So I know I've complained on here several times about being underweight and my struggles to combat it. Well, since November I have lost 5 more lbs. Now down to 92 lbs. (I was 91 when I got on the scale this morning but weight went back up by afternoon.) Low and behold, I find that low dose naltrexone (LDN), which I started in mid-October, can cause weight loss. I am sad because I think it has been helping me. At least I have had less jaw and neck pain which before were my constant companions. But as I cannot afford to lose weight I guess I need to stop it and see if I can gain some back. Honestly, I don't feel like my appetite has changed at all, and I have been drinking protein drinks daily. But none of my pants will stay up and I just bought two new pairs of 00 for work. If I can't keep my pants up the only thing to wear is skinny jeans and I can't teach in those! ::) So I guess I am going to quit the LDN for now and see what happens.
What did your doctor say? maybe a nutritionist could help as well..When im trying to gain, I try and eat more carbs..lots
of bread and potato chips. What are you eating during the day? stress can also add to weight loss. I know when I dropped 10 pounds last month, I was moving.
I know getting on the scale all the time isn't good either. Try to relax a bit. Weight can fluctuate so much throughout the day.
When I weight myself in the AM with no clothing etc, then go to the docs, im always 5 pounds heavier? ha!
Maybe you can cut your dose of LDN down to see if that helps?
good luck
Gursie
Thanks, Gursie. Yes I try to eat carbs at every meal. It is harder to eat enough of them because I am GF and don't have a lot of time to bake. But my weight had been holding pretty steady at about 97 until just after I started LDN. Lost 5 pounds over the holidays! :P I am on the lowest dose so I think I will quit it for awhile and talk to my prescribing doc when I see him next. I do feel that it has helped however it has not made a huge difference, so I am not too worried about stopping it. I would like to take it again at some point but maybe after I get my weight up. Yes, I should probably see a nutritionist and/or just take the time to do my own food diary and come up with solutions. (I had two courses in nutrition in college and learned how to evaluate and adjust a diet. It's a lot of work, though.) Yes, I have been stressed and I know that does not help. However, I should have gained some weight over Christmas when I had three weeks off and my mom was cooking for me. Sigh. ::)
Stress seems to rev up your metabolism quite a bit. I too, ate a lot over the holidays, but my weight just kept dropping. I was also concerned. But, after I was moved in, and started to relax my brain, I started gaining it back again.
Im going to ask my doc about the LDN. I was reading where it helps with autoimmune conditions. I take a bite of a Vicodin every morning to control all my pain, though I want to take a lot more, it doesn't work well with my stomach issues (gastroparesis). I know you cant take LDN with narcotics though.
I hope you can figure this out...I know how frustrating it is.
Gursie
Thanks, Gursie. I will tell you that this weekend I tried tracking my calories online and felt like I had to eat a LOT to reach my weight gain goal. I guess that my appetite has been lower than the calories I need so now I have a better idea of what it's going to take to gain. Yes, ask about the LDN. I have heard good things from others. I will try it again once I get my weight up.