when weight loss is not a good thing

I don’t mean extreme size 0 weightloss, I mean controlled weightloss that is needed. This time last year I weighed 15st 7lbs and at 5ft 2″ this is considered clinically obese. I decided it was time to do something, and over the past year I have steadily lost weight and now weigh 11st 7lbs (which is still overweight for my height and my BMI still high) but due to my pear shaped figure I am a UK 10 top and UK 14 bottom so if I was to loose much more weight I would look gaunt and bony on my top half.

In most respects losing this weight has actually been quite easy for me, just eating sensibly and healthy. I have acheived it all through eating less and better as due to my chronic fatigue I am unable to do excercise. I am now in the postion where I need to try to do some light muscle excercises to tone up my arms, tummy and thighs – hopefully once univeirsyt finished for the summer I will have the energy to do this.

I can see you wondering how the weightloss has been a bad thing i will exlpain.

First off, it has been expensive, but not so much the food but having to buy new clothes as my old ones are now way to big. Although shopping for clothes is now a fun activity as opposed to the depressing activity it was due to nothing fitting or looking good, I now see things that I like and can wear and will fit me and I want to buy. The expensive has been slightly reduced due to having a Tesco so close wear I can pick up jeans for £15 and some nice t-shirts for between £2 and £10.

The second, and more annoying at present, but in the long run is actually a good thing is that my blood pressure appears to have dropped. I have been on meds for high blood pressure for years (over 10 now) because of my congentical heart problem. I was always told that my weight didn;t effect my blood pressure and weight loss would help it to drop – as ever I seemed to have proved them wrong. For the past few months I have been sufferign from dizzy spells especially on standing from a sitting and lying down. It has gradualy got worse over the past month so I decided it was time to mention it to someone. The clinical nurse at the Royal Brompton says it sounds like I have typical postural hypotension (low pressure on standing from a sitting/lying position) and it is probably due to my loosing weight and my meds being to strong for me. Never did I think I would be making an appointment to see my doctor about my blood pressure being too low. Although this is a good thing, it is annoying as it means more tests (more then likely another 24 blood pressure test which I hate), more trips to the doctor and messing around with the meds till the right dosage is found, it also means in the meantime I have live with the dizziness. I try to remember to stand slowly but often forget and then lurch forward as my headrushes. I know in comparison to some problems this is small but it is happening more and more often. I managed to snag a canceled appointment for tomorrow morning, so I will just have to see what my GP says. I am hoping she is happy to deal with it as I know my consultant is very busy at the moment and can’t bring my annual appointment forward unless it is a real emergency (i.e. lifethreatening) but the thought of dealing with this until Sept is not good. Unfortunately, my GP does tend to pass the buck as far my heart is concened and leave it too him, which is no bad things as he is a leader in the treatment of my condition in adults but nonetheless I want it sorted!!!

Anyway rant over! I am off to sort out dinner – roast tomatoes and warm goat’s cheese salad. Hmmmm!!!