recent weight gain

dubbo

Hi everyone,

I'm new to boards but have read a lot of threads over the last few days and so much helpful info! My question relates to recent weight gain, i have put on a stone over the last year, bringing me to 9 stone (im 5ft3). I know this isnt much but i have a small frame and my clothes dont fit

I know its all about a calorie deficit, but i worked out my cals in order to lose weight on fitday, and have been sticking to 1200 a day since new years, with no luck (havent lost a pound!) My thyroid is slightly underactive but not enough to warrant meds so im wondering if thats it. or maybe im meant to be this weight and was too skinny before? i run 3 times a week and go to the gym too...

I'd really appreciate any help and guidance, feeling a bit lost!

Thanks a lot!

Medicine333

dubbo wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm new to boards but have read a lot of threads over the last few days and so much helpful info! My question relates to recent weight gain, i have put on a stone over the last year, bringing me to 9 stone (im 5ft3). I know this isnt much but i have a small frame and my clothes dont fit

I know its all about a calorie deficit, but i worked out my cals in order to lose weight on fitday, and have been sticking to 1200 a day since new years, with no luck (havent lost a pound!) My thyroid is slightly underactive but not enough to warrant meds so im wondering if thats it. or maybe im meant to be this weight and was too skinny before? i run 3 times a week and go to the gym too...

I'd really appreciate any help and guidance, feeling a bit lost!

Thanks a lot!

9st for a 5' 3'' woman is a perfect weight. 8st for a 5' 3'' woman is extremely thin.

In my opinion, you don't need to lose any weight. However, if you really want to, don't drop to 8stone-that is excessively thin.

dubbo

Thanks a million for your reply :)I was always 8 stone without too much effort tbh,I'm wondering is it possible my body wants to be that bit heavier? It's just a bit frustrating,but I may just have to accept iv gone up a dress size:)thanks !

Medicine333

dubbo wrote: »

Thanks a million for your reply :)I was always 8 stone without too much effort tbh,I'm wondering is it possible my body wants to be that bit heavier? It's just a bit frustrating,but I may just have to accept iv gone up a dress size:)thanks !

You are very welcome!:)

You mentioned that you have an underactive thyroid. Now, this could be a factor in not losing any weight, despite dieting and exercise. However, the fact that your doctor(assuming that the issue with your thyroid has been confirmed by him/her) has deemed corrective medication unnecessary, means that it is unlikely a major factor!

I know how frustrating it is for you to be doing all this exercise and dieting, and then to hop on the scales every morning and see the same figure pop up-I've been there! Last Summer, I set myself a goal to lose some weight, and a month in, all I lost was 1 pound. I kept going though. I did my exercise, which involved cycling for half an hour each day, and went on a calorie deficit diet. After about 6 weeks, the weight was really flying off! I have lost a stone in total. Now, I'm just aiming to maintain my weight.

The most important factor which determines how much weight you lose/gain is diet. So, if you have the time, it would be great if you could type up your diet on here and we could assess it. Carbohydrates need to be reduced if your attempting to lose weight, and protein increased. I won't make any assumptions though before I see what you eat each day!

Also, you go to the gym as well as run. How long have you been doing this? What exercise do you do at the gym? If you have been doing weights, this could be a factor in not losing weight, because you're building muscle, which weighs much more than fat. Essentially what is happening is that you are converting fat to muscle.

As I have already said, 9stone is a healthy weight for a woman of your height, so it is certainly not necessary for you to lose weight, but if you feel happier at a lower weight, go right ahead! 8 stone is too skinny in my opinion, you are bordering on being underweight there.

Don't lose heart though, just because the scales aren't co-operating with you! We have all been there!:)

dubbo

Thanks so much for your kind and detailed reply

The thyroid stuff has been confirmed by my dr, she feels at this time it's not severe enough to warrant tablets (even though i would like them, tired all the time etc), so it probably isnt a major factor as you say

Well done on your weight loss!

