annoyed at gaining weight - it's not fair!

[polyjuicepotion]

Apologies if this is a naïve question.

Some time ago I realised that I 've been gaining weight so I went on a low carb diet and it worked amazingly. I went off the low-carb at some point, because I don't think it's very healthy in a long run, but I still eat reduced amount of carb (around 100g/day).
First lockdown came and all the weight I've lost came back straight away. I didn't want to low-carb anymore so I started exercising instead. I go running for about 25 min every day. Done this for about 2 months now. I don't eat a lot, a normal amount, I don't count calories but I definitely don't eat huge amounts of food! I don't drink much either - maybe one drink/week at most. No junk food to speak of either, all healthy, homemade food. And no breakfast.

But I keep gaining weight!!!

Where the hell do the calories come from? They must come from somewhere... Surely if I started exercising and kept the same eating habits, I should be losing, not gaining weight, even if slowly?

I am so annoyed. But what else can I do? I find calorie counting so boring :(

You can't outrun a bad diet. Exercise is very good for your health, but does very little for weight loss. You have to look at your diet, that's where the answers are.

When I really couldn’t work out why I was gaining the weight I was I went and had my thyroid checked. Bingo! Might be worth thinking about?

When you start exercising, you naturally start eating more, even though you don't necessarily notice that you are. Calorie counting may be boring, but it does work for me, every time.

Have you tried weighing your food? I am doing calorie counting and I’m always amazed at how a ‘portion’ on the food packet does not resemble the amount I would naturally help myself to.

Some of the healthiest foods can also be some of the most calorific ; avocados, nuts and seeds, dark chocolate, oily fish, olive oil...It’s easy to think that because they’re healthy you don’t need to worry but too much of anything - carrots or chocolate- can cause weight gain

@polyjuicepotion can you give us an example of what you eat?

I don't count calories but I definitely don't eat huge amounts of food

I thought that too How much are you gaining? Is it just a little bit each week? If yes, you could try to make your portions little bit smaller. Just few spoonfuls can make a difference. Many people gain because of big portions. I was shicked at some differences between what I considered a portion and ehat actually is a portion. Looking at you cornflakes....
Oil makes massive difference! I now use very little to none.

Hi all, thanks so much for all the suggestions. I think yes definitely watching portion sizes and calorie counting is the way forward!