What caused your weight gain?

crazyjkgirl

I'm not entirely sure. My weight has always fluctuated. As a kid, I was thin/healthy. Most of my early teens I was on the higher side of average. I gained some weight in high school due to depression, lack of motivation to do much of anything, and just horrible eating habits (sometimes, I would make an entire packet of Chicken Flavored rice and eat all of it). However, I stayed active. I had sports practice for 14 hours a week in high school! I lost like 40 pounds then in 11th grade with not much effort or real desire. It just happened and I was happy about that. Went to college, stayed the same weight, only slightly overweight if much at all.

Then over the summer after my freshman year at college I went on birth control, got a boyfriend, and was happy. I put on 20 pounds by going out to eat and eating junk food (chicken nuggets, french fries, etc.) Not to mention that a cruise vacation with all the delicious food, numerous courses and endless buffets added some weight. It put me at a total of 170 pounds at 5' 3" tall and a size 12 jean.

I'm hoping to get to 130 pounds and a size 4 jean.

minnesota

The typically fat kid that got teased a lot. I was a very active child that enjoyed bike rides and swimming, but was never thin. My sister would sit on the couch all day and eat ice cream and stay a stick, but I would run around all day and gain weight. I weighed 200lbs after high school and gained weight my freshmen and sophmore year of college by eating lots of pizza and not exercising.

My weight loss journey started in 2004 when my brother in law was deployed to Iraq and I was weighing 222lbs. I decided I would put a bet in with him that I could lose 30lbs before he came back... I lost 50 instead. I also found out that same year that I had hypothyroidism. With the help of Curves and synthroid I dropped the weight pretty quickly.

I maintained up until six months ago when I moved acrossed country away from everyone I know and started the most sressful job. I have put on 10lbs and decided now I want to lose all the weight I gained and then some. My goal has always been 160 and this time it will happen! I have stayed active, but just need a little more help counting calories and saying no to Pizza and Chipolte I miss them very much

breezy81

I see many people on the forums that are trying to get "back" to where they were before they gained weight. Some of us have gained 50 lbs or more and some just a few lbs to get off. What do you think caused your weight gain?

I know for me, it started with the depo shot, birthing 2 children and not breastfeeding,

Same here, I gained 15 lbs(at least) on depo, took it for 2 yrs. and it has taken me 5 years hormone free to get back to where I was!!!!! My hormones got so screwy that my body was confused so I gained, then it was liek screw it, if I'm gonna gain it's gonna be with a big mac!!! Now my body is back to normal I've had my 2 babies and I want me back!!!!

MercuryBlue

Wow, some great stories here!

I gained 30 pounds on the Depo shot, but lost that with the help of diet pills and kept it off for some time. I never actually learned how to eat properly. From 19-21 or so, I was at my target weight. I drank quite a bit but I also danced quite a bit and was active- and didn't really eat much, either. Not healthy, for sure. Got pregnant with my first at 21 and only gained 25 with him. Actually LOST 10 pounds due to morning sickness the first three months so when I gave birth I was only 15 pounds heavier than when I started. Within a couple of months I was within 7 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight, even though I didn't nurse him. We didn't have much money so we had no cable or internet, and so I kept myself busy doing housework and that sort of thing.

It started to go downhill when I took a desk job doing customer support for a call centre. Went down further when I moved into Human Resources and had more money. Ate out of the vending machine A LOT. At that time I started to feel fat, but I was a good 15 pounds lighter than I am now.... At my highest I was at 155. Then I resolved to get to my current target weight, started eating better and hitting the gym and lost 10 pounds. Wouldn't you know it. I got pregnant again. Because I'd lost that 10 pounds fairly easily I thought, "it's okay to gain weight, I'm eating for two. I'll lose it after." Ate bad food in huge portions. Got up to 199 before giving birth.... after I healed from my c-section I was 184.