My diet I would say is ok, but I would love feedback. My typical day:

Breakfast: either porridge and low fat milk
or natural yoghurt and blueberries

Lunch: Generally a salad with lettuce, sweetcorn, peppers, chickpeas, and tuna/turkey/goats cheese

OR Soup and a slice of brown bread

OR poached eggs and sugar free baked beans (once a week max)

Dinner: Chicken stirfry with lots of veg and brown rice

OR turkey burgers and sweet potato

OR homemade chicken curry with brown rice

About once a week id have pasta with my main meal, generally I have rice or salad

Snacks: Tea (about 2-3 cups a day)
Raisins
Apples
Yoghurt

Then sometimes before bed i have a small bowl of porridge if im hungry.

I do have chocolate ha! not too often, i'd say twice a week and then only a small bar or small pack of buttons or malteasers.

Would be great to get feedback i know its not perfect

Exercise wise my gym routine is: run for 40 mins or bike for 40 mins
then 20 mins weights (light ones!) and some pilates toning stuff like planks

once a week i go to a pilates class, and i also walk to work once a wk (5k)

any help wpuld be so appreciated, thanks so much

dubbo

dubbo wrote: »

Thanks so much for your kind and detailed reply

The thyroid stuff has been confirmed by my dr, she feels at this time it's not severe enough to warrant tablets (even though i would like them, tired all the time etc), so it probably isnt a major factor as you say

Well done on your weight loss!

My diet I would say is ok, but I would love feedback. My typical day:

Breakfast: either porridge and low fat milk
or natural yoghurt and blueberries

Lunch: Generally a salad with lettuce, sweetcorn, peppers, chickpeas, and tuna/turkey/goats cheese

OR Soup and a slice of brown bread

OR poached eggs and sugar free baked beans (once a week max)

Dinner: Chicken stirfry with lots of veg and brown rice

OR turkey burgers and sweet potato

OR homemade chicken curry with brown rice

About once a week id have pasta with my main meal, generally I have rice or salad

Snacks: Tea (about 2-3 cups a day)
Raisins
Apples
Yoghurt

Then sometimes before bed i have a small bowl of porridge if im hungry.

I do have chocolate ha! not too often, i'd say twice a week and then only a small bar or small pack of buttons or malteasers.

Would be great to get feedback i know its not perfect

Exercise wise my gym routine is: run for 40 mins or bike for 40 mins
then 20 mins weights (light ones!) and some pilates toning stuff like planks

once a week i go to a pilates class, and i also walk to work once a wk (5k)

any help wpuld be so appreciated, thanks so much

I should mention also that my job is hugely stressful,not sure if that's relevant! Thanks

Medicine333

dubbo wrote: »

Thanks so much for your kind and detailed reply

You are most welcome!:) I'm only too happy to give you any help or guidance that I can!:)

The thyroid stuff has been confirmed by my dr, she feels at this time it's not severe enough to warrant tablets (even though i would like them, tired all the time etc), so it probably isnt a major factor as you say

Yes, I wouldn't worry about your thyroid hindering your weight loss. Your work is very stressful, you're exercising a lot and you are on a calorie-deficit diet, so I would think that cause of your tiredness is due much more to those factors than low metabolism. If you have just started feeling much more tired since you started your diet, that would confirm it. However, if you are worried about your thyroid, go ahead and speak to your doctor again and express your concerns-they just want what's best for you!

My diet I would say is ok, but I would love feedback. My typical day:

Breakfast: either porridge and low fat milk
or natural yoghurt and blueberries

Lunch: Generally a salad with lettuce, sweetcorn, peppers, chickpeas, and tuna/turkey/goats cheese

OR Soup and a slice of brown bread

OR poached eggs and sugar free baked beans (once a week max)

Dinner: Chicken stirfry with lots of veg and brown rice

OR turkey burgers and sweet potato

OR homemade chicken curry with brown rice

About once a week id have pasta with my main meal, generally I have rice or salad

Snacks: Tea (about 2-3 cups a day)
Raisins
Apples
Yoghurt

Then sometimes before bed i have a small bowl of porridge if im hungry.

I do have chocolate ha! not too often, i'd say twice a week and then only a small bar or small pack of buttons or malteasers.

