#conditions causing weight loss and nutrition

[diabetesreversalprograminindia]

Which is Better for Weight Loss: Nutrition or Exercise?

This article is originally published on Freedom from Diabetes website, available here. Weight loss is a complex journey aimed at achieving a healthier lifestyle by reducing excess body fat to reach a specific weight or body composition. People embark on this journey for various reasons, such as improving overall health, boosting self-esteem, or addressing medical issues.

Let's discuss and understand the respective roles of these two factors in the process of shedding excess pounds: Nutrition:

Calorie Control: Generally weight loss depends on burning more calories than you consume. Nutrition is the key, as adjusting your diet makes it easier to control calorie intake.

Quality Matters: Diet should be proper. Eating nutrient base foods that provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber not only supports weight loss but also promotes overall health.

Portion Control: Being mindful of portion sizes can prevent overeating, a common cause of weight gain. A balanced diet with controlled portions can help maintain a calorie deficit.

Sustainable Changes: Crash diets or extreme restrictions are often short-lived and may result in weight regain.

Hormonal Balance: Certain foods can influence hormones related to hunger and satiety, making it easier to control cravings and avoid overeating.

Now to talk about Exercise for weight managment:

Calorie Expenditure: Physical activity helps you burn calories, contributing to the calorie deficit required for weight loss. Regular exercise can increase your daily energy expenditure.

Metabolism Boost: Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat. Strength training and cardio can build muscle and boost your metabolism.

Health Benefits: Exercise improved cardiovascular health, increased insulin sensitivity, and reduced stress. These benefits can indirectly support weight loss and overall well-being.

For weight loss, combining diet and exercise works best. Diet helps you lose weight initially by controlling calories, while exercise is key for keeping the weight off and staying healthy. To read more about this, please visit our Article. Also please connect with me on my website, Facebook page, and YouTube if you want to stay in touch or give me any feedback!

[diabetes-health-corner]

Is nutrition better than exercise for weight loss?

The ongoing discussion about whether nutrition or exercise holds more significance in the context of weight loss is a frequently debated topic. Let's dissect and understand the respective roles of these two factors in the process of shedding excess pounds…

Read more: https://www.freedomfromdiabetes.org/blog/post/is-nutrition-better-than-exercise-for-weight-loss/3555

[macgyvermedical]

can you talk a little about wegovy and muonjaro for weight loss?

The answer is maybe.

If it were just the drugs themselves, I'd say absolutely. But there is a surprising amount of cultural baggage associated with these medications, and I don't really know that I can do them justice.

So first, let's talk about weight. There's a fantastic book called "Fat Talk" by Virginia Sole-Smith, about being overweight or obese in an age that prioritizes thinness, and how diet culture in particular is a threat to young people. Another, called "Intuitive Eating" by Elyse Resch, discusses how calorie restriction- commonly cited as the "way" to lose weight along with exercise- only works once or twice, because our bodies get wise to it and want to hold onto fat.

Humans evolved to gain weight. Fat is how we store energy for times when we might not have enough to eat. And if "not having enough to eat" (whether because of famine or because of calorie restrictive dieting) happens repeatedly, we have evolved to change hormones and metabolism so we a) don't need as much food to stay alive and b) are primed to eat more food than we need when it is available.

Aren't human bodies cool?

In the medical world, there are a lot of things tied to weight. For example, statistically, being overweight or obese means you're more likely to have health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. It is unclear, though, if those problems are caused by the weight itself, or other dietary, activity, and behavior patterns that may also happen to contribute to the weight gain. Things like a sedentary lifestyle, frequent consumption of foods with low nutritional value, avoidance of medical care due to stigma, or even chronic calorie restrictive dieting.

Unfortunately, due to this statistical tie, there is a lot of effort made in the medical world to get patients to "lose weight at any cost" instead of recommending dietary, activity, and behavior changes for health reasons alone.

Culturally as well, we prioritize thinness as attractiveness. I remember in high school there was a poster in my health classroom that read "Ideal weight- or it might be hard to get a date!". There are lots of negative associations with people who carry more weight, including that they are lazy or stupid- things that have nothing to do with body size.

Now, that doesn't mean that there aren't things that could be benefits of losing weight. For example, joint and back pain can be improved with weight loss. But weight loss is probably not the end-all be-all cure-all it's touted to be.

Because it is really hard for most people to meet this standard of "lose weight at any cost", there has long been medications that purportedly help people lose weight. Most of these medications have been stimulants, which decrease appetite and make it more comfortable to engage in calorie restrictive dieting. They also increase energy, which can make it easier to exercise or tolerate more exercise than would otherwise be possible.

Before we talk about the drugs, I want to say- there are risks and benefits to all medications, including these! The discussion you should always have is what risks are you and your healthcare provider willing to tolerate for the potential positive outcome. Also, this is a discussion of the drugs when used for weight control. The same drugs used for diabetes are at different dosages and have potentially different risk/benefit comparisons.

