Libido and weight loss

Out of curiosity, and yes I am aware that this is TMI, but could my dead libido be caused by my weight loss? And when I say dead....I mean DEAD. Flatlined.........

i find that mines gone up since losing weight.

If you're keeping a deficit it could be a lack of energy.   What are your stats?  Age, weight, gender, on BC?

I am not sure, but I will tell you that the same thing happened to me after I lost weight.  I was fine before I lost weight.  My BMI was 18-19 when experiencing the problem.

It could definitely be related.  I find that the fewer calories I eat, the less interested I am in... life.  Seriously, I used to stay at 1200 flat, and I was NOT someone you wanted to be around.  Now, in the 1300-1700 range, I'm a very nice person.

At the risk of being controversial let me give you my $.02. 

Although energy plays a role in libido, I find that with women it is not the physical energy but rather the emotional energy that pumps up the libido. Perhaps try a belly dancing class, or zumba, or even a pole dancing class...Im betting that the libido will be boosted when you feel sexier to yourself.

i think it depends really on your weight loss.  at first i felt more confident and was more into it, if you get what i mean.  but as i developed my ed and dropped lots of weight i knew my husband was not attracted to me by that pt,  but that was not the main pt.  i had no energy for it and was too obsessed with what to eat to concentrate on him or any other activities.  i did not see this then cause my ed had made my mind screwy, but since recovering i find this was the problem.  still on days when my ed is giving me troubles, most days i cannot think or be interested in sex.

Oh man.....I'm always thinking about food. Adding the calories in my head to see what I can snack on.

I'm 33, 62.5 in, weighing between 98 and 100 depending on the clothes I wear. No BC- tubes are tied. I exercise every night and try to keep my calories between 1200 and 1300. I started losing weight in Jan and had lost about 30 lbs. For the past month I have just been maintaining.

I've noticed that I've become a real b**tch lately. I'm really irritable, depressed, and have no interest in any relations. I've pushed my poor-yet patient- BF away and avoided seeing him for the past several weeks. If he even touches me, I move away from him. I was chalking this up to stress but the only thing that has really changed was my weight loss. I do take belly dancing classes. And it's not that I don't feel attractive, but my time does revolve around food and exercise. I just wasn't sure if I was going crazy or if maybe my weight loss had something to do with it.

I suspect that much of it has to do with both your calorie intake and your weight.  98-100 is at the lower end of healthy for your height which may be messing with your hormonal balance.  Trust me, 33 is the time in your life when you should be highly interested.

On the calories intake 1200-1300 with exercise is low.  Try aiming for 1400-1500 or even 1500-1800 as 5 more pounds might make a significant difference.  See how that changes things for you.  One you should have a bit more energy and two you'll have room for an occasional treat or glass of wine with the bf.

I might have to agree with smwhipple here.  In fact, before reading her post I was just going to say that before I came to CC I tried dieting too strictly.  I'd cut my calories too drastically and after about a month of that, my body started to feel the pain.  I started having a hard time sleeping, and my libido fell so far, it ended up in the basement.

This might or might not be your problem, but I think it might be worth trying smwhipple's suggestion.

I think it varies from person to person.  I have a dangerously high sex drive and it has only gotten higher since I started to diet.. but I know people whose sex drives really go down when they lose weight.

hey,

since you say that you are moody and snappy, by any chance are you following a low-carbohydrate diet?  This is known to be one of the side effects.  Try eating carbs at every meal or snack (good carbs like fruits, vegetables, whole grains. )  I recently skimmed this book called the Good Mood Diet.  The author has a list of things she calls "Feel Great Foods."  It's not revolutionary-- they are just good foods anyway.  But try them, they could improve your mood (maybe your sex drive too?)-- they include spinach, oranges, strawberries, bananas, whole grains, eggs, skim milk, chocolate (she recommends hot cocoa made from skim milk and natural dark cocoa powder every night), lean protein, whey powder, and fish. 

Also make sure you are eating enough not to have a vitamin deficiency.  Make sure you're getting enough B vitamins, Vitamin D (I've heard 90% of people have a deficiency), calcium, and omega-3s.  Take supplements if necessary.

Also, make sure to have some fat, something like olive oil.  (Maybe sautee some veggies or something.)  It curbs the appetite and improves mood.  Also really good are nuts and nut butters.  They will also make you feel so decadent, even though they are good for you, and that will improve your mood :)

If you are thinking of food and excercise too much, maybe shift your focus to preparing healthy meals and enjoying them. Instead of thinking of what you can't eat, think of what you can and how good it will taste.  Maybe make a really nice, healthy meal for the BF as a goodwill gesture?  Random suggestion-- slice up sweet potatoes thin and then bake them.  It takes maybe 10-15 minutes and they taste *so good*-- they get all crinkly crunchy on the edges and sweet in the middle.  And they are very good for you!

My libido was shot too a few months ago.  Partly I was depressed and that was why.  When I made dietary changes it started to get better.  Not sure that's 100% why, but it could help. 

