Post # 1

Member
541 posts
Busy bee
And I am way too embarassed to talk to anyone about this in real life.
I just got back from shopping for some new dress clothes for work. My office is very casual so the usual workday outfit for me is a pair of sweats and a t-shirt or hoodie or whatever, but I’m going to be travelling over the next few months and have to actually dress business like. Well, Bees, I have gotten so fat that nothing fits. I’m sure there is a pair of pants somewhere, but I don’t even want to think about the size I now need.
I think I am more mad and confused at myself than anything else. I don’t eat a lot, there is no junk or even snacks for that matter in my house. I even go to the gym for an hour or so at least 3 days a week, but I am still just gaining weight. I’ve talked with my doctor, and so far we haven’t been able to figure it out. There’s nothing wrong with my thyroid or anything of the sort, and I even went off the pill on a last ditch effort.
So now, I am just absolutley disgusted and don’t know what to do. I’m obviously doing something wrong, and I hate looking like this and feeling this way about myself. I’ve always had problems with my weight, but being this upset is not me.
Post # 3

Member
18628 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Do you think it’s possible that you aren’t eating enough? If you don’t eat enough calories for your body to maintain basic functions, it goes into starvation mode and stores all the calories that you eat because it isn’t sure when you are going to eat again. The best way to get a gauge of how much you are eating is using a program where you record everything that you eat and figure out the proper portion sizes. Some girls on here love sparkpeople.com.
Post # 4

Member
148 posts
Blushing bee
You may need to analyze the types of foods you are eating. Many essential nutrients (when eaten in excess) can also be converted and stored as fat. Even when a person is not consuming a lot of calories, they can still be over consuming certain nutrients.
http://www.mypyramid.gov is a website created by the USDA and is filled with diet information. You can also create a personalized diet plan where you keep an ongoing record of your everyday meals. It will allow you to input a goal weight and then give you safe steps to reaching your goal.
Good luck!!
Post # 5

Member
2867 posts
Sugar bee
I agree with both of the previous posters. What types and how much are you eating? If you aren’t eating enough, your body will freak out and start conserving energy. If you’re eating a lot of refined sugars, dairy, carbohydrates (breads, pastas, etc) you may want to decrease those and increase your protein and vegetables.
Also, what type of working out do you do? Is it cardio or weight training?
Have you noticed any other symptoms? Could it be PCOS or depression?
I have hypothryoidism so that made me gain like 75-90 lbs since my junior year of high school (yeah, it’s A LOT) (5 years ago). However, I’ve accepted by body and don’t listen to a**holes who try to make me feel badly. I’d suggest layers, empire waist outfits. My sister has PCOS and she’s gained a lot of weight from that. If all else fails, maybe seek a different physician?
Post # 6

Member
1560 posts
Bumble bee
honestly – and i may catch flack for this…but check into low-carb.
i was EXACTLY the same as you a few years ago – I ate very low fat, no junk – low calories – exercised 3 x / week and couldn’t lose one ounce of weight. literally i was the same exact weight for 6 MONTHS! i went to my doctor – she did some blood tests and figured out I was insulin resistant – basically high sugar foods (which is what a lot of low-fat foods are) kept my insulin pumping out and because of that i kept staying fat.
my DOCTOR told me to go on atkins – I did – and I lost and kept off 30 pounds! I also DROPPED my cholesterol and all my other levels improved dramatically!
check out: http://www.lowcarbfriends.com – it’s worth a shot and you have nothing to lose (but the weight!)
i know it’s not the more popular idea and it does take some dedication, but it’s TOTALLY worth it. if you have any questions, feel free to PM me! good luck!!!
Post # 7

Member
2867 posts
Sugar bee
@JuneBride_26June2010: I agree, I think lower carb diets are best–I like my breads and pastas a little too much 😉
Post # 8

Member
17 posts
Newbee
@nqz100: You should seriously try Weight Watchers. Sign up to do it online and track everything you eat and all the exercise you do. It might be an issue of portion control, not enough water, or not enough fiber etc.. I was the same way – never ate unhealthy, got a good amount of exercise but still gained weight. After joining weight watchers I was able to see that I had some sneaky bad habits that were sabotaging my effots. There is a 3 month for the price of 1 month deal that they usually have (check out their website). I’m willing to say with 99% certainty that if you stick with it for 3 months and really work the program you WILL lose weight!
Good luck!! I know the feeling of helplessness, but weight watchers seriously helped me turn everything around and I now weigh less than I did in HS!
Post # 9

Member
1641 posts
Bumble bee
I know the feeling. :-/ I’ve had many mini-breakdowns in department store dressing rooms.
Like JuneBride, I had to cut waaaaaay back on carbs. Which sucks, because I have been a vegetarian for over a decade. I have now started eating chicken, turkey and fish. I’m like the reluctant carnivore now. But, I am losing weight, I have more energy and I stay fuller longer.
It can’t hurt to try different things with your diet to see if that makes any changes that you would like to see.
Post # 10

Member
541 posts
Busy bee
Thanks for the suggestions…and letting me know I’m not the only one. I tried Atkins a few years ago and loved it, but I’ve never tried Weight Watchers. I’m a carnivore through and through.
But, it could be PCOS; I just did the research and I do have some of the symptoms. I went off the pill for the first time in about 10 years to try to regulate my blood pressure (it’s way too low and another one of those things that has us at a total loss) and since then my period has been whacked. I have a follow up in December so I’ll bring up the PCOS and see where that goes.
It could also be my body thinking it’s starving. There’s days when I barely eat 1000 calories just because I can’t. When I tried visiting a nutritionist a few years ago I was always getting a talking to because I wasn’t eating enough according to the meal plans, but I swore if I ate the amount of food she wanted me to I was going to get sick.
Thanks again for letting me vent and pity party. Mom, sis and Fiance just don’t understand—they can eat and eat and eat and never gain an ounce.