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Not gaining weight. HELP!!!!!

Ok.... I wanted to loose weight bc I was really over weight.... cut down calories, meals, no sugar, and lost a bunch of weight, great! Then I had a really bad period of anxiety which I battle since 6 years ago. Now, I'm back eating like I was before trying to loose weight, and the pounds keep coming off. I just had a full blood work 2 months ago, OBGYN check up, and all was good. (liver, kidneys, thyroid - even an ultrasound of it.). Should I go back to the doctor? I lost a few more pounds since my visit. My psychiatrist said its related to my GAD and I look great and I should be off Dr. Google. My primary doctor said: I'll see you next year for another physical and a flu shot. But I keep thinking there is something wrong, like a hidden cancer somewhere. I can't sleep, concentrate, enjoy my kids, husband. this is just consuming me! Help!!! Can anyone relate?

I'm 33 years old, mom of 2 kids (9 and 2), working, no other symptoms other than weight loss and extreme anxiety! HELP!!!
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6579347 tn?1388502368
Be proud of yourself for staying off that scale!  That was a HUGE accomplishment, which took a lot of courage and commitment.

5'3" and 134.5lbs - according to BMI, that's normal weight, not under or over.  So, that's good!  Anxiety860 is absolutely right - weight can fluctuate 5-7 lbs at any given time due to water weight, metabolism, etc.  I can go from 105 to 113 in a few weeks, and back again.

Anxiety can absolutely do this to your weight.  Give yourself credit for going through A LOT right now.  All those stressors, plus anxiety, can absolutely cause weight loss.  Are you still nursing?  If so, that's burning more calories, too.

I know it's hard, but I can tell you're trying to believe your doctors & test results that you're healthy.  That's hard work!  Just keep telling yourself that all your tests came back normal, so there's nothing scary wrong with you.

Absolutely take your xanax as prescribed.  This should help you with the anxiety.  Hang in there, girl.  I know it's hard, but just keep taking things 1 at a time.
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Avatar universal
Hi Paxiled! Sorry, forgot to mention my weight. Im 5'3 and now I'm 134.5 lbs.
During summer I was around. 155 lbs - way over my goal - I did go on a diet, was loosing slowly but steady, had a bump with bad anxiety and BAM! Now my weight keeps coming off. I was thin, before having my kids, like 110 lbs., I gain a lot taking Lexapro years ago, my worst was 190 lbs!!! Stoped the meds to get pregnant, lost a bunch of weight, a year after my son was born, my anxiety came back.
So, no, I'm not under weight, but I do not want to be under 130 lbs! I called my doctor yesterday, but we had a snow storm and they were closed! I almost drove myself to the ER with both my kids. But I thought it would seem ridiculous to tell the ER doctor, I'm here, under a lot so snow, with no other symptoms, loosing weight!
URGHHHHH! I think I'll take my xanax 1/ day now for this month (December it's always hard on me), wait until my psychiatrist appt. until February and see, if by them I loose more weight, I'll ask him to give me Lexapro a again!  Any suggestions?! Thanks guys, you are all so great!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
I'd personally advise against the milk and honey.  Milk is not well tolerated by most people and sugar, which is what honey is, will add fat, not lean weight, and both of these foods can exacerbate anxiety (or create it in people in the first place).  Obviously, and you know this, to gain weight, you eat more, but you still eat healthful foods.  And you still haven't told us if you're underweight or not.  But it does sound like the anxiety demon is seizing up on you.
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Avatar universal
Weight changes all of the time. I'm not sure when you usually weight yourself, but I'm sure you know you will always weigh less in the morning.  I gain about 4 pounds when I weight myself at night.  3.5 pounds is nothing to worry about.  Your stress and anxiety can EASILY cause you to lose 3.5 pounds.  When people ask me how much I weigh I always say 150-155. because it is always in that area. never the same. nobody's is. Remember you went to the doctor had many tests and all were PERFECT!!! I used to have some anxiety over weight too believe it or not. but believe me 3.5 pounds is nothing to worry about.  espeically if you weigh yourself at different times.
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Avatar universal
OmG!!! Help!!! I'm still loosing weight! I'm forcing myself to eat, went a whole 3 days without the scale, not sleeping well, of corse, but surely forcing myself to eat.... And still, I lost 3.5 lbs in one week!!!!!! I just can't help myself and think I have a bad disease hiding somewhere!!!! :(
Helpful - 0
6579347 tn?1388502368
Sweet mommy, I understand!  Anxiety is just the pits.

