When is it time to ask your doctor if something is preventing weight loss

[Anonymous]

OP here. I've entered my weight on several standard metabolic rate calculators online. At 6' 225 this is what I am told:

Maintain weight
3,067 100%
Calories/day

Mild weight loss
0.5 lb/week
2,817 92%
Calories/day

Weight loss
1 lb/week
2,567 84%
Calories/day

Extreme weight loss
2 lb/week
2,067 67%
Calories/day

Surely 1800 even if I'm off by a small bit, would be well below what is advertised for someone my height and weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1800 calories sounds like quite a lot. For people that were previously heavier, those estimates of calorie requirements are not accurate, unfortunately.

If you want to lose more weight, you will need to eat less.

Don't listen to this, OP. 1800 is healthy number for 6' tall male. Don't kill your metabolism for quick weight loss. Just keep going, and remember that it doesn't really matter what's your weight going to be tomorrow. Much more important is what is your weight in a year from now.

I think 1800 is ok, but you might be eating more calories than you think. Things like cookie oil, salad dressing, cream in coffee, can add up a lot if not measured and accounted for. Also, fruit is often a lot bigger than what the calorie calculations account for. It may say 80 calories for a apple, but the apple could be 200+ calories if it is very large. Same thing for bananas.

+1 are you weighing your food and measuring out all oils and sauces (and counting them)?

I think a pound a week is pretty normal, and if you are exercising a lot your muscles will retain more water than you'd think. Are you eating salty foods? I agree with PPs that going completely grain free might not be helping you and flax, oatmeal, might help at breakfast. Make sure you are drinking enough water (I'm a petite woman and I aim for 3L per day), and get tons of sleep. If in a month you aren't down another 3 or 4 pounds then maybe see a doctor but otherwise it could be stress, hormones, extra calories, water retention, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1800 calories sounds like quite a lot. For people that were previously heavier, those estimates of calorie requirements are not accurate, unfortunately.

If you want to lose more weight, you will need to eat less.

Don't listen to this, OP. 1800 is healthy number for 6' tall male. Don't kill your metabolism for quick weight loss. Just keep going, and remember that it doesn't really matter what's your weight going to be tomorrow. Much more important is what is your weight in a year from now.

I think 1800 is ok, but you might be eating more calories than you think. Things like cookie oil, salad dressing, cream in coffee, can add up a lot if not measured and accounted for. Also, fruit is often a lot bigger than what the calorie calculations account for. It may say 80 calories for a apple, but the apple could be 200+ calories if it is very large. Same thing for bananas.

+1 are you weighing your food and measuring out all oils and sauces (and counting them)?

I think a pound a week is pretty normal, and if you are exercising a lot your muscles will retain more water than you'd think. Are you eating salty foods? I agree with PPs that going completely grain free might not be helping you and flax, oatmeal, might help at breakfast. Make sure you are drinking enough water (I'm a petite woman and I aim for 3L per day), and get tons of sleep. If in a month you aren't down another 3 or 4 pounds then maybe see a doctor but otherwise it could be stress, hormones, extra calories, water retention, etc.

I am being extremely careful in sorting out my food weight. I don't even eat salad dressing. I drink my coffee black. I eat 1 apple a day. Otherwise I eat veggies and not fruits. Salmon, egg whites, lean chicken on arugula. I don't do sauces. I could stand to drink more water.

[Anonymous]

Think how long it took it to add on the extra weight you want to get rid of. Give yourself the same amount of time to get it off. Don’t expect a years worth of weight gain to come off in weeks. The body doesn’t like drastic change. It tries hard to maintain homeostasis. Be patient with your loss and let it happen slowly. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you medically

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Think how long it took it to add on the extra weight you want to get rid of. Give yourself the same amount of time to get it off. Don’t expect a years worth of weight gain to come off in weeks. The body doesn’t like drastic change. It tries hard to maintain homeostasis. Be patient with your loss and let it happen slowly. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you medically

OK that is good to hear. I just wanted to know when I should get concerned. After 11 weeks of perfection, since I've been told 1-2 lbs of loss a week is normal, I would expect an 11-15 lbs loss. Not a 10 lbs loss and then a 3 lb gain.

[Anonymous]

I flipping love how, no matter what, the person who wants to lose weight and is unable to is assumed to be doing it wrong.

You could give it a few days - a stint in the hospital can mess up your circadian rhythms and all that stuff, to say nothing of how much narcotics can mess with your system. Yes, the 3 pounds could be constipation, but it’s more likely to be water weight. The PP who said IVs really pour water into you was right.

