I really, really need some help.

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Gummi3b34r
Gummi3b34r Posts: 13
in Health and Weight Loss
So, to start off with, I have been battling my weight for years... I use to walk/run 4-6 miles a day, and barley ate anything (not my fault, my parents were drug addicts who never bought food) So what I did get to eat... school lunch... A few years pass by, I try working out, taking vitamins, supplements... replacing my meals with "Vitamin" drinks such as Herbalife... Nothing. So this past year, I went on a vegetarian diet... Almased diet as well.... So I would take Almased in the mornings and for dinner, and have avacado or whatever veggie/fruit for lunch. Well... I did this for three months... Nothing... no weight loss, no inches lost... Well last year, they found a tumor on/near my pituitary... then I went back for another mri 6 months later (after the veggie/almased diet) and apparently the tumor is gone, but my pituitary is a little larger than normal... One doc said I was low on horomones, the other doc said I was okay... I am tempted to post my results in here. So here I am, trying to do this again... This time, I am on a strict regiment of : Wake up, 1 glass of water on empty stomach, 1 cup of green tea, and muscle milk... (Morning) (Mid Morning) snack carrots/apples Lunch some type of vegan meal after lunch snack apple/carrots Dinner some type of vegan meal.... that way I am eating throughout the day... instead of once or twice a day... Nothing seems to be working... what would you guys suggest? Especially if this doesn't work.
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Replies

  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 795 Member
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    Well I would honestly strongly suggest that you stop starving your body... there is likely no way you are getting adequate nutrition eating like that. And it's not your fault. Obviously you were really lacking any kind of healthy role models when you were growing up. So it is totally okay, and in fact awesome, that you are reaching out for help! You are certainly doing better than you were, and you are moving in the right direction. :)

    Now let me throw out a little bit of tough love... judging by your photo, you have a little girl. You need to look that baby girl in the eyes and ask yourself whether you want her to live the way you have, and to look at her body the way you look at yours. Because whether we moms like it or not, our girls watch our every move, and what we do speaks louder than what we say. Do you want her childhood memories to be full of mommy's diet, or do you want her to remember a healthy, happy childhood with a mom setting an awesome example of how to live that healthy, happy life?

    Hang in there... you're on the right track. But the words "strict regimen" don't generally fit very well with a mom's real life, and can lead to an unhealthy focus on arbitrary rules, and a loss of perspective.

    Just $0.02 from another mom. :)
  • happysquidmuffin
    happysquidmuffin Posts: 651 Member
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    It doesn't sound like you grew up with a very healthy relationship with food. :(
    Could you possibly elaborate more? As in, are you trying to gain or lose?
    From what it sounds like I think you're trying to lose now, but it's really unclear. It sounds to me like you hardly eat anything at all though, and have some rather unhealthy habits like only eating one very small meal a day...
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
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    I think this is something you need to bring up with your doctor. I don't think they would approve of your diet. If necessary get a second opinion.

    Personally I could not survive on your diet.
  • easeintofitness
    easeintofitness Posts: 25
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    Following these catchy diets is not going to help. It sounds like an issue of boosting your metabolism. Your body needs to be fed a balanced diet so that you can get regular exercise. Exercise is the best way to boost your metabolism. For every 4 calories that fat burns throughout the day, muscle burns 9. Yes, starting to exercise and increasing muscle mass will show an initial weight gain (do not be discouraged). BUT having a higher muscle amount will contribute more heavily to your "basal metabolic rate." Meaning, the more muscle you have, the more calories you are burning when you are doing nothing.

    Get back to eating a balanced diet. Set your calorie goal on MyFitnessPal to lose 2 lbs/wk (if that is your goal). Keep your carbs, proteins, and fats within the ratios found on MyFitnessPal. Make sure you eat the calories that you can because eating food boosts your metabolism. Hope this helps.

    Also, the physician making recommendations to you - is he/she your primary provider or an endocrinologist? If you have a known pituitary issue, be sure you have an endocrinologist that you see regularly. The pituitary is a part of the process that regulates the excretion of "glucocorticoids" from the adrenal glands on top of your kidneys. An unnatural increase in glucocorticoids will affect weight gain because these are endogenous steroids that may cause you to gain weight. Make sure you are seeing someone who is a specialist (an endocrinologist) regularly to ensure that this is no longer happening. Tumors on the pituitary can cause over excretion of this endogenous steroid and even lead to Cushing's disease. Again, see your doctor.
  • Gummi3b34r
    Gummi3b34r Posts: 13
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    Yes, I don't want my daughter to see "mommy on a diet." I tell her she is beautiful every day, and complain to my husband. I rarley take in over 700-1000 calories a day. I always forget to eat. My body doesn't really tell me... My husband tells me I need to take in about 2000 calories a day at the minimum... To me, that just seems like too much. Like today, I ate two cans of pineapple, and some cheesecake (Home made) and I feel like I am going to be sick from eating it... If that makes any since. I have spoken with doctors, but they all think I sit around and eat all day, and do nothing else. My mom, husband, and brother have all went to them to tell them otherwise, but they just are not believing it.
  • Gummi3b34r
    Gummi3b34r Posts: 13
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    It doesn't sound like you grew up with a very healthy relationship with food. :(
    Could you possibly elaborate more? As in, are you trying to gain or lose?
    From what it sounds like I think you're trying to lose now, but it's really unclear. It sounds to me like you hardly eat anything at all though, and have some rather unhealthy habits like only eating one very small meal a day...


