Things aren't going well... trying, but need help

[Revmachine21]

I'm working in finance and I've lost my way a bit. Gained around 8 pounds over my low, lost muscle, etc. I got to the gym today, maybe for the first time in 5 weeks. I'm trying. Started FitDay logging again too.

Here's the thing. I'm losing my hair, this has been going on for weeks.

This isn't the first time this has happened, but this time, I am trying to recovery in a healthy way, rather than falling off the wagon and eating whatever I want. I think the cause is under-eating and stress. Trying to lose weight, I was sailing close to the wind to begin with, then with stress, lost my appetite and probably dropped too much calorie-wise, for too long.

Right now, when I eat, often my stomach really hurts to the point where I nearly throw up. Some days are worse than others. On a good day, vitamins & fish oil pills upset my stomach and make me feel barfy. These days, completely impossible.

Just looking at my fitday, I'm really low on some nutrients. I'm hoping better trace minerals will help. Does anybody have nutritional ideas that won't mess up my macros, but will be easy on the stomach?

I'm thinking children's vitamins. I eat egg yolks on the weekends for trace, but this is a weekend treat for myself. So many cals and fat there.

Please help.... bald women aren't nice looking


P.S. Here's today's Fitday log:
http://fitday.com/fitness/PublicJour...r=Revmachine21

[dbx]

My dear, it would appear that talking with a professional might be in your best interest at this point. Exercise helps greatly with stress, but isn't an answer in itself. You're young, and need to realize this global market meltdown could have been much worse....might even get worse....but isn't the end of the world and will play itself out soon enough. Hang in there

[DanVanVliet]

Stress can really hurt you physical and mentaly please be careful.

[BrotherWolf]

I'm working in finance and I've lost my way a bit. Gained around 8 pounds over my low, lost muscle, etc. I got to the gym today, maybe for the first time in 5 weeks. I'm trying. Started FitDay logging again too.

Here's the thing. I'm losing my hair, this has been going on for weeks.

This isn't the first time this has happened, but this time, I am trying to recovery in a healthy way, rather than falling off the wagon and eating whatever I want. I think the cause is under-eating and stress. Trying to lose weight, I was sailing close to the wind to begin with, then with stress, lost my appetite and probably dropped too much calorie-wise, for too long.

Right now, when I eat, often my stomach really hurts to the point where I nearly throw up. Some days are worse than others. On a good day, vitamins & fish oil pills upset my stomach and make me feel barfy. These days, completely impossible.

Just looking at my fitday, I'm really low on some nutrients. I'm hoping better trace minerals will help. Does anybody have nutritional ideas that won't mess up my macros, but will be easy on the stomach?

I'm thinking children's vitamins. I eat egg yolks on the weekends for trace, but this is a weekend treat for myself. So many cals and fat there.

Please help.... bald women aren't nice looking


P.S. Here's today's Fitday log:
http://fitday.com/fitness/PublicJour...r=Revmachine21

I am with DBX here

You're too young to have that sort of problems go and see a doctor ..

[GreenWave1]

I agree with DBX. Talk to someone about your stress. A good therapist can do wonders for you.

As for food, can you eat steamed spinach? Loaded with nutrients and not hard on the stomach. Just let it get really mushy. You can make tea with the water if you like.

I will say a prayer for you. Best of luck dealing with this difficult time.

[freebirdmac]

I have nothing to add to what's been said. Just wishing you the best!

[Clif]

I have nothing to add to what's been said. Just wishing you the best!

XX10

[woodlake]

I have to agree with the others, you really need to see a prof. to help get you through this difficult time.

[Hibiscus09]

It definitely sounds like stress is the culprit, but I would go see the doctor just in case if it were me.

At times when I have experienced a loss of appetite due to depression and/or stress I find I am able to drink shakes. Perhaps you should throw in a Myoplex (or one you find tasty) shake mid-morning and mid-afternoon? You could beef up the carbs/fat by adding a lower sugar yogurt, some fresh strawberries or blueberries and some sort of oil like Udo's.

