XNemesisX Posted December 19, 2004 Posted December 19, 2004 I have just realized that once again, I have lost so much weight I am beginning to look like a skeleton again. Why? CAUSE I GOT BROKEN UP WITH AGAIN! This past May I lost 20 pounds from the breakup. This time around, I told myself I would not let myself go weeks without eating like I did last time where I just couldn't keep barely any food down. Once again, I have lost about 20 pounds. I'm 5'6" and normally weigh 125. Once again, I'm back to 105. I look disgusting. I thought I was doing a lot better with letting go of this. I do feel better, but I still can't seem to eat no matter how hard I try. I know that if I wasn't going through this breakup I would still be my normal size. I don't know why this depression makes me lose weight so quickly. Its involuntary anorexia I guess.... Does anyone else have this problem? This must sound crazy, but I still have trouble holding food down. I try to eat and I feel like I'm going to throw up as soon as I put it in my mouth. Then I just eventually give up and throw it away. Its . Does anyone else have this problem, and if so how did you get yourself to eat? I really don't want to wither away, and I feel so weak. I don't know what to do about it. Last time, the only way I was able to eat again was when we got back together. This time around, I don't see that happening. I just want to eat normally again!
bebop Posted December 19, 2004 Posted December 19, 2004 I'm 5'5" and 107 pounds on a GOOD day. Throughout my life one of my responses to stress, grief and loss has been to forget to eat. I don't have weight to lose so this gets quite bad. During these times I'm capable of going days and days without eating, unaware. Normally I eat like a stevedore (even so, I can't put or keep weight on.) If I go long enough without food I have to leave notes around reminding me to eat. I won't be able to just start right back in, I'll be sick. Start with pure juices, apple juice, orange juice, vegetable juices. Make sure they're pure - read the labels - you don't want any containing high-fructose corn syrup. Or just make your own. Sometimes I've had to do a few days just on juice. Then work your way up - nuts are an excellent munchie that can help you back. Dry cereal. Things you can put in a bowl and just pick at. Continue with the juices. Then soups, etc., till you've come back. Take it slow and easy.
reasontosigh Posted December 19, 2004 Posted December 19, 2004 Originally posted by bebop .......Throughout my life one of my responses to stress, grief and loss has been to forget to eat. I don't have weight to lose so this gets quite bad. During these times I'm capable of going days and days without eating, unaware. Normally I eat like a stevedore (even so, I can't put or keep weight on.) ....... I'm the exact same way. I'm 5' 3 1/2" and 102 pounds - at least I've managed to stay that way for a while. Having a naturally high metabolism is the culprit for me when it comes to gaining weight - docs said it probably won't start to slow down till I hit menopause. So when stress hits it's quite the battle for me. I've done the nuts and soup thing - it works quite well.
bebop Posted December 19, 2004 Posted December 19, 2004 I have the fast metabolism too, always have had. We'll see how right the menopause theory is lol - I'm 47, just leaving peri-menopause for the real deal, and nothing about my bod's metabolic stuff has changed, nothing. Well, only one thing - building and keeping muscle mass takes more effort now. I work out five days a week and I look really good but the muscle mass takes much more dietary attention, timing of meals, and just plain more work. It used to be nothing for me to build muscle. Not that I'm a body-builder, I am not, I just like to be fit and strong, and I'm not getting any younger. But now I have to eat very specific to the workout or the muscle won't maintain itself.
reasontosigh Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 Ah...... I turn 45 next month. Just hit perimenopause not too long ago. I'm not so worried about muscle mass at this point, but you're right about what you said regarding how much harder it is to build/maintain. Once I get cracking on my own fitness resolution, it'll be flexibility I'll be working on!!!
alphamale Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 rapid weight loss and the loss of taste and appetite is one major symptom of clinical depression (not emotional depression). You may want to be screened for this.
bebop Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 I can't speak for YX32nemesis. For me this only takes place during times of extreme combined grief/loss/stress i.e. a sudden death of a very close loved one. This is not a frequent hallmark of my life, it's my temporary chemical response to a huge bad thing. Some people during such times run to food. Or booze. Or bars. Or chocolate. Some forget to eat. But you're correct in that it can be a symptom for some people of clinical depression.
alphamale Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 Originally posted by bebop But you're correct in that it can be a symptom for some people of clinical depression. Clinical depression is where one cannot physically get out of bed for 2 to 3 months and basically ceases to function as a human being, it is a severe medical emergency. It has nothing at all to do with day to day emotional depression that almost everyone deals with.
