Health anxiety - how do you cope?

sensdornam · September 2019

A few days ago I was jokingly forced to stand on a scale by my mom. For context sake, I used to weigh myself at their place every fee months, and never went over 132lbs, which was green in my BMI book.
However I've been avoiding the scale for the past year, not sure why. So when I stood on that scale, I expected some 10-odd pounds would stack up. What I didn't expect was to see it was nearly 20. In less than a year.
Due to health anxiety, I've spent this year getting blood tests, thyroid hormone tests, ultrasounds, so I know that most likely my weight gain is not due to a //tumor// or something. But I'm still worried. My current idea is that antidepressants I was put on in February and putting aside gym membership last October ganged up on me.

Have any of you had similar experiences? I'd really find some support comofrting right now.

Also if this is a bad thread for a post like this, let me know, please!

NorthCascades · September 2019

You can lose those 20 pounds. It's not that big a deal. It's only been a year, it's not like you've been obese your entire life.

sensdornam · September 2019

@NorthCascades thanks. I was just spooked by the sudden weight gain since it never happened before.

kimny72 · September 2019

But it's not sudden. 20 lbs in a year is 1.66 lbs per month, which is an extra 5,810 calories, which is an extra 190 calories a day. That's a glass of wine, an extra snack, a bigger scoop of pasta, a workout skipped. It's how so many people slowly gain weight as they age. There is absolutely no reason to suspect it is health related, it's pretty typical of how people gain weight.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

MikePTY · September 2019

There is one reason, and one reason only that 99.9% of people gain weight: Eating more than their body burns. It is pretty easy to gain 20 pounds in a year. To do that, all you would have to have done is eat 200 calories per day on average above your maintenance weight. That is not very much food. If you are on anti-depressants, it possible that they have made you more hungry than normal, and that is what is causing you to overeat a bit.

The good news is that losing the weight is not complicated either. All you have to do to lose the weight is to eat less than your body burns, and you will lose weight.

It is all simple mathematics. I am betting you suffer a bit from hypochondria, which is why you are desperately trying to find that your weight gain is indicative of some major health problem. But that is not the case. We are all testaments here to gaining weight from overeating. But we also are examples of how you can lose weight by just eating less.

sensdornam · September 2019

@kimny72 wow, I've never thought of it that way. Thank you so much for the breakdown. And it's comforting to hear such weight gain is not unheard of. I don't have anyone with a similar problem in my life, hence taking a peek into the community part of the app. And I'm glad I did. Thanks again

@MikePTY you are right on the dot, mike. My GAD turned to hypochondria last year, and I've been struggling with it since spring/summer. It got worse, so I had to start with medication.

Thanks for the uplifting answer. It's actually helpful to hear that my fears most likely have no basis in reality. Because if it is just weight gain from poor diet, I'll do exactly what you and kimny mention.

Thank you two for being so nice and informative!

LyndaBSS · September 2019

My anxiety meds were recently changed and were the catalyst for a 6 pound gain in a week. During that exact timeframe, I went over my calories just about daily. Weird coincidence.

Meds were reevaluated and I'm now starting to lose again. Life happens.

DancingMoosie · September 2019

It happens. Now that you are aware of it, you can take control. Start logging and keep a moderate deficit and you'll see change soon.

sensdornam · September 2019

@LyndaBSS ah, so good to hear from someone on medication, too! 6lbs is quite a bit (if you don't mind me saying), so I can rest a little easier now. I'm glad to hear you caught it on time, though, and good luck with gaining control back!

thanks for the input, means a lot

@DancingMoosie absolutely! I've done my best to stop snacking, and I'm trying to at least get 10k steps logged every day to ease into working out again. Thanks for replying!

missysippy930 · September 2019

Contributing factors here are gym membership lapsed, and possibly medication, but the bottom line is most likely that you have been taking in more calories than your body burns over that time. Your reluctance to step on the scale may be due to, deep down, you realize you have been gaining weight. The good news is that you can lose the weight and be in your comfort zone next year at this time.
BTW, what was your mother’s reason for having you, jokingly, get on the scale?

sensdornam · September 2019

@missysippy930 thanks for contributing! Yes, I suppose I knew deep down that I had gained weight. I just never thought it'd be this much, since the last time I ate so much pastry and processed sugars in the same timeframe, I gained a little less than 10lbs. Unpleasant surprise, all in all.

Aaand my mom just saw how bad my cellulite got, so she started prodding me to get on the scale. She knew something was up. Her jokes weren't malicious, I think she just wanted to make the situation lighthearted.

Health anxiety - how do you cope?

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