AIBU to wonder why I gained the weight?

[Nicebucket]

I struggled with weight issues in my teens and early twenties- never obese, but I was around a size twelve and looked chubby.

Then I started losing the puppy fat- I also started to clean up my diet and became more active. Lost loads of weight and was down to a size 6.

Thinnest I'd ever been and I was thrilled!

But in the last year, the weight has slowly been creeping back on... I've gained around 5-7 kilos and I'm a size 8-10.

I'm still eating healthy. I'm still as active. I've literally changed nothing!

Why has the weight come back [weight] I could blame some fluid retention on the pill, but I'd begun gaining weight before I started the pill.

Any idea what on earth it could be if I haven't changed diet or exercise regime?

How old are you?

You're just getting older

I'm 26

Chances are something has changed wether you notice it or not.

Unless you are tracking food and exercise you unlikely to be eating and using the exact amount of calories you were doing a year ago.

Maybe your portion sizes have gone up slightly. I know the pill increases my appetite, I can control my weight by snacking on fruit and filling up on that.

If you genuinely don't think it's actually down to your diet or exercise visit your GP

Are you absolutely sure you haven't changed your diet at all? Even if it's just eating the same food as always, but just a bit more of it?

So what's the solution! It's killing my confidence. More exercise, strict diet? I've tried some serious diets recently as well, they haven't worked.

Honestly, I don't think I really have changed my diet much at all. If anything, I'm stricter now!

I'm a bit embarrassed to go to the GP with someone like this though.

It's not thyroid, because I had that tested already.

Are you drinking more alcohol?

How long have you given the 'diets'?

Yes, I have to admit I am. But only vodka sodas and some wine (it's all I drink) And only on social occasions, not everyday at all

How tall are you? Are you sure size 6 was a healthy weight? You have to be pretty short ie 5ft nothing to be a natural size 6. What's your Bmi?

Size 8-10 is nothing to be worried about. What's your height / weight?

Is size 8-10 more your "natural" weight your bodies settling at?

Unless there is a medical issue. You have to be eating more or doing less.

If you aren't happy then you need to have it checked out.

You are lost certainly not overweight so try and chill out. Stressing won't help.

MumontheRun- quite long! I'd still be on one if I hadn't fallen seriously ill recently.

I'm generally quite strict- I don't eat sweets. Don't bring home crisps and things. My only occasional indulgence is chips probably.

I'm 5 feet 3 inches.

I felt pretty healthy at size 6!

I don't want to be size 8-10

Are you still gaining weight? Or has your weight levelled? Try weekly or fortnightly weigh-ins combined with a food and activity diary (My Fitness Pal provides this free.) In the meantime, avoid "serious" or faddy diets. Keep to the healthy eating you've established and really analyse what's going on.

It's kind of levelled.

But my thighs are chunky and I have a belly which I HATE. this had just all gone away, and now it's back. It's really affecting my confidence.

You've gained about a stone and have now stabilized? Are you sure it's made that much difference to your thighs and belly? Do you have a good friend who could give you an accurate 'second opinion'?

I have to wonder if you might have some level of body dysmorphia and/or disordered eating.

I'm 5'0" and very carefully and intentionally stay underweight. I haven't lost or gained weight for years, bar the odd pound but I'm also perfectly aware that my current size is a long, long way from being healthy.

Due to being very short I mostly wear children's clothes but I do have a few size 6s which aren't ridiculously massive on me (at a BMI of just over 17) so I have to think that a size 6 at a whole 3 inches taller is likely to be a least a little underweight.

Size 8-10 sounds absolutely perfect for 5'3" - still, I would imagine, very thin but also healthy.

However, if you really think you could and should lose back down to a 6 I think you'd have to use something like MFP because it's going to be about very small changes - I don't know if it's true but someone once told me that 'middle aged spread' (NOT saying you have that, you're way too young!) is the result of about 7 unnecessary calories a day!

Add message | Report | Message poster honeysucklejasmine Tue 09-Feb-16 07:24:53
How old are you?
Add message | Report | Message poster 00100001 Tue 09-Feb-16 07:27:13
You're just getting older
Add message | Report | Message poster Nicebucket Tue 09-Feb-16 07:27:17
I'm 26

JESUSSSSSSSS

It's probably the pill. If you weren't on it when you were a size 6 I am sure that is it.

However, a size 6 is pretty thin, you probably look much nicer and more normal as an 8 to 10 in most people's eyes.

You cannot possibly have 'chunky' thighs and 'a belly' at a size 8 to 10. I mean it's just not possible to be fat and chunky at that dress size. It simply is not.

Size 8-10 is a good healthy size. Why put so much emphasis on the number inside clothes? No one knows that number but you. If you don't like particular areas on your body, do specific exercises to tone them up. Although I honestly don't think at a size 8-10 anything on you will be "chunky"!!

I too wonder if size 6 is too small for you if your body is struggling to stay there. Instead of focussing on the areas you don't like, focus on and dress to emphasis the bits you do.

My initial thought was why are you worrying about going up to a size 8-10. But on reflection, I realise that having gone myself from a size 6 to a size 8-10 post-baby, I feel a lot bigger too. I still think you shouldn't be stressing over size 8-10. Have you tried tracking your calorie intake? I used my fitness pal when I was trying to put weight on and it was really useful to see my daily calorie intake.

I know you said you'd gained a bit of weight before the Pill, but maybe you gained the rest BECAUSE of the Pill? It always made me balloon.

Could you stop that for a few months and see if the weight comes off? Mine always did within weeks. It fell off.

I'd try that. And spend a week keeping a really strict food/exercise diary where I logged EVERYTHING.