2 weeks and that just wrenches my insides.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to be depressed because I have a nutrition test I have to take either today or tomorrow and then I'll have a chem test, next week. It's taking every ounce of me to not just go eat a bunch of garbage. The funny thing is, I don't miss that kind of food at all. I could diet with no cheat meals for life and be okay. But knowing that I eat like a bodybuilder and look like a fat, diabetic slob makes me want to go back to it. I won't; I have enough willpower to not do that -- same as I'm not going to off myself in all of this -- but it's what crosses your mind when you know what you do doesn't make a difference.
 
Just keep doing the right thing man. That's all u can do, that way @ the end of the day u can say u did the right thing.
 
MidwestBeast said:
Physically I feel fine outside of being fat and having a gut. There's something that gives me a sharp pain in the right side of my abdomen if I bend over and any pressure is put on that side against my thigh. Mood is garbage, to be honest. I just want to sleep for the next 5 days until my doctor's appointment. That's what sucks is that I can keep a positive mood even through all of this as long as I know steps are being taken. Right now those steps have stopped for going on 2 weeks and that just wrenches my insides.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to be depressed because I have a nutrition test I have to take either today or tomorrow and then I'll have a chem test, next week. It's taking every ounce of me to not just go eat a bunch of garbage. The funny thing is, I don't miss that kind of food at all. I could diet with no cheat meals for life and be okay. But knowing that I eat like a bodybuilder and look like a fat, diabetic slob makes me want to go back to it. I won't; I have enough willpower to not do that -- same as I'm not going to off myself in all of this -- but it's what crosses your mind when you know what you do doesn't make a difference.

I agree 100% with the wanting to go back and eating bad. That pain.... Hmm. How's the visits to the throne?
 
Just keep doing the right thing man. That's all u can do, that way @ the end of the day u can say u did the right thing.

I know, man. It's what I'll do. It's just so mentally taxing to do it with none of the benefits/results.
 
I agree 100% with the wanting to go back and eating bad. That pain.... Hmm. How's the visits to the throne?

Everything else is normal. That's why, for whatever ignorant reason, I was hopeful that maybe things were working and that I'd lose even a pound last week. So everything bathroom-related is normal.
 
Brother you are doing everything right. Give the diet a chance. You should start seeing some sort of results in the next week or two.

Gluten free diet is tuff. Especially finding all the proper food to be able to eat.
 
Brother you are doing everything right. Give the diet a chance. You should start seeing some sort of results in the next week or two.

Gluten free diet is tuff. Especially finding all the proper food to be able to eat.

I can do gluten-free if that's what I legitimately need to do. I honestly don't have a problem with that. What is hard for me is just doing it based on the assumption that it's highly likely I have a gluten intolerance/allergy, but not knowing for sure. I don't put a lot of faith into those type of things, anymore, because I've seen so many things medically that I've felt 100% were what was wrong with me turn out to not be the case (reverse T3, sleep apnea, etc.).

Is gluten intolerance tied to all of this? Maybe; maybe not. What I feel right now, though, is that there is a tumor somewhere in my body that is creating excess cortisol and excess prolactin, both of which are hindering any type of positive movement forward. I believe strongly about the cortisol issue as the oversaturation of the body with cortisol would explain the downregulation of thyroid receptors and the reason that dosing 100mcg of T3 daily for 10 weeks did nothing to me in terms of weight loss. It explains the numbers looking great, but nothing else happening. It would explain why for over a year that I've been on thyroid hormone of some sort that nothing has changed aside from things getting worse.

Maybe that's all that it is and as soon as it's resolved it will fix things. However, that quote from Chris Kesser about an unhealthy gut being able to derive more calories from the same meal in comparison to a healthy gut strikes me as very worthwhile. A long time ago, I mentioned to my dad that I wondered if there was some way that what I was eating wasn't actually being digested and was somehow just being dumped into my body as fat stores. I knew how crazy it sounded and I dismissed it, but this would lend some merit to that thought. When I was 15, I went over an entire week without having a bowel movement when I was on vacation (stupid bathroom phobia that started when I was really young). I went an entire weekend on a Chrysalis retreat not much later after that where I did the exact same thing. And neither time it wasn't because I didn't feel like I had to; it was quite the contrary. I just held it because of my weird phobia (which I'm now over, btw). But I always wondered/asked if holding it for long periods like that could cause problems. Everyone always said no. I'm wondering, now.

