Leptin refeeds for restoring metabolism?
I posted this to the regular board last night, and no one replied, so I'll try it here. I really need help here ladies, and my doctors aren't doing much more than testing my thyroid, which is still normal :(
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I just came across this article [url]http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/sclark60.htm[/url] on leptin refeeding, and it is something I would like to look into, but my doctor has no information on it. I was hoping someone here might be able to help.
I am in an incredibly frustrating situation. I had recovered from overexercising and amenorrhea due to low body fat - I was flying rather blind on my recovery, no professional help (can't afford it), but through my own research managed to get things working again. I have since had a daughter two years ago and my cycles are now very normal. I'm 5'3 and 124 pounds and climbing I can't seem to maintain any muscle mass either. All of the weight gain seems to be in my middle (and no, I'm not pregnant again LOL) I would like to drop some weight, but just this middle weight. It doesn't really seem like calories in - calories out here.
The problem remaining is my metabolism. I lost all of my pregnancy weight within 3 weeks of having my daughter, but have been slowly gaining ever since. I am ashamed to say that although I am still very active and walk or run 8km/day and weights a couple of times a week, my caloric intake is no more than 1250 (on a splurgey day), and usually 1100. Yes I'm sure, I have checked it with 5 different online calculators and my docor. My portions are very small, and it's all clean and healthy. Protein 35.5%, Carb 45% fat 18% (or so) Low glycemic, carbs almost entirely from vegetables. I believe I wrote it all out in one of my previous posts if you want to go and look it up. I take vitamins, efa's, l-glutamine, etc
I want to boost my metabolism so I don't have to eat like an anorexic, but every time I try to re-feed with just adding 100 cal over a course of a week, I gain weight and it scares me back into unhealthy habits. I would imagine I should be maintaining my weight at 1600 cal/day with not quite soe much activity. Clearly, my metabolism has adjusted to starvation mode and I desperately want to change that.
Do you think introducing a leptin re-feed might work? How often should I do it? How much should I eat during a refeed meal? What are good choices of foods?
ANy other thoughts on restoring a normal metabolism after being hypocaloric for about 2 years (likely longer)?
Thanks,
Dianna