Desperately looking for true cure to metabolic syndrome
GlynGillard
Posts: 3
Hey, everyone. I just joined these boards. I was a member of a couple of other boards but never managed to get any useful advice and got a lot of rude comments from people that think health conditions aren't real. I'm hoping I can get some honest and legitimate advice here instead.
I was always skinny my whole life, in high school I was lifting weights but not in any kind of good cardio shape or really thick-muscled. I ate a lot - whatever I wanted, however much I wanted, though was never really gluttonous or anything. I was 170 pounds and no stomach at all, though I couldn't even run a mile if I tried. Fast forward and I end up on medication that causes terrible health problems. I gained about 100 pounds in a year and never overate. I learned how to work out hard and diet in the process because I didn't want to look so bad so just stacked a bunch of muscle on myself. I lost weight and leveled out at around 220 pounds, still pretty fat compared to what I should have been. Then I finally broke the chain of addiction with this pill that I was taking for insomnia.
Problem is it's been over 3 months and my weight has still not dropped. I'm about 218 now. Most people recover by now, and one other time I had been off the medication temporarily and lost weight very fast (30 pounds in a month) before the sleep problems returned. This time it somehow did some real damage even though I am off for good. I am in great shape physically, but still not looking good (at least in my opinion). Now I can run 6 miles in an hour, lift very heavy, and do things way above and beyond I used to be able to do yet my looks on the outside do not really reflect that.
I've tried almost everything to get the weight off. I had been eating about 1500-1800 calories a day, then someone told me that was too little and to reverse diet. I calculated my recommended calories, and it came out to around 2500 to maximize weight loss. I did this for a while, and actually either gained weight or did not lose any. For a period of time, I was doing 30 miles a week of running at the gym and lifting about 3x a week. I quit doing this because I noticed no benefit. After quitting, I did not lose or gain weight it just stayed the same for more than a month and I ate the same. I usually eat between 60-80g of fat a day, barely any sugar, average carbs (80g-100g), about 80-100g of protein (double on weightlifting days). I've tried switching this around to low carb (0-20g), higher fat, eating more often, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Nothing has worked. Caloric deficit has no merit for me because nothing changes regardless of how big it is.
I think it is ridiculous that some people infer I might be miscounting calories because it is difficult for me to eat 2500 calories as it is. It's hard for me to eat most of the time because of a lack of appetite and fear of getting fat(er). The metabolism damage is so bad that I can gain a legitimate 5 pounds in one day if I eat or drink the wrong thing (not water weight, it sticks).
This problem is really getting me down because I feel like a crippled version of my old self. It's lead to being in a bad mood most of the time, and obsessive searching over some kind of solution. I am a really stubborn person and this problem has had its 10 ton boot on my head for a long time. I keep trying to get up, to no avail. No one seems to have any sympathy, because these things come easy to them and for me it's 1000x harder. I have tried various thermogenics, ephedra extract, test boosters, garcinia cambogia, and other things I can't think of right now. Just recently I started on maca powder and a raw thyroid supplement.
I would be grateful beyond expression, if someone could tell me some things I can do to fix this problem. Sorry this post was so long, I tend to ramble about stuff to make sure I include all the details.
I was always skinny my whole life, in high school I was lifting weights but not in any kind of good cardio shape or really thick-muscled. I ate a lot - whatever I wanted, however much I wanted, though was never really gluttonous or anything. I was 170 pounds and no stomach at all, though I couldn't even run a mile if I tried. Fast forward and I end up on medication that causes terrible health problems. I gained about 100 pounds in a year and never overate. I learned how to work out hard and diet in the process because I didn't want to look so bad so just stacked a bunch of muscle on myself. I lost weight and leveled out at around 220 pounds, still pretty fat compared to what I should have been. Then I finally broke the chain of addiction with this pill that I was taking for insomnia.
Problem is it's been over 3 months and my weight has still not dropped. I'm about 218 now. Most people recover by now, and one other time I had been off the medication temporarily and lost weight very fast (30 pounds in a month) before the sleep problems returned. This time it somehow did some real damage even though I am off for good. I am in great shape physically, but still not looking good (at least in my opinion). Now I can run 6 miles in an hour, lift very heavy, and do things way above and beyond I used to be able to do yet my looks on the outside do not really reflect that.
