I seem to have put on a lot of weight in a very short space of time.

[Itsdaftasabrushwithnohandle]

I'm 5'2 and usually hover around the 9st 12 to 10st mark. I try to keep under 10st.
I started a new job in January and the new routine (eating earlier and not eating late hardly ever whereas I used to work nights) had me drop to just over 9 and a half stone. I felt so much better just being that bit lighter, clothes fit better, very happy.

Fast forward to now, I lost that job (company went bust!) And I'm now heavier than ever. I don't own scales so haven't weighed myself but clothes are tight and I have a larger belly area than I've had in years. Ugh. Why?!

Normally I eat sensibly throughout the week and most of the weekend, perhaps having a 'day off' if i go out for a meal or want to treat myself over the weekend. I avoid sugar unless I'm treating myself or on a night out, intermittent fasting and eating low carb foods only.

Once every couple of weeks I have my (long distance) partner stay here and although I don't over eat, we do eat pizza and other carb laden things but the being careful most of the times in between seemed to compensate and I'd stay slim.

I haven't changed thus routine, that I've had for a while so where has all this weight come from? I wonder if one of my 'weekends off' with partner recently had me consuming a lot more than normal and I've not realised. That's all I can think of.

I'm hammering the low carb/intermittent fasting now to get it all off! I'm short so I look dreadful with even a bit of extra weight.
I do toning exercises and a couple of runs a week, and lift weights nearly every day so some of my usual weight is muscle but I am not happy with the podginess around my middle now!

Those days & weekends off can sabotage your diet and hugely increase your weekly calorie average. Are you tracking calories on MFP or somewhere?

Based on your TDEE (assuming you are 30) with your level of activity your maintenance calories are around 2,000 so to lose weight you need to be eating around 1,600 calories per day. Over the week that’s a total 11,200. It only takes being a couple of hundred over to be stalling weight loss.

Thank you, you're probably right. I've just always managed it before, it seemed to work for me but not now! I'm feeling so 'round'.
I'll allow myself fewer 'cheats' and hopefully it'll start to drop off. I've been careful the last few days and I do seem to be looking a little better.

How old are you? Could you eat whatever you wanted in your 20s and not gain weight, out of interest? How much did you weigh then?

Suddenly, when you are short I think, you find you have to restrict as you get older as you expand..and the taller can eat more.

I'm 40 and no, I've always had to watch my weight. I was a fat child, and was considerably heavier in my 20s and not as toned, I didn't exercise back then.

Yes, looks as if I'll have to change things if I don't want weight to continually creep up.

Get your thyroid checked out, it can make you put on weight if you have an underlying thyroid issue is my suggestion

This may be a very silly thing to say, but is there any possibility you could be pregnant?

Exercise was keeping it all 'stable' until now, you think? How much exercise have you typically been doing? Weights and?

I think after 40 your metabolism generally slows and it gets harder. Have you had more stress lately? How's your sleep?

Thanks @airmaxJ not impossible I guess. My Mum has an underactive thyroid.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I've not slept with a man in 20 years

I do weights and I run but the after effects of covid have meant I haven't been able to run much recently.

I am extremely stressed most of the time and my sleep is all over the place!

That rules that out, then!

Possibly perimenopause and flucuating hormones along with the stress and poor sleep.

Sorry to hear on stress & sleep - how much does stress impact weight I wonder?

Re: ‘fat child’ does this affect being prone to weight gain in later life or urban myth?

@Peverellshire I've aways wondered that about being overweight as children.
I know cortisol levels affect weight but I haven't looked at the exact science behind it.

I was very slim until I was 7 when my parents moved me to a new school and I became very miserable and began eating lots and lots of chocolate regularly. I was 10stone when I was 10.

I had eating disorders (binge/starve cycle) up until I was 15 and I developed 'not quite' anorexia. Ate very little and was underweight up until my early twenties when I got chubby again-likely to do with being at university and eating rubbish/drinking cider on a regular basis!

In my thirties I began exercising and eating healthy and have stayed relatively slim since-I have always been quite heavy for my size, people are always surprised when I say I am nearly ten stone, say I look more like 9st.

But yes, perhaps I have just been consuming more calories on cheat days without realising. I'll hammer the low'ish' carb and intermittent fasting for a bit and if I do have a cheat day I will make sure it isn't too bad. It'll come off, I always manage to get it off.. I just wondered if it could be something a bit more obscure causing it and with my being an apple shape too, I know It's bad to have podge around one's middle as well as for vanity reasons-it just doesn't look nice! I think I'd much rather have a waist/flat stomach and a big bum!

Thanks everyone.

Yeah since hitting 40 I suddenly have a tummy and I hate it

also 5’2” so definitely feel your pain

Thyroid issues are hereditary in females

I have an under active thyroid and had out on weight till I got on medication and the weight dropped off naturally

I've weighed myself and as suspected, I'm 7lb/half a stone up. Ugh. I've been dieting (16/8, low carb) since beginning this thread and am feeling a bit less like an Easter egg on legs now. But a long way to go. It's a lot when you're short! Thank you for all all advice .I'm definitely going to go to the Gp for a thyroid check.

I've gone from 10st1 to 9st 8 in about ten days (low carb, intermittent fasting but being far from perfect with it!) So that's good.

Went out for burger and chips on my 'day off' at the weekend but still didn't go too far over 1000 calories. Gone back on MFP. It CAN be done (and I feel so much happier and less as if I am wearing a rubber ring)!

That's amazing, well done!

Thank you-I am still not 100% sure why it went on! Going to try to be careful from now on but I thought I already was 😂