Is there no hope for me?
I started on a diet March 5th weighing in at 488 pounds. I went on a 1200 calorie diet and taking diet pills. On April 5th I weighed in at 455 pounds. Yes, over 30 pounds lost. Then I stopped losing. I decided to listen to everyone about my body in starvation mode and joined ww. There I was told to eat 44 points which amounts to about 2200 calories. I "gained" 10 pounds in 7 days. I can't exercise because of my weight and my knees and legs.
Now I am totally confused as to how many calories I really should eat. I would like to lose about 8 pounds a month.
Is there no hope for me???? I am desparate beyond belief!!
You were on a deprivation diet at 1200 calories. It wasn't enough to maintain a proper energy level. Your body has been starving and now it is saving as much as it can to prepare for hard times. At 488lbs you are expending so much energy that you must have been eating at muscle to maintain energy and that would also contribute to a big weight loss as muscle weighs more.
continue to eat the proper amount of calories with only a 500-900 calorie deficit and you will eventually go back to losing weight. Dont be discouraged. Your body is trying to make things right again. Eventually you will start losing again.
You can also start doing exercise while sitting in a chair. There are video tapes that you can get which will show you what to do. Look them up on Amazon. You must clear this exercise with you doctor of course.
Of course there is hope for you!! Please don't give up. Have you spoken to a doctor about what would be appropiate caloric intake? How long did you stop losing for? Maybe your body just needed a bit to re-equilibriate if that's a word. (NOTE I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL) I have heard that doctors will put people on low calorie diets and monitor them when their weight is more of an issue than the ill effects of such a diet. Have you asked?
So stick with the amount you've been advised to eat. Try to eat regularly, starting with a good breakfast so that you get a good stream of energy throughout the day. And try to choose healthy, wholesome foods so that your 2200 is as nourishing and satisfying as possible.
Be as mobile as you possibly can within your limitations. Even if you sit in a chair swinging your legs and waving your arms... Ok you might want to shut the curtains :-) ... but it's all helping you burn cals. Swimming is very supportive and low impact. Is that an option?
BTW Have you consulted a doctor before starting this diet? You may be able to get some dietician support and good advice there. Best of luck and don't despair. Take it steady.
I'm no Doctor, but don't give up! Perhaps you can see a nutrionist or your normal Doc and ask for help from some medical professionals as far as what to eat/ how much, etc?
Good Luck, keep positive (I know, easier typed than done.)
if you were in starvation mode then you will gain weight coming out of it..because thats what starvation mode IS. Once your body gets used to eating more calories then it will let you lose weight again. 1 week isn't enough to see a loss from where you started. Make sure you are actually counting your calories accurately and wait a bit longer! Don't give up
http://www.amazon.com/Sit-Tight-Richard-Simmo ns/dp/B00008DDG9
this is a link to a video richard simmons has out that is a work-out in a chair!
Thanks for the info..
Believe it or not, a doctor put me on the 1200 calories. But after the first initial 30 pounds, I stopped losing and I hadn't changed my diet at all. That's when I upped my calories to 2200 and within 7 days had gained 10 pounds. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Original Post by piano_lady:
Believe it or not, a doctor put me on the 1200 calories. But after the first initial 30 pounds, I stopped losing and I hadn't changed my diet at all. That's when I upped my calories to 2200 and within 7 days had gained 10 pounds. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
I know it flies in the face of everything CC, but doctors will put you on a low calorie diet if the risks of the low cal diet outweigh the risks of your current weight. How long were you stuck at the 30lb loss?
thanks all!!
I'll keep you posted..
I started all this on March 5th at 488 lbs. April 5th I weighed 455. Three weeks after April 5th I had not lost an ouce so I started doing ww. That was last Thursday 4/24/08. Today I weighed, 1 week being on ww and I had gained 10 pounds. My feet are swollen back up and I can feel the weight back on me. It was very disheartening to say the least..