But if you’re still eating 1800 calories and can’t lose weight, yes, I would talk to my doctor. It’s also possible that CICO isn’t going to work for you. You might need more fat. You might need more protein. You aren’t quite a yo yo dieter, but you might have done some metabolism damage over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I flipping love how, no matter what, the person who wants to lose weight and is unable to is assumed to be doing it wrong.

You could give it a few days - a stint in the hospital can mess up your circadian rhythms and all that stuff, to say nothing of how much narcotics can mess with your system. Yes, the 3 pounds could be constipation, but it’s more likely to be water weight. The PP who said IVs really pour water into you was right.

But if you’re still eating 1800 calories and can’t lose weight, yes, I would talk to my doctor. It’s also possible that CICO isn’t going to work for you. You might need more fat. You might need more protein. You aren’t quite a yo yo dieter, but you might have done some metabolism damage over the years.

I had gave birth from a baby and came home from the hospital 2 lbs heavier. Go figure that one out

[Anonymous]

Your expectations of a fast weight loss may be out line with how this works for many people. If you’re consistently losing a pound a week, you are doing well. People who are morbidly obese can loose more per week, but as they get closer to a normal BMI the rate of loss slows down. Weight loss gets slower/harder as you age. Sounds like you have a good plan and are doing well - focus on the positive, good outcomes and dial back the too high expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your expectations of a fast weight loss may be out line with how this works for many people. If you’re consistently losing a pound a week, you are doing well. People who are morbidly obese can loose more per week, but as they get closer to a normal BMI the rate of loss slows down. Weight loss gets slower/harder as you age. Sounds like you have a good plan and are doing well - focus on the positive, good outcomes and dial back the too high expectations.

fair enough, but assuming i keep it up for 6 months and never drop more than 10-12 lbs, would it be fair to seek medical guidance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I eat no more than 1800 calories a day. I've looked up my metabolic rate stuff (in terms of what I need to make a calorie deficit at 6' 225 lbs now) and it says I shouldnt go below 1800.

I eat zero bread or grains.

I eat only fish, lean protein, and good fats and veggies. Like anal about it.

Why zero grains? what Do you mean by lean protein? Maybe you need to add in some grains and subtract some of the protein

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I eat no more than 1800 calories a day. I've looked up my metabolic rate stuff (in terms of what I need to make a calorie deficit at 6' 225 lbs now) and it says I shouldnt go below 1800.

I eat zero bread or grains.

I eat only fish, lean protein, and good fats and veggies. Like anal about it.

Why zero grains? what Do you mean by lean protein? Maybe you need to add in some grains and subtract some of the protein

Also, one pound a week may just be the amount you have to put up with. One to two pounds a week is considered healthy weight loss. More than that is considered less healthy.

[Anonymous]

You should use the lose it app or my fitness pal

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't see the harm in asking your doctor. Wait until the hospital issues have cleared and then make an appointment. You could also ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

I don't necessarily think the doc is going to find anything wrong with you, or even be particularly concerned about your weight, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm seeking some advice. Overweight mid 30s guy. I've been down this road before. Lost 30-45 lbs several times in my life. I'm 6' my idea weight on my frame would be 185-190.

This past year I hit my heaviest again (236lbs.)

For 11 weeks now, I've created a 500-750 calorie deficit each day. Eaten as lean and clean as you can. And worked out (a mix of sprint HIIT, cardio, and weights) 5-6 days a week.

Yes, I've lost weight but not much. Just 10 lbs down in 11 weeks. Given how extreme and perfect I've been that seems off to me. It's barely 1 lb per week. Given the calorie deficit it doesn't feel like a plateau.

I should add too that I had a kidney stone last week, spent the night in the ER, and ate like a bird for 3 days. Nothing sounded good. I gained 3 lbs!!!! Like how is that even possible? Yes I am constipated from the narcotics, but that wouldn't lead to a 3 lb gain would it.

I've scheduled an appt. with my doctor, but I'm not sure what to ask him to test for. I've never had this issue when trying to lose weight. I've been told not to restrict anymore calories than I already am.

Please advise. Only other thing I can think of is I'm under tremendous stress at home and at work, but calories in calories out no?

This issue is that this isnt sustainable. Find a coach. A real one. Join the MACROS group on FB and hire one of the coaches there for 3 months and see if you have more improvement. It isnt sustainable because youve done it again and again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't see the harm in asking your doctor. Wait until the hospital issues have cleared and then make an appointment. You could also ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

I don't necessarily think the doc is going to find anything wrong with you, or even be particularly concerned about your weight, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

+1. There's nothing wrong with asking. You don't have to know the answer just to ask.