Hi all!
My name is Emily, I'm 21 years old and a senior in college. I've had an interesting health history over the past few years, to say the least. I've always been skinny, probably since I'm 6' tall and have a very fast metabolism (thanks mom and dad!
). Freshman year of college I was about 147 lb, which was perfect for my height (according to BMI calculators my healthy weight is between 140-180 lb). Unfortunately, I started getting severe heartburn and appetite loss, which caused me to lose 10 pounds over the course of two or three months. I went to all sorts of doctors to figure out what the problem might be- potentially parasites since I had traveled to Honduras the year before, or maybe some other GI problem. I had a full colonoscopy and endoscopy and they found nothing- just that I had GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). I was put on Zantac and continued to lose weight until I was about 127 lb, which was wayyy underweight and I looked very unhealthy. At that point (May 2009) something weird happened, and I occasionally (once every 4 days or so) would find myself eating until I was uncomfortably full, which had never happened to me before. I felt horribly guilty each time and my stomach would be in such pain I wouldn't be able to eat at all the following day, so I lost even more weight. This continued over the course of my junior year, which I spent abroad in Spain. The binges increased in frequency and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me! I didn't feel hungry but I felt compelled to shove my face full of food. And somehow I was still losing weight.
Fortunately, over the course of the year, my weight increased to about 145 lb, which was within the healthy range for me. But it was ridiculous how much I was having to eat to do it, and I felt disgusting. I looked horrible, too- my entire body was bloated, especially my face (I had chipmunk cheeks). I was convinced I had an eating disorder and went to see a psychologist when I got home from Spain.
After 6 or so sessions with her, I realized that psychologically I was totally fine. There was definitely something wrong with me physically, and whatever it was was giving me lots of other strange symptoms (pulsing in my throat, crazy mood swings, palpitations, headaches/vertigo, and a whole long list of symptoms I won't bore you with). So I started seeing doctors to try to diagnose the problem. All the while, the overeating continued, and I was now about 160 lb.
Eventually, they came to the conclusion that I had two things wrong with me.
1.) I was severely hypothyroid, which explains my palpitations, weight gain, and amenorrhea, among other things, and
2.) I had intolerances to eggs, wheat, dairy, peanuts, almonds, and carrots. They're not IgE-mediated reactions; I don't go into anaphylaxis when I eat them; I just feel horrible for about 5 days (sudden headache, fatigue, I become freezing, basically feel like I've been attacked by a severe flu bug). It was crazy- I didn't believe it when I got the test results back, because I was like, "I eat these things every day! How could I be allergic to them?" But when I removed them from my diet and reintroduced them, I did indeed feel horrible every time I ate them.
So now with my dietary options much more restricted, I thought I would lose weight easily, but it hasn't happened yet. I still feel the urge to binge every 5 days or so, which is very strange and I'm still convinced there's a physical reason behind it. I've recently been prescribed with Nystatin, which is supposed to wipe out Candida that may be in your intestines. No miracle cure, but it does seem to be helping for now. I've also started taking Betaine HCl, which basically helps your body digest the food you eat. It's amazing how full I feel after eating almost nothing when I take these pills. My doctor told me my initial heartburn may have come from actually not enough acid production, and you know, maybe he was right!
Either way, as it stands now I am slightly above 180 lb, maybe 182 lb, which is wayyy more than I've ever weighed in my life and even above the healthy range for my weight. So it's clear I need to do something about it. I've tried over the past year or so to lose weight on my own, and it hasn't worked, so I'm hoping you guys can help! I may indeed have something wrong with me physically, but until that gets figured out, I still need to manage my eating habits, and I think starting a food/exercise diary here will help keep me accountable (and encourage me with feedback from you guys!). I've had a pretty crazy health history for a 21 year old (I haven't even mentioned a quarter of the doctors I've been to for various health reasons), but hey- I'm going to medical school in 2 years, so at least I'm learning a ton through my own experiences!
Sooo, my first goal weight will be 160 lb (I eventually hope to get to about 150 or so, but I think that's definitely too much of a leap for now). I'm less concerned with the number than with losing my love handles and stomach I have now. It'll be difficult checking my progress at school, since I don't have a scale, but I'll just weigh myself when I go home for breaks, I guess, and just go by the fit of my jeans for now (most of my size 9s are too small for me, and I hope to at least be able to fit into those again, and hopefully eventually my 7s).
I already love working out, so that shouldn't be a problem. I have bad knees so I stick to walking on an incline on the treadmill, or using the elliptical. I do a bit of weight machine work as well. And I'm taking Balinese dance (which is AWESOME!), so I guess that counts as exercise too.
My main plan is to give up all sugars, and cut wayyyy back on all carbs (I should be anyway since I'm on nystatin, and carbs feed the Candida.) I'm thinking a bowl of oatmeal every few days or so. I find that when I eat carbs I just crave more; I do way better just sticking to meat, fruits, veggies, and legumes. So that's what I'm going to try to do.
I haven't been to the gym in a few days because I've been feeling really lazy, but tomorrow starts the food and exercise diary, so watch out healthy lifestyle, here I come!
So, if anyone actually reads all that I will be very impressed, and extremely grateful! If you don't feel like it, that's completely understandable and I just ask that you offer support and advice along my journey! You guys seem like a great group of people and I look forward to getting to know you!