    Yeah, until I moved in with my MIL I only knew how to cook Spaghettie and Tacos.... Mostly my brother and I were fed frozen pizzas. the .99 cent kind. (Mr. P's Pizza) It wasn't until I moved out with my boyfriend that I learned about eating right, but was still in habit of eating like I had. I am trying to lose weight. I am currently at 230lbs. 5'7, honestly it is mostly in my stomach area, my limbs are skinny... if that makes any sense... I haven't been walking as much as I use to, because of my job. lol (which is where I am on my feet for 4-8 hours depending on how long they make me work.
  • Gummi3b34r
    Gummi3b34r Posts: 13
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    I think this is something you need to bring up with your doctor. I don't think they would approve of your diet. If necessary get a second opinion.

    Personally I could not survive on your diet.

    I have brought it up to them. They just don't believe me, even with me bringing other people who whitness what I do. I rarley take in over 700-1000 calories a day.
  • Gummi3b34r
    Gummi3b34r Posts: 13
    Options
    Following these catchy diets is not going to help. It sounds like an issue of boosting your metabolism. Your body needs to be fed a balanced diet so that you can get regular exercise. Exercise is the best way to boost your metabolism. For every 4 calories that fat burns throughout the day, muscle burns 9. Yes, starting to exercise and increasing muscle mass will show an initial weight gain (do not be discouraged). BUT having a higher muscle amount will contribute more heavily to your "basal metabolic rate." Meaning, the more muscle you have, the more calories you are burning when you are doing nothing.

    Get back to eating a balanced diet. Set your calorie goal on MyFitnessPal to lose 2 lbs/wk (if that is your goal). Keep your carbs, proteins, and fats within the ratios found on MyFitnessPal. Make sure you eat the calories that you can because eating food boosts your metabolism. Hope this helps.

    Also, the physician making recommendations to you - is he/she your primary provider or an endocrinologist? If you have a known pituitary issue, be sure you have an endocrinologist that you see regularly. The pituitary is a part of the process that regulates the excretion of "glucocorticoids" from the adrenal glands on top of your kidneys. An unnatural increase in glucocorticoids will affect weight gain because these are endogenous steroids that may cause you to gain weight. Make sure you are seeing someone who is a specialist (an endocrinologist) regularly to ensure that this is no longer happening. Tumors on the pituitary can cause over excretion of this endogenous steroid and even lead to Cushing's disease. Again, see your doctor.


    These doctors around here don't want to help me at all. I will def post my blood test results if you want me to, I am either on the low end, or just below it on a lot of the tests. They won't send me to an endocrinologist. I am switching doctors very soon though.
  • tulosai
    tulosai Posts: 20 Member
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    If you are honestly that weight, and not losing on 700-1000 calories a day, something is seriously medically wrong with you and you need a new doctor. Are you on any medications?

    As for your daughter not seeing how you eat, you are kidding yourself. You can keep telling her she's beautiful all you want, but if she continues to observe what you are doing, she is going to end up with a really confused idea at best about eating.

    My advice, if you are being totally truthful:

    1. Start eating a healthy amount for your weight. If you are on your feet all day, I'd say 1800 calories minimum but maybe more. What you are doing is ridiculous, unsustainable, unhealthy, and unsafe.
    2. Find a new doctor and insist test be run and medications (if any) be evaluated.
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
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    I have brought it up to them. They just don't believe me, even with me bringing other people who whitness what I do. I rarley take in over 700-1000 calories a day.

    Then fire them and find new doctors.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,392 MFP Moderator
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    I have brought it up to them. They just don't believe me, even with me bringing other people who whitness what I do. I rarley take in over 700-1000 calories a day.

    Then fire them and find new doctors.

    This. Also, how much do you weigh OP? It could be a body composition issue (high body fat, low lean body mass). But honestly, you will probably need more calories and especially more protein.
  • tulosai
    tulosai Posts: 20 Member
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    She said she's 230 pounds and 5'7"
  • 81Katz
    81Katz Posts: 7,074 Member
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    Do you log, weigh/measure your food intake daily to know for certain you eat 700-1000 calories?

