Six weeks in, I was down 14 lbs and finally fitting into my old size 14 jeans. I was thrilled. But I also got weirdly proud of eating tiny portions. I'd have coffee, a few bites of chicken, maybe half a protein shake, and call it a day. I ignored the signs: dry mouth, dizziness on standing, no bowel movement for four days, and a pounding headache. I kept telling myself it was just adjustment. Then I fainted at home and my partner called 911. I spent a night in the hospital on fluids, feeling embarrassed and scared. I'm home now and okay, but it was a wake-up call that working doesn't mean ignoring my body. I'm relearning regular sips, softer foods, and actually resting. Has anyone else had a moment where the scale was moving but your body was waving a red flag?
I lost 14 pounds fast, then spent a night in hospital
#1
#2
Oof, the tiny-portion pride is such a trap. I weigh daily but only let myself react to the 7-day trend, and I keep a separate “basics” note: fluids, salt, fiber, and whether I’ve actually gone to the bathroom. When I was barely eating, my weight dropped fast then stalled and even crept up from dehydration and constipation—it scrambled my head. The scale isn’t a scoreboard for how little you can eat. Were you tracking anything besides weight during those six weeks, or just watching the number fall?
#3
Oof, I know that “proud of tiny portions” trap. I lost 22 a couple years ago and got weirdly smug about eating like a bird, then regained it all plus some. What’s helped me this round is tracking three boring things next to my weight: ounces of water, whether I actually pooped, and one real meal I sat down for. Not calories—just proof I’m not running on fumes. The no-BM streak is my personal red flag; by day three I’m cranky, headachy, and convinced I’m “not hungry” when I’m actually just empty. Did anyone around you clock it before you did, or did you keep it pretty private?
#4
Oh honey, the four-day-no-bathroom thing would've sent me running to our little pharmacy for prune juice and an embarrassment aisle walk. What helped me was making my plate visible: I started taking a photo of every real meal/snack, and if the day’s pics were just coffee and a protein shake, I’d treat it like a missed bill—fix it before bed. Also kept a water bottle with a straw in the car, because small-town errands meant I’d sip without thinking. Did your hospital stay give you any non-scale milestones to watch, like energy or regular bathroom trips?
#5
The constipation was my warning sign too, and I totally missed it until I was doubled over. Now I track fluids and one “did I actually eat?” box right next to my weight, and I aim for one real meal even if it’s small. Not preaching, just my own guardrail. Did the hospital scare change how you define a “good” day? I’m trying to stop letting the scale be the only vote.
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