A normal diet makes me gain weight

[Wenchie813]

I have a very hard time losing weight or even maintaining weight. When I would eat a "normal" amount of food(1200 calories a day, 20 grams of fat,100 total carbs), I would gain weight( even while running 3 or more miles a day). Even after I tried diets that had me eating less than 900 calories a day and less than 10 grams of fat and watching the carbs, I would still not lose weight. Right now I am trying a new diet, I eat around 800 calories, under 15 grams of fat and roughly 15 or less net carbs. I've lost a total of about 10 lbs in 3 months. This seems to be working but someone told me this was very dangerous. I take multi vitamins every day. I am just wondering if there is any known medical condition that would not let a person eat a normal amount of food without gaining weight?

[charliegirl]

Ive read a lot of post were a few of the members wrote about thyroid issues . You may want to look into it or schedule an appointment with your physician because this can affect your ability to gain and lose weight no matter how much dieting and working out your doing. A young lady I went to school with was having this same issue and she was working out and dieting more than she prolly needed to and was still gaining weight until she got on the medication . After that she changed classes Im really not sure if she was able to lose the weight or not but I know she didnt gain anymore.

[kyky_999]

I have been having the same problem.  I am still in high school though... so can I have a thyroid problem too?  but I have actually started taking two gym classes and have been dieting, watching my carbs and sugars, and not drinking pop...  I havent been trying very long, but I have been very devoted.  I weighed 162 when I started, and my BMI was at 36%, but now that I have been excersizing, and dieting, my weight has went up to 168, and my BMI is at 38.1% !!!  why is this? (sorry to not give you answers, I just dont feel it necessary to start a new thread when I have basically the same question)... but how long would it take before I started noticing results, and why am I gaining BMI and weight? thank you!

[HurricaineHol]

I have just begun Bob Greene's Total Body Make Over program and have only been on it for 12 days.  I have seen a fluctuation in my weight of about 3lbs.  It goes up, it goes down a little, it goes back up and then a little bit.

On Oprah.com Bob Greene tells you that it is normal to gain anywhere from 2-9 lbs in the first month of an exercise program.  He explains that your body's muscles are being used more and therefore your body retains more water because it is rehydrating itself.  He also goes on to say that about 2/3 of people are dehydrated to some extent and do not know it.

His advice was to stick with your exercise program even though there is an initial weight gain in the beginning.  After about 4 weeks, the weight will begin to come off.  Also, he highly suggests that you only peek at the scale once per week.

I find that if I don't have instant gratification after working so hard EVERY day that I feel defeated and just want to give up.  Although I haven't seen a decrease in my weight on the scale yet, I have noticed that I am less jiggly and that my arms and legs feel tighter and better.  I've also noticed that I have more energy during the day....not a lot more but a noticeable amount.

Good Luck and stick w/ it.  If it doesn't start coming off in a few more weeks, consult your doctor or a dietician.

[4merskinnyNOW4everfat]

I have the same problem. I used to be skinny and so how started to gain lots of weight.  I am an excersize addict so that isn't the problem, I am also a vegan vegetarian. I am going to an Endocrinologist who tried me on Metformin also known as Glucophage.  Didn't work for me but maybe that is what you need.  You see, all my tests turned out great but he said that 10 years before some people get diabetes they gain weight unexplainably and can not take it off and that this would work if that was the problem.  Well, unfortunately it wasn't my problem.  We are still looking for an answer but you should try to seek help from an Endocrinologist.  Mine is baffeld and is trying to find answers.  Just to give you a heads up the medicine made me crave sweets like MAD..I never did in my life until the meds, also made me too thirsty. These were because it was not my problem.  But it could be yours.  If I find anything new I will write.  Please do the same.  I am going out of my mind with FATNESS. I went from 4'11'' 83 pounds to a whopping 217 pounds.  At this rate I will be bigger than an elephant by the end of the year!!!!!!!!  Mean time I am still jogging(now on my treadmill as I am too embarrassed to workout outside)5 miles per day, walking 3 miles per day on tread and stationary bike 10 miles. I eat 700 calories per day, at least 1 gal water and 1 gal hot organic green tea w/o sweetner and 1000 mg Fish Oil after each meal.  HELP! ~ Hopeless Hippo

[tiredoftrying]

I have tried so many weight loss programs from Liguid no fat diets to seeing a nutrionist per my physician.  The nutrionist even told me she didnt think I would lose weight ( how supportive is that).  One Dr I used to have told me I had a eating disorder  mind you I am 5' 7" and 206lbs  yeah I am anerexic huh?  NOT! No matter what diets I try I gain weight  the nutrionist had me walking 5 miles a day 7 days a week on a 1000 calorie diet and didnt lose 1 pound.  As time goes I continue to gain weight.  I am tired of people telling me to stop eating so much  or to eat better.  There is nothing more frustrating that someone telling me what or how to eat when I have tried everything.  I have eating 6 small meals a day to not eating at all.  Please will someone help me I dont want to gain anymore weight.  I have alot of stress in my life my mom is dying from a rare brain disease and my 18 has cervical cancer. I work two jobs to support my girls.  I am at the end of my ropes can someone please offer some advise.

[Satriana]

I actually had similar results to what everyone is saying here. I was starving myself and working out and not seeing any results.

I went in for a complete blood screening, and found out I was seriously doing my body harm.

MY sincere recommendations, go see a Doctor. Get a second opinion, a third..whatever it takes. And ask to see the blood results and get copies.

I was sick for years and everyone told me it was poor diet or stress or ulcers.
It wasnt until some wonderful woman, who I still see to this day, told me I was anemic.  Seriosly. Like why the hell NO other doc wouldnt see that? sheesh....

ANyhow...do yourselves a favor. See a doc. See five of them. If you feel there is something wrong, then there is...your body will tell you, "something aint right here" - listen to it.

[grfisher]

I would seek the support of a registered dietitian, make sure the professional has the RD behind her/his name. I find it very disheartening that any person, let alone a health professional would tell someone that they can't lose weight! What a shame...

I also find it surprising that the "nutritionist" Placed someone on a diet below 1200 calories! That is way too low and can actually interfere with weight loss because it will send your body into starvation mode and decrease metabolism as a result. Over-exercising can also do this. You can also set yourself up for vitamin and mineral deficiencies even when taking a multivitamin.

I have been treating counseling patients for weight issues for and have found that in many of the cases involving weight gain is due to an underestimation of calories the person is consuming. Calories are sneaky!!!! In fact, I’ve had someone actually gain weight due to chewing sugar free gum. Keep in mind she was a compulsive chewer and would go through packs and packs a day ;)
Watch out for "non-calorie" food items. These products typically have 5 calories per serving. Non-caloric spray butters contain about 900 calories per bottle. Keep diet logs of EVERYthing you eat and quantities/food brands and give those to the dietitian to analyize.

I hope this helps a bit! Good luck, take good care of yourself by eating a healthy balanced diet with lots of variety and most importantly enjoy food! :)

-indiana RD

[Adriana31]

I am 14 years old and before i started going on a diet i weighed 140 i been trying not to eat junk food and fast food i drank water instead of soda for my meals i went down to 130 in 3 weeks for the last past week i havent been eating lunch and jus a jelly sandwich for dinner i went to 127 pounds and everytime i eat even healthy things like bagels no cream cheese, and cereal im gaining like a pound more i dont know why this is happening