Breaking Down . . .

Ashia1317

Ugh. I've been at this for almost three years now, and I've been a part of MFP for about two years. But for some reason, it's just not happening. There's something wrong with me. In the last year I'd lost 10 pounds and then gained it back (plus some!) when I had gone on birth control. I found out that type wasn't for me. So my doctor had switched me now to the pill, I believe a low-dose one. I had lost 4 lbs back in January which in my opinion was all fluid. I've posted before that I think the BC has something to do with all this weight/water. And in my opinion, I feel like I'm mostly water. But in the last 8 months I've lost the 4lbs and gained the 4lbs. It's a constant back and forth.

Just in the last three weeks, my legs have retained so much fluid, if it were air, I'd float away. The doctors can't seem to find anything wrong with me. They prescribed me a water pill. The first night I took it - BAM! 4 lbs came off in one night. By the end of the weekend I was 5 lbs "lighter" and not as swollen in the legs, feet, and hands. Leading me back to my theory of me being all water (plus some fat).

I eat 1200-1500 calories a day (depending on my work outs). I keep fresh fruit and raw veggies in the 'fridge at work and at home. I stay away from soda most the time and rarely drink alcohol. My "diet" consists mostly of home prepared/cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm not perfect, and I don't think anyone is - unless you are allergic or don't like chocolate. I log as much as I can - when I'm able to. I work out 3 to 4 days a week between weight training and cardio which burns 500-700 calories a session. Since July I've been working with a trainer to help switch up my routines. I've done lifting and some boxing. I enjoy it. And I feel better when I'm done. But the end result is still the same -

Lately, I'm barely hungry anymore. I'm so bloated all the time, I'm full. Or feel full. Nothing is happening. And I don't believe it's muscle. I work out and I get bigger. I wake up in the morning and feel great, by lunch time I feel huge and heavy and bloated. I look like I'm 5 months pregnant. (I've been tested, I'm not). The jeans I bought in May barely fit anymore. And it's a little disheartening and discouraging.

Since my last cylce, I have not taken the pill. I'm wondering if my theory is correct.

The worst part: no one wants to listen to me - my doctor, my bf, etc all think it's in my head. I don't know what else to do . . . . .

jrich1

Do you eat your exercise calories, becuase if you eat 1200-1500 cals a day and burn off 500-700 you could be in starvation mode and your body is retaining everything it can get hindering your weight loss

Ashia1317

I eat as many calories as I can consume after my work outs due to my lack of hunger. I'm so bloated I usually have to eat a light dinner just to make myself eat something.

DancingYogini

Well, it sounds like you are making healthy choice, so I am sure it is extremely frustrating for you! How is your water intake? Have you ever been tested for Celiac disease or gluten intolerance? How about any food allergies? I have been eating a lot of fiber lately, actually too much, according to MFP, and I have been more bloated and feeling like I am retaining more water than usual. I know some people have talked about a high fiber diet and bloating correlation. Just some ideas to throw around. Chin up :flowerforyou:

Mindful_Trent

If you generally eat healthy (quality and quantity) and workout regularly but always feeling bloated, maybe you have food sensitivities that you are unaware of? Some people feel this way due to diary or gluten or a whole host of possible food allergies. You can have food sensitivies that aren't life threatening but that make you feel pretty bad! You may want to take a look at your food diary and pick something that is a common source of problems (like dairy or gluten) and see what happens if you cut it out for a week... Just an idea. I think you can also get tested at a doctors office, for a quicker (but more expensive) way to find out if you have any food sensitivities.

Also, make sure you are drinking enough water and eating enough fiber. Both of these help keep your system moving. If you're system is slowed down for whatever reason, it can leave you feeling bloated.

cobygrey

how close are you to your goal weight? You know that last 10 lbs Is really the hardest to lose. If you only keep gaining and losing the same 4 lbs that's not bad at all.

BeautifulScarsWECHANGED

Ok, I have some advice for you. This sounds exactly like my story. Before I became pregnant I wanted to lose 30 lbs but it just wasn’t happening, so I got off my birth control because I’ve ALWAYS had problems with the pill. Tried the rhythm method and before long I was pregnant. :laugh: It’s all good though, my baby boy is my life!

Anyway, after having my son, I didn’t want to go on the pill (ANY pill because they all caused me to gain) but want to wait to have another baby for a few more years yet. I opted for Paragard, a NON-hormonal IUD that prevents pregnancy for up to 10 years. It has been wonderful!! It can be taken out at any time if you do decide you want a child. Of course it’s only good if you’re with the same partner….

Also, may I suggest getting this book called the Fat Flush Plan (Ann Louise Gittleman)? It’s a diet plan that detox’s you and “resets” your body so you can lose weight again. I used it prior to getting pregnant and lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks, and it stayed off. The first few weeks are hard, but soooo worth it. It even fixed my thyroid problem!