Please talk to your doctor. I know everyone screams "STARVATION MODE" around here, but your case is different. Again, NOT A DOCTOR, but I would assume you just hit a nasty little plateau
PianoLady;
Take a look at this link, it helped me alot when I was was trying to break a 6 + month plateau, yes 6 months. But eating to lose weight does work. I'm finally getting close to goal and still eat 1700 calories a day. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/core_march_8. htm Take a look and see if this helps with the patience. Weight loss is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change. We didn't gain this weight 30# at a time, and most of us won't lose it that fast either. It takes a 3500 calorie deficit to lose 1# of fat, when we have huge losses it usually is a high amount of water. That's why when you gained the 10# back your legs began to swell again. That's also where most people notice a significant fluid retention.
Please hang in there. You have a good start and a lot of support here at CC. Also, Weight Watchers is a very good program, I lost my first 50# a year ago on ww.
Leslie
Yes, don't lose hope! Even though you gained 10, you have to say to yourself that you have actually lost 20 net, that is a good start.
I cant see your height, so took a stab in the dark at say 5'5", using a real basic calculation, your caloric maintenance level is about 3500 calories and to lose weight at a good pace, you should be between 2700 and 3100 per day (this drops to between 2400 and 2800 at around 400 lbs and keep dropping the band by around 300 cals for every 50 lb down).
The above is just based on the regular math, so may not be right for your case, but could give you an idea.
At WW, they should help you, but where your meals are not from them, the focus for your food should not solely be the calories, but also try to go with food that is as natural and unprocessed as possible.
You can do it! Good luck
ww told me the same thing everyone else is telling me. But when I started gaining weight from the 2200 calories I was eating, I decided it just had to be too much food. I don't know if ww have nutritionist that actually tell you what your calorie count should be or if it is just universal for everyone based on your weight and height. So I am going to keep it between 1200 and 2000, not to go under 1200. After a month, surely something should happen. I sure hope so..
Hang in there! I have done WW a total of three times and it works every time. Anytime I start to slip, I go back to the basics that I learned through that program. I am using calorie counter now but still use the healthy eating tips I learned at WW. I am a big propponent of the program and lost 25 lbs in about 4 months the last time I did it. It is not a fast program but it works. Plus going to the meetings really helped. It was a great support system just as this website is starting to be. Plus, people who are at the meeting can share tricks of the trade and recipes which is always nice to change things up and spice up your diet with a little variety. I would stick to the 2200 calories or whatever Points that amounts to. Give it time, that water weight will come off. The site that lonestar posted was right on and a good read. (Thanks Lonestar!)
Good luck and stick to it!
It took me a full 3 months to recover from my own mistake of trying to eat as little as possible. I kept under 1200 calories, not knowing that this was counterproductive, and I was desparate. My new friends here on CC set me straight. At first I didn't believe them, but finally consulted a nutritionist and was surprised she agreed.
I gained back 8 of the 30 pounds I lost by eating 2000 calories a day (I weighed about 200 pounds then). My weight leveled off and the nutritionist began to cut 100 calories a week until I started to lose a pound a week again at 1400 calories. I lost a total of 40 pounds, and am now maintaining and preparing to lose another 40.
You have to go through this recovery period. By the way, I did it with no exercise at all since I have severe medical problems.
Weight Watchers is a good program, but watch out for undereating. You'll find your correct level sooner or later and you'll be able to lose the weight.
Here's some inspiration for you from a past thread: Have you lost 100 lbs?
Are you drinking enough water? The fact that you said you're swollen and can "feel the weight" sounds like you may be bloated from water retention. I try to drink at least a gallon a day, and when I don't get my gallon in, I can feel the retention... So try a gallon to 1 1/2 gallons a day and you will drop that water weight. Also watch your carb (especially sugar) intake - I was stuck for a while, too, and cut carbs way down with the exception of one day a week.. and dropped the body fat a lot quicker!!!
Please don't give up!!!! To lose 30 pounds in one month is a HUGE start. Don't worry about the gain - look at it as temporary and just a set back, not a failure!!!
