I can't stop gaining!!!

I've maintained my 110-112lbs for the last two years.  I exercise five days a week, I count calories and eat well within my range, yet all of the sudden in the last 3 weeks I've managed to put on 10lbs!!! None of my clothes fit, I'm constantly uncomfortable and just getting generally depressed.  I did stop the birth control I was taking for the past year last month (my doc said it was too strong for me, whatever that means) and still haven't had my period (I'm two weeks late, and no, not pregnant).  Every day I seem to put on more weight and I don't know how to stop this.  I'm working out every day and eating about 1500 cals/day (I'm 5'2") , which should be weight loss mode for me considering my activity level.  Ugghhh, I'm so frustrated!

Is there absolutley no chance that you could be pregnant?

What are you eating? What is your sodium levels? How active are you?

I don't mean this horribly, but I am so glad I am not alone!!!!!!!!!!!  This exact same thing has just happened to me, and I go on holiday next week and like you, feel horrible!

there is no chance I could be pregnant either . . . . . so, any ideas anyone?!

Jx

No, really, I´m not pregnant.  What I eat - every day it's about the same,

Breakfast = coffee, apple, slim yogurt drink or a bowl of cereal - bran flakes

Lunch - tuna (in water) sandwich with tomato and cucumber and another apple

Snack - some carrots and a piece of black german bread

Dinner - chicken salad, or some baked chicken and veggies, red wine

Desert - yogurt with fruit

I don't feel like I'm eating too much.  I'm usually busy all day at work running from meetings, so I don't snack at all - just eat my sandwhich at the cafe and that's it til I come home after the gym at night.

My activity level is high, I guess.  I don't lift heavy things at work, but I do run up and down stairs a lot and walk to work and back (about a mile).  Also, I go to the gym 5 times a week - run about 5 miles, or do 45 mins of spinning.  I alternate weights and pilate sessions.

Jembop - really, you're the same?  Did you just come of a birth control pill by any chance?  Thanks for your responses!

Maybe the pills messed up your metablision (I'm not a doctor so I don't know if pills could actaually do that... But seems like it in this case)

Get a blood check?

No, I haven't just come off birth control.  All I know is I daren't get on the scales as I fear another gain without reason will upset me more.  I am a pretty fussy eater, and without being obsessive or compulsive, my diet is fairly repetitive, but still balanced. 

I am 5'3" and have maintained 110lbs for a couple of years, and suddenly, with no change to my 1400 - 1600 daily diet or exercise routine - bam - I'm 125! 

Can anybody else offer us any light or ideas to help rewind on the weight gain?!  Or at least stop further!

jx

My opinion: 1400-1600 is still weight loss range. You're probably in conservation mode.

Also, if you don't change up your exercise/increase the intensity (ie- move up from 3 miles at a 10 minute mile pace to 5 miles at a 9 minute mile pace) you're body grows used to the exercise, therefore burning less calories.

I have no idea if this is related to anything, but I always seem to gain during the late winter, no matter what I"m doing. I'm really struggling right now not to, but am not sure I"m winning the battle--scale has been inching up for no apparent reason (although sodium intake could account for some of it). I've noticed this over the past few years. The only good news is, it comes back off quickly in the spring. But it is so frustrating feeling like nothing I am doing matters.

It is normal to gain some weight after coming off of birth control pills. Think of it this way- your body right now is tricked into thinking it is going to get a period therefore it is packing it on. I usually get this for a couple weeks or so after going off a pill. Then my body regulates and drops it again.

And I totally agree with the winter weight gain as well.

Don't be too hard on yourself, if you know you are doing good with eating and excerise then you are on the right track and the weight will even out.

Hmm...I am sort of the same way.  I'm 5' 3" and WAS 110 lbs but now 118 =(.  My endocrinologist put me on Yaz because I didn't have a period for 1 1/2 years.  Before the birth control she did some hormone tests.  They all came back normal except for my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone).  The higher the number, the greater the symptoms of hypothyroidism (slow metabolism, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, etc.).  It was a 6 and the range is from about .5-4.  After a month on the Yaz, it jumped up to a 10!  And during that month I gained about 8 lbs, and had not really changed the way I ate.  She put me on Synthroid 100 mcg and my weight has pretty much stabilized at 118 lbs.  You might want to get tested for hypothyroidism because it's pretty common, especially in women, and could be what's slowing you down.  Hope I could help.

Thanks for your help, I also have a few boxes of Yaz that my doctor gave me after my last checkup to take after I stopped my former pill.  I didn't take them because I wanted to be off the pill for awhile to clean out my system.  I'm just hoping that when/if my period returns, things will get back to normal and I'll shed these extra pounds.  I'm just not sure when it's coming back!

jeschult - did your period take a while to return after stopping the pill in the past?

msh-  Your post seems very familiar! A couple of years ago my periods were either too frequent, or not there and I PILED on the weight (without particularly overeating or changing my habits). I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) which makes you gain weight and messes with your periods. It's a pain- but you can still lose weight, I managed to lose 117 pounds so far.

But you should go see a doctor or ob/gyn and explain to them your symptoms, only (s)he can make the correct diagnosis.

thanks, I am trying to locate my doctor, but am living half a world away (literally) and it's proving difficult to get a hold of him.  I'm thinking on getting on a plane and tracking him down though if something doesn't change soon:(

ok, I'm keeping this thread alive so that if someday someone else goes through something similar - they can search for some reference.

Today I weighed 2.2 lbs more than yesterday, stomach is still huge, clothes don't fit, etc.  Nothing's changed for the last month! but I finally got hold of my doctor who said this is not sooo unusual.  He told me to go back on the pill I was originally on for 7 days and hopefully with this my period will come back and my body will return to normal.  I just started today, but am hoping and praying this works!!!