I've tried almost everything to get the weight off. I had been eating about 1500-1800 calories a day, then someone told me that was too little and to reverse diet. I calculated my recommended calories, and it came out to around 2500 to maximize weight loss. I did this for a while, and actually either gained weight or did not lose any. For a period of time, I was doing 30 miles a week of running at the gym and lifting about 3x a week. I quit doing this because I noticed no benefit. After quitting, I did not lose or gain weight it just stayed the same for more than a month and I ate the same. I usually eat between 60-80g of fat a day, barely any sugar, average carbs (80g-100g), about 80-100g of protein (double on weightlifting days). I've tried switching this around to low carb (0-20g), higher fat, eating more often, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Nothing has worked. Caloric deficit has no merit for me because nothing changes regardless of how big it is.
I think it is ridiculous that some people infer I might be miscounting calories because it is difficult for me to eat 2500 calories as it is. It's hard for me to eat most of the time because of a lack of appetite and fear of getting fat(er). The metabolism damage is so bad that I can gain a legitimate 5 pounds in one day if I eat or drink the wrong thing (not water weight, it sticks).
This problem is really getting me down because I feel like a crippled version of my old self. It's lead to being in a bad mood most of the time, and obsessive searching over some kind of solution. I am a really stubborn person and this problem has had its 10 ton boot on my head for a long time. I keep trying to get up, to no avail. No one seems to have any sympathy, because these things come easy to them and for me it's 1000x harder. I have tried various thermogenics, ephedra extract, test boosters, garcinia cambogia, and other things I can't think of right now. Just recently I started on maca powder and a raw thyroid supplement.
I would be grateful beyond expression, if someone could tell me some things I can do to fix this problem. Sorry this post was so long, I tend to ramble about stuff to make sure I include all the details.
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Replies
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OK Originally I was not going to reply to this because I can guess how it's going to go. I'll ask you a couple of questions first don't you find it interesting that you go to various message boards and people tell you the same things that you are either eating to much or logging inaccurately? In all likelihood that is what people will tell you here and it is the most likely thing. Metabolic disorders exist but are rare. If you think you have one why have you not gone to the Doctor? In the unlikely case that you do have one you would then be given appropriate advice/treatment.
Take a step back and think why all these places and people are telling you the same things. Maybe they have a point?
Anyway if you're serious about losing weight these links may help or you could continue to visit multiple forums until you find someone that agrees with you. No matter what Good luck
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-183615940 -
I 100% concur with the kind words of fatdoob.
Furthermore, I would also like to suggest that you consider going on a strict allergen free diet. If you're not seeing many results merely watching calories in/burned, perhaps ruling out foods that may be causing digestive stress might work for you.
Also, ease off all of the crazy supplements. They only make things worse. Take it from a former ephedra junkie, you don't want the massive *kitten* that comes as a side effect.
Just sayin'.0 -
Can you explain what you mean by metabolic syndrome? Is that a "cluster of symptoms?
Exercise helps considerably with over all fitness even though you do not see movement on the scale.0 -
I think it is ridiculous that some people infer I might be miscounting calories...
Well...you are.
Open your diary.0 -
The metabolism damage is so bad that I can gain a legitimate 5 pounds in one day if I eat or drink the wrong thing (not water weight, it sticks).