Please, go see a physician.  There is something not right.  I have a sister with an eating disorder.  Please go to a doctor.

Ok, let me tell you, you don't need to go to a doctor thats rubbish, but if your weight is low or you are on a calorie deficit, then that is very likely the reason.  I am a recovering anorexic and my weight fell very low and I lost all interest in sex/the opposite gender.  As I have started eating more and gaining weight back, it is slowly returning.  In this case I suggest you up your calories a bit and see where that takes you.  Meddling with this can be dangerous if you arn't handling the situation.  Women need to be a certain weight/ fat percentage for our hormones and nether regions to work properly so if it is too low then it stops workin altogether.

Our sex drive is driven by our hormones- both estrogen and testosterone.  In perimenopause - the ten or so years beofre menopause- these can fluctuate widely. You can get them easily tested with a saliva test.  If the low libido persists a simple test will tell you if you are deficient and a good gynecologist can guide you in replacement.   

maybe it is what you are eating.

as you are eating less, you might not be getting all the vitamins you need.

make sure you eat properly and healthily.

maybe multivitamins will help.

Zinc is good for the libido, make sure you have enough :)

and if you are not eating enough, you wont have any energy, you wont want to either =)

just my 2 pence.

I agree with seeing a doctor - there may be an underlying cause you are not aware of and a referral to a dietitian to ensure you are getting sufficient nutrition may well be wise.  As other people have advised, poor nutrition can cause these symptoms, and if they crept up on you over time that may indicate depletion of those nutrients that take time to accumulate in the body, like in nuts, fish oils, seeds. 

teck5168 - how can you say seeing a doctor is rubbish? I'm actually shocked at that!  And concerned.  In my case, with similar symptoms at a similar age, and putting how bad I felt down to stress and insomnia, a colleague strongly advised me to get my blood pressure checked (he'd recognised the symptoms from when his father got ill).  I was never a fan of going to a doctor myself, so that guy saved me from heart attack or stroke for sure.  I had to be medicated to control it and it's probably no coincidence that it developed after months of stress (a known cause and effect of the condition).  When my b.p.'s not under control, even if I just forget my pill for one day, I get really irritable and grumpy, everything is too much trouble (so forget sex) and I can't sleep - then the headache and whooshing in my ears reminds me what I've done!  In 2 years with my flatmate the only time we argued was nearly 24 hours after I forgot my b.p. pill!   No coincidence.   Please don't advise people not to see a doctor!!

Sorry to be so long winded, but ensuring you get the right nutrition and seeking medical advice in case of some unknown other cause are both advisable. 

my entire exsistance is revolves around eating and exercise and then my job...sex is the last thing on my mind if it is ever on my mind. I wish I had something in the way of sexual desire.

Original Post by teck5168:

Ok, let me tell you, you don't need to go to a doctor thats rubbish,

This is not helpful or even a polite thing to say. There are definitely times when a doctors advice is necessary. A low libido can be a symptom of several different problems, and if a person is unable to find the cause or solve the problem by adjusting diet/sleep patterns/weight, then a visit to the doctor is definitely in order.

Calling someones opinion rubbish has no place on this board. State your own opinion (and like elbows, we all have 'em), but do it nicely and without disparaging some one else's opinion, ok?

Original Post by teck5168:

Ok, let me tell you, you don't need to go to a doctor thats rubbish, but if your weight is low or you are on a calorie deficit, then that is very likely the reason.  I am a recovering anorexic and my weight fell very low and I lost all interest in sex/the opposite gender.  As I have started eating more and gaining weight back, it is slowly returning.  In this case I suggest you up your calories a bit and see where that takes you.  Meddling with this can be dangerous if you arn't handling the situation.  Women need to be a certain weight/ fat percentage for our hormones and nether regions to work properly so if it is too low then it stops workin altogether.

I can't believe you would tell her that advice to see a doctor is rubbish, and then in the same paragraph talk about your anorexia and tell her how possibly dangerous her situation is.  What are you thinking!?!?!?!?!

@sullysbunny -- Sorry, honey, but I remember responding to some of your posts from not very far back when you were 103.  You're down below 100 now and things seem to be getting worse for you.  I really do think you may need help.  I know you're not some teenage girl, but that doesn't mean you don't have a problem. 

62.5 inches is 5'2.5" right?  I know everybody's body is different, but 98-100 pounds seems a bit low, even at your height.  I also agree with smwhipple to up the calories a bit. 

What made you decide that this was the weight that you wanted to maintain?  I know you said that you feel attractive at this weight, but maybe your body just isn't meant to sustain such a low weight. Diet and exercise should be a part of your life, not you WHOLE life.

While a doctor may be a good idea, I think what's even more important is to talk to your boyfriend about how you're feeling.  You say he's patient (and I am assuming that the reason you're pushing him away isn't because of anything he's done) so if he cares about you he'll be supportive.