    AND I am not advocating 700-1000 calorie diets.

    You are probably eating more than you think.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
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    Honestly it sounds to me like you have tried nothing but very extreme and potentially dangerous "diets".

    Have you considered just eating normally and just counting calories to hit a reasonable target amount like 1800 along with some basic exercise like going for a morning walk each day?
  • Ash_danielle
    Ash_danielle Posts: 62 Member
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    I would suggest calculating your daily caloric needs and try to get close to that with healthy nutritious meals, if you are trying to lose weight go 500 calories below that. I'm a vegetarian as well. It's pretty hard for me too. I get so bored with the same meals over and over. Hang in there and try and get close to that caloric need. If you take in too little calories your body will go into starvation mode and will hang on to fat.
  • NCDJ2013
    NCDJ2013 Posts: 43 Member
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    You definitely need more calories . Does it have to be vegan? You will feel better if you cut back on the sugar (pineapple and cheesecake?) and eat some healthy protein balanced with non starchy veggies and a moderate amount of carbs.

    Post your lab results
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,392 MFP Moderator
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    She said she's 230 pounds and 5'7"

    Thanks, I missed that.


    OP, I would start simple. Get a food scale, set a moderate deficit (just use the MFP settings) and start reading some stickies and other friends so you can teach yourself nutrition. I would set your account to around 1.5 lbs per week and aim to get more protein than the standard MFP setting.

    Also, i agree with aaron.... it seems like you tried a lot of quick fixes. It's a good step you are on the board so you can aim to make progress. And if you don't have ethical issues with meat, I would add it back. While you can achieve your goals without meat, it makes it a little easier to do so with meat. Also, foods high in protein and fats will keep you full. On a side note, those women that I have worked with that have had hormone issues (to include my wife) have seen a lot of success with a LCHF diet. It may not be a requirement, but anecdotal experience tells me it's one option depending on your bloodwork results.
  • clambert1273
    clambert1273 Posts: 840 Member
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    first off, i am sorry you lived that way growing up..... now, let me tell you about me.

    I gained weight, lots of it for no apparent reason for many years. I was prior military so I was SMALL (my uniform was xs/s long). At almost 5'8, I joined the Army at 18 weighing in at 115lbs.. and I ate like a cow :)

    Fast forward until 2003 - 4 back surgeries later and I was slowly creeping up in weight. I was medically discharged from the military for my back and I began going to VA. 11 years later, I reached 182lbs... between then and now, the VA diagnosed me "hypothyroid" but all they gave me was low dose synthroid which obviously did nothing. I kept going back and going back only to be ignored.

    My civilian doctor ignored me and finally I ordered EVERY medical record of mine I could get my hands on: Army, VA, civilian doctors and ALL my bloodwork. I started researching myself... then I began my battle. I went to my primary care doctor (civilian) and brought a list of bloodwork I wanted to have done. He refused.. WHAT?! I am the one paying for it!! He said I didn't need it and was ONLY hypothyroid...

    I fought back. Went back to VA multiple times and FINALLY last year got a great doctor who started digging... and here is what they discovered...

    1. my vitamin D levels were 10.. yup.. 10 almost non existent
    2. I have Hashimoto's auto immune disorder
    3. My thyroid is now dead.. finished..
    4. Creatin was off
    5. Cholesterol through the roof because of the thyroid
    6. My other vitamin levels were tanked

    In general, nothing I did mattered and I felt like crap. I fought and now have control.... My medications have all been adjusted to very high levels (200mcg synthroid, 50,000IU of vitamin D once a week, Pre-Natal vitamins that I have to remain on)..

    The point of this to you is - it is YOUR health on the line. Fight for it... go to more doctors and keep going until someone listens. There will be one somewhere that will! And when they do, your life will change and you can gain control. I would personally suggest (because the struggle is hard going through med issues), don't worry about weight loss until your medical issue is controlled AND you are on a more healthy eating regimen.

    I would work on first learning how to eat a certain amount of calories (good food), fighting to get a doctor and treatment and while doing that... just enjoy your baby.. they don't stay that way :) Just my 2 cents....
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,488 Member
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    . Like today, I ate two cans of pineapple, and some cheesecake (Home made) and I feel like I am going to be sick from eating it...

    I'd feel sick too if all I ate during the day was cans of pineapple and cheesecake. Have you considered eating like actual meals?
  • clambert1273
    clambert1273 Posts: 840 Member
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    . Like today, I ate two cans of pineapple, and some cheesecake (Home made) and I feel like I am going to be sick from eating it...

    I'd feel sick too if all I ate during the day was cans of pineapple and cheesecake. Have you considered eating like actual meals?

    agreed... and now I want cheesecake.....

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