Please help me :( ...

cats_files said:

Hi I am Cat !
Well I need some help please. I`m feeling very sad. In fact I was quite overweight (79Kg for 1m66)
about 2 years back but I did a diet and finally reach 54kg after about one year. During my
diet I cut out completely on sugar and did 1 hour cycling everyday. Now the problem is that
I was so happy of my new body that I am constantly afraid of returning fat and during my last
holidays I started being very obsessed of this 🙁. What I did was that I cycled more than
4 hours a day (7/7)on my stationary bike (resistance 4). And one day I even reached 9 hours 🙁.Finally when
university started again after this 3 months holidays, I could not do that much so I am actually doing 1Hr
and some times more .Now the problem is that I do`nt know why,a bit before Uni start (Before I did average 1 hr),
I have got a rapid raise in weight (5Kg) and now it has increase by 5 kg more 🙁!. But strangely, even after this raise in 10 kg, nobody seems to notice
it. When I ask, they say me you are still the same ! The only thing I notice about my body is that I feel my legs have become
bigger because when I put my trousers, it becomes quite tight just about the legs.

I am so sad. I do not know what to do. I do not eat much fat, try to cut on sugar, eats lots of fruits and veggies,
no fast food,only whole bread, oatmill and everything I know good for the body and still then I am afraid my weight increase
again. Because for me, in my head, I am becoming fat :,,,(. Please help me...I really need some advice... Please...

If all this is a true record of what you have been doing, then the extra weight is muscle, (which is heavy) and not fat, (which is bulky).
Cheer up and start enjoying your life.

That is not a record I wanted to have or anything, it is a real mental problem I am having making me suffer a lot 🙁. In fact I could not make myself vomit so I end up finding something else, that is cycling. For me 10 kg is still 10 kg, whatever fat or muscle or water, in my head heavyness is being fat 🙁. And again more strange it happens that the next morning I end up loosing 4 kg just like this or even more... You see, I feel being very not normal 🙁. Sincerely thanks for your answer anyway. That was kind of you.

cats_files said:

That is not a record I wanted to have or anything, it is a real mental problem I am having making me suffer a lot 🙁. In fact I could not make myself vomit so I end up finding something else, that is cycling. For me 10 kg is still 10 kg, whatever fat or muscle or water, in my head heavyness is being fat 🙁. And again more strange it happens that the next morning I end up losing 4 kg just like this or even more... You see, I feel being very not normal 🙁. Sincerely thanks for your answer anyway. That was kind of you.

4 kg is 4 litres of water which can easily be gained through drinking or lost through sweating and metabolic activity.
If you have a mental problem concerning weight then throw away your bathroom scales and use the mirror as a guide to determine whether you are fit or not.

Hey you are the first person making me smile today 🙂. Thanks a lot... I will try to listen to you, it will be difficult but promise to give it a try. I hope to get better soon.

You mention hours of riding on a stationary bicycle. Do you own or use the other sort that goes outdoors?

Don Shipp said:

You mention hours of riding on a stationary bicycle. Do you own or use the other sort that goes outdoors?

In fact I would have really like to do cycling outdoors also, I heard it is better but in Mauritius there is not many places specially for cycling. So what I did was eating, 2 hr session, eating, 2 hr session and so on... at home in front of my TV 🙁 . I hope I am not a hopeless case.

cats_files said:

In fact I would have really like to do cycling outdoors also, I heard it is better but in Mauritius there is not many places specially for cycling. So what I did was eating, 2 hr session, eating, 2 hr session and so on... at home in front of my TV 🙁 . I hope I am not a hopeless case.

Now you have an avatar. A bunny, not a cat?
Get a bike, you'll find places to ride it.

the body also reacts to stressors and poor emotional states. Once you start feeling better, your body will too! i dont know where you live, but it is winter where i live, and animals naturally build more fat to protect themselves. creative outlets will help you take your mind off appearance as well. you may want to explore hobbies, etc. spiritual/mental health is just as-if not more important-than physical health.

To Asian Allez:
I live in Mauritius, Indian Ocean. Actually it is summer here. 23-33 degrees. I agree with you concerning finding more outlets. I think the fact of having been overweight before has made me become obsessed with my weight now because of being afraid of returning like I was. Thank you for your advice...

Don Shipp said:

Now you have an avatar. A bunny, not a cat?
Get a bike, you'll find places to ride it.

To Don Shipp
I am Cat the Bunny then 🙂. Since I live on an island, do you think that cycling at the seaside would be good ?

Hey Cats,

Please don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds to me like you may need to speak to someone who has experience dealing with food issues. I speak from a little experience as I have had a few issues around food myself; if you'd like to contact me off-list please do and I could make a few suggestions.

