Eating better, Feeling worse
PositivelyFlawed
Posts: 316 Member
I was venting to my MFP pals and thought I'd see if anyone else has experienced this. I'm on day 66. I've been eating better, I haven't been perfect, but by FAR better. I move more, not as much as I would like because I don't feel great and I've been drinking more water than I ever have. Yet i still wake up most mornings feeling headachey (a highly technical term :P), lethargic, sometimes foggy headed and nauseous.
I should also add that BP was 110/70 and cholesterol was in normal range.
I had some bloodwork done which did show I was pre-diabetic (not a shocker, but also not high enough to be the cause of how i feel), low but not deficient iron and B12. Overall the doctor didn't have anything to offer since I was already eating better and taking vitamins. Blood counts all fineBeen facing this for the last month or so and some days are worse than others, but i'm just friggin fed up.
The whole point of changing my life is to feel better, but yet somehow I felt better before.
Has anyone else been through this struggle? Is it that I didn't have the expectation of feeling well before and thus didn't notice I felt like crap and now that I expect to feel better because I have healthier habits it's more noticeable?
I'm at a loss and it sure does make it easier to make excuses...
ETA: I've lost 26 lbs since starting MFP in Jan. 2015 and am 46lbs down in total from my highest weight in Nov.2014
I've also, as frightening as it is, made my diary public in the hopes it might help.
I should also add that BP was 110/70 and cholesterol was in normal range.
I had some bloodwork done which did show I was pre-diabetic (not a shocker, but also not high enough to be the cause of how i feel), low but not deficient iron and B12. Overall the doctor didn't have anything to offer since I was already eating better and taking vitamins. Blood counts all fineBeen facing this for the last month or so and some days are worse than others, but i'm just friggin fed up.
The whole point of changing my life is to feel better, but yet somehow I felt better before.
Has anyone else been through this struggle? Is it that I didn't have the expectation of feeling well before and thus didn't notice I felt like crap and now that I expect to feel better because I have healthier habits it's more noticeable?
I'm at a loss and it sure does make it easier to make excuses...
ETA: I've lost 26 lbs since starting MFP in Jan. 2015 and am 46lbs down in total from my highest weight in Nov.2014
I've also, as frightening as it is, made my diary public in the hopes it might help.
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Replies
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Maybe it is when/how you're eating rather than what?I know that, for me anyway, eating multiple small meals a day only left me hungry, irritable, angry, and just all around feeling bad all day long. I switched to 2 large meals a day, and I feel wonderful! Just 2 cents from a relative newbie to MFP, but sometimes you have to go against what seems logical to find what works.0
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Something along those lines could be true.
I generally eat a bit lighter in the day and have a larger dinner. Breakfast/lunch might average 350 calories and then dinner is a bit larger, altho sometimes i get hungry and have a mid morning snack. Maybe if i balance things out a bit better. Perhaps maybe eating so heavily for dinner is affecting how i feel the next day since dinner isn't usually until 6pm and bed is around 10. I know timed eating is a myth, but perhaps there is something to it for me since i have a slightly impaired insulin function.0 -
I also asked the doctor if more low carb might benefit how i feel and he said he didn't think so but offered me a card for a dietician.0
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Hi! Good for you for making the progress you've achieved so far! If your water count is accurate (I only looked at a few days in your diary) you might be dehydrated...if you're not drinking additional fluids on top of the water. When I don't drink enough, I feel headachey, lethargic and tired...foggy, like what you're describing. If I drink a giant glass of water, I suddenly feel much better. I wonder drinking more water might help?0
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So, I don't know if this will be helpful or not.. but.....
About 2 years ago I was at the doctor's office trying to find out what this pain was that I was having. Fast forward, at the end of the appt she says to me "so how have you been feeling otherwise?" Out of total reflex I said "good.. otherwise I feel fine". It was a weird moment though because (stay with me here) I kind of felt like I was standing outside of myself hearing me say it, and I knew it was a total lie....
My point? My point is that I had for years totally convinced myself that I felt fine and things were well. Once I started to try to get my health on track I started to really pay attention to my body, how it felt, what it wanted, etc. And that was very, very revealing. I started to really notice all the things that I needed to address. So in essence, I felt worse before I felt better.... does that make sense at all?
I have no idea if that is what is happening to you. It could be sleep (or lack of it). I was snoring like a freight train and had sleep apnea, and I felt like total death in the AM (headaches, body aches, fatigue, etc). That eventually took care of itself but not before I had lost a significant amount of weight and started exercising a little more regularly.
Also - I just checked out your diary. Maybe keep an eye on your sodium? When I get too much I feel like complete crap for the next couple of days.
Anyway, I'm rambling now. Trying to help though...
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If I worked your loss out correctly you have lost an average of 2.75lbs per week since Jan? That is pretty aggressive and may be too fast for your system. Maybe set your goals to lose 1lb a week for a few weeks and see how you feel? Also keep hydrated and get enough sleep. Good luck.0
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I would second that you need more fluids. Your sodium is over--sometimes highly, everyday. That means water retention and that might be causing a bloated feeling. It's easy to check. Just cut down on your sodium for a couple of days and drink alot of water. If it resolves your problem, that was it. You're doing great with your weight loss. Don't give up, since this is surely a resolvable problem. Good luck. 0
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Thank you for the input thus far.