Hope this helps, don’t give up!

kristinlough

I'm going to agree with what everyone else has said and add something (unless someone does it while I'm typing!) Add protein to every meal. Especially breakfast. In fact, if you could eat steak and eggs for breakfast with green peppers and asparagus (or something similar, lots of veggies, too), that should help jump start your metabolism in the morning.

I know a lot of people (myself included) especially women, do not have Celiac's, but are gluten sensitive. I was tested and never came up positive, but cutting out the filler gluten in things like dressings, etc. (not necessarily whole wheat bread or cereal for me) really really really helped me with the tummy.

And side note, I've not been on the pill since 2007. My husband complains from time to time, but then I remind him what it was like. It's a personal decision and if it doesn't work for you, don't take it. There are tons of other methods of contraception.

KimSchnizleinWECHANGED

I wish my reply was going to be the end-all answer you're looking for, but I know it's not even close. You may be right about your problem, but if I were you the first thing I would do is get a new Doctor. You are obviously having some medical issues that are contributing to the back-and-forth gains and losses, and the solutions that have been tried aren't consistently working. Losing the weight is important, but the first and foremost important issue is your health! You'll probably find that once this medical issue is truly identified and treated that the weight issue solution will probably just follow naturally.

HeatherMN

I just read an article about severe bloating and feeling full/no appetite all the time could be symptoms of ovarian cancer. I don't mean to scare you, but perhaps you should ask your gyno about being screened for it. By looking at the information you supplied, there doesn't seem to be any reason you wouldn't be seeing results.

Best of luck!

rghanna

I understand your discouragement! And since our systems are all unique, there may not be "the" one answer. It may be a combination of things you can try. I agree with the other comments regarding food allergies and also drinking plenty of water. Although it might seem that drinking a lot of water might make you feel more bloated, it really is needed for your body to function properly, at least 64 oz per day. And for me, drinking at least 16 oz before I go to work, 16 oz at lunch, 16 oz at dinner and the other 16 oz throughout the day makes it more manageable. The other biggie for me personally is my sodium intake. Sodium is definitely NOT my friend! It causes extreme water retention in my body. And it's not just the salt you might add to food or cook with, but the amount of sodium already in the food we purchase. I have learned to look at labels when I shop. There are some prepared foods whose sodium content is outrageous and totally unhealthy! You might want to take a look at that, also. I am certainly no expert, but I have "heard" from some sources that we should limit our total sodium intake to around 300g per day. That number or less has worked for me. I encourage you to ask your doctor for a referral to an allergist to be tested for food allergies and to try to increase your water intake and decrease your sodium intake. Hang in there!

Mindful_Trent

I am certainly no expert, but I have "heard" from some sources that we should limit our total sodium intake to around 300g per day. That number or less has worked for me.

Just a side note, because I was a little alarmed by what you said about sodium. Be careful - sodium is actually a vital ingredient for our body's proper functioning. Everything i've read has given the minimum recommended daily amount as being between 500 to 1500. If you don't get enough sodium it can have serious consequences - fatigue, confusion, headache, muscle cramps, and nausea. Severe sodium imbalance can lead to seizures and coma or death because our body just can't function. This is why people die of too much water - they dilute their bodily fluids to the point where there isn't enough sodium (proportionally) to function.

Ashia1317

I'm on a lower sodium "diet" at the moment until they run more tests due to the swelling. I drink plenty of water, usually 6 - 9 glasses a day. Nothing seems to be helping. I drink it, I retain it. I pee it out, and my pee is clear, but again, there's never relief. I'm constantly bloated.

Fiber, I have been curious and try to get my recommended daily dose and just that. Other than that i get very gassy. LOL!

Food Allergies? The doctor is testing. So far they've come up with nothing. Any allergies have come up as nothing. I have another appointment to help rule some more things out. It's just frustrating. I have expressed the gluten thing to my doctor and even lactose intolerance, but they've ruled that out. (Doesn't mean they're right though)

i appreciate all the comments and suggestions!! Thank you!

islandnutshel

I don't have the answers, but I will say that what is going on sounds medical. When I graduated high school I knew that there was something wrong with me and I sought help through everyone from naturalpathic docs and medical specialists for 15 years. It took me many paths to find out I am celiac. During this time I began to wonder if I was mental. It is such a mind-game that I feel for anyone trying to find answers to there healthy issues. I look back at all the other "diagnosis" and treatments I went through to get here. I lost my gallbladder, I regret that, but now that I have an explanation, and a way to maintain health, I feel empowered and vindicated. I hope you arrive at a conclusion much sooner.