Dramatic weight gain

[kitgal421]

Thanks for all the advice and kind words everyone! I promise I wont let it ruin my vacation! I will make an appointment to see an endocrinology doctor asap. The PCOS thing is interesting. I have always had trouble with ovarian cysts and very heavy/irregular periods. I've been taking BC since I was a young teen for these very reasons.

I don't pretend to be the healthiest person, and I've never been a "health nut." But I just know something is wrong. A 15-20 pound weight gain? Sure I could blame that on not enough exercise/ not so great of a diet. But THIS MUCH just seems so extreme.

I'm so exhausted most days that I can barely drag my butt around my apartment to do chores. Especially with all the homework I can often barely manage. So it feels so overwhelming to start some some sort of real hardcore workout. Then I think about how much I dislike my body and more depressed! It's such a darn vicious cycle.

 

[violetrose]

First thing that pops into my mind is issues with ovaries, or congestive heart failure (and with that you would know it, you'd have other symptoms that would be very noticeable like shortness of breath and not being able to lay down flat). I would start with my OB/GYN and have all the tests. I've known 3 women who gained weight without a real increase in their food intake, and all 3 ended up being diagnosed with PCOS. I do know doctors like to take blood and stop there. Blood work is not enough, especially with such a profound weight gain. Good luck in figuring it out.

 

[Nanabug02]

Thanks for all the advice and kind words everyone! I promise I wont let it ruin my vacation! I will make an appointment to see an endocrinology doctor asap. The PCOS thing is interesting. I have always had trouble with ovarian cysts and very heavy/irregular periods. I've been taking BC since I was a young teen for these very reasons.

I don't pretend to be the healthiest person, and I've never been a "health nut." But I just know something is wrong. A 15-20 pound weight gain? Sure I could blame that on not enough exercise/ not so great of a diet. But THIS MUCH just seems so extreme.

I'm so exhausted most days that I can barely drag my butt around my apartment to do chores. Especially with all the homework I can often barely manage. So it feels so overwhelming to start some some sort of real hardcore workout. Then I think about how much I dislike my body and more depressed! It's such a darn vicious cycle.

Well, the fact that you have had ovarian cysts and irregular periods is just another push towards the PCOS possibility. Definitely go see an Endo as soon as you can, and be sure and have all of your symptoms written down and have your research done before you go. Come back and let us know what you find out.

In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful trip!!! Don't worry about your size! I have no doubt that you are a beautiful person.... you must be, since you love animals so much (I'm a fellow animal lover)!

 

[*JoGo*]

I would get a referral for an endo ASAP. It can sometimes take awhile to get in. You need a full work up, thyroid, glucose... I also gained a TON of weight, as in 3 lbs a month for several months. I was counting calories AND had started exercising. Found out I was prediabetic and put on a low carb diet. It was hard at first and I cried a lot bc carbs are in (nearly) everything. I lost 10 lbs a month the first 3 months, no exercise. I have exercised here and there, but mostly by diet only, I've lost 45 lbs and kept it off... I'm still gradually losing. I started the diet June 2011. Size 12, nearing 14. Now a 6. I haven't been this size in decade!

I have high blood sugar and I'm hypothyroid. The sugar is controlled through diet and it is a lifestyle change. Forever.

My heart breaks for you! I know how terrible it is. I was mortified, embarrassed, frustrated, depressed.... Miserable.

 

[chamonix]

I only drink water. I cut out soda when I was in high school and never really started drinking alcohol (maybe a beer every week or other week.)

For breakfast I just have a bowl of cereal with no milk, I HATE milk. A typical lunch meal is a pbj sandwich (or some meat and cheese sandwich) with a side of either grapes or apples.For dinner I usually just make some easy frozen dinner or some mac and cheese or something else easy/cheap to make. I eat at lunch between 11:30-12 (my only break between classes and work) and dinner after I get home around 5. No time for snacking in between then.

Like I said I'm on feet rushing around with different animals all day. If my school has a gym, I wouldn't know it. I don't have a campus parking pass, so I'd have to take a campus shuttle bus and they don't run after 5. My apartment does have one that I was able to use during the summer when It only had summer classes and no job. There was always a huge wait to get in. With only two treadmills and a weight machine, I rarely managed to get in
before the hardcore work out people snagged it.

I still feel a weight gain of this magnitude is not normal considering I'm MORE active than I was last year and no longer have time to snack.

And depression is totally beyond in. I already CANNOT keep up with my homework and work work. I come home in tears and beyond stressed everyday.

