Why am I gaining 1-2 pounds a week?

morwilwarin

For months now, I've been gaining 1-2 pounds a week no matter how much I diet or exercise. I am having the worst time trying to lose any weight. I eat under 2000 calories a day always, but it's usually 1200-1500 (Never below 1200 including exercise). I fast one day a week, which I started due to the weight gain hoping it would help deter it.

I eat low carb/paleo/gluten-free, so lots of veggies, eggs, protein (chicken, fish), and fruits, and very rarely nuts. I do not eat/drink any dairy products. Only drink black coffee, water, or tea.

Exercise is only 30min 4-5 times a week. How am I gaining weight every single week? Even if I wasn't dieting, 2000 calories or less a day shouldn't cause this much weight gain. I keep a real journal, so my MFP journal is empty for the most part.

I'm 27, female, 5'3".

Are there any physical/medical reasons my body is gaining weight? My Dr. is testing for hypothyroid but is very doubtful that's what it is. I've been complaining to her for about 2 months now. She thinks it is also unlikely my paxil (SSRI) as it does cause weight gain, but usually not this fast and usually because it causes one to eat a lot, which I don't do.

I'm so lost and helpless! I started this diet 6 months ago and I've gained 50 pounds instead!! I weight more now than I ever did and its making me so depressed.

deadyankee

You must be eating more than you are estimating.

morwilwarin

I am so careful about what I eat. I count every little calorie I put in my body. I am not eating more than I think I am.

nomeejerome

Calorie surplus=weight gain

deadyankee

You don't put on 50lbs by not eating more than your TDEE. It's not magic.

morwilwarin

I know I do not eat over 1500-2000 calories a day. I barely break 1500 calories. That's everyone's only solution - oh, you're gaining weight? You are obviously over eating.

I'm not being difficult; I just know what I'm doing and know it's physically impossible to be gaining this much weight without some underlying issue. I was hoping someone else had experienced this.

My typical breakfast includes 2-3 whole eggs, spinach, peppers, other veggies, and maybe some bacon (2 pieces max). I never use butter/oil for cooking. Lunch is a large mixed green salad with no dressing, 1/4 avocado, 1 tin tuna, peppers, cucumbers. Or sometime tin of tuna or ground beef in lettuce wraps with other veggies. Dinner is baked chicken breast or thighs (4oz), no skin, roasted Brussels sprouts or broccoli. Or sometimes soup made with chicken and veggies. Snacks are usually an apple it banana once a day.

I am not eating more than I think, and unless my calorie intake should be like 500 calories a day, I should not be gaining this much weight without me knowing why or how.

caminoslo

For months now, I've been gaining 1-2 pounds a week no matter how much I diet or exercise. I am having the worst time trying to lose any weight. I eat under 2000 calories a day always, but it's usually 1200-1500 (Never below 1200 including exercise). I fast one day a week, which I started due to the weight gain hoping it would help deter it.

I eat low carb/paleo/gluten-free, so lots of veggies, eggs, protein (chicken, fish), and fruits, and very rarely nuts. I do not eat/drink any dairy products. Only drink black coffee, water, or tea.

Exercise is only 30min 4-5 times a week. How am I gaining weight every single week? Even if I wasn't dieting, 2000 calories or less a day shouldn't cause this much weight gain. I keep a real journal, so my MFP journal is empty for the most part.

I'm 27, female, 5'3".

Are there any physical/medical reasons my body is gaining weight? My Dr. is testing for hypothyroid but is very doubtful that's what it is. I've been complaining to her for about 2 months now. She thinks it is also unlikely my paxil (SSRI) as it does cause weight gain, but usually not this fast and usually because it causes one to eat a lot, which I don't do.

I'm so lost and helpless! I started this diet 6 months ago and I've gained 50 pounds instead!! I weight more now than I ever did and its making me so depressed.

Sorry for posting twice but is blame it on the meds

caminoslo

For months now, I've been gaining 1-2 pounds a week no matter how much I diet or exercise. I am having the worst time trying to lose any weight. I eat under 2000 calories a day always, but it's usually 1200-1500 (Never below 1200 including exercise). I fast one day a week, which I started due to the weight gain hoping it would help deter it.

I eat low carb/paleo/gluten-free, so lots of veggies, eggs, protein (chicken, fish), and fruits, and very rarely nuts. I do not eat/drink any dairy products. Only drink black coffee, water, or tea.

Exercise is only 30min 4-5 times a week. How am I gaining weight every single week? Even if I wasn't dieting, 2000 calories or less a day shouldn't cause this much weight gain. I keep a real journal, so my MFP journal is empty for the most part.

I'm 27, female, 5'3".

Are there any physical/medical reasons my body is gaining weight? My Dr. is testing for hypothyroid but is very doubtful that's what it is. I've been complaining to her for about 2 months now. She thinks it is also unlikely my paxil (SSRI) as it does cause weight gain, but usually not this fast and usually because it causes one to eat a lot, which I don't do.

I'm so lost and helpless! I started this diet 6 months ago and I've gained 50 pounds instead!! I weight more now than I ever did and its making me so depressed.

I blame it on the paxil. I once
Was on Zoloft and gained weight.
Also my experience you have to choose you gonna do pales or calorie counting?

silken555

You mentiom age and height but not weight. Would it be possible to share that please?

YorriaRaine

Are you weighing the foods you eat. Unless you tell us you weigh everything (from flour to sauce to EVERYTHING except maybe liquids), then you cannot tell us that you are not overeating.

Start weighing your food.

I would also start using mfp, instead of a real journal, you may not be accurately logging, mfp makes it easy. The only thing you have to watch out for is that some entries are wrong.

ebayaddict0127

Paxil.... When I was on Zoloft I gained weight. When I was on Celexa, I gained. I couldn't get the weight off no matter how hard I tried. I'm now on Effexor and am finally able to lose. It's a slightly different class.

And doctors will tell you these meds have no effect on your weight, but I beg to differ.

magerum

Chances are you're eating too much.

Yilsip

Do you eat the same foods each day? Do you not snack or have drinks other than water? I started at 1200 calories, lost 20lbs in about 8 months, then one day woke up starving so I am trying to exercise more so I can eat more, I am doing 1300 and have not lost in 2 weeks.
I suggest logging all your food on this site and buying a food scale, I for one can guarantee that my portions are larger than what I am estimating, else I would have lost a few more lbs by now.
BTW, I am also taking an SSR and have not gained weight, but now struggle losing.
Wishing you lots of luck figuring this out, take the suggestions on here and be open-minded

morwilwarin

I weigh 188 as of this morning. Was 135 this time last year (was hoping to only lose 10 pounds, not gain 50!!)

I do weigh everything! Every stinkin' ounce of everything I eat. I only weigh my food, I NEVER go by the serving size measurements, only the serving size weights.

caminoslo

Can you open up your food diary. Feel free to look at
Mine

Yilsip

Paxil.... When I was on Zoloft I gained weight. When I was on Celexa, I gained. I couldn't get the weight off no matter how hard I tried. I'm now on Effexor and am finally able to lose. It's a slightly different class.

And doctors will tell you these meds have no effect on your weight, but I beg to differ.

morwilwarin

I've just been doing some quick research since a few of you mentioned it actually may be the paxil. Looks like paxil is notorious for not only significant weight gain, but also making it impossible to lose weight! I am going back to the Dr. in a week to get my thyroid tests (hoping to not be hypothyroid, esp. at only 27!!), but I will tell her that I want to try switching my meds. I didn't realize how much these meds really affect your weight!!!

lexbubbles

Seriously, blame the meds. I was gaining 1.5lb per week eating 1,800 calories when I was on medication. Weight gain is a side effect, but it shouldn't have been as much or as fast as I was experiencing (they've taken me off for the time being so I can actually lose some weight)

Yilsip

Paxil.... When I was on Zoloft I gained weight. When I was on Celexa, I gained. I couldn't get the weight off no matter how hard I tried. I'm now on Effexor and am finally able to lose. It's a slightly different class.

And doctors will tell you these meds have no effect on your weight, but I beg to differ.

I meant to write that I was on Effexor and had barely any appetite, lost weight, but side effects were not good so had to change meds. I agree that they all affect your weight.

nomeejerome

Some medications (including the ones listed in this thread) can make weight loss more difficult, but not impossible.

caminoslo

Some medications (including the ones listed in this thread) can make weight loss more difficult, but not impossible.

Obviously impossible for me.



I quit Zoloft cold turkey after 2 months. Now that I'm off meds and doing paleo I've been losing slowly but surely

1princesswarrior

Maybe you should also ask for a RMR test and a series of blood tests other than thyroid. If are truly weighing everything accurately you should be losing regardless of medication. I blamed meds for my weight gain because that was a side effect until I really looked at what I ate while I was taking those meds. Overeating was why I gained, not the meds. That being said there are some vitamin deficiencies that can cause weight loss problems.

nomeejerome

Some medications (including the ones listed in this thread) can make weight loss more difficult, but not impossible.

Obviously impossible for me.



I quit Zoloft cold turkey after 2 months. Now that I'm off meds and doing paleo I've been losing slowly but surely

You stopped medication and switched your diet. It sounds like you found a calorie deficit, which is why you started losing weight.

caminoslo

Some medications (including the ones listed in this thread) can make weight loss more difficult, but not impossible.

Obviously impossible for me.



I quit Zoloft cold turkey after 2 months. Now that I'm off meds and doing paleo I've been losing slowly but surely

You stopped medication and switched your diet. It sounds like you found a calorie deficit, which is why you started losing weight.

