A Child Can Ask Questions That a Wise Man Cannot Answer…

30 Oct

When I was little, until around 10 years old or so, I had nose bleeds almost everyday. I had a birth defect that made my nose do something strange. The truth is I never knew why, the doctors never knew why. I am not talking a little blood on the tip of a tissue here. I am talking massive soaking on multiple tissues. The docs said that I had to “let it come out”, that it was so much and that “something” was draining so I couldn’t “clog” it. So every day I would usually sit at a toilet for a hour and just let it drain, drip by drip, until done.

My teachers understood the “let it drain” aspect of it, however, every once in a while a “new adult” would come around and be in the presence of these gushers. They would proceed to try and tilt my head back to stop it from flowing out. I would fight them and tell them, while almost dying and choking, that “it has to drain!” They would never believe me until another adult came along and said that what I was saying was correct. By that time my Punky Brewster shoes were covered and I was a pissed off little kid.

I believe this was one of the beginning reasons as to why I grew up thinking that adults were stupid and that I was smarter than they were. It also instilled to me that authority and social proof were more important that the common sense teachings of a child. It was then I knew that I was on my own and left to fend for myself. When I would get a nose bleed around strangers I would take off running, not out of embarrassment like they must have thought, but out of protection of their stupidity.

Fast forward to now…

Now when I go to the doctor office for something (rare and only if really really needed) they hurt me, usually don’t know what they are doing, and still will not listen to the common sense of the person who “lacks a clear authority.” Let me state here and now, that this is why I am who I am and I do what I do. I do not like to think that I have to depend on uneducated person to help me help myself. When at all possible I try to answer my own questions. When at all possible I “run” from the stranger that is trying to fix a problem the wrong way that I know how to fix the right way. It is NOT being cocky, it is self preservation. It is NOT being paranoid, it is being educated. With that being said, not everyone has the time or the ability to do that.

No problem, allow me please.

I will do the best I can to be an “authority” that listens to what you have to say. I will do the best I can to be a “leader” that guides you to the answer and how to find it, not just expect you to believe me. I will do the best I can to not be that stupid substitute teacher that tried to hold my head upside down as I was telling her the answer to my problem. Keep sending in your questions, the “doctor” is in.

Episode 16: I Found Leigh On the Fitcast

1- Hila

Hi Leigh!

I had visited your website after hearing you on the FitCast podcasts, I love listening to you. You talk so clearly and to the point, and obviously know what you’re doing. You have a fan from Israel :)

I have a question for you, I’m a female, 23 years old, and after a ~100 pound lost. (If you want to check me out these are my progress pics: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Hilush/more.php?section=progresspics)
I’ve read Alan’s Girth Control, Tom’s Burn the fat, endless articles and forums and I’ve never read anything related to the hormonal aspect of weight loss for women, it has been mostly about deficits and other thermodynamics laws. My period has been very unstable since the weight loss, and tends to disappear for months then suddenly come back. According to my blood tests only, my doctor said I have PCOS (or PCO) and I should take birth control pills. She said this has nothing to do with my weight loss and that it is a born syndrome with no real cure. I am very concerned about this issue since I’m afraid I somehow messed up with my female hormones!

Do you know of any relation between PCO appearing after a big weight loss? Could the loss of period be caused by anything else besides PCO? I’m not a doctor but my blood test kind of seems alright to me and I suspect it is just the doctor’s default answer to period being irregular… My weight loss was done through a pretty drastic deficit, combined with resistance training and cardio.

Do any of your books talk about hormones issues? I’d definitely buy a book that’d shed some light over this topic I really agree with your realistic approach to fat loss and how you emphasize the body & mind connection in the process, oh and your videos are priceless, you always make me laugh :)

Waiting to hear your advice,
Thanks!
Hila.

2- Fred

Hi,

I have been listening to the fitcast and you seem to be up on nutrition, duhh, I have a question that has been bugging me.

Although I am not vegetarian I have been interested in varying my protein sources but combining protein chains for veggie sources is perplexing me, as you will see below.

