weight problems?

[Katzandra]

I'm not saying i'm extremely over weight, but I'm according to the doctors standards obese. =O!
I am more of a muscular girl than a skinny mini  either way.
Is there proof out there that weight gain is a part of fibro? I've been on I don't know how many diets and the weight keeps climber yr after yr. It probably doesn't help that I have a lot of stress most of the time in life and horrible sleep patterns, but as far as a diet I am very healthy.. minus a few pops. >=D

[singerpoet]

I grew up being called skinny minny and was 5'8" tall.  I always felt guilty when other people talked about weight problems, even during pregnancies I gained mostly baby weight.  Since fibromyalgia I've gone from a trim size 9/l0 (not ever on a diet) to almost 50 lbs overweight and it just drives me crazy.  I don't care if others don't think I'm fat, I feel terrible about my looks and extremely frustrated as I eat extremely well and healthy, but the scales won't budge.  One of the articles on FM that I read recently mentioned that our cells were telling our body to retain weight, and related it to the "hibernation" cycle of some animals.  The extra weight certainly doesn't make me feel like a cute "teddy bear"...lol.  Oh well I'm a 56 year old divorced grandma so who cares anyways (I'll keep telling myself that and maybe I will believe it one day).  Take care all

[Barb249]

Its what's inside that counts.  I don't care what size or color anyone is as long as their a good person.

[RobinHood70]

While it's true that looks can certainly be part of the issue, I think health is probably the greater concern for me.  Can't speak for Katzandra, of course.

[VaBreeze]

It's s shame that our cultures place so much value on looks.  It causes damage to so many young people, causing eating disorders and low-self esteem.  

You've got that beautiful smile...guarantee that is what people first notice about you.  Keep smiling!

[RobinHood70]

I've got CFS, not Fibro, but I've been gaining weight slowly but steadily since onset.  In my case, though, I think it's a very simple relationship:  I can no longer exercise enough to counteract my calorie intake and I don't seem to be very tolerant of not getting enough to eat.

So basically, I can't exercise (much) and I can't eat less.  What's more, I've got Celiac Disease, so a lot of standard "diet food" is off the list.  What's a guy to do?

I do try to watch my diet where I can and exercise as much as possible, but so far, I haven't had much luck in steadying or decreasing my weight.

[VaBreeze]

Unfortunately, to really burn up calories it would require doing things that our bodies will not tolerate.  A brisk 30 minute walk 3x a week; sit-ups, jumping jacks...any type of continuous bodily movement for a period of time.  I don't know about everyone else, but I simply can not do it.  Even though you cut down or cut back on what you eat, there are still those calories.  And Kenderyl, you need to be patient with yourself.  Some people have more flexible skin and pop right back into shape...most aren't that fortunate and it takes a while to get rid of it all.  

Eating out of boredom is something i've done too.  I've tried to get healthy things to munch on now like carrots, raisins, fruit instead of that bag of cheetos that I love so much, lol.

[Kenderyl]

I have been struggling a lot with being overweight since having children which may have something to do with my history of anorexia in my teens (and if I'm being 100% honest, I still struggle with it to this day on a daily basis). My suspicion has been that my eating disorder issues screwed with my metabolism and then I had kids which knocked it WAY off balance. .

Another thing that likely threw me off was that during 3/4  pregnancies I suffered from varying degrees of hyperemesis gravidarum (hg.org if you're interested in reading up about it). As soon as I gave birth, I was cured of the violent vomiting and food issues but have struggled w/ food or beverage aversions and PTSD ever since. Still, after giving birth - the pounds that I'd lost during the illness while pregnant came back with a vengeance - even WITH nursing full time. I'm 4' 11 3/4" tall and weighed in at 201 at my doctor visit yesterday. I'm still nursing (but at the weaning stages now) and the pounds still aren't shedding, my baby turns 20 months next week.

Regardless of my history, I tend NOT to eat when in pain (which is every day these days) and my food intake tracking has shown that in the last 3 weeks I have skipped at least one - usually two meals - per day due to pain and fatigue. So now, when I should be losing weight, I'm STILL not. :(    Thyroid tests were "low normal" at last check in January '08....not sure what else it could be besides the Fibro. Sure, I'm hurting a lot every day and I rest most of the time or surf the net for more Fibro information.....but I move as much as I can and I'm certainly not eating myself to this weight. :(

[Katzandra]

But overall.. my diet would be more healthy than unhealthy. Thyroids normal.. I guess.

I really never believe doctors anymore. MY family has such bad luck with them. I find it ironic that my thyroid is normal when every other female on my moms side has to take medication. My grandmother also has cushings so she fears that I may have that. No thanks, honestly i'd take fibro over that any day.. even if theres no cure for fibro.

[Katzandra]

I wouldn't say an emotional eater.. I'm more of a boredom eater lol.

But yeah I always say.. omg today is soooo the day i'm going to kick bums and take names! And then when the hour or second of the day comes around and fibro hits.. its like i'm dead weight. I feel like a rock and an unmovable object.

But I guess one of these days i'm just going to have to go Rocky style. It hurts to even think about going for a ten mile run. I used to be able to do sports etc.. now i'm just blah! As the weight started coming on my esteem went realllly low and I don't even like to go out and do things for the most part anymore.

Oh and I hate shopping for cloths, Its the most depressing thing ever. The comfy cozy side is no longer comfy cozy. =/

[VaBreeze]

I'm also in that category.  I don't know if there is proof that fibro causes weight gain, but certainly, when one is hurting all of the time it's difficult to get the proper exercise.  Not being able to work off those calories causes the weight gain; middle age also tends to be a factor in weight.

You expressed lots of stress...are you an emotional eater?  Some with anxiety will eat because it makes them feel better.