If you like spinach (I love it) -- that's a good idea too.

I have eggs every morning. An egg yolk is not going to do you in.

As for the stress, you need to develop some good coping skills because I think the economy is what it is for a bit. Stressing about it won't change things. Just try to take it one day at a time. Cognitive/behavioral therapy may help. Also, a little levity goes a long way. I love to laugh. There's a little bit of humor in almost anything that happens in life. Plus, there's always blessings in life upon which to focus. We are all blessed in many ways. *hug*

[Minotaur]

Stress can really hurt you physical and mentaly please be careful.

Qft. It put my partner in the hospital last week.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

My dear, it would appear that talking with a professional might be in your best interest at this point. Exercise helps greatly with stress, but isn't an answer in itself. You're young, and need to realize this global market meltdown could have been much worse....might even get worse....but isn't the end of the world and will play itself out soon enough. Hang in there

Ditto!!!! See a doctor!

[djl_ottawa]

From what your describing it can be many things. I would like everyone suggests go see a doctor. Better to catch something bad (just saying) now then later.

[bebeklein]

Stress can definitely do a number on your body. In addition to talking to your doctor, here is a mayoclinic link with some good information. And I personally find yoga is great for relaxation.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/SR99999

[The_Warhammer]

Rev, nothing really to add other than you might want to see if your employer has what some call an EAP program for this type of mental/emotional health. Many employers have a program where you can get a certain number of visits for free and it is strictly confidential of course. Mine offers 6 free visits/family member/issue/year. Definitely can help with at least figure out what may be going on. Whatever you do, please seek help immediately. No sense in putting it off, sounds like you know you need to take some action. Just need some help figuring what that may be.

Minotaur, hope things work out for you and your partner. Hospitals are not fun.

[Revmachine21]

I'm a little taken aback from the strong responses. Hadn't really considered my condition so bad; I guess this has become my new normal. Most people around me are wounded in some way or another, I am looking relatively good in comparison, if you can believe.

Was bummed yesterday. My gym partner got laid off yesterday, he'll likely punch out of Japan, and not be seen again.

I'll try the spinach idea and it's probably a good idea for a check up. Counseling care is not widely available here, and going to the company for help would be asking for a pink slip and a boot out the door.

Thank you all so much... If you have any other easy-on-the-stomach, nutrition-rich food ideas, let me know. I'll come back with news as things evolve.

[bebeklein]

Even if you don't seek counseling, seeing a general physician could still be helpful.
The mayo clinic had this to say about stress & hair loss.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/str...r-loss/AN01442

[BrotherWolf]

If you have any other easy-on-the-stomach, nutrition-rich food ideas, let me know. I'll come back with news as things evolve.

when in Rome do as the Roman do .. eat sushi nearly perfect food
take a vacation if you can, maybe pick up meditation or something like that .. it could be great for stress relief

[EMISGOD]

I'm a little taken aback from the strong responses. Hadn't really considered my condition so bad; I guess this has become my new normal. Most people around me are wounded in some way or another, I am looking relatively good in comparison, if you can believe.

I think they were all trying to save you from being a bald woman...

It is true that very few can pull off that look...Persis Khambatta being one of the very few I can think of...kinda sorta Natalie Portman also...

Hope things are getting better!

[gbg]

Hello! I was wondering where you were.
As pointed out already your best bet would be see a Dr. get a diagnosis you can't do this your self without knowing the cause.

Now go! and keep us posted

[immuno]

I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing a steamer, and eating steamed vegetables. Steamed vegetables are incredibly good for your digestive system. Steamed brown rice is also great.

For stress, this site rocks ->http://www.bodymindandmodem.com/Basics/Basics.html

[BuckSpin]

x what they said. Stress is extremely catabolic and can wreck havoc on a body. And what was also said previously - if I had access to the quality of sushi you do I would eat nothing else but that.

