[Moose72]

I started going to a nutrition class at my psychiatrist's office last week. I went again today and after had a private 1-hour session with the nutritionist. She asked me what I eat every day. Bottom line is I'm not eating enough. My body is in starvation mode and saving all the calories as fat and using my muscles for energy instead of fat. It's storing what I do eat as more fat hence the 30 pounds Ive put on lately. She said I need regular meals and she gave me times to eat based on when I get up and go to sleep. I told her I'm not hungry at all and she said that's part of the starvation. Eating more will bring back my appetite. So I just went to the grocery store and got a variety of foods without getting junk food. We're supposed to have an ice storm with 1-3 inches of snow. I hope we don't lose power! The power company has been running radio ads saying they're upgrading the infrastructure aiming for faster turnaround times when the power does go out. Tomorrow I'll be staying in. I wonder if the storm will affect choir rehearsal tomorrow evening.

The doctor I saw said I feel fluish because I'm having withdrawal from my psych meds. But I restarted them last night and this morning so I don't know. Now that I just ate real food I feel somewhat better. We'll have to see how I feel as the days progress.

[Blueberrybook]

Maybe yes, maybe no? If you're starving, I don't see how you can still put on 30 lb.? Maybe? I know starving yourself DOES slow down your metabolism. I had a horrible time getting my metabolism going recovering from the worst bout of anorexia I had in college. When I gained the weight back, it came on rapidly and was distributed weirdly. Took a good 6 months, maybe more for things to level out.

I DO know that one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight is to eat regular meals and snacks whether you feel like it or not. Obviously a healthy, balanced diet is important, and it is not good to consume empty calories on drinks like soda, frappucinos, etc and junk food. Exercise, too, helps boost your metabolism.

[Moose72]

She said my body is using my muscles for energy and storing what little I do eat because it thinks I’m starving.

[Moose72]

This is probably why I’ve been cold for days and my temperature is 96.something.

[Blueberrybook]

I think starvation mode and starving are 2 different things. Yes, there is a point where if you don't eat the number of calories you need for your basic metabolism, "starvation mode" kicks in. And that's not good because your body acts as if it needs to hold onto energy and stores fat.

But really actually STARVING, STARVING is a different matter altogether. Because at that point (generally consistently below 800 cal/day) you ARE starving, really STARVING and you definitely do lose weight, but it's not a good or healthy type of weight loss. For me, all my fat stores were basically gone, I had very little fat at all and muscle was being consumed.

I think the term "starvation mode" is a bit misleading as it is not exactly the same as starving.

Still, you are right in that not eating enough calories slows your metabolism, keeps your body hanging on to fat stores, and you'll probably feel better and lose weight when you consume the number of calories you need.

[Moose72]

I’ve been cold for days even though I am overweight.

[Moose72]

Symptoms of Starvation
Feeling Cold. A study published in the journal Aging found that calorie restriction lowers the core body temperature, so a person may feel extremely cold.
Lethargy. ...
Constant Hunger. ...
Constipation. ...
Depression. ...
Hair loss. ...
Missing Periods. ...
Mood Swings.

That’s me but I haven’t been hungry.

[Mountaindewed]

I have been told you can be malnourised at any weight. I don't know if thats the same thing as starvation mode.

[Moose72]

Last Friday I had urinary retention and had to go to the ER. My primary dr said it was caused by being constipated and prescribed Senakot to relieve my constipation. After only two days on it I have diarrhea so I’m going to stop taking it, drink more water , ate a banana and call my dr tomorrow. You can become dependent on Senekot just like colace which I took for less than a week when I was first constipated. I’m going to keep the senekot though because I may have constipation after my biopsy a week from Friday as they’re going to give me fentanyl.

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I have been told you can be malnourised at any weight. I don't know if thats the same thing as starvation mode.

Yes, this is very true!

[Moose72]

Meds, dehydration, lack of food? My mouth is so dry and swollen. I tried eating but my mouth hurt. I had to drink milk to swallow the granola bar. I had to stop my senekot after two days because I got diarrhea. I’m saving it for after my liver biopsy in case I get constipated from the fentanyl.

[Blueberrybook]

Drink plenty of water, maybe try Gatorade? Meds do cause me dry mouth, so does dehydration. If you're drinking coffee, soda, tea with caffeine, caffeine can cause dehydration and suppress appetite as well.

[Moose72]

I just ate a bunch of prosciutto and a couple cashew halves. Glass of milk with it. Guess that’s my lunch.

[Moose72]

Just had salmon! Hadn’t had it in 20 years because I had tingling and burning in my mouth. Allergy tests showed twice that I’m not allergic- won’t have anaphylaxis so I took a chance and ate some. No reaction!

[Moose72]

Am drinking water. Still sleeping a lot. Dr said I have a virus. That’s their go-to answer when they don’t know what’s wrong with you.

[Moose72]

Had fried breaded cod for breakfast today. It was yummy and no reaction! Still achey. Been listening to one of our choir pieces on YouTube and reading along. No upper respiratory symptoms or fever. I still feel like I’ve been working out. Maybe I could use a nap.

[unaluna]

I love cod. Its like the opposte of prosciutto, altho both are savory. They were both kinda scary to me growing up in an Italian-American household. Cod at Xmas, smothered in olive oil, big chunks of garlic, and parsley, and prosciutto all year round, with its thick boundary of fat and people screaming at me, "thats the good part, you HAVE to eat it!" Gimme a plain ol baloney sandwich any day. No bones, no veins, no visible fat!

Sorry for my prosciutto rant the other day. It was an old joke (nixon era?), that sexy things were defined as porn if they had "no redeeming social value". So, no redeeming nutritional value, ha ha. My mother used to make prosciutto-wrapped melon for appetizer for our monthly family dinners, but it gave me headache.

[Moose72]

Had chicken legs for lunch made in my air fryer after a 2-hour nap.