That's physically impossible.0 -
OP: I totally understand. Have you been to the doctor and had your thyroid tested? Hormone panel? Cholesterol? Get that done as quickly as possible. Bring your food and exercise logs to your doctor. It took me 18 months and 3 rounds of blood tests before I finally got my hypothyroid diagnosis. It's very frustrating and I know how discouraging it can be to be told over and over on Internet forums that you are "doing it wrong." Be patient and keep working at it. Get a doctor who will help you. :flowerforyou:0
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Thanks Maggie. I'm not posting to agree/disagree with anyone, or to start an argument, just asking for advice. It's great you don't have health problems but you need to show some respect. Anyways, I keep getting the answer from internet guys trying to be cool that "I"m doing it wrong" so I'm just going to make the decision to go to the doctor and get that bloodwork done, even though I've been putting it off.0
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Nobody is trying to be cool by telling you that you're doing it wrong. You have no idea how many people come to this board saying things like "calorie counting doesn't work for me" and "my metabolism is just bad" and "I swear I count every calorie totally accurately so that's not the issue". Everybody thinks they're a special snowflake and that their weight problems aren't like anybody else's. That said, yes, you COULD have true metabolic damage, sure. It's incredibly unlikely, but it's possible. See a doctor or spend ~$80-$100 to get your RMR tested. I bet you'll be surprised with the results. The thing is you're still grossly misinformed though. You claim that a day of eating or drinking the wrong thing can leave you with 5 pounds of extra weight that "sticks" (aka is actually fat) and that's just absurd. If you're actually struggling to eat 2500 calories a day, 5 pounds of extra fat in one day is literally impossible in every sense of the word. If you eat 2500 calories and gain 5 pounds of fat in one day, you should rush to the nearest research hospital and let them run tests on you because you've accomplished something that nobody else in the history of humanity has. Your body makes fat out of excess calories. A pound of fat requires 3500 excess calories. Now if you only ate 2500, do you really think your body created the extra 15,000 calories out of thin air?0
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Thanks Maggie. I'm not posting to agree/disagree with anyone, or to start an argument, just asking for advice. It's great you don't have health problems but you need to show some respect. Anyways, I keep getting the answer from internet guys trying to be cool that "I"m doing it wrong" so I'm just going to make the decision to go to the doctor and get that bloodwork done, even though I've been putting it off.
Here's some advice as someone who's been in a similar predicament.
Is there high incidence of diabetes in your family?...may be difficult to ascertain as older folks sometimes hide the fact, this was the case in my family.
Easy peasy way to find out if you have metabolic issues...cut carbs in the form of less starchy & sugary foods.
If after a week, you begin to lose weight, you're onto something...if not...then you REALLY need to see a doctor.
Wish I did that sooner.
Do some research on Keto diets, may or may not be something for you, only you can determine that.
Good luck :drinker:0 -
Hook - no one in my family has diabetes but the drug I was on is known to cause diabetes...I got pre-diabetic before I was finally able to get off of it. I'm just going to end up seeing a doctor and getting levels tested. I'm cancelling this membership. As for the other kind replies, ignorance and arrogance have a way of catching up with someone - good luck.0
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whoa.
:blushing:
fastest rage quit ever.0 -
whoa.
:blushing:
fastest rage quit ever.
Most people come here wanting to hear something specific and get upset when they're told something else.0 -
Nobody is trying to be cool by telling you that you're doing it wrong. You have no idea how many people come to this board saying things like "calorie counting doesn't work for me" and "my metabolism is just bad" and "I swear I count every calorie totally accurately so that's not the issue". Everybody thinks they're a special snowflake and that their weight problems aren't like anybody else's. That said, yes, you COULD have true metabolic damage, sure. It's incredibly unlikely, but it's possible. See a doctor or spend ~$80-$100 to get your RMR tested. I bet you'll be surprised with the results. The thing is you're still grossly misinformed though. You claim that a day of eating or drinking the wrong thing can leave you with 5 pounds of extra weight that "sticks" (aka is actually fat) and that's just absurd. If you're actually struggling to eat 2500 calories a day, 5 pounds of extra fat in one day is literally impossible in every sense of the word. If you eat 2500 calories and gain 5 pounds of fat in one day, you should rush to the nearest research hospital and let them run tests on you because you've accomplished something that nobody else in the history of humanity has. Your body makes fat out of excess calories. A pound of fat requires 3500 excess calories. Now if you only ate 2500, do you really think your body created the extra 15,000 calories out of thin air?
