I recently posted on reddit that I wanted to start training for a marathon. Who wants to join me? I started fitness fatties on meetup and facebook to help find people.
Here is the response to some of the concerns in that thread.
Table of Contents
My goal
If I lose weight from training it’s an added benefit. It’s not my goal. I prefer to measure my progress in other ways. I want to get my waist below 90cm, do a body weight pull up and run 5km without stopping.
Diet
My current diet focuses on protein and vegetables. I eat about 7000kj a day, aiming for 80 to 120gm of protein. I burn 2000kj a day from exercise (10K steps a day, Pilates twice a week, strength class 3 times a week & rock climbing twice a week).
Unless you are a trainer/dietician/researcher with a specialisation in obesity I can’t trust your opinion on nutrition/exercise.
Previous running experience
I have trained for running before. I once got down to a 7”50 pace per km and have done 5km fun runs, I was still over weight when I did this training. I’m starting with shorter runs and building up endurance first. It’s not like I’m doing a marathon tomorrow. I’m just starting the training process. That’s 3 runs a week with one of them being a long run on the weekends.
Current weight
My weight has stabilised at 91kg over the last 6 months. I was 127kg before weight loss surgery in 2016. I got down to 75kg but it’s bounced back up since then. I had 80% of my stomach surgically removed. My blog on being 40kg down is still one of my most visited blogs.
If I order eggs on toast for breakfast from a cafe, I’ll eat half and take the rest away for lunch. It’s physically challenging for me to over eat. I enjoy 4 to 5 small meals throughout the day.
I don’t drink and I can’t digest fatty foods. These both give me the shits since I had my gall bladder removed in 2020. Gall bladder problems are a common complication from rapid weight loss.
Previous injuries
I broke my ankle in 2018. This involved 3 surgeries and no walking for 12 weeks. I haven’t trained for running since then. I still have a plate and a dozen screws in there. I’m flat footed and see a podiatrist on the regular to maintain my feet mobility. Running 3 times this week has been fine. I know to stop if anything feels off.
Health and maintenance
I get thyroids and bloods regularly checked as part of maintenance from weight loss surgery. I’m not on birth control or any other meds. I take a daily iron and vitamin D supplement. I have a nutritionist that I see for my gut health.
I go to a physio as soon as I feel any abnormal pain from movement. I go to my osteo for lower back issues. I use a standing desk for half the day when working from home.
I’ve done mindful eating exercises with a therapist and have worked on my emotional eating habits. I had asthma as a kid and had a mild flare up the first winter after a Covid infection.
Why the waist measurement goal?
There are long term heart health issues correlated with having a waistline above 90cm for women. My waist is only 1cm above this and has been shrinking over the last 12 months. My body composition has been changing to be more muscle. I’m obese with a BMI of 35. I’m 163cm tall.
Why not eat less?
The only time I’ve been able to lose 1/2kg per week for 2 weeks in a row recently was when I reduced my kj intake to 5000kj per day and maintained current activity levels.
This involves me skipping breakfast. And when I get up at 5:30am to go the gym it means at 11am I can’t focus on work and I’m obsessing over food waiting for lunch time. It is not sustainable to track my food this obsessively and I don’t enjoy it. As soon as I eat more normally I get back to that 91kg.
Where is the line between intermittent fasting and eating disorder?
I prefer to enjoy my life and accept my situation. I can be fit at my current weight. My mental health is the best it’s ever been. I’m strong. I’m improving my endurance and flexibility.
Other studies
Did you know there are studies showing that fat people who go through weight loss need less energy to maintain the same body weight as someone who has never had to lose weight? Or that a fat person’s gut bacteria transplanted into mice causes them to get obese even though their diets don’t change?
Some studies have shown that exercise stimulates hunger for some and exercise doesn’t equal weight loss for everyone. There is one study that connects poor weight management with gall bladder removal and my weight did start creeping up after this, however more research needs to be done here. My one anecdote doesn’t generate conclusive information.
Am I fat phobic?
Yes and I’m fine with my body being this size, does it bother you? What is your definition of fit/healthy?
Do you have some internalised fat phobia that could be addressed? I know I do but I try to keep those thoughts to myself.