Ozempic/Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide) are both a type of medication called a GLP-1 agonist. GLP-1 agonists are also called incretin mimics, because they mimic a type of hormone (incretin) that tells the brain and body that it is full. This makes it easier to eat a small amount of high nutrition food and feel satisfied. They also work by increasing metabolism. Between the decreased consumption and the increased metabolism, weight is lost.

Over the course of a year and a half, tirzepatide causes about 15-20% average reduction in body weight with continued use. Over the course of about the same time, semaglutide causes an average of about 15% body weight reduction with continuous use. Say, for example, you weigh 100kg. A year and a half on one of these medications could get you down to 85kg.

The problem is, as soon as that drug is withdrawn, the body realizes it was starving, and tries to compensate. These drugs are good at getting rid of weight, but maintaining a new weight usually means staying on a lower dose of the drug perpetually. Most people regain all weight (and potentially more than they lost) within 5 years of stopping the drugs.

Some studies suggest that repeatedly regaining lost weight may be more detrimental to health than remaining overweight or obese when it comes to statistical risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other "weight-associated" illnesses.

The main side effects are GI-related. Most of these are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas/bloating, constipation, dizziness, and abdominal pain. More severe side effects include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and gasteroparesis (paralysis of the stomach and part of the digestive tract).

[thedisablednaturalist]

Tw for weight loss mention

The whole exercise will cure your disability thing is a fucking joke. Yes exercise is beneficial for your health, but only if you aren't already on shaky foundations. You need to be on a treatment plan that WORKS before going into the maintenance phase. You wouldn't do regular maintenance on a broken item, you'd work on getting it up and running first. And maybe it would even need specialized maintenance afterwards if it's especially fragile.

I have fibromyalgia and acute degenerative disc disease. My immune system attacks my nerves and discs in my spine are slowly calcifying and causing the bones to constrict and damage my nerves (i think thats how it works). I have days where it feels like my body is on fire from nerve pain and days where it feels like my spine is about to rip from my back. And days where I have both (like today!). I get numbness in my hands and feet. I have horrible migraines. I can no longer walk unaided more than maybe 5 minutes without severe pain. I have something wrong with my knees and hips but the doctors don't know what yet.

You'd think I live an obviously seditary lifestyle correct?

Hell no.

I walk aided on average 6 miles a day over difficult terrain OUTSIDE of regular activity almost everyday. My legs are muscular and strong. I get my heart rate up and a good sweat, like all the gym rats swear on. I am often doing physical labor such as weeding, digging, sample collecting, pruning trees etc.

I'm not saying this to make other disabled people feel bad or prove that they can do anything if they just tried harder. This is an extremely painful lifestyle I've chosen that takes a lot of lifestyle management AND BOUNDARIES to keep up with the work. I also have an extremely forgiving boss who is also physically disabled and knows what I'm going through (deciding between your passion and your health and having to do so each and every day) No one should ever be expected to do what I do. I'm not even sure if I should be doing this myself.

This is to prove that exercise? Has not cured me. My muscles are strong but still hurt as if they're broken and I have to take more breaks than my coworker. I am constantly getting out of breath and I flare up regularly if I'm not careful. I am in excellent physical condition outside of my disabilities. I go to different doctors several times a month to get checked out.

I previously went through a diet program and lost a lot of weight (basically starving myself and got off my depression meds which cause weight gain but are also the only ones that work) and guess what? That didn't do shit either!!! I still felt horrible!!! I've since gained back the weight anyway after switching to focusing on adding more nutrient dense foods than taking stuff away from my diet (also muscle weighs more than fat, and fat helps cushion my aching joints and spine).

The muscle doesn't do shit for my disabilities outside of maybe some stability. Exercising everyday doesn't make the pain go away. Without my medications and aids and nutrition plans and steroid injections and spinal adjustments and physical therapy (that takes my fibro and spine into account) and alternative work methods I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO. Exercise alone is like trying to make a car run with no oil. Yes it'll go but it'll get more and more damaged till it can't and will need its entire engine replaced!

And yet I see new doctors and they look at me and the first thing out of their mouths is do I exercise? I should try doing a little every day :) and then i fucking blow their minds when I tell them about my job. No longer can they use that fucking cop out on me. I've been through this rodeo. Ive tried their suggestions. If you are in pain and nothing is helping? Exercise ain't going to do SHIT. You need to get to a point where you can move without severe pain first (if that's even possible). Then and only then should you consider implementing regular exercise if you can. Also weight loss talk is a red flag and a cop out. They made me lose 50+ lbs before they would look into the reasons behind my pain. Weight loss did nothing for me and exacerbated my pain.

I am living proof that all that shit is a lie and a cop out. That is the point of this post. I cannot believe people with serious medical conditions are being forced to put their bodies through extreme duress just to be believed. You are not disabled because of laziness or because you sit a lot. Plenty of people live seditary lifestyles and do not live in constant excruciating pain (they may develop disabilities later in life due to this however, and should be doing preventative exercises to maintain their health)

Please, share my story with doctors. Use me as an example. I am proof that "exercise first treat later" does not work. I should not have had to wait years to have my pain validated. I'd rather hundreds of fakers get (what? A blood test? An MRI?) than one chronically ill person get told to try yoga and go away by a doctor.

