Weight Gain - Beyond Discouraged

buffhistory · July 2013

I honestly cannot stop gaining weight. Based on my diet and exercise, I shouldn't be.

I never consume more than 1500 calories per day, and I exercise a lot. I'm strong, I'm in shape, but I keep getting fatter (no, it's not muscle weight). Over the past couple of months, after I recovered from a 5 year bout of anorexia, I have not been able to keep my weight down. I literally went from 83lbs to 145lbs within a year, and I keep going up (I'm 5'4")! I was weighed at my OBGYN last week and was at 153! I broke down in the office (shouldn't have done that), but my doctor didn't seem to even care that I gained nearly 10lbs in a month! I went to the appointment to talk about increasing my thyroid medication, but she took me OFF of it!

So yes. I also have "subclinical" hypothyroidism (TSH 4.1, don't know the other #'s, my doctor wouldn't give me a printout of my bloodworm). I WAS on .25mcg of levothyroixine, but not anymore. I see an actual endocrinologist on the 16th of July, but I'm so nervous I will gain even more weight by then! I just don't know what to do anymore - I look and the mirror and hate what I see more and more every day. I'm so disappointed and disgusted with myself. I work with people every day who are looking to lose weight...and I can help them lose weight, but I can't myself (even though everything I'm doing SHOULD elicit weight loss). I'm totally discouraged.

Just for reference, this is what a typical day of food looks like for me:

Breakfast: 300 cal (w/ 12 oz water), 6:45 am
⁃ 2 organic chicken sausage (160 cal)
⁃ 1 medium egg (70 cal)
⁃ 2oz kale (30 cal)
⁃ 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (40 cal)
Snack: 160 cal, ~10:00 am
⁃ 1oz cashews (160 cal)
Lunch: ~220 cal, 1:20 pm
⁃ 4.7oz asparagus (27 cal)
⁃ 6oz chicken (187 cal)
Dinner: ~320 cal, 5:10 pm
⁃ 2C cauliflower (roasted) (55 cal)
⁃ 2C broccoli (roasted) (60 cal)
⁃ 6oz chicken (187 cal)
⁃ 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (40 cal)
Snack: 370 cal, ~8:00 pm
⁃ 1 scoop why protein (110 cal)
⁃ 1 tbs cashew butter (100 cal)
⁃ 1oz cashews (160 cal)

As for exercise, I strength train (HEAVY lifting) 4 days per week, I do HIIT training (15-20 minutes) 4 days a week, and I hike for 2 hours 3 days a week (average calorie burn 500 cal per hike). Sunday is my "rest day" but I still take a 4 mile walk if the weather is nice.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? Or better yet...has anyone had any success solving a similar problem?

cmeiron · July 2013

I honestly cannot stop gaining weight. Based on my diet and exercise, I shouldn't be.

I never consume more than 1500 calories per day, and I exercise a lot. I'm strong, I'm in shape, but I keep getting fatter (no, it's not muscle weight). Over the past couple of months, after I recovered from a 5 year bout of anorexia, I have not been able to keep my weight down. I literally went from 83lbs to 145lbs within a year, and I keep going up (I'm 5'4")! I was weighed at my OBGYN last week and was at 153! I broke down in the office (shouldn't have done that), but my doctor didn't seem to even care that I gained nearly 10lbs in a month! I went to the appointment to talk about increasing my thyroid medication, but she took me OFF of it!

So yes. I also have "subclinical" hypothyroidism (TSH 4.1, don't know the other #'s, my doctor wouldn't give me a printout of my bloodworm). I WAS on .25mcg of levothyroixine, but not anymore. I see an actual endocrinologist on the 16th of July, but I'm so nervous I will gain even more weight by then! I just don't know what to do anymore - I look and the mirror and hate what I see more and more every day. I'm so disappointed and disgusted with myself. I work with people every day who are looking to lose weight...and I can help them lose weight, but I can't myself (even though everything I'm doing SHOULD elicit weight loss). I'm totally discouraged.

Just for reference, this is what a typical day of food looks like for me:

Breakfast: 300 cal (w/ 12 oz water), 6:45 am
⁃ 2 organic chicken sausage (160 cal)
⁃ 1 medium egg (70 cal)
⁃ 2oz kale (30 cal)
⁃ 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (40 cal)
Snack: 160 cal, ~10:00 am
⁃ 1oz cashews (160 cal)
Lunch: ~220 cal, 1:20 pm
⁃ 4.7oz asparagus (27 cal)
⁃ 6oz chicken (187 cal)
Dinner: ~320 cal, 5:10 pm
⁃ 2C cauliflower (roasted) (55 cal)
⁃ 2C broccoli (roasted) (60 cal)
⁃ 6oz chicken (187 cal)
⁃ 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (40 cal)
Snack: 370 cal, ~8:00 pm
⁃ 1 scoop why protein (110 cal)
⁃ 1 tbs cashew butter (100 cal)
⁃ 1oz cashews (160 cal)

As for exercise, I strength train (HEAVY lifting) 4 days per week, I do HIIT training (15-20 minutes) 4 days a week, and I hike for 2 hours 3 days a week (average calorie burn 500 cal per hike). Sunday is my "rest day" but I still take a 4 mile walk if the weather is nice.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? Or better yet...has anyone had any success solving a similar problem?

