At what point do you ask for medical help to lose weight?

FiberousJ

I'm not trying to make any excuses. I have lost weight over the last year, but for the amount of exercise I do, things just don't add up. I've also been significantly reducing calories. I feel like even 4 hours a day of hard exercise will do minimal for me at this point. I've been doing close to that amount for a while. I just know something doesn't feel right. I could be wrong, but there's something inside telling me something is wrong.

When I was younger and I worked out, I could feel fat coming off of my body. What I mean is that I could actually feel my belly going down while doing workouts. Whereas nowadays when I workout, I almost feel like my stomach is just trying to store what it can, just feel bloated. I'm also taking Alli and a ton of fiber supplements to help me feel more full and eat less. Yes, it makes me eat less but not much happens. So I feel like I'm running out of ideas.

If I had to eat 800 calories a day plus 2 hours of exercise, I would do it. The only problem is that I would get too hungry. But if I didn't have any hunger, I'd just do whatever it took. I'm starting to lose confidence, even though I have to work out 2 to 3 hours a day at least, or my body doesn't feel right.

PAV8888

How over-fat are you? BMI will do as a first approximation, or actual numbers (age, height, weight, m/f). Do you strength train or mainly engage in aerobic exercise? What kind?
How much weight are you trying to lose and what kind of daily deficit are you targeting?
Excessively over-exercising and excessively under-eating, especially when both are done at the same time, rarely works out well.

hipari

Usually the answer to your question ”at what point do you ask for medical help” is ”when you start wondering when to ask”.

Consulting with a doctor doesn’t necessarily lead to weight loss medication or surgery or anything radical. They’re likely going to check your bloodwork to make sure there aren’t any underlying conditions like thyroid issues that make weight loss extra difficult. Depending on where your issues lie, they might refer you to a registered dietician to get professional help with your diet, or a psychologist to get professional help with your relationship with food.

If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong with you, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and get it checked. If you can afford it, do it.

yirara

When I was younger and I worked out, I could feel fat coming off of my body. What I mean is that I could actually feel my belly going down while doing workouts. Whereas nowadays when I workout, I almost feel like my stomach is just trying to store what it can, just feel bloated

First of all: you don't lose weight in the short period of working out. Weight loss happens continuously over long periods of time. What likely happened is that you lost a bit of bloat. And bloat is not body fat. Please don't worry about things that have nothing to do with weight loss. If you feel you get bloated then run a food diary and note down when the bloating happens, then see if eliminating some of these foods for 2 weeks or so helps.

About weight loss: how precise is your logging? do you use a food scale for everything you eat, and do you make sure the database entries match the calories on the package? How much weight do you have to lose? How long do you try before you give up? Snacking or cheat days? Is it all accounted for?

snowflake954

You said you're taking a lot of fiber supplements. That would probably cause the bloating. Many people want to go back to losing weight "like they did when they were younger", and then they are disappointed. There are so many threads with this theme. You start where you are now, get a digital food scale and start weighing and measuring everything you eat and drink. That's basic to have you learn portion sizes of different foods. Perhaps you are already doing this--you don't say.

Instead of supplements eat fruit and vegetables. If you are taking supplements because you don't like fr + veg, then take a minimal amount of supplements and start experimenting with veggies. The real thing will fill you up and help your weight loss.

Exercising is always a good thing to do, but don't overdo in the beginning. Take things slower, a little more patience, and learn as you go. Think of what you're doing. Can you do this for the rest of your life? You've already realized that you can't. So, develop a way of eating and exercising that you can do long term, without too much suffering. He wins who eats the most and still loses. You can do it. Good luck.

cmriverside

I would say go now IF you are using this site the way it's intended to be used and you've not lost weight in a month. It never hurts to get checked out if you're worried and if you've been consistent with your efforts. Take your food diaries with you to the doctor.



So:

What is your age/gender/weight/current goal ("lose 2 pounds a week"?) and calorie goal? Do you work or go to school? Care for kids? How much exercise do you get and how are you accounting for that calorie expenditure.

Are you logging every meal? Using a food scale?