I'm in a better mood, at the moment (because I'm drinking Focus XT, so I'm tasting candy and getting caffeine), but who knows how long that'll last. I'll likely start dosing some tyrosine that I have stashed away in hopes that it will increase dopamine levels and help with the feelings as well as combat the prolactin a bit until my doctor sees me. You better believe I'll be there Monday with my letter, asking him to just sign off on the scan. A friend of mine mentioned a pet-scan (could be spelling that wrong), and I'm honestly more inclined to want that, now, in case it's not in the abdominal and it's in the chest or on my thyroid. I know I've got a sharp pain in my abdomen when I bend over, though.

Being fat sucks. lol

I laugh about it, but it seriously just tears me up inside. I just remembered, today, thinking back about my thoughts on getting married. I had a discussion where I said a vow my wife and I would have for each other is never to get fat or out of shape; that it would be a grounds not necessarily for divorce, but it was important enough that neither of us would do it. I said that I'd never let myself go or get fat, so she would have to do the same for me, because that's what I needed from a wife. Now, here I am...fat. Now don't read into that as me saying if my wife had a medical condition like mine that I'd want a divorce; no chance. I won't marry a woman until I know I'd love her with every ounce of me and that we were meant for each other. But if she just got lazy and let herself go, I'd be angry and hurt. But I wouldn't expect anyone to accept me for this, either. Physical bodies aren't everything; I won't date a woman unless she has the values I want, but even if she has them, I wouldn't date her if I weren't attracted to her -- and I'm attracted to a woman in shape. It stems deeper than that, though. Being in shape gives off the image that you care about yourself and that you enjoy things that are part of a healthy life in all aspects -- I'm attracted to that. I need someone who has a healthy relationship with Christ (soul), a healthy relationship toward learning and knowledge (mind) and a healthy relationship with fitness and nutrition (body). Even though I have those same things right now, you wouldn't know it or think it when looking at me. I'm not thinking less of myself, but I'm being realistic in that I wouldn't expect someone who I'm attracted to, to be attracted to me in my current condition.

That just went sideways from what I intended this post for, but apparently it was on my mind and needed said.
 
To elaborate more on your "holding it in", I believe it could be related to gut permeability. At least for me what had happened was I always had trouble going. And it just kinda got worse with age. I'm pretty sure I have those blood saps in my intestines that bleed whenever they are irritated. (Thus the usual bleeding after taking a crap.... yes I know... Doc's all say it's fine cause it's not IN the crap, and it's not black... )
It's way better than before but still irritating. It might have opened up your gut. I think my gut is in pretty poor shape, I'm just lucky in the fact that I normally stay away from all carbs anyway. And when I restricted carbs from my diet I didn't even eat any pasta/bread/cakes cause I thought it was a waste of my carbs. I'd rather eat rice or potatoes lol.
Anyway, the only thing I can tell you is stick to it for now. If it doesn't work you might wanna try something a bit more aggressive like the GAPS diet or something. Then from there take it slow and add things back in SLOWLY. GAPS diet is pretty rough though, I'd only do it if I was running out of options and really suffering.
Good luck bro!
 
Hey bro keep your head up, something will get figured out! When ever you feel in the pits like that just turn to your AM bros for support!
 
I'm glad we have people like you here. It takes people like you to make this AM community great. Thanks for sharing your story, I still have a few pages of posts to read to catch up, praying for you to find your answer bro.
 
My weight does that, I will stay at the same weight for three weeks then bam! 5 pounds will shed off! I don't under stand it lol keep your head up!
 
My weight does that, I will stay at the same weight for three weeks then bam! 5 pounds will shed off! I don't under stand it lol keep your head up!

Yeah, i had weeks like that, in the past.

This, however, has been going on for a year+ lol; no lucky 5 pounds off here and there (heck, not even 2 or 3).

Doctor's appointment is on Wednesday and I plan on stopping in Monday to see if I can get a note in to him to get him to go with the scan due to pain in the abdomen (I even considered going into the ER with that complaint to see if that would get it done, but I'd prefer to have my doc sign off on it and avoid the ER).
 
