Weight loss for messed up metabolisms?

[howlongtilsummer]

After a bit of experimenting, I put on weight if I go over 1050, stay same on about 950-1050, lose if go below that.
Anyone else had their body screwed up by long covid or something else piling on the weight? Body is screwed up enough from covid infections, so need to tackle the post infection weight gain.

Tips for someone who now has a fair amount to lose, can't exercise and very limited energy to cook, bedbound some days and ltd freezer space? I've already cut out alcohol, biscuits, cheese, chocolate etc. I was hoping for something sustainable and realistic as have a fair amount to lose now.

Oh, and consultant at hospital on an unrelated matter casually commented on my weight and asked how if I stopped eating chips every night or tried to stick to 2,000 calories a day, it might help me. Do medical professionals start treating you differently if you're fat? I want to minimise getting any more sick.

If you're putting on weight going over 1000 calories you need to see an endocrinologist asap.

Yes but I also think very low calories diet makes it worse too- I've read "why we eat too much" and am too worried about long term effects!

If this is the true amount you eat you would expect that something else is going on

Yes people who are overweight are treated differently by medical professionals, it is a thing

You don’t give your height and weight so it’s hard to comment. That is very low cal. Are you under 5ft tall?

Metabolism can be affected by inflammation and also activity, so the more sedentary you are, the lower your metabolism will be. However unless you have a metabolic disorder that is out of control like diabetes not something that is permanent and I believe is repairable. If you need to focus on getting well again this may take some time so you could gradually increase your activity very gently and look at your diet to see if you are eating the right kinds of foods (more protein, less carbs is usually a good start)

I agree with @Vegetus
Most weight loss aids don't allow you to go below 1200Kcal nowadays and this value should be more if you are heavier.
I also have a lot to lose and I am losing on more than 2000Kcal a day

I agree with PP that something doesn't sound right but how has your physical recover been from Long Covid, if indeed you have recovered? One way to boost your metabolism is to build more muscle.

@kitsuneghost OP says she is bed bound so will have a likely low daily expenditure if she is barely moving

Oh duh. I missed the point about being bed bound. Sorry for the spectacularly unhelpful advice

People in a coma need more than 1000 calories a day. Unless she's a 100 year old 4ft lady she shouldn't be gaining weight on that few calories.

@Vegetus I agree but combined with probably not accurate tracking it could make sense. I would get medical advice I agree

Thanks everyone. So, to answer questions..

• yep I'm short 5'2"
• perimenopausal which may also have an impact
• google (yeah, I know I shouldn't) suggests 12-1400 cals for my height, but I assume that's for people who have a normal level of activity - which I don't. E.g. I have to plan what I'll need to take downstairs for day as going back up a flight of stairs unnecessarily can make me vomit (literally)

• have to rest and sleep a lot, but on a very good day can stand for a couple of hours and walk about 1k (although at a very slow pace). There are days when I'm mostly bedbound.

• they've found a few things e.g. I need to increase salt, I have a fatty liver, pre-diabetic, high cholesterol. These are all fairly new - weren't flagged in annual health checks previously.

-GP. Have asked for weight management advice, given range of issues and they will refer - don't know how long it takes or if person will have knowledge of what long covid does (body can't take nutrients as well as previously, so some people with long covid are presenting as malnourished, even though eating v healthily)

• long covid has got worse over time - been about two years. Ironically, continuing to try to exercise and finding the breathlessness an annoyance a couple of weeks post infection seemed to be the first catalyst for completely flooring me.

• I've been logging everything from milk in tea to a piddly carrot stick. Don't have white bread or pasta, but per week (at moment) will have 2-3 whole meal slices, a few boiled new potatoes, a bit of rice or couscous. Will have eggs/canned tuna/chicken/red meat and veg/salad.

Are they doing anything to help with your symptoms op? That sounds more important right now

I agree with taking small steps and focusing on recovery.
Something seems not quite right - I’m a similar height (162 cm), over 40 and after losing weight my BMR is, according various calculators, just over 1100 kcal. That’s just for breathing, maintaining various metabolic processes and staying alive. Someone heavier will have higher BMR (think about the transport of nutrients to various cells alone, if more distance needs to be covered it takes more energy). Medical advice needed?