It sounds to me like you're still really struggling with anxiety.  I would really encourage you to seek out a professional who can help you with some coping strategies.  Ask your doctor or someone else you trust for a referral to a therapist, psychologist, etc.  These pros can help identify our triggers and come up with good ways to cope and manage our symptoms.  

There IS light at the end of the tunnel.  Don't be afraid to step towards it, though, and get the help you need.  All your medical questions have given you good news - you sought your answers and help on those, which is good.  Now, give yourself permission to seek help for your emotional & psychological health, too.  You deserve it!
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Avatar universal
nd drink it daily morning. . .
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Avatar universal
drink honey mixed with milk to gain weight. . . .nd honey with water to loose weight. . . . .
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Avatar universal
The question to me is, are you underweight now?  By changing your eating habits so successfully you also changed your metabolism and the way you metabolize food.  You might still be heading, therefore, to the ideal weight for you, or by returning to your old diet you might eventually reverse this and go back to gaining weight.  If you're not underweight then you may have righted yourself in a healthful way and just haven't reached your right level yet.
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Avatar universal
Thank you! That's exactly what a friend told me, think rational! Doctors know what they are saying and I should believe it! It's always something bothering me! Once was my heart, then blood pressure - I used to measure it a lot, once I did more then 100 times/day and got bad bruising all over my arm, then breast cancer, lately MS - even joined a MS support group but I don't have MS, now I think I have something like cancer hidden somewhere and it's eating my calories away..... It's so hard to live with this hypochondriac thing!!!!  Should be sleeping, but I'm up, can't relax or turn off my mind! URGHHHH.....  Hope there's a light on the end of our tunnel! Praying God will bring comfort to ours racing hearts and minds! Thanks for helping!
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Avatar universal
Hey there.  I know the feeling.  When people without anxiety say oh just use self talk, do this, do that, blah blah blah, but you seriuosly feel like the anxiety has 100% control of you... IT'S AWFUL I KNOW!!! Please, please, please listen to your doctors, know you are fine, and kick this thing in the butt.  I mean really who are you going to believe 3 doctors who went to many years of medical school... or "Dr. Google"  :)..  I try to think of it like this... I know I have anxiety, I know I always think I have some disease, or something wrong with me, this is my anxiety though... My doctors who are professionals with rational thinking skills (unlike myself) who checked me out, did blood work all said I was fine!  You had 3 doctors tell you, you were fine.  and hey it is normal for weight to go up and down, or in your case stay the same.  Doctors will be concerned if you drop 20 pounds for NO REASON.  You say your anxiety is HIGH HIGH HIGH. I'm honestly surpirsed your weight hasn't dropped due to your stress levels right now. I know mine does during high anxiety situtations.  Trust me I know how you feel right now, and believe me you are fine!
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Avatar universal
Hi mele48

Yes! Its me again!!! MY anxiety level is up HIGH for the last 2 weeks! Really high! Heart racing... cant keep my leg from shaking, having trouble falling/staying asleep...snapping at everyone, cant concentrate, always looking at Dr. Google, and on the scale all the time... i tried to stay off of it all, but im not strong enough! Yes, my 3 doctors, OBGYN, primary care and psychiatrist told me Im fine, boold work fine, too... but my mind, ughhhhhh........ I feel like crying, I do have energy, but a hard time concentrating on things, even house chores..... I did not lost any more weight since last week, but Im eating more now and not gaining either.... I know I sound like a crazy person, im just looking for some comfort, i guess.... It is just so awful to live like this!!! =(
Helpful - 0
6579347 tn?1388502368
Hi, Mommy!  I think you posted just recently about this concern.  I hope you've had some success with staying off google!  

From your post, and from your last post, I think I'm piecing together that you've had all medical reasons checked out for weight loss and all came back negative.  If that's the case, that's great news!

Yes, anxiety can cause weight loss.  Are you still nursing?  If you are, remember, this is still a calorie burn.  You've been asking your body to reverse gears in a pretty short time frame.  It's important to get good nutrition; make sure you're eating good carbs and protein - whole grains and peanut butter, nuts, eggs, and lean meats are all good sources of protein.  You can also add supplemental shakes, like Ensure, to your diet to give you a calorie/protein bump.  They actually taste pretty good!

If your anxiety level is still the same, and if you're still nursing, I think you just need to be gentle with yourself and give your body more time to rebound.  Try to concentrate on the positive - if your doctor ran tests and all is clear, that's great!  Focus on that good news.

Have you had an opportunity to utilize any resources to help you manage the anxiety?  Therapy?  Medication?  

I know it's hard when you're in the trench struggling....it took me a solid month to 6 weeks before my weight rebounded in a positive way.  Hang in there!
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