I'm not losing weight and according to Reddit it isn't body recomposition

[Onlyrainbows]

I have an average calorie deficit of 500cals (that includes cheat days), workout regularly and in the past month I think I've lost 100g (if that). I know I look fit/toned and I'm losing inches here and there, but considering I don't lift it's not like I'm gaining muscle. I don't think I can reduce my calorie intake much more , I already feel fairly tired due to my iron deficiency. Shall I just do full cardio for that hour and try to see how that goes?

No I went privately (it's a long story) but I just had my second biopsy on the NHS taken this past Monday.

People can have life threatening diseases and still care about their appearance. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

@AmbushedByCake1 yes but saying cancer is better than anaemia is pushing it somewhat

But it's not just anemia... It's what comes with it. It's not just feeling tired (that's a big part of it, but not all). Last year when I developed the migraines with aura I had no vision (I call them hallucinations because it's the easiest way to describe them). They come without much of a warning and I was driving, that's a dangerous situation in itself that puts my children (and other people at risk). Fainting isn't fun either, but the migraines definitely get the price for scary experiences (and I know people learn to live with them). But it's the IBS like symptoms, plus the migraines, plus (as mentioned) higher risk of heart attacks and anaphylaxis that doesn't make it a fun thing to have.

OP the problem reads to me as if it’s nothing to do with your body and everything to do with your mind. Youre posting about extremely disordered eating behaviour which is obsessive and unhealthy. You need help to accept you as you are and to stop worrying about weight loss.

IRIDA syndrome is basically a lack of iron caused by a genetic condition. It is fully treatable.

I'm sure it causes you to feel tired but you are managing to exercise and lead a completely normal life.

You are a bit overweight.

You obviously have reacted strongly to finding out you will need support with your iron levels throughout your life - maybe you would benefit from some therapy to explore it more?

It is treatable to an extent (as in they don't wait until my iron hits zero which I would really much appreciate, but hey it's the NHS so god knows with what treatment plan they'll come up with). It's the side effects that are my main problem (and yes feeling like crap from 7pm onwards isn't fun). But obviously been if be there's only statistically speaking only 7000 cases worldwide it isn't fully known what it does or doesn't do. I go to therapy, but again she focused on the cancer stuff which is nor here nor there. The accepting I'm not overweight even though by BMI I am is something that maybe I'll never get.

@pd339 Agree with the overestimation of exercise actually. Walking probably burns nearer to 43 for a two hour ramble and cardio, well there’s just no way people are burning 100’s per workout is there? Everyone would be teeny

As someone who is clearly pretty muscular OP, which looks to me to be the main reason you are slim despite what you think about your weight, I think you might find it reassuring to look at your waist to height ratio as an indicator of health.

Thank you We are yes on a cardiovascular level I'm healthy. My cholesterol/sugar levels are super optimal (even though the GP misdiagnosed me with pre-diabetes last year. I think it's more of mental state / acceptance that this is what / who I can be for now.

Cancer would be a huge deal if you get a diagnosis op. It would make a iron deficiency seem negligible.

Honestly, there are so many debilitating conditions out there, I think you need yours in perspective.

"Oddly enough there have been weeks (like that month were I lost the 3kg) that I had cake, prosecco, beer, and daily ice cream, so to me something isn't necessarily adding up."

This is to do with the menstrual cycle surely? We tend to put on weight before our periods and lose it during, regardless of what we eat.

I don't know. Given that I'm waiting for my own diagnostic results I try to balance out in my head was worse. I mean literally a Monday I was told I had this incurable condition and the following Wednesday I was told if I didn't have surgery I would need chemo by the next spring.

Period month over month so first day of period Vs first day the following cycle there's a 1kg lighter. It took me about a week to get back to the lightest way and it has fluctuated ever since.

This is my height. However, I'm a size bigger than you while having a lower BMI. Sounds like you really do have a lot of muscle because it's rare to be overweight and a size 8 - you'd have to be extremely short, which you're not.

Exercise will cause inflammation which will bring water retention. So will the big amount of meat you are eating every night.
Maybe the week you ate crap, you didn't exercise? And had less meat?

Don't assume every change you see on the scale is fat loss or fat gain.

Also for someone investigated for cancer, you eat an awful amount of meat.

The diet you are following hasn't been successful. So maybe try something else. Increase your plants and fiber intake. Add a new type of veggie every day, so asparagus on Monday, fennel Tuesday and so on.
Try to limit processed food (the ham, the hummus - make your own - , ...)

This said, any weightloss is a matter of calorie deficit. Always. Either you count them or restrict them by restricting a macro or the time in which you eat, but bottom line, it is calories in that need to be lower.

Concerning your iron, do you take any supplements, especially curcumin?

There's nothing wrong with the amount of meat the OP's eating.

If you are under cancer investigation a 800 cal steak a day, is excessive.

OP said she is one of 7000 people in world with her syndrome, Google says only 50 people in world have IRIDA.

Mine doesn't even come up in there so not sure how accurate!

Cormoran the doctors have OKed the amount of meat I eat. As I mentioned before no amount of dietary changes/supplements will make any difference to my iron levels.

The 7000 come as an extrapolation, as it's thought to be under-diagnosed. But yes it is THAT rare that I'm now one of the known cases (and thus why I've been asked to be a research subject).

Quite the opposite OP, I was wondering if you were taking curcumin because it is an iron chelator, it removes iron from the cell and will cause iron deficiency.

I wasn't giving suggestions to fix your syndrome.

I am surprised any oncologist would OK 300 gr of red meat on a daily basis or alternated with similar quantity of chicken. Especially if processed meat (ham) is eaten every day for lunch.

Given the way you are eating hasn't served you well or helped you reach your goals, maybe swap the nightly big meat with a soup and the ham for tofu or beans.
I hope you manage to lose the weight you are trying to lose.

The oncologist and hematologist exchanged notes, their offices are literally next door to each other. The oncologist said low stress and no smoking (which I never have anyways). I only eat around 12g of ham (which I guess it's not a lot?) Beans create havoc in my GI system, I still eat them though, I'll probably have some for supper.

My oncologist is in France and huge on prevention. Not only a whole range of test every time I am back in Europe, but also dietary recommendations.

Alcohol a massive no and you are having two drinks every weekend (or 4 if 2 every day of weekend) ;

Processed meat another massive no. You are right 12 gr is not a lot, but 12 gr every day when they are a class one carcinogen and we shouldn't exceed 50gr a week.

Red meat is a blunt " just don't " and if I really want it, my oncologist allows me my bodyweight converted in gr once a fortnight. As an example, if you are 60kg it would mean 60 gr every 2 weeks. You are eating little less than 1kg a week? 300 gr how many times per week , 3?

I live in Australia, and my oncologist here is like yours. No wonder, because they follow the UK guidelines. However, UK has one of the worst survival and early detection when it comes to cancer and when you see how people eat here, dietary recommendations are definitely not the country's forte.

Even if your current investigation turns out to be nothing, take this as a warning. Something then goes beyond your weightloss . Nobody is getting younger, and some food might not work for you, be it inflammation, bloating or cancer prevention.

Coincidentally mine is in Mexico (so again different guidelines to the UK). Maybe it's different because I'm being seen for cervical rather than any other types of cancer? The hematologist's first reaction was "you eat a lot of meat" but after looking at the several tests I had, he said it wouldn't make any difference, so he said I could keep my diet as it is.