F?ed up Endocrine System needs Tman help

Training Bodybuilding
1

I am a 34 yr old male diagnosed with Addison?s Disease (Primary Adrenal Insufficiency = my body doesn?t make cortisol) at age 6. My treatment includes various oral doses of Cortisone and Florinef (synthetic aldosterone) daily. I believe that because of excess cortisone, continuing fatigue and depression, this immediately led to the various levels of obesity I have experienced, continuing till today. I was also diagnosed as hypothyroid in ?93. I am treated fairly effectively with Synthroid.

Life Story
I began acting on my desire for improved quality of life about 12 years ago by switching from soda to tea to water, quitting smoking, exercise, supplements and healthier eating. For about 2 years, I was very devoted to exercise. I would do about 4 hours of cardio per week and workout with machines several times a week. I enjoyed this period and was very pleased with the gains that I made. I never experienced the fat loss that I desired but had tremendous gains in strength and endurance.

Considering my condition, I was very aggressive in my program and continuing to push my limits. I did not experience any adverse health effects for over 20 months. One day, I was doing some strenuous lifting and became extremely light headed and nauseous. I had to go and sit down. I still felt terrible and went to shower. I became even more nauseous and vomited without any relief. I barely managed to drive home and crawl in bed.

That was essentially the end of my exercise program. I went back a few times but never really recovered. My health continued to deteriorate until I would sleep 12-14 hours a day and could barely function the rest of the time. According to about 10 different doctors, I was fine, one told me I just needed to get a job.

I now believe that my strenuous exercise program and the stress of a failing business gradually led to a sub-clinical Addisonian Crisis. I eventually found help through Traditional Chinese Medicine. Over the course of the next three years, my health gradually returned.

Cut to the Chase
Since ?97, I have mainly looked toward home exercise equipment and diet to deal with my obesity. I am 5?5?, 222lbs with 42% BF (measured by Tanita scales). This is an increase of 45 lbs and 15% over the last 18 months due to a decrease in depression meds which had an appetite reducing effect. I have not had much success with the exercise. I have done a little better with my diet but I don?t log my food and I am prone to carb binges.

I know that I need a holistic approach including diet, exercise, supplements, etc. I face several obstacles.

Motivation: I have been treated for depression for 5 years. If I am not depressed, I frequently don?t ?feel? good. Even when I not depressed or feeling bad, I have still have a hard time getting off my ass.

Metabolism: I believe that my metabolism is extremely slow. I frequently struggle with fatigue and require 10-12 hours of sleep.

I have recently begun walking about 10 miles per week. I plan on starting the Don?t Diet Diet and food logging very soon. I plan to quickly begin incorporating weights into my exercise as my stamina increases.

Help Wanted
I have been looking at ways to affect these obstacles. I believe that if I can increase my metabolism some, it will help me get off my ass, which will then help me increase my metabolism more.

I am very interested in any ideas, particularly related to the effects of various supplements on my particular chemistry. I would also appreciate any referrals of medical professionals who may have insight into these areas, particularly in the Dallas area.

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Hey, there 1donut. Welcome to the forum!!!

Yours is a “challenging” situation, and honestly, I think you’ll be fighting your weight for the rest of your life. I know I will, but I’ve accepted that fact.

Start by making positive changes in your life, just like you did last time. Physical activity helps with depression. Get walking. Work up to 45 minutes to an hour a day. Don’t worry about intensity. Worry about making it a habit. Use the time you spend walking to increase water intake, too. Your goal should be 1.5 to 2 gallons per day at your BW.

If you want to get off your ADs, see if you can find a psychopharmacologist (an MD who specializes in brain chemistry) to help you make the transition, especially if he or she has expertise in the use of amino acids. Continue to use all available TCM resources, too.

Additionally, start researching light therapy; sunlight, tanning beds, possibly, “special” lights. I’ve also been doing research of late on magnesium supplementation and depression (the type/form of Mg does matter). I’d also like to see you do research on either EPA or DHA and depression.

BTW, never take the advice of someone off the Internet re your health issues. Always research anything that’s recommended and come to your own conclusions. Be sure to communicate and coordinate with your doc, also!

I haven’t even talked about diet, yet, have I? (grin)

Once again, small, positive, incremental, progressive changes, 1donut. Start reading the forum and the archived article for inspiration, motivation and education – and for the community and support! I particularly like John Berardi’s article, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Nutritional Programs, Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION.

From there, after you’ve implemented the recommendations in that article, take a look at T-Dawg 2.0. It’s probably my favorite diet here on the forum. It uses the P+F and P+C principles of food combining that we know and love. It allows extra carbs on days you work out (i.e., lift weights) so that you can optimize PWO (Post Workout) nutrition. It’s not ultra-low in the carb department. And taking full advantage of the green veggie carbs helps control cravings, keeps you from being overly hungry or feeling deprived, and ultimately results in more even, sustainable energy levels; i.e., no spiking and crashing.

Re workouts, I’d like to see you look at something like Hypertrophy Specific Training (HST) because it’s a total-body workout that you do 3 times a week, less than one hour. It’s great for people who have limited time to work out and who have high stress levels – and who have energy problems.

Be very careful not to do a high-volume program. It’s not recommended when dieting anyway. And, too, I think you need to be careful with recovery and to not overly challenge your CNS.

Glad to have you here, 1donut. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

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What Chinese herbs were you/are you using?
Tampa: What forms of magnesium do you recommend?

4

Loopfit,

My diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is Yang/Chi Deficiency. When I was first accepted as a patient, I was in BAD shape. I was treated 3x/wk for more than a month gradually tapering to 1-2x/month over the course of 3 YEARS. I am still followed as needed and for tune-ups in the spring and fall. In the course of my 10 years of TCM treatment. I have been prescribed numerous herbs and remedies, probably in the hundreds. My main maintenance treatment consists of two patent preparations Golden Book and Invigorator Tea. These are both combinations of various herbs. TCM is very complex I highly recommend consulting an herbal practitioner rather than attempting to navigate the murky waters solo.

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Loopfit, it’s an area that bears research and PERSONAL experimentation. Magnesium is used to treat a lot of different health conditions. I like Mg Taurate (chelated/joined to taurine) because it’s very good for heart function and is helpful for people who have heart arrythmias. I also like Mg Malate (chelated to malic acid) because it’s an excellent detoxifier of aluminum and also because malic acid plays a critical role in the synthesis of ATP in hypoxic and aerobic situations. In other words, it’s good for energy production and athletic perofrmance.

Typically, though, Mg Glycinate is prescribed/recommended for depression. For depression I’ve seen 400-800mg of ELEMENTAL magnesium prescribed, and in some rare cases it takes as much as 1200mg of elemental magnesium. In a 400mg tablet/capsule of Mg Glycinate, elemental magnesium might be no more than 40g.

But stand forewarned: Too much magnesium has a pronounced laxitive effect. Remember that magnesium citrate (in the green bottle?) is used to “clean you out” before, say, a colonoscopy or surgery.

The trick is to take your magnesium in divided doses with every meal, outside of the presence/supplementation of calcium, which antagonizes/competes with magnesium.

Finally, repeating, if you want to increase magnesium intake to more than 400mg of elemental magnesium, remember that there is a delicate balance in the body of calcium and magnesium. One causes the muscles to contract; the other causes muscles to relax. Even though most of the population is magnesium deficient, it’s just as bad to be calcium deficient because you’re taking in too much magnesium.

Definitely work with a nutritionally savy healthcare provider or err on the side of caution, increasing your dosage slowly and definitely researching the topic.

Are you sorry you asked? (grin)