I tried off and on to lose the baby weight. Was nursing and everything but still eating too much, bad stuff. I’d have periods of a few days where I did well but then something would trigger stress and I’d fall off the wagon. I ate to punish my husband when I was mad at him, to comfort myself. I remember eating a burrito one day and almost feeling sexually aroused from it, if that makes sense. I was like, “I would rather eat this food right now than have sex.” I realized then I had a problem, but it still took me a while to really decide I wanted to make a change.

Anyway, it’s taken me about a year to lose 22 pounds. Then, in the first three weeks at MFP, I’ve lost more than 6 pounds. And I don’t honestly feel like I’m missing out on anything. It’s great!

Mande_G

Was pretty healthy as a kid; ate well, played outside a lot -- didn't really do sports, except for swimming in the summers.

Then in 4th grade I suddenly became the class "nerd" for no reason I could ever ascertain and lost pretty much every friend I had. Went through public school hell from 4th-6th grade until my mother pulled me (and my younger brother) out to be homeschooled. Was very depressed, sedentary, and ate a lot of junk food -- hit 160 lbs by the time I was 14.

My freshman year of high school (still homeschooled) my family had to move for my Dad's job -- leaving the home we'd been in for 10 years, leaving the few friends I had left and the only city I'd ever really known -- and had to live in motel for 2 months while trying to find a house, and I gained another 20 lbs.

Hovered right at 185 all through high school. Started college, got married, and the weight went up as high as 220 at one point. I lost 40, gained 30 back; lost 15, gained it back; lost 5, gained it back. After almost a decade of trying every fad diet and program out there, and then getting serious and educating myself on healthy diet and exercise, I'm finally making a lifestyle change -- not a "diet". This time the weight is coming off, I'm going to find out what it's like to have a healthy body (and maybe even *gasp* wear a bikini one day!) and it will never come back!

akb2006

My weight started when I was a child. I was actually a fairly thin and active kid although my step dad always told me I was fat and would make fun of me when I ate. As I got closer to puberty probably early middle school I really started to gain weight fast. Alot of it was from eating from depression because of physical and emotional abuse and a lot of it was also my parents eating habits. My step dad would make us kids walk down a mile to the store to get him a box of donuts, or snack cakes, or whatever. The eating habits are really hard to overcome. I started to lose weight and then I met my husband, got pregnant with my daughter and am now pregnant with my son. I am 242 right now (same as my pre pregnancy weight actually) and just trying to control how much I gain throughout this pregnancy so when I have him I can really get healthy. I lost all the weight really fast after I had my daughter but when you start your pregnancy already 80lbs overweight you have a long way to go. After the baby comes I just want to get down to 160 so my BMI is in the healthy range. (Its about as high as you can go for it to be in the healthy range for my weight.)

aobrien82

Started my first year of college with the dreaded freshman 15. Then I quit smoking and settled down with my boyfriend all in the same year and gained another 30.

Phoenix_Rising

:indifferent: Freshman year of college -- surgery to remove an abdomenal tumor. Hormones went whacky, I started GAINING instantly.

:indifferent: Marriage. Poor marriage from the start. Depression.

:indifferent: Pregnancy. Docs should have gotten on me to keep my weight down. I gained 60lbs. I was already 185 at only 5'4''.

:indifferent: C-section, poor recovery involving ER stint, high blood pressure.

:indifferent: Unemployment, post-partum depression.

:ohwell: Started to realize I ate my emotions. Too many bad years = too many bad foods shoveled into my mouth.

Started to take control, monitor what I was eating, forced recognition of eating my emotions. Began exercising.

:indifferent: I dissolved a shell of a marriage while losing my job. Gained again.

Regained control of my life. Found another job. Realized my life was good. Realized how worthwhile I am as a person. Realized how many people love me dearly. Began rebuilding me.