Are...wait, here:

ninerbuff

Uh dump the Alli. Number one, it only absorbs about 25% of the fat you consume. Number two, it DOESN'T DISTINGUISH between good and bad fat. Which means if you're losing GOOD ESSENTIAL FAT to it, you're nutritionally screwing yourself. If you're bloated, it's because of the fiber supplements.
My opinion so far is that you're trying for TOO EXTREME weight loss and not following nutritional guidelines with calories and macronutrients. You need to fix that first. Next YOU NEED PATIENCE. 3rd don't buy that Xbar 3.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

FiberousJ

yirara wrote: »

When I was younger and I worked out, I could feel fat coming off of my body. What I mean is that I could actually feel my belly going down while doing workouts. Whereas nowadays when I workout, I almost feel like my stomach is just trying to store what it can, just feel bloated

First of all: you don't lose weight in the short period of working out. Weight loss happens continuously over long periods of time. What likely happened is that you lost a bit of bloat. And bloat is not body fat. Please don't worry about things that have nothing to do with weight loss. If you feel you get bloated then run a food diary and note down when the bloating happens, then see if eliminating some of these foods for 2 weeks or so helps.

About weight loss: how precise is your logging? do you use a food scale for everything you eat, and do you make sure the database entries match the calories on the package? How much weight do you have to lose? How long do you try before you give up? Snacking or cheat days? Is it all accounted for?

Well, I used to actually feel my stomach shrinking during my workouts. I could just feel it. As far as exercise, I do 2-5 hours, but I don't feel right if I don't get in at least an hour and a half of cardio, just to feel normal. I don't even account for it as far as calories anymore. Of course, it makes me slightly hungrier, but I try my best to not go over 2,500. I used to eat more than that because again I did get a big hungry. But with the fiber supplements, I am snacking much less. I try to eat slowly as well and yes I do eat veggies. In the day I get around 1000 calories and then another 1500 later on. I could be off by a little, but I don't know how you can explain how the 3 hours of exercise aren't helping at least some. I don't exercise to lose but if I don't exercise, I will gain weight.

I don't really like to talk about weight, but I'm probably more than 50 pounds more than what I need to be ideal. I have a muscular, stocky, broad frame like a Mike Tyson. My stomach does not stick out, however. But there is still a lot of improvement needed.

Other details? I drink an awful lot of water but I sweat very immensely and make puddles sometimes. Probably go to the bathroom 10-15 times per day.

corinasue1143

FiberousJ

corinasue1143 wrote: »

Yes, this is true too. Both can be true. It doesn't mean I'm making stuff up. You can be insecure about having muscle weight, while at the same time knowing you need to take off both fat and weight.

janejellyroll

FiberousJ wrote: »

yirara wrote: »

When I was younger and I worked out, I could feel fat coming off of my body. What I mean is that I could actually feel my belly going down while doing workouts. Whereas nowadays when I workout, I almost feel like my stomach is just trying to store what it can, just feel bloated

First of all: you don't lose weight in the short period of working out. Weight loss happens continuously over long periods of time. What likely happened is that you lost a bit of bloat. And bloat is not body fat. Please don't worry about things that have nothing to do with weight loss. If you feel you get bloated then run a food diary and note down when the bloating happens, then see if eliminating some of these foods for 2 weeks or so helps.

About weight loss: how precise is your logging? do you use a food scale for everything you eat, and do you make sure the database entries match the calories on the package? How much weight do you have to lose? How long do you try before you give up? Snacking or cheat days? Is it all accounted for?

Well, I used to actually feel my stomach shrinking during my workouts. I could just feel it. As far as exercise, I do 2-5 hours, but I don't feel right if I don't get in at least an hour and a half of cardio, just to feel normal. I don't even account for it as far as calories anymore. Of course, it makes me slightly hungrier, but I try my best to not go over 2,500. I used to eat more than that because again I did get a big hungry. But with the fiber supplements, I am snacking much less. I try to eat slowly as well and yes I do eat veggies. In the day I get around 1000 calories and then another 1500 later on. I could be off by a little, but I don't know how you can explain how the 3 hours of exercise aren't helping at least some. I don't exercise to lose but if I don't exercise, I will gain weight.

