For those who know me well, sometimes when I get obsessive about something I tend to research it a lot. One of the things that I also do is I just start doing math. It's funny, I did a lot of advanced math stuff in highschool, got to college and went, screw math, lets go full into theatre and english. Not that I didn't do both in high school, I did a lot, but for those who knew me in college, they probably never got that side of me except in my gaming aspects.
But anyway, this has caused me to read a lot and do a lot of random calculations, like the estimated weight of certain body parts (128 pounds for each leg), my estimated skin weight (around 130 pounds) so that I can gauge different things, like how much weight I lift when I do my leg lifts, how much weight will be gone when I remove my excess skin (about 100 pounds or so). I just need to know and sort of explain the things that I am going through and am feeling. that is where I came across this wonderful article about where the fat goes.
I always knew to an extent that a good portion of it goes out through the air we breath, I knew this from the REE that I had done and it just made sense. And I've always had my doctors talking about the potential for water retention affecting weight loss in a given week or so. I won't link anything about the water retention research I did, it just made me more confused as there seem to be a lot of different schools of thought on it in relation to weight loss specifically. However, this did make me come to another realization about how this relates to something else I am going through and this is where things get a bit icky.
Diarrhea. The average person goes between once every three days to three times a day when everything is normal. Above that and if it is liquidy it is diarrhea. I have noticed, especially as I've been losing weight that I've been going to the bathroom a lot more. I mean, I've always peed a lot thanks to diabetes, it is part of the reason I have trouble sleeping at night because diabetes causes you to pee more. Now it is even more so and I've had lots and lots of number twos that are mostly or all liquid. Now it seems that it may simply be an effect of weight loss as my body is pushing out the water aspect of my weight loss. It kind of makes your perspective change a little bit while you are going for your fifth time in a day. Then again, it is also exhausting having that need.
The worst has been when I've been in mid workout and things start to move. Our society is so afraid to talk about theses sorts of things that you never really hear much about it or read much about it. When I first was experiencing it I wasn't able to really find much of anything, other than a few 'hushed' conversations about "runner's diarrhea" on some forums. But those weren't really credible as I wasn't able to find any science to back them up. While my own theory is conjecture, I'm at least basing it on the science of that above article and it does make sense in its own way. As I lose more weight, I'm probably going to be experiencing this more and more.
On a different end of the spectrum, one thing I will have to be careful about going forward is skin issues. In the weight loss surgery community, it is well known about excess skin being an issue and some embrace it and show it off, others will hide it, many get surgery to have the excess skin removed. It means a lot of different things to different people. One thing that comes with it though is the increased risk of yeast infections.
At my size, I have those, a lot. It is more than just uncomfortable, it is physically painful and if left unchecked could prove to be dangerous to my health. As my skin begins to be less taut, it produces more crevices and folds that are going to be dark and hot and with my increased working out, they get wet easily which just proves to be a breeding ground for the yeast infections. As i work, the worse it is going to get and the more painful it is going to get. I think that is one of the things that many overlook about weight loss. those who say 'it is just discipline' Well, yes, discipline plays into it, but you have your own body working against you in many ways making it difficult.
Albeit, I may have my situation be more pronounced, just due to my size, but it still remains an issue. I know that I for one am going to be having the surgery to remove the excess skin later and I hope to be able to donate it to burn victims. I've got type O blood and I've wanted to donate my blood for a long time, but haven't been able to, due to my weight. But maybe my excess skin, when the time comes, can do a lot of good for some people.
I have one month until my pre-surgical class. I should know then about when I will be having my surgery. I will keep my fingers crossed.
photo credit: expecting this? via photopin (license)
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