Check out your actual portion sizes and figure out the calories. A serving of cereal is 3/4 of a cup. Get out your measuring cup and pour that into your bowl. I know if I don't measure I can easily pour two cups into my bowl. You didn't say what kind of cereal you eat, but even Honey Nut Cheerios is 110 calories a serving. A big bowl might be 300 calories even without milk. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can easily top 500 calories if you're not careful. A serving of peanut butter is two tablespoons, and jelly is 1. Look at the jars, measure your portions, then figure your actual calories. What kind of frozen dinners are you eating? Lean cuisine, or a "regular" frozen entree? HUGE difference in calories. A box of Kraft Mac and cheese=1200 calories.

Girlfriend, I feel your pain. I know I can feel like I am on my feet all day and eat "hardly anything" and still gain weight. Measuring my portion sizes--getting real about my portion sizes helped. Getting real about true exertion type of exercise helped too. Good luck, and I hope it's not anything medical!

 

[sookie]

OP, this sounds a lot like PCOS to me too - this sounds a lot like my onset in college! So I would really evaluate that.
That being said, sometimes a lot of this weight gain could also be associated with depression. I know you said you want to cry in your original post, etc. Get evaluated for that too. Sometimes people don't understand our own behaviors and how they can be associated with weight gain. I have a lot of patients who have had depression - and even though they have had other changes that should have caused weight loss (like job changes), they have had depression that has caused them to make some food choices / overeating. So even if they are snacking less, when they do get to eat their meals, they make food choices that they usually wouldn't make. It is a vicious cycle. Hugs to you. This is a hard thing to deal with, that is for sure.

 

[SandrA9810]

They sell single servings of veggies in the frozen food section. Frozen meals usually don't include veggies and other things you need. Most are also heavy on carbs like pasta and breaded meats. It might be cheap, but not overall good for you all the time.

There's a lot recipes for one skillet meals that might take 15 to 20 minutes to prepare. Beans are also cheap and healthy to add to your diet. Also filling but not as bad as carbs.

Just some things to do in the meantime till you get to the bottom of it.

 

[pigletgirl]

Any chance of pregnancy??

 

[The Mystery Machine]

In the last half year I've experienced a dramatic weight gain. In February I weighed 115, now in October I weigh 180. I'm so beyond frustrated at everything.

I don't understand what has happened. I walk to all of my classes (so about 15-30 minutes each day) and I never even have time to snack! I started a new job in July that requires me to be pretty active. It's a local humane society so I'm on my feet and walking animals around all day. I'm a senior in college this year, so my schedule is very hectic. I have classes from 7:30-11:30 everyday, then I work from 12-6. Then I have my own animals to come home and take care of, homework, and house work. I usually plop down on the couch around 9:30 for an hour to spend in silence by myself, then bed by 10:30. Most mornings I wake up around 5:30 just to have time to get all my work done.

I went to the doctor last week and had blood drawn to check for any problems. The result: all normal. Of course my doctor gave me the usual spiel: "Are you exercising and eating healthy???" In fact, I'm snacking less and walking around MORE than usual. And I've still gained nearly 60 pounds.

All I want to do lately is come home and cry. It all feels so hopeless and I feel so unlovable and worthless. I leave for Universal Orlando next thursday, and I'm dreading taking any pictures or even being out and about in public.

For starters, glad you went to your doctor first.

Second, you have to calories count.

Third you are exhausted and the way you make up for that is eating calories. In addition your body holds onto those calories because you are exhausted.

Fourth if you are doing ALL of that I also recommend seeing specialists. Endocrinologist should be your first stop, with your second stop at the OBGYN.

At any rate, get some more rest & count calories.

 

[Joe in VA]

To gain 65 lbs in that amount of time is to take in approximately 227,500 excess calories over maintenance. Doesn't really seem possible under your scenario. That's over 1,200 excess calories a day. Regardless of portion sizes you'd practically have to be eating pizza and drinking Coke all day to do that.

Def get this checked out.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I guesstimated because I really don't know how much or what kinds of foods you eat, how much peanut butter etc.

I am at around 1900 calories, 70 grams of fat, 306 carbs.

I no it seems like you are not eating much because you are not. It is very hard to be diligent in your food/serving size.

By NO MEANS do I think you gained the weight because of just your food, but your choices are not helping.

Keep a journal for at least a week and bring it with you to the doctors. Again it is really easy to add at this site www.myfitnesspal.com. You can PM me if you would like and I will friend you. It is hard and it is much better to have someone along for the journey.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Im going through a 40 lb weight gain following thyroid goiter surgery. Everything tests out normal, but I am using a well-known weight plan, sticking to it exactly, and gaining 2 lbs a week.

I went to my gastroenterologist - who is checking everything that needs to be checked. He said the next step is an endocrinologist. Get yourself to a doctor, with a list of what you are eating each day - and a log of your weight. At first, my docs thought I was just overeating - now they do believe me.

I feel like screaming sometimes because I feel fat. I know where you are coming from. Don't let weight define who you are. You are still you - and you are having a weight issue at the moment. I am sure within a year both of us will have straightened out our weight issues.

Stay strong, my friend! You are not alone!