Am I kidding myself about my weight problem?

[gainingweight]

I’m really not sure what to think about this

i started gaining weight out of nowhere despite no diet or health changes - I think it started around 9mo ago but I only noticed it around 5/6mo ago and have been trying to lose weight on and off since then

I don’t look noticeably heavier and I don’t have any obvious heavy lumps or areas that would account for the new weight. My thighs are slightly bigger but not hugely and I’m still wearing the same size of leggings albeit slightly tighter but they still fit. I’ve gained around 1.5-2 stone since this started 9 ish months ago.

I’m trying to lose weight and am eating healthily and am in a calorie deficit everyday (calculated by my BMR and BMI). I’m exercising everyday too. I’ve gained 3 lbs in the last week despite being in a 400 calorie deficit per day, even over Hogmanay and xmas. I’m measuring my weight at the same time each day, obviously it fluctuates throughout the day but my weight gain each day is consistent even between time fluctuations. I’m drinking the same amount of water each day (measured so I know the amount).

am I missing something in this dieting thing? Or am I making some mistake, or is there a reason I might be gaining weight like this? Just slightly frustrated and miserable about it all. I’m also not on any meds including contraception pills, I’m not near menopause or even peri menopause age, and I had a blood test 10 months ago but unrelated thing and everything was normal.

I have found that it doesn’t matter how little I eat when on a diet. If I eat 2 rounds of bread then I won’t lose any weight, if I eat 3 or 4 rounds even if I have added the calories up carefully then I will put on weight.

Calories in/calories out might be ok for a lot of people but bread is my downfall. Friend says hers is whisky. She can be on a diet and have a couple of carefully measured out whiskies of an evening that have been included in her calories for the day and will not lose weight.
A bottle of red wine instead a couple of times per week on top of her calorie controlled diet and the weight falls off.

It doesn’t make any scientific sense but all I know is between my friend and I cutting out one particular food makes so much difference.
It could be a case of finding that food.

Shouldn’t you also be in calorie deficit by 500 calories per day to lose 2lb per week.

Also at 47 I think you could be somewhere near the menopause

This is definitely true, I used to think my friend was crazy when she said she wouldn’t lose weight if she ate any cauliflower, broccoli or onion. Sometimes our bodies just don’t correlate with science

What’s your sleep like, OP? That can also be a massive factor in inflammation and water retention. I suffer from insomnia which I’m only just starting to get under control and I gained about 1.5-2 stone whilst in the thick of it. I’ve been working with a nutritionist for the last 4 months and it’s the one thing that has made a huge impact on getting my weight back under control.

Otherwise, I second what a PP said. Don’t factor your exercise calories into how many calories you eat per day. You most likely aren’t burning off nearly as many as you think.

Stop eating back exercise cals, they are always grossly over assumed by trackers etc. No way you're burning 700 cals in exercise a day unless running a very long distance/similar (no, not even 10/15k unless you're 25 stone)

I do an hour of Crossfit or weightlifting most days and do not eat what I may have burned back, I lose 1-2lbs per week so I wouldn't lose much, if anything if I did.

Aussiegirl123456

I just wish people/doctors would listen when you go to see them.
All I got was a picture of a food pyramid and told eat foods in that proportion.

Calories in and calories out

I did question about hormones playing a part in weight gain in menopause and how to tackle that but calories in calories out was all that he could come up with.

I have lost 4 stone in the past year or so but that is through the meds I now take killing my appetite.

But realistically if it was all about calories in and calories out then I should have lost 8stone

Yeah I understand that. It’s frustrating because in theory the calorie defect should work, and does for so many people, but like you and my friend when it doesn’t work, nobody listens or refuses to believe. I guess it must be something to do with certain foods causing water retention or something along those lines? Hormones too, they massively affect weight loss. Frustrating hey.

100% check your thyroid. So easily treated

You admit though you’ve lost weight as you’re eating less. So it is about calories in/out.

no magic formula, eating less.

Metabolic rate isn’t an exact science. if you aren’t losing weight on your calorie allowance, you need to reduce it.

yes some people will need to eat less than others for the same result, but there will be a point where you will start losing.

and of course the downside is as you lose weight, your BMR reduces, so you need to reduce calories further to lose any more weight.