Now, roughly 15 lbs from goal weight, roughly 55 lbs lost. Very proud, still motivated, taking baby steps. :bigsmile:

PJilly

Just a quick reply to get this on my radar so I can read and post when I catch up around here.

golddogs

You guys are so great. This is the only place I can go to where I don't feel so alone with my weight issues!

Phoenix_Rising

You guys are so great. This is the only place I can go to where I don't feel so alone with my weight issues!

Ain't THAT the truth!!???!!! I love MFP!

mavsfan2009

Ohhhh the many reasons....

1. portion control
2. COLLEGE (fast food and beer are a deadly combo!)
3. Boyfriends...when you get comfortable you get fat!
4. Work..I work downtown near a mall that has a food court...oh no.

XFitMojoMom

:indifferent: Freshman year of college -- surgery to remove an abdomenal tumor. Hormones went whacky, I started GAINING instantly.

:indifferent: Marriage. Poor marriage from the start. Depression.

:indifferent: Pregnancy. Docs should have gotten on me to keep my weight down. I gained 60lbs. I was already 185 at only 5'4''.

:indifferent: C-section, poor recovery involving ER stint, high blood pressure.

:indifferent: Unemployment, post-partum depression.

:ohwell: Started to realize I ate my emotions. Too many bad years = too many bad foods shoveled into my mouth.

Started to take control, monitor what I was eating, forced recognition of eating my emotions. Began exercising.

:indifferent: I dissolved a shell of a marriage while losing my job. Gained again.

Regained control of my life. Found another job. Realized my life was good. Realized how worthwhile I am as a person. Realized how many people love me dearly. Began rebuilding me.

Now, roughly 15 lbs from goal weight, roughly 55 lbs lost. Very proud, still motivated, taking baby steps. :bigsmile:

I've seen your posts before, but never had the chance to tell you YOU ROCK!

courtney_love2001

I was a cheerleader in high school, but even then I was one of the "bigger" ones at 150. However, I was fit and looked good in a bikini In college, I fluctuated from 150-180. I lived in the sorority house (we had a chef) and I had a boyfriend so I was comfortable and ate just like he did, which was a big mistake! Yet, I was always fine with my body...until I came to medical school. To be honest, medical school is depressing, it kills your social life, and you have no time for anything. It is even a chore to hang out with non-medical friends because they have no idea what you are going through. As a result, I am in a little med school bubble, and no one wants to hear about how I did bad on a test or how so much studying is depressing. All my friends are going through the same thing so they just don't want to hear it.

Last winter, I began to self-medicate with food and wine :blushing: and I finally hit my tipping point when my biggest pair of jeans were too tight and I couldn't stand to look at myself in pictures. I joined MFP in January of this year but didn't get serious until June when I joined the fabulous group June Starters on here. I couldn't have done it without the support of those wonderful ladies...and of course everyone else here at MFP! Thanks you all so much! The rest is history....

pannellkat

I agree with a lot of you on getting comfortable with your mate (husband or boyfriend) because they love you just the way you are right?

chulie

Honestly...I was the skinny bone rack kid in school who got made fun of all the time. I was the only girl in grade 9 without a chest and no need of a bra. I remember getting older doing a LOT of socializing and drink and stuff and started to gain a little weight..it was the FIRST time in my life I had a chest. I think the emotional scars from being made fun of for being so flat chested reared it's ugly head and i started to like having boobs! hahahaa...(some girl actually spread a rumor telling people my boobs grew inverted...ya)...so then i loooved having a chest and i think i stopped caring about weight. I looooved food and just ate whatever i wanted whenever i wanted..add to that falling in love and going out for dinners and spending weekends in bed cuddling and ordering in and presto! Too much weight!!! hahahaha......

cherie2304

I think all my life I have been on the chubby end if the spectrum. When I was a junior or senior in HS I began to gain weight. Not entirely sure but I think it might have been because my Dad had passed away and we weren't having as many home cooked meals. I know for sure now that my serving size back then was double than it should be. Three years ago I moved from CA to AZ and let em tell you that I hate cooking. I just don't like doing it. My relief was McDonald's or Carl's Jr. Not good friends if you ask me. Well I ate there so many times in a week that my calorie intake was far beyond what it should be. Sometimes I would hit these places up a couple times in a day. Now I know what my portion size should be and I know how many calories the foods I eat are. Back then I didn't know, nor did I care what I was eating. I realized when I had gotten into a size 20 that something had to change cuz the 20 was getting a bit tight. I looked at pictures and was blown away as to how I looked.

I am glad that something clicked in my brain to get me to the point I am today. I am loving the way my body is changing and I am feeling better about myself. This has been the best change that could have happend.

staceyw37

You guys are so great. This is the only place I can go to where I don't feel so alone with my weight issues!

here here! when i first started reading these stories, i was like--that's so not me. but then, here and there i remembered my reality and there i was in the stories--just like you. i usually just look at the last 5 yrs but your stories helped me see a bigger pattern.

anyway--biggest reasons i gained
*too much food and lots of it fatty and junky
*baking and eating my own goodies too often
*not believing there was anything i could even do about it; that i was just going to be the chubby 30-something mommy (i'm 38 now)

Thank goodness for mfp and all of you!! i have learned so much and now believe again that i can have a stronger and smaller body. that mental component has been critical!
thanks for starting this thread. very enlightening. :flowerforyou:

mavsfan2009

I agree with a lot of you on getting comfortable with your mate (husband or boyfriend) because they love you just the way you are right?

The funny this is...my boyfriend now DOESN'T! That is a whole issue in itself that I know I need to take care of, but its even HARDER to lose weight when you're trying so hard and you have someone telling you that you're fat.

Nikki143

My weight gain: I was always FAT growing up, and my dad used to make fun of me allthe time.. leaving me in tears, and comforting myself with more food.. When I went home after school, if no one was home, I'd clean out the cabinet full of junk. When I was a teenager, my dad kicked me out and I went into state custody..More eating to comfort myself... That went on for a year, then when I was 17, I moved back to my hometown and skipped school all the time, but with no money to get on the bus, I had to walk EVERYWHERE! & I covered MILES every day...I barely ate, cause it seemed my foster parents didn't care about feeding me.. so I was used to having no appetite.. the only time I really ate was when I was uber drunk and/or high... I was 180 for 2 years.. Then at 19 I got pregnant with my son, my SAVIOR! I ate whatever I wanted because my babydaddy left me to raise the baby by myself and I figured 'oh, what the hell, no one else will want me now...' I got into a better relationship, and still hadn't lost the 50 lbs from baby 1, then I got pregnant with # 2.. and here I am.. I was 280 when I had my daughter(12-08)... I am 232 now.. And I struggle everyday...

pannellkat

Started my first year of college with the dreaded freshman 15. Then I quit smoking and settled down with my boyfriend all in the same year and gained another 30.

I've heard that when you quit smoking you tend to eat more to fill in that void. Did that happen to you?

cdickey

I've been fat all my life. I honestly don't remember a time when I was small or close to the size I should've been for my age. I remember every summer trying to lose weight while out of school with fresh garden vegetable available. That's when my dad would tease me about wanting a milkshake or some other scrumptious dessert he could think of. He thought he was just picking on me but what he was really doing was depressing me and I just ate more. Now we didn't have junk food. We ate out of our garden and limited meats that were bought but there was always plenty to eat. When I was 20 I started dating DH and went on birthcontrol and gained 30 pounds. Got married a year later and for the next 10 years slowly gained until I was 325 pounds. Started LA Weightloss and lost 49 pounds in 3 months, got pregnant, gained over 40, had the baby lost all of it but once I quit BFing I gained it all back. Started WW and lost 33 pounds in 3 months, got pregnant gained 40+ but after having the baby didn't lose any of it. I think lack of sleep, working a full time job, taking care of 2 kids and a house just got the best of me. Last February I found myself weighing in at 354 pounds and totally unable to sit still because my clothes were so tight. I knew I had to do something. I saw this website on a message board I frequent and decided to give it a try. Funny thing is that my dad that always teased me as a child had also gained up to 280 pounds and didn't think it was so funny anymore. In March he started counting calories and has now made it down to the 220's and is doing much better.

