weight loss for the 'metabolically challenged'

[claireelis]

how can one best loose weight with wai when metabolically challenged due to illness, yo-yo dieting or eating disorders?

i think that learning to listen to your body's signals can be really difficult in this situation as most will tend to overeat (otherwise obviously no need to loose weight ) also, metabolism can be very sluggish if the body has often been in a fasting state.

i think that actually eating whole foods rather than juicing or blending is a good idea because it provides additional satiety.

maybe weight lifting or interval training would be quite effective in boosting the metabolism initially (when a normal metabolism is considered more important than initial weight loss)?

any other tips for managing in such a situation?

i've understood that it can take at least a year for the metabolism to normalize and burn fat as effectively as a healthy person. this statement doesn't seem to coincide with the wai philosophy. any opinions?

[RRM]

i think that actually eating whole foods rather than juicing or blending is a good idea because it provides additional satiety.

The problem may be that this satiety is felt as 'satisfied energy wise', which may make you believe that you are in need for energy when your stomach is not that full anymore.
Any focus on satiety may be counterproductive...

maybe weight lifting or interval training would be quite effective in boosting the metabolism initially (when a normal metabolism is considered more important than initial weight loss)?

There is nothing wrong with (99.9% of) fat people's metabolism.
what is out of wack, is the balance between intake and output, due to disconnection with energy needs.

i've understood that it can take at least a year for the metabolism to normalize

Scientific studies have shown that there is nothing wrong with fat people's metabolism.
Its not a disease or disorder. Its mismanagement and disconnection.

[claireelis]

The problem may be that this satiety is felt as 'satisfied energy wise', which may make you believe that you are in need for energy when your stomach is not that full anymore.

ah this could be something i have!

what is out of wack, is the balance between intake and output, due to disconnection with energy needs

well i'm not fat but a few kilos more than i'd like to be - although it's the least of my worries. once i've regained my health i assume it will normalize, but regaining health is the hard part.

i have been gaining weight the past months. i took a week long round of progesterone early november to determine what the cause was amenorrhea (only 2x in last 2.5 years) - this is when it started. but also my doctor has said there is something wrong with my metabolism as my body temperature is consistently under 36 degrees celcius (e.g. 35 during the daytime), i feel hot, but my hands are ice cold and i'm gaining weight despite not being able to keep solid food down very well (which is why juices would be ideal, but these don't always stay down either). possibly i'm one of the .1%? the cause of my problems is unknown - i've been through the traditional medical scene. i first got ill in the tropics and apparrently had giardiasis for years but antibiotics in december and february have killed it off - but problems still not alleviated. anyone possibly have any ideas for how to get over this? my doctor would like to give me http://iscador.com/ to boost my immune system.

Its mismanagement and disconnection.

well disconnection with my body's needs is obviously a problem... but how to get in touch with energy needs if you're not sure which meal or juice you'll keep down?

[claireelis]

i think i may know the solution: stick to mainly juice, add more oil - seeing as it's such a good buffer - it will hopefully last me through the moments when i can't keep much down

[MariaLinn]

Hey Claireelis

What you are describing with your body temperature and slow bloodflow thru your hands (cold hands) could be due to a slow thyroid. Have your doctor tested you for this? Because an underproduction of thyroid hormones gives you cold feet and hands but also often causes a mild or sever depression, hairloss, acne, slow circulation (and about 100 less kcals/day burned). People with a slow thyroid often gain weight but NOT due to a very slow metabolism, that is a myth, the real cause for the weightgain is that the need to comfort oneself with food increases because of the depression. Get tested so you know, its easy

Your cold hands and feet could just be due to slow circulation tho, wich is nothing to worry about, we are all individual, some people just naturally have colder temperatures than others. And as RRM said, its another big fat myth/missunderstanding that the fatburning metabolism remains low for a long period of time after youve stopped with your eatingdisorder. The body is a remarkable machine when it comes to adapting to calorie intake right away, and also the heavyer you are the more fat(calories) you burn all day long, so actually heavvy peoples basic-metabolism always burn more than skinny ones. And if you have lost alot of muscles you will get your bodys healthy normal musclemass back as soon as you start eating normal again.

When it comes to excercise, only do it if you think its fun and it gives you a feeling of well beeing, my personal experience is that most people Ive trained with gets really hungry from weightifting and you might end up gaining fat or struggling as h*ll to just maintain the caloriebalance. This is because of when you do weighlifting or intervalltraining the body releases growth hormones that stimulates overeating to secure growth, and those hormones will make it harder for you to loose the weight. So rather choose walks or something similar.

[claireelis]

thanks for the tips marialinn. the medication that my doctor prescribed actually turns out to be for low thyroid function. i didn't get a test done though - i'll ask for that next time i'm there. but what you're saying about depression is also definitely me lately - i switch back and forth so much lately it's unbelievable - so not me. my best friend describes me as a rock but i guess i'm changing.

[MariaLinn]

Well that seems really wierd that your doctor puts you on a medicine without even as much as a blood test for thyroid dysfunktion since those meds messes with your hormones and the disease itself often has got very diffuse symptoms and can easily be misstaken...

Hope you ll feel better with the meds when your hormone system stabilizes after a while

[claireelis]

i must admit that i have more energy after an injection. i have 2 more to go - then i can discontinue without messing anything up. i will talk to my doc about my *measuring* the levels!

[MariaLinn]

Great! Then its probably working Hope everything works out for you.

[claireelis]

thanks yes things are getting better

[RRM]

thanks yes things are getting better

That doesnt mean that its good for you.
First you need a proper diagnosis.
Medicating you without such a diagnosis is extremely irresponsible.

[claireelis]

i must defend my doctor a bit: first off it's antroposophic medication - not traditional. The prescription was based on carefully recorded body temperature (consistently between 35 and max 36.1 degrees celcius) and inexplicable weight gain, plus other symptoms. Also, over the past year I've had a lot of blood tests done, so although I hadn't had one done the day he prescribed it most likely it was also partially based on previous measurements.

But I agree - take medication with caution AND it's ones own responsibility - don't just take anything, think about it and see if you agree with your doctor - they're people too and can make mistakes

But, anyway I've stopped for now. If my symptoms return I'll consider taking it again.

[HelenaD]

Have you talked to your doctor or a nutritionist about your metabolism issues due to your illness? They may be able to help you understand how to jump start your metabolism or get it to work harder. When it comes to illnesses affecting one's metabolism, I would think your doctor or a specialist would be able to help you much better than a fellow dieter.

[Oscar]

Helena, you're reacting to a thread from 2008.