Hi OP, I know this isn't what you're asking but a friend of mine with long covid has completely changed their diet to try and help the symptoms and it seems to have worked (to some extent). They avoid dairy, gluten, caffeine and alcohol. I'm not sure what the medical thinking is behind it, but thought I'd mention it as you're looking into diet. Good luck, I know that long covid is absolutely debilitating x

How much do you weigh now?

Thanks. I'm under a long covid clinic, but there's not really anything they do. It seems like time/hope are the main cures. I'm on HRT. Nausea and breathlessness have reduced a lot over past couple of months, which will help with diet - and made conscious dieting more feasible. Got reinfected about six weeks ago which was followed by appendix inflammation - maybe a coincidence, maybe not. I'm left with joint issues after that infection, which excess weight isn't going to help. Long Covid is beyond exhausting and excess weight isn't going to help that either.
Thanks for the LC diet tips - could cut out the rest of gluten, alcohol already gone, caffeine (gulp, can try), dairy is just milk in tea/coffee so if caffeine goes, that will go.
I've asked for weight management referral from GP.
Hadn't been tracking calories until relatively recently, so was surprised when realised as seems low to me.
Weight wise, I'm most comfortable around 81/2, but accept that's unlikely to achieve now. I've gone up to a size 18, so have a lot to lose. At this rate, it'll take me years!!

I sympathise OP. I messed up my metabolism from 30+ years of dieting and now put on weight if I eat over about 1200 calories. No-one gets it, because I weigh 18 stone and all the TDEE calculators say I need to eat 2,000 or so to maintain my weight.

I also had Long Covid after the virus first hit. I recovered in just under a year and put it down to eating low carb, giving up alcohol and fasting. I even did longer fasts (from dinner one night to breakfast two days later = 36 hours) a few times a week.

Fasting and low carb helped LC and now help me lose weight. I used to put on weight over 1000 calories a few years ago, so I think my metabolism is slowIy healing through this approach.

Thanks. Glad your metabolism is beginning to heal. Did you ever try to explain what was happening to a health care professional? If so, did they give any advice or did they think you were lying? Did the fasting affect any of the unsteadiness/dizziness from long covid? Are you completely recovered? That's really good news. Still trying to get my head round most people never fully recovering yet - was blissfully unaware of that pre-infection. Sorry for blasting you with questions!

Haven't read that, but also thought sustained low calorie wasn't good for you. Eek! I really want to get better, even if I can only control a smidgeon of that. My kids are in nursery and primary - really want to give them back a semblance of their mum.

I've put on two pound this week. Have been 900-1000 all week and resting less than usual (kids off sick), so hoped I might lose a bit or at least not gain. Bollocks. Feel like extra 'fluid' (don't know right term) around knees, fingers and toes is worse today - could that be it? 800 seems like a crash diet and not v healthy longer term, but don't know if that or weight gain is worse longer term.

I'd definitely urge you to read the book - Why We Eat (Too Much) - it will explain the reason why calorie counting doesn't work and how it messes up your metabolism.

I'd also suggest you really do consider a low carb rather than low calorie approach, especially if you're pre-diabetic and suffering from inflammation.

Thank you.
How many g of carbs a day is low carb?

I wouldn't go cutting out/down major food groups while you're recovering from illness. Push the GP for things like a thyroid test. Have plenty of fluids. Try a vitamin D supplement if you're not getting outside very much.

No, I didn't go to a doctor - just read loads about metabolic ill health, especially Dr Jason Fung's blogs on his The Fasting Method website. I didn't have dizziness from Long Covid - my symptoms were more to do with heart/chest pains, breathlessness and fatigue. And yes, I'm completely recovered - I was within a year of getting Covid in March 2020. I've had it a few times since and haven't relapsed. Although I did get parosmia in a later infection that I've had over two years now.

Apart from fasting and going low carb, I also really upped a few vitamins, namely Vit D and K2.

@howlongtilsummer unfortunately there's no 'one size fits all' when it comes to carbs as everyone has different levels that they can tolerate.

Essentially, though, it means cutting out things like bread, flour, pasta, rice and potatoes, as well as sugar.

However, it's not cutting out a food group, because you should also be eating plenty of veg and salad (and a little fruit, mainly berries) - which is where your carbs will be coming from.

This is something the OP absolutely should be considering @NigelHarmansNewWife, if she has a fatty liver, high cholesterol and is pre-diabetic. It will also help with any inflammation issues.