How can I be over weight and malnourished at the same time?

[elahmine]

Basically I'm over weight and I've been eating next to nothing; because I don't have an appetite. I wasn't trying to lose weight.I'm drinking ten cups of coffee a day and smoking a pack and half of cigs. Apparently due this diet I am over weight, quite malnourished and my stomach acid has been eating away at my stomach lining for at least a year. I feel terrible, and I never meant to this much harm to my body.

 

[joey_downunder]

You have already done two very important things:
1. Realised why you are so unwell
2. Taken ownership of your situation.

Next thing to do is carefully look at what you have been eating and drinking over the past week. Add all the calories up.

10 cups of coffee could really add up if you're having lots of milk/cream and sugar added. If you're eating pre-packaged food you're likely to be having a lot more fat, salt and sugar than you realise as well.

Do you have any local dieticians or health services nearby?

 

[elahmine]

You have already done two very important things:
1. Realised why you are so unwell
2. Taken ownership of your situation.

Next thing to do is carefully look at what you have been eating and drinking over the past week. Add all the calories up.

10 cups of coffee could really add up if you're having lots of milk/cream and sugar added. If you're eating pre-packaged food you're likely to be having a lot more fat, salt and sugar than you realise as well.

Do you have any local dieticians or health services nearby?

I'm getting coaching from a nurse practioner and a psychologist at my university. I always drink my coffee black, and yes I was eating prepackaged foods. So the plain coffee adds up to 20 calories, and the food and the rest of any beverages were adding up to about 900-1000 calories. I always tried to keep the fat content around 50g which is acceptable on a 2000 calorie diet. However, they were all processed and unhealthy fats. I originally gained weight two years ago, and I have never lost it. I'm wondering if my body has gone into starvation mode and slowed down my metabolism.

 

[elahmine]

I also exercise, so yeah...

 

[begt]

Coffee is not exactly nutrient rich. But before you take any advice regarding food you should go and see a doctor so that your stomach problem is properly diagnosed.

Some common advice for patients suffering from peptic ulcer:

Stop smoking altogether and have no more coffee and your appetite will return.
Cook your own food, don't go to McDonalds or whatever because its convenient. Eat a balanced diet, if you eat properly the acids will break down the food not the stomach lining. Try not lead a hectic life style for a while.

**
Your body needs nutrients not just calories (energy). Its possible to become obese mainly off drinking energy drinks but still be malnurished. You also need fat to be able to absorb the nutrients in the food. Carbohydrates serve no other purpose than to provide energy.

There are so many nutrients that the body needs. A balanced diet composed of meat, dairy products, vegetables and cereal provides you with all the nutrients that you need. If you dont provide your body with the proper nutrients youre prone to get all sorts of diseases.

Since you struggle with your appetite a good advice would be to drink plenty of milk. Milk contains almost all the nutrients you need, except vitamin C and some minerals like iron. Eat soup for dinner, add an egg to the soup and you have a complete meal packed with nutrients.

 

[begt]

I also exercise, so yeah...

If I were you I would limit the amount of excercise until the stomach issue is resolved.

If you wonder why you don't lose weight it is probably because your body does not obtain enough fat and nutrients to use up your fat reserves. The body needs fat to burn fat. It is simply not functioning as it should.

 

[elahmine]

If I were you I would limit the amount of excercise until the stomach issue is resolved.

If you wonder why you don't lose weight it is probably because your body does not obtain enough fat and nutrients to use up your fat reserves. The body needs fat to burn fat. It is simply not functioning as it should.

Unfortuantly I'm taking a dance class at the University and it is too late to withdraw. I can't do much about my hecticness right now, but I've decided to take today out to relax, be healthy, and reward myself for doing so well in school when I was sick all the time.

 

[joey_downunder]

Yes it is possible that your body has gone into starvation mode because you've had an unbalanced diet for several years.
Good to see you're already getting advice. How do you sleep? I know when I haven't slept well I eat more.
Also how are your stress levels over all? Too much stress can also lead to increased fat storage.

 

[elahmine]

Sleeping fine, but stressed

 

[joey_downunder]

If you can't avoid the stress in your life (I see you're at uni, stress is a part of uni life), are you able to stop putting pressure on yourself to be perfect? No person can do everything perfectly.

Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 ESV)

Prioritise what you need to do, stop doing NON essential things, and be kind to yourself.

 

[ChristianEMT]

I hope you feel better soon! I'd just like to suggest that you look into gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach, which can be result of what you mentioned of acid harming your stomach. Smoking and coffee are two big factors that will worsen it, if not caused by bacteria. It can be treated very easily with otc acid reducers, which would improve your appetite if its from that reasoning. Last year I had significant weight loss because I lost my appetite, and when I seen the doctor after almost waiting a year for it to pass, I had a test that resulted gastritis. I had several ER visits for fainting because lack of potassium was causing a heart arrhythmia...This can be dangerous if this goes on to long for you...

It is our nature to eat. When you are not hungry, something isn't right with your body. Loss of appetite is a symptom, and it's important that you figure out why you are having it. If you don't eat, your body will store fat when you do because it doesn't know if it will run out again, and reserves it. If you can get your meals balanced, then your body will burn more fat.

Have you been checked for other illnesses that cause loss of appetite? Please try to eat 3 balanced meals a day. Doing that you can still lose weight, and eat too. The consequences to our body from not eating are many. Best wishes!!

 

[elahmine]

Yeah, I have an ulcer apparently. I really need to eat better. The reason for me not having an appetite is one of the medications I am on. It also makes me gain weight. It's a sticky predicament to be.

 

[joey_downunder]

Do you take any multivitamins at all?

I also know how frustrating it is to need medicine that causes weight gain. Make sure you set realistic goals and allow for the fact that it may take longer to lose weight in your circumstances.

 

[Romanseight2005]

Get a book called, "The Fat Resistance Diet," by Leo Galland, M.D. Then follow it's layout. I am guessing that you really are malnourished, because your body isn't getting what it really needs. You need to focus on getting the right nutrients, and leaving out the wrong ones. This will in turn give you more energy, which will in turn, motivate you to exercise more, and you will have a healthy domino effect. Furthermore, the book is really interesting, and you won't be hungry at all.