There was a time in between where I was walking 3 miles a day without meds and still gaining. I figured the meds screwed up my metabolism so I didn't do nothing. But now switched to paleo after a year and its working. I conclude meds were not helping and neither was my diet of avoiding hfcs or exercising I dumped those 3 and do paleo and lost
Basically I eat paleo and don't exercise (only sparingly)that combo works for me.
Zoloft didn't work and then my diet w exercise didn't work.

ericanom

I put on quite a lot of weight before being diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My calorie goal is 1200 per day and I have managed to lose some weight, just very slowly. Good luck with your test, hope you're not hypo!

stumblinthrulife

There are one of two things going on -

1. You are underestimating your intake.
2. You are overestimating your daily calorie burn.

That's it. Period. Fin. Finito. Ende. Sfarsit. Your body doesn't magically create weight from nowhere. Gained weight is stored surplus energy.

At this point you can either choose to find and fix the under and/or over estimates, or you can continue to insist you are doing everything right, and continue to gain weight.

ClaudiaTheNice

For months now, I've been gaining 1-2 pounds a week no matter how much I diet or exercise. I am having the worst time trying to lose any weight. I eat under 2000 calories a day always, but it's usually 1200-1500 (Never below 1200 including exercise). I fast one day a week, which I started due to the weight gain hoping it would help deter it.

I eat low carb/paleo/gluten-free, so lots of veggies, eggs, protein (chicken, fish), and fruits, and very rarely nuts. I do not eat/drink any dairy products. Only drink black coffee, water, or tea.

Exercise is only 30min 4-5 times a week. How am I gaining weight every single week? Even if I wasn't dieting, 2000 calories or less a day shouldn't cause this much weight gain. I keep a real journal, so my MFP journal is empty for the most part.

I'm 27, female, 5'3".

Are there any physical/medical reasons my body is gaining weight? My Dr. is testing for hypothyroid but is very doubtful that's what it is. I've been complaining to her for about 2 months now. She thinks it is also unlikely my paxil (SSRI) as it does cause weight gain, but usually not this fast and usually because it causes one to eat a lot, which I don't do.

I'm so lost and helpless! I started this diet 6 months ago and I've gained 50 pounds instead!! I weight more now than I ever did and its making me so depressed.

Even if you're eating above your TDEE, 2000 calories isn't more then 500ish over, you shouldn't be gaining weight that fast.

Since you've talked to your doctor, and I'm not a doctor, I'll stay away from the medical reasons that my cause weightgain. Also you're to young for menopause and that is pretty much my only suggestion here.

So here are my questions:
-How do you sleep? Do you get enough?
-How is your...um....bowel movements
-I lied: Did your doctor do a full blood panel to check if your deficient in some nutrients? Vitamin D, magnesium, or iron deficiency and cortisol levels could play a part.

ClaudiaTheNice

I weigh 188 as of this morning. Was 135 this time last year (was hoping to only lose 10 pounds, not gain 50!!)

I do weigh everything! Every stinkin' ounce of everything I eat. I only weigh my food, I NEVER go by the serving size measurements, only the serving size weights.

That is quite a lot.

What tests other then thyroid have your doctor done? Are you satisfied with him or would you consider getting a second opinion?

rosebette

I agree with other posters. It might be the Paxil. I gained a bit of weight on Zoloft (maybe 10 lbs several years back, which came off when I stopped). My son has been on antidepressants for a learning disability most of his life and the weight gain depending on which one he took was pretty significant. Sometimes he'd lose 20 lbs. just by switching meds.

ClaudiaTheNice

Maybe you should also ask for a RMR test and a series of blood tests other than thyroid. If are truly weighing everything accurately you should be losing regardless of medication. I blamed meds for my weight gain because that was a side effect until I really looked at what I ate while I was taking those meds. Overeating was why I gained, not the meds. That being said there are some vitamin deficiencies that can cause weight loss problems.

My mother started to gain weight rapidly, she tried dieting, nothing worked. Then she went to the doctor and it turns out she had ovarian cancer. If you are 100% sure you log everything and not underestimating then go get a more extensive workup. Doctors tend to overlook ovarian cancer in young women, because it's not a typical kind for them to get.

DebbieLyn63

Medications cause people to gain weight because of either water retention, or an increase in appetite. They do not create a calorie surplus out of thin air. Perhaps they may lower your metabolism slightly, but if that is the case, then you need to lower your calorie intake.
Are you saying that in 6 months you have NEVER had a day that you went over your calorie limit? That you weigh and record EVERY single thing? If so, then perhaps you are sleep-eating and are unaware of your nightly binges?

Or are you saying that you are NETTING 1200-1500 calories after burning 800 calories on the treadmill?

Bottom line is that you are eating above your maintenance level on average, to be gaining 2 lbs per week for the past 6 months.