I think I may need help

ArleneSchrader1

I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis and diabetes type 2. I am not a candidate for weight loss surgery, so my doctor started me on Contrave.
Because of my illnesses and diets, I need to follow I am struggling to get up to 1200 calories a day. I have almost no cravings when I eat I get fuller faster and stay full longer. Exercise leaves me with a bigger deficit. Any suggestions?

HeidiCooksSupper

Ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietition (not a "nutritionist") to make sure you are maintaining a diet that will improve your health while you lose the weight.

I just looked up Contrave. It's a combination of bupropion (an anti-depressant) and naltrexone (an anti-addiction drug) and is the latest on only three drugs to be approved for weight loss by the FDA. Since it is a psychotropic drug rather than a form of speed, it shouldn't have the same cardiac and addictive dangers as the others. Only you can tell over tiem whether it works for you as intended and if the effects of it on you are worth it. I've taken bupropion (and fluoxetine) for years for depression and it certainly works for me but I had friends for whom it was not the right thing.

If the Contrave depresses your appetite too much, preventing you from eating enough to stay healthy, then you'll want to talk to the doctor about changing either the dose or switching to something else. I know with some of these drugs you shouldn't just stop cold turkey or you will get some weird side effects to make sure to talk to the doctor first if you decide you need to change what or how much you are taking.

My doctor has always told me my liver numbers were off and he repeatedly asked if I were drinking booze (I don't) and he has me on metformin for Type II diabetes. I've lost 30ish pounds since June and just saw him yesterday. He said my liver numbers were "perfect" and he was pleased to see my a1c go down to 6.0. I still have over 100 pounds to lose but clearly weight loss is having the desired effect.

Good luck to you!

CarvedTones

Interesting info on Contrave. I currently take bupropion (wellbutrin) and I definitely have the diminished appetite listed as a possible side effect. It has been my secret weapon in weight loss, though I need to eat at a healthy level more consistently.

RodaRose

Please check with a registered dietician. Here are some calorie dense foods:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1

wrote:

avocado
cheese
full fat dairy
Greek yogurt
ice cream
peanut butter (or other nut butters)
dark chocolate
less lean cuts of meat (including beef, pork, sausage, etc.)
seeds (chia, flax, sunflower, etc.)
nuts
olive oil
coconut oil
butter
beans and lentils
protein shakes, bars, and smoothies
hummus
beef jerky
cornbread
tuna
full calorie condiments
full calorie sauces & dressings
sour cream
guacamole
whole grain pasta
rice
bacon
whole eggs
quinoa
fruit and fruit juices
pretzels
bananas
scones
muffins (bran, blueberry, banana nut, etc.)
potatoes (sweet, red, gold, purple, white, etc.)
dried fruit (raisins, apricots, plums, dates, etc.)
granola
coconut
salmon
edamame
olives
honey
molasses

kommodevaran

If you're taking an appetite suppressant and it works "too well", you need to lower the dose or cut it out. But you also need to make sure you aren't eating more than you think - this is where "log correctly" comes in - or that you're not just in the "honeymoon phase" when eating almost nothing feels great, until everything starts to fall apart. If you're overweight, clearly you can eat a lot more than 1200 calories. You may have to stick to a certain diet for your illnesses, but there are no special foods to eat or avoid for weight loss.

ArleneSchrader1

I wanted to clear up something my nutritionist is a registered dietician, sometimes I forget to make the distinction.

ArleneSchrader1

Saw the doctor she said I needed more exercise too, so we are lowering dosage. And changing things around