Moved back to America &gained 15lbs in a month?!
seedrah6
Posts: 56 Member
Hi all! I’m in complete shock as I’ve just moved back and haven’t even changed my diet yet gained this weight. It’s the biggest I’ve ever been and I usually don’t gain weight easily! Anyway I’ve been on the app for 4 days and doing well. I’m just confused as to why this happened. I have been really stressed and sad and haven’t slept well so maybe that’s it? I’m not adjusting well to living here again. Going to doctors to get checked out but 15lbs is a bit ridiculous! Any help is appreciated
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OR--you're moving alot less now that you're back in the USA. If you move less, you've got to eat less. Look up CICO.8
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maybe the ingredients have changed even if the meal is the same. What I mean is, maybe there is more fat or sugar in a product there than where you were before. Coupled with less activity and stress of moving that could all go towards a weight gain.3
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When my sil move to the US she gain about 15 pounds. Even though she wasn't eating more food it was high calories. She was use to a mostly fish, rice, and veggie diet. They lived with us for awhile and she has much more higher calorie food than before. That and she no longer walked every where. Relook at your calories.4
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YepItsKriss wrote: »gaining weight with the supposed same diet is a sure sign your diet did change.. however unless you were consuming 1750 extra calories above maintenance for an entire 30 day period, my guess is your weight was creeping up long before and it just took some time before you started to actually notice it.
I just realised the last time I was in the US for Christmas for longer than a month and I didn’t gain weight even though I was eating more...I think this time because I’m under so much stress and not sleeping that has got to me. At the doctors to get a good opinion, but I def don’t eat a lot and right now on a 1200 goal which I’m hitting everyday
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Also were there a ton of going away and welcome home parties?0
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If you actually gained 15 lbs in a month, you need to see a doctor asap...otherwise, you did have a change in your diet or activity level that resulted in consuming 1,750 calories over your maintenance calories everyday for a month...either that or the weight was creeping up before and you didn't notice...15 Lbs in a month is a pretty hard thing to do...6
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Just a thought...but are you using a different scale?
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pinkgumdrop123 wrote: »Just a thought...but are you using a different scale?
ditto.1 -
1) different scale, different measurement. Your old one could be entirely wrong, the new one could be entirely wrong, BUT what is most likely is that both are a little bit off AND you've probably gained some weight too.
2) American portions are out of control, whether served at home or in restaurants. We came back from Ireland and ordered dinner and were amazed and grossed out by the portions that arrived. And we hadn't been hungry on what we were eating over there.
3) American life is extraordinarily sedentary. We drive everywhere, our neighborhoods are mostly set up to limit walking, our stores all have special parking lots right outside.
4) salt, salt, salt, salt, salt. We salt all the things with all the salt, both inside the food and at the table.9 -
Are you measuring and weighing everything you eat and drink? Could there be confusion over portion sizes re: different measurement systems in the two countries?0
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There are so many food additives in the US that are banned in Europe.. not to say that accounts for 17 lbs but its true and scary as well...14
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Every woman I know who has moved from Europe to the USA, or from some Latin American countries to the USA initially gains weight. I think it has to do with the additives in the food (that make you crave more junk), less activity and the humongous portions! Everytime I have gone to Italy (I have been about 4 times) I stay from 2 weeks -4 weeks I have LOST weight. And that is with eating pasta 1-2 times a day, and 3 out of 4 trips I was eating in restaurants. But walking up hills, smaller portions, no snacks, no sodas and lots of water.9
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I lived in Europe and Asia for a period about 10 years ago, and when I came back to the Midwest, I gained 15-20 lbs. It was caused by huge portions, such easy access to cheap food all the time, and mostly by much lower activity.
I've lost a bit of that weight, but what I found is there's pressure to eat in the US. They say I'm already skinny, but really my BMI is just over the line into overweight. Seems like the baseline for normal has moved toward overweight.3 -
YepItsKriss wrote: »gaining weight with the supposed same diet is a sure sign your diet did change.. however unless you were consuming 1750 extra calories above maintenance for an entire 30 day period, my guess is your weight was creeping up long before and it just took some time before you started to actually notice it.
I just realised the last time I was in the US for Christmas for longer than a month and I didn’t gain weight even though I was eating more...I think this time because I’m under so much stress and not sleeping that has got to me. At the doctors to get a good opinion, but I def don’t eat a lot and right now on a 1200 goal which I’m hitting everyday
If I'm honest I associate the US with over eating. I was there for 5 months earlier in the year and when I ordered out I'd ask for half on my plate, the other half to go. The waitress would look at me like I had two heads
Like @TanyaHooton says its the huge portion sizes. Because I made an effort not to get into the American portions I actually lost a few pounds which everyone was amazed by, when I got back to Europe. Typically the opposite is true.
Stress can go both ways a)You don't eat enough or b) You eat like a pig - I've had huge amounts of stress for 12 months and if I'm honest at times I didn't understand why my body weight stayed the same. Although my weight does fluctuate.
Are you exercising at all? I didn't notice you mentioned that. Whenever someone says to me 'Oh I'm doing everything as I should be' I always think hmm are they? Are they really?