Futuresize8 - I'm terrible at rememebering to log my water count, but always drink 3 17 oz water bottles full at work plus green tea and other fluids. On weekends i'm less good with hydration. i will try to log my water more consistently as I go to make sure I'm hitting the targets.
ewhip17 - Thanks for sharing your experience. This is kinda what I was considering. When we're overweight and eating unhealthily we tend to want to convince ourselves it's ok because we're still functional and "healthy". Now that I'm actually healthy I can really feel that I'm not Ok. So definitely something to consider.
juleszephyr- Thanks for your input My MFP is currently set to 1.5lbs/week sedentary. I think a good chunk of the initial loss has been water weight as there has only been minimal inches lost. But that is certainly something to consider. Considering your input I am wondering if maybe I need to set my overall activity level from sedentary to the next one (w/e that is). I do walk a lot at work and am active with household things at home so perhaps sedentary isn't really accurate? A little afraid to increase and stop losing as in the last months my losses have been quite small (about .5lbs lbs a week). Another thing to consider for sure. Thank you!
sleep could be an issue. I generally get about 7 hours, but to get more I'd be sacrificing my post child free time and time with the hubster, which is VERY valuable.0 -
sleep could be an issue. I generally get about 7 hours, but to get more I'd be sacrificing my post child free time and time with the hubster, which is VERY valuable.
Yep I hear you there. I was getting about the same but the quality of those 7 hours was really poor. Just something to think about.
Regardless, you are doing a great job so keep it up. It's totally worth it.0 -
First off congrats on losing that much weight so far! My only suggestion would be to keep pushing through. I don't know about the feeling better before because honestly when I eat poorly I feel it. Don't get me wrong it tastes amazing! But then I beat myself up over it or my body rebels and I am bloated and crabby for a few days.
I wouldn't worry to much about getting more sleep, unless like mentioned above the quality of that sleep is poor, because like you said missing out on you time or you and hubby time will definitely effect how your feeling. My only suggestion would be water or maybe taking a daily multivitamin if you don't already. That could be something to try and see if it helps.0 -
sleep could be an issue. I generally get about 7 hours, but to get more I'd be sacrificing my post child free time and time with the hubster, which is VERY valuable.
Yep I hear you there. I was getting about the same but the quality of those 7 hours was really poor. Just something to think about.
Regardless, you are doing a great job so keep it up. It's totally worth it.
There are thoughts that it is better to wake according to your sleep cycles which are 1.5 hrs long. Maybe try to get to sleep 30 min earlier so you get 7.5 hrs of sleep or stay up an hour later so you get 6 hrs.
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When you say that your B12 was "low" what do you mean? I try to keep my B12 above 400 pg/ml (serum) and that's a struggle. Low B12 causes sleep problems, numb limbs, nausea, and a host of other stupid little symptoms including rapid weight loss. If your B12 numbers are in normal range but low on the American scale (The "normal range" scale for other countries like Japan are MUCH HIGHER than the American one.), you might want to consider supplementing B12 and folate (needed for proper processing of B12) specifically. It is a water soluble vitamin, like C, so you won't overdose on it - your largest risk is expensive pee.0
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B12 was 111 picomol/L - i could do the conversion but it's too much math for 10am, lol
107-111pmol is borderline with under 107 being deficient. So close. I'm going to be starting b12 injections again to get the level up0 -
Oh, dear god, yes. If you're that close to the bottom of the range, get yourself supplemented. Do you have pernicious anemia? Numbers that low would COMPLETELY explain why you feel crappy. When I was at 168pg/ml (Normal range 210-910pg/ml) I couldn't feel my legs, I was barely eating because I was nauseous ALL THE TIME, and I couldn't stay asleep no matter how exhausted I was. You poor thing!0
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My doctor is putting me on b12 asap. I was on a daily 1000mcg b12, but I have a medical condition that doesn't allow for proper nutrient absorption during flares, so sometimes I do run deficient. I am hoping to feel improvement SOON!0
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Took me a couple of weeks, but shots helped IMMENSELY. Stay on top of your B12 numbers! Neuropathy of the limbs brought on by b12 insufficiency can become permanent if you ignore it for too long. Hope you feel better soon!0
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Congrats on your progress and all your hard work!!! The other thing to consider is whether you are losing electrolytes that need to be replenished...chocolate milk or coconut water are great options 0
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You seem to be saving most of your calories for the evening. My mother is diabetic and must eat about the same number of calories at each meal to feel her best. Try spreading your calories more evenly through out the day and see if that helps.0
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I agree with this post. You've lost a ton of weight really fast, which probably makes you feel better in the cosmetic sense, but your body might be revolting. I've been there and trust me, its a recipe for failure (not to mention unnecessary fights with your husband because your blood sugar is so low you're growing horns!) Slow it down a bit. Even by increasing your caloric intake by 400-500 calories a day you will still be losing 1.5 lbs or so per week. Good luck and feel better!juleszephyr wrote: »If I worked your loss out correctly you have lost an average of 2.75lbs per week since Jan? That is pretty aggressive and may be too fast for your system. Maybe set your goals to lose 1lb a week for a few weeks and see how you feel? Also keep hydrated and get enough sleep. Good luck.
