Trying to lose weight awaiting a medical diagnosis

mandy220750

Hi,

Sorry for this long post in advance

I am have been trying to lose weight for a year and a half

Glad to have lost 5 stone so far

Very slow progress since November and now gaining

I am attending Slimming World but havent been for two weeks

I was also doing physio for arthritis and walking.

I am in the middle of a very stressful time I have had a one biopsy for cancer which came back negative but the hospital are not 100% and need to do more tests

Due to a blood clot after the biopsy cannot go through the other tests for 4 weeks

I am very anxious and keep trying to eat healthy but on some days keep binging on bread and carbs

Also I am now unable to exercise

I weighed myself and have put on 7 pounds in two weeks

Can that be right? I have ate a lot on some days but on others ate very little

How can I get back on track.

Feel very down and cannot stop eating or think about eating all the time

Any help would be appreciated.

lorrpb

I'm sorry you are going through this. I don't know how I would handle that. It's good that your doctor wants to investigate thoroughly.
Some things to consider are
Go back to weighing and logging your food today
Don't bring any food into the house you don't want to eat. As odd as it may sound, I like those mall baby carrots because I get the satisfaction of chewing and munching while keeping calories low
Try different kinds of hot or iced tea. They can offer a satisfying taste without calories.

Does the doctor mean "no vigorous exercise" or "no movement"? There's lots of activities on that spectrum.
Take short walks a few times a day if that's allowed, even if it's only 1 block
Look into "sit and be fit" type exercises that are not vigorous. These and walking will give you something else to keep your mind busy and will help you feel better too

Consider a hobby that occupies your hands and your mind like drawing, painting, knitting, beading, woodworking etc. You don't have to be great at it, just have fun and you might find a new passion. You might be able to take an inexpensive class in the community College or parks/recreation system.

Wishing you the best,

Lesscookies12

Hi, congrats on your past weight loss. Sorry about your current medical issues. Are you using a food scale to measure food intake?

AnnPT77

Part of your 7 pounds is likely to be water weight and slightly higher average digestive system contents, not fat. Additional carbs require a little more water weight as they're being metabolized, and that will drop off within a few days of returning to your normal carb level (which needn't be low, BTW, just your normal). The higher digestive system contents will drop off a few days after your eating consistently returns to your previous routine. Then you'll know how much actual gain you have . . . but I'm betting it's not the whole 7 pounds.

I'm a survivor of stage III (locally advanced) breast cancer . . . 17+ years ago. I can understand the anxiety associated with biopsies, tests, waiting for results, etc. It will be hard, but you will get through this.

It's easy to sink into a sense of anxious panic, falling back to frantic pursuit of bad habits that provide a bit of distraction, but no true comfort, because I know at heart that they're not my best self, that they're ultimately working against my interests, my health, my happiness.

This a time to be kind and generous to yourself, to give yourself what you truly most need. Indulge in some activities that usually bring you calm and joy, then let yourself settle comfortably into those positive feelings, and help anxiety slip into the background for a time. It will take effort to do this, but you can. Be firm with yourself, but gentle.

I don't know which specific things work for you, but some that have worked for me are gentle stretching, simple nonreligious meditation (http://www.relaxationresponse.org/steps/ ), aromatherapy bubble baths, being outdoors in a "quiet" place where I can listen to sounds of birds and breezes, comedy movies, time with close friends, phone calls or emails with far away friends/family, visiting gardens (greenhouses/conservatories in winter ) or museums, listening to happy music, diving into neglected hobbies (mostly crafts).

When I was going through treatment, it helped me to think about, even write down or make drawings/collages about things I'm grateful for in my life (fortunately, they don't have to be good collages or drawings - I can even throw therm away after; it's just a way to immediate immerse myself in those thoughts).

There will be bad, panicked moments, maybe some less than ideal actions. It's OK: You're in a difficult place. Just gently, kindly bring yourself back to positive actions as soon as you can manage. You will get through this. I'm hoping for an "all clear" on your tests, but either way you can and will make it through what comes.

((Hugs!))

mandy220750

Thank you so much for your advice everyone.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply

I am trying to be positive and will try my hardest to get back on plan

I have been knitting for charities to take my mind off things.

Because of the clot I cannot do much but a slow walk maybe ok.

Will go back to my Slimming World class in a week and face any gain. I also usually log my calories on MFP to make sure I am not overeating calories.

Learning to face my anxiety without turning to food is difficult. I am a emotional eater and any crisis or problem in my life food has been my comfort. I then regret it the next day. At the moment this is one of the hardest emotional times I have ever faced.

Thank you again. You have helped alot

Lesscookies12

mandy220750 wrote: »

Thank you so much for your advice everyone.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply

I am trying to be positive and will try my hardest to get back on plan

I have been knitting for charities to take my mind off things.

Because of the clot I cannot do much but a slow walk maybe ok.

Will go back to my Slimming World class in a week and face any gain. I also usually log my calories on MFP to make sure I am not overeating calories.

Learning to face my anxiety without turning to food is difficult. I am a emotional eater and any crisis or problem in my life food has been my comfort. I then regret it the next day. At the moment this is one of the hardest emotional times I have ever faced.

Thank you again. You have helped alot

If you really want help the fact you're usually tracking your calories is a reason you're not losing more weight now. You also don't mention if you're using a food scale or not to track your intake. Maybe consider counseling to help yourself with your emotional eating. If you continue with not being honest about your intake work yourself you will be in the same predicament. That's good you're learning to face your anxiety and knitting sounds good.

mandy220750

Yes I usually weigh and track foods.

I know why I am gaining. Its due to eating too much.

Just wanted some advise on how people keep on track when very stressed. Also if its possible to gain 7lbs in two weeks.

lorrpb

mandy220750 wrote: »

Yes I usually weigh and track foods.

I know why I am gaining. Its due to eating too much.

Just wanted some advise on how people keep on track when very stressed. Also if its possible to gain 7lbs in two weeks.

What are your maintenance calories and how many calories have you eaten the last 3 weeks?

concordancia

mandy220750 wrote: »

Yes I usually weigh and track foods.

I know why I am gaining. Its due to eating too much.

Just wanted some advise on how people keep on track when very stressed. Also if its possible to gain 7lbs in two weeks.

I try to find other ways of dealing with the stress: meditation, yoga, a hobby that keeps your mind and/or hands busy...

crackpotbaby

In light of your ongoing health issues and investigations, please mention this weight gain to your treating doctor.

paulandrachelk

Am going thru cancer treatment also. Did some exercise during diagnosis-regular routine but lighter Wts. Lost 25 lbs in process so wt not a problem. Diet a big issue including gall bladder related problems-after 8 months is really improving. Wishing you the best in this fight,

Phaewryn

mandy220750 wrote: »

Because of the clot I cannot do much but a slow walk maybe ok.

Will go back to my Slimming World class in a week and face any gain. I also usually log my calories on MFP to make sure I am not overeating calories.

Please don't do any exercise until your doctor clears it. I personally know someone who died of a blood clot because they were told to "rest and stay off their feet" (due to a broken leg) and they instead went to work. It's very serious. You will eventually be able to recover your diet progress, but not if you're dead from a blood clot! Blood clots can and do kill people.