I don't really like to talk about weight, but I'm probably more than 50 pounds more than what I need to be ideal. I have a muscular, stocky, broad frame like a Mike Tyson. My stomach does not stick out, however. But there is still a lot of improvement needed.

Other details? I drink an awful lot of water but I sweat very immensely and make puddles sometimes. Probably go to the bathroom 10-15 times per day.

Here's my POV: exercise and fitness should be enhancing your life and wellbeing. If you're at the point where you feel like you need ninety minutes of cardio a day "just to feel normal," it sounds like there's an imbalance. I'm a cardio enthusiast and I still have rest days and times when I prioritize other types of fun and fitness. 2-5 hours a day of exercise is absolutely to the point where it seems like the balance has shifted.

Your question shouldn't be "at what point do I need medical help to lose weight?" It should be more like "what do I need to do in order to help exercise find a healthy, balanced place in my lifestyle?"

neanderthin

Something isn't adding up as far as weight loss is concerned. Maybe talk to a good trainer or dietitian for some advice.

psychod787

there is never a bad time to ask for medical help. just make sure you pick the right provider.

lorrpb

How are you tracking your calories? Is your diary public so our wise friends here can look at it and share some tips?

PAV8888

OK so you're muscular and don't want to discuss body weight: THIS MAKES SENSE because if you're muscular your body weight will be higher than expected without you being over-fat.

You want to lose 50lbs because you have weight to lose, this may or may not be true and it is not something I/we can opine on without knowing you, so I will accept it as a fact.

You're muscular with 50lbs to lose. You should still be losing it slowly. Neither eating 2500 Cal as a guy and working out 5 hours a day including 1.5 hours of cardio nor eating 1000 Cal a day sounds like losing it slowly.

So let's cut to the chase and I won't go through each point one by one.

You're a smart guy. Taking laxatives and fiber supplements is not the way to manage your weight.
Over-exercising to the future point of injury is not the way to manage your weight. If the injuries haven't happened yet... they will as you age and continue to over-stress your body.

The time to see your doctor... is now.

Ask them to help you finding some BALANCE in your life in regards to food/body/and exercise.

You don't have any right now.

psychod787

Oh *kitten*... after reading this all the way through. Bro get some help! There is no shame in it. What is your height and weight? Age? 4 hrs of cardio a day?!?!?! Taking fiber and laxatives? That *kitten* is just unsustainable in the long run. What makes you think you need 50 more pounds of loss? Put up a picture please. I would also tell you that you might have atypical anorexia. Just remember something. Esthetics mean jack *kitten* *kitten* in the end. Its how healthy you are! Contact me if you would like to talk, but please seek help!

Diatonic12

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/45978038#Comment_45978038

kshama2001

FiberousJ wrote: »

I'm not trying to make any excuses. I have lost weight over the last year, but for the amount of exercise I do, things just don't add up. I've also been significantly reducing calories. I feel like even 4 hours a day of hard exercise will do minimal for me at this point. I've been doing close to that amount for a while. I just know something doesn't feel right. I could be wrong, but there's something inside telling me something is wrong.

When I was younger and I worked out, I could feel fat coming off of my body. What I mean is that I could actually feel my belly going down while doing workouts. Whereas nowadays when I workout, I almost feel like my stomach is just trying to store what it can, just feel bloated. I'm also taking Alli and a ton of fiber supplements to help me feel more full and eat less. Yes, it makes me eat less but not much happens. So I feel like I'm running out of ideas.

If I had to eat 800 calories a day plus 2 hours of exercise, I would do it. The only problem is that I would get too hungry. But if I didn't have any hunger, I'd just do whatever it took. I'm starting to lose confidence, even though I have to work out 2 to 3 hours a day at least, or my body doesn't feel right.

I'm wondering if part of the issue is expectations. Are you using a trending app like Happy Scale? There is lots of valuable information to be had in that.

If you change your Diary Sharing settings to Public we'd be able to offer you targeted advice: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings