I'm not yet 50, but close. I have put on 45 pounds since I started at my job and I do not eat bad.

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Replies

  • hansendebbie
    hansendebbie Posts: 13 Member
    Thank you everyone realky.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    I can totally relate, OP. Like you, always been relatively trim. Not uncommon for me to gain 3-5 lb in summer & lose it again in the fall, but all inside a pretty reasonable range. Never had a food scale, just lost it the way I gained it--fewer margaritas and more intense exercise. As I neared 50, that didn't work anymore. "Is my metabolism slowing with age?" was my first thought. I didn't have a medication change, but if I had that would have been my first thought. After consideration, I realized no, it's not age. I switched careers and, among other things, stopped traveling every week. Less active. Bought a food scale. Lost the weight. It truly was as simple as that. I hope it is for you, too.
  • hansendebbie
    hansendebbie Posts: 13 Member
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    I can totally relate, OP. Like you, always been relatively trim. Not uncommon for me to gain 3-5 lb in summer & lose it again in the fall, but all inside a pretty reasonable range. Never had a food scale, just lost it the way I gained it--fewer margaritas and more intense exercise. As I neared 50, that didn't work anymore. "Is my metabolism slowing with age?" was my first thought. I didn't have a medication change, but if I had that would have been my first thought. After consideration, I realized no, it's not age. I switched careers and, among other things, stopped traveling every week. Less active. Bought a food scale. Lost the weight. It truly was as simple as that. I hope it is for you, too.

    Thank you for that....much needed
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    What kind of medication, though? Some can change metabolism, and some cause water retention. Others increase appetite.

    Your change in activity will definitely make some difference. Check out the kind of difference with a calculator like this one:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    What kind of medication, though? Some can change metabolism, and some cause water retention. Others increase appetite.

    Your change in activity will definitely make some difference. Check out the kind of difference with a calculator like this one:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Change in metabolism would be minute at best. Water retention isn't true weight gain.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I would get a food scale. You'd be surprised at the difference one makes.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    kkenseth wrote: »
    What kind of medication, though? Some can change metabolism, and some cause water retention. Others increase appetite.

    Your change in activity will definitely make some difference. Check out the kind of difference with a calculator like this one:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Change in metabolism would be minute at best. Water retention isn't true weight gain.

    Not if it's actually for a metabolism disorder, for one example. Water retention shows on the scale (and usually tape measure) as bigger just the same.

  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    kkenseth wrote: »
    What kind of medication, though? Some can change metabolism, and some cause water retention. Others increase appetite.

    Your change in activity will definitely make some difference. Check out the kind of difference with a calculator like this one:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Change in metabolism would be minute at best. Water retention isn't true weight gain.

    Not if it's actually for a metabolism disorder, for one example. Water retention shows on the scale (and usually tape measure) as bigger just the same.

    If she were retaining 45 lbs of water, her heart would have given out already. Safe to say that's not the problem. What metabolic disorders and medications are you referring to?
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    kkenseth wrote: »
    kkenseth wrote: »
    What kind of medication, though? Some can change metabolism, and some cause water retention. Others increase appetite.

    Your change in activity will definitely make some difference. Check out the kind of difference with a calculator like this one:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Change in metabolism would be minute at best. Water retention isn't true weight gain.

    Not if it's actually for a metabolism disorder, for one example. Water retention shows on the scale (and usually tape measure) as bigger just the same.

    If she were retaining 45 lbs of water, her heart would have given out already. Safe to say that's not the problem. What metabolic disorders and medications are you referring to?

    I was really responding to the blanket statement, but it could be a co-factor in her problem, depending on the actual medicine she takes. Thyroid medications (and procedures) clearly change metabolism. I'm on an ANS drug that reduces its activity because mine was overactive, and that can lower metabolism, although at least in me that's not enough to worry about as far as CICO is concerned.
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    kkenseth wrote: »
    kkenseth wrote: »
    What kind of medication, though? Some can change metabolism, and some cause water retention. Others increase appetite.

    Your change in activity will definitely make some difference. Check out the kind of difference with a calculator like this one:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Change in metabolism would be minute at best. Water retention isn't true weight gain.

    Not if it's actually for a metabolism disorder, for one example. Water retention shows on the scale (and usually tape measure) as bigger just the same.

    If she were retaining 45 lbs of water, her heart would have given out already. Safe to say that's not the problem. What metabolic disorders and medications are you referring to?

    I was really responding to the blanket statement, but it could be a co-factor in her problem, depending on the actual medicine she takes. Thyroid medications (and procedures) clearly change metabolism. I'm on an ANS drug that reduces its activity because mine was overactive, and that can lower metabolism, although at least in me that's not enough to worry about as far as CICO is concerned.

    Fair enough. OP, it's worth your time to always know the side effects of your medication and how it changes your body chemistry. With that said, I still believe your logging is the main culprit, BUT won't rule out the potential for medication involvement. I tend to jump in when I hear people blame meds- don't blame the med. Work with it and create an appropriate deficit and you will see a loss.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    kkenseth wrote: »
    kkenseth wrote: »
    What kind of medication, though? Some can change metabolism, and some cause water retention. Others increase appetite.

    Your change in activity will definitely make some difference. Check out the kind of difference with a calculator like this one:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Change in metabolism would be minute at best. Water retention isn't true weight gain.

    Not if it's actually for a metabolism disorder, for one example. Water retention shows on the scale (and usually tape measure) as bigger just the same.

    If she were retaining 45 lbs of water, her heart would have given out already. Safe to say that's not the problem. What metabolic disorders and medications are you referring to?

    I was really responding to the blanket statement, but it could be a co-factor in her problem, depending on the actual medicine she takes. Thyroid medications (and procedures) clearly change metabolism. I'm on an ANS drug that reduces its activity because mine was overactive, and that can lower metabolism, although at least in me that's not enough to worry about as far as CICO is concerned.

    Actually, 60% of your body is water. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_water
  • StepB1987
    StepB1987 Posts: 30 Member
    It could be a slower metabolism which is natural with ave. I'm only 28 and am starting to realize it's getting harder and slower to come off. So I can't imagine how stressful this is for you. Also it could me menopause my mom bit menopause in her late 30's and ended in her early 40's ...she's been having a tough time with weight loss too. I hope this makes you feel a little better in a way.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    OP, when I quit smoking, I gained nearly 25 pounds seemingly overnight. Obviously, something changed. For one, the body has to burn 10% more calories to combat smoking. Now that the body doesn't have to combat smoking, calories expended decrease. However, this doesn't matter. Clearly I started eating more. I had never exercised (except a bowling league once a week if that counts!) but once I quit smoking the pounds kept coming on. Because I didn't want to blame it on myself, I went from 110 (when I quit smoking) to 169.8 (when I finally started blaming it on me). I'm now halfway back to 110. If I can do it, so can you!
  • ttw1211
    ttw1211 Posts: 91 Member
    I'm 5'7 and before they put me on meds I weighed 129 sometimes 135. And I have everything checked sometimes 2 times over.



    Some meds will cause weight gain
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    ttw1211 wrote: »
    I'm 5'7 and before they put me on meds I weighed 129 sometimes 135. And I have everything checked sometimes 2 times over.



    Some meds will cause weight gain

    See conversation up thread.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    ttw1211 wrote: »
    I'm 5'7 and before they put me on meds I weighed 129 sometimes 135. And I have everything checked sometimes 2 times over.



    Some meds will cause weight gain

    Only because they either 1) cause an increase in appetite and people consume more calories or 2) because they cause water retention, which is usually temporary.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    edited October 2015
    I would definitely suggest tracking both calories (with a scale) and activity if at all possible. A big part of it is surely that form of CICO. Age and drugs may also be part of it (maybe a large part, depending on the drug), and that requires either CICO (and weight training) and/or having the doctor try a different med if possible.

    I was on one form of progesterin that made me ravenous like I was on steroids! Even though that's 'just' appetite, I said Aw H3LL no and changed to a pill form that is bio-identical progesterone (Rx). Works much, much better! I mean, ravenous sucks badly, too, even if it can be gotten around.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    StepB1987 wrote: »
    It could be a slower metabolism which is natural with ave. I'm only 28 and am starting to realize it's getting harder and slower to come off. So I can't imagine how stressful this is for you. Also it could me menopause my mom bit menopause in her late 30's and ended in her early 40's ...she's been having a tough time with weight loss too. I hope this makes you feel a little better in a way.

    The metabolism only drops a small percentage with age - and this can be adapted to by weighing food and adjusting caloric intake.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    As long as you are active and watch your caloric intake, you will lose weight. No matter what age. No matter what medication. No matter if you quit smoking. No matter if you just had a baby. No matter if for the past six months you have been watching daytime television and eating bonbons and decide to change your ways. Yes, it takes a long time, but not nearly as long as it took to gain it. I've gained 60 pounds over ten years and have lost 30 in less than a year. JUST DO IT!!!
  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    You can also increase your capacity for burning more calories at rest by building more lean body mass.

    I personally think the "slower metabolism" as we age theory is really due to a quite less active lifestyle and an increase or no reduction of calories taken in.

    I was sad when I had to put in my profile I have a sedentary lifestyle. Lol. Made me realize part of the reason I have to eat differently than I used to. I'm thankful for MFP. LOL.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Hang on

    5'7 almost 50

    Gained 50lbs

    On unspecified meds

    Thinks eating 1200 calories

    And history of eating disorders

    You need to speak to your medical team and quickly ....
This discussion has been closed.