Q: I'm just wondering if we know why we don't lose weight. Why we can't lose weight? As you know, I spent a month at less than 700 calories a day, an managed an impressive 1.5 pounds lost. Which I promply gained when I went to 1000 calories a day. Can someone point me to some links? (and also hopefully break it down so I can understand it when I'm in a brain fog.)

Is it true that excersize increases cortisol levels or production?

This is the information I got from my Cushing's board http://cushings.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=17111&st=0&gopid=145400entry145400 (might need to register to view the thread.) LynneC is one of the long time Cushing's board member, and a great all-around resource.

The basic thing is that our bodies are designed to compensate when we're under stress. Our bodies haven't changed much since our caveman days. So when our bodies are under stress' date=' like from a famine, the cortisol response kicks in and makes sure we have plenty of energy stores (fat) available to help us survive, just in case we need an energy boost while being chased by a sabertooth tiger. With Cushing's, of course, we have a source of stress hormone operating independently of our circumstances and it doesn't shut off. Our entire digestive and metobolic system changes. Food, any food, is sent to our fat stores. Around our trunk/upper body is the most efficient place to store it for "easy access". We then receive all our energy from the breakdown of muscle. If not enough food is consumed for our needs, then the body will turn the muscle itself into fat.

Some people have been able to lose weight with Cushing's. It may have to do with intermittant cortisol secretion, so their bodies get a break once in awhile. Severe dieting (like a 700 cal. program) can actually make things worse. For example, anorexics have high cortisol levels. If their cortisol didn't kick in, they would die much sooner from starvation.

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Wow, I don't know about anyone else, but this has been a lightbulb moment for me.

Ah-HAH This makes sense.

This headache that I've got that WILL NOT go away, started in Nov, the month I was *super* restricted with my band. This is also when my sysmptoms started to be real. I've always had the sysmptoms, always had these stretches where I would sudenly gain weight but otherwise feel prett good, vs long stretches where I felt practically imoblinzed with Fibro...

Thanks!!! This makes a LOT of sense - I'm grateful you shared that. I knew this info - but it was really really good to re-read it - absorb it - and remember to EAT.....quite a few folks (banded or not) do not eat enough calories each day and are exercising - and not losing weight - I keep trying to explain to them that their body is going into 'starvation mode' ---

little did I know (remember) that our body will actually take MUSCLE and turn it into FAT if we don't give it enough fuel......OMG that is not a good thing!

Yeah your body can do some strange things. The personal trainer and nutritionist talks about taking in enough calories (energy) and being sure to eat carbs and protein for you body to feed off of.