[elvis1970s]

Fairytale, a Pointer Sisters cover, was recorded by Elvis in early 1975 and featured as an album track on Today, released in May of that year. It would remain in the live set right up to the end. This joyous version was captured in a good quality audience recording during Elvis' dinner show in Las Vegas on August 20th, 1975. He's in such great form that it's actually quite hard to believe that following the second show that night, the engagement would be abruptly cancelled (just three nights in) and Elvis would be flown back to Memphis and admitted to hospital.

United Press international (UPI) issued a syndicated report on the sudden cancellation;

“…He just got very tired and fatigued and we thought it would be best if he cut his show here short this time rather than run into complications," said Dr. Elias Ghanem, the singer's Las Vegas physician. "We can't find much wrong with him. One of the liver enzymes is elevated and what he needs is rest…”

Dr Ghanem (1939-2001) enjoyed an enviable lifestyle from his business activities and from billing a number of wealthy and undoubtedly generous Las Vegas entertainers for treatment of, amongst other things, ‘Vegas Throat’ – raspy soreness caused by a combination of the dry desert air and the air-conditioning (and passive smoking) within the hotels and casinos. He was also a proponent of the sleep diet; a regimen of weight loss that appeared to involve the patient being sedated for much of the time and consuming liquid nutrition during rare moments of consciousness. Elvis himself had availed himself of this regime on at least one occasion.

The Irish Times wrote an obituary for Dr Ghanem upon his death from renal cancer in 2001.

“…He was Elvis Presley's personal physician, as well as the doctor for Elvis's posthumous son-in-law Michael Jackson. Although his patient list also included Liberace, Bill Cosby, Ann-Margret, and Virginia Kelley (the mother of former President Bill Clinton), it was Ghanem's relationship with The King which first brought him under the spotlight of unwanted notoriety. When ABC's television programme '20-20' reported that he had supplied the drugs which essentially killed Presley, Dr Ghanem threatened to sue - but he never did…”

The article also noted that Ghanem had been the subject of an FBI investigation over billing, but never charged, and that Colonel Parker had a financial interest in Ghanem's clinic situated conveniently adjacent to the Las Vegas Hilton.

"...Ghanem expanded his practice to include a chain of clinics around Las Vegas, treating literally thousands of patients. He proposed innovative umbrella health-insurance schemes long before they came into vogue, and signed contracts with the Hotel and Casino Workers' Union, by far the largest group of workers in Nevada. The arrangement was obviously a profitable one for Ghanem, but union leader John Wilhelm, recalled that during a protracted six-year strike at the Frontier Casino, Ghanem treated every worker free of charge and delivered over a hundred babies for the striking workers..."

Following the cancellation, Elvis was flown back to Memphis where he was admitted to a private suite on the top floor of Baptist Memorial Hospital. His next professional engagement was back in Las Vegas in December making up for the cancelled shows.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

I know this is hard to read, but people need to understand what is happening to the Palestinians who are still alive...and the absolute horror of human beings that Biden and Netanyahu are.

Beginning Stages The extent, type and timeline of damage you experience depends on how much you currently weigh, whether you eat insufficient food or nothing at all, your age, medical condition and many other factors. Generally, during the beginning stages, fatigue, dizziness, dry or scaly skin, and weakness occur, along with intense hunger. Your body is responding to the lack of food, which it needs for energy, by signaling your brain to do something about it. Cognitive Function Starvation causes a decrease in mental function. Like every other part of your body, your brain needs nutrients and energy to function properly. Infants who starve might never develop proper brain function. People over the ages of 2 or 3 might experience temporary poor cognitive function, but recover once they receive nourishment. Your mood likely will change as you become preoccupied by thoughts of food. You also might feel anxious, irritable, angry, withdrawn and depressed. Middle Stages Your lack of nutrition might lead to gastrointestinal disturbances, feeling cold, hypersensitivity to noise or light, water retention and decreased libido. Your immune system won't be able to produce sufficient antibodies to fight infection, so you'll get sick more often. Your gums might swell and bleed. Metabolism decreases as your body tries to conserve as much energy as possible. Weight loss occurs as your body depletes your fat stores, then begins to burn other tissues, such as muscle. These changes are reversible with proper nutrition. Final Stages Eventually, your failure to get sufficient nutrients will lead to permanent damage. Teeth decay, and bones weaken due to insufficient calcium. Your hair will fall out. Organs begin to shut down due to the lack of energy and nutrients necessary for maintenance. Heart muscles weaken, and the end result is complete system failure, or death.

When Biden built his PR stunt pier, knowing full well it was inefficient and couldn't reach many people, his goal wasn't just to look good to anyone only paying attention on the surface...his goal was to give some people just enough food to prolong their suffering, but not enough to return them to anywhere near healthy.

