This is a just a very brief summary of what I have found since getting ME with regard to the relationships between diet, supplements, exertion and being 'in shape' - or not!
During a period of increased stress (and maybe exertion?) I put on a LOT of weight and became borderline-obese. As the weight/fat gain included the chest area, I also started getting a considerable amount of pain in the chest area and also my back, neck and shoulders, which adversely affected sleep.
I was in VERY bad shape, and hated how I looked.
I eventually managed to shed quite a lot of the weight after the stress (and exertion?) decreased and I reduced my carb intake a bit. But I had a lot of difficulty keeping the weight down, as I got so hungry so often.
But the real breakthrough came in 2012 when I cut out gluten. First my gut function became more normal. I think that this was crucial. The weight started melting away effortlessly. A few months later I went further, and reduced grains and sugar. I was also adding supplements. The weight continued to melt away, and one day I realised that I was regaining access to my muscles too. I don't know if this was due to the diet, the supplements or both, but some of the supplements are said to have this effect. I was also no longer hungry all the time!
I reached my ideal weight and have stayed there. My muscles continued to redevelop and are now as good as when I was in my 20s (I am now in my 60s) - apart from the continuing inability to produce enough energy aerobically. I don't believe that this energy defect can be corrected through exercise if you have ME.
My weight only goes up a little if I over-exert myself or make a dietary error, or take a supplement that has adverse effects (especially on my gut) or my gut gets upset by an unknown cause. It soon goes back down again when my gut normalises again.
I am therefore taking more care to pace and rest and not exceed my anaerobic threshold although, as we all know, it takes almost superhuman self-discipline, and few (if any) of us succeed all the time.
My weight is still staying normal, and my muscles are not getting deconditioned. I just go about my essential daily activities plus some quite strenuous activity like gardening when I am able to do so without overdoing it, so have to stop when I still have stuff to finish. It just has to wait. I love the feel of using my muscles again, but sometimes I know I just have to settle for having a few nice stretches, bending from side to side, forward and backward, etc., using the muscles more in everyday activity, and not going in for any full-blown exertion, as I need to save my 'energy credits' for something more essential later or the next day.
I'm sure those of us who are au fait with post-exertional malaise (most of us 'old hands' and a few savvy younger ones) are horribly familiar with that feeling of "Aaargh - I feel terrible - was it worth it?"
I think that over-exertion may delay progress towards improvement, so we pay for it not just with the obvious PEM. So usually it really isn't worth it, at least for me. I guess it's always a matter of weighing up pros and cons.
But the summary message I am trying to get across in this blogpost is:
During a period of increased stress (and maybe exertion?) I put on a LOT of weight and became borderline-obese. As the weight/fat gain included the chest area, I also started getting a considerable amount of pain in the chest area and also my back, neck and shoulders, which adversely affected sleep.
I was in VERY bad shape, and hated how I looked.
I eventually managed to shed quite a lot of the weight after the stress (and exertion?) decreased and I reduced my carb intake a bit. But I had a lot of difficulty keeping the weight down, as I got so hungry so often.
But the real breakthrough came in 2012 when I cut out gluten. First my gut function became more normal. I think that this was crucial. The weight started melting away effortlessly. A few months later I went further, and reduced grains and sugar. I was also adding supplements. The weight continued to melt away, and one day I realised that I was regaining access to my muscles too. I don't know if this was due to the diet, the supplements or both, but some of the supplements are said to have this effect. I was also no longer hungry all the time!
I reached my ideal weight and have stayed there. My muscles continued to redevelop and are now as good as when I was in my 20s (I am now in my 60s) - apart from the continuing inability to produce enough energy aerobically. I don't believe that this energy defect can be corrected through exercise if you have ME.
My weight only goes up a little if I over-exert myself or make a dietary error, or take a supplement that has adverse effects (especially on my gut) or my gut gets upset by an unknown cause. It soon goes back down again when my gut normalises again.
I am therefore taking more care to pace and rest and not exceed my anaerobic threshold although, as we all know, it takes almost superhuman self-discipline, and few (if any) of us succeed all the time.
My weight is still staying normal, and my muscles are not getting deconditioned. I just go about my essential daily activities plus some quite strenuous activity like gardening when I am able to do so without overdoing it, so have to stop when I still have stuff to finish. It just has to wait. I love the feel of using my muscles again, but sometimes I know I just have to settle for having a few nice stretches, bending from side to side, forward and backward, etc., using the muscles more in everyday activity, and not going in for any full-blown exertion, as I need to save my 'energy credits' for something more essential later or the next day.
I'm sure those of us who are au fait with post-exertional malaise (most of us 'old hands' and a few savvy younger ones) are horribly familiar with that feeling of "Aaargh - I feel terrible - was it worth it?"
I think that over-exertion may delay progress towards improvement, so we pay for it not just with the obvious PEM. So usually it really isn't worth it, at least for me. I guess it's always a matter of weighing up pros and cons.
But the summary message I am trying to get across in this blogpost is:
- I got back in shape through diet and supplements (see my profile for details) - not exercise.
- My body tells me when and how I can use it. I can't push it too far without adverse consequences, which sometimes - counter-intuitively - can even include fat gain and muscle loss.