Yeah, i had weeks like that, in the past.

This, however, has been going on for a year+ lol; no lucky 5 pounds off here and there (heck, not even 2 or 3).

Doctor's appointment is on Wednesday and I plan on stopping in Monday to see if I can get a note in to him to get him to go with the scan due to pain in the abdomen (I even considered going into the ER with that complaint to see if that would get it done, but I'd prefer to have my doc sign off on it and avoid the ER).

Go with the doc, cheaper, better, you can ask more questions, more thorough AND less headaches of going to the ER....
 
MidwestBeast said:
Yeah, i had weeks like that, in the past.

This, however, has been going on for a year+ lol; no lucky 5 pounds off here and there (heck, not even 2 or 3).

Doctor's appointment is on Wednesday and I plan on stopping in Monday to see if I can get a note in to him to get him to go with the scan due to pain in the abdomen (I even considered going into the ER with that complaint to see if that would get it done, but I'd prefer to have my doc sign off on it and avoid the ER).

Ahhhhh, it's strange, heck right now I am gaining weight lol probably too much cardio! :-) good luck with your doctors visit. Did you do a body detox.
 
MidwestBeast said:
Yeah, i had weeks like that, in the past.

This, however, has been going on for a year+ lol; no lucky 5 pounds off here and there (heck, not even 2 or 3).

Doctor's appointment is on Wednesday and I plan on stopping in Monday to see if I can get a note in to him to get him to go with the scan due to pain in the abdomen (I even considered going into the ER with that complaint to see if that would get it done, but I'd prefer to have my doc sign off on it and avoid the ER).
Good luck! I have faith in you.
 
Good luck! I have faith in you.
 
Thank you to everyone for the encouraging words; they're very much appreciated.

8 days Gluten-free complete.

I'll be honest, my brain fog and minor depression have had me going straight home after work and not leaving again to hit the gym. I haven't lifted since Sunday, which is obviously not my normal trend. I did fall prey to letting this thing overtake me back in the summer for 2 months where I only lifted 10 days total between them (whereas I'd normally have lifted 40 days). I'm not going to go down that road, again, so I'll be going, tonight.

My usual split is 3 on, 1 off, 2 on, 1 off. I'll start the 3 on, this afternoon. On the bright side, in that time off, I've managed to watch a lot of TV shows lol. I caught up on the first 2 seasons of Justified over the weekend and then watched all of Carnivale on the front end of this week.
 
Doing good bro. Damn you workout a lot... I do 3 days a week. Though I do full body workouts. Thats a lot of good work you getting in man! ;)
 
Well good god. If I was able to kick you in the butt through the computer I would just to get you out of this funk. Brother I know it is frustrating but dont let it get to you like that. You are better than that. Remember everything happens for a reason and only the man upstairs knows why. You are just being challenged right now and soon things will get figured out so stop being all moody and depressed and get your a$$ back in the gym or out and about running around and get active. You're only hurting yourself. And those whom love you for not taking care of yourself. Sorry no pity parties allowed.

:smile: :hug:
 
Well good god. If I was able to kick you in the butt through the computer I would just to get you out of this funk. Brother I know it is frustrating but dont let it get to you like that. You are better than that. Remember everything happens for a reason and only the man upstairs knows why. You are just being challenged right now and soon things will get figured out so stop being all moody and depressed and get your a$$ back in the gym or out and about running around and get active. You're only hurting yourself. And those whom love you for not taking care of yourself. Sorry no pity parties allowed.

:smile: :hug:

No pity party here, my friend.

It's weird; it's never been a "poor me" situation, this has just been a (minor) depression that cast itself over me and just zapped a lot of the energy. Like I said, I won't let this snowball and get worse, but sometimes it's better to just take a few days because when I'm in the gym, I go hard. I almost never have a bad workout. That's because if I don't feel in the zone, I take the day off, rather than going and forcing something.
 
MidwestBeast said:
No pity party here, my friend.

It's weird; it's never been a "poor me" situation, this has just been a (minor) depression that cast itself over me and just zapped a lot of the energy. Like I said, I won't let this snowball and get worse, but sometimes it's better to just take a few days because when I'm in the gym, I go hard. I almost never have a bad workout. That's because if I don't feel in the zone, I take the day off, rather than going and forcing something.