[j0kers-light]

Hi Chaos,

You literally inspired me to get a tumblr account. You’re work is sooooo good xx

Could you write a one shot with J and a Celiac reader ( someone who can’t eat gluten)

Thank you! Don’t overwork yourself and take as much time as you need xx

HI MY BELOVED ANON!!! 🖤✨

I feel beyond honored to have inspired you to create a tumblr! My job here is done. I cannot thank you enough for reading, so I'll keep writing! (p.s. I am terribly sorry for the wait!! 😔)

Now as for your request. I could not extend it into a oneshot so please don't be upset with me, I converted it into a head canon. Let's discuss gluten free! 👩🏽‍💻

Here is the credit I referenced as well as asking Mama!

Celiac Disease: an illness caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye.

The universe must truly hate you because you cannot digest precious bread normally. It sucks that there's no cure, but at least there are alternatives so its not life threatening.

Bless Gaia for gluten free ingredients, without it you risk weight loss from vomiting and constant trips the bathroom doing you know what. 👀

You are aware of your diagnosis so the solution is simple. Don't eat gluten.

Over the years you learned how to adapt and avoid any possible flareups and integrate new safer nutrition sources into your diet.

You are vigilant when eating out, always looking for that GF logo on menus and if its not listed, you alert the staff of your condition.

That means you typically research the restaurant beforehand to check if they cater to celiac eaters.

While cooking at home, you use special flours, avoid certain condiments, and processed foods, and you are big on cross contamination.

If someone else cooks, you are asking what ingredients they used to protect your immune system reacting.

It’s not being rude, this is your health at stake!

Joker hardly notices your condition because you tend to keep it under wraps. He just thinks you’re just very food conscious or hip to trends.

Joker will make fun of your fancy artisan bread or whenever you make food from scratch though.

The only time it becomes a problem is when Joker drinks. You already know how that's gonna go.

You weren't planning on watching the game tonight but lo and behold, the tv is on.

It was honestly just background noise until Joker came home, surprisingly to watch said game. He was already rowdy as he landed on the couch with a slight bounce.

You gave him the side eye when he cheered loudly at a score being made. "I didn't know you watched sports, J." you said.

Joker snickered. “It’s ah.. en-ter-tain-ing.”

A distinct crackle rang out in the room as Joker popped open a beer. You turned your nose at the can. You haven't had beer in years since being diagnosed.

Joker on the other hand downed it in one gulp before opening another. Of course he had a low alcohol tolerance. Why were you surprised?

You must've chuckled because Joker's green eyes were instantly on you.

"Something funny, doll?" He arched an eyebrow at you waving him off. "Its nothing, J."

"Ya want one?" He was offering you the forbidden wheat. Did he know that you were celiac?

"Uhhh no thanks. I can't."

Now that got his attention away from the tv. He seen you drink alcohol before, why couldn't you drink some today? Unless….

You could practically see the complex math symbols floating around his head. Your big baby was so confused.

“I can't drink beer because it’s made from gluten." you explained.

It still didn't click upstairs. "Didn't know you had a thing with gluten, Bunny." Joker mused.

"Yeah well, me and her got a love/hate thing going on. I'm not mindful— she lashes out and makes me sick. It sucks having a malfunctioning immune system."

Silence fell over the two of you as Joker processed what you said.

He kinda understood what you meant but he was still at a loss. You ate bread. A lot in fact.

Was it a special kind? How could you separate the good bread from the bad? Was he overthinking this? Probably so, but now he had some research to do tonight while you slept.

Joker needed to know everything about his Light.

If you were secretly beefing with gluten, he needed to know study possible tactic to join the fight and protect you properly.

“I’ll … ah protect you from the bad gluten, Bun.”

You eyed Joker after hearing his random comment. He looked so unbothered— already focused back on the game as if he didn’t declare war on a protein.

Maybe he couldn’t hold his beer after all.

You just giggled and climbed into Joker’s lap as the two of you finished watching the rest of the game.

[pseudowho]

Do you perhaps know a simple diet to lose weight? My weight is at 65 and my mom is telling it to the whole village, and she'd point a camera at me whenever she's on a video call with anyone. It's really starting to get to me

CW/TW: discussion of weight, food intake, diet and weight management, nutrition, mental Vs physical wellbeing, fatphobia and fat shaming below.

The problem here isn't your weight, it's your shitty mother. I know weight is considered an issue of varying proportions culturally, too, but I'm white with a very fatphobic mother and I know how you feel.

If being shamed made people thin, there wouldn't be an overweight person on the planet.

Most importantly, you should know that you are not less of a person for being overweight, whatever your stupid fucking mother says. I will insult her 'til the cows come home.

Truth be told, exempting certain medical conditions which make weight loss harder in various ways, energy in Vs energy out really is the key.

Also very importantly: what I do is not what I recommend you should do.

I personally count everything I eat, with a healthy mindset, because I have a medical condition that leaves me exceptionally prone to weight gain. I've chosen to manage my weight savagely for my long-term health, and that has taken some sacrifices.

