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Metabolism tips?

Started by Susan Sullivan6 · · 👁 4 views · 75 replies

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Participants Susan Sullivan6Matthew Alvarez77Jeffrey White7Roger Vaughn2Linda Castillo10Carl Greencrimsonfox26Karen Wilson11Michael Baker5briskjackal5briskbison55Lisa Rogers94Susan Jackson12Chris Nelson26Jack Ward82Henry Hayes3Brandon Rivera11Steven Nguyen87Grace EdwardsSean Cruzvividraven7George Diaz47
Susan Sullivan6 Susan Sullivan6 MemberOP
10 messages
joined Feb 2015
#1 ·
Since you guys seem to love a good debate so much, I figured I’d throw a topic out there for everyone to chew on.

Since I’m just getting started here and haven't really said much yet, I figured I should probably drop a link to the absolute best source of information out there. It’s pretty much the gold standard if you want to actually know what you're doing. 😬

Metabolism. It’s one of those words that gets thrown around constantly in fitness circles, usually by people trying to sell you a "magic" supplement or a crazy diet plan, but when you actually sit down and look at what it is, it’s honestly kind of fascinating. It isn't just some single switch in your body that's either "on" or "off"—it’s more like a massive, complex web of chemical reactions happening inside your cells every single second of your life. Basically, everything your body does—from breathing and pumping blood to thinking about why you ate an entire bag of chips at midnight—is powered by metabolism. It breaks down into two main processes: anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism is the building side, where your body uses energy to construct things like muscle tissue or store fat for later. Catabolism is the breakdown side, where your body tears apart molecules (like the food you just ate) to release the energy needed to keep the lights on. It’s a constant, delicate balancing act. A lot of people get obsessed with "speeding up" their metabolism, as if they can just kickstart it like a broken lawnmower. While things like muscle mass and thyroid function definitely play a role in how much energy you burn at rest, it’s not as simple as just drinking more black coffee. It’s a deeply biological process influenced by genetics, age, and even how much sleep you’re getting. It’s less about finding a shortcut and more about understanding how your internal engine actually runs.


Jeffrey White7 said:Watch out for all that fructose. ☕

Yeah, and? What's the worst that could happen? Is someone actually going to gain weight or get sick just from eating too much fruit? 😁
Matthew Alvarez77 Matthew Alvarez77 Member
21 messages
joined Jul 2015
#2 ·
Susan Sullivan6 said:Smoothie - 2 bananas, 2 apples, blueberries, some raspberries, blackberries, 2 nectarines, peach, hemp, flax seeds, sesame, whey, cocoa, and a bit of ice. 🍿

Good grief, why on earth so much fruit?
Matthew Alvarez77 Matthew Alvarez77 Member
21 messages
joined Jul 2015
#3 ·
Chris Nelson26 said:I'm going to post this here, though I'm not sure if it's the right spot.

Basically, is it necessary to consume carbs in my PWM after weight training to build muscle? Does it even make sense for me, since even though I lift weights, I'm simultaneously dieting because I want to lose another 9 pounds. I'm consuming about 1400 calories a day, which is roughly my BMR.

I avoid carbs; I mostly just eat oatmeal in the morning as my main carb source. Of course, they show up in other things too since they're hard to avoid, but I mean actual carb-heavy foods.

Also, does it make sense to take carbs after cardio?

I'm asking strictly for muscle building purposes, but as I mentioned, I'm on a diet, so I don't see the point.

It’s fine to have some simple sugars (like dextrose or maltodextrin) after a workout to replenish glycogen stores and spike insulin to help transport the protein you're drinking. Don't overdo it, obviously—just a scoop of whey and half a scoop of dextrose. PS: If you're cutting weight, you'll be keeping carbs very low, which you likely already know, but just limit them around your training window. On non-training days, I wouldn't take them at all; I'd just stick to fats and proteins.
There, hope that helps. 🙂
Jeffrey White7 Jeffrey White7 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Sep 2015
#4 ·
Susan Sullivan6 said:So, what’s the real concern here? Is anyone actually worried about gaining weight or falling ill just from eating too much fruit? 😁

You might find the answer a bit surprising, but if you were wondering whether fructose can actually lead to weight gain, the answer is a resounding yes. 😁 It seems, quite unfortunately, that one simply ought to avoid it altogether.
Roger Vaughn2 Roger Vaughn2 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Apr 2016
#5 ·
One might question why a recreational athlete should ever consider avoiding fruit. Fruit provides essential vitamins, minerals, and various other nutrients that are undeniably beneficial to the human body.
Of course, one would not consume an entire kilogram of fruit within a single shake, but there is certainly a recommended daily portion of fruit to include in one's diet.
Linda Castillo10 Linda Castillo10 Newcomer
1 message
joined Oct 2013
#6 ·
Honestly, just stay far away from all that junk—best bet is to just stick to chicken and rice three times a day and call it a day
Carl Green Carl Green Newcomer
1 message
joined Sep 2014
#7 ·
Rachel Cox64 said:But how much fruit are we actually supposed to be eating every day?

I don't think anyone here is arguing against that.
crimsonfox26 crimsonfox26 Member
46 messages
joined Dec 2020
#8 ·
Larry Morgan said:the move is to just avoid everything and stick to chicken and rice three times a day

And honestly, rice isn't exactly helping you stay lean either.

