Sunday, July 20, 2008

The growing gut and a decade of addictions

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

When I was in high school, I weighed about 175 pounds.  At 6’1”, that made me a tall and somewhat thin guy.  And I ate like a horse.  As with so many teens, my metabolism was high, or something, and though I ate and ate I never put on the weight.  Somewhere around 23 years old, that metabolism apparently slowed down, and I made my first weight jump to 185 pounds.  I stayed there for a good long while, but now that I’ve embarked on cutting my caffeine dependence, I’m realizing how some of my more recent weight gains correspond with various addictions in my life.

When I was in grad school, the included lunches at the campuses I visited were unbelievably delicious.  In Vermont, meals were prepared by culinary school students.  So I put on a few pounds that summer.  I came home at 195.  But I never lost it.  I just stayed at 195. 

The next summer, in New Mexico, the food was fantastic again.  At home, I don’t usually eat really large portions for three meals a day.  So during that trip, I inched my way up to 199.  When I saw myself on the threshold of 200, I paused.  I thought, “Do I really have enough money to buy all new pants?” So I made it a point not to break the 200 mark.  I hovered at 199 the remainder of that summer, and that year.

The next summer, in Alaska, I managed to do lots of walking, and I kept myself just under the two hundred mark for the season.  But my final summer, in Oxford, things tipped in the other direction.

Despite what you’ve heard about English food, the kitchen in Oxford was fantastic.  I absolutely loved the food.  And by the end of my grad school experience, I came home at around 205.  Luckily, my pants fit.  Some were a bit tight, but there was no need for a new wardrobe.  I stayed in the 200-205 range for several years.  I guess that’s because I did not go away in the summers anymore to fine dining experiences for three meals a day.

Then, I decided to quit smoking.  That one took a while.  And it caused me to start snacking.  I finally broke both the physical and psychological addiction, but it came at a cost—when all was said and done, I tipped the scales at a record high of 215. 

Now, in the year or so that I’ve been smoke free, I have hovered at 210 to 215.  But my pants all still fit.  Some where a bit more tight than they should have been, but I was not convinced I needed a new wardrobe yet.  Then I had to go and try to quit caffeine.  In the last week, my caffeine intake has been cut in half.

I have found myself wishing to have naps in the middle of the afternoons.  These tend to be very unsatisfactory naps that make me angry when I awake.  I do not know why that would be the case.  This week, I have also found myself thinking about drinking coffee more.  I have these great urges for coffee, or pop, or something.  Maybe it’s psychological, maybe it’s physical, but it’s there, and rather irritating.  I have better things to worry about than cola fantasies.

I have also improved my diet this week.  I am eating more regularly, and less.  And then I remembered that there is some question out there as to whether caffeine is a diuretic.

Based on the 5 pounds I have gained this week, it would seem my body has some relationship between decreased caffeine intake and weight gain.

So, to recap:  I have cut my caffeine intake, which has led me to take unsatisfactory naps in the afternoon that adversely affect my mood.  I have also hit a record high gut size at 220 pounds.  And I find myself having fantasies about drinking pop. 

This is all very strange, and puts me in a mind to drink more coffee, some diet Coke, and maybe a few diet pills for good measure.

Or, maybe all these incremental weight gains relate to the fact that I have not changed my exercise or eating habits for ten years, and as I get older I need to adjust.

I guess what I’m saying is that trying to cut the cups of joe have caused greater introspection for me in terms of getting older, and health, and weight.  I don’t know exactly how connected all these are to my caffeine addiction, but I guess I might as well keep up the quitting experiment, to see what life looks like on the other side.  I’ll either grow to feel better, and healthier, or I’ll come running back to my mornings of that hot drug on which I have come dependent.

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librariangrrl says:
20 Jul 2008  at  01:50 pm | #

Ha!

I know all about “very unsatisfactory naps that make me angry when I awake”.

Since caffeine is a stimulant I would think that it may have something to do with speeding up your metabolism… Or in your case, slowing it down a bit.  Perhaps it is also worth noting that caffeine is a key ingredient in most diet pills. I’m not sure what (if any) effect caffeine has on one’s metabolism, but I assume it probably plays some sort of role.

Maybe the next time you are gripped with the urge to take a nap, you should do the opposite.

Fight the urge and go for a brisk walk, or a a jog (I’d suggest yoga and meditation as well--but I think ‘baby steps’ are in order in this situation). 

Exercise is one of the best ways to cut you irritation in half, lift your mood, increase your energy, AND lose some weight. Even if you have to MAKE yourself do it, you will find that once it becomes a habit, it is something can’t live without…

If you’re going to be addicted to something, it might as well be a healthy something, right?

says:
20 Jul 2008  at  07:26 pm | #

Exercising has always been the easiest thing to quit.  I used to run.  Did that for months upon months.  But I got bored seeing the same sights over and over.  Then I took up biking since it seemed “faster.” Once my range increased, I’d bike to particular places—until I just realized that driving was so much easier.

I never had withdrawal.

Jones says:
23 Jul 2008  at  08:19 pm | #

It generally takes a good 2 weeks to get settled in with a lifestyle change. In the meantime, some people go through varying degrees of agony.

Afternoon naps, while sometimes give one a restful pick-me-up, it might not be a good idea if you’re attempting to lose some poundage. Diet pills, “stay awake” tablets, etc., generally have a generous portion of caffeine in them.

If you don’t want to exercise, which is a very good thing, boring or not, you might want to see a Dietitian or a Nutritionist to help you select food & drink options. A cool glass of water is very refreshing.  A squeeze of lemon in the water is a pleasant wake up.

You might want to gradually cut back on the coffee. Over a span of 3-4 months, I was able to work myself to a 1PM cutoff for coffee. I slept better, more refreshed when the alarm goes off at 4:30-5 AM, everything changed for improvement. Now, it’s 3 cups (think cup & saucer here)well before 12 Noon & I’m finished. I’ve had enough. Don’t be fooled by diet drinks & decaf coffee.  In some products, there are trace amounts of caffeine. Gulping colas & other sodas aren’t a good option, either.  Adds to the girth bloat tremendously.

Yeah, it’s all tough & rough.  Eating nourishing foods. Drinking to cleanse, purify & hydrate your system, exercise to stay fit & in form. It’s your call. Do you want to see your kids grow up & be success stories, or do you want to drop dead in front of them at an early age from a massive heart attack? You make that decision.

Salvia Divinorum says:
15 Aug 2008  at  01:50 pm | #

Caffeine addiction is something I’ve struggled with as well. In the news recently there was a study about how much redbull increases your chances of a heart attack. I’m taking it as a sign I need to stop drinking it(I drink 4 large cans a day) but man...it’s hard.

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