@gainingweight I know a few people in a similar situation and the IBS issue is key here. You need to identify the food you're extremely allergic to because it puts the body under a lot of stress. If you're denying it the essential healthy calories it needs to help you then it's going to hold on to and store as much unhealthy fat as possible to get the energy reserves you need to deal with the random body stress. This calorie counting shouldn't become obsessive if you're active, and in your case young. Our bodies do warn us when we're taking the piss. You'll be fine if you eat properly, enjoy your meals, then focus on things that make you happy and forget about food, ditch the calorie counting and try to avoid your main IBS triggers. The happier you get the stronger your body and metabolism will be.

I’m not 47 that was another poster, I’m almost 30 x

Yeah I see what people mean about not being in the calorie deficit I think I am. It’s all so confusing!

just to clear a few things up

I think what confused me is that I have a PT already (well, my best friend is a PT so she helps me!) and I am under an NHS dietician because of my IBS and they said I’m eating far too little calories for the exercise I’m doing. They had said on days I’m doing intense exercise, I should be eating around 2000 calories even with a deficit of 500. I know a few people said not to up the calories to account for exercise days but I guess I’m just worried I’ll struggle on 1500 calories when I’m doing intense exercising. I’ll try it and see how I get on though thanks for the advice 👍

I’m definitely burning 700 calories some days when I exercise, obviously not everyday but it depends what exercise I do, sometimes more sometimes less. If I run a 10 k in the morning, walk my dog 3 times and do extra cycling and cardio that night, I’m well over 700 according to PT

it’s all so confusing ah. I’ll try and follow posters advice and eat a deficit of my resting BMR and not add any extra calories on exercise days 👍

Yeah I know what you mean👍

I’m not actually over 40 though that was another poster, I’m under 30 x

I think it might be because I’m tall, I’m over 5 foot 8 x

I don’t have IBS but I do have Crohn’s Disease. For me high fibre foods cause weight gain. So a healthy diet for me is bad.

reduce your fibre. Up your protein and carbs are not evil.

Thanks I’ll start reducing the fibre too 👍

I have IBS and my mother has Crohns, neither of us have healthy diets as the fibre absolutely destroys us and causes so much pain :(
Our diet is also mainly carbs and protein!

OP I really would go back to the GP and push for further investigations, don’t let them brush you off!

What @KillingLoneliness said - that’s the stand out here; get it checked first. Unexplained weight gain can be a symptom of cancer, highly unlikely but you could press for an abdominal scan. Only then would I start taking all the tips here (also try that intermittent fasting). GP first.

Exercise more vigorously

Take a look on youtube at Jason Fung and intermittent fasting, calorie restriction by itself doesnt work, UNLESS you have a window greater than 12 hours where you are not eating.
He explains it very simply, and it boils down to pushing breakfast back later, or skipping it, and no snacking after dinner.

Do you stick to a set meal plan? I find I can really easily lose weight and track my food if I stick to a weekly plan. Makes it easy to adjust down/ up depending on progress. You need to be really strict, if I weigh in halfway through the week and my weight isn't moving I decrease my portion size, e.g. 175g chicken instead of 200g. I'm roughly the same age and a bit taller (and WFH), I put on 2st over the summer and am gradually losing the weight. I currently consume 2,400 cals a day and have managed to lose 2lbs a week since November. I'm expecting to gradually go down to 2000 cals a day to maintain my progress.

Also check if you are measuring foods properly, is the 100g portion of fish the weight when it is cooked or when it is raw? Because food will lose moisture when being cooked.

Is it possible you’re over stressing your body with so much exercise and calorie counting? I had a very physical job a few years ago and to start off with I lost a good half a stone (which at the time I didn’t really have to lose!) and after about nine months I actually began gaining fat.

This article seems to suggest over exercising could be an issue - www.businessinsider.com/exercising-too-much-can-actually-make-you-gain-weight-heres-why-2017-12?r=US&IR=T

I'm 38 and if I go over 1600 I gain weight. I need to stay under 1200 to lose.

In my 20s I could eat crap and not gain weight.

BMR and BMI are more of a guide than an exact science.

I'd be trying to stay under 1200 for a couple of weeks to see if that makes a difference.

Yeah I know what you mean.

I guess my worry is that I really struggle to cope and exercise on that little calories. Even trying to stay 1500 calories while running, cycling and doing cardio is a struggle and I genuinely felt so hungry and tired. That’s why I upset the calories on exercise days (although still having a calorie deficit)

I don’t doubt for a moment you’re right- everyone is saying the same thing so it’s obviously right, it’s just me that’s the problem here and I know I’ll really struggle with cutting the calories to 1200 or even below 1500. It’s clearly something I need to work on if I want to lose this weight though