Constant Weight Gain....

I need some serious help/advice because I am getting larger by the day despite rigid calorie counting and exercising. When I started CC'ing last May, I weighed 150 but went down to 146 with my ultimate goal being 135.  After being on antidepressants for about 1 1/2 years and continuing to gain, I veered away from CC'ing due to the fact that it continued to make me more depressed seeing the constant weight gain.  After I started suspecting the meds may be a contributor to issues with my metabolism and motivation along with other people's similar experiences on this site with Antidepressant's, I eventually stopped the meds around November.  Of course I expected quick results now that I had my energy back, but despite the fact that I delved pretty hard back into calorie counting and exercise for about 45-55 minutes 4-5 days per week doing various DVD exercise programs at home (kickboxing, Step Aerobics, Weightlifting/Aerobic combo's, etc.), I also run 8 flights up the stairs at work 10 times per day for 4-5 days per week.  Sadly, I see today that I am tipping the scale at 162.  Yikes!  I weighed myself on 12/29 and I was 157.  How in the world can I have put on 5 lbs in 9 days?  I know it sounds like water weight gain, but I don't feel bloated.  I've even taken water pills and nothing has changed.  I have my activity level set at sedentary because I have a desk job, and my desired food intake is set at 1200 per day.  I think I recall cc saying that I needed 1800 to maintain where I am, so I should have the 500 cal deficit.  Despite all of this, each morning when I wake up, I feel even larger than the day before.  I have a doctor's appt next Tuesday to have my thyroid checked because this unexplaned weight gain is going against everything I have ever known about losing weight.  Prior to the antidepressants, I was 138lbs and pretty muscular (still am).  I would have been happy to stay there until I started having issues with depression and anxiety which I understand is not unusual with working fulltime and have 2 young (3 & 8) kids and being married, etc.  Can anyone provide me some insight on anything that sticks out like a sore thumb that I should be or am not doing correctly?  Did I mention that I am constantly hungry????

Perhaps you are allergic to certain foods, or your metabolism remained sluggish after taking medication. Keep a food diary and note down any foods that you suspect may hinder your weightloss efforts. Also, if you are very strict on yourself, your liquid intake should ony be water. Get enough sleep every night so your body will produce sufficient leptin to burn the fats and digest the consumed food.

You aren't eating enough.  Your body is hanging on to every molecule trying to protect your internal organs from damage.  Any weight you lose would be muscle tissue, not fat. 

When I was in that state, I was advised by another member to first calculate your burn using the Burn Meter tool.  Once you have that number, deduct 250 to 1000 calories to lose 1/2 to 2 pounds a week.  Don't try to lose faster.  I think you might be surprised at how high amount of calories is.  If it's way more than what you are eating now, you might want to gradually increase.  You may have a temporary weight gain as you adjust, but you should begin losing again within a few weeks.  I was a real mess, so it took me 3 months to get all straightened out and start losing again.  Be patient and don't give up!

In the Advice section, the Ask Mary feature has an archive search.  Type in starvation mode and read the answers.  It may help you. 

And here's something from the old CC Library

Cutting too many calories puts your body in a state of alarm, in which it pushes to conserve calories rather than burn them. You start feeling cold and tired, and the lack of energy forces your body to break down muscle tissue to fuel its vital operations. This is bad in more than just one sense, since the amount of muscle tissue is directly related to metabolism, the rate at which you burn calories.

You do need to slash calories to lose weight, but you should not go too far. As a general rule, do not cut more than 500 calories, because then you start experiencing two effects that are not helpful in dieting at all. First, your body decreases the fire in the oven from steaming hot to a mild simmer. And second, it starts breaking down muscle tissue, which in return reduces the burn rate even further.

It sounds like this is causing you to have a lot of stress, which isn't going to help. 

If you're eating 1800 and exercising that is more than a reasonable plan for weight loss.  I would give it some time and if your weight continues to increase you might want to see your dr. about thyroid or another health issue. 

It sounds like you're a busy woman with a lot going on.  Perhaps it might be helpful to take some of the focus off of weight for now.  I find that if I strive for better health, I make better choices with food and exercise. 

Be kind to yourself and best of luck.