Would be great to get feedback i know its not perfect

Really good diet! It is obvious that you're reducing your calories, but that is a very good diet! You can try to reduce your carbs further, perhaps by not having the pasta every week, or no brown bread/rice etc., but to be honest, I didn't cut out carbs hugely and just as well, because I would have gone mad! When I was first starting out with my weight-loss, I had an egg for breakfast with some fruit. So, if you're not willing to give up the rice etc., perhaps replacing the carbs you have for breakfast with protein would be a better alternative? However, your diet is looking well! How much fluid do you take in?

Exercise wise my gym routine is: run for 40 mins or bike for 40 mins
then 20 mins weights (light ones!) and some pilates toning stuff like planks

once a week i go to a pilates class, and i also walk to work once a wk (5k)

any help wpuld be so appreciated, thanks so much

Your exercise routine is excellent! If you keep this up, you will lose weight, there is no doubt about that. I was exactly the same as you, even around the same weight, and I found it so frustrating when the weight just wouldn't come off. That will change though, so just keep ploughing ahead with what you're doing. Also, don't be afraid to have the 'oul bar of chocolate either, you're only human ya know!:)

dubbo

Medicine333 wrote: »

dubbo wrote: »

Thanks so much for your kind and detailed reply

You are most welcome!:) I'm only too happy to give you any help or guidance that I can!:)

The thyroid stuff has been confirmed by my dr, she feels at this time it's not severe enough to warrant tablets (even though i would like them, tired all the time etc), so it probably isnt a major factor as you say

Yes, I wouldn't worry about your thyroid hindering your weight loss. Your work is very stressful, you're exercising a lot and you are on a calorie-deficit diet, so I would think that cause of your tiredness is due much more to those factors than low metabolism. If you have just started feeling much more tired since you started your diet, that would confirm it. However, if you are worried about your thyroid, go ahead and speak to your doctor again and express your concerns-they just want what's best for you!

My diet I would say is ok, but I would love feedback. My typical day:

Breakfast: either porridge and low fat milk
or natural yoghurt and blueberries

Lunch: Generally a salad with lettuce, sweetcorn, peppers, chickpeas, and tuna/turkey/goats cheese

OR Soup and a slice of brown bread

OR poached eggs and sugar free baked beans (once a week max)

Dinner: Chicken stirfry with lots of veg and brown rice

OR turkey burgers and sweet potato

OR homemade chicken curry with brown rice

About once a week id have pasta with my main meal, generally I have rice or salad

Snacks: Tea (about 2-3 cups a day)
Raisins
Apples
Yoghurt

Then sometimes before bed i have a small bowl of porridge if im hungry.

I do have chocolate ha! not too often, i'd say twice a week and then only a small bar or small pack of buttons or malteasers.

Would be great to get feedback i know its not perfect

Really good diet! It is obvious that you're reducing your calories, but that is a very good diet! You can try to reduce your carbs further, perhaps by not having the pasta every week, or no brown bread/rice etc., but to be honest, I didn't cut out carbs hugely and just as well, because I would have gone mad! When I was first starting out with my weight-loss, I had an egg for breakfast with some fruit. So, if you're not willing to give up the rice etc., perhaps replacing the carbs you have for breakfast with protein would be a better alternative? However, your diet is looking well! How much fluid do you take in?

Exercise wise my gym routine is: run for 40 mins or bike for 40 mins
then 20 mins weights (light ones!) and some pilates toning stuff like planks

once a week i go to a pilates class, and i also walk to work once a wk (5k)

any help wpuld be so appreciated, thanks so much

Your exercise routine is excellent! If you keep this up, you will lose weight, there is no doubt about that. I was exactly the same as you, even around the same weight, and I found it so frustrating when the weight just wouldn't come off. That will change though, so just keep ploughing ahead with what you're doing. Also, don't be afraid to have the 'oul bar of chocolate either, you're only human ya know!:)

Thanks a million,you're very supportive:) I think I'll just stick with it,and if I don't lose anymore I might have to accept that I was too thin before thanks again !