Unexplained weight loss

[seven_swans 3]

Hi all -

I weighed myself for the first time in a while, and I'm about 5-6 pounds lighter than I was the last time I weighed myself, which was a month or so back. I haven't been eating any better (in fact, possibly slightly worse). I expected it to be higher or at least equal. I'm pretty worried. The only real change I've made is that I'm consciously drinking a ton of water to try to improve my hydration. I'm 31, male, 227 lbs (down from around 235). The c-word is forefront in my mind. 227 is still within the "normal" range for me. I was down to 220 when I was consciously trying to lose weight.

[Cubanborn87 42]

Have you had anxiety lately ?

[seven_swans 3]

I've had anxiety on and off for the past decade. It's been pretty bad the past few months, which made me seek out a therapist. I don't think I've had weight loss associated with anxiety in the past, though; usually I stress eat.

[Cubanborn87 42]

The reason I was asking it's because my anxiety caused me to lose 10 lbs in 5 weeks without even trying then I started eating like crazy to gain it back and couldn't and it wasn't until my anxiety came down that I slowly gained all the weight back 

 

I really thought that it was atrophy and muscle waste showing up on the weight scale as I was losing muscle but it was anxiety. The other thing is I was eating Ankit during that time as well, and I was still losing weight 

[utrocket09 115]

1 hour ago, seven_swans said:

Hi all -

I weighed myself for the first time in a while, and I'm about 5-6 pounds lighter than I was the last time I weighed myself, which was a month or so back. I haven't been eating any better (in fact, possibly slightly worse). I expected it to be higher or at least equal. I'm pretty worried. The only real change I've made is that I'm consciously drinking a ton of water to try to improve my hydration. I'm 31, male, 227 lbs (down from around 235). The c-word is forefront in my mind. 227 is still within the "normal" range for me. I was down to 220 when I was consciously trying to lose weight.

5-6 pounds in a month or so is not something to worry about. Our weight fluxuates a few pounds a day. 

[enidoreilley 83]

I second both the responses above. A guideline for medical personnel when discussing "unintentional weight loss" is generally 10% of your body weight or more without changing dietary or exercise behaviors. Should you have dropped 23+ lbs without thinking about it, that would warrant investigation by a Dr.

[enidoreilley 83]

Oh! And I just saw the increased hydration bit. This actually makes a lot of sense. While some people make too much out of drinking water for weight loss, a loss of 5-6 lbs is right about what you can expect to lose in retained water by helping your kidneys with drinking more water. Esp. if you (like me - no judgement  ) tend to eat crappy processed foods. You're probably just a bit healthier than you were last month. 

[ZenCube 59]

The saying goes like: a weight loss of 10% of body weight in the absence of a diet is to be confronted with medical examination. You did not lose 23 pounds yet, did you?

[lofwyr 215]

I go up and down that much every month without meaning to. I know someone who was just diagnosed with a very serious cancer. She lost 10 pounds in 12 days and she started at 135. That is clinical and serious weight loss. She also has many, many other symptoms.

[bin_tenn 1252]

For what it's worth, my girlfriend has lost a good bit of weight (20lbs) in the past couple of months. She has Crohn's, so maybe the circumstances are a little different, but her GI doc is still not overly concerned at this point. He wants to do some basic exams and evaluations, but he doesn't suspect anything out of the ordinary at this point.

[seven_swans 3]

When I got weighed (in full clothes, including jeans and a hoodie), I was 234. I just weighed today (in just a t-shirt and undies) at 224. I'm kinda freaked out still. I know you can lose some water weight by getting better hydration, but I honestly don't know if it could be that much. At what point should I go into the doctor's for a check up?

[ZenCube 59]

As I said: 10% loss of total weight is a good reason to seek medical attention. For instance, I weight around 83kg. A loss of >8kg without trying would make me consider a check up. It could be a zillion things before it's something serious (anxiety, malabsortion, metabolic issue, hyperthyroid... etc). 

[bin_tenn 1252]

Clothes alone can make a difference. 10% weight loss is apparently the general number to watch for, and 10% weight loss at 234 would be 23.4lbs, which would mean you'd be down to 210-ish. You're fine, IMO.

[Iugrad91 501]

You also have to compare weight at the same time of day. Eating drinking and eliminating can cause weight change of several pounds in the course of a day. Always weigh yourself first thing in the morning in the same amount of clothing (or none!) for a good comparison.

[CPO06 0]

I just recently had the same thoughts... that I was losing weight without trying. I downloaded one of those apps on my phone to track everything I ate. It turns out that I wasn't eating enough calories to maintain my weight, all because I was under severe anxiety. After I realized that, I made myself eat. Sure enough, I haven't lost anymore weight in the past two weeks so I know its all in my head.