Dieting Question

[BlackoutCreature]

So the lockdown has not been good to my health. About two and half weeks ago I got on my bathroom scale for the first time since it started and saw that I had gained 30 lbs. since, and I was already a good 70 lbs. heavier then where I'd like to be. I decided I needed to do something ASAP.

Since then I've drastically reduced the sheer amount of food I'm eating, vowing only to eat when I'm actually hungry. I'm avoiding sugar, with the only real sweet food I'm eating being fruit (and the very odd Kit Kat). I'm eating a lot more vegetables, focusing a lot on salads, veggie loaded wraps and veggie loaded soups. The only meats I eat are chicken and fish, and I've reduced the amount of those I'd usually eat in a meal. I'm also trying to watch my carbs in places, like when ordering wraps picking the mixed greens option instead of the rice.

I've also been gradually increasing my exercise bike time. I've made it up to about an hour a day, usually in several 10-20 minute chunks.

Through all of this I've actually managed to lose about 10 lbs. in those two and a half weeks. But over the last couple of days I've just been feeling weird. During dieting, is it normal for these things to happen -
- Vivid dreams?
- Excessive burping and indigestion?
- Waking up in the middle of the night with my heart thumping?
- Feeling jittery during the day like I've drank too much caffeine?
- Excessive defecation (seriously, I go like four or five times a day now)?

I want to just dismiss all of this as calorie withdrawal, but I'm getting a little worried.

[J. Hova]

Everyone's body will differ, but you can probably write off a lot of the digestive stuff to your gut's chemistry changing a bit and some withdrawal to sugar and calories. I know that me personally whenever I go on a diet and start to hit the weights hard, my entire rest clock gets jacked up. I'm not a morning person and I'll find myself waking up before dawn and be absolutely wired. I just started a cross training program to drop some of the quarantine weight I've put on (only about 10 pounds but I want to get back in shape anyway).

Not knowing anything about your overall health, you should consult a doctor before making any drastic changes to your exercise routine or diet.

[Push R Truth]

I'd talk to a doctor ASAP, not some random jackass like me on the internet.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

I found myself in a similar position after lockdown, reaching 130lbs overweight. I bought a bike and have been cycling a ton, burning about 5,000 calories a day five days per week. But I failed to take into account that burning that many calories and not upping my calorie intake led to my body going into starvation mode, which not only slowed down my weight loss (10lbs in a month, compared to double that when I just watched what I ate and did no additional exercise), but led to jitters, lethargy, hot flushes, and heart palpitations. I've since aimed to stay within a 1,000-1,200 calorie deficit range, and all of that has gone away and the weight is melting off me.

So, while I will say that if you're concerned you should definitely consult a doctor, make sure you're getting enough calories.

[XIII]

It sounds relatively normal in that your body and brain chemistry are adjusting to this new nutrition. That said make sure that you are drinking a lot of water, stay hydrated at all times. Make sure that you are getting good quality proteins. Everything else that you’re doing sounds reasonable.

All of that said if you’re still feeling strange definitely set up an appointment with a doctor, the good thing is that there are a lot of telehealth options available now where you’ll be able to go over your concerns without having to actually schedule an appointment at the office.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Sept 30, 2020 8:33:16 GMT -5 J. Hova said:

Everyone's body will differ, but you can probably write off a lot of the digestive stuff to your gut's chemistry changing a bit and some withdrawal to sugar and calories. I know that me personally whenever I go on a diet and start to hit the weights hard, my entire rest clock gets jacked up. I'm not a morning person and I'll find myself waking up before dawn and be absolutely wired. I just started a cross training program to drop some of the quarantine weight I've put on (only about 10 pounds but I want to get back in shape anyway).

Not knowing anything about your overall health, you should consult a doctor before making any drastic changes to your exercise routine or diet.

Purdy much agree with this. Consult a doctor first and foremost. Especially with you doing these drastic changes. We don’t know your stats and body, and your doctor should.

Besides that, it sounds like you’ve made some amazing changes man, props for that.

[Deleted]

The lifestyle changes sound great.

The symptoms sound very similar to ones I was feeling for about a week before I had one of the worst panic attacks of my life recently.

[Bo Rida]

You're going way too fast. Losing 1-2 pounds a week is the recommended safe speed to lose weight.

While your waiting to check with a doctor use an online tdee calculator and make sure you're not going too low on calories. It doesn't sound like you're cutting anything out completely but don't, it's fine to eat carbs and fat in moderation for example.

Also look up satiating foods. For example I'll have eggs in toast or porridge and fruit for breakfast and not feel the need for a morning snack. Nuts are a a good a snack when you do want one.

Might also be sugar withdrawal to a degree.

Buy yeah more healthy food does make you go more often, nobody tells you that.