Dropping Weight

[Anonymous]

I've been under some stress lately (yes, that's me there on the hardest thing you are going through right now thread). I also had an orthopedic surgery about a month ago. Since then, I really just have not felt like eating. I started eating less when the stress really hit a couple of months ago but now I am eating very little. I just don't feel like it. I did eat a full plate at Thanksgiving, and I will eat if we have a family dinner, but unless it is something special I really don't eat much. I just don't feel like it.

I've dropped 10 pounds in the last month and about 17 pounds from my summer high. I was planning to lose some weight anyway, but I just blew through my goal at the end of last week and the numbers keep dropping.

I have to see somebody about this at some point, right? When? I've weighed 8 pounds less than this within the last 5 years (also at a very stressful time), but that is starting to get down there (my war camp survivor look, my mom says).

[Anonymous]

Are you depressed? A very similar thing happened to me a couple years ago after a very tough recovery after orthopedic surgery. I also had no appetite and dropped about 15 pounds. You should talk to your PCP, especially if you think the weight loss is depression related.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like depression. I agree with PP about seeing your PCP. I hope you feel better.

[Anonymous]

Yep, depression. Meds gave me my appetite back.

[Anonymous]

I just dropped about 8 lbs this month following a really painful breakup. Depressed so not a lot of interest in eating. Yes, see your doctor if it's been a few months.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs. I just started an antidepressant a week ago so maybe it will kick in soon. My doc said it may take 3 weeks to fully kick in. If I keep dropping this fast I'll ask him to up the dose sooner. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Upping the dose won't make it kick in sooner. It takes time no matter what the dose to reach a therapeutic level. Usually if it isn't working at three weeks, at that point they'll raise the dose. You might find that your appetite comes back before you reach the right level of medication to fully treat your depression. Sometimes the meds will get at the physical symptoms of depression first but you need a higher dose to fully get at the depression. And sometimes you have to try several meds to get the right one. This happened to me -- I also stopped eating when I was depressed. The meds got rid of the worst of it within a month but it took longer to find the right medication and dose.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. We'll see how it goes, I guess.

[Anonymous]

I went through something similar several months ago. After 3 or 4 weeks, I started eating again. My hair has been thinning ever since, even though I'm taking vitamins and using Rogaine. I strongly recommend eating protein, even if you don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Does the rogaine work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the rogaine work?

The box and the dermatologist said it takes 3-6 months to see a difference. I'll get back to you in the spring with an answer.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs. OP here with a slight vent/spin off. I said something this morning to my husband about dropping so much weight and to let me know when I get too skinny. He said he thought a couple more pounds would be ok. I said if I went below two or three more pounds I had to stop because of what my mom said. He dismissed what she said and said he didn't think I was too thin then. (Can you guess part of my stress?!)

Clearly I am not going to get a realistic read from him. Can you guys help?

I'm 47, 5'4" and currently 118. I've had two kids if that matters. Thin to medium build, no boobs. I was aiming for 120 and he says go to 115 or below. Eek.

[Anonymous]

When you don't eat, you lose muscle mass. Is that what you're going for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. OP here with a slight vent/spin off. I said something this morning to my husband about dropping so much weight and to let me know when I get too skinny. He said he thought a couple more pounds would be ok. I said if I went below two or three more pounds I had to stop because of what my mom said. He dismissed what she said and said he didn't think I was too thin then. (Can you guess part of my stress?!)

Clearly I am not going to get a realistic read from him. Can you guys help?

I'm 47, 5'4" and currently 118. I've had two kids if that matters. Thin to medium build, no boobs. I was aiming for 120 and he says go to 115 or below. Eek.

OK don't ask your DH about your weight. Its your body, you be the judge. If this kind of judgment he's making is an ongoing issue in your marriage, step one is not to ask for it. It sounds like your mom tells you what is OK and your DH tells you what is OK and you are relying too much on what others say and not making your own decisions.

Your weight doesn't matter as much as the reason. if you lose weight because you are eating healthy and working out, thats great. if you are losing weight because you aren't eating, especially if you are depressed, it doesn't matter what you weigh its not good. You need to completely lose the idea of a number or even a physical weight, what you look like. You need to get healthy, thats all that matters.

Are you also in therapy? Meds alone aren't great, meds plus therapy is really the ticket. And if your GP is prescribing your meds you should see a psychiatrist because this is a specialized aspect of medicine.

[Anonymous]

OP, not eating is going to worsen any other depression symptoms you have.