Just to make sure - you're using a food scale to measure all the solids and cups/measuring spoons for the liquids, correct? No eyeballing the food?

myfavouritemuse · July 2013

Your hypothyroidism doesn't sound "subclinical" to me - rapid and unexplainable weight gain is a sure sign you need to be back on the levothyroxine. Wait and see what your endocrinologist says, though.

buffhistory · July 2013

@cmeirun

Yup. I use a food scale, measuring cups and spoons (for nut butters, oils, et cetera).

buffhistory · July 2013

@myfavouritemu

That's how I feel too - it just seems like doctors seem to be wanting to treat the blood test, whilst disregarding my symptoms (weight gain, losing my eyebrows, fatigue, intolerance to heat/cold, et cetera...)

myfavouritemuse · July 2013

It's good you're going to see a specialist. There is a lot of disagreement on what the actual diagnosis for hypo is, what number your TSH has to be to qualify. It used to be 5, but now some doctors are treating as low as 3. My TSH has been running in the high 3's and I've asked to up my meds because I feel yucky - tired, muscle aches, depressed, just "off" but I've had my hypo diagnosis long enough where I can tell when something is wrong and my meds need to be upped.

Even medicated, though, while I don't gain weight, it's near impossible for me to lose it. I use MFP to make sure I'm not eating too much and exercising enough and keeping my carabs down, but being hypo and losing weight can sometimes be really, really difficult. You should not be gaining so rapidly, in my opinion, however.

nxd10 · July 2013

Talk to a doctor and/or psychiatrist who specializes in weight and the kind of physical, as well as psychological, after-effects of anorexia.

Weight physiology is complicated and prolonged starvation does odd things to your body.

My very best wishes for your recovery.

buffhistory · July 2013

I feel like the 16th can't come soon enough. I've heard that you don't feel "normal" until TSH is more around 1. Mine used to be at 3.3, then 4.1, and I have no idea what it is just now. I'd image even higher!

I too track my numbers for everything (not necessarily on MFP, but just in journals. I have a heart rate monitor to check up on my calorie burn and HR during exercise). Even with that body of evidence, my previous doctors still seem to think I'm perfectly fine. Pfffft. Yeah right.

TavistockToad · July 2013

I don't think that is enough calories for that level of exercise.

As for the weight gain, I would get a second opinion from another doctor.

CoffeeNBooze · July 2013

You have a healthy diet but depending on you exercise, and you say you exercise a lot...I am willing to bet that is not enough food. And if you had a bout with anorexia, its likely your body is really holding onto whatever it can get and protecting itself. I went through something similar and I gained about 15lbs in two weeks from under eating and over exercising. Seeing a therapist can help tremendously too. I am sorry I do not know anything about the complications of blood work and thyroid, but I second the poster who said to get a second opinion as well. Don't be afraid to eat more! Use the mfp calculations for food and exercise, eat back some calories you burn and see if that may help.

MightyDomo · July 2013

Honestly the post ana symptoms can extend for years! I am still recovering from having problems with ana, I was anorexic throughout grades 7-12 and was trying to recover but still would fall back into old practices for about 2 years after that. The way your body metabolizes and the way your body reacts to food is completely different than before anorexia. I can promise you though it gets better over time. I have been eating properly and exercising properly (with bouts of not doing any diet/exercise at all) for the last 5 years and I am still trying to fix it. I still can gain 10 lbs of true weight in a week or two and it most definitely isn't water weight though my body has at least made enough progress that I can lose that weight with proper diet and exercise but I have to be really stuck to the plan for it to work which is a big change from when just after I had my daughter, every single thing I ate no matter how healthy and moderate and how much I exercised I gained constantly so it's definitely gotten better. For me it's that very moment you eat something that is stored as fat more readily then my body hold onto it like it's the holy freaking grail!

It could be your thyroid but it can also be post ana symptoms as well.

deksgrl · July 2013

That level of training on that few calories is likely creating a lot of excess cortisol, which leads to adrenal fatigue. The symptoms of adrenal fatigue are very similar to those of anorexia. You may need a complete diet/exercise break for awhile for your body to adjust.

buffhistory · July 2013

Thanks everyone for the advice. I know I should be eating more considering how much I exercise...but I'm just afraid of gaining even more than I have been. Heck, maybe I wouldn't. I have considered the idea that I am just not eating enough, and thus my body is holding onto anything and everything. I also have been considering seeing a counselor...it's been years, but right know I feel like I need one to talk things out.

silken555 · July 2013

Good luck to you danni...you've gotten great advice here...:)

buffhistory · July 2013

Thank you very much. And I truly appreciate the kind advice from everyone.

deksgrl · July 2013

Thanks everyone for the advice. I know I should be eating more considering how much I exercise...but I'm just afraid of gaining even more than I have been. Heck, maybe I wouldn't. I have considered the idea that I am just not eating enough, and thus my body is holding onto anything and everything. I also have been considering seeing a counselor...it's been years, but right know I feel like I need one to talk things out.

When you consider your long term overall health, the possible weight gain should take second place. I know you fear gaining, but you should fear the damage to your body more. I think talking to a counselor is a good idea.

buffhistory · July 2013

As of my most recent physical, apart from the weight gain, I'm (as my primary care doctor put it) "In perfect health." But I am always on the lookout for my longterm health. As for mental health..I would like to start seeing a counselor.

TRMite · July 2013

the good -- you are seeing a specialist. they will get this under control. AND, once they do, you already know how to cook healthy and what exercise you enjoy.

that said, with that much exercise, you need to eat more. if you put in what you eat, and what you do, doesn't MFP show a crazy deficit? you don't want it to be that extreme. trust that you really can lose if you eat back those calories... it can't hurt since what you are doing isn't working! see what I mean?

and yes, a good counselor will be very beneficial.

katmombama · July 2013

It sounds like you've received some great advice here. I have only one thing to add: any physician who refuses to give you a copy of YOUR OWN test results needs to be your former physician.

Weight Gain - Beyond Discouraged

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