Beyond frustrated and need answers please

kristenn1989
kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I keep gaining weight. It doesn’t matter what I eat or how active I am.

I’m 5’4 and currently (and embarrassingly) 173lbs.

From what I’ve done in calculations, my BMR is 1600-ish. If I wanted to maintain my weight, the internets tell me that I need 2200. (I don't)

How is it that if I eat about 1400-1500 calories daily that I am packing on pounds like no tomorrow.

Since march 1st, I have gained 23lbs. This can’t be normal, right?
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Replies

  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Go see your dr..
  • BSBgirl337
    BSBgirl337 Posts: 119 Member
    This site tells you to eat 2200 calories a day? I am kind of near your height and weight, and need 1200?? I am trying to diet rather than maintain, but I can't imagine it would go up that much for maintenance.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    Yeh, see you're doctor.
  • VickieZureich
    VickieZureich Posts: 37 Member
    How much salt, sugar and white flour products are you eating? It makes a huge difference just by taking these three things out of your diet to lose....believe me I know.
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    I've seen my doctor. They've tested my blood levels. Only thing the doc said to me was move more and eat even less.
  • One_Undone
    One_Undone Posts: 2
    I don't know how active you are, but if you drop your calorie count below a certain point, such as by reducing your intake too quickly, your body can actually go into starvation mode and hold onto every calorie it can, because it believes you're starving.

    If nothing else has helped, you could try increasing your intake by 100 or 200 calories a day and keep doing the same level of activity and see if it makes a difference. Once your body believes it has what it needs, it won't be reluctant to burn excess calories.
  • punkybrewster88
    punkybrewster88 Posts: 11 Member
    Lift weights. I was stalled at weight loss, even gaining as well and I added back in weightlifting (which I wasn't doing to to injury/laziness) and lo and behold I started losing (have to note that I added more protein to my diet as well). Have found that is key for me.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    I've seen my doctor. They've tested my blood levels. Only thing the doc said to me was move more and eat even less.

    Did he test whether possible pregnancy? Maybe some kind of cyst growth that contributed to weight?
    You've already done a great job and lost loads. Perhaps need to decrease calories a little more.
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    If I'm pregnant, it'd be immaculate conception. lol

    and I generally try to aim for 1400-1500.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    If I'm pregnant, it'd be immaculate conception. lol

    and I generally try to aim for 1400-1500.

    LOL! How much did you eat to lose the 70 pounds?
  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    I've seen my doctor. They've tested my blood levels. Only thing the doc said to me was move more and eat even less.
    See another doctor. If you feel like something is wrong, then find someone who will listen. Take it from someone who suffered far too long and ended up with serious consequences: doctors are fallible just like the rest of us. Blood tests aren't everything, not even close. Unless you're four feet tall or something, you shouldn't rapidly gain such a huge amount of weight on 1400 calories (and even then I have my doubts). Please get a second opinion.
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    have you tried low carb?
    cal restriction didn't work for me either.
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    I was probably eating closer to 1300 at that point. I upped it a bit because living at home now, 1300 is too low with the type of food there is to eat here.
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    I've seen my doctor. They've tested my blood levels. Only thing the doc said to me was move more and eat even less.

    Really??? Did they check your thyroid? 1400-1500 calories with exercise might not be enough food, but it shouldn't cause you to gain that much weight, especially if you're exercising. Maybe a second opinion might be in order?? Wish you the best :flowerforyou:
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    have you tried low carb?
    cal restriction didn't work for me either.

    I've never tried low carb per say. But I try not to over eat breads, and I don't really eat pasta. I love fruit though.
  • saracambell
    saracambell Posts: 1
    Have your thyroid checked.
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    I've seen my doctor. They've tested my blood levels. Only thing the doc said to me was move more and eat even less.