Take care,

Lindsay (lindsay at science4sport dot com).

cats_files said:

To Don Shipp
I am Cat the Bunny then 🙂. Since I live on an island, do you think that cycling at the seaside would be good ?

I think that cycling by the sea-side will give you exercise and lift your mood wonderfully. Drink lots of water, don't get dehydrated.
BIker-linz is someone who is worth listening to.

1. muscle weighs more than fat, so you can be exactly the same size, in much better shape, and weigh more.

2. get a real bike and go outside. there is nothing better to cheer your mood than looking down the mountain once you have reached Ridge Road (any ridge road on any hill or mountain), or seeing your shadow on the road as the sun comes up, or racing along next to a rabbit or cat who you spooked on the side of the road. being cooped up indoors alone exercising is not good for your brain, evne if it is good for your body.

3. don't worry so much. it sounds like your weight is in a good place and gaining and loosing a few pounds now and then is normal, even for the pros.

Don Shipp said:

If all this is a true record of what you have been doing, then the extra weight is muscle, (which is heavy) and not fat, (which is bulky).
Cheer up and start enjoying your life.

To all of you who has been helping me, thank you so much... I really appreciate your support. Best wishes to all...

I agree with all the great tips and encouragement so far, and it really sounds like some personal nutritional and exercise counselling and support might be good advice as well. What you're describing seems to call for a little more than our usual "get out and have fun on your bike" encouragement.

If you're able to spend 9 hours on a stationary bike in one day, then it sounds like you've got the riding part figured out. Heck, you could probably be giving us advice on that part. 😄

Yes I agree with you and with all others also. I think that you have all contribute in making me conscious that there is something wrong without taking it too seriously making me less afraid and that has help me a lot in removing this feeling of being 'anormal' and in my head now I am more towards the idea of 'Everything will be ok'. That is why I am thankful to all of you.

Concerning the advice, I will not tell you to go and cycle 9 hrs ! You may be feeling extremely well in your head but there will be a strange sensation in your body. I remembered when I went to sleep, at night I felt like my body 'burning' and I was a bit afraid not knowing what was happening. I even ask myself if I would be still alive the next morning...And I always felt hot even if it was winter here.

In fact every day in that holiday I did 2 or more times a 2hr cycling keeping about 1-2hr rest in between (including eating). I ate lots of carbohydrates (oatmill, wholebread, veggies, cereals, fruits), drink lots of milk/juice and eat very little fat. It happens that I ate large amount of sweets (marshmallows, nougat etc...) but still containing no fat or very little.

I feel very strange talking about this but so relieved at the same time.

Million thanks to all of you...

cats_files said:

Yes I agree with you and with all others also. I think that you have all contribute in making me conscious that there is something wrong without taking it too seriously making me less afraid and that has help me a lot in removing this feeling of being 'anormal' and in my head now I am more towards the idea of 'Everything will be ok'. That is why I am thankful to all of you.

Concerning the advice, I will not tell you to go and cycle 9 hrs ! You may be feeling extremely well in your head but there will be a strange sensation in your body. I remembered when I went to sleep, at night I felt like my body 'burning' and I was a bit afraid not knowing what was happening. I even ask myself if I would be still alive the next morning...And I always felt hot even if it was winter here.

In fact every day in that holiday I did 2 or more times a 2hr cycling keeping about 1-2hr rest in between (including eating). I ate lots of carbohydrates (oatmill, wholebread, veggies, cereals, fruits), drink lots of milk/juice and eat very little fat. It happens that I ate large amount of sweets (marshmallows, nougat etc...) but still containing no fat or very little.

I feel very strange talking about this but so relieved at the same time.

Million thanks to all of you...

Well you were overdoing it and will be physically better with fewer hours riding and enough time to recover. Your body will only repair itself and adapt during recovery time which is why your leg muscles grew only after the amount of time you were able to spend on the bike dropped to a sensible level.
Be careful with sweets. They often contain hydrogenated vegetable oil or hydrogenated vegetable fat which is not found in nature and causes damage in your body. Eat bananas instead.
You do not mention meat, are you a veggie?

i believe she is a human being...

I will try to follow your advice and eating bananas. Thanks 🙂 ...
Actually yes I do not eat meat (chicken etc...) But do eat lots of fish, eggs and dairy products. It may happen that I eat but this is very rare. I cook myself so I have got a better control.

I always felt like being tired after eating meat or chicken and could not exercise properly after that. May be because I have some digestive problem but I am not sure.

To all my wonderful and kind friends, Nice day to all of you 🙂 ...