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Can you change your columns so that one shows fat and not just saturated fat? I am curious to see how much fat you are eating each day.0
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If her B12 levels have been as low as they were on her last test for a while, she'd still be dropping weight, even if she wasn't watching what she was eating. When my B12 levels dipped, I lost 23 lbs in two months without deliberately dieting. The nausea gets that bad.
That being said, once your B12 levels are healthier, OP, your weight loss may slow down for a while, but don't let that discourage you from eating healthy. You should start to feel better, though, so that will help bouy you on your journey!0 -
millermkarate - Electrolytes were fine in the bloodwork, but i am mindful of it because of a dehydration fainting issue at the gym 2 years ago
Lizzy - I don't really try to save them, busy work day means quick lunches and stuff that is easily grab and go, whereas dinner is always far more complex. I do realize i should try to balance things better. Working on it
Ness - I have made no attempt to lose more than 1.5lbs per week. I have no interest in losing fast weight and being left with a lot of sagging skin. I was 5'4" 320 in Nov 2014 when i started to eat a bit less but not really completely nutritionally sound. In Jan 2015 i made the pledge to eat healthy and am now at 285.6 as of this morning. Looks like my math was off lol. So it's been 35 lbs in 5 months.
jemhh - I don't track healthy fats as i don't eat low fat and cook with EVOO. I'm aware but not concerned with it, I am more worried about saturated fats and trans fats (which are always 0 so i stopped tracking lol) because of a family history of high cholesterol.
Elizabeth - yes, i am hoping to feel better soon and would prefer to lose weight with hard work and healthy eating and not a medical condition so I am fine if it slows down some
thank you for all the feedback!0 -
I don't know if you'd be willing to try, but I was just diagnosed IR and started taking metformin. All the symptoms you have are what sent me to the dr and now that I am taking the metformin I have so much more energy.0
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jemhh - I don't track healthy fats as i don't eat low fat and cook with EVOO. I'm aware but not concerned with it, I am more worried about saturated fats and trans fats (which are always 0 so i stopped tracking lol) because of a family history of high cholesterol.
My concern is more about you not eating enough fat, not that you are eating too much. Fat is important for our bodies (fat soluble vitamins cannot be absorbed without it.) It's often demonized and avoided but people who think they are doing a good thing by eating very little. Sounds like that's not your issue though.
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I don't have any medical issues behind it, but I digest slowly. I've been trying to bank my calories for the weekend with my boyfriend, but I've noticed that I'm uncomfortable and tired for a couple hours after these meals. I just had a gastric emptying test a few weeks ago, and they gave me half a radioactive egg salad sandwich, then told me to lie down. It seemed like a tiny amount of food, but the test came back normal. Over 10 years ago I did a barium swallow 10 hours after a large, but healthy meal, and it was still in my stomach.
I've been saving for large meals my entire adult life because "I like to eat." I've had gastritis ever since I was 20, and was finally officially diagnosed last week. My blood counts are all out of whack due to many medical problems, but there are some things I can fix. I just have to sacrifice a few extra ounces of meat in exchange for a snack at another time.
You're doing awesome making changes to get this far. It just need some more tweaking. If you can see a dietician and bring them the suggestions you got here, it'll be even easier to make it through this bump.0 -
I don't see anywhere where you said how many calories you're taking in every day. It is possible that is too little, hence the grogginess.0
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jemhh - I don't track healthy fats as i don't eat low fat and cook with EVOO. I'm aware but not concerned with it, I am more worried about saturated fats and trans fats (which are always 0 so i stopped tracking lol) because of a family history of high cholesterol.
My concern is more about you not eating enough fat, not that you are eating too much. Fat is important for our bodies (fat soluble vitamins cannot be absorbed without it.) It's often demonized and avoided but people who think they are doing a good thing by eating very little. Sounds like that's not your issue though.
I do appreciate it. I did take a look to make sure but I am always +/- 5g of the fat goal
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_dracarys_ wrote: »I don't see anywhere where you said how many calories you're taking in every day. It is possible that is too little, hence the grogginess.
MFP has me at 1740 and during the week i usually hit within +/- 100 and on weekends i seem to be a bit over. i probabaly would say avg 1850ish.
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kjflaherty wrote: »I don't know if you'd be willing to try, but I was just diagnosed IR and started taking metformin. All the symptoms you have are what sent me to the dr and now that I am taking the metformin I have so much more energy.
This is something I am looking into because my bloodworkshowed prediabietic. Right now the focus is on getting away from that prediabetes range with healthy diet and excercise to avoid medication. When I was healthier my insulin worked fine. So definitely something i have in mind. Thank you 0
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