Disappointed in weight loss. Can't eat enough calories.

[Denninmi]

Ok, weird situation. Been having trouble eating for a month at least, I am getting between 600 and 1000 cals a day based on my estimates which are fairly accurate. I was drinking way too much full-sugar pop prior, like 6 cans a day prior to August, completely quit.

47 yo male, 6 ft tall, about 200 lbs when started. Been walking for 3 weeks, avg 5 miles a day.

Now lost about 7 lbs maybe. Feel it should be more.

I think it's due to poor eating, not enough cals. Trying to do better, but hard with no appetite.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[K8-EEE]

1. I would go in for a thyroid check

It does sound like there is something off.

7 lbs is fine for 3 weeks but it seems you are under-eating. 600 calories for a 6 foot male is one step above starvation.

What is the problem with your eating? Why are you "having trouble" eating?

[rox63]

2. You are definitely taking in too few calories

I would see a doctor and a nutritionist. That low amount of calories can force your body into starvation mode, where it hoards all the fuel that it can.

[Denninmi]

3. Thanks. I have a complete physical scheduled a week from today with my PCP.

Plus, I had blood drawn monday under orders from a different physician for a panel of various things.

I think basically, as 2nd poster said, it's the "starvation mode" thing. Just can't force myself to eat, everything basically seems disguting to me after 2-3 bites.

[BklnDem75]

4. Have you tried nuts?

I eat 5 times a day, two being snack time with pistachios. Has just enough calories to keep my body from thinking it's starving. Lost 5.8 pounds this week.

[auntAgonist]

8. Did you see your Dr this past week ? Any idea what's going on ?

I hope you're feeling better.

aA
kesha

[blue moon 2012]

5. You have lost your appetite?

Good! You know what is happening? DETOX!

Notice how animals always fast when they are sick? But human beings, in their infinite "wisdom," shove food down their kids' throats when they are not hungry when ill.

The body has an amazing intelligence if we get out of its way. It will lead you. If you are not hungry, it is throwing off all the poisons you consumed while eating SAD (Standard American Diet). The fact that you haven't started to lose major calories may just be an adjustment of the body. I would have to know exactly what you are eating to fully be able to comment, though.

[auntAgonist]

6. This person is no longer a member of DU

[be still and know]

7. Never say never.

Any thoughts on my post? Or are you just interested in playing hall monitor?

[caraher]

9. How is it going now?

It does look like you were consuming too little, though your weight loss rate of 2 pounds/week isn't bad. A good rule of thumb is 3500 cal/week gives a 1 pound/week loss rate.

I lost 40 pounds this year using My Fitness Pal, a free site (with apps for most mobile devices) that helps you set goals and log food intake and exercise. I'm 48 and started at 210 lbs, 5' 10" so we're pretty close in size. What I've found is that tracking everything makes me exercise a LOT more (I'm biking 15-20 miles most days) and helps cut down on mindless eating.

[Denninmi]

10. Still zip, basically at the same place, and doing a lot of biking.

I put 130 miles on my bike in 9 days. Trying to eat more, my appetite is coming back a little, although mainly things like salads that look good to me.

[caraher]

11. If you need more calories...

maybe there are some things you can to do charge up the things you will eat. Maybe try salad dressings with more calories (or adding other calorie-dense items). The suggestion upthread to try nuts seems like a good one in keeping with your proclivities.

One huge difference between your experience and mine is the appetite. What got me going on exercising more was partly that while I could manage to limit myself to an appropriate number of calories on low/no exercise days, I really looked forward to dessert at the end of the day. Only by exercising more could I "buy" enough calories to do that regularly.

Anyway, good luck with this!

[Denninmi]

12. Thanks.

It just makes NO sense to me. Riding my bike close to 20 miles a day. And zip.

Either I'm seriously understimating my caloric intake, since I am not measuring food except visually, or my metabolism is seriously screwed up. I am pretty good at estimating portions and calories as I have done weight watchers more than once,so I don't think this is the problem.

I have some very complex medical stuff going on, including several new drugs I recently started in the past 2 weeks, maybe that ??? Also severe untreated at this point sleep apnea when I do sleep, severe insomnia too. I'm pretty much a medical walking disaster in some ways.

However, at some point simple physics should dictate I lose weight.