MercuryBlue

I agree with a lot of you on getting comfortable with your mate (husband or boyfriend) because they love you just the way you are right?

The funny this is...my boyfriend now DOESN'T! That is a whole issue in itself that I know I need to take care of, but its even HARDER to lose weight when you're trying so hard and you have someone telling you that you're fat.

I'm not going to say anything that could come off as being judgemental. All I have to say is THAT SUCKS. Boo on him.

My husband's made a comment or two himself, but not in a negative way. It's not like, "you're fat." It's more along the lines of seeing old pictures of me (at my goal weight) and commenting on how sexy I looked then, how he misses that girl, etc. I know he's not just talking about the weight, but also how carefree and fun I was. Still, it can sting. He's told me that he thinks I'm beautiful now, but I need to lose weight. When I got offended he clarified that the reason he thinks I need to lose weight has to do with my own body image. I'm not happy with how I look, so I dress differently, am more self-conscious, don't want to be intimate as much, etc. So while HE is fine with how I am, he feels that I'll be more like my old self personality-wise if I lose weight. Which does make sense when you think about it. Even when I got down to 145 from 155 before having my youngest, I felt a change. I was a lot more confident, which made me more carefree and randy... hense me getting pregnant again, lol!!!

Still, I'd be lying if I didn't feel some pressure to lose weight for his sake. It's like, I don't want to be THIN for him- I just want to be HAPPY for him.

havingitall

I started gaining weight in puberty. My parents were British so we always had gravy on our meals, lots of butter and desserts. There was always cookies in the house. Add to that I had an older brother that could eat almost anything and not gain a pound and I tried to keep up with him. I did not exercise nor did I know how to eat properly or correct portion control.

This last year has been a real eye opener for me. I have learned how to eat correctly and to love exercise

melissaag1984

I agree with a lot of you on getting comfortable with your mate (husband or boyfriend) because they love you just the way you are right?

The funny this is...my boyfriend now DOESN'T! That is a whole issue in itself that I know I need to take care of, but its even HARDER to lose weight when you're trying so hard and you have someone telling you that you're fat.

I am so sorry to hear this. You are such a pretty girl. Your boyfriend should be encouraging you and not trying to make you feel worse. I hope things get better, but for now you should know that you are beautiful.

FireRox21

My husband's made a comment or two himself, but not in a negative way. It's not like, "you're fat." It's more along the lines of seeing old pictures of me (at my goal weight) and commenting on how sexy I looked then, how he misses that girl, etc. I know he's not just talking about the weight, but also how carefree and fun I was. Still, it can sting. He's told me that he thinks I'm beautiful now, but I need to lose weight. When I got offended he clarified that the reason he thinks I need to lose weight has to do with my own body image. I'm not happy with how I look, so I dress differently, am more self-conscious, don't want to be intimate as much, etc. So while HE is fine with how I am, he feels that I'll be more like my old self personality-wise if I lose weight. Which does make sense when you think about it. Even when I got down to 145 from 155 before having my youngest, I felt a change. I was a lot more confident, which made me more carefree and randy... hense me getting pregnant again, lol!!!

Still, I'd be lying if I didn't feel some pressure to lose weight for his sake. It's like, I don't want to be THIN for him- I just want to be HAPPY for him.

Same here! I am terrified to get in front of a camera and have been since our first year together. My fiance won't come right out and say it, but he does make little comments when he sees a picture of us from 3 1/2 years ago. I have gained about 35lbs since we met, and his comments include things like "if you just lose that little spot and some from there, you'd be great". I know he's not being mean, but I can tell he misses the thinner, more self-confident, and "randier" me!

