Need advise on losing weight.

[Match62017]

I’ve been lucky and managed to stay at a good weight until getting ill with kidney disease followed by a transplant and recovery. There are so many diets out there, however I was advised by my doctor that any diet that eliminates any food group or is extreme will cause me harm in the long run. I started following the advise of a nutritionist and cut my calories to 1200 daily, However I have no energy and have seen an increase in migraines. If anyone knows how to correct these things I’d greatly appreciate any help. I’m looking to learn how to balance my food choices and lose fat while building muscle. If I’m asking for the impossible please let me know. Looking forward to this journey.

[Gizmocat Moderator 13kg Maintainer]

Hi. An admin should be along soon with some links for you to read but it sounds like you are not eating enough. 1200 calories is very low. Have a look at the NHS BMI calculator for an accurate calorie range.

Would you like to join today's weigh in? Its open now. Here's the linkhealthunlocked.com/nhsweigh.... Its a great way to meet people. Hope to see you there!

[Match62017 in reply to Gizmocat]

I have used weight loss calorie calculators not sure if it’s the one you are speaking of. I will check it out as well as the weight in. Thanks so much!

[Gizmocat Moderator 13kg Maintainer in reply to Match62017]

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hi, I've just replied to you on another post, explaining why "eating less and moving more" is poor advice, and with a link to a straightforward, healthy eating plan.

Spend some time reading and exploring the forum, then join in with forum activities

[TheAwfulToad Visitor]

Unfortunately, the catchall terms "eliminates any food group" and "extreme" are used to strike down any eating pattern except the government-approved EatWell Plate, which makes people fat and ill.

In particular, the prohibition on eliminating "food groups" is used to reinforce the message that we should all eat mountains of starchy foods and, erm, eliminate anything with fat in it. Pondering on that may cause brain ache.

The short answer to your dilemma is that you need to eat healthy food, which basically means minimally-processed vegetables, eggs, meat and dairy. Your meals should be home-cooked. Avoid anything that comes in a tin, a jar, or multiple layers of plastic; in particular, avoid rubbish like cookies, breakfast cereals, crisps, and similar. Eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full. Don't be afraid of dietary fat, and avoid synthetic foods like "low fat spread" (or indeed low-fat anything). Favour vegetables/eggs/meat/dairy over pasta, rice, bread, and potatoes.

I realise this completely contradicts what your nutritionist has said, but since his/her advice is making you feel like death, I'd gently suggest it's worth a try.

Unless your doctor has advised any specific changes related to your kidney transplant (I'm guessing he will have suggested a low-protein diet?) you should be able to eat healthy food like anybody else, and stay healthy (and slim).

[Match62017 in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Brain ache is correct. Lol

So many contradictions on what to do.

Some seems like common sense that you should avoid, but the calorie deficit seems reasonable to me until I started going from feeling amazing post transplant to feeling like I needed a nap to make it. I just hope I didn’t wreak havoc on my metabolism or push myself towards being insulin resistant. My medicines can easily cause that. Looking forward to communicating with others on this site. I’m happy to know there is support of informed people available.

[Midori in reply to Match62017]

Hi Match,

Your anti rejection medication may be preventing weight loss. Check with your pharmacist, who will know more about interactions than your GP.

Cheers, Midori

[TheAwfulToad Visitor in reply to Match62017]

I'm guessing you're on corticosteroids for the foreseeable future (plus a whole bunch of other stuff). So yeah, they may cause water retention and fat storage. But the answer is still about the same: eat healthy food. The only other logical alternative, of course, is to eat unhealthy food, which I doubt will offset the side effects of your drugs

Insulin resistance isn't a global parameter - each cell manages its own insulin resistance. The loop time constant is pretty short (days). So even if your metabolism is currently a bit messed up, it'll quickly recalibrate itself once you start eating properly again.

There is absolutely no justification for enforced "calorie deficits", ever. All this does is force your body to get by on fewer calories than it actually requires. Since your body is currently trying to recover from serious trauma, this doesn't seem like a good plan to me. Eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Just make sure you're not eating foods that make you fat.

[Match62017 in reply to TheAwfulToad]

I developed bad eating habits while sick due to exhaustion and borderline depression. I was basically eating what was convenient. I’ve cleaned up my eating quite a bit, but Still need to improve a bit. My downfalls are grabbing convenience foods during a migraine and recently eating junk food my husband has brought in during the pandemic.

[TheAwfulToad Visitor in reply to Match62017]

Try not to beat yourself up over it - most of us here found there's a steep learning curve. It doesn't matter if you get things wrong as long as you fix the mistakes and carry on (as opposed to repeating the same mistakes for decades hoping for a different outcome!).

Wishing you a speedy recovery and a useful functioning kidney

[Match62017]

Thanks I’ll definitely refer to this. Like I had said in my first post this is my first go at losing weight and I’ve not been successful. This site has already helped. I re-evaluated my calorie intake using the BMI index and it says I should be eating a minimum of 1383 calories.