I had minor surgery last February ('13) for a "girl issue." I slept for 3 days after and barely ate. I gained 5 pounds in that three days. I thought it was water, but it never went away. Mathematically it isn't possible, but it happened. Most on this site will say I did something wrong, but I know how hard I worked for a long time with no success. I choose to believe that the human body is complicated and there are just some things that can't be easily explained (or understood).0 -
Nobody is trying to be cool by telling you that you're doing it wrong. You have no idea how many people come to this board saying things like "calorie counting doesn't work for me" and "my metabolism is just bad" and "I swear I count every calorie totally accurately so that's not the issue". Everybody thinks they're a special snowflake and that their weight problems aren't like anybody else's. That said, yes, you COULD have true metabolic damage, sure. It's incredibly unlikely, but it's possible. See a doctor or spend ~$80-$100 to get your RMR tested. I bet you'll be surprised with the results. The thing is you're still grossly misinformed though. You claim that a day of eating or drinking the wrong thing can leave you with 5 pounds of extra weight that "sticks" (aka is actually fat) and that's just absurd. If you're actually struggling to eat 2500 calories a day, 5 pounds of extra fat in one day is literally impossible in every sense of the word. If you eat 2500 calories and gain 5 pounds of fat in one day, you should rush to the nearest research hospital and let them run tests on you because you've accomplished something that nobody else in the history of humanity has. Your body makes fat out of excess calories. A pound of fat requires 3500 excess calories. Now if you only ate 2500, do you really think your body created the extra 15,000 calories out of thin air?
I had minor surgery last February ('13) for a "girl issue." I slept for 3 days after and barely ate. I gained 5 pounds in that three days. I thought it was water, but it never went away. Mathematically it isn't possible, but it happened. Most on this site will say I did something wrong, but I know how hard I worked for a long time with no success. I choose to believe that the human body is complicated and there are just some things that can't be easily explained (or understood).
You can choose to believe whatever you like, but when what you believe is refuted by all modern science, you're probably going to have to accept being told that you're wrong a lot. As I said, your body cannot create fat out of thin air - it has literally never happened because it would defy laws of physics.0 -
Hormones effect weight gain/loss. That is a medical fact. Science is constantly evolving as new discoveries are made. There is no point in arguing with you. You won't understand unless you go through it. However, you won't change my mind either because I have gone through it and still am dealing with it. If you want to force people into your narrow, one size fits all approach, that's a reflection on you, not on me. There are plenty of people on this site who stay "underground" because of attitudes like yours. I'm out.0
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Hook - no one in my family has diabetes but the drug I was on is known to cause diabetes...I got pre-diabetic before I was finally able to get off of it. I'm just going to end up seeing a doctor and getting levels tested. I'm cancelling this membership. As for the other kind replies, ignorance and arrogance have a way of catching up with someone - good luck.
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On the off chance the OP is still reading-
1) Get a diagnosis. We're not doctors. You'll feel better knowing for sure that there is or is not something physically wrong.
2) From what I've heard of metabolic syndrome, you burn fewer calories but weight loss still occurs the same way-- you still have to eat less than you burn. Can it be reversed? I don't know. See a doctor. If it occurred from drug addiction I imagine removing the source will cure the problem. Just guessing, though.0 -
Hook - no one in my family has diabetes but the drug I was on is known to cause diabetes...I got pre-diabetic before I was finally able to get off of it. I'm just going to end up seeing a doctor and getting levels tested. I'm cancelling this membership. As for the other kind replies, ignorance and arrogance have a way of catching up with someone - good luck.
It's a good thing Pandas are not indigenous to NY, cause even when angry, they're cute as hell :laugh:
I would be all...let's hug it out angry panda :smooched:
and he would be all :noway:
growwwwl. NO 0 -
OK Originally I was not going to reply to this because I can guess how it's going to go. I'll ask you a couple of questions first don't you find it interesting that you go to various message boards and people tell you the same things that you are either eating to much or logging inaccurately? In all likelihood that is what people will tell you here and it is the most likely thing. Metabolic disorders exist but are rare. If you think you have one why have you not gone to the Doctor? In the unlikely case that you do have one you would then be given appropriate advice/treatment.
Take a step back and think why all these places and people are telling you the same things. Maybe they have a point?
