Gained 21 lbs in a month! Help!!!

lpink0534 · September 2017

Hi, I'm a 35 yr old female. I have had slightly high BP for as long as I can remember. I've always been active and NEVER eaten a ton or badly. Anyway, last fall I lost a little over 20 lbs. it all stayed off until May. From April to May I gained 21 lbs! It's not even possible! My doc has told me to stick to a strict keto diet as of today. I have had my thyroid tested and all kinds of other stuff. All normal. Any ideas as to why I gained 21 lbs in a month and why it is so hard to get rid of it? It's downright depressing because I pretty much do all of the "right" things. I drink plenty of water, I eat a ton of green veggies and protein, elimating all processed foods, sugars, artificial sweeteners, and carbs as of today, and I jog 3 miles almost every evening. I just wonder if there is anyone out there that has been through this?!? My mom keeps telling me I need to move more and all this junk. I move all day long and then come home and take care of 2 young kids, household duties, run..so I move plenty. Someone, please help!!! TIA!!!

Nony_Mouse · September 2017

Hmmm, well first I'm going to tell you that weight loss/gain is about the number of calories you eat, not the foods themselves (it's entirely possible to gain weight eating only so-called 'clean' foods), however that is a mighty significant gain in a short space of time and I'm sure you would have noticed if you were suddenly eating that many more calories. Did anything else change in that time? Kinds of foods you were eating? Reduction in activity? Do you know how many calories you are eating, or are you just assuming it's fine because it's 'healthy' foods?

Also, keto isn't going to do anything more for you than any other calorie controlled diet, it's simply another method of creating a calorie deficit. If that way of eating appeals to you, that's fine, but unless you have a medical reason to reduce carbs, it's not necessary. Of course, you may well have something medical going on that just hasn't been picked up on yet. Are you able to see an endocrinologist?

Give keto a go since your doctor has recommended it, and they have access to medical information that we do not, but remember you still have to have a calorie deficit for that to work. If you're not seeing any results in a couple of weeks though I would consider seeing a specialist.

Krcarpenter201 · September 2017

Nony_Mouse wrote: »

Hmmm, well first I'm going to tell you that weight loss/gain is about the number of calories you eat, not the foods themselves (it's entirely possible to gain weight eating only so-called 'clean' foods), however that is a mighty significant gain in a short space of time and I'm sure you would have noticed if you were suddenly eating that many more calories. Did anything else change in that time? Kinds of foods you were eating? Reduction in activity? Do you know how many calories you are eating, or are you just assuming it's fine because it's 'healthy' foods?

Also, keto isn't going to do anything more for you than any other calorie controlled diet, it's simply another method of creating a calorie deficit. If that way of eating appeals to you, that's fine, but unless you have a medical reason to reduce carbs, it's not necessary. Of course, you may well have something medical going on that just hasn't been picked up on yet. Are you able to see an endocrinologist?

Give keto a go since your doctor has recommended it, and they have access to medical information that we do not, but remember you still have to have a calorie deficit for that to work. If you're not seeing any results in a couple of weeks though I would consider seeing a specialist.

If her doctor is recommending keto, it's most likely she has Edema. That would explain the sudden massive weight gain.

dwilliamca · September 2017

Edema is my guess too. Do you feel it in your feet and ankles? Did your doctor put you on a diuretic to lose water? I can gain or lose 3 pounds overnight with my water fluctuations and high BP. It makes it hard to really know when I'm losing or gaining.

lpink0534 · September 2017

Yes, I have pitting edema. I have slightly high BP and have forever...even when I weighed 105. I had my gallbladder out last February and also my stomach biopsied for celiac disease. Celiac was negative, but I do have a wheat allergy. I haven't changed how I eat at all and activity hasn't slacked.

GlassAngyl · September 2017

Yeah, edema.. no way you ate THAT much above maintanence! I don't even think that's possible!

lpink0534 · September 2017

I'm 5'2 and never been "big". I had pitting edema when I was pregnant terribly. I went on bedrest and in five days lost 8 lbs. I just don't know what caused so much retention. Yea, there is no way I could even eat that much. I hardly eat 1300 calories a day. Craziness.

mitch16 · September 2017

You saw your doctor (who ostensibly knows your health history), he told you to eat keto, but other than that he wasn't too concerned about a weight gain of 21 lbs in a month when you have history of pitting edema? I would highly suggest getting a second opinion.

lpink0534 · September 2017

Well, I've been seeing him since I was 13 and I'm 35 now. I've had a stress tests, echocardiogram, aorta and veins checked for blockage, as well as numerous blood tests. I do believe there has to be an underlying cause to this rapid onset of edema. Last fall when I lost the weight it fell off as rapidly as it came back on. I don't even know what to do.

Meghanebk · September 2017

lpink0534 wrote: »

I pretty much do all of the "right" things. I drink plenty of water, I eat a ton of green veggies and protein, elimating all processed foods, sugars, artificial sweeteners, and carbs as of today, and I jog 3 miles almost every evening.

Noe of that matters if you're eating more calories than you're burning. I'm glad you're working with a doctor. There is no way you ate enough to gain that much in a month without noticing it, so it is likely fluid retention for one medical reason or another. Make sure they keep looking until they find the cause!

In addition to the keto your doc recommended, make sure you buy a digital scale and meticulously weigh and track everything you eat. Do this both for spotting potential overeating/over calorie issues and so you have something concrete to show the doc at your next appointment. "I swear I ate keto" is a lot less convincing than a complete, accurate log of every single thing that you ate for the previous few weeks.

Edit - you/your doc did test for pregnancy too, right? Bleeding on cycle isn't always proof you're not pregnant.

HeidiCooksSupper · September 2017

Also, ask your doctor whether you should be limiting your sodium intake.

Sometimes, we just have to take becoming more informed about a particular topic than our general practitioner as a project to conquer. Here is a link with information your may find useful.

https://www.healthline.com/health/pitting-edema#prevention8

I can't find firm evidence that going keto is a proven cure for edema. It seems to work for some people but for others edema develops from going keto. I really do think at this point you should ask to see a specialist.

Gained 21 lbs in a month! Help!!!

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