I am looking into combining grain/nut/legume into full branch chains for protein. I have found loads of combinations (lentils and oats is my favorite at the moment, ends up like a savory pottage). However vegetarian websites don’t seem to mention if you sum the protein from each source or divide. To clarify here’s an example:

Total Protein (read from nutritional info on packets):

(A)
100g lentils + 50g oats = 26g + 6g = 32g protein

(B)
100g lentils + 50g oats = 6 + 6 = 12g protein

(C)
100g lentils + 50g oats = 6/2 + 6/2 = 6g protein

As you can see option (A) assumes that the amino acids to combine to create a larger more complete chain so you get more protein. Option (B) assumes that since the Oats only have 6g protein only 6g of protein can be utilized from the lentils to create a larger chain. Option (C) assumes that rather summation the aminos “interweave” so in fact you only get 6g of “full” protein.

I am not a veggie. I normally have 1-2 scopes of whey, 1 fish, and 1 chicken/mince portion a day so I am getting full branch chains elsewhere. I was just wondering how to process vegetarian combinations.

Thanks

(Edit for Fred-Check out Lyle’s Protein Book Here, If Desire to Order Click on Book To Purchase)

3- Diana

Hi Leigh,

It’s possible I may need some modifications during the re-feed (diabetes). I can handle insulin adjustments and sugars just fine but would prefer to set it up in such a way as to avoid wild swings if possible as then I just feel like crap. Anyway I would love your thoughts on that rather than me just winging it myself. On the other hand it’s just one day so maybe just leave well enough alone. And I perfectly understand just fine if you don’t want to get into it being as this is a medical condition we’re talking about here.

Thanks
Diana

4- Hot Rox

Good Morning Leigh,

Just want to say first and foremost keep up the great work! I finally bought your book The Fat Loss Troubleshoot and have already skimmed over most of it :) An audio version would be a great compliment to it. It would be great for people such as myself who have the attention span of a circus monkey and would benefit from listening either on the job or at the gym. Your awesome personality during your audio works make it enjoyable to listen to, and learn a great deal at the same time, you sound like a person that would be fun to throw back some beers with.

But this message isn’t entirely intended to kiss your ass, but you do deserve some major kudos.

Quick update
Male
27 years
5′6″
130.8 lbs lost since 3/5/07
Currently about 174 lbs
Omron handheld bf% mid 16’s through October measured first thing in morning

Not happy with the way the skin situation looking.

Yes I feel great, and I’m doing all kinds of nifty little things I couldn’t do before such as a pull up and now 20 push ups! I really love the physical aspect, and new found confidence in my physical abilities and I look good in clothes

Alas…Seeing myself naked is something that happens on a daily basis, and it is something I think about every day, as I slowly run out of bodyfat to train off.

Frankly the thought of invasive surgery and anesthesia scare the shit out of me. I briefly recall heard something about the anti-aging crowd using HGH to look younger or something along those lines, maybe even Testosterone. Maybe you know someone via your connections that might have experience with this taboo subject?

I want to reinforce that I’m not looking for a quick fix. Diet and exercise has been my staple and I pride myself and transforming with hard work, and the couple uses of Hot Rox extreme. I’m just a pussy when it comes to having pieces of me cut off and removed :)

15 Responses

  1. ETANA FINKLER says:

    Episode 16: I Found Leigh On the Fitcast: I get error message when trying to hear podcast.
    Etana

  2. krispy1138 says:

    I just wanted to comment on Hila’s before and after pictures – what an amazing transformation!!

  3. Cheryl says:

    Agreed! Hila you look amazing! Leigh what a horrible story about your nose bleeds. I have never had a nose bleed but my sister used to get them some times. Just like you she always let it drain over the toilet. So where can we submit questions to “Doctor” Leigh? :)

  4. Julie says:

    ITA … really amazing transformation!!

  5. Amber says:

    Cheryl you can submit them in the contact sheet http://avidityfitness.net/contact

    Leigh I love this post. This is exactly why I really love your blog and your information. You never settle for just an answer, it has to be the right answer.