Just eat some meat soaked in whey🙂
Jeffrey White7 Jeffrey White7 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Sep 2015
#9 ·
crimsonfox26 said:Rice adds weight too, you know.

It’s really just about getting enough meat soaked in whey. 🙂

image
Karen Wilson11 Karen Wilson11 Newcomer
8 messages
joined Jul 2018
#10 ·
crimsonfox26 said:Rice makes you fat, too.

Just some meat soaked in whey 🙂

🤣🤣🤣
hope everyone's having a killer morning 🙏
Susan Sullivan6 Susan Sullivan6 MemberOP
10 messages
joined Feb 2015
#11 ·
Matthew Alvarez77 said:Seriously, why on earth so much fruit?

Because it’s healthy, man. 🤔
Susan Sullivan6 Susan Sullivan6 MemberOP
10 messages
joined Feb 2015
#12 ·
Matthew Alvarez77 said:Honestly, tossing in some simple sugars after a workout—like dextrose or maltodextrin—isn't a bad move if you want to replenish those glycogen stores. Plus, getting that insulin spike helps shuttle the protein you're drinking into your muscles more effectively. Just don't go overboard, obviously. I usually just throw in my scoop of whey and maybe half a scoop of dextrose. Side note: if you're currently cutting weight, you’ll probably be keeping your carbs super low, which you likely already know, but I'd suggest limiting them strictly to your training window. On rest days? I wouldn't even bother with them; I'd just stick to fats and protein.
there you go, hope that clears things up 🙂

Bro, whey spikes insulin 😁
Susan Sullivan6 Susan Sullivan6 MemberOP
10 messages
joined Feb 2015
#13 ·
Jeffrey White7 said:The answer might actually surprise you, but yeah, fructose can definitely cause weight gain😁 so unfortunately, it's something you really ought to steer clear of.

It honestly surprises me though, because I personally never seem to put on any weight. In my book, it's the total calories that make you pack on the pounds, not just the fructose itself.🤔
Jeffrey White7 Jeffrey White7 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Sep 2015
#14 ·
Susan Sullivan6 said:It honestly makes me wonder, since I can't seem to put on any weight myself. Is it really just the calories that cause weight gain rather than fructose? 🤔

Just try swapping out one of your rice meals for a serving of fructose and let me know how things look in a month or two. 👍
Susan Sullivan6 Susan Sullivan6 MemberOP
10 messages
joined Feb 2015
#15 ·
Jeffrey White7 said:Try swapping out one of your rice meals for a serving of fructose, then hit me back in a month or two and let me know how you're actually feeling. 👍

I've already swapped things out; I'm eating plenty of fruit these days and keeping the rice to a minimum. 😬
Karen Wilson11 Karen Wilson11 Newcomer
8 messages
joined Jul 2018
#16 ·
Jeffrey White7 said:Look, just try swapping out one of those rice meals for a hit of fructose and then hit me back with an update on how you're actually feeling after a month or two, alright? I wanna know if it actually does anything or if it's just a waste of time! 👍

Look, if you’re staying within your daily calorie limit, you aren't going to pack on the fat, period! I don't care if you're sitting there inhaling nothing but Hershey's bars all day—I mean, okay, that's a pretty extreme caricature, but you get my point, right? The bottom line is simple: if you don't exceed your daily caloric needs, you won't gain weight. It's just basic math, isn't it? 😉
Michael Baker5 Michael Baker5 Newcomer
5 messages
joined Jul 2013
#17 ·
Matthew Alvarez77 said:Honestly, it’s pretty fine to toss in some simple sugars—like dextrose or maltodextrin, for example—right after you finish training. It helps replenish those glycogen stores, and I guess that little insulin spike helps shuttle the protein you're drinking into your muscles more effectively. Just don't go overboard, that's for sure! Maybe just throw in a scoop of whey and half a scoop of dextrose. PS, if you're trying to cut weight, you'll probably be taking very little carbs, which I'm sure you already know, but maybe just keep them limited to your workout window. On non-training days, I wouldn't even touch them; I'd probably just stick to fats and proteins.
there you go, hope that helps! 🙂

But what if I can't really afford whey, dextrose, and all that stuff right now? Is there anything else I could use as a substitute? Thanks for the help!
briskjackal5 briskjackal5 Active Member
249 messages
joined Feb 2018
#18 ·
Food

But man, honestly? It’s just so hard to find anything cheaper than dextrose and whey once you actually sit down and factor in the total cost of everything else you have to buy alongside it... I guess.

-Steve
crimsonfox26 crimsonfox26 Member
46 messages
joined Dec 2020
#19 ·
How much fruit is actually too much?

Back when I was pregnant, my OB-GYN immediately warned me to watch my fruit intake, but I can't help thinking an athlete's body processes things a bit differently than someone whose only exercise is a light swim or a walk—or maybe they aren't exercising at all because they're stuck on bed rest.
Matthew Alvarez77 Matthew Alvarez77 Member
21 messages
joined Jul 2015
#20 ·
briskjackal5 said:Food

It’s hard to find anything cheaper than dextrose and whey once you factor in the total cost of everything else on the grocery list.

-Steve

Agreed. No amount of whey can replace the protein you get from chicken, eggs, or lean meat. Unfortunately, marketing does its job.🙂

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