an'ka Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 Yeah, I could definitely relate to you saying that stress brings on physical changes. But for me it means GAINING WEIGHT!!! After going through a post breakup depression I gained about 10-15 lbs. It's pretty noticible I'm 5.5 and right now weigh 135. I guess you can call it emotional and compulsive eating. When I'm stressed and anxious all I seem to do is eat! It's so depressing! I work as a personal trainer, so after being in tip top shape for the whole summer people don't understand what is happening to me when they see me gaining all this weight. It looks really unprofessional, but I can't do anything about it. The more I worry about it, the more I feel anxious and the more I eat. It's like a not ending cycle. Pretty sad
Author XNemesisX Posted December 20, 2004 Author Posted December 20, 2004 I don't think I have clinical depression, I think it is more situational really. When I am happy, I am to my normal weight. But during a period of intense emotional distress I will not eat. I also lay in bed constantly, can't function normally. I have been diagnosed with major depression in the past, but once I got back with my ex I was okay again. I had been put on Prozac but since it takes 6 weeks to work, I was already back with my ex before then so I don't know if it was really the Prozac that helped per se, but getting back with the ex that made me not feel depressed anymore I think it might be the latter.... Thanks bebop for the suggestions. I think I will try that with the juices and the soups. Those will probably be much easier to keep down. Bebop and ReasontoSigh.... Wow I can't believe you all are in your 40s and still that small! Definitely a good thing! I am almost 22 and this weight range for me is definitely the exception and not the rule! I hope that I have a high metabolism at that age that is for sure... An'ka, I have heard of lots of people eating for comfort. I think its probably kind of mixed. Some eat too much during a depressing phase, and others don't eat at all. You still sound like a very good size so I woudln't worry too much. Actually, I feel like I have looked my best when I have been in the 125-135 range, and I am about the same height as you. Mostly because I like having some curves. Right now, for example, and I hope this is not too graphic, I have pretty much completely lost almost all of my chest and my back end I would like to gain some weight so I can get that back, at least some of it for crying out loud lol~ Also, I think that non-smokers may eat more when they are depressed. (I could be wrong?). I won't eat food, but I do "eat" cigarettes like candy! Not that that is a good thing. I am still smoking 3-4 packs a day which might also be contributing to me not eating...thats an appetite suppressant in and of itself. The smoking goes WAY WAY up when I'm depressed. Before the breakup I was actually in the process of quitting. I was down to half a pack a day. Then the break up happened and I started smoking more than I ever had before! Ugh. I am definitely going to try those suggestions about soup and juices... I would like to at least have some more energy. I feel like a zombie anymore.
reasontosigh Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 Originally posted by YX32Nemesis Bebop and ReasontoSigh.... Wow I can't believe you all are in your 40s and still that small! Definitely a good thing! In my case, not having had children has a lot to do with it. I have to keep in mind, though, that my mother lost weight after her pregnancies except for the last one, 5 kids later. The smoking goes WAY WAY up when I'm depressed. Ditto.
bebop Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 Originally posted by reasontosigh In my case, not having had children has a lot to do with it. I have to keep in mind, though, that my mother lost weight after her pregnancies except for the last one, 5 kids later. I've had four pregnancies (only one survived.) My mother had seven; other than what it did to the skin of her tummy, which no one ever saw, you would never have known she'd had seven kids. She looked great and did nothing to look that way. Sigh, you mentioned the flexibility work, keep that up. I've been lucky, been able to keep that, but it's one of the first things to go for a lot of people. For me being physically strong has been an important part of my identity all my life, so the muscle is going to stay whether it wants to or not! That's my area of concentration. Don't forget to do exercises that'll hold off osteoporosis as well. And nemesis, get going on juice juice juice. Apple is usually best to start out with, it's more neutral, less acidic than the others.
angelsgone Posted December 29, 2004 Posted December 29, 2004 All I can say is that I lost 18 pounds in a 3 week period. I'm 5'7" tall and went from 138 - 120 pounds. My b/f (who says we are "on a break"), always was critical of me losing the weight. Well now I finally have, and everyone tells me not to lose anymore weight. I like just staying home in bed (but have to work a real job during the day). I'm hurting so much after putting in 3 years and being so good to him - the last I saw him was Thanksgiving weekend ---- life stinks for me right now...........
mischafan160 Posted December 30, 2004 Posted December 30, 2004 I didn't eat solid food for two weeks after he dumped me. I threw up the day of the breakup. Like you described, every time I tried to eat I felt nauseated and was scared of throwing up again, so I lived off juice and coffee. Lack of food only serves to make you more depressed, making you less likely to eat again, kind of a vicious cycle...I lost ten pounds before I started to feel normal again and started eating again. Now I've gained it all back...oh well. You're definitely not alone in this, but I do think you should slowly start to eat more or you will only feel emotionally worse. Take care, hon.
anonymous Posted December 30, 2004 Posted December 30, 2004 When my bf of 2 years and I were on a "break" a few weeks ago I couldn't believe it but I actually lost my apetite. I never thought it would happen to me since I have a big apetite, but I was not physically hungry. We've since gotten back together, but again are on the verge of breaking up since I just found out yesterday he has been with several girls over the past year. I have been sick to my stomach since last night and again today I am not hungry at all. I know it's not healthy but I actually feel like throwing up if I think about food. I read a post earlier about the 100% fail proof depression diet, and it's funny but true. Anyway, when or if I get through this, I'm sure I'll start eating more again, but God do I feel ****ty now.
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