    Thanks for working so hard to help all of us :)

  6. Hila says:

    THANK YOU SO MUCH for answering my question in such great detail!
    and also for all the compliments,
    much appreciated , I’m smiling from ear to ear :)

  7. Jim says:

    Hila, WOW!!! That is amazing!! Congrats…

  8. Hila Wow what amazing results and obvious dedication. Congratulations!

    Leigh you are such a “bad ass” :) Great post, thank you for always striving to be better, because it only helps the rest of us.

  9. Sinead says:

    Leigh, i’m reading and typing with one eye open because of migrane that has sidelined me all day, so ignore any typos (and feel free to offer me some solutions for fixing this since I can’t take migrane meds while preggo!). at any rate, i sympathtize with you and the nose bleed thing. I was 25 when I started having pain in my feet and joints, and I went to 9 drs (some of whom wanted to do things like exploratory surgery, etc.) until I found one who looked at me and within 5 min of walking into his office stated clearly that I had a form of arthritis and that he believed that it was treatable. I believe in educating yourself so that you know what you’re getting into. A patient must have as much knowledge as possible because patients are the only ones who know all of the connecting factors (whether they realize that they know those factors or not). I also believe in finding good doctors–ones who listen and talk openly with patients; ones who will listen to concerns and will be willing to work with if you have concerns about a particular protocol. Those doctors can be hard to find, but once you do, they are more than worth the effort!

  10. Cynthia says:

    This post resonates with me as well. When I was in like 6th grade or so, I’d run and then one of my ankles would just collapse and I’d be fallen on the ground suddenly. It always happened suddenly… and I never knew when it might. The doctors never did figure it out. Their solution was “Don’t run for six months.”.

    I wasn’t very happy with that at the time, it was the ONE year I actually had some coordination and was able to hit the softball with the bat. I ended up partnering with a gal who normally was very good at bat, but was having a bad year. She could run though! The other team didn’t like us much… we made a pretty good pair with me batting and her running.

    Anyway, I don’t tend to trust doctors any too far.

  11. Sinead says:

    I finallly got to listen to this podcast–it’s a great one!

    and now I’m excited about a surprise! :)

  12. Leigh Peele says:

    Yeah Sinead there are great doctors out there. There are great people in every field. Just got to find them and believe in your own need to deserve them. It is sad that some just think it is the best they should get.

  13. Fred says:

    Equally:

    A)
    HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF OMG Hila that is a massive change. Absolute 100% brownie points to you. You have completely broken the mould with your loss. You are an inspiration to everyone.

    B)
    Thanks Leigh for answering. I appreciate it was a rather a winding question. I shall take a look at that Protein Book. It was mainly due to how I would process the summation in software like Fitday, probably should have said. My “weird” language is probably because I was trying hard to clearly explain what was going through my mind and also maybe the fact that I come from the UK. My carbs come from a variety (ie what’s cheapest pasta/rice/oats) and fruit (bananas and apples). Also taking about 90g of fish oil a day. Whilst doing Rippetoe’s SS. Also starting to go with 1tsp of Turmeric a day.

    I like being “anal” with food and such mainly because at the moment I am waking up at about 0630 going to the gym at 0700 and probably leaving at 0900, incl changing and showering. If I am “pissing in the wind” for 2hours and 30minutes early in the morning I am not going to be a happy bunny. I am also training to become a rowing coach so advising my athletes on what to have in terms of nutrition is important to me as I want to get them to have maximum benefit of their workouts.

    PS Of course I know what get my “bro” on is ….LOL :D

    PPS I am now a subscriber to you podcast.

  14. Sara says:

    Yay, someone asked about PCOS before I did, thanks for covering it!

    Dude, I had Punky Brewster shoes too! High tops with velcro. I thought they were the shit.

  15. Anna says:

    Yeah, I’m a long-time vegan and most vegans I know are vegan for ethical reasons… so many are not concerned with health. Glad you said you can be very healthy as a vegan, though, because you certainly can be. I got much healthier since I started investigating nutrition for the first time when I went in that direction. And I enjoy my nearly 100% whole food vegan diet, so it’s working very well for me in the health sense. Not sure about protein needing to be so high… but certainly it’s more of an issue on a low calorie diet.

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The Fat Loss Troubleshooter – Leigh Peele

Common Sense Meets Advanced Knowledge