Struggling with losing weight.

[ne0natas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ne0natas]

Hey guys. Over the past 5 or 6 months I've lost at least 30-35 lbs. Right now I weigh 114. This has been made even more difficult due to the fact that I started taking Ritalin about 6 weeks ago. I got down to 110 so I've only 4 lbs back. My doctor wants me to slowly increase my dose 10 more mgs if I can. I am really struggling here, I want to get back to an average weight. Also, I have no idea how many calories I've been taking in a day. Maybe 1000 at best. So I know I need to increase that for sure. Really need some suggestions.

[drfrankencock Senior Member Member of the Month Oct 2014PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close drfrankencock]

What caused the weight loss?

[Qandisa Senior Member Member of the Month March 2016 Find all posts View Profile Close Qandisa]

There are likely 2 main possible sources, diet and medical conditions.

If the problem is diet, there's a fantastic resource website/app called MyFitnessPal. It's designed for people who want to get to/maintain a healthier lifestyle, whether that's losing weight (for most of us) or gaining it etc. You can track what you're eating and it will tell you exactly how much calories, how much protein etc you're consuming. Don't let the fact that it says something about being the healthy way to lose weight deter you, when you sign up (free) and put in your current weight and your goal weight it should be able to handle the fact that you're wanting to GAIN, not LOSE.

If you're really eating only 1000 calories a day then you'll definitely be wanting to increase that, and my guess would be that you're not eating nearly enough protein. But the website/app will track all that for you and tell you where you're too low and too high.

If your calorie intake is just fine and you're still losing weight then you'll want wanting to look at factors like stress and possible medical conditions. My guess is that likely before taking any course of action your doctor would want to adjust your diet, so if you can take a look at that and track what you're eating then you can take those reports and stats in to your doctor and say here look, this is my diet, I'm still losing weight, what's going on?

[ne0natas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ne0natas]

The weight lose is due to a lot of things. But mainly due to the fact that I slipped in a severe depression including an incredible amount of anxiety. I had to be hospitalized for a period of time and was unable to work anymore. Also I had to quit drinking which was extremely difficult as well. All of this and many medication changes, including introducing ritalin (which decreases appetite) because I had gone through so much that it had also affected me on a cognitive level. My ability to focus and concentrate were horrible, and my memory took a huge hit too. Which is why the ritalin was added. So I'm positive this is the reasoning behind my weight loss and struggling to gain it back, being that I still have my bad days and am not back in the workforce yet. Things have gotten better though and I'm hoping to be working again soon.

[ne0natas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ne0natas]

Oh and I'm doing Nofap PMO. I'm at 30 days but am still having some withdrawal symtoms.

[drfrankencock Senior Member Member of the Month Oct 2014PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close drfrankencock]

Thanks for sharing that information. I totally understand and can relate to rapid weight loss due to extreme stress and anxiety. Getting back to the weight you were at will and should take some time. Even if you could do it, you don't want to just eat as much as you can and get fat. It's unhealthy and will only make your problems way worse.

If you were drinking a lot then quitting that alone will cause significant weight loss.

It sounds like you have so much going on in your life that worrying too much about gaining back the weight will only harm you. The best advice I can offer is to do whatever you can to eat a few decent meals each day and get the nutrients you need for survival and general health. Getting back to where you were is going to take time, but it will happen naturally as the stress factors you are dealing with now are resolved.

If you can get your employment situation worked out and join a gym you will have a huge advantage. Due to the way you have lost this weight, your body will eventually want to gain it back, and then some. If you can time it so that you start gaining back weight while working out (which is a stress and depression reducer in itself) you will probably be very happy with the results and consider this experience something you are grateful for in hindsight.

I wish you the best of luck in your recovery. Shit happens in life and you're lucky to have the opportunity to change and move towards a brighter future. Keep working at your goals. Work with your doc to make sure you have the right combination of meds. And the weight issue will start resolving itself within a short time.

You may want to consider taking a multivitamin. Walmart's Equate brand of men's one-a-day multivitamin is around $4 for a bottle of 120. If you're not already taking something, I suggest you do so just to be sure you're getting the basic nutrients and don't wind up with brittle nails or chipped teeth.

You're gonna be okay friend. It's a process. But you're on the right track!

All the best!

[Sir_Laid_A_Lot Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Sir_Laid_A_Lot]

Your weight is dangerously low ..... How tall are you ? Just wondering ..... I am 5'6 and I weigh 141 pounds .....

[ProGasmDave Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ProGasmDave]

Out of curiosity do you have any physical ailments?

[Zman007 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Zman007]

1000 calories too day is far far too low as is your weight.

Try this, I call it my Poor Man's Mass Gainer and use it with clients fairly regularily.

2 Scoops Chocolate Protein Powder
A huge scoop of peanut butter
1 Shot glass of Olive Oil
2 Cups Milk, Almond Milk if you can't tolerate dairy.

Comes out to about 1000 calories per shake, fairly easy to get down, and tastes like a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup, or at least as good as you could hope for and is dirt cheap to make. Fit in one of those in addition to your normal food intake should help, I've even had people do two a day. Even if you don't have an appetite, it shouldn't be terrible to get down and vital you increase the amount of calories and quality nutrition you are consuming.

[ejakulator Member Find all posts View Profile Close ejakulator]

hey man, I struggled with weight a little. I wasn't overweight, but i wanted to get cut. The one thing i can stand behind 100% are either hill sprints (it's a love hate thing) and full blown treadmill sprints (which is what i think treadmills are best suited for). If you want, look up good treadmill/hill running intervals. I shed about 20 pounds from September to December a few years ago because your metabolism just goes insane. i also took a lot of unnecessary carbs out of the equation and replaced them with protein (lean red meat, chicken breast, egg whites, greek yogurt, whey powder, fish) & healthier fats (olive oil, nuts, fish omegas, avocado). I ditched sugar completely and also i stave off the dairy cravings as much as i can but it's not easy. Come on, cheese is fucking amazing. Also, lift heavy, burns way more calories. take care brethren. Don't starve yourself, it just slows metabolism too. eat smaller meals, with adequate portions/cardio a few times a week and you'll be a new man when summer shows itself! stay healthy gym.

[ejakulator Member Find all posts View Profile Close ejakulator]

so i the title threw me off, sorry man, i thought you were trying to lose weight. just take a mass gainer found at any protein purveyor.

[Jaw Breaker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaw Breaker]

It's a LOT easier to drink calories than it is to eat them. I would highly suggest adding a shake/smoothie or two to your daily caloric intake. There are tons of tasty and healthy recipes online to try if you have a blender handy.

so i the title threw me off, sorry man, i thought you were trying to lose weight. just take a mass gainer found at any protein purveyor.

Those are usually loaded with sugar and other garbage, unfortunately.

[ne0natas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ne0natas]

I am also 5'6" tall. But yes, I know it's way too low. I actually went to the ER not long ago when I was at 110 because I was having some brief dull heart pains from time to time. They made sure I was ok. Did blood tests and ekg. I'm not having those anymore, though I think what it may have been was slight heart palpitations perhaps.
They only physical ailment I have is chronic back pain.