Been exercising for 4 weeks... lost 4 pounds.

[Deja Q]

Of course, I also have to wait another month before the absolute minimum time when I can get a HIV test (3 months minimum, 6 mo recommended)... so it may not be the exercise and diet adjustment that's causing the weight loss...

[NMDemDist2]

1. it would only be worry, HIV doesn't cause weight loss that fast

:hug:

[Deja Q]

3. Thx

I haven't had any other (likely) early symptoms. Personally, I think I didn't put myself in danger (nothing nasty, I've an eczema outbreak on my hands and that leaves me at risk and that's all it takes...)

I didn't think exercise and diet change (eating breakfast and small portions often throughout the day, less at night, tallying up to 1700 cal or less, though tonight I cheated at a buffer... :-) Food components are the same; steamed veggies and basic lean meats like tuna or ground turkey. Very basic stuff.) would cause 4 pounds to go that quickly but many have commented I have lost weight (my gut has shrunk a little but the big difference is in my facial features, they're almost defined now. :-) )

[Droopy]

2. A pound a week is healthy. nt

[DAGDA56]

4. Good luck on the test, but the weight loss is OK...

...I would love to weigh 52 pounds less half way thru Kerry's first year. Positive visualization can be very cool.

[Lisa]

5. how about fatigue?

4 weeks into exercising, are you noticing faster recovery after working out, and/or feeling that you can run/swim/bike further? That should be enough time to notice a positive change. Good for you for making yourself healthier!

p.s. a colleague at work, a medical geography (his name is Harry Foster and he has publications on this) has been doing research that suggests that certain nutrients, particularly selenium, can be beneficial for treating a variety of diseases, including HIV. While this is a controversial theory and still being tested, there are a lot of reasons why selenium is pretty important in the body. It's found in a number of foods, such as Brazil nuts. I started eating selenium-rich foods last year, and didn't have my usual winter cold. Could be a coincidence, but ...

http://www.islandnet.com/~legends/fostertheory.htm



My mom, a nurse, agrees that a pound per week isn't excessive, especially since you've been exercising as well as watching your diet. (If you were dropping weight and you hadn't changed your habits, that would be different.) She also says that if the weight loss is showing in your face, you've evidently been working at this seriously (and adds that I should get my butt off the couch and follow your good example).

[Deja Q]

7. Yes and no... Regardless, thx for the cheer and advice! ...

Yes, I can exercise longer and feel better throughout the day to an extent. Especally whe using the elliptical trainer backwards, there's an awesome improvement.

No, as I still feel fatigued constantly. The last 2 months had been a bit more fatigued, but I've had stress conditions at work as well.

There are too many circumstances to pin this on HIV, but I will be getting tested in a month, definitely.

I will look into selenium as well!

I hadn't used the elliptical since July 4 when I climbed a steep 12 story staircase (my legs had hurt for over a week and decided not to overexert until they felt better), but I'd been doing a lot more of walking at work - more than I usually do. I *DO* intend to get back on the thing as of tomorrow as I want do rather want to reach my goal by October (~30 pounds but I doubt I'll make such a steep amount.)

[Lisa]

8. the work stress would explain that fatigue ...

Plus the additional worry you've got while waiting to get tested, I suspect. I know how tiring work stress can be, firsthand. I just finished a teaching overload these past few months -- plus having to deal with an office with notoriously poor air quality which was making me and my colleagues ill. And even though I was eating healthy meals, getting 8 hours or more of sleep, and walking longer distances to my job -- I would just crash on the weekends. I'm starting to feel better now, but at the price of postponing a bunch of work so I could goof off for 2 weeks and not have to worry about being anywhere at a specific time!

So if you're feeling better after exercise and can go for longer periods, I think you're definitely doing something right. Hope the work situation improves, and good luck with the test!

[dflprincess]

6. Everything I read says a 1-2 pound loss a week is healthy

and, you may have added some muscle. Of course, if you're a "woman of a certain age" you're lucky if you can loss 1/16 of a pound per week...But before I digress into a rant about how my metabolism has gone into reverse...

Good luck with your test.

[worksux]

10. oh dear, dflprincess, what age is that?

I am a female turned 40 on 30 June this year.
I lost a ton of weight in 2002 just walking, but got a job I didn't like, lost it in 2003 then had back surgery for herniated disc L3 for anybody who knows what that means ( I don't)
so I've put on almost all the weight I lost except for 10 pounds.
thanks,
K.

[dflprincess]

13. There was a slow down after I hit 40

but when I hit 50 last year - that's when it went into reverse. My mother warned me that would happen. I did read somewhere that one reason this happens is that the more body fat you have, the more estrogen you retain so this is the body's desperate attempt to hold on to estrogen. I really only want to lose about 10 pounds but it seems I manage to lose a couple pounds then it comes back - all I have to do is skip a day or two of walking.

[BiggJawn]

9. That's about what I'm doing...

Around 4 pounds a month....And I'm not thinking it's HIV, shit, you gotta *DO* something to catch HIV....

How big a weight loss you trying for, Toad?

[pagerbear]

11. My advice: don't focus on numbers

Numbers make me crazy. You say you've noticed changes in your appearance and your endurance--those are great results for one month's work. Why look for opportunities to beat yourself up?

[TrogL]

12. Have you had flu symptoms?

[Deja Q]

14. Early on, afor a couple of days, I did feel kinda ill.

But it could have been as much dehydration along with any other possibility...