[boicrazy3188 (OP)]

Okay, so for the past 5 days I have been eating nonstop, all junk like candy, ice cream blah blah blah. I figure, if I'm going to get lipodrene(a diet pill), I have nothing to worry about. I have been taking Chromium Picolinate (promotes sugar and fat metabolism) and thats it, no exercise and no water. I have went down from 186 to 184 today (thats weighing myself at noon after eating, so I probably weight less in the morning-also I have weighted myself everyday and it's always been a little bit lower than the next day like 186 to 185.6 to 185.2 etc). So, why have I lost weight?

I know my metabolism may be screwed up due to diet pills and yo-yo dieting because when ever I eat like 1600 calories I don't lose weight at all. It really seems like the more I eat, the less I weigh. Please help. I need to understand why my body is doing this, And if I can speed it up by exercising more and still eating alot.

[another_someone]

The following is my own personal observation, and not based on any medical knowledge.

I have always found that weight has far more to do with mood than with food.

Generally, aside from short term fluctuations, my metabolism adapts to the amount of food I eat – I eat more, I burn off more, I eat less, I burn off less.  What I do find is that if I am depressed, my metabolism is depressed, and I burn off less (without any change in the amount I eat); whereas if I feel excited about something, my metabolism starts burning more calories (without any change in exercise or food intake).

I am also never quite sure if variations in air density (due to air pressure, air temperature, or humidity) might not effect one's measured weight.  Certainly, I find a variation in weight over the course of a day that could possibly be the consequence of changes in air density over the day (i.e. dense air gives greater buoyancy, and thus less weight).

George

[ukmicky]

one day to the next my body weight can fluctuate by as much as 2 pounds.

Michael

[another_someone]

quote:Originally posted by ukmicky
one day to the next my body weight can fluctuate by as much as 2 pounds.

Easily by 2lbs, and I don't consider a weight change of less than 2Kg as significant (although 2Kg only amounts to a 1.8% change in my weight).

George

[boicrazy3188 (OP)]

But don't you think I should be going the other way? I mean, I'm probably eating over 3000 calories a day and I've slowly been going down the past five days. When I eat 1400-1600 calories a day I maintain, but I never lose weight eating low calorie. Now this happens, and it really makes me wonder.

[another_someone]

quote:Originally posted by boicrazy3188

But don't you think I should be going the other way? I mean, I'm probably eating over 3000 calories a day and I've slowly been going down the past five days. When I eat 1400-1600 calories a day I maintain, but I never lose weight eating low calorie. Now this happens, and it really makes me wonder.

My expectation, and observation, is that unless you are literally at starvation levels, calorie controlled diets do not work.  The only diet I have regularly seen work (although I have not myself tried it) is the Atkins diet, which actually includes a substantial amount of fat, but low carbs.  There is much controversy about the other health implications of the Atkins diet, although my own view is that anything that causes rapid weight loss will have health problems associated with it, and the only reason most of the other weight control regimes don't come with significant health warnings is because they don't work.

I am not say that losing weight is inherently a bad thing (depending upon what weight you are losing from), only that if the regime works too well at losing weight, then in my view it carries sufficient risk that it should only be done under medical supervision.

Since we know that people with hypothyroidism are almost always overweight, and with hyperthyroidism are almost always underweight, thus it is clear that changes in thyroid function have a greater impact on body weight than the number of calories you eat.  The question that then arises as to what can be done to manipulate the thyroid gland.  One thing that can make a difference is the level of iodine in the diet, since iodine is used by the thyroid gland.  Beyond that, as I said before, I am certain there is a substantial psychological aspect to the amount of calories you burn.

George

[boicrazy3188 (OP)]

You know, I have always thought that maybe I had hypothyroidism. For years no matter what I do I seem to stay at the same weight around 185 pounds. I'm 18 so kindof young, but could I have this? How do I find out? and what can I do? It seems like the only explination, or a good excuse.

[another_someone]

quote:Originally posted by boicrazy3188

You know, I have always thought that maybe I had hypothyroidism. For years no matter what I do I seem to stay at the same weight around 185 pounds. I'm 18 so kindof young, but could I have this? How do I find out? and what can I do? It seems like the only explination, or a good excuse.

It may be only an excuse, or it may be real – the only way to find out is to get a blood test for it.  Ask your GP for a blood test – then at least you'll know, rather than merely speculate.

There are other hormonal imbalances that can also cause increased weight.  You don't say what gender you are, but for women, I believe that things like PCO may cause weight gain.

George

[boicrazy3188 (OP)]

Okay now we're getting somewhere! Okay so here are my stats:
18 y/o female
184 pounds
5 ft 3
Have been trying to lose weight since age 11.

It seems that I always tend to keep my intake to about 1600-1800 calories everyday even if I am not trying. I think I'm suppose to be around 2050 calories at a sedentary lifestyle. Thats alot of calories for me. Any less and I don't lose.  

What is GP? Can I buy a blood test anywhere?

And what is PCO?
I really think this may be more serious than I thought, or like a said before, A good excuse as to why i'm not losing.

btw here is a sample menu I would typically eat:
Breafast: bagel and margarine *300 calories*
snack: chips *150 calories*
Lunch: Peanut butter sandwich *350 calories*
snack: anything at home that sounds good
dinner: vegetables, bread, and hamburge helper *~700 calories*
water or diet soda, I don't drink anything else

so depending on what I eat, its always around 1600 to 1800.

[Carolyn]

GP is general practitioner or your family physician.

PCO is commonly known as PCOS or PCOD which is polycystic ovarian syndrome/disease.  You can google pcos and get lots of info or click on the link below.  My daughter has PCOS and is also 18. Don't let all the info scare you.  It's not a death sentence.  If you have the symptoms, see your doctor for help.

Have to go for now - keyboard is dying on me.  Good luck.

http://www.womentowomen.com/insulinresistance/pcos.asp?id=1&campaignno=pcos&adgroup=adgroup1&keywords=pcos

Carolyn

[boicrazy3188 (OP)]

Alright, so I weighed myself this morning and I lost another .4 lbs. Its got me very excited, but very confused!

[tootsie78]

Jeepers!  Wish I could lose while pigging out!  You actually may have hyperthyroidism, which is *over*active thyroid, which causes your metabolism to be majorly high & outta whack!  GL!

Joy

[moonfire]

I agree with Joy, but you are awfully young...you said sedentary lifestyle...what is your typical daily routine?  I had Hypothyroidism...I couldn't lose weight at all until I changed my diet and exercise...I definitely agree with George you should see your GP and get a physical just to make sure and rule out everything it may not be.

"Lo" Loretta