My name is Emily, I'm 21 years old and a senior in college. I've had an interesting health history over the past few years, to say the least. I've always been skinny, probably since I'm 6' tall and have a very fast metabolism (thanks mom and dad!
). Freshman year of college I was about 147 lb, which was perfect for my height (according to BMI calculators my healthy weight is between 140-180 lb). Unfortunately, I started getting severe heartburn and appetite loss, which caused me to lose 10 pounds over the course of two or three months. I went to all sorts of doctors to figure out what the problem might be- potentially parasites since I had traveled to Honduras the year before, or maybe some other GI problem. I had a full colonoscopy and endoscopy and they found nothing- just that I had GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). I was put on Zantac and continued to lose weight until I was about 127 lb, which was wayyy underweight and I looked very unhealthy. At that point (May 2009) something weird happened, and I occasionally (once every 4 days or so) would find myself eating until I was uncomfortably full, which had never happened to me before. I felt horribly guilty each time and my stomach would be in such pain I wouldn't be able to eat at all the following day, so I lost even more weight. This continued over the course of my junior year, which I spent abroad in Spain. The binges increased in frequency and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me! I didn't feel hungry but I felt compelled to shove my face full of food. And somehow I was still losing weight.Fortunately, over the course of the year, my weight increased to about 145 lb, which was within the healthy range for me. But it was ridiculous how much I was having to eat to do it, and I felt disgusting. I looked horrible, too- my entire body was bloated, especially my face (I had chipmunk cheeks). I was convinced I had an eating disorder and went to see a psychologist when I got home from Spain.
After 6 or so sessions with her, I realized that psychologically I was totally fine. There was definitely something wrong with me physically, and whatever it was was giving me lots of other strange symptoms (pulsing in my throat, crazy mood swings, palpitations, headaches/vertigo, and a whole long list of symptoms I won't bore you with). So I started seeing doctors to try to diagnose the problem. All the while, the overeating continued, and I was now about 160 lb.
Eventually, they came to the conclusion that I had two things wrong with me.
1.) I was severely hypothyroid, which explains my palpitations, weight gain, and amenorrhea, among other things, and
2.) I had intolerances to eggs, wheat, dairy, peanuts, almonds, and carrots. They're not IgE-mediated reactions; I don't go into anaphylaxis when I eat them; I just feel horrible for about 5 days (sudden headache, fatigue, I become freezing, basically feel like I've been attacked by a severe flu bug). It was crazy- I didn't believe it when I got the test results back, because I was like, "I eat these things every day! How could I be allergic to them?" But when I removed them from my diet and reintroduced them, I did indeed feel horrible every time I ate them.
So now with my dietary options much more restricted, I thought I would lose weight easily, but it hasn't happened yet. I still feel the urge to binge every 5 days or so, which is very strange and I'm still convinced there's a physical reason behind it. I've recently been prescribed with Nystatin, which is supposed to wipe out Candida that may be in your intestines. No miracle cure, but it does seem to be helping for now. I've also started taking Betaine HCl, which basically helps your body digest the food you eat. It's amazing how full I feel after eating almost nothing when I take these pills. My doctor told me my initial heartburn may have come from actually not enough acid production, and you know, maybe he was right!
Either way, as it stands now I am slightly above 180 lb, maybe 182 lb, which is wayyy more than I've ever weighed in my life and even above the healthy range for my weight. So it's clear I need to do something about it. I've tried over the past year or so to lose weight on my own, and it hasn't worked, so I'm hoping you guys can help! I may indeed have something wrong with me physically, but until that gets figured out, I still need to manage my eating habits, and I think starting a food/exercise diary here will help keep me accountable (and encourage me with feedback from you guys!). I've had a pretty crazy health history for a 21 year old (I haven't even mentioned a quarter of the doctors I've been to for various health reasons), but hey- I'm going to medical school in 2 years, so at least I'm learning a ton through my own experiences!
Sooo, my first goal weight will be 160 lb (I eventually hope to get to about 150 or so, but I think that's definitely too much of a leap for now). I'm less concerned with the number than with losing my love handles and stomach I have now. It'll be difficult checking my progress at school, since I don't have a scale, but I'll just weigh myself when I go home for breaks, I guess, and just go by the fit of my jeans for now (most of my size 9s are too small for me, and I hope to at least be able to fit into those again, and hopefully eventually my 7s).
I already love working out, so that shouldn't be a problem. I have bad knees so I stick to walking on an incline on the treadmill, or using the elliptical. I do a bit of weight machine work as well. And I'm taking Balinese dance (which is AWESOME!), so I guess that counts as exercise too.
My main plan is to give up all sugars, and cut wayyyy back on all carbs (I should be anyway since I'm on nystatin, and carbs feed the Candida.) I'm thinking a bowl of oatmeal every few days or so. I find that when I eat carbs I just crave more; I do way better just sticking to meat, fruits, veggies, and legumes. So that's what I'm going to try to do.
I haven't been to the gym in a few days because I've been feeling really lazy, but tomorrow starts the food and exercise diary, so watch out healthy lifestyle, here I come!
So, if anyone actually reads all that I will be very impressed, and extremely grateful! If you don't feel like it, that's completely understandable and I just ask that you offer support and advice along my journey! You guys seem like a great group of people and I look forward to getting to know you!
Oh, and I had Balinese dance class (2 hours long), although it wasn't very active this time. We spent most of class doing this dance where we sit down and sing. 
I guess I did a lot of walking around campus too, prob a solid 45 min-1 hr.