Anyway if you're serious about losing weight these links may help or you could continue to visit multiple forums until you find someone that agrees with you. No matter what Good luck
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-18361594
Buddy, you couldn't be farther from the truth when you say metabolic disorders are rare.0 -
OK Originally I was not going to reply to this because I can guess how it's going to go. I'll ask you a couple of questions first don't you find it interesting that you go to various message boards and people tell you the same things that you are either eating to much or logging inaccurately? In all likelihood that is what people will tell you here and it is the most likely thing. Metabolic disorders exist but are rare. If you think you have one why have you not gone to the Doctor? In the unlikely case that you do have one you would then be given appropriate advice/treatment.
Take a step back and think why all these places and people are telling you the same things. Maybe they have a point?
Anyway if you're serious about losing weight these links may help or you could continue to visit multiple forums until you find someone that agrees with you. No matter what Good luck
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-18361594
Buddy, you couldn't be farther from the truth when you say metabolic disorders are rare.
If you define metabolic disorder as anything that involves the metabolism, no, they probably aren't rare. If you think of it in the context of OP's claims, that as a 220 pound man he was unable to lose any weight eating 1500-1800 calories a day, then yes metabolic disorders that can cause that kind of reduction in TDEE would be extremely rare.0 -
OK Originally I was not going to reply to this because I can guess how it's going to go. I'll ask you a couple of questions first don't you find it interesting that you go to various message boards and people tell you the same things that you are either eating to much or logging inaccurately? In all likelihood that is what people will tell you here and it is the most likely thing. Metabolic disorders exist but are rare. If you think you have one why have you not gone to the Doctor? In the unlikely case that you do have one you would then be given appropriate advice/treatment.
Take a step back and think why all these places and people are telling you the same things. Maybe they have a point?
Anyway if you're serious about losing weight these links may help or you could continue to visit multiple forums until you find someone that agrees with you. No matter what Good luck
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-18361594
Buddy, you couldn't be farther from the truth when you say metabolic disorders are rare.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder - definitely not rare. The OP has gone now anyway but there seems to be some confusion around the terms metabolism (as in people saying: 'I have a slow metabolism'), metabolic disorders (a huge number of conditions are clustered under this heading), and 'metabolic syndrome' (a combo of diabetes, hypertension and obesity). Metabolic syndrome affects 1 in 4 people in the UK (source: NHS, 2012).
Not sure why I just posted all that to a rudderless post - guess it stops me from snacking LOL!0 -
Hook - no one in my family has diabetes but the drug I was on is known to cause diabetes...I got pre-diabetic before I was finally able to get off of it. I'm just going to end up seeing a doctor and getting levels tested. I'm cancelling this membership. As for the other kind replies, ignorance and arrogance have a way of catching up with someone - good luck.
Well I can't imagine why the OP's diet plans haven't worked out. The claim that he's doing all this exercise and eating 1500 calories per day while not losing weight is so ridiculous that I'm not even sure that he's serious or a troll. If he's serious, then he probably has some psych issues rather than "metabolic" issues.0 -
OK Originally I was not going to reply to this because I can guess how it's going to go. I'll ask you a couple of questions first don't you find it interesting that you go to various message boards and people tell you the same things that you are either eating to much or logging inaccurately? In all likelihood that is what people will tell you here and it is the most likely thing. Metabolic disorders exist but are rare. If you think you have one why have you not gone to the Doctor? In the unlikely case that you do have one you would then be given appropriate advice/treatment.
Take a step back and think why all these places and people are telling you the same things. Maybe they have a point?
Anyway if you're serious about losing weight these links may help or you could continue to visit multiple forums until you find someone that agrees with you. No matter what Good luck
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-18361594
Buddy, you couldn't be farther from the truth when you say metabolic disorders are rare.
If you define metabolic disorder as anything that involves the metabolism, no, they probably aren't rare. If you think of it in the context of OP's claims, that as a 220 pound man he was unable to lose any weight eating 1500-1800 calories a day, then yes metabolic disorders that can cause that kind of reduction in TDEE would be extremely rare.
It's not as rare as you think considering I am the same way due to medications. I am assuming OP was taking anti-depressants which are directly linked to large amounts of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes, etc.
Here's evidence for those of you who have thick skulls: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1635794/.