AlyssasMommy

I think my initial weight gain as a child was caused by my mother. She is very much into looks. She would say things like "you would look so pretty if you lost 5-10 pounds" This is not a good thing to say to an 8 year old. She would put me on diets that were unhealthy and if I lost any weight it would come right back. Eventually I started to resent her for this and sneak food. I yo-yo dieted until I was an adult.

About 2 years ago I decided to educate myself. I learned why none of my diets worked. I ate healthy and exercised and lost over 50 pounds. I was about 8 pounds away from my goal weight.I felt wonderful ! I stopped seeing a change in my weight and I thought I had plateaued. WRONG! I was pregnant. Totally shocked because my fiance and I have not used birth control in 6 years. My new healthy body decided it was the right time to have a baby. I ended up gaining exactly 50 pounds while pregnant. It was my fault. I ate horribly.

My daughter is now 6 months old and I have lost 34 pounds since the day I had her. Losing the weight is so much harder this time around. I have so much less time on my hands. I have fallen off the wagon a couple of times but I am not giving up. I will get to where I want to be and I will keep it off!

I loved reading all of your stories. I am so glad I found MFP

HonestOmnivore

I was never heavy as a kid - but when I hit puberty I was the most over weight in my family and in my group of friends. Looking at pictures now it's not very obvious until my senior year. I have big hips and I held weight in my hips- but my upper body was great and I could wear regular shorts without looking fat!

Oh I wish I had enjoyed what I had then!

I got married at 19 and lost the fat but I was never in shape. thin and flabby! I held onto my figure for a few years but by my late 20s I was looking more like a pear. I didn't look good in a bating suit but I looked OK in a dress. My real weight issues started in my early to mid thirties when I got a good job and started to travel for work. YUM - eating out at nice restaurants, developing a taste for wine and good beer... YIKES!

Then I had this ginormous health crisis. I was working, life was fine, and I started having panic attacks. It was weird because I'm not a very nervous person and I always knew it was just a panic attack but they were wicked strong and happened more and more until I had to leave my job. I tried therapy and drugs and more therapy and more drugs and finally a doctor sent me to have a sleep test and it turns out I had some weird side effect to sleep apnea where my body was FREAKING OUT due to lack of oxygen all night - and then it would just keep doing it even though I was breathing during the day.

Over this 18 months I gained 50 lbs. After I started using a CPAP I got better in a few months but the weight didn't budge. I joined a curves and I would walk there (2 miles each way) and 30 lbs came right off! But I was better so I got a job. With a long commute - and more travel... and yeah. So that was 2004 and I guess the good news is that when I was my heaviest I was 215, and last year I think I may have been around 225 so at least I didn't go up a LOT more?

I created an account here last winter during our office "The Biggest Loser" contest and now I'm back and now I'm GOING TO DO IT!

Last spring both my older sisters got breast cancer and we found out I have the BRCAII gene mutation which means I have a very high chance of getting breast and ovarian cancer. I had my partial hysterectomy in August, and I am going to have a mastectomy NEXT January (2010). Before I have the mastectomy I need to get rid of this extra weight. Fat holds estrogen and estrogen is my enemy. I also need to be thin so the reconstructive surgery will look OK.

I haven't found time to exercise yet but I am doing pretty well with the diet part.

I LOVE THE SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY HERE AT MFP!!!

HonestOmnivore

Yikes! Can't get rid of the extra post?

slightingscale

Yikes! Can't get rid of the extra post?

Sorry, no. It's here to stay.

My weight gain in one word: Thyroid.

I was never overweight as a child. Lost all my p.g. weight after birthing each of my 4 daughters. But started gaining in my mid-30s. Would need to be on 600-800 calories to lose - then regained because that was starvation. 40 pounds later, I got help.

Now happily treated, I'm happy to join normal thyroid people again in my journey to lose 40 pounds.
I MFP.