How Does the Body Change During Weight Loss?

[Michelle]

About 6 weeks ago I had an epiphany about food and eating during meditation. From one day to the next I started eating very healthfully with lots of fruit and veggies and far fewer calories. I am listening to my body more and I exercise around 5 days a week. All in all this change has been amazing. The weight loss (I would estimate that I have around 30 pounds to lose) has started and I've lost around 12 cm from my waist already.

There are a couple of body changes going on which I don't really understand though. For example, I had extremely tight neck and shoulder muscles for around 10 days - even a professional masseuse and daily massages from my boyfriend couldn't loosen them. Then all of a sudden the tension released and I feel more relaxed there than ever.

Or, while I don't really get sore muscles too much after exercise there is other pain sometimes I can't really describe very well. I can only say it feels like my body is being infused with energy or something and it hurts sometimes. If I meditate on the pain I automatically get the feeling that the pain is somehow "positive" or "needed" but I'd really like to know more about it.

On another note, I pinched a nerve in my shoulder which seems to be taking longer than usual to heal even though I am laying off the upper body weight machines for the moment.

Basically, I just want to know what is going on in my body now that I am suddenly healthy? What can I expect during the next weeks? What is normal and when should I be concerned?

In general though I can say that the change in me is a permanent and intrinsic one, meaning I cannot imagine going back to my unhealthy ways. It feels so good!

[bigadam]

Congrats on your changes.

You should read a very succesfull (#1 NY Times bestseller) book titled You! On A Diet. It's all about what you're asking.

[Michelle]

Thank you for the suggestion. I'll look into it!

[silicon toad2000]

as you loose fat, the toxins stored in those fats are released into your body.

[Shorebird]

Hi Michelle.

Did you have pain in the neck? I mean cervical pain?

[Michelle]

I had intense stiffness in the neck and shoulders for about 10 days. That dissolved strangely from one day to the next and now I feel quite relaxed. The only thing that really hurts at the moment is a pinched nerve which seems to radiate from underneath my right shoulderblade. Otherwise, the changes in body are more subtle.

[Shorebird]

It seems the pinched nerve is a result of an exercise you have done.

Was the stiff neck already there before you started exercising?

[Michelle]

I've wondered that myself! Was the stiff neck new or did my awareness of my stiffness increase before it dissolved itself. In any case, it seems the stiffness started a couple weeks after my epiphany and lasted around ten days after which it dissolved of its own accord.

The pinched nerve is taking FOREVER to heal though.

[Shorebird]

Hi

I am not an expert and I'm just talking with my experience. I think you developed stiff neck initially when you started exercising for that part of your body. And it disappeared after 10 days after your neck was habituated with those exercises. And a major part of the credit goes to the diet you are following. Lots of fruits and vegetables give you lots of fibre. It also helps to loosen the body and give it flexibility. Just my opinion.

[veranadine]

Hi Michelle.

I myself have been going through several changes as I lose weight. I became a Pesca-Vegetarian about 6 months ago now and have lost 35 pounds so far.

The changes that one experiences during weight loss are varied and very individual.

There are so many subtle, chemical and molecular changes occurring as we stick with our healthy changes over time and no one person is exactly the same as any other in what they experience.

The stiff neck could have been stress related in that you may have given up or cut back on foods that you really like but that you know to be bad for you.

This can result in suppressed cravings (which go away in time) that are happening inside your subconscious mind. When you sleep at night the mind tries to work out these stresses, maybe even causing you to contort in your sleep or clench your teeth, both of which can result in prolonged shoulder pain and tightness.

It may indeed be due to overworking or working muscles that were not used to being flexed. If it persists for too long and the pinched nerve does not heal, take a look at your new food regime and make sure that you are not missing any obviously necessary vitamins or minerals.

With weight loss, all of the strange stages that our bodies go through DO eventually pass.

Stick with it and you'll reap the rewards.

Congrats on the new, healthier you!

Bright Blessings,

[Michelle]

Thank you all for your replies.

Congratulations on your weight loss, veranadine! It is just funny and amazing how the body can sort itself out. Each day there seem to be small changes or adjustments to how the body is developing. Very exciting stuff!

I'm just trying to be patient now with the nerve and give it time to heal.