Weight gain from stress?

ReadySetSexy
ReadySetSexy Posts: 10 Member
edited November 30 in Motivation and Support
Background; 33 yo female was down 81 pounds with 29 to go.

I had a pretty major surgery 8 weeks ago on my shoulder. I've been back in the gym and eating right for 4 weeks but the scale has steadily gone up up up to me gaining back 19 pounds!
I got so concerned I went to the doctor over it! He thinks my body is stressed/traumatized from the survey and sending out stress hormones that are, in turn, making me gain weight.
Has anyone experienced this before? How did you combat it? Did the weight eventually just "fall off" or did you have to work extra hard?
I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall here...
Help...???!!! :(

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,029 Member
    edited March 2016
    Assuming you haven't been exercising as hard, you're likely in a calorie surplus which is why you're gaining weight. There may be some of that weight due to fluid retention for the recovery of your shoulder, but I wouldn't attribute more than 5lbs max to that.
    Reassess how MUCH you're eating, not WHAT you're eating.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • ElizabethOakes2
    ElizabethOakes2 Posts: 1,038 Member
    It can happen. Surgery is a traumatic experience for your body, as well as the pain and trauma of injury and the recovery. Don't panic- It will come back off as your body heals and regulates again. You might also try checking your calories for a week or two- eat at the higher end of your TDEE and then slowly back off calories (100 daily calories per week) until you're losing again. Eating at the higher end of your total daily expenditure makes sure that your body has the resources to deal with the stress it went through. :) You can do this! Don't panic!
    Hope your shoulder is healing well!
  • ReadySetSexy
    ReadySetSexy Posts: 10 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Assuming you haven't been exercising as hard, you're likely in a calorie surplus which is why you're gaining weight. There may be some of that weight due to fluid retention for the recovery of your shoulder, but I wouldn't attribute more than 5lbs max to that.
    Reassess how MUCH you're eating, not WHAT you're eating.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    My calorie deficit is 800-1000 calories daily, this includes my workouts. The rest days have me at a 300-500 calorie deficit. I did take a diarrhetic to help with bloat, that helped some but obviously not the whole 19 pounds. I weigh my foods, stay diligent and focused and would think the basic math of 3500 calories = a pound would mean weight loss after a week, not a steady weight gain. This is why I went to the doctor and got the answer on stress hormones. I'm trying to conclude how permeant this stress weight is?
  • ReadySetSexy
    ReadySetSexy Posts: 10 Member
    ElizabethOakes2 wrote: »
    It can happen. Surgery is a traumatic experience for your body, as well as the pain and trauma of injury and the recovery. Don't panic- It will come back off as your body heals and regulates again. You might also try checking your calories for a week or two- eat at the higher end of your TDEE and then slowly back off calories (100 daily calories per week) until you're losing again. Eating at the higher end of your total daily expenditure makes sure that your body has the resources to deal with the stress it went through. :) You can do this! Don't panic!
    Hope your shoulder is healing well!

    That's an approach I haven't tried, I just went straight back to a strict 1200 calories at 10% carbohydrates. Maybe that is adding to the stress? It would explain why I gained weight even after eating low calorie. Maybe I will increase my calories and stair step down so that my body can slowly adjust.
    Thank you for the input and well wishes! It's a long recovery but I'm making it! :)
  • MichelleLea122
    MichelleLea122 Posts: 332 Member
    edited March 2016
    Okay I'm sorry, but I'm going to call bs on "your body being traumatized from the surgery is why you're gaining weight".

    Yes surgery makes you retain fluids. Yes stress make you gain weight. BUT it doesn't magically make you gain 19 lbs post op.

    I know this isn't what you want to hear, but if you've really been eating only 1200 calories (10% carbohydrates) and eating at an 800-1000 calorie deficit per day you should be dropping weight. Your body does not stop obeying the laws of thermodynamics, because of a hormonal imbalance. If you're weight has been steadily increasing the past 8 weeks, but you've been diligently dieting for 4 something about your math is off.

    My advice? Tighten up your logging. You say you use a food scale, but are you measuring everything? If you are then look at the calories you burn from exercise. Are you using a heart rate monitor or going off the machine readings and myfitnesspal? Cardio machines and myfitnesspal tend to grossly overestimate caloric burn.
  • ReadySetSexy
    ReadySetSexy Posts: 10 Member
    MichelleLei1 wrote: »
    Okay I'm sorry, but I'm going to call bs on "your body being traumatized from the surgery is why you're gaining weight".

    Yes surgery makes you retain fluids. Yes stress make you gain weight. BUT it doesn't magically make you gain 19 lbs post op.

    I know this isn't what you want to hear, but if you've really been eating only 1200 calories (10% carbohydrates) and eating at an 800-1000 calorie deficit per day you should be dropping weight. Your body does not stop obeying the laws of thermodynamics, because of a hormonal imbalance. If you're weight has been steadily increasing the past 8 weeks, but you've been diligently dieting for 4 something about your math is off.

    My advice? Tighten up your logging. You say you use a food scale, but are you measuring everything? If you are then look at the calories you burn from exercise. Are you using a heart rate monitor or going off the machine readings and myfitnesspal? Cardio machines and myfitnesspal tend to grossly overestimate caloric burn.

    LOL! I am diligent on everything. It's how I managed to lose 81 pounds. I wear a monitor and weigh/measure everything I eat.
    I didn't spend money and take time off from work to visit my MD because I'm just kiiiiinda dieting. I knew SOMETHING was wrong! That's why I went! I knew I was doing my part!
    Turns out my thyroid was WAY off. Since getting my medication tweaked I've dropped some of the weight. So I'm sure when you combine the stress hormones along with thyroid disease you have the reasoning for weight gain.
    I know it's not what you want to hear, but I think you can skip leaving combative responses on my future posts.
    Thanks.
  • IILikeToMoveItMoveIt
    IILikeToMoveItMoveIt Posts: 1,172 Member
    Maybe you're pregnant.
  • ReadySetSexy
    ReadySetSexy Posts: 10 Member
    IILikeToMoveItMoveIt wrote: »
    Maybe you're pregnant.

    Hahaha! I'd be thrilled, scared and panicked all at the same time! But I'm not pregnant. The verdict is definitely in on that one lol. :smile:
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