I was 97 lbs my entire life. Couldn't gain a single pound no matter what I ate. I started anti-depressants for anxiety and gained a whopping 111 lbs in less than 3 years. Not only that but I developed insulin resistance. Fortunately, I do not have high blood glucose levels, only high insulin levels. However, my health has been significantly compromised because of these drugs. My endocrinologist has told me I likely won't lose weight unless I eat 500-800 calories a day which he would not recommend for me because I only have 40 lbs to lose to be at a healthy BMI. I ate 1200 calories and didn't lose weight. I eat at my "supposed" TDEE and still do not lose weight.
Like I said, it's not as rare as you think.0 -
OK Originally I was not going to reply to this because I can guess how it's going to go. I'll ask you a couple of questions first don't you find it interesting that you go to various message boards and people tell you the same things that you are either eating to much or logging inaccurately? In all likelihood that is what people will tell you here and it is the most likely thing. Metabolic disorders exist but are rare. If you think you have one why have you not gone to the Doctor? In the unlikely case that you do have one you would then be given appropriate advice/treatment.
Take a step back and think why all these places and people are telling you the same things. Maybe they have a point?
Anyway if you're serious about losing weight these links may help or you could continue to visit multiple forums until you find someone that agrees with you. No matter what Good luck
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-18361594
Buddy, you couldn't be farther from the truth when you say metabolic disorders are rare.
If you define metabolic disorder as anything that involves the metabolism, no, they probably aren't rare. If you think of it in the context of OP's claims, that as a 220 pound man he was unable to lose any weight eating 1500-1800 calories a day, then yes metabolic disorders that can cause that kind of reduction in TDEE would be extremely rare.
It's not as rare as you think considering I am the same way due to medications. I am assuming OP was taking anti-depressants which are directly linked to large amounts of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes, etc.
Here's evidence for those of you who have thick skulls: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1635794/.
I was 97 lbs my entire life. Couldn't gain a single pound no matter what I ate. I started anti-depressants for anxiety and gained a whopping 111 lbs in less than 3 years. Not only that but I developed insulin resistance. Fortunately, I do not have high blood glucose levels, only high insulin levels. However, my health has been significantly compromised because of these drugs. My endocrinologist has told me I likely won't lose weight unless I eat 500-800 calories a day which he would not recommend for me because I only have 40 lbs to lose to be at a healthy BMI. I ate 1200 calories and didn't lose weight. I eat at my "supposed" TDEE and still do not lose weight.
Like I said, it's not as rare as you think.
What's your definition of "rare"?0 -
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Nobody is trying to be cool by telling you that you're doing it wrong. You have no idea how many people come to this board saying things like "calorie counting doesn't work for me" and "my metabolism is just bad" and "I swear I count every calorie totally accurately so that's not the issue". Everybody thinks they're a special snowflake and that their weight problems aren't like anybody else's. That said, yes, you COULD have true metabolic damage, sure. It's incredibly unlikely, but it's possible. See a doctor or spend ~$80-$100 to get your RMR tested. I bet you'll be surprised with the results. The thing is you're still grossly misinformed though. You claim that a day of eating or drinking the wrong thing can leave you with 5 pounds of extra weight that "sticks" (aka is actually fat) and that's just absurd. If you're actually struggling to eat 2500 calories a day, 5 pounds of extra fat in one day is literally impossible in every sense of the word. If you eat 2500 calories and gain 5 pounds of fat in one day, you should rush to the nearest research hospital and let them run tests on you because you've accomplished something that nobody else in the history of humanity has. Your body makes fat out of excess calories. A pound of fat requires 3500 excess calories. Now if you only ate 2500, do you really think your body created the extra 15,000 calories out of thin air?
I had minor surgery last February ('13) for a "girl issue." I slept for 3 days after and barely ate. I gained 5 pounds in that three days. I thought it was water, but it never went away. Mathematically it isn't possible, but it happened. Most on this site will say I did something wrong, but I know how hard I worked for a long time with no success. I choose to believe that the human body is complicated and there are just some things that can't be easily explained (or understood).
Surgery == inflammation.
Inflammation == water weight gain that does not go away until the inflammation does. So, weeks, even months depending on what was done and how well you healed. In that time, you may also have been put on drugs that would cause water retention (some pain killers, hormone therapies, steroids, etc). Over that time you may also have replaced some or all of the water weight with fat weight if you didn't keep under your TDEE which would have been lower than normal thanks to reduced activity.
