Side Effects (Rant)

All_The_Bacon · November 2017

First off, let me say that I am glad I finally got my act together and lost the weight. I am now very comfortably at the mid-point of my healthy BMI range, and overall I feel better than I did before I went through this process.

BUT

I am so so so very frustrated with the side effects that just seem to be getting worse even though I have shifted into maintenance and am eating a healthy number of calories every day. My hair has thinned dramatically, and I can now see a big slice of my scalp at the part. This is very alarming, and nothing I seem to do (vitamins, massages, special shampoos) is helping. My nails are super thin and brittle, when they have always been nice and strong. I have to keep them trimmed very short now or they will crack. And on top of it all, I am cold ALL THE TIME. In a hotel room last week where I could finally have control of the thermostat, I had to turn it up to 78 degrees to even feel comfortable. I realize that I've shed a nice insulating layer, but how long do I have to wait for my body to adjust? This is ridiculous and there's no way I'm going to survive the winter without losing my mind if I don't figure out how to cope.

I'm supposed to be healthier at this weight than at my heavier weight, but it seems like my body is just freaking out and I want it to stop. Anyway, just needed to let that out. End of rant.

corporatelawmom · November 2017

Have you had your thyroid levels checked? Several of those symptoms (including the hair loss / nails / body temperature) can be caused by your thyroid levels being off.

cs2thecox · November 2017

Yeah, it's time to ask a doctor about it...
There may well be something going on that we're totally not equipped to advise on!

Also, if you were in a massive deficit for a significant period of time, then this can have those kinds of effects on hair and nails. It takes a while to show up, so could have appeared once you've reached goal weight. For sure get your nutrient profiles checked to see you're not deficient in anything important!

kommodevaran · November 2017

You didn't as k, but no, I haven't had any of those symptoms, something is off! Ill or malnourished - see a doctor

Unknown · November 2017

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heybales · November 2017

Just curious how fast did you get the weight lost per week?

More at start and less at end purposely by eating more - or ate a same low amount supposedly big deficit, but it became less at end?

Body finds a way to adapt to what it sees as extreme.
Vitamin/mineral deficiency certainly could be one reason - but same delayed effects of too caloric deficient can hit your body too eventually.

Sometimes difficult to hit recovery on any of those deficiencies.

Also, it could easily be you are eating at suppressed maintenance and therefore not gaining/losing weight - but body is still stressed out in that state.

ZoneFive · November 2017

@heybales What is suppressed maintenance? I've heard that term before, along with suppressed TDEE, but I don't understand what either of those are.

pookiefatcat · November 2017

Same here. Hair falling out, cold all the time. Have an appointment with my Dr. for Wednesday.
I lost 75lbs in 11 months, and am just working on finding my maintenance point.

heybales · November 2017

ZoneFive wrote: »

@heybales What is suppressed maintenance? I've heard that term before, along with suppressed TDEE, but I don't understand what either of those are.

The fact the body will adapt to what it considers extreme diet - length of time to get there and amount of deficit can vary depending on genetics and how stressed out body is already.

Adaptive Thermogenesis.

Means the body is burning less daily than it potentially could by several mechanisms. (Potential TDEE or maintenance)

This is above and beyond lowering of TDEE because of hauling around less weight and eating less, and moving less in general.

Since TDEE is what you burn daily with all movement considered - it is maintenance.

Study showing it happen http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/heybales/view/reduced-metabolism-tdee-beyond-expected-from-weight-loss-616251

Jthanmyfitnesspal · November 2017

Yes, I get cold more easily now that I'm thinner. I wear a lot of sweaters.

But: I also warm up faster when I exercise. My wife likes to walk a lot slower than me. On cold days, I jog in place next to her to keep warm. It works!

squatsnotsquat · November 2017

To everything people already said here I'd add that you may not be getting enough healthy fats or protein in your diet. It's possible to lose weight or think you're eating healthy on a diet that's actually very nutritionally deficient--make sure you're eating high amounts of real vegetables & whole foods rather than just fluffy nutrition-less starch and sugar with a health food label. Make sure you're not relying just on supplements to get the nutrition you need since they sometimes can't be absorbed very well anyway. Eat lots of fish, nuts, & collagen, that may help especially with your hair and nails. The fact that you're cold all the time could mean you're iron deficient, so get your red meat and your dark leafy greens in there. But a doctor and blood work can tell you what's causing any of this better than we can.

Rachelmilloy · November 2017

What you said definitely resonated with me... I've been on MFP since 2012: lost a lot in 2012/2013, yoyo'd with a partial regain for several years, and then slowly whittled my way down to goal weight this past year. At all my annual check-ups my doctor has been in awe of my test results. Again last summer I complained of hair loss and being cold, specifically asking, was it a thyroid problem... Reynaud's syndrome??? He attributes the hair loss to menopause. And said my thyroid levels were all "beautiful". I live in Canada and am surrounded with ice and snow at this time of year...and I usually walk to and from the gym which is 40 minutes away. Sometimes when I come home at night, hungry and chilled to the bone, I hardly have the patience to finish my dinner I am so anxious to experience the bliss of a piping hot bath!!!

But do I ever have a (literally) hot tip for you about dealing with "The Chills". Just recently I ordered a Sunbeam electric throw for about $70 from Walmart and my only regret is that I didn't acquire one years ago - it is too wonderful for words and saves me from having to resort to a hot bath. I got a velvety soft plush one in a beige colour - love it!!!!!

SezxyStef · November 2017

JerSchmare wrote: »

Those are symptoms of malnourishment. Or, maybe a thyroid issue.

these are also side effects of birth control....

I had the same thing a couple of summers ago...I am not malnourished...it was my BC.

DISCIPLINEEQUALSFREEDOM · November 2017

I too get cold easier, I just drop and do 50 pushups until I'm warm.

fiddletime · November 2017

I was constantly cold and started adding hot sauce and spices to foods. I also avoided foods like yogurt and other foods that seemed to make me colder. Has been night and day difference since I implemented the changes 2 years ago. I’m never cold now.