Do you eat out more than at home? Do you cook your own meals? Do you weigh everything and I mean everything? Do you snack at work? The workplace is a *kitten* for putting on pounds.... Do you drink alcohol on a regular basis? I could go on and on, but review everything you are doing.1 -
lucerorojo wrote: »Every woman I know who has moved from Europe to the USA, or from some Latin American countries to the USA initially gains weight. I think it has to do with the additives in the food (that make you crave more junk), less activity and the humongous portions! Everytime I have gone to Italy (I have been about 4 times) I stay from 2 weeks -4 weeks I have LOST weight. And that is with eating pasta 1-2 times a day, and 3 out of 4 trips I was eating in restaurants. But walking up hills, smaller portions, no snacks, no sodas and lots of water.
It has nothing to do with additives...it has to do with the very large portions of food served in the US along with a lot of being mostly sedentary...6 -
How are your clothes fitting?0
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Wow I don’t know how to reply to everyone! Thank you for the replies. So while I was abroad I was eating whatever and I was totally fine. I usually don’t eat very much, I should’ve pointed out it’s a bad habit and I don’t stress eat. Since I’ve been back I’ve barely ate out and honestly have been taking it rough so I’ve stayed home a lot and eaten homemade meals.
I did see my doctor and she’s running my blood work. Though when I was here in December 2016 I had gone in and my weight was about 18lbs less. I think then I was eating more and excited about the holidays so it’s really peculiar why I gained weight now.
I would like to point out I’m also going through a breakup (still not stress eating) but stressing...jeez heartbreak can really suck! I guess even physically. I don’t drink either. I hope all the tests come back fine. Thanks for the help!! x0 -
There are so many food additives in the US that are banned in Europe.. not to say that accounts for 17 lbs but its true and scary as well...
I KNOW!! Honestly I could actually finish my food there while in the US I can never finish my food! And everyone makes fun of me but honestly it’s so much!1 -
sytchequeen wrote: »maybe the ingredients have changed even if the meal is the same. What I mean is, maybe there is more fat or sugar in a product there than where you were before. Coupled with less activity and stress of moving that could all go towards a weight gain.
I think the same. The food in the US is made with corn syrup with is banned in other countries. The same product/brand could have additives here that doesn't in other countries.4 -
There are so many food additives in the US that are banned in Europe.. not to say that accounts for 17 lbs but its true and scary as well...
I KNOW!! Honestly I could actually finish my food there while in the US I can never finish my food! And everyone makes fun of me but honestly it’s so much!
When I eat out (in US) and they serve 'dinner' portions, I often box up 2/3... then divide into 2 more containers. Those 3rd's are usually still way more calories than a meal I made at home (they are significantly more liberal in their butter use).3 -
There are so many food additives in the US that are banned in Europe.. not to say that accounts for 17 lbs but its true and scary as well...
I KNOW!! Honestly I could actually finish my food there while in the US I can never finish my food! And everyone makes fun of me but honestly it’s so much!
When I eat out (in US) and they serve 'dinner' portions, I often box up 2/3... then divide into 2 more containers. Those 3rd's are usually still way more calories than a meal I made at home (they are significantly more liberal in their butter use).
I never eat my leftovers lol but yeah I did ask for it to be boxed. I grew up using to eating very little not that it’s healthy but I just didn’t feel very hungry and was a good weight so this weight gain is the biggest shock in my life lol
Though doctor said lack of sleep means my metabolism is slowed down and can’t work as fast even with the same foods
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When i travel to other countries I tend to lose weight easily the one or two weeks I am there. No counting calories, no gym, not even watching what i eat. But I am always walking while in other countries. So no surprise when coming back to the US I have to start counting calories again going to gym and having to take care what I eat to not gain.1
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There's 3500 calories in a pound of fat. Therefore, 15 lbs = 52500 calories / 30 days = 1750 calories per day, as YepitsKriss said. That means 1750 calories above maintenance every day. Does that logically make sense? Your increase is likely water weight, and/or a change in scale as others have suggested.1
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Weight gain is not just about calories in calories out. There's hormones too that might be out of balance.5
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There are so many food additives in the US that are banned in Europe.. not to say that accounts for 17 lbs but its true and scary as well...
I KNOW!! Honestly I could actually finish my food there while in the US I can never finish my food! And everyone makes fun of me but honestly it’s so much!
When I eat out (in US) and they serve 'dinner' portions, I often box up 2/3... then divide into 2 more containers. Those 3rd's are usually still way more calories than a meal I made at home (they are significantly more liberal in their butter use).
Though doctor said lack of sleep means my metabolism is slowed down and can’t work as fast even with the same foods
This statement ranges from a gross over-simplification to misinformation, depending on how they meant it. It doesn't slow RMR, but can lower TDEE if it causes you to become less active (which it often will).
It can also increase the release of grehlin, the appetite stimulating hormone, and interfere with leptin, which signals that your intake need is satisfied.
Furthermore, it can increase cortisol, the stress hormone (already increased by the move, and especially the break up), which can lead to an increased release of insulin, and can result in the deposition of body fat in the midsection.1 -
There are a lot of GMO's and chemicals fed to us here in the US that are either not used or completely illegal in other nations. Also if you're stressed your cortisol is up, and that can be a part of your weight gain.9
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tlanger251 wrote: »sytchequeen wrote: »maybe the ingredients have changed even if the meal is the same. What I mean is, maybe there is more fat or sugar in a product there than where you were before. Coupled with less activity and stress of moving that could all go towards a weight gain.
I think the same. The food in the US is made with corn syrup with is banned in other countries. The same product/brand could have additives here that doesn't in other countries.
There's plenty of food in the US that doesn't use HFCS.1
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