So, no, your story is not an automatic example of putting on pounds of fat in the absence of a surplus.0 -
OK Originally I was not going to reply to this because I can guess how it's going to go. I'll ask you a couple of questions first don't you find it interesting that you go to various message boards and people tell you the same things that you are either eating to much or logging inaccurately? In all likelihood that is what people will tell you here and it is the most likely thing. Metabolic disorders exist but are rare. If you think you have one why have you not gone to the Doctor? In the unlikely case that you do have one you would then be given appropriate advice/treatment.
Take a step back and think why all these places and people are telling you the same things. Maybe they have a point?
Anyway if you're serious about losing weight these links may help or you could continue to visit multiple forums until you find someone that agrees with you. No matter what Good luck
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-18361594
Buddy, you couldn't be farther from the truth when you say metabolic disorders are rare.
If you define metabolic disorder as anything that involves the metabolism, no, they probably aren't rare. If you think of it in the context of OP's claims, that as a 220 pound man he was unable to lose any weight eating 1500-1800 calories a day, then yes metabolic disorders that can cause that kind of reduction in TDEE would be extremely rare.
It's not as rare as you think considering I am the same way due to medications. I am assuming OP was taking anti-depressants which are directly linked to large amounts of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes, etc.
Here's evidence for those of you who have thick skulls: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1635794/.
I was 97 lbs my entire life. Couldn't gain a single pound no matter what I ate. I started anti-depressants for anxiety and gained a whopping 111 lbs in less than 3 years. Not only that but I developed insulin resistance. Fortunately, I do not have high blood glucose levels, only high insulin levels. However, my health has been significantly compromised because of these drugs. My endocrinologist has told me I likely won't lose weight unless I eat 500-800 calories a day which he would not recommend for me because I only have 40 lbs to lose to be at a healthy BMI. I ate 1200 calories and didn't lose weight. I eat at my "supposed" TDEE and still do not lose weight.
Like I said, it's not as rare as you think.
There's a ton wrong with what you just said, but I'll stick to the key points.
1) I'm positive antidepressants have not been proven to directly decrease metabolic rate, and I doubt you can find a study that says otherwise. They increase weight through a variety of other factors - increased appetite, increased pleasure from food caused by the lifting of depression, etc.
2) Yes, it's common for someone who gains 100+ lbs to develop some form of insulin/diabetic condition. That's from the weight gain, not the medicine itself.
3) People with insulin resistance can still lose weight, and they do it all the time without having to drop to 500-800 calories. If your endocrinologist claims you would need to eat 500-800 calories to lose weight, find a new endocrinologist.
4) Something happening to you doesn't mean it's "not as rare as you think." That's like saying, "I have Lou Gehrig's disease, therefore it's not rare." No, news flash, Lou Gehrig's disease is still incredibly rare whether you yourself have it or not.
I should also add that I've been on anti-depressants and have gained weight from them. When I chose to stop taking them, the weight eventually came off with normal healthy diet and exercise. I've never seen a study that shows them to cause permanent effects.0 -
I'm curious to know which medication he's on that causes diabetes.
If he can also put on 5 lbs of fat in one day without overeating at all then I think he needs to volunteer himself for scientific studies because that could be revolutionary.
So am I. There is steroid-induced diabetes. Sometimes that does not correct itself when you stop taking the steroids.0 -
The metabolism damage is so bad that I can gain a legitimate 5 pounds in one day if I eat or drink the wrong thing (not water weight, it sticks).
I used to think the same thing. Because it does "stick" for a while. I have been cussing and *****ing for the past two weeks because I knew I was doing everything right but the scale went up and stayed there. But I persevered and when I got on the scale yesterday, the three pounds I "gained" was gone again. I don't understand it, it's frustrating and infuriating but our bodies are just strange machines sometimes.0 -
Oh dear GAWD some of these comments...
Metabolic disorders are rare. Your metabolism becomes more efficient when it needs to be ("slower") because it wants to live.
Last time I was on meds and gained weight from it it took me longer than 3 months to lose what I gained....over a year. Suck it up and have patience.0
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