    Really??? Did they check your thyroid? 1400-1500 calories with exercise might not be enough food, but it shouldn't cause you to gain that much weight, especially if you're exercising. Maybe a second opinion might be in order?? Wish you the best :flowerforyou:

    Yep. they checked multiple different thyroid levels.
  • NotReadyForMomJeans
    NotReadyForMomJeans Posts: 35 Member
    Have they tested for hypothyroidism? It certainly makes me gain (despite best efforts to the contrary - when not at my correct synthroid dosage) and makes weight loss difficult. Your profile picture does not indicate you're a person with an extra 23 lbs of body weight....
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    are you taking any medications?
  • flukes9
    flukes9 Posts: 78 Member
    I agree that you should talk to a nutritionist.....you definitely shouldn't be gaining. I do think you're not getting enough calories...I think 1400-1600 for your height/weight is WAY TOO LITTLE...your body could be holding onto the fat because it's in starvation mode, which might explain why you're not losing. I would do more research or get a second opinion to make sure there's nothing medical going on, but I think you're calorie goal is too low.
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    Have they tested for hypothyroidism? It certainly makes me gain (despite best efforts to the contrary - when not at my correct synthroid dosage) and makes weight loss difficult. Your profile picture does not indicate you're a person with an extra 23 lbs of body weight....

    I weighed 146lbs in that picture. I'm currently at 173lbs sadly. That pic was taken in december.
  • sun33082
    sun33082 Posts: 416 Member
    This site tells you to eat 2200 calories a day? I am kind of near your height and weight, and need 1200?? I am trying to diet rather than maintain, but I can't imagine it would go up that much for maintenance.

    If you've selected a goal of losting 2 pounds a week then yes, it would go up that much for maintenance (500 calories/day deficit to lose one pound a week, 1000 calories/day deficit to lose 2 pounds a week).
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    are you taking any medications?

    nothing aside from birth control pills
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    Based on your info, I would start at 1500 calories as a net baseline.
    Hold this for 2 weeks, then weigh in.
    If no weight loss, then I'd lower it 100, and go another 2 weeks. And so on.
    Sometimes we need to experiment to find our zone.
    Good Luck.
  • Robin_Bin
    Robin_Bin Posts: 1,046 Member
    What did you set your activity level at? How much exercise are you getting?
    I'm about your height and my target is 1200-1300 depending on how fast I set my target loss. I add to that with exercise and eat back most of my exercise calories.
    Are you still measuring or just estimating portions?
  • mollyvon
    mollyvon Posts: 114 Member
    I agree that you should consult with another physician. Was your: thyroid level checked?, C-reactive protein level checked? Have you noticed one particular area being swollen, for example; your abdomen?
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    What did you set your activity level at? How much exercise are you getting?
    I'm about your height and my target is 1200-1300 depending on how fast I set my target loss. I add to that with exercise and eat back most of my exercise calories.
    Are you still measuring or just estimating portions?


    I measure when I can. Sometimes it's not possible though.
  • kristenn1989
    kristenn1989 Posts: 196 Member
    I agree that you should consult with another physician. Was your: thyroid level checked?, C-reactive protein level checked? Have you noticed one particular area being swollen, for example; your abdomen?

    Both of those levels were recently checked. And I honestly wouldn't notice my abdomen being swollen with my stomach being as large as it is.
  • sambeau5
    sambeau5 Posts: 3
    I took a look at your diary, and I couldn't help but notice you don't update every day. Is it possible there are things you are consuming that aren't making it into your diary? I know it seems like a silly question, but if you are putting milk in your coffee, or maybe not measuring the amounts of food you eat (either using weight or measuring cups/spoons), it is absolutely possible that you are consuming more than your goal without even knowing it. Another thing I noticed is a lack of protein--protein is what keeps you full, and keeps you from being tempted to munch on sugary or starchy snacks. When I started taking out the kitchen scale before putting anything in my mouth, I started seeing results.

    Good luck :) mfp is a wonderful tool, be truthful to yourself and, barring any unknown health conditions that effect metabolism and hormones, you will see results.
  • Robin_Bin
    Robin_Bin Posts: 1,046 Member
    Wow, your tracking is wildly all over the map! Four hours of walking one day, 2 hours other days, nothing for a week, food tracking with nothing some days, 300 calories others, and then the target amounts on other days. Not my business, but what are you not recording? Usually I suggest trying different things, but as you say, you've been trying a variety of things, and your records are wild, I suggest trying something a bit more consistent and recording it for a bit.
    Hard to make a more specific suggestion with that sort of information.
    Good luck!

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