Friends -

Just wanted to say hello, and thank everyone who may help me through my weight loss journey.

I've struggled with weight my entire life, hitting rock bottom about a year ago when I suffered a major heart attack. (weight: 389 lbs) Since then I've fought hard to lose weight, but in a year I only shed 39 lbs and I've just kind of lost hope.

About two weeks ago I started feeling "odd" and completely lost my appetite. No cravings, or even a desire to eat. Week one I ate 1/2 a tuna sandwich and 1/2 a McDonalds side salad, (for the entire week) and this week I'm struggling to force myself to eat a dozen red grapes for lunch, an apple for lunch, and maybe an orange for dinner. My estimate is my daily caloric intake is less than 400 calories per day. (I don't drink anything but purified r/o water)

Has anyone else gone through these swings in appetite? This whole fiasco is making me crazy, I feel absolutely exhausted, and I just feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster. UGH!

Anyway, i hope to learn some from the other members here. Thank you so much for listening to my story.

Best wishes,

Angie

Hello, and to 3FC!

There are a lot of people here who have experience hitting rock bottom, and a lot of them have come back and lost weight in spite of it. There's a lot of good information and support in the forums and the archives.

I have experienced appetite swings, but not nearly to the degree you're describing. Honestly, if this continues I would recommend seeing your primary care provider. That low of an appetite for too long may be something that should be looked at, and it may be the cause of or the result of the low energy and the changing emotions. It may be psychological (which is also something to address, definitely) or physical or both, and in either case your PCP should be able to help.

Welcome Angie!

I suggest to that you contact your doctor about your eating. 400 calories a day is too low for anyone. We have had family friends that have gone through a heart attack, one of the things that followed for them was some depression after they began healing. It's perhaps another area to discuss with your doctor. I'd get in sooner than later. They are there to help you out, and another thing - you may ask to meet with a dietician as well. They were of help to me for another condition, but they helped get me on the right track and we went over what a real portion size is, a good diet plan etc.

Hopefully you find some help from your doctors and as for being on here - there are a lot of good people who can help cheer you on, you found a good place to be.

Thank you both for your responses and advice. I have blood work and another echocardiogram in 2 weeks, and will meet with my MD a week later. I'll definitely take it up with him at that time.

Thanks and best wishes!

Hi im new here but a nurse and i agree you should see PCP sooner! 400 cals to low for prolonged time. good luck to you

Hello!! Now first thing I want to say is well done!! 39 lbs is a great achievement, its not something to get restless about, not everyone had a Chris Powell helping them along the way. I vowed to myself that I would lose 1lb a week, slowly and sustainably so that I didn't lose too quickly, also so that I was learning about food and nutrition and health. I started in mid January and I am currently 37lbs down, I maintained throughout my last 6 weeks of University and it slowed things down considerably, but I'm not going to stress over it, I am still losing. For me I have always found it difficult to diet because I eat healthy, I'm not a big chocolate eater, I don't snack on chips, I don't over indulge in fast-food or soda. I new that 1 lb a week would be hard for me because I needed to find ways to tweek my diet to allow for weight loss.

Second, like some have mentioned before, If you are really struggling to up your calorie intake in the next 48 hours, then it sounds like you should see a doctor come Thursday at the absolute latest.

We are all here to support eat other.