I would personally say to see your doctor if you feel you are eating right, exercising and GAINING weight.  Even if you are eating too little as another person suggested, this shouldn't make you gain, especially at the rate you are saying you are gaining.  However, I do personally think you are eating too little given your exercise level.  but I think your best bet is to consult your doctor and/or a nutritionist.

EDIT: Also although recent research has come out saying that we do NOT need to drink 64oz of water a day, and that tea, coffee and even beer contribute to our "water," water or calorie free beverages are still vital to weight loss.  For me, if I'm hungry, I drink a bottle of water first, or crystal light or iced tea.  Then wait 20 min, and if I'm still hungry, eat!  Even if you just eat some carrot sticks with a bit of hummus, or an apple.  But frequently thirst comes across as hunger, so try drinking first, and drink regularly!

I think seeing a doctor is a good idea, because that doesn't make sense. I could understand if you were just at a plateau and not losing, but as long as your diet is healthy and you are exercising there isn't a reason you should be gaining weight.

As far as hunger, when you are at a low caloric intake you have to eat tons of fruits/vegetables and stuff like oatmeal to stay full because those are the only things that have lots of fiber and not many calories (nutrient dense foods). Try staying away from sodium, it can be a real challenge staying at 1500mg/day alone, but that could make sure you aren't gaining water weight.

I use to be on antidepressants too and they definitely make you gain weight, birth control does as well. I went from 135 to 160 in a year or two from being on zoloft and depo. Stress can make you cling to weight too, so make a list of everything that stresses you out and see if you can change any of them. Sometimes just being aware of what stresses you out can help how you react to it.

Good luck!

Thanks to all of you for your feedback.  I definitely plan to eliminate all other beverages except water until I see some results as suggested by driftpsychosis.  I have never been a big fan of water, and so I have to admit I barely drink any water at all and most other liquids are 1 cup of coffee per day, crystal light, or an occasional diet soda, but I would imagine that that's not enough to meet my daily needs.  After seeing the doctor Tuesday about my thyroid, I'm guessing I should probably alter my work outs to work different muscles and change up my cardio a bit.  I'll see what happens, but I am very motivated to make changes to my daily habits in order to get results.   

Hi Benneliz,

I read all of your posts up until Jan 11, 2009. I am in a similar situation and was wondering how you are doing.  How did the thyroid test turn out?  Would love to hear an update from you and if you've managed to figure out what was causing your constant weight gain.  Thanks!

Kaneinvest

Hi Kaneinvest,

I'm sorry to have to tell you that I had no issues with my thyroid, and not much weight loss has happened since then either.  Since Jan 09', I've fluctuated between 154 and 162, and am now at 158.  I have to admit, since not getting the results I had wanted, I had slacked off of cc'ing and working out figuring 'why bother?', but at 41 years old I refuse to give in.  By rights, I should be about 175 lbs right now considering the kinds of foods I had been eating without working out, so I figure now is the time to catch myself from falling even further.  Last week I jumped back in to working out 5 days a week and cc'ing, though I don't do as much cc'ing on the weekends due to not being near the computer that much but I still make a mental count of what I'm eating.  Just last week I lost 2lbs which is a start, I started at 160  My new weight goal is 140 as opposed to 135lb which seemed so impossible at my age with my muscular build.  It seemed overwhelming.  I think 140 seems more obtainable, and if I should happen to get below that, all the better.  Oh yeah, I stayed away from antidepressants, but still take something for anxiety which hasn't had any negative effects on my energy level.  Good luck! 

Benneliz,

Thanks for the update.  I'm in just the same boat as you.  Just had in-depth thyroid testing done, all is within normal ranges.  Maybe it's just our age!  Maybe hormones are affecting us now that we've hit "middle-age"...yuck!  We'll, like you, I am working out at least 5 times a week at the gym, and just trying to focus on staying healthy.  My cc'ing is not great, i'm just trying hard to make healty eating choices.  I feel pretty good even though i'm not losing any weight.  I'm 158 right now and 140 is sounding pretty good to me!  A year ago I would have been horrified if someone told me I would be weighing 140!!LOL

Hang in there, and keep me posted on your progress!