I know brother I was just trying bust your balls and give you some motivation...
 
Day 8. You can do it............

Btw, I need to catch up on Justified.
 
Btw, I need to catch up on Justified.

I just watched the season 3 premiere, last night. I'll catch episodes 2 and 3, this weekend. Timothy Olyphant is awesome. I want to put my cowboy hat on and drive east until I get to Harlan and see how long it takes me to get murdered lol.

I also had somehow missed season 2 of Workaholics, so I caught the first 6 episodes of it, last night and I'll cap off the other 4 over the weekend, too.

I honestly prefer good TV shows over movies most of the time, anymore.
 
No pity party here, my friend.

It's weird; it's never been a "poor me" situation, this has just been a (minor) depression that cast itself over me and just zapped a lot of the energy. Like I said, I won't let this snowball and get worse, but sometimes it's better to just take a few days because when I'm in the gym, I go hard. I almost never have a bad workout. That's because if I don't feel in the zone, I take the day off, rather than going and forcing something.

Hey Beast, not sure if you have ever heard of it but you can use Niacin to help with mood. It is best to run the flushing kind and build up your dosage so you aren't putting a ton in and freaking your body out. I learned my lesson with that when I was getting ready for Boot camp and trying the old Niacin trick to flush my system. 3kmg will make you feel like you whole body is asleep and your burning up.
Anyway here is some info, and you can google it a lot of people have used it with good success
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You guys are getting me all hot and bothered :love:

Today was day 10 or 11 (written down in my workout steno; can't recall) of gluten-free.

Amazing arm session, Friday night. Tossed legs on top of delts/traps, today. Arms felt dead going into it, but I somehow made some gains from last session.
 
You guys are getting me all hot and bothered :love:

Today was day 10 or 11 (written down in my workout steno; can't recall) of gluten-free.

Amazing arm session, Friday night. Tossed legs on top of delts/traps, today. Arms felt dead going into it, but I somehow made some gains from last session.

I've noticed a lot of people reporting this, feeling like crap then hitting a PR. I hope I get one of those days soon... I feel like crap but my PRs don't feel strong at all... they feel like death... I just tell myself I need this last rep or I will die (I don't lift that heavy though)
 
So, I got a phone call at the office, today, from my doctor's office. They said there had been a death in the family and I'd have to reschedule. Instantly, I felt my heart sink as I thought of waiting another week to get back in. Well, they asked if I could come in, this afternoon. So, I got to chat with him and I should be getting a call tomorrow morning about the details of my abdominal scan. He said he wants one with and without contrast to get a better look at everything.

He'd talked to his colleague in Indy and he was intrigued by my case; the high prolactin is what really threw him (and the fact that the brain MRI showed nothing; though a microadenoma could still be there). He said we'd see what this turns up, but he thinks he's going to ultimately refer me to an endocrinologist at Vanderbilt. I told him I was fine with that, but I'd prefer someone he either personally could recommend or was a friend of a colleague (so I don't have the Louisville debacle all over again).

I prayed about this, while I was in the office, waiting for him to come in. I prayed that God would lead us in the right direction; that if he wanted me to pursue another option or that if the scan wasn't the way to go, that he would have the doctor not want to pursue it. Fingers crossed this will turn something up. I feel like I've said this a million times, now, but a tumor somewhere in conjunction with an intestinal problem would explain the whole situation, perfectly. The tumor would explain the high prolactin and cortisol (the high cortisol explaining the downregulated thyroid receptor sites) and the digestive problems would explain my ability to inherently derive more calories from food than someone with a healthy intestinal flora.

Fingers crossed.
 
Wow, that office sure has some things going on. Can't help but yea. It can get irritating. Life lol.

Hope the scans come back with good information and I'll be praying for ya as well.
 
Wow man I'll be praying for you!

Pray for me too....Lord knows I could use it...

Thanks, buddy. I always appreciate extra prayers. And I always enjoy taking on more people to pray for, too.
 
Doc's office called, this afternoon. CT Scan is scheduled for Monday morning.

Giddy up.
 
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