How the hell have I put on so much weight?

[Howtheheck365]

Seriously freaking out and depressed here. I’ve always managed to maintain a healthy weight, on the slim side (I’m about 5’5 and my ideal weight is usually about 8.5stone but edges up a pound or 2 every now and then.

Throughout lockdown I’ve tried to remain eating healthily, trying to walk a lot, keep my steps up. Particularly the last month I’ve tried to give myself a bit of a kick and I’ve been tracking my calories and my steps. I’m missing the gym but that’s not the end of the world.

To my horror over the last week or so I have gradually gone up by about 4lbs and I cannot for the life of me think how or why. I’ve been walking more and trying to eat healthily with the odd treat.

Please don’t say ‘oh god that’s still so slim’ etc because proportionately this is a lot of weight to gain in a short time.

I’ve taken a pregnancy test! And I had my implant out a couple of weeks ago - could this have impacted it?

So so depressed I’m just worried my weight is going to carry on going up uncontrollably and without any clear reason why I am panicking.

Have you got a. History of ED? Your reaction seems rather extreme.

It could be anything - water retention, hormonal bloat etc or you could have eaten a shed load. You need to eat 500kc a day for a week to gain a pound. Have you eaten 2000 extra calories a day for a week to gain 4lb?

Weight is not linear, it fluctuates.

Probably water retention due to hormonal changes. I can’t imagine you’ve gained 4lb of fat in a week without knowing all about it! You could try avoiding salty foods and drinking fennel tea to help with bloating.

@AriettyHomily I certainly haven’t been eating 500cal extra, unless somehow I’ve lost perspective of how many calories things are! I tend to eat three healthy meals a day with the odd snack/treat for dessert etc. This is why I’m so confused.

My stomach has been horrendously bloated ever since I got my implant out (like seriously I look pregnant) which i expected is hormonal but I didn’t think this would translate into such a heavy amount of weight? Can hormonal bloat really weigh 4lbs+??

Alcohol? Doesn't take much to add a few extra pounds. 🙂

@Feawen I’ve definitely been bloated - my stomach is this horrible hard round lump, it’s not any more flabby. I’ll try your tips, thank you

@Horsemad I’ve drank very little really, haven’t been to the pub or anything yet. When I do drink it tends to be a light beer, gin and slimline tonic etc but only ever really a drink or two max and never more than a couple of days a week.

4lbs is nothing. I’ve put on two stone since lockdown. I’m fat as fuck and all my clothes leave red marks on me. You could lose 4lbs in two weeks. Calm your jets.

@Mistlewoeandwhine it’s more the fact I can’t even put it down to having a bingey weekend or having been out to eat loads etc so how do I lose it if I don’t even know how I’ve put it on?

The 4lbs is in the last couple of weeks but overall I’m nearly a stone heavier than my ideal weight (which I was about 6 months ago)

So you've gained the 4lbs in one week??

@MarthasGinYard seems like it yes, last 1/2 weeks anyway since having my implant out although I’m not sure if it’s linked or me making excuses!

@Mistlewoeandwhine

@Howtheheck365 It sounds like you are retaining fluid because of your implant coming out.

Try eating low carb for a week with no sugar/alcohol/treats and you'll soon lose the 4lbs.

@daytripper28 thanks, will try this - I really hope so. Annoyingly as things are ‘Opening up’ I’ve got a few nice meals and catch ups planned and now I feel like I’m going to be worried about everything I eat.

Your ideal is 8.5 but now your about 9.75?

How old are you? I’m your height and was very much your weight but as soon as I had the menopause I put on weight. A lot of my friends found getting close to forty meant their weight was much harder to maintain. To actually maintain weight I had to eat a lot less, your metabolism just slows down as you age.

@Valkadin ideal is 8 stone 5 (not 8.5 stone, I wrote that wrong!) and today I’m 9 stone 3.

I get the menopause point but I really hope that’s not it as I’m only early 30s

@AriettyHomily meant to say no history of ED, for most of my life I didn’t even think about what I ate and stayed slim but I do have periods where I get fixated on my weight and calories (like now), more just that it causes me anxiety.

and now I feel like I’m going to be worried about everything I eat.

Does weight, maintaining weight, gaining or losing always occupy this much space in your mind? This seems like a huge overreaction. Even if you have put on a few pounds it is very manageable to shake them off in short order if you wish, even with the inclusion of a few celebration meals.

4lb.
Seriously? That really isn’t a “shedload of weight”.

Just less everyday movement. For me I used to drive to work, walk in from the car park, walk to lunch, go up and down the stairs a good few times every day. Also walking to the stationary cupboard, to speak to colleagues etc. I think over a few months the lack of this adds up.

Wow, chill out, it's probably water retention.

@PurpleDaisies it is in less than 2 weeks, when I was actually hoping to lose a bit of weight! Overall since about 6 months ago it’s about 8/9lbs.

@Lurkingforawhile I think this is it too, my commute used to include a lot of necessary steps! Luckily can get back to the gym soon which I hope will help.

Honestly, even at your low.weight, that reaction to a 4lb gain is disordered . Obviously if it continues it.needs to be address but really????

The good thing is you are aware of it so can .make sure it doesn't go up more

@annabel1001 I use myfitnesspal as a log really for tracking what I’m eating and what nutrients etc I’m having.