I eat only breakfast and lunch. I don't eat dinner. I might have some crackers in the evening. Occasionally I 'break' and do eat a bit more, for my own sanity, but I'm not a binge eater. I take multivitamins and have my bloods checked regularly. Overall I eat under 1500kcal a day, and for a woman of my height and activity level, that's low.

And, as a natural glutton, who loves food, this takes a lot of fucking willpower. I simply have a happy life, and want to maximise my chances of living longer and healthier.

Overall, there are lots of ways you can burn more than you eat. You can simply eat the same food but with smaller portions sizes. You can replace certain meal items with filling, lower energy alternatives, like more vegetables and fruit. You can exercise more to 'burn' more of what you take in.

You can see if medical causes can be excluded; while it's common to have a condition that makes it harder to lose weight, there are very few that make it impossible to lose weight.

I know this isn't of much help to you. Ultimately your own self worth and your mental health are what matter most, and if you're altering yourself just to fit to someone else's standards, you will probably find yourself thinner but no happier at the end of it.

Brain first. Body later. Send your mama my way, and I'll weigh her fat attitude VS my fat attitude and see who wins, huh?

Love,

-- Haitch xxx

[cottoncandyopinions]

If this is such a free fucking country, why the fuck can't we apply informed consent to more things? Why the fuck do I have to beg a doctor and convince him I'm not insane just to get a medication that has a chance at helping me?

Like. I have PCOS. Spironolactone is prescribed for PCOS symptoms caused by androgens, like hair loss, hirsutism, and acne. I have PCOS and I have those symptoms. So why the fuck do I have to debate my doctor into offering it because "Oh but have you tried to lose weight? Here's nutrition guidelines, ask me again in a few months."

Like yeah. Medications have fucking risks. The estrogen in my fucking birth control puts me at a higher risk of stroke and raises my blood pressure, but going on the med that can balance my hormones and lower my blood pressure? Oooooh we gotta think about that.

And what about diagnostic shit too! Not even just medicines! Like yeah I get that you can't give an exploratory major surgery every time someone fucking asks, but why the hell can't I just walk up and just ask for an MRI scan? Or an x-ray? Fucking ultrasound? We gotta have daddy doctor's permission just to CHECK?

And what about fucking CPAP machines? My partner has sleep apnea and it's horrific to learn. You basically have to pay out of pocket for the fucking things even with insurance, but YOU HAVE TO GET A PRESCRIPTION. Okay listen. No one is going to be fucking harmed if they use a machine to help them breathe better at night, even if they don't need it like what the fuck is it gonna do that's a problem?

The claim there is "Oh but you want to be sure you get the right one because some people need extra features" and all I can think is like. Is it BETTER for someone with sleep apnea to have NOTHING AT ALL? That's like denying someone a basic rescue inhaler when there's a formulation that works better, like maybe it's best they DON'T choke.

I just. Idk. I'm not anti medical or anti science. I'm just fucking chronically ill and tired, and there's no help out there. I'm tired of having to deal with doctors making decisions that involve leaving me to suffer when I can't do anything about it.

Like. The main barrier to treatment for my longest term condition is a fucking diagnostic test. I have a muscle condition that makes it impossible for me as is, and physical therapy confirmed it was likely worsened by the pain and inflammation, and the muscle work alone wouldn't fix it.

And they could accommodate me. I've met so many people shocked that they won't, because they were accommodated. A muscle relaxer, a xanax, topical numbing, laughing gas, even putting me under are all options that others in my position have been offered. And I get denied any of those options because "it's not standard" and "you need to suck it up" over involuntary muscle spasms...

I don't care about fucking risks anymore, because is it really any less of a risk to live in pain, feel my body weaken from fatigue and dysfunction, all while there's something in my body actively causing harm to me and I have no way of even knowing how far it's spread, how serious it is, if it's harming my internal organs, anything...

Why the fuck can't I just sign a form saying I understand all the risks and then just ask for what I fucking need? I don't want to sound like I have a big head, but I've never been wrong about this shit. Every fucking issue or problem I spent years trying to convince doctors to listen and look into my concerns, and consistently when they eventually finally do, I turn out to be right. I hate it.

[fatliberation]

So sorry to bother you and jump on the recent bandwagon of medical questions, especially if you have already answered this before and I haven't seen it, but my doc tried to tell me that weight loss is the best/only way to reduce/reverse liver damage and high enzyme levels when they are not caused by alcohol use. I know the genetics for the condition are in my family, and I also know that weight loss as a goal/medical treatment is generally BS. Just wondering if you or the community have any resources for improving liver health that doesn't focus on weight loss. Thank you, love your blog, it means so much to me.