[IR45N]

Ulcer comes to mind too; a possible result of the present, past stress. Find out what your Dr. says first and if he/she doesn't seem to be able or want to get to the bottom of what ails you, find another Dr.

[storm1507]

Hi Rev...

I missed this thread the first time through. How are things going now?

Hope you have a great Holiday over there.

[Revmachine21]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to stop by and let you know how things are going.

First, I might have a possible idea on the stomach issue. I took the brakes off the diet and have been eating whatever I want, ice cream, soda, whatever. I figure eating crap is better than not eating at all. Stomach feels fine. Until I try to restart the "healthy" diet plan. When I do so, I'm fine until lunch when I eat my salad. And after this the pain and nausea starts. Something in the salad bar is disagreeing with my stomach. I isolated one thing that isn't the source, beets. I suspect the Brussels sprouts might be the culprit and/or daikon sprouts. The children's vitamins seem tolerable, but not 100% pleasant.

The hair situation isn't any worse, but isn't resolved either.

So anyway, I still need to set up a doctor's appointment. But first, I'm going away on holiday. I'll deal with this unpleasant task after I get back.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Rev

(Reps on recharge with Hibby)

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Hibby, stand up and take a bow. Egg yolk. Natural source of Biotin, the HAIR VITAMIN.






Now take that from a bald man......

[notgumbel]

Rev, my wife has had times that she lost hair. In her case it is due to nutrient absorption problems post gastric bypass, though stress from work undoubtedly didn't help. But she got some biotin caps, and that helped not only with the hair but also nails.

Minotaur, best wishes for your partner, and hang in there yourself. As someone who has a low threshold for stress (and the xanax to prove it!) I empathize.

[The_Warhammer]

Thanks for the update Rev. Glad to see you may have figured out the stomach issue.

Hope you have a good holiday!

[Revmachine21]

== Avoided ==
- Migraine medicine
- 2nd cup of coffee
- Salt & Pepper on salad
- Vinegar on salad
- Nearly all the cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Broccolli
- Daikon sprouts

== Ate ==
- Leafy salad greens with most of the cabbage picked out
- California peppergrass
- Raw Cucumber
- Maybe some fragments of red pepper
- Raw Carrot
- Canned okura

== Result ==
- No problems today

(reps on recharge with Brother Wolf)

[GeHfN VAlLiS]

I cannot help but notice the amount of cruciferous vegetables you normally eat in your salad. They often cause gastric issues with people who are unused to them, or have become acclimated to not having them as a dietary staple. Further, they have been recently implicated in some drug interactions, to quote Wiki:

"Cruciferous vegetables have recently been implicated in some pharmacological drug interactions. These vegetables are powerful inducers of the microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1A2, which is responsible for the metabolism of many pharmacological agents[4]. By causing induction of the enzyme, it may incidentally increase the rate of phase I transformations (see pharmacokinetics) of pharmocological agents that are normally metabolized by this enzyme, expediting the process of drug metabolism. This, in turn, could produce drug plasma concentration that is less than the desired therapeutic range."

You list taking migraine medicine. Just a thought. You need too see a doctor to rule it out.

How about some healthy fats with that salad like a splash of olive oil and a protein source?

[Whiskeyjack]

== Avoided ==
- Migraine medicine
- 2nd cup of coffee
- Salt & Pepper on salad
- Vinegar on salad
- Nearly all the cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Broccolli
- Daikon sprouts

== Ate ==
- Leafy salad greens with most of the cabbage picked out
- California peppergrass
- Raw Cucumber
- Maybe some fragments of red pepper
- Raw Carrot
- Canned okura

== Result ==
- No problems today

(reps on recharge with Brother Wolf)

Regarding hair, I can't advise you. But regarding stomach, you might have IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A lady near and dear to me has suffered it for years. It's often controllable by diet.