Underweight Waiver

josieallred

Midshipman Candidate- NAPS
Joined
Mar 22, 2021
Messages
15
I got a notification that I was a couple pounds underweight for DODMERB and would require my physician to test me for ED/metabolic issues. Normally I’m 125 and 5’8 but at the place I did my physical it said I was 122. I was just wondering if this is a common thing or if I wouldn’t be able to get it waivered. Otherwise all healthy. I know I’m gonna have to work hard to put the weight on if I get in but running track makes it hard to gain a lot.
 
I won't remark on whether it is normal or not since I have no idea but I can definitely relate to being on the low side of the weight spectrum. As a 4-season runner with upwards of 50+ miles a week plus weight training I was burning a lot more calories than normal people consume.

Here are some of suggestions for weight gaining as a (Distance) runner:

1) have a GIANT breakfast. I'm talking 6 big pancakes, multiple sausages, at least 4 eggs, multiple glasses of milk or high calorie drink, yogurt, fruit, peanut butter toast. Empty your pantry every morning for breakfast if you need to. As runners, it's hard to have a big lunch since you have to practice a few hours later and eating a big dinner may or may not work for you depending on how late you eat and how long after your run so you must have a HUGE breakfast. If you are in school and can't get up to make a big breakfast everyday prepare some slow cooked oatmeal the night before and add peanut butter, bananas, granola etc. to make it more dense and calorie packed and eat that with a peanut butter bagel and yogurt.

2) If your lunch is early enough and your stomach can muster a medium sized lunch all at once, then do that. If not, snack during your classes. Buy some high calorie protein bars and eat a couple of those during class then for lunch have a normal lunch or whatever you usually do - *Don't mess around with lunch and eating before training unless it's a pretty low-key day and you can afford to have an upset stomach*

3) WITHIN 20-30 MINUTES AFTER your workout have an apple and peanut butter or a peanut butter sandwich and a protein shake or another bar of some kind to immediately get calories in afterwards. This helps not only with recovery, but also will help you to eat a bigger meal later if you aren't able to have dinner right after your run. IF you are able to have dinner within 30 minutes, then have a big dinner with lots of protein and carbs (and some greens too so you don't get scurvy) IF not, then just have dinner at your normal time and have the post-workout snack as I mentioned earlier in the bullet.

4) Before bed have a pint of Ben and Jerry's or some equally dense ice-cream. Your coach may not like it but if you are training hard and doing everything else right, as a high school male (I'm assuming) with high metabolism you'll be okay. I would limit having a pint to 3-4 days a week but I went a whole 2 months (Early October- Early December) having a pint a day and still did well in my XC and track seasons (4:30 mile).

Eating is very personalized. I know guys who could have a medium Big Mac meal and Coke 30 minutes before a 2 mile race then run sub 9:40 and others who would be in the port-a-johns for 40 minutes if they ate anything within 3 hours of the race. Find something that works for you and stick with it. Find food that you like which is dense in calories and eat a lot of it. The idea is to eat more calories than you are burning and this can be achieved through a variety of methods.

But all in all, I don't think it is a major problem since most runners are in the same boat and your doc should be able to sign off and say it isn't due to some ED.
 
I won't remark on whether it is normal or not since I have no idea but I can definitely relate to being on the low side of the weight spectrum. As a 4-season runner with upwards of 50+ miles a week plus weight training I was burning a lot more calories than normal people consume.

Here are some of suggestions for weight gaining as a (Distance) runner:

1) have a GIANT breakfast. I'm talking 6 big pancakes, multiple sausages, at least 4 eggs, multiple glasses of milk or high calorie drink, yogurt, fruit, peanut butter toast. Empty your pantry every morning for breakfast if you need to. As runners, it's hard to have a big lunch since you have to practice a few hours later and eating a big dinner may or may not work for you depending on how late you eat and how long after your run so you must have a HUGE breakfast. If you are in school and can't get up to make a big breakfast everyday prepare some slow cooked oatmeal the night before and add peanut butter, bananas, granola etc. to make it more dense and calorie packed and eat that with a peanut butter bagel and yogurt.

2) If your lunch is early enough and your stomach can muster a medium sized lunch all at once, then do that. If not, snack during your classes. Buy some high calorie protein bars and eat a couple of those during class then for lunch have a normal lunch or whatever you usually do - *Don't mess around with lunch and eating before training unless it's a pretty low-key day and you can afford to have an upset stomach*

3) WITHIN 20-30 MINUTES AFTER your workout have an apple and peanut butter or a peanut butter sandwich and a protein shake or another bar of some kind to immediately get calories in afterwards. This helps not only with recovery, but also will help you to eat a bigger meal later if you aren't able to have dinner right after your run. IF you are able to have dinner within 30 minutes, then have a big dinner with lots of protein and carbs (and some greens too so you don't get scurvy) IF not, then just have dinner at your normal time and have the post-workout snack as I mentioned earlier in the bullet.

4) Before bed have a pint of Ben and Jerry's or some equally dense ice-cream. Your coach may not like it but if you are training hard and doing everything else right, as a high school male (I'm assuming) with high metabolism you'll be okay. I would limit having a pint to 3-4 days a week but I went a whole 2 months (Early October- Early December) having a pint a day and still did well in my XC and track seasons (4:30 mile).

Eating is very personalized. I know guys who could have a medium Big Mac meal and Coke 30 minutes before a 2 mile race then run sub 9:40 and others who would be in the port-a-johns for 40 minutes if they ate anything within 3 hours of the race. Find something that works for you and stick with it. Find food that you like which is dense in calories and eat a lot of it. The idea is to eat more calories than you are burning and this can be achieved through a variety of methods.

But all in all, I don't think it is a major problem since most runners are in the same boat and your doc should be able to sign off and say it isn't due to some ED.
Thanks for the tips. I haven’t heard a lot of those, so they’re really helpful. I’m definitely gonna keep these in mind. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble getting my doctor to verify that I don’t have any issues. To be honest, I’m pretty sure I’ll weigh in @ my doctors and I’ll be 125 (the minimum for my height) and I won’t have any issues passing. I really need to gain though to be healthy for the military
 
I got a notification that I was a couple pounds underweight for DODMERB and would require my physician to test me for ED/metabolic issues. Normally I’m 125 and 5’8 but at the place I did my physical it said I was 122. I was just wondering if this is a common thing or if I wouldn’t be able to get it waivered. Otherwise all healthy. I know I’m gonna have to work hard to put the weight on if I get in but running track makes it hard to gain a lot.
My DS got the same because of his sport and weight classes. He needed dr info saying he does not have eating disorders, diabetes etc. That he kept his weight low because of his sports etc
He was just a couple pounds under and .5 bmi below.
 
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