I did some light googling on liver health, and already I'm sure this is one of those conditions that can be improved through diet and exercise ("diet" here meaning nutrition), but since those things are so entrenched in diet culture and people can't POSSIBLY imagine uncoupling health-promoting behaviors with weight loss, the conclusion goes from "x group did ___ behavior, and in doing so, they also lost some weight" to "their weight loss is actually the thing that improved their health" rather than. y'know. the fucking health-promoting behavior. If there's one thing I know, it's that weight loss is NEVER an effective treatment. It simply does not work. Even if it does improve some conditions, it is not sustainable beyond 1 to 5 years, and sends folks into a cycle of losing and regaining, which ends up doing the body much more harm. (Prescribed weight loss (or dieting) is also the leading predictor of eating disorders, by the way). If literally any other treatment showed time and time again that it failed in 95-99% of patients, the medical world would drop it. Instead of letting data speak for itself, we have been twisting data to fit a narrative that we already believe and seek to uphold. That is not how science works. Why we haven't labeled prescribing weight-loss as medical malpractice by now is beyond me. Well, I wish I could say it's beyond me but I know exactly why.

Sorry for the rant, I'm sure you already know this. It just gets my blood boiling!! I'm sorry you're going through this, anon. And thank you so much, I'm really glad you're getting something positive out of this blog.

My advice to you is to make it clear to your doctor that you are not open to pursuing weight loss. Ask your doctor to recommend the same treatment for you as they would for a thin patient. Here's a guide for how to advocate for yourself at the doctor's office. If you receive any pushback from your doctor, find a new one.

[greaterbostonaddictioncenter]

Cocaine Addiction Side Effects: Understanding the Dangers

Cocaine addiction is a highly dangerous and potentially life-threatening condition that not only impacts the user’s health but also affects their relationships, career, and overall well-being. Cocaine, a powerful stimulant, is known for its short-term euphoric effects. However, long-term use can cause a range of severe physical, mental, and emotional side effects. Understanding the risks associated with cocaine use can help individuals recognize the signs of addiction and seek timely treatment.

Physical Side Effects of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine has a profound effect on the body’s central nervous system, and prolonged use can lead to a wide range of serious physical health problems, including:

Cardiovascular Issues: Cocaine constricts blood vessels and raises heart rate and blood pressure, significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Long-term users often suffer from chronic heart conditions, which can be fatal without intervention.

Respiratory Problems: Snorting cocaine can damage the nasal passages, leading to chronic nosebleeds and loss of the sense of smell. Smoking cocaine, in forms like crack, can cause severe lung damage, chronic cough, and respiratory infections.

Weight Loss and Malnutrition: Cocaine acts as an appetite suppressant, leading to unhealthy weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. This can weaken the immune system and make the body more vulnerable to infections and diseases.

Neurological Effects: Cocaine use can result in severe neurological complications, including seizures, headaches, and strokes. The drug’s impact on the brain’s dopamine system can cause irreversible damage over time, leading to a decline in cognitive functioning.

Gastrointestinal Complications: Cocaine can reduce blood flow to the intestines, causing ulcers and tears in the gastrointestinal tract. These complications can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as bowel gangrene.

Mental and Emotional Side Effects

The psychological impact of cocaine addiction is just as devastating as the physical side effects. Chronic cocaine use can lead to:

Paranoia and Hallucinations: Many long-term cocaine users experience intense paranoia and even auditory or visual hallucinations. These episodes can result in dangerous or violent behaviors and increased risk of injury to oneself or others.

Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, which can lead to chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and feelings of restlessness. These symptoms can persist even after the drug has worn off.

Depression: While cocaine initially creates feelings of intense euphoria, the aftermath is often marked by severe depression, especially during withdrawal. The brain’s dopamine levels are depleted after prolonged use, leading to a diminished ability to feel pleasure, also known as "anhedonia."

Addiction and Cravings: Cocaine’s addictive properties can lead to compulsive drug-seeking behaviors. Users often develop tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same high, which increases the risk of overdose.

Cognitive Decline: Prolonged cocaine use can impair memory, decision-making, and overall cognitive functioning. This decline can affect work performance, relationships, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Behavioral and Social Consequences

Cocaine addiction can take a significant toll on a person’s social and emotional well-being, leading to:

Relationship Strain: Cocaine addiction often leads to conflict with loved ones, as users may lie, steal, or become isolated in their pursuit of the drug. Trust is frequently broken, and relationships can suffer irreparable harm.

Legal and Financial Troubles: Due to the high cost of maintaining a cocaine habit, many users face financial difficulties, often resorting to illegal activities to fund their addiction. This can result in legal consequences such as arrests and imprisonment.

Work and Career Impact: Cocaine addiction can cause individuals to neglect their professional responsibilities, leading to poor job performance, absenteeism, and eventual job loss. The inability to maintain employment can exacerbate financial and personal issues.

The Importance of Seeking Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

If you or a loved one is struggling with cocaine addiction, it’s crucial to seek professional help as soon as possible. The risks of continued use, including overdose and long-term health problems, make early intervention essential.

At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we offer a range of evidence-based treatment options to help individuals overcome cocaine addiction treatment and begin the journey toward lasting recovery. Our programs include:

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): A structured treatment option providing intensive therapy while allowing individuals to return home in the evenings. Partial Hospitalization Program offers medical supervision, individual counseling, and group therapy sessions, making it a comprehensive treatment approach for severe addiction cases.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): For those who need flexible care while maintaining daily responsibilities, our Intensive Outpatient Program offers a robust treatment plan with therapy sessions multiple times a week. This program is ideal for individuals transitioning from inpatient care or those who cannot commit to residential treatment.

Outpatient Program: For individuals in the later stages of recovery, outpatient care allows continued access to therapy and support while reintegrating into daily life. Outpatient Treatment program focuses on relapse prevention and long-term recovery strategies.

Conclusion

Cocaine addiction is a serious condition that affects all aspects of life—physical, mental, emotional, and social. The side effects of prolonged use can be devastating, but recovery is possible with the right support and treatment. At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we are committed to helping individuals reclaim their lives from the grip of addiction through compassionate and effective care.

[chronic-gastro-illness-culture]

was just wondering if there is any link between GI problems and developing ARFID, does anyone else suffer with it too or know anything about it?

according to the diagnostic criteria food avoidance due to fear of negative consequences (like triggering symptoms in a gastro disorder) would count

When exposed to food stimuli, individuals with ARFID may have atypical activation patterns in the insula, leading to aversive responses to certain textures, tastes, or food smells. In addition, a recent study proposed that the pathophysiology of ARFID may be associated with the following 3 neurobiological hypotheses:

Individuals with sensory sensitivity may have an intensified perception of tastes, particularly bitter and sweet, which might classify them as "supertasters" due to a biological predisposition.

A lack of interest in food observed in some with ARFID could be linked to reduced brain activity in appetite-regulating areas (eg, hypothalamus and insula), which affect hunger sensations and satiety.

For patients with ARFID stemming from fear of aversive consequences (eg, choking), an exaggerated fear response may be present, possibly triggered by overactive fear-related brain circuitry involving the amygdala and prefrontal cortex

The DSM-V outlines the following 4 criteria for diagnosing ARFID:

Criterion A: An eating or feeding disturbance linked to significant weight loss, nutritional deficiency, reliance on enteral feeding or supplements, or a notable change in psychosocial functioning is present. The possible causes for this disruption outlined in the DSM-V-TR include low appetite, sensory issues with food, and fear-related avoidance of eating.

Criterion B: The interference with eating is not due to religious or cultural factors or lack of food availability.

Criterion C: The disturbance is not attributable to other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, as evidenced by the absence of body image concerns.

Criterion D: Other psychiatric or medical conditions are excluded as an etiology for the disturbance

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603710/

"Individuals with ARFID may also exhibit food avoidance or restriction due to a fear of aversive consequences, such as a fear of choking, vomiting, or gastrointestinal pain. Often these individuals have experienced a food-related trauma and subsequently begin avoiding the index food to guard against another negative experience. While the avoidance reduces anxiety momentarily, it reinforces anxiety over time by preventing the opportunity for new corrective learning to occur. In our clinical experience, these individuals often have an anxious predisposition and their food avoidance generalizes beyond the index food to similar foods, then to entire food groups, and in some of the most severe cases, to avoidance of all solid foods. When fear of aversive consequences is primary, the onset is often acute."

bc arfid can cause malnutrition gastro disorders like gerd n ibs n others can develop just like other eating disorders

if u wanna send ur questions in ur r more then welcome to

[diabetes-health-corner]

Weight loss is a complex journey aimed at achieving a healthier lifestyle by reducing excess body fat to reach a specific weight or body composition. People embark on this journey for various reasons, such as improving overall health, boosting self-esteem, or addressing medical issues.

[istherewifiinhell]

https://archive.is/M2UW1

Children Born During the War in Gaza Will Never Truly Escape It

Jan. 9, 2024, 5:01 a.m. ET

By Alice Rothchild

Dr. Rothchild is a retired obstetrician and gynecologist, an author, a filmmaker and a former assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

After Israel began its invasion of Gaza shortly after Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, Aya Khrais — a pregnant 26-year-old dentist, wife of a doctor and mother of a 2-year-old girl living in Gaza City — lost contact with the doctors and health services she needed for prenatal care and for managing her diabetes.

She and her family were forced to leave home and move five times to flee the constant bombings, sometimes trekking several miles on foot. When we spoke in early December, she was staying at her sister-in-law’s home in southern Gaza. Dr. Khrais was 32 weeks pregnant and sleeping on a thin mattress directly on the ground, sharing a house with 74 people from 11 families. They lacked water, adequate food, medications, electricity and the tools for basic hygiene.

For the past two months she has had no prenatal care and no vitamins and has not gained any weight. She found a private obstetrician on Dec. 10 who informed her that she had excess amniotic fluid and needed an immediate C-section. She found a private hospital with an opening on Jan. 16. The estimated cost will be $4,000; the family has lost all of its savings as well as its bombed-out home. She has no baby clothes, diapers or formula and no proper place for postpartum recovery. “I am really frightened,” she told me over WhatsApp.

Dr. Khrais’s account is far from uncommon. There are approximately 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, all struggling with a lack of stable shelter, inadequate nutrition and polluted, salty water. Prenatal, postnatal and pediatric care are difficult to obtain. U.N. agencies have dispatched lifesaving medicines and equipment to Gaza but it’s not enough to meet the needs of the population. Extreme shortages of pain medications, antibiotics, seizure and diabetic medications and blood are common. According to the World Health Organization, of the more than 180 women delivering babies each day, 15 percent are likely to encounter complications and be unable to obtain appropriate obstetric and pediatric emergency services. All the while, the threat of injury or death from bombings and military action looms, as does unimaginable emotional trauma.

If these mothers and their children manage to survive the war, they will grapple with its effects for the rest of their lives. Health research into multiple areas of armed conflict (such as Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and Kosovo) reveals that these kinds of conditions are linked to an increase in miscarriages, congenital abnormalities, stillbirths, preterm labor and maternal mortality. Other studies of armed conflict from 1945 to 2017 show that children exposed to war are more likely to suffer from poor living conditions and sanitation, and multigenerational poverty caused by the loss of educational and economic infrastructure...

[theclovisculture]

Metabolism as a River - Fixing the Root Cause of Weight Gain

In this video, we explore the concept of metabolism as a river and how fixing the root cause of weight gain can help you achieve your health goals. Discover how understanding your metabolism can lead to sustainable weight loss and better overall health.

Are you tired of the diet roller coaster, losing and gaining the same 10 lbs over and over? Welcome to my channel! I'm Justin Nault, a certified nutritional therapist and creator of Clovis Culture. In this video, I reveal why your diet is setting you up to fail and how understanding the root cause of weight gain can transform your life.

Imagine your metabolism as a river flowing through your body. The food you eat acts like trash thrown into this river, affecting your health downstream. Traditional diets focus on calorie counts and exercise but ignore the root cause—the metabolic junk food you consume. By cleaning up the "river" with nutrient-dense foods and avoiding ultra-processed junk, we can heal your metabolism and deliver lasting results.

Join me as I challenge mainstream diet culture and share a path to sustainable health. Feeling better, losing weight, and reversing chronic conditions is possible when you fix the root cause: your metabolism.

📞 BOOK A FREE CALL WITH OUR TEAM: https://justinnault.com/assessment

Justin Nault is a Certified Nutritional Therapist, Specialist in Sports Nutrition, and Specialist in Fitness Nutrition. He is the founder and CEO of Clovis and the creator of the Clovis Daily Superfood Powder. He has studied human metabolism, nutrition, and fitness at their deepest levels. Justin has helped over 2,500 people transform their lives through one-on-one Lifestyle Coaching and custom nutrition plans.

[ed-recovery-affirmations]

What do you think about some people in recovery saying "there are no good or bad foods". Whenever I see that, it always reassures me, but then the comments talk about how unhealthy certain foods are and talk about diabetes, heart problems, etc, and then I feel very triggered.

So I've posted a little bit about this before, and my constant saying is "food has no morality."

So here's the thing. There are objectively food items that contain higher concentrations of vitamins. There are also foods that give you your macronutrients in better ways than others. For people who have, say, high cholesterol, there are foods to be generally avoided to help keep it down. For those with fructose intolerance, veggies are a better go than fruits for getting your fiber. If you have high blood pressure, you'll want to eat a low-salt diet, but if you have low blood pressure, you might find yourself needing more salt than the average person.

Health and ideal diet varies incredibly. Though the diet industry will have you obsessed with food purity and only consuming foods they've deemed "good," our bodies are more complicated than that. And food is meant to be enjoyed. We are biologically wired to crave sugars, salts, fats, and carbs, because if we were living in more primitive conditions, these things would be much harder to come by and would provide lengthy boosts of caloric energy. The fact that we still crave these things today is not a moral failing, but an instinct. And indulging in treats because you enjoy them does not mean you're "being bad."

I'm sorry to hear you feel so anxious and triggered, though! It's certainly scary to hear constant fearmongering about food-related health problems. While lack of access to proper, balanced nutrition can be a contributing factor in several health problems, this will not be caused by eating the occasional dessert or having a comfort meal, especially if your other health needs are met. But no one else can understand your personal health needs - you have to work with your doctor based on what you know about your body. Unfortunately medical fatphobia is still rampant, and many doctors may assume that you have all of these health problems if you don't have a thin body. However, these health problems can only be confirmed by test. There are fat people who do not have diabetes. There are fat people who do not have heart disease. These things can only be diagnosed after proper testing has been done.

Keep in mind that, when you hear non-medical-professionals loudly insisting that body-positive and food-positive posters must have all these health problems, many of these people have dedicated their lives to weight loss and dieting and "clean eating" based on what was marketed to them. They have based their worth on their ability to stay thin. And so the thought that somebody else might be living their own best life not doing these things is completely counterintuitive to them at this point. So they might be triggered, themselves. It's hard and scary, but you can remind yourself when you're triggered that the majority of these people have no medical expertise.

Eating a single "unhealthy" food is not going to be the wrench in the system that kills your entire body. Unless, of course, you have an allergy or intolerance to something in that food.