I'm already just planning to go the the medical sciences section of my uni library for this shit, and if I even can, find someone who actually studied nutrition and specifically undernutrition via calorie deficit or something similar, and ask about all the symptoms. I'm doing MATH to make sure my characters body weights are accurate, I've used BMI calculators, I took into account muscle weight specifically, I'm learning about feeding tubes, I'm trying to figure out what fucking taumeoba would have nutrition wise (I've decided on broccoli with more sugar). Yes most of the numbers are in multiples of five.

Where do you even find someone willing to answer questions for a fanfic? Do they take questions from autistic teens? I'm pretty sure expertise databases are for journalists and people writing research papers and me using one would have me publicly burned at the steak or something. Is there like an email for normal people to ask about weirdly specific topics? Should I just accept the fact I'm going to have to go to my downtown uni library and bring a big ass notebook? Can I even ask the uni librarians where the health sciences section is or will that also bring around my execution???

Anyway, if anyone happens to have a health sciences degree in nutrition and be able to help me figure out how a character would end up a certain weight and in undernutrition calorie deficit, and what effects that would have on them, please help. The chances are slim but I've already spent too much time on this I have to see it through. I'm going to go to the uni library anyway, but I might as well know what specifically to search for and have some notes already.

I will rewrite entire sections of my fanfic for this to be accurate, I will change his weight AGAIN. I'm already trying to see if I can feasibly bus downtown to do this shit (I can it turns out, I'm going to go either tomorrow or Saturday).

I am interested in how they think weight change even functions if they don't think a consistent caloric deficit can result in sustained weight loss.

If calorie surplus/deficit isn't what causes weight gain/loss, what do they think is? Why do people who consume more than they burn gain weight? Why would a calorie deficit work in the short term but not long term if a person did not return to their previous eating habits after reaching their goal? Why does severe underconsumption lead to underweight condition? Why do people remain underweight unless they start eating more, and why is eating more part of the treatment plan for unhealthily underweight people, if calories are fake?

Why would someone's "set point" be a weight that is too high or low for their height? Why can "set point" only increase but never decrease? Why did my dumbass doctor suggest mine could be in the underweight range, just not the severely underweight range? What's the difference, if HAES?

Gummy VS Greek Salad

Same calories, but it has a different effect on your body 🤔

Candies feel like a quick fix, while a bowl of chicken and Greek salad is filling and more nutrient-dense.

Track your calories in the Gymaholic App 👇

https://www.gymaholic.co/app

Candy Macro Summary

Calories: ~375 kcal

Carbs: ~91 g

Sugar: ~63 g

Fat: 0 g

Protein: ~6 g

Total Chicken Greek Salad Bowl Macros

Calories: ~375 kcal

Protein: ~38 g

Carbs: ~5 g

Fat: ~20 g

Ingredients:

Boneless skinless chicken thighs: ~140 g cooked

Greek salad: ~100 g

Lettuce

Tomato

Cucumber

Feta

These are pretty obvious and not at all original to me but I’ve found them pretty helpful. I hope this doesn’t come off as pro-ana or anything like that, the goal is to eat better not as little as possible.

Holding myself accountable: it’s all about being truthful with yourself without feeling overly guilty. Do I actually need more calories after an easy workout or do I just feel like eating something different? And I might still end up eating the calorically dense thing I wanted because I’m at a point where I’m pretty comfortable with my progress. But I won’t let me lie to myself and say that I needed it.

Viewing food as fuel: this is the most obvious one. I need more protein for muscle recovery, carbs for energy and fat for general function, so meals serve a purpose more than just being treats/so I’m no longer hungry. Generally it helps keep my calories within my limits but it also encourages me to eat more when I wouldn’t automatically for example having more carbs before a hike.

I have set timings for meals: if not the meals themselves I make sure I have food available by certain times. This is just so I’m never too hungry that I’m tempted to overeat. Of course if I’m not at all hungry, and am able to, I will wait for awhile.

Relatively balanced meals: personally I’ve found most success in not cutting out any single macronutrient. While protein is talked about as being the most satiating this article discusses how different foods trigger satiety hormones and it’s just easier to maintain in the long term. So, prioritise satiating foods to fulfil your personal goals (macronutrient breakdown is based on what you need)

I stock quite a few fruits: can be great for fibre which helps with satiety and if I’m a little late for a meal they keep me from being ravenous. Unless you have a reason to be, don’t concern yourself with the sugar content in them.

Spicy foods: this is more personal preference and I might have mentioned this before but if you like heat I would suggest it. I’ve found that spicy food is more immediately satiating

Modifying foods you like: another obvious one but my previous unsuccessful weight loss attempts I tried making foods that I was quite unused to. It’s a common idea that local foods can’t be healthy compared to Western ‘diet’ foods, and it just wasn’t sustainable

Meal-prepping is your best friend: my mom still cooks everyday, I will never be her. I cook every 2-4 days, keeping portions/marinated meat in the freezer and I grocery shop every week. My limits are 4 of the same meals.

You don’t have to eat something just because it’s in front of you: the wording of this feels weird but I couldn’t think of a better way of saying it. But I’m basically saying it’s kind of fine to waste food, especially when it’s food that you didn’t want in the first place. Sometimes people get a little weird when you refuse food they’re offering, especially if they know you’re trying to lose weight, but you shouldn’t feel bad (I tell myself).

Wait 10 minutes before getting another plate: your body isn’t a machine, it takes a little time for hormones to be produced and detected, there have been many times where halfway through a second portion I’m uncomfortably full.

I don’t do set cheat meals/days: I do just eat outside of my norm when I feel like it/have to, I’ve gotten to a point where I’m often consistent enough that I don’t find it to be too much of an issue. This is more for days where I have to eat out (impromptu errands for example), if you find that you constantly are choosing to eat out instead of cooking I would not suggest such a relaxed attitude.

Sticking to the perimeter of the grocery store: personally it’s easier to avoid buying ultra-processed snacks than to limit them when you have them easily available. I actually primarily go to a fresh market for groceries but when I do go to a bigger store I rarely explore.

So making a confession: I’ve been doing a calorie deficit for a month now. I started out at 368.6 lbs (26 stone 4.6 lbs) and I lost 17 lbs; so now I’m at 351.6 lbs (25 stone 1.6 lbs).

I didn’t know how it was going to go and I didn’t want to jinx myself by announcing it. I’ve struggled with my weight for such a long time, so pushing out that negativity has been a challenge in itself. Right now, I feel happier and I can move a lot better, so yay for small victories! ☺️

My current goal is to get down to 300 lbs (21 stone 6 lbs), although that may change over time. And to be clear, I don’t want any offers for weight loss programs or diet advice unless I ask for it. Stuff like that added to my anxieties about my self esteem in the past because it made me think people only saw me for my weight. I know that’s not true for everyone